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< Back Tzatziki Duration: 15 - 30 min Category: Food Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Link kopiëren Introduction MUNISA ELEPHANTI loves tzatziki! Description Ingredients 500ml Greek yogurt ½ cucumber 2 cloves of garlic Fresh chives Olive oil Ground black pepper Pinch of salt Let your yogurt drain in a damp cloth. Minimum of two hours, the longer you let the yogurt drain, the thicker the tzatziki will become. You can do this the evening before as well. Peel the cucumber and remove the seeds with a spoon. Grate the cucumber and sprinkle with salt. Just like the yogurt, let it drain for at least two hours (or the evening before). Mix the yogurt and cucumber together. Add the garlic using a garlic press. Add ground pepper and chop fresh chives to taste. Stir well, and finally, add a splash of olive oil to make the yogurt smooth. We love tzatziki! Click on the related content button if you like to know more about me! MUNISA ELEPHANTI says: enjoy! Related content Previous Next

< Back Eurovision Song Contest Duration: 120 - 240 min Category: Art Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Link kopiëren Introduction The Eurovision Song Contest began as a technical experiment in television broadcasting: the live, simultaneous, transnational broadcast that Europe has now been watching for nearly 70 years! Description My family loves Eurovision since I can remember. Together on the couch, snacks, blankets, and music. I really enjoy all the different cultures and people. So many differences or no difference at all? There’s music you’ll may not like but you’ll can also find music you didn’t knew you liked. Throughout the years Eurovision has evolved in many ways. Nowadays it’s a three-day event. With two Semi-Finals the first you unfortunately missed but no worries tomorrow (Thursday, 9th May, 21:00 CET) is the second Semi-Final with The Netherlands as one of the acts! Joost Klein will represent us this year with his song called “Europapa”. Joost said in interviews that he wants to be a connector for all Europeans. His father thought him that boundaries a made up by people itself, so he and his team create a world made up by themselves. I absolutely love this song and I really hope (and believe) it will be in the finale on Saturday, 11th May 2024, 21:00 CET! So, tune in this Saturday live from Malmö Arena in Sweden and click on the related button below to see the music video of Joost Klein performing “Europapa”. MUNISA ELEPHANTI gives EUROPAPA douze points! Unfortunately Joost Klein was disqualified. I'll get back to this topic once all information is clear. Related content Previous Next

< Back Mind Pictures Please Duration: 1 - 15 min Category: Body & Soul Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Link kopiëren Introduction With summer coming up we all need that special picture for our family or social media. What if you make a Mind picture this time?! Let me show you how! Description Having a picture of a moment you tressure can bring so much joy! Holding an old picture in your hand of your grandmother can bring you back to that moment when you were just a kid. Nowadays we can make pictures everywhere and every day. We don’t take the time to see what’s best. We just click and click. Afterwards we’ll pick one that’s the most ‘beautiful ‘one. MUNISA ELEPHANTI invites you to take one mind pictures this summer. Just ONE. You can click and send as many other pictures as possible for family, friends, and socials. Whether you’re enjoying a meal, sitting in the sand, swimming, or watching a sunset its all on you. Just look around at every detail. What do you see? Little birds? People laughing? A flower? What do you smell? Is it warm? Do you feel a breeze? Are you sitting in the sun? Maybe you are enjoying snow because you don’t like heat. Who is with you? A moment by yourself is also perfect. A mind picture doesn’t judge. The lighting is always perfect! You look perfect! Your hair, make-up, everything is amazing. That’s why mind pictures are so much fun! They can bring you back straight away. All because you used all your senses. You made a mindful picture that no one can take away from you. It will last forever in your mind. You can share your mind picture by telling them your experience and what you feel. People want to be in your mind picture because it sounds and feel like an amazing summer! MUNISA ELEPHANTI wishes you a happy NEW MOON and summer! On next FULL MOON I’ll share a personal mind picture. Fill in the contact form to be the first to be informed! Related content Previous Next

< Back Radio Nonnevot Duration: 15 - 30 min Category: Art Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Link kopiëren Introduction Next month in the South of the Netherlands Carnival is being celebrated in full swing. Description I absolutely love this period, dressing up with family and friends, painting your face, and of course, the music. Carnival (also known as “Vastelaovend”) is originally a Catholic folk festival and feast. "Carnival-like" celebrations were already held by the Romans, Egyptians, and Germans, similar to what we know today. The festival precedes the 40-day fasting period leading up to Easter. Music is an integral part of any folk celebration. It varies by region, but one of my favorite radio stations during this time is Radio Nonnevot. They play very local songs from Sittard, Limburg, so not everyone may understand the lyrics, but perhaps you can still enjoy the rhythm. Click on the related content button below to listen to Radio Nónnevot! MUNISA ELEPHANTI wishes you a lot of listening pleasure! Related content Previous Next

