My friends call me Jules.
♡ Today I aspire to be gracious, integral, honest and kind.
But I don’t want to go among mad people, said Alice. Oh, you can’t help that, said the cat. We’re all mad here.
Hello and and a big huge welcome.
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. Dalai Lama.
Art is c❀❀l. ㄥ❀∨モ is all there is.
A little gift for you today.
♥ the jbulie story
My name is Julie. My friends call me Jules. I was born in Southern California, lived there until I was 30. Then I moved to Europe.
❀ne day I was sitting at my office at my desk working for big corporation, with a nice boss, an apartment by the beach in California, when I prayed for courage to change my life for the better.
Then, in an office meeting with my boss on my annual review, she offered a raise.
In a moment of clarity, I answered,
No, thank you. I’m going to move to Europe.
Just write.
So I did. Within two months I sublet my rent control apartment, sold my car, found a decent owner for my sweet cat and bought a one way ticket.
It would be nice to say I never looked back. Of course, I did. I left all of my family, my friends and everything I knew.
However, I needed to grow as a person. So I took a risk and it paid off.
I have since married a great man who is a super nice guy. We have bought a house and have two boys whom we adore.
♡ Call on God but row away from the rocks.
♡ In order to be happy in the present moment you have to be willing to give up all hope for a better past.
♡ Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
♡ Awake, my little one! Before life’s liquor in its cup be dry! The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
♡ There are two things we should give our children ~ one is roots and the other is wings.
Yum.
I believe you have to sometimes immerse yourself in an unfamiliar world to truly understand your own.
If you don’t know the answer, mumble, or stand to someone who looks like they do. 
I often write about motivation and inspiration because they are two of my favorite two subjects. One of my most inspirational stories was when I was in high school on swim team.
My sister was my greatest motivator. She’d cheer ‘Go Julie’ as I swam down the lanes. She advised me to swim away from the shark or towards the chocolate cake. We now both agree to swim away from the chocolate cake. I’m joking! The point is, we all have different motivators in our lives. I was lucky at a young age to have had a great one.
Before you leave don’t forget to visit jbulie’s art gallery to see her paintings.
Julie,
I AM SO PROUD OF YOU!!!! (Look, I used capitals)
Thanks mom. You continue to be the best mom ever.
xo
Jb
Julie,
Appreciate your visit. Just added you on.
My wife has a saying I love. “We believe in a life of grace and dignity.” The blog is part of my effort to reach out to the folks in the world of like mind, and your site indicates y’all live that way too.
Thanks for adding me on your blogroll. I’m on FaceBook, too. I find I have more musicians there and writers on wordpress, but both are open to good folks everywhere.
Dr. B
Thanks Dr. B,
That was very kind of you. I think your wife’s saying is just sweet. I believe she has a point there. I always strive towards healthy values. Often I fall short of those but I think it is important to always have goals of loveliness, kindness, goodness and integrity.
Julie
By the way, your blog, helpful comments and book are fantastic.
Ciao Jules … so glad to have a peek into your life in Italy. I remember your journal writing on Via Guelfa, sitting at our little, two-person marble-topped kitchen table next to the window. I remember the time your mom sent you a pair of shoes with Mrs. Field’s cookies ticked in them and we were so excited to have a real chocloate chip cookie, until we realized they smelled and tasted like your shoes! (I’ve never quite been able to eat Mrs. Field’s since!)
I love that we can fast forward 21 years and say that we are both still writing and still enjoying life. Add my blog to your Blogroll and I’ll add yours to mine
I think you’ll recognize the people in this post:
http://localfood.wordpress.com/2009/02/14/sweet-workers/
Keep writing …
xo,
Julie
http://www.localfood.wordpress.com
Jules ~ you have been just one of the greatest live by example people I have every come across in my life.
I TRULY got lucky when you were my room mate for our year abroad in Florence. We laughed so so much, didn’t we?
For friends of mine, especially in northern California, I highly recommend you buy a side of beef from Julie and her husband Joe’s incredible ranch.
The link is http://www.morrisgrassfed.com/
You’ll read:
Welcome to the ranch. Morris Grassfed provides certified, 100% grassfed and finished beef to customers throughout California. Our beef is processed in USDA inspected facilities, cut & wrapped by small-scale artisan butchers, and delivered directly to you at pre-arranged drop-off points throughout the year.
Thanks Jules for being one of my VERY first blog supporters.
xo
Just a note to say there are more people out here who will not respond to your writings that are writers learning the craft. Your post on learning was excellent. Keep up the good work. Show us the universal characters you meet, the food you eat and the music you hear.
Don’t be worried how many people read, be more interested in how true your words.
A fellow reader of Dr. Bibey
Good Luck
Thank you for taking the time to write the comments above. Believe it or not, I thought at length about your comments. I considered how to be truthful to myself and my readers, to be upfront and to try to convey the essence of my life in Italy.
I know what you mean about not worrying about traffic and digging deeper into the lives around me. I’m trying to convey that across a keyboard and a white screen. I worry about traffic because I wonder if I’m talking to myself or to real people. I’ve eased up a little bit though seeing how my numbers are doing well.
What am I learning is that all of the years that I have spent reading and researching, there are real people whose lives I might be effecting on the other end of the screen. I don’t know. I hope so if it is in a positive way. I never considered that my audience would be new writers.
Thank you for that. I have to choose a direction for this site, if it is to be based on motivation, writing, or Italy. Or maybe teaching. I hope my visitors aren’t afraid to comment or even make mistakes in their English.
I hope you guys become a regular visitors.
My best to you and yours.
Julie
By the way, each and every time one of my readers writes excellent or outstanding about my posts, it makes me smile. Thank you for that.
I’m glad I stumbled upon your blog. It’s very fun to read and I’m somewhat envious of your locale. I ♥ Italian cuisine.
I’m happy you stopped by too. I’m always happy to have visitors here.
Julie
Julie,
Love your writing and really enjoy the beautiful pictures. It shows that you take your time with the content and the photography. It’s an inspiration to me and when I open your blog every time it takes me back to the days I waited with anticipation for Martha Stewart to do her next show. Thanks for being you and exposing myself and others to a different part of life, through Italy and through your boundless thought provoking wisdom! Cheers~
Rose,
I thank you for your comment. Any comparison to a real writer is flattering and goes right to my head. Strangely enough I have been compared to Nietzsche, Satyr and now Martha! Although I have to admit most comparisons go right over my head. : )
Still I write because I love to inspire. And of course I love to write. Thank you for visiting. I’m hoping you become a regular visitor! I am steps away from announcing my first on line give away. The paint is dry. I wish I had more confidence as a painter.
I don’t know what I’m doing but I’m good at pretending. I’m learning from my children and the people around me.
Have a blessed day,
Julie
Dear Julie,
A heartfelt congratulations! Can’t wait to read through the whole blog, but what I’ve read so far is really good!
Brava!
Thank Maribel
I do so much appreciate your support. Congratulations on your growing business.
For those who don’t know, Maribel runs an excellent cooking school here in Italy. Visit her facebook page here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Taste-of-Italy/177505140427
Julie
My daughter is named Julie.
You’ve got a nice brain… I think I’ll showcase it around my place if you don’t mind.
~
An honor and a privilege. Thanks.
Hi Honey, I tried to comment on your write anything space, but my my computer wouldn’t access the page. Nice work.
About me. I am in computer hell. I think I got it fixed but I’m sure its only temporary. Love ya.\Mom
Thanks mom. Looks like you figured it out and were able to comment. Thank you for always being so supportive. What a great mom and parents I’ve been blessed with.
xo
I was flipping through my blog’s FB fan page and came across your name, then clicked on your blog in your profile…what a wonderful find! Looking forward to reading more of you and getting to know you better
Michelle, I feel like I just got the nod from Oprah you are driving so many visitors to my site. It must be the goat. She’s bringing me good luck.
Julie
I followed Michelle from Bleeding Espresso to your blog and I am already enjoying myself. I have added you to my blogroll. If Michelle recommends you, then I can’t go wrong, right?
Nice to meet you! Your blog looks great. You’ll see it’s going to grow in leaps and bounds. Thanks for the blogroll add. My granddads both immigrated to USA in the 20s too so you and I are doing the EXACT same trip!
Welcome.
“Excellent” AND “outstanding,” both! Of course any referral from Michelle is bound to be well worth the click….And of course, an add to the blogroll!
Well done.
Dear Anna,
I was quite certain I had responded earlier to this yet perhaps I left the comment on your blog. Michelle at bleedingespresso.com has been a constant source of friendships and good advice to me. Happy to have met you through her.
Julie
Ciao another American in Italy (Rome).
I heard about your blog via Michelle at Bleeding Espresso. I love it. Looking forward to reading more!!
Hey congratulations on having your screenplay being picked up by a major network and being turned into a film. What a fantastic dream come true. Friends, worth the click!
Julie
Hey Cous!! Excellent work….you make me smile! Love ya. Kris
Yes sweetheart. I’m happy to have you drop in for a chat any day. Hope you like my writing and my paintings.
xo
Cousin Julie
Hi Julie,
I wrote to Annika the other day about the English books, I have seen that you would like to have the list. You can send me your email and then I will send you the file .xls
Thanks,
Paola
Paola, she forwarded it to me, thanks. Great collections. Can’t wait to get some.
Thanks, Julie! Hope to hear from you then! If you need any information do not hesitate to ask!
Julie,
Have just run through your blog and found it lovely, so filled with a positive energy. Good for you!
Funny thing, I have seen your comments on Bruce’s FB but not until I read your blog did I realize you were posting from Italy! I love Italy and we go at least once a year. Where are you living? Dain and I plan on retiring there soon for at least part of the year as soon as we can.
Anyway, love the Buddha story about accepting “gifts”, so very true.
Take care! Ciao.
Jille
Great to see you friend. I love it when people come across my blog. It reminds me of what it is like to see a great friend after many years. The friendship picks up exactly as you left it. Friends are AWESOME for that. Time nor distance can stand between you.
Julie
Congrats on passing 5000 visitor mark! WOW that was a huge leap in readers, so exciting honey! You are amazing, I will keep saying it! xxx
Hi great job on the blog
Hey Tana,
Thank you. I’m happy to see that my reader base continues to rise. I’m surprised that people keep coming back for more. I don’t mind. I’m happy to blog now that I got over my initial blogging jitters of sharing my life online.
xo
Hey Julie, I wanted you to know I wrote a blog post about your blog and your ebook. Take a look and let me know if you get traffic from my blog. I sure hope you do!
That was so sweet of you! How nice. I can’t wait to go over and read it. Where’s my link? Where’s my link?!
Probably next to my car keys and remote.
Found it! http://italianmamachef.wordpress.com/?s=jbulie
Julie
Julie — I found your site from Blogging without a Blog (Barbara) and I loved this “About Julie!” very much, especially the swimming story. Now that you’re swimming away from the chocolate cake, what are swimming towards?
I hope you will find blogging as much fun as I have. I’ve been at since 2007 and it’s allowed my own creativity to expand, but most of all, I have been lucky enough to meet the most wonderful people from all the world.
Enjoy it…I like your site very much:~)
Goodness gracious. Welcome. What a sweet thing to write. I’m sort of left speechless. Ask my friends, that’s a rarity.
I have vivid memories of my sister walking up and down the lanes. I can hear her voice coaching me. It’s the people around us who propel us to make our lives better.
You ask what I’m swimming towards these days? The beach.
I have three more days of final exams, I’m a teacher, then I’m off with my kids to rest, relax and read. Cannot wait.
Thanks for the visit and making me think.
Julie
Self empowerment….we all want it, but how do we get it?
We get it by not wanting anything from this world. Simple!
Would you like to know more?
Join me… http://www.davidgcoles.wordpress.com
Great site,
David
Thanks for leaving your input David.
Julie
Julie,
Hope this finds you well. Somehow your comment just now came thru about the WNCW radio show, but if you heard it, you would indeed be the listener from the longest distance away.
If you’ll send me an e-mail with an address, I’ll get a copy of “The Mandolin Case” out to you. We are tempoarily out of stock on Amazon, (formatting for Kindle and IPad) but should be up and running again very soon.
Ain’t this blog world the greatest?
Dr. B
Yay! Thank you. I’ll send it via fb email.
Pingback: Guest Post- Julie Angelos Lama «
Dear Michelle,
Thank you so much for asking me to be a guest writer for your blog. That was fun to do. I hope your readers enjoyed it.
Julie
Another warm bio, makes me happy.
Thanks Alex,
Anything we can do to make another person in the world smile. Your comment makes me happy!
Julie
You’re gorgeous, brilliant, and put a smile on my face
Ha ha ha Jaclyn Rae,
You and I both know who the brilliant one is. It is MOST certainly a young girl named JR who has the courage to share inspirational messages one after the other.
Thanks for the lift though! I appreciate it.
Julie
Kudos on having the courage to live out your dream. Most people are too stuck in their rut to attempt it and live out lives of quiet desperation.
Blessings on you and yours
John Wilder
Thank you Mr. Wilder,
That was kind of you to stop by my blog and leave a comment. It does take courage to live your dream. It takes action too. I cannot tell you how many years I prayed to have the courage to make a decision to make my life better. Once I did make that decision things seemed to just line up. Perhaps it is about having all your ducks in a row?
