The Work of Fabio Napoleoni

Since I'm clearly in an artsy mood I thought I would share another one of my favorite artists with you - Fabio Napoleoni. I discovered him a few years back when I stopped in an art gallery in Florida and saw this...

Your Presence is Required

It grabbed my attention and sucked me in. I just kept staring at it. I was so drawn to this beautiful, sad, yet deeply touching piece of art, that I couldn't pull myself away. It moved me in a way I was completely unprepared for.

When I got home I researched the artist and found that he had started this particular set of work when his second daughter was born with serious heart problems and had to undergo major surgeries. He was so deeply distraught during this time that it was like the door to what he was missing in his work had suddenly blown open revealing to him what he needed, what element was missing.

The main character in his work, the funny little stitched together creature that you see, if I remember correctly, is actually his daughters doll. The good news - his daughter is going strong.

The truth is I haven't been the same since that day in the gallery. I know that sounds dramatic, and maybe you need to be up close and personal with one of these to feel the story it's telling, but it did make an impact on me. I actually think about his work often. I bought a small replicated piece of his work that day, Hope is Free, and actually do hope one day to own an original of his. It's on my bucket list anyway. I hope all of you get to see one up close and personal at some point too. It's worth it. It's life changing.

Please Fill the Emptiness

The Love Note

All photos taken from his website, http://fabionapoleoni.com/

Who's your favorite artist? I'm always looking for new art interests! Details, please. 


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Bank on This

Update---> If you like any of the pictures you see on the right and left hand sides of my blog, you can now purchase them (some, so far) at Society6. 

I See Silver

"When you have come to the edge of all the light you know, and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: There will either be something solid to stand on or you will be taught how to fly." - Anonymous

If you want to be given everything, give everything up.
Tao Te Ching

This is how I feel right now except instead of stepping off into the unknown I am going to be pushed. It's not like I didn't know this was a possibility. It has been for a while. It's just that I've come to terms with it. The "it" which I'm referencing is being laid off. I work for a company that is making some changes in terms of people numbers and a lot of people are going to get laid off. It's no secret, it's just a secret to those of us who work there as to what happens to who and when exactly.

As I was driving to work the other day, pondering life, I saw the most beautiful sunrise. Looking at the clouds in the early morning light I knew that everything - everything - was going to be alright. It was in the way the sun shined on and sparkled through the clouds. It was like hope come to life in a picture in the sky. I know I should feel panicked. After all, I've only worked there since I was 17 and devoted my entire working career to this place. However, this possibility has lurked in the background for a while, giving me the chance to really think this through. To calm myself and any worries and to see the silver lining to this whole situation.

So instead of freaking out I've imagined this being a good thing, much like I did prior to sky diving. Before the big jump I pictured myself stepping off into the unknown, taking a deep breath, and being calm, happy, and at peace with the nothing below my feet. When the day finally arrived to jump, instead of a feeling of terror rising up, I felt...free. It was liberating even. That is how I'm picturing this.

Nothing may even happen. Some strange twist of fate could place me somewhere completely different but my gut tells me otherwise. Whether it be sooner or later, I believe my time is up because it's meant to be. I've decided that this is a chance to see what else is out there. Not that I don't enjoy my work or haven't over the years but when you get right down to it, and the basics of the whole place, we're like two pieces of a different puzzle. I need art and life and creativity. The closest I have to that now is the ability to make PowerPoints and SharePoint sites and even then I have limitations as to what they can look like.

As strange and stupid as this may sound, I am more afraid of it not happening than of it happening at all. I don't want to miss an opportunity to be different. To try something new. To let go of the thing that in many ways holds me back from being me.

I think we hold on to certain things or ideas of what our life is supposed to look like in an attempt to balance ourselves. We fear that if we let go we will lose the delicate hold we have on our realities. We don't realize that the things we're holding on to may instead be an anchor, dragging us down, pulling us away from changes that might serve us better. I don't want to hold on to an anchor anymore.