< Back Sahumo Ibiza Sage Duration: 1 - 15 min Category: Body & Soul Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Link kopiëren Introduction The sage I'm currently loving is from Sahumo Ibiza. Description It is crafted by twin sisters Analía and Susana, who operate from a small workshop in San Miguel, Ibiza. They handle everything themselves, from growing the plants to harvesting and collecting, all while maintaining respect for the environment. I encountered them at the Hippie Market in Las Dalias, but you can also purchase their products online. I adore the box of three Sahunitos Cleansers. The first is sage, which cleanses the environment and dispels negative energy. The second is rosemary, known for luck and protection; it clears the mind and boosts confidence. Last but not least, lavender, which attracts love, calms the mind, and improves sleep. A bay leaf is added for abundance, brightness, openness, and as a protector of spaces, objects, and people, combined with seasonal flowers. It's always a delight to begin your practice with these three!! There are various perspectives on how to cleanse a room. For me, the intention is the key to success. • Take a moment to hold the sage, rosemary, or lavender and feel what you need. Sense what serves you in letting go and attracting what you desire. • Then, open a window or door to allow the energy to flow through the space you wish to cleanse. • Light it with a candle and let it be. • Don't forget to cleanse yourself afterward. You can turn it into a ritual for daily, weekly, or monthly practice. You can align it with the new moon, full moon, or anything that guides you. I'd love to hear about your favorite cleansers, so let me know, or have you tried these from Sahumo?! Click on the related content button below to get you sage! MUNISA ELEPHANTI hopes you enjoy your cleansing practice! Related content Previous Next

< Back Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link MUNISA ELEPHANTI = LIFE It’s time to give you a look into my life and how I cope with living with a disability. But why did MUNISA ELEPHANTI start? In my early twenties a doctor told me it was likely I wouldn’t become older than 30 years. It was a smack in the face at the time. I can still get angry when I think about that moment and how unnecessary it was. In the end it also gave me the opportunity to take a good look at my life, my body, and my mind. It gave me many therapy sessions, retreats, mindfulness, meditation, singing bowl sessions and many more experiences that I did because of that horrifying news. There is a thin line between accepting your disability and the decline that comes with it. It’s also about the possibility of finding new resource to feel a bit better than I do now. A great therapeutic method is to creatively express myself in multiple ways. People that know me for a long time have seen some of the things I create. However, for a lot of years I destroyed my creations at a full moon to set myself free. Until an artist friend said to me: “you’re free. You’re allowed to keep it. It’s yours to keep or even share”. Now, I believe to create a space where everything comes together. A space where you can go to from anywhere as long as you have internet (LOL). A space to find a bit of peace, happiness but also a deeper story. A space called MUNISA ELEPHANTI. I was blessed to experience over a decade of extra time on this planet. I wanted to make most of this extra time. Creating MUNISA ELEPHANTI was one thing, but my health keeps surprising me. I went to see a doctor that really understood Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. I contacted family and friends if they knew anyone that could help me by looking into my case. Unfortunately, in The Netherlands it wasn’t possible. A few weeks later I’m watching a young girl on YouTube called Bucketkris. She is traveling by herself in a wheelchair and having Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. She visited a doctor in Barcelona (Spain). I’ve heard of him before but on the video, I could see the streets and I knew I had to go to Barcelona to meet this doctor! It's a really weird feeling to go abroad for medical help. Partly because it’s an expensive trip. So, if I’m going to spend so much on research on my body, I must also spend time on my mental health during this trip. What better way to do so than to create MUNISA ELEPHANTI? Barcelona was a beautiful week. A week of questions to answer, and answers to question. It was the moment to set the path for MUNISA ELEPHANTI! Today is the start of the MUNISA ELEPHANTI website. On every FULL MOON you’ll find a story to inspire connection, humor and feel a bit of my life. Like MUNISA ELEPHANTI would say: “a bumpy road filled with tickles and laughter”! Be inspired by lifestyle themes such as music, food, and other recommendations every NEW MOON. Anything that can help you to clear your mind in a few minutes. The SUN ART page is still under construction. Please wait a little longer. The SUN RISE will show you the process of making my art. The SUN SET shows the result. Now it’s time. No more burning ideas or not sharing them with you. This is my life… from ME to YOU. It is wrapped in various ways. Hopefully we will bring you the tickles and laughter in a bumpy road! MUNISA ELEPHANTI is a community for all of YOU! Related content Previous Next

< Back Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Floral Dinner Feels Like Gucci We love dinner parties! Gathering with friends and family around a long decorated table with delicious dishes is simply delightful. It's almost Christmas, and we've been celebrating Boxing Day for 17 years now. It's wonderful to be together and reflect on the year, amazing every year! We have a different theme each year; we usually look at a few images to find a connection with that year and come up with a theme. This year, flowers! In Full Moon September, I wrote about Vedra and the freedom a service dog brings, do you remember the goat cheese lollipops from the New Moon?! (click on the related content button below). My husband has become even more enthusiastic about the Gucci brand through his work, and they happen to have the theme "Floral" this year. Clearly, this year's theme is flowers. Once the theme is decided, we look at the color palette. Then, the menu. Always considering our guests. Vegetarian, allergies, or alcohol-free, it's all there. Making everyone feel at home is top priority. We send out invitations and then create the menu and name cards. The table arrangement isn't meant to make anyone feel uncomfortable. Quite the opposite, you always sit with your partner, no worries. It's important that conversations can flow well, but not everyone has a partner, and they should also feel comfortable mingling at the table. It's so lovely to push the dining table apart, grab extra chairs, set out the tablecloth, plates, knives, glasses, you name it. Slowly, the party becomes more visible. It becomes more and more flowery, both on the table and in the dishes. The delightful scents of herbs and flowers mix together. Thanking everyone for everything is great fun, but the result of the beautiful bouquet and the delightful dried flowers is epic! We've enjoyed it. What do you think of the result?! You can always send us Love. Hopefully, we've inspired you to organize a themed dinner, not because you have to, but because you can! MUNISA ELEPHANTI wishes you Happy Holidays! Related content Previous Next

