A New Feel: Scenes from the store
Above: Juli, new owner of Living GreenJuli's background is anything but ordinary. She comes from a diverse background that has clearly given her the experience to cater to many different types of people. What has stayed with her all these years has been an understanding that anything is possible, "There was this knowing inside of me, this seed, and it was my belief that I am capable of so much," Juli told me Friday afternoon.
Juli's powerful belief in herself allowed her to weather through the hard times, as she was questioned and faced a lack of acceptance throughout her life by her family, with whom she did not quite fit in. She often spent time with her grandparents, Seventh Day Adventists, from whom she learned all about supplements, herbs, and homeopathic medicine. Her loving grandparents and growing up in, as she puts it "the granola capitol of the U.S." Eugene, Oregon, have all inspired an understanding and passion for natural medicine and nutrition.
"When you are in nursing you are always trying to help heal your patients, in every way you can," says Juli, whose deep compassion for the people that she worked with ultimately led her to leave nursing, in order to find different ways of helping people and to find her own inner balance. As a nurse, Juli tried to commit suicide and survived, landing in the hospital. All of a sudden everything she had been hiding from herself and others was exposed.
As she describes it, "I was really sick while I was a nurse. I was smoking, bulimic, and addicted in many ways. I had been suicidal since I was a girl." This would be the beginning of Juli's transformation, as the potential that she knew existed within her bloomed. Juli quit nursing and did some deep soul searching, giving away her possessions, taking on a new job, and moving to a new city.
Juli left Portland and her nursing career with few remnants of her old life. It was this release of her belongings and the simplification of her life that, she believes, opened up a world of possibilities. She built up her life and finances, and relocated to Whidbey Island, where she dreamed of having an office in Langley. It was a chance visit to Living Green, and seeing the "for sale" sign that gave her a sudden realization that THIS is what she wanted to do. She describes it as, "a moment of recognition," that she wanted to become the new owner of Living Green.
Juli looks at me, and with the kind of passion that makes me feel like she is right there on the day she discovered the store for sale, she says, "I thought, how could I do this? But how could I not? I love cooking, I love people, I love nutrition, I love homeopathy . . ." And so began her acquisition of the store.
After much simplification, cleaning out the old, bringing in the new: new espresso, new wiring, new fridges, new decorations, new merchandise, she has accomplished something quite astonishing. I walk around the store marveling at how open and inviting it feels. Juli's potent combination of efficiency and simplification opened up the space, all the while offering more services and products. There is an espresso and tea area in the back. The bulk food bins are full. There are bulk spices in glass jars. A large, stylish couch wraps around a wall and the dining area.
Juli has also retained many of the things that I always loved about Living Green. Bapu Land, a magical closet painted as a fairy land with toys for the kids is magical as ever. The lunch menu still offers great food and smoothies.
Juli is excited to be offering a much needed service to the community as she expands Living Green's offerings to include a bulk food section (try the really fresh nuts and cranberries), bulk herbs, fresh tea and espresso, Eco water bottles with cool Asian inspired designs, local foods (Mr. Mobley's Sauce anyone?), and an inviting and friendly atmosphere.
Some exciting changes are also in the works. Being open on Sundays, adding fish to the menu, a meditation/yoga room, and new products are all potentially part of the new plan. Juli wants to have dinners at the store, "a little candle lighting, as if people are coming into my home, tasting the food, smelling it, and enjoying it." Juli looks forward to "people getting excited about products that I carry. Having a response like, 'Look what I found, wow!' and trying something new."
Juli describes Living Green as "magical." From the moment she was inspired to buy it she felt the magic. She experienced Living Green as being "in a safe place where I could take away my facade and be who I really am." And she knows you will feel some of that magic too. . .
The bulk section all spruced up
Juli sits by the new espresso machines in the back of the store by the kitchen
L: Tea and hot water in the back room R: Local Mr. Mobley Sauce and other products
Above: View to the kitchen
Above: Dining Area
Menu, and quiet, peaceful tea setting in the dining room
Menus: Masters and Juice Bar
L: Eco Bottles R: Juli shows some of the Eco Bottle company's new designs
Above & Below: Thoughtful Tea Cups, hmmmm . . .
L: Wall hangings, Juli seated as seen in the mirror R: flying frogs
L&R: Bapu Land, Kids play corner and room, painted beautifully by Tom Giffin
L& R: More scenes from Bapu Land
L: homeopathic medicine and other natural remedies R: new decorations in the dining area
The Front Desk, Checkout
New table looks outside to the outdoor seating and 2nd street
L: Entrance R: Remedies
Checkout Living Green and the new changes, it's located at 2nd Street and de Bryn Ave:
Google Map
630 2nd St # A
Langley, WA 98260
(360) 221-8242Juli's website: http://www.bejuledcoaching.com
Contact:
Juli An Panfilio
owner Living Green
Holistic Wellness Educator & Coach
julilivgreen@gmail.com
Above: View from 2nd street
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4 comments:
Wow! Thanks for the information. I will be sure to go by for a visit -- and some shopping.
Thanks Candice for the great info! You're an awesome writer!
Thanks Candice for the great info! You're an awesome writer!
Wow, I can't believe this is Living Green! I've got to go check it out! GREAT PICS Candice!
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