I've been very seriously going over this in my head and have decided that if I'm set free, not only am I meant to be let go, but this is a step that I need to continue on my path. Because really, when it comes right down to it, I'm stubborn and I hate giving up so sometimes a push is exactly what I need.

So what is the silver lining that I see coming from all of this? I can write more. Every day even, without losing sleep or trying to fit it in my busy schedule. I can always go work on Royal Caribbean as a Cupcake Supervisor. This is an actual job and I am very seriously thinking of applying. I've managed all kinds of things - people, reports, confidential items - I can certainly handle cupcakes and travel all around the world at the same time.

Then there's school of course, me and my eternal addiction to learning! I already signed up to re-audit the nutrition classes next year (see what's changed, see what's new) so maybe I could get certified in a few other things. Or become an architect, learn French, take piano lessons again, for the third time. And maybe, just maybe, I'll find my dream job.

I know I'm not the only one going through this. I know everyone is uncertain of the future in these times. It's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel when you are in the midst of the overwhelming darkness. I believe that everything happens for a reason, even if you don't know what the reason is right away. I believe that if you're patient enough to wait and find out, if you're open and aware to the opportunities that present themselves, eventually the "why" of it all will come to the surface and everything will make sense.

To everyone who is in this same boat with me, please pause before you panic. The waves may be choppy and the shore may be far off in the distance, but it's there. Land exists and you will find it when and how you're supposed to.

Remember that you are strong and capable. Endless opportunities are waiting out there. While they might not be what you expected, they still exist and they might just have something to teach you. They might just be exactly what you need, without even knowing it. Above all else, you have friends and family members that care about you. You are not alone in this. You will find your silver lining.

"I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness for it shows me the stars."
- Og Mandino

Bank on This

I was in France recently, perusing a book store, when I came upon a whole slew of incredibly awesome graffiti books. You see, graffiti makes me happy. Happy like it's-my-birthday-and-I-got-the-pony-I've-been-asking-for-my-entire-life kind of happy. I really, truly love it. I'm picky though, it has to be the real deal, not the random junk that gets sprawled all over the place. I'm talking about the artistic ones that make you stop and just think, wonder, question what it's all about. The ones that tell some kind of a story. The ones that make you feel...something.

One of the books I found was Banksy Wall and Piece, a book about a graffiti artist whose unique stencil graffiti has shown up all around the world. His art is always questioning the rules, the government, society in general and while other graffiti artists may reveal who they are, Banksy remains a mysterious unknown individual, which just makes him that much more interesting. The book is excellent if not for the art but also for what he says about each piece. It makes you want to go on a scavenger hunt all over town for his work.

After my trip I was pretty enthralled with all of this graffiti business and came across a movie called Exit Through the Gift Shop. The whole thing is about graffiti artists, but more specifically about the guy who was supposed to be making a documentary on them, Thierry Guetta, AKA Mr. Brainwash. He was obsessed with filming EVERYTHING (I do mean everything) and one day became hooked on filming street art. He started following street artists around and ended up telling them he was going to do a documentary on their work, except that he had no actual intention of doing that. He just had an obsession with filming it. He becomes friends with all the street art clan and finally meets Banksy who befriends him and, breaking all his own personal rules, lets him in on his life as a graffiti artist.

This guy, Mr. Brainwash, then decides he wants to be a graffiti artist but he goes about it an entirely different way and ends up hiring people to make his art for him. Yep. He gets the ideas and they do the work. Then, get this, he makes it big. Madonna big, as in she hired him to do an album cover. I'm not going to lie, he has some good work, but the way he went about "making it" just seems off. I prefer my street artists to be in the street, for a while, earning their name. I guess I wouldn't really call him a street artist at all. I really don't know what the heck to call him actually. I don't want to totally diss the guy since you have to give him credit for being creative and risking a lot of things, but at the same time he kind of cheapened street art, and that just...sucks.

I must say the movie is excellent. It made me open my eyes a little wider to the world of graffiti. Now I look for it everywhere. Now I understand it a little better. I guess what really got me about all of it is how Banksy views the criticism of street art. In his book he writes, "Despite what they say graffiti is not the lowest form of art...it exhibits on the best walls a town has to offer and nobody is put off by the price of admission. The people who truly deface our neighborhoods are the companies that scrawl giant slogans across buildings and buses trying to make us feel inadequate unless we buy their stuff. They expect to be able to shout their message in your face from every available surface but you're never allowed to answer back."

I never thought of it that way but he's right. I would much rather look at graffiti, the artistic version, than advertisements. So yeah, I'm a fan. Street art just makes the streets more interesting. It's intriguing and beautiful. In fact, I secretly (yet clearly non-secretly) hope he reads this and decides to come here and mark our city up a little. I'll even be the lookout and I promise not to go all Mr. Brainwash crazy.

Want to see more of his work? Go here:
80+ Beautiful Street Crimes by Banksy

Are you a fan of graffiti? Hate it? Have any cools pics you've taken? Or have you possibly seen a Banksy work of art, up close and personal? Which means I'll be jealous...

The Kindness Chronicles - Healing Foods

Hippocrates, the ancient Greek physician, who is thought of as one of the most important people in the history of medicine, said "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." How true it is that foods have incredible healing powers. If you read my post All is Forlorn for I've Lost my Mind, you know where I'm coming from here. 

We wouldn't need food to survive if it didn't play an important role in our lives - keeping us strong and healthy. When we're not, it's time to turn back to food to see what exactly it is that we're needing. Very often a food craving means there is something specific you need. For example, when we're craving sweets it's because we haven't had enough protein. 

Sometimes it take a little Googling to find out what the food your eating is providing to you. However, some foods, just by the way they look, tell you what they're good for. The carrot, round, is good for the eyes. Walnuts almost exactly resemble the brain which is why we call them "brain food." Kidney beans help the (maybe you've already guessed it) kidneys. Tomatoes resemble a heart and help the functions of it as well as maintaining good blood flow in the body. Get this - an avocado takes 9 months to grow, much like a baby in his mom's belly, and can you guess what it does? Balances hormones in women and promotes health in the cervix and womb. Wow, right? Wow.

So what is the kindest thing you can do for yourself when you're sick? Heal yourself with the foods that are designed to heal you.

Here is a list of some of the more common ailments and what foods you can eat to heal yourself naturally. 

Stomach Aches

An aching in your tummy is a sign that something has gone amiss. It might be that the good flora has been over powered by the bad flora. It might be that something you ate contained a contaminant and your body is trying to fight it off. It might just be that you ate something you really shouldn't have. No matter what, your go-to foods are ginger, peppermint, and coconut. If you can't find the actual foods, teas are excellent for this. Either way, by eating or drinking these your stomach ache will cease as your body will have extra nutrients from these foods to start balancing the scale between good and evil again.

Headaches and Migraines

Pains in the head can be caused by a lot of things, like crazy coworkers and the traffic jam on your daily commute to work, however, they are also caused by life factors like stress and tension and more commonly, by dehydration and nutrients your body is lacking. They can also be caused by bad food chemicals like synthetic sodium nitrates which are found in lunch meats, bacon, and dried fruit. 

To remedy this grab yourself a handful of almonds and drink a lot of water, a whole heck of a lot. If you get migraines, eat a handful of almonds weekly, or daily if needed. Your migraines will go away. I've seen it happen on people who had chronic issues with no return once they implemented this into their daily life.

Sore Throats

I hate sore throats, however, I used to hate the terrible tasting medicine associate with it even more. Now I don't have to worry about that thanks to pomegranates, cherries, and plums. Think about the color of your throat and the color of these foods. Similar for a reason. It's the antioxidants in them that heal you up when you're feeling an aching since you're missing what they provide to fight off the illness and inflammation. These foods can be hard to find year round so my advice is to get yourself some POM juice. Drink one or two of the little ones (pom and cherry mix, if you can find it) and you should be good to go within 24-48 hours. I have used this method several times and it never fails me. 

Congestion

Got a cough that just wont go away? Feeling congested in the chest at night? Any and all congestion problems can be healed up with pears or pear juice. The juice of the pear breaks down the ick that is causing you discomfort. Incredibly helpful, I promise you. A friend of mine used this after she'd been on cough and congestion medication that hadn't done any good and voila! All her congestion went away after she went the pear route.

Canker Sores

Canker sores are things of nightmares. Stress, injury to the mouth, or even elevated levels of the amino acid arginine may cause them. You may have heard that garlic works, but did you know that coconut milk and kiwi's kick the behinds of canker sores like it's no ones business? Well they do. Kiwi's in particular are like Jackie Chan to the bad guy canker sore. You do not want to mess with the kiwi!

If you want to go the coconut route, get a can of all natural coconut milk (the coconut milk in cartons is not the same) and hold it in your mouth as you drink it. Otherwise, eat one kiwi. The pain will go away and the sore will heal up faster than you can imagine with both methods. And if you have a doosey of a sore use the Triple Threat Technique: Drink some coconut milk, eat a kiwi, and put Alum powder on the sore. This will burn because of the intensity of the sore itself, but by the next day all (and I mean ALL) the pain will be gone and the sore will be healing up like you wouldn't believe. If you frequently get canker sores eat a kiwi a week. Problem solved.

Detoxing

Toxins build up in our bodies the same way dust builds up on our furniture. You clean and clean and it just keeps coming back. This is due to the bad foods we eat, the chemicals in the air and in the products we use. Lemons and grapefruits are the go to foods for this. Put the juice from lemons or grapefruits in your water and get the toxins out that way if you're not a big fan of eating them. Do this on a regular basis and you'll be ahead of the game.


 Update---> A friend asked about a treatment for ear aches. Mullein Root is the most common treatment, however there is another option. Get a cloth and soak it in hot water, as hot as can be withstood. Fry up some garlic in a pan with olive oil. Put that, plus the juice from it, in the cloth. Hold the cloth over the ear, tightly, letting no air in. It will create a steam bath and start pulling whatever gunk is in there out, plus letting just the right amount of oil/garlic in.

If you have any other food remedies you need, shoot me a note. 
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India - Part 5: Varanasi and Friends

Without further adieu...(sorry this took so long, I promise to be better!)

Due to the train debacle we arrived late, missing the yoga activities that I so dearly wanted to partake in. Raj gave us the option to either miss out on other activities planned for that morning or be dirty and smelly, suck it up, and proceed with the pre-planned activities. We opted to see more of India and smell bad.

Photo Credit: Melia Metikos 2011

We went to Sarnath where we saw the Buddhists temple and dozens of red clad Buddhists meditating. We slowly walked through the ruins, admiring the delicate carvings made out of stone with gold, here and there, covering the design. Raj then took us to at another little temple where dozens and dozens of Buddhists were praying. There was something in the air that morning that just felt peaceful, calm, and warm.

We drove around a bit more before heading to the hotel and finally got ourselves cleaned up. Later, the four of us went for a little tour around the town by way of taking a walk and the girls all decided to do some shopping. Our hotel was nestled right by a scarf store which is good for me and bad for my budget. I love scarves, which is insane for someone who lives in heat 9 months out of the year,  but man, does India have some good scarves! I bought far, far too many. It was a well spent afternoon.

On top of that, us ladies had all been talking about getting a massage sometime and now seemed to be the perfect opportunity. Our hotel had a spa downstairs which offered traditional auyrvedic massages. I've studied ayurveda a bit and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to experience this. Sunita went for a traditional massage while Mary and I opted for the ayurveda one they offered, which is basically a hot oil massage.

Imagine, if you will, a spittoon like object hanging from the ceiling with a lot of hot, healing oils in it. Then imagine your massage therapist just throwing handfuls (handfuls!) of oil on you, who has been clad in a diaper like object and nothing else. Definitely not like any massage you would get in the US of A, but true to itself as an ayurvedic massage. I want to point out that everything about it was top of the line, ethical, and professional - and honestly, one of the best massages I've ever had.  You see, once they've covered you in at least a gallon of oil you then go sit in a sauna for about 30 minutes to really let it all sink in. Then they lead you to a shower where you attempt to get all of the oils off. Trust me, this is no easy task. After that we all went to dinner, but my suggestion would be to go to bed. For one thing, you're probably still a wee bit oily. Might as well soak up the good oils and sleep it off, because you feel so relaxed and peaceful that curling up into a little ball and sleeping is really the only thing you want to do anyway.

The next evening was filled with adventure as we were going to view the Puja ceremony. First, we all got to ride on these "taxi cab" things that are death-defyingly awesome. One man bikes you around on this two seater contraption on wheels while you zip by cars, cows, and herds of people - and if you don't balance just right you are in trouble my friends. It was fun though and I kind of wish we had those here! On our way there, once we were back on foot, we walked by a very nice indoor store where a bull was curled up sleeping with a blanket over him. According to Raj this bull had been going to that store for years and years, every single night, to catch some shut eye. It wasn't quite like the "Bull in a China store" saying, but it was close enough.

At the Puja ceremony a stage was set with about a dozen gentlemen clad in white and orange, lighting candles. The candles were then waved through the air, creating patterns with the smoke. The turn-out was almost as amazing as the ceremony. Not only were people there on the land, but dozens of boats crowded each other in the waters behind the stage. While the ceremony was taking place a stillness came over the crowd. This quiet reassurance that everything was good, everything was right, filled the air. I don't fully understand what the Puja ceremony was about, but I believe it was a kind of prayer or offering to their gods. Whatever it was, it was stunning.

Photo Credit: Melia Metikos 2011

The next morning we went back to the area where the Puja ceremony had taken place, right near the Ganges river. On our way there we heard the Dalai Lama over the loud speaker, as he was in town. I guess Raj had tried to get us tickets but they were obviously sold out months in advance. Still, nice thought. We took a boat ride on the Ganges and lit prayer candles, setting them into the water and casting our silent thoughts out. We watched the red sun rise up over the black water. This was one of my very favorite parts of the entire trip. While the Ganges is possibly the dirtiest water I've ever seen, everything about it and everything that surrounds it is beautiful.  Even thinking about it now makes me long to be back there, on the boat, seeing everything up close and personal. I've been to Europe several times and seen many beautiful things, but this goes down as one of the best.

Photo Credit: Melia Metikos 2011

We saw the Bathing Ghat observatory, where, as Raj puts it, people "beat their clothes like the clothes did something wrong." Here, in the Ganges, everyone  is either bathing in the water, washing their clothes, or throwing trash into it. Why they throw trash into a river that they believe to be sacred, I don't know, but Raj told us that their skin is immune to the diseases of the water, which is excellent for them. As we floated past all the people and buildings Raj would point our certain things, like the Nepalese Temple of Love, as well as the Cremation Ghats.

Photo Credit: Melia Metikos 2011

After our amazing boat ride we headed back to the hotel with a little bit of time remaining before the day ended. Tony, Mary, and I decided to venture back out while we still could. We walked all over the back parts of the city. Tony directed "traffic" when we neared a group of cows that were taking up road space. We then headed back and sadly, had to say our goodbyes. Sunita and I had the same flight back to Delhi, so that was nice, but it was time to wish Mary and Tony well as we parted ways.