< Back Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Winter is coming, but in my heart, it's summer! My favorite destination is undoubtedly Ibiza. So cliché, but the relaxation I experience there is so intense. I want to particularly talk about the last week of a vacation. My husband left a week earlier than me due to work. I had long wanted to turn my stay into a mindfulness/retreat/silence week, and this was my chance... It resulted in some very special experiences. For several years, I've been focused on conscious living, something that makes my limitations bearable in difficult times. I've taken mindfulness courses, been on a retreat, attended yoga classes, and much more. (Click on the related content button below, if you like to get more inspiration) Hence, I didn't really choose a name for this week, so I'd like to mention the mix for you. I combined everything I've learned throughout my life to get closer to myself during the last week in Ibiza. Lots of meditation, 'walking' (getting dropped off at a place but mentally walking, weird huh, but yes, it really works!), eating healthy, living with the sun not the clock, no phone, no social media, no conversations with people from home. In short, if you feel lonely, don't call home but find it there. In some cases, stepping out of your comfort zone. A storm is approaching, and my body starts sounding the alarm like a weatherwoman. It's something I've had my whole life. As soon as there's a storm, thunder, or something similar approaching, my right shoulder starts to tense up, and before you know it, my whole body. Normally, this is a moment when I'd lie in bed and entertain myself with TV and social media. But yes, I had agreed not to do that. So, I didn't. But I noticed that, for example, Facebook gives me a feeling of being 'in the know'. So, if I don't look, am I not in the know? And all those people I can't congratulate!! That's really not fun! Of course, celebrating every day that you're alive is best, but your birthday is special. What many people don't know is that it takes a lot of hand function to make this possible. Even the standard 'congratulations' under my phone's copy button I rarely did because even that costs too much energy. So, I quickly realized how ridiculous this actually was. So much energy to congratulate on Facebook! There's no better place than Ibiza to accept this. There are just things in life that many people often do constantly but due to my limitations are simply not possible. Even though nowadays you can dictate a lot more, one must consider that you still need a hand function level for that. For example, I can't always dictate on WhatsApp because my voice is getting harder to understand...! But okay, back to accepting. I'm so in the Ibiza flow that not using social media is pretty easy. I'm sitting in the most beautiful places with my assistance dog by my side (so safe). I smell the sea, feel the wind through my hair, and everyone radiates. It'll be much harder at home where all I know is 'Winter is coming'..! The difference is we're not there now, so stay in the now. I have to laugh at myself as I write this, but seriously... Stay in the now!! I go to my favorite spot in Ibiza for the last time to imprint the moment in my mind so that I can return to this place from anywhere in the world. I meditate for a long time. I try to store everything I see in my mind. The birds flying past me as if I were one of them. The wind blowing over my face. In complete tranquility, we see a boat approaching. Very far away. As it gets closer, I burst out laughing! It's obviously a boat, not a little boat (I'm not very good at estimating). They sail peacefully along the coast out of my sight. More and more people come to stand beside me to see what I'm looking at. It doesn't annoy me; it even brings peace. It's too beautiful not to share. Some people don't see it; others sit down next to me and quietly watch. The sun slowly sets; it's time to go. Back home. 'Winter is coming' but in my heart, it's summer! Related content Previous Next

< Back Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Celebrating Carnival in a wheelchair, that's doable! Carnival, or as I prefer to call it, 'Vastelaovend', is originally a Roman Catholic festival that takes place in the three days preceding the forty days before Eastern. Beyond the fact that I cannot deny that there is a lot of drinking and eating during this period, Vastelaovend means much more to me than that. Vastelaovend is the moment to dress up as your favorite idol, animal, or something you find hilarious. But you can also dress up to portray something. Political jokes, clichés, puns, or stereotypes are often used for that. In Sittard (Zitterd), we call it 'laammaekerie', which translates to ‘roasting’. I find it one of the most enjoyable things there is. Just not taking everything seriously and letting go, and sometimes maybe being a bit serious without anyone realizing it. Apart from that, I love the music! Click on the related content button below, to dive in! Sittard celebrates Vastelaovend for a full six days! On Thursday evening, the women attend the 'auw wieverbal', dressed unrecognizably to play pranks on the men. Think of a group of women dressed as Rembrandt who happen to have some leftover makeup. Friday is for the schoolchildