Earlier today I posted a photo on Jules Organic Living Facebook of my papaya tree. She has a few new babies on her and I am thrilled!!  I love, love, love, papaya. It is an amazing fruit. I find that it really helps my digestive system. I have a really happy belly after I eat it. Do you like papaya? When I mention this fruit to people, I get a lot of “ewww” faces. In other words, it isn’t their favorite. I was playing around in the kitchen one day and I created a scrumptious salsa recipe. I am sharing this with you today so you too may consider giving this beautiful fruit another chance. So ready or not, here we go!

1 medium ripe papaya

1/2 of a fresh pineapple  

4 tomatoes

1 medium onion

a hand full of cilantro

1/2 jalapeño pepper

sea salt

1 teaspoon of Spike seasoning                

Cut tomatoes and onion in half and place into the food processor  with the jalapeño pepper . Blend until semi chunky smooth. Place in a bowl. Cut pineapple and papaya into small chunks, then add that to the bowl of tomatoes. Cut up the cilantro, and ad that as well as sea salt and seasoning to the bowl of tomatoes, and stir. Wa La! Get ready for your senses to reach new heights!  And always remember, cook with…

Love!

Jules

Hello Everyone. It’s been quite some time since I wrote in my blog. Due to personal reasons I had to take a sabbatical. In the past, when I would write in my blog, I took “Sundays” and dedicated that day to a beautiful piece of music to share with you. Today is Father’s Day. I thought it appropriate to re-launch my blog on this day for 2 reasons. Number one because I get to share with you a beautiful song. The second reason is that it just so happens to be the music that my father wrote. Although it is from the 1970′s,  this beautiful music, just as my father, will live on and on forever more in my heart. Happy Father’s Day! May you all dance to the song that fill your heart with Love.

Enjoy!

Love,  

Jules 

“Heal Yourself, Heal the Planet”

Jared Repass~ My Body Reboot

Staying young is a state of mind. Your thoughts and attitude have a lot to do with the way you look and feel. The affects of smiling and laughing are quite profound, plus it’s just downright fun to be in a state of joy. Happiness improves your immune system, stimulates feel good hormones such as dopamine, and sends out a good vibration throughout the planet. It also regenerates your cells and uplifts your spirit giving you more energy and zest for life.  Your attitude effects the people around you. If you are grouchy and uptight it shows in your body language and the people around you tense up because they feel uncomfortable. It makes everyone around feel guarded and does not promote the sharing, giving, or receiving of love. Instead it promotes resent and anger and all these things help to break down the immune system, are not enjoyable, steal your energy, and deplete and age you. So it is apparent that if one wished to stay young, then the individual would partake in activities that are fun and joyful and limit activities that are depleting such as arguing with a spouse or being around whiners. I realize this may be a challenge if you are surrounded by negative people in your personal life such as at work or within the family environment. To be better able to deal with others poor attitudes and to keep body functioning optimally ,I recommend getting quality sleep, eating a lot of whole foods, doing exercise, and keeping your mind and spirit refreshed through yoga or meditation. I would also recommend being touched often in a nurturing way such as through massage or hugging others. The combination of these activities work together to promote well being and ward off aging by slowing down the process. Please enjoy the journey and age gracefully.

“Love Yourself, Love the Planet”

Jared Repass~ My Body Reboot

Fitness is a key area in the total wellness formula. I hope to inspire and encourage people to move their bodies and improve their overall health and well-being all while having fun. “Use it or lose it”. Enjoy these fitness tips. We are no longer hunter gatherers and most of us spend many hours sitting, whether it’s in front of a computer or a TV, many people are not moving around enough. Combined with poor food choice this has led to an obese nation plagued with health problems.  Make exercise fun. I believe in moderation and that goes for fitness as well. You don’t have to be an ultra marathoner, you just have to get out and do things. Fitness should be exciting and fun and you should look forward to it. Personally I like the outdoors and have a love for water and nature. So naturally, when I can get in a kayak or on a paddle board and do some paddling while observing nature, I am ecstatic and can’t wait to go. This is the attitude I want everyone to have. Being fit doesn’t have to be a dreaded activity. Find things you enjoy and go do them. It may be playing sports, or perhaps gardening, how about walking in nature, going for a bike ride, or dancing, you get the point. It doesn’t matter as long as you are moving and having fun. The benefits are amazing, trust me. Your activities and interests will vary based on geography and personality, but that matters none.  Have fun and like Nike’s slogan says” Just Do It”! I will be posting articles on all aspects of fitness so be sure to stay tuned and come back to read more heartfelt advice on fitness and browse other topics having to do with wellness on Jules Organic Living. Thank You!

“Heal Yourself, Heal the Planet”

Jared Repass~ My Body Reboot

Today’s Present, The Loveling…

Juno Cristi, Blogger, Artist, and Author of ” Drops of Petals”: Poems from the Heart

“Love is not just a word. It’s my world. It’s your world. It’s our world. Love is our true essence. Whether or not we understand it, whether or not we have faith in it, or need it, it is there. Love is always there. And even if we don’t believe in love, love believes in us. Love is all there is.”

Who is Juno Cristi?

In retrospect, I was as a child who had such a wide interest in literature such as fairy tales and romance and suspense/mystery novels, one who would rather read a book than be in slumber parties. I grew up in the 80s so the movies back then meant a lot to me. I would watch movies all the time. On top of that I often caught myself listening to music over the radio and to radio shows and imagined how it would be if I were the host or DJ.

In high school, I joined the Glee Club and sang and danced the days away for four years, I even thought that was more important than school itself.

In college, I failed miserably in my first degree Economics, and since I was doing quite excellent in my humanities subjects I decided to quit the management course and signed up for a course in English and found myself at home with World Literature and Philosophy , even if it means having a 100-book requirement, anything to keep me away from the Math courses! Calculus or Trigonomoetry or Statistics. I dreaded Math with a passion.

Since both my parents were lawyers, I was strongly encouraged to take up a Law degree, to “continue the legacy” and with a heavy heart obliged. My first few months in Law school was the most horrible of days. I felt nauseous every time I woke up. I couldn’t see myself reading volumes of Supreme Court Rulings Annotated, or any text on Law for that matter..It drained my Spirit. I didn’t like what I was doing I didn’t feel like giving my best for something my heart doesn’t sing to and so I failed. I quit and decided to work instead.

A few odd jobs later I joined the outsourcing world and worked in the industry for 11 years, working nights, and did it all for the big climb to the top. Somewhere along the way I started to enjoy something difficult , it wasn’t in resonance with my heart song but did it all because it allowed me to build my confidence and my network grew along with it. I was in it for the money. Money changes us like this. Yes I was in the rat race, I had my corner office, and at the age of 30 I was one of the youngest female executives in the company, and only a few steps away from being CEO until everything went up in smoke, after 11 years, the burn out finally happened. I went into a phase of depression. I had everything going for me outside the home. No matter how many promotions came I felt so empty. When you’re living outside the heart, life will seem empty.

When I started to spend more time with my daughter, and nature… when I walked away from it all, when I started writing, when I started living in the heart things began to manifest meaning , and purpose, and clarity… I felt my soul growing.

I travel light these days… I have nothing but my books, my art stuff, my 10 inch Thinkpad , a few clothes, the rest just the basic necessities.. I have no one but my family and closest friends who keep me company everyday. I work from home. I work when I want. I’m a single mom, been single for 3 years now and not bothered at all by it, I have no regrets about this. I trust that every man comes at a time I need them most and when one goes I always find myself.I do not feel the need go up the ladder or rise above people anymore. I’ve stripped myself away from many things I knew and loved but I’ve never been happier in my life, and I’ve never felt more wealthy, and though some people I know may now look down on me and see me with eyes of sympathy and concern I can only smile secretly, and proudly, for when I had nothing I realized I had everything. I am thankful for the darkest hours, for it is in these darkest hours that I learned to illuminate my being. In adversity I learned how strong I am, and how much stronger I can be.

(You can read more about my journey here:

http://junocristi.blogspot.com/2011/05/on-early-july-of-2010-in-my-darkest- and.html)

You are dripping, soaking, wet in the pureness of Love. Can you tell us what inspires you to ooze such a degree of this precious essence?

When people ask me where I get my inspiration I always tell them that I am simply a messenger, and the message usually comes from my guides, and they always think that my guides are all otherworldly and I travel somewhere beyond the earthly plane. I don’t need to travel anywhere. God is here before me, in the air I breathe, in that tiny drop of water that meets the ground, in the beating of my heart and in the little voice inside me.

Anyone can be my guide…any person I resonate with, family, friend or stranger, man crossing the street, even the butterfy, the flower or the tree. Anything and anyone can be my source of inspiration once I tune in and seek this inspiration. Inspiration is that place where my soul feels at home, when I hear the music in me, when I listen with my heart. I intend to communicate with the world in this way, everyday for as long as my spirit breathes.

Your blog reflects your inner beauty, and the beauty of others. You have written many interviews of some of the most inspiring people on earth. What have they taught you about yourself?

I’ve always wanted to travel the world because I’d love to meet people from different walks of life, I wanted to know different life experiences and cultures. While I didn’t have the resources to do that, I found that I can still travel the world — in spirit. That’s what I’m doing with Soulspeak. It gave me a ticket to explore the world we live in through other people’s eyes and ears and voices.

Soulspeak opened up a world of wonder for me and I am grateful and honored to be given the platform to share their energies with the world and let others travel along with me, in spirit. In interviewing so many people from different locations and cultures I learned that we all aim for the same things, we all cry, we all fall down and get up, we all want to love and be loved, we all want this world to be a better place … I learned too that we are all unique in that we all have a beautiful message to share to the world. If we can just listen to each other we will hear that message. That’s the main thing I learned from myself from my guests I guess, that I discover a lot more by listening than by speaking.

Do you spend much time in nature?

Yes, I live in the city though so nature for me is this garden in front of me, and the sunlight I’m soaking in.

I really love the beach, the air in the ocean awakens me. I was just in a beach with my daughter the other day. It was so nice.

What or who restores your power?

One thing I learned recently is that “Power” is not the dream, “The Dream” is the power. So I keep dreaming, and that dream has lead me to where I am today, writing poetry and prose. Sharing my works and growing spiritually, mentally, emotionally, as I share.

Other than my dream I have my faith, my friends, my family – my daughter most especially as the pillars of my strength. I’ve been very ill recently and in moments when I knew the weaker me could just easily give up and be miserable and shut myself from the world, I kept going because of all the encouragement and help I’ve been getting in whatever way, shape or form.

Kaya has been a great source of strength for me. Everytime I look at her I am filled with the energy of love , and hope. I tell myself I cannot be weak, there is no choice but to be strong for my daughter, her future relies on this, and with that thought I persist, and energy carries me on to this very moment.

I also found that prayer really helps. It gives me a chance to ask and be given what I need, no more no less… just what I need. Knowing that God hears and listens and provides… I am at peace. I trust. All these give me strength.

What exciting things are happening in your life now in terms of your work and life in general and where do you hope this journey will take you?

I took some rest from writing and doing interviews since May. That’s when I got very ill and spent a lot of my time going in and out of hospitals. I’m not quite where I want to be yet healthwise, I am still encountering episodes of pain and the usual discomforts that come with a Gastrointestinal illness. But I’m grateful because everyday I feel that I am getting stronger and I am dealing better with it. I’ve accepted the fact that it may be chronic, but at least I know my way around it, and that has helped immensely in taking me to the next level. I’m bouncing back despite the illness. I figured that I shouldn’t let it keep me from what I want to do in my life. My passion has always been to write and to share my writings and that’s what this journey is all about for me. I don’t really know where it will take me, I just have full faith and trust in myself and in God right now that everything is all in divine order, and everything I’m going through is meant to bring me to where I should be. I try to live in the present moment and live my dreams one day at a time and not really expect so much or look so far into the future… I find that when I do that amazing surprises come my way.

For two years I wrote poetry without really thinking something greater will come out of it. Now I have a book coming out. (“Drops of Petals” : Poems from the Heart) It has all the poems I’ve written since 2010. I would never have thought of this 2 years ago- that I’ll be speaking about an upcoming book, published and in paperback. It’s all still quite bizarre if you ask me. But yes, it will be available in Amazon and Barnes & Noble and Apple Ibooks too. I am so excited about this.

Moreover, I am getting ready to post brand new interviews on Soulspeak (http://junocristi.blogspot.com/2011/10/soulspeak-cup-of-warmth-wonder- from.html). I’m also collaborating with a few content managers and bloggers who are interested in sharing my works in a larger audience.

I also plan to travel and promote my book in countries like China, Sweden, Poland, France, Spain, Russia, Romania, Germany… because my book is currently being translated in these languages. I don’t know when that will happen, soon hopefully.

So there, when I’m not doing mommy duties (my primary job), I write and network with people all over the world. That’s what’s keeping me busy and centered these days.

You are born a Libra, ruled by the planet Venus. Tell us now, beautiful goddess…What is Love?