Once I arrived back in Delhi, Sunita walked me to the area where I was to meet my taxi driver, which I had prearranged to take me to a friends families house for dinner that night. We hugged each other goodbye and promised to stay in touch. True to our word, we've all stayed in contact one way or another. Sunita and I are friends on Facebook and Tony and Mary and I have emailed each other. In fact, I'm thinking up an adventure for next year and want to email them all to see if they want to meet up. How fun would that be, to continue traveling with the people you meet along the way? I love it (and I mean the love part here...this is why I love traveling).

The taxi driver, that was to guide me through the end of my trip, was incredibly nice. On the way to the house he showed me pictures of his family and a card he had gotten from a friend who lived in North Carolina. We made small talk. We shared in what ways we could through our language barrier. In his cab a little statue was hanging from his mirror and when I jokingly asked if it was for safe driving he told me that it actually was because "people drive crazy." It did it's job keeping us safe as we zipped around in traffic that evening.

He dropped me off at my destined location and we set a time for him to come back for me for my late night flight home. This dinner arrangement was one of the highlights of my trip. My friend, Farrah, had told me her brother lived in Delhi and that I "absolutely, positively" had to go see them while I was there. Mind you, we didn't know each other, but she wanted me to be with people she knew, which really was lovely of her. Prior to leaving I had emailed back and forth with Bernadette, her Bonus Mom, who was as sweet as she could be. I was a little nervous to meet everyone, but once I was there they literally welcomed me in with hugs. Bernadette had prepared an Italian dinner for all of us to enjoy and I must say, it was excellent. More importantly, they made me feel so incredibly welcome. We ate and talked and even took group pictures. If it wasn't for them I would've been hanging out at the airport for hours until my flight left, but instead I got to spend the evening with some truly fantastic people. Her and I still stay in touch and thanks to their incredible kindness, I have great memories of my last day there.

The truth is, I miss India. I was thinking about it earlier today and I really do miss it. The whole trip was like one big adventure. There is not one thing I would trade, even the train ride. Every person I met and experience I had made me...better. I feel more complete, somehow. Like this little missing puzzle piece of me was found or maybe even a new part of me was discovered. A part of me I never knew existed. I'm going back one day, definitely going back, but this time I think I'll venture to South India. It's already on the bucket list. Now to just cross it off.

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If You're Reading This...

A New way to Give

I don't know about you, but I love coupons. I also love helping people, in whatever small way I can. Combine those and you have Groupon's G-Team. Now, you might be wondering why I'm talking about Groupon since everyone and their mom knows about it, right? Well because I didn't know about this G-Team thing. In fact, the only reason I even saw it was because I accidentally scrolled down to the very bottom of the page and there it was - the cause of the day. And sadly, at least from what I can tell thus far, it's not even a "cause of the day" thing. I tried looking for it on two other occasions and there was no cause being featured.

My point is this - If you're looking to do something nice, check this out. Money is tight right now for everyone, but this is a new, unique way to give. Plus, I learned all about a new group that seem amazing. The cause that I donated to the other day was Packages From Home. They take donations of food, clothing etc., package them up, and ship them overseas to our troops...at no shipping cost to them. Have you ever tried shipping overseas? It is HARD. I tried once to send a goodie box to some friends in a tiny little town near Russia and when I went to the shipping place they told me it was going to be $700. Needless to say the package did not get shipped and I was majorly bummed out.

At Packages from home you can donate items, money, or time. All of which are incredibly important, especially to people who are facing things we don't have to - for us, on our behalf, for our well being. I would make a horrible soldier, horrible, but at least I can do this. I just signed up to volunteer some time packing boxes up...and just that little thing there makes me feel good to the core. Now it's your turn.

Get some good Karma coming your way. Give.

What causes do you support? 
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Love

Picture taken from www.aspieweb.net

I saw this recently in a book:

People say hate is a strong word. But so is love and they throw it around like it's nothing.