Best to you and continued blessings on your marriage coaching business.
Julie
Hi Julie,
I just bumped into your blog and really like your articles and the style of the blog. Where exactly do you live in Italy?
Best
Juliane
Hi Juliane!
So nice to meet you. I clicked on over to your blog and see that it’s in German! Wow. You English is amazing. I can never get over the fact that northern Europeans speak such excellent English. I hope you become a regular visitor. It’s nice that you left a comment.
Julie
I was wondering if you wanted to add each other to our blog lists?
Great idea Alessandra. I’m doing so immediately.
Julie
Ciao Bella! Meant to reply to your lovely comment/compliment here as well. Enjoying your blog and I actually really like your About page. No editing needed girl! Looks like quite a few people agree with me =) Definitely adding you to my link list. So nice to “meet” you!
Ahh! Thanks Guyanne. That was super sweet of you to link me to your blog. A kind word is SO appreciated. I need that today. I did.
No editing!? ha ha ha. I’m editing all the time. I think, should I say rent control apartment or just apartment in Santa Monica. Does it make a difference to the story? I don’t know.
In the mean time, I loved your recent mille miglie pictures and your fun drink, it looks simple and delicious, sort of the Italian version of a car boot party. Instead of a lovely picnic in the back of a truck, you guys are in Ferraris drinking whipped sorbets. Love it. Live it.
Jules
your story sounds like it could be a cool movie
it takes guts to do what you did…..pick up & move miles away….I wish I had the same adventurous spirit.
BJ, honestly it took years of prayer before actually doing something about it. When I did make my decision and told my boss I was leaving, my body shook but I knew it was right. That was 15 years ago. I wonder if I still have the same courage now.
Thank you for creating such an inspiring blog filled with hope and positivity x
You ARE welcome! It’s been a pleasure. I’m doing my best, that’s all I can do, I think. Happy to have you stop by. Thank for taking the time to comment!
Julie
Hello Jules! I went through your blog, your words give out the aroma of warmth, love and happiness. It was a great pleasure reading your stuff, I can say for granted that you are one of those people who can bring about change with small sweet deeds. keep up the great work!
Ohhh. I wish I believed your words. Thank you though for saying them. I know when I put my heart into doing something the rewards are enormous. I don’t think I have any answers what so ever. I do try though. I set out to make a positive life for myself. I think the only way to do so is through decidion and practice.
Thanks again. I love your word choices.
you’re really a good webmaster. The web site loading speed is incredible. It seems that you are doing any unique trick. Furthermore, The contents are masterwork. you have done a excellent job on this topic!
Dear TDC, If I’m not mistaken, your above comment might be considered spam. That’s okay, I’ll take the compliment.
Hi Julie,
I just love your blog. I’m also so glad you posted your story too. It’s wonderful and inspiring. Thanks for stopping by my blog too.
D
Oh, thank you! I wish I knew what there was to love about it. I just love writing. Actually, when I watch my fingers float across the keyboard, it so reminds me of being little sitting side by side with my sister as her fingers actually produced tunes. I suppose I have tunes in there too, but mine are strung into words.
Julie
Great story and great blog Julie!
I too left corporate America at the age of 30, but headed in a bit of a different direction. I moved to a tiny village in Guyana, South America where there is no electricity or running water! I obtained funding from the EU to open a computer education school in this village. We are totally solar powered, we teach free classes to 30 adult and secondary school students 3 times per week. My family and I needed a change, so we made that change happen. Now we are able to make changes happen for other people every day.
Life is a blessing too rich to keep to yourself!
Billy Nobles
http://www.billynobles.wordpress.com
billynobles@rocketmail.com
Well thank you very much Billy. Interesting life you lead in Guyana! That’s an amazing choice to leave corporate America for such a remote village. I applaud you on that one. I’m such a comfort person I don’t know if I could do such a drastic move but you gave me a great idea on the EU bit! I so appreciate learning and teaching. I still will never forget my favorite teacher, Mr. McGreevy when he told me that the only way to succeed is to love learning. Boy, did that change my life. Now I think I just want to learn everything! Still, thank you for taking the time to drop by my blog and leave a comment.
Good luck out there!
Julie
I’ve really enjoyed your Blog and meeting you throught it this year so I’m stopping by to wish you a very happy Christmas
Great Blog! You sound a wonderful person, Julie! I’m sure there are lots of things I could learn from you.
Waram Regards,
Subhan
Thank you SO much for the kind words. They are truly appreciated. I try to give all I can to my friends, family and work. Thank you for dropping in and saying hello!
Julie