Love is not just a word. It’s my world. It’s your world. It’s our world. Love is our true essence. Whether or not we understand it, whether or not we have faith in it, or need it, it is there. Love is always there. And even if we don’t believe in love, love believes in us. Love is all there is.

Do you believe you have a Twin Soul?

I don’t really believe in a Twin Soul, or that there is only one being out there meant for us, but based on experience I do believe that there are souls that resonate with me so highly – they mirror me in so many ways. Some call them Soulmates, some call it Destiny or Kismet. I don’t want to put a term to it, it is a concept that is beyond me. All I know is that when it happens it brings me feelings of immense joy and affection, peace and acceptance, and unconditional love… I learned not to explain it, but to savor the moment and feel grateful for the moment and allow this energy to free me.

What, and or, who, lives in the deepest part of your heart?

If you had asked me this question 3 years ago I would say my partner, or the people I love most and who love me most. But I learned, recently that it is God that lives in the deepest part of me… It’s the God I built a relationship with over time, it’s the God that I spoke to ever since I was a child. It’s the God that listens to every word I say, and who knows me very well to this day. It’s the God I pray to. The God who hears and listens. The God who has blessed me with the Mysteries of Life… The God who Creates… and the Creator works through me.

What is the first thing you see, when I say,” You are the universe”.

Stars.

I wrote this once… “Everything we’ve been through is everything we are… that’s how the universe shapes all its stars.”

I feel that we are stars. This is the essence of the Universe.

Do you have a message that you want to share with the world?

You don’t have a gift, YOU ARE THE GIFT, so open up and share that gift to the rest of world!

It has been an honor for me to interview such a lovely gift as you Juno. I trust I can speak for us all when I say, thank you for your beautiful contribution and the inspirational light that shines from your precious heart.

Holding you in a space of Love & Light,

Jules

To contact Juno Cristi :

Website: http://junocristi.blogspot.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/junocristi

Facebook: http://facebook.com/junocristi

Fan Page: http://facebook.com/junocristi11

E-mail: junocristi@gmail.com

With the Olympics coming up in a few weeks, now may be a great time to get back in shape. Use the inspirational stories from the athletes competing as motivation to get you started. You may not be a future olympian, but you can at least be an active adult that is doing the necessary things to keep your body healthy. The hardest part about starting a new fitness program is simply starting a new fitness program. The act itself of making the decision to lace your shoes up, put on some active wear and prepare your self mentally to work your body is the hardest part. Once you face this fear and actually do the exercise you feel energized and see the benefits firsthand. This mental challenge usually persists for the first week or so and then it just disappears. After a few weeks of being involved in a fitness program you start to see noticeable results that will excite you and make you want to continue. I suggest starting slow and building up. You don’t want to shock your body. Start by adding some extra activities to your normal routine. Go for a walk. Do a few push ups. Anything that is in addition to your regular routine. This will help acclimate your body to exercise and re-awaken the sleeping muscles. When you are ready to start your new fitness program, make sure to allot a time dedicated to fitness and block it out as part of your schedule.  You will customize your own schedule based on your desired results and available time. Making it part of your routine is important and will make you accountable. When you finally make the decision to get moving, these steps will help you on your path to wellness.

Strategies to getting the most out your program: Fitness Tips

Make sure you warm up before starting. This will bring blood to the areas being worked and warm up the tissue so you don’t strain anything. Focus on proper technique when performing exercises. This will maximize your workout. Stay hydrated. Make sure to stretch afterwards to reduce pain. Replenish your body by eating within 30 minutes of activity. Your goals and desired fitness level will determine the types of foods to consume. Exercise uses primarily carbohydrates, but you need some protein to rebuild muscle and  also some fruits and veggies to get your vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants to protect you from the free radicals produced during exercise. Your best bet is to eat a well-balanced diet filled with lots of fruits and veggies and supplemented with moderate amounts of  good fats and whole grains and limited amounts of proteins from multiple sources.

Pre – Start to your program:

This is the phase where you will decide on your personal goals and begin choosing your approach. You will want to consider your current health, which types of exercise you will perform, your availability, where you will exercise, and many other factors concerning the logistics of beginning this new program. Once you have mapped out a solid plan and are ready to begin you will move to the action part of the plan.

Day 1:

Time to start this new journey. Day 1 is easy because you are excited and ready for change. Show up at the alloted time and place and engage in the chosen activity. Your body is not accustomed to this new endeavor so you may become sore. Pay no attention to this as it is normal and just part of the process. Enjoy ! After the workout you will want to stretch and eat within 30 minutes to replenish what the body has lost. You will also want to stay hydrated before, during, and after your fitness routine. Hydration is very important.

Day 2:

This day may be more of a challenge as you may be tight and have sore muscles and your mind may be telling you discouraging things. Do not listen to the excuses. Instead remember the benefits you will receive. More energy, better skin, sharper mind, stronger body, and healthy. Show up and do the activity. The mind is important and you have to learn to listen to the right voices and ignore the others.

Day 3:

Similar to day 2 but you are becoming more aware of the big picture and less concerned with the discomfort. Show up and do the activity. Stay hydrated. Stretch afterwards, and eat within 30 minutes. Get a good night sleep.

Day 4:

The process is becoming easier now and your body has adjusted to the new strains. You may notice more strength and stamina and higher levels of energy. Keep up the good work, you are on your way to being fit.

Day 5:

This is when it gets tough again. The weekend is coming up and you feel that you have done some good work all week so you want to reward yourself and indulge some. This is OK as long as in your mind it is a temporary indulgence and come Monday your back on your routine schedule. The trouble arises when you get lazy over the week-end and can’t get yourself motivated on Monday and start making excuses. Your mind is a powerful tool and you have to learn to use its powers to better yourself and not allow it to weaken your motivation by telling you little lies.

Day 6 and 7:

Relax and evaluate what you have done for the week. If you do decide to indulge, try to utilize moderation and just dabble. Have a bite of this or a sip of that, I don’t recommend doing without.  Life is meant to be experienced  and enjoyed. On day seven you will want to start mentally preparing yourself for the upcoming week. Remember how good you felt after exercising and reevaluate your fitness goals to make sure you are staying on track. Continue on you journey and you will be as fit as fiddle in the near future.

Hope this has been beneficial to you and your wellness goals.

“Heal Yourself, Heal the Planet”

Jared Repass~ My Body Reboot

Staying hydrated is very important, especially in the summertime.  So why is hydration so important? I’m glad you asked. Your body is actually made up of mostly water and all of your cells, tissues, and organs need it to function properly. Water is used to remove waste, keep joints lubricated, regulate body temperature, and it is essential for life. I can see how one may get bored with plain old water, but nevertheless it must be consumed to stay hydrated. Your consumption level will change based on many factors such as your size, activity level, exposure to the elements, and so on. With this in mind you may want to add some appeal to the water to make it more drinkable.

Are you getting enough water?

Probably not considering over 70% of the population is chronically dehydrated. This can be lead to more serious problems. By leaving your body dried up you open the door to all kinds of health issues due to a compromised functioning of the vital organs such as joint problems, back pain, headaches, low energy, sleep problems, poor circulation, unhealthy stools, etc..

How to stay hydrated:

Well you definitely need to drink water and/ or fruits and veggies that contain water to stay hydrated. Why not have fun with your beverages and be creative. A blended water with your favorite natural flavors will taste good and will be more encouraging to drink. You can really have fun with and design your own beverages. I have personally did this to create a wonderful natural sports drink. I use coconut water as a base due to its high levels of minerals, then I add other fruits to enhance flavor and add more nutrition, and top it off with a high protein food source such as spinach or kale blend it and wallah! A highly hydrating and nutrient dense beverage that will restore what I have lost during exertion and help my body repair while staying hydrated.

More  Hydration Tips:

• Drink a glass of water first in the morning and right before bed.
• Eat foods that contain high water content.
• Keep a water bottle with you and sip throughout the day.
• Add a slice of lemon or lime to drink to add flavor and make less boring.
• Limit consumption of caffeinated beverages.
• Drink water when you feel hungry.
• When exercising drink water before, during, and after.

“Heal Yourself, Heal the Planet”

Jared Repass~My Body Reboot

Types of Whole Foods:

 Fruits: The seed bearing part of edible plants.

Vegetables: A plant or part of a plant used as food.

Legumes: A pod, such as that of a pea or bean, that splits into two valves with the seeds attached to one edge of the valves.

Grains: a seed or fruit of a cereal grass. Examples- Quinoa,Barley, Buckwheat, Spelt, Millet, Bulgar

Later I will be sharing some great Whole Foods Recipes so stay connected and Be Well.

“Heal Yourself, Heal the Planet”

Jared Repass~ My Body Reboot