It had never occurred to me just how true that is. I love my dog and my new shoes, but the way I love them is different. So how, when I say I love materialistic things, do I then show an even deeper love for the people in my life? Have we really dumbed down love to mean...nothing? Or less, at least, than what it really should? By expressing it for every little thing have we stolen its true meaning?

The more I think about it the more I want to change it. In myself, anyway. Love shouldn't be thrown around like that. Not that love is bad, never. Love is good. But it's like anything else...you appreciate it more when you can only say it, feel it, at certain times. Christmas would certainly not be as magical or awe-inspiring if it were here every weekend. Fridays would mean nothing if every day was named Friday. Love is kind of the same. How can I justify saying I love you and mean it, from the bottom of my soul, if I can say I love this or that to a million other things every day?

Maybe...maybe I can just be more careful. Loving THINGS isn't a good idea anyway. I mean, my shoes are awesome, but I don't love them like that...so then...what is it? It's not love at all. It's a happiness. It's joy. It's a temporary pleasure. But it's not love.

So from here on out I am going to do my best to be mindful about this. To say I enjoy, like, or appreciate something. But unless I love it - really, truly, deeply love it - I will not say that. Then the things I really love, like my family and friends and the crisp feeling of autumn in the air, will mean more to me. More to them, possibly as well. Then the things I genuinely love will stand out. Then there will be a significance when I say it.

What do you love? How do you feel about this idea?
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Veggie Salad with Very Easy Vinaigrette

This is my new go-to salad for lunch, breakfast, dinner, and snack time. I now understand how Jennifer Aniston could eat the same salad every day for 10 years. This thing is gooooood! I've literally made it for an entire month now and haven't tired of it. I up the veggies on it so that it's extra crunchy and sometimes add a protein to the top like turkey or chicken. Just whatever I'm in the mood for that day.

I also recently made this for a big family gathering at my house. It's easy and awesome - the perfect combo. These recipes are both taken from The Garden of Eating by Rachel Albert-Matesz. I use her book for a lot of recipes. Not only is the food in it amazing, but her instructions are very detailed and full of facts and the first section of the book is designed to teach you all about foods and health. Very
creative! Here's my simplified version of her recipe.

Spinach Salad with Parboiled Broccoli, Cauliflower & Carrots
1 - 1 1/2 quarts filtered water plus 1/4 tsp unrefined sea salt
6 cups spinach, torn into bite size pieces
1/2 large red onion, cut into thin half-moon slices (1 cup)
2 small to medium carrots, cut into thin coin-like rounds (2 cups)
2 1/2 to 3 cups broccoli, cut into bite sized florets (You can also peel the stems for better digestion)
2 1/2 - 3 cups cauliflower, cut into bite sized florets

Wash and chop all veggies and arrange them separately. Put the spinach in a 3 - 4 quart serving bowl. Fill another bowl with ice water.

Boil water in a 2 quart saucepan over high heat. Parboil veggie separately, but in the same water, in this order:
onions - 1 minute
carrots - 1 to 2 minutes
broccoli - 2 to 3 minutes (broccoli will turn bright green when ready)
cauliflower - 2 to 3 minutes

After cooking each one remove with a skimmer and plunge into ice water. Remove from cold water, drain, and squeeze to get out extra moisture. Be sure to add more ice to the bowl as needed.

Once all veggies are cooked, cooled, and dried off, arrange them over the spinach and mix it up.

Very Easy Italian Vinaigrette
1/4 cup balsamic
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1 large garlic clove, minced or presses equalling about 1/2 - 1 tsp
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp of each, dried and crumbled: basil, oregano, and thyme or rosemary
1/4 finely ground, unrefined sea salt
1 tbsp warm water

Combine Ingredients except warm water, in blender. Cover and blend. With machine running, add the water.

Taste and adjust as needed. Pour 1/2 of the finale dressing over the salad and save the rest for up to two weeks for your next salad. Or, throw it all on to give it more flavor. If you add extra veggies like I do the bonus dressing will benefit it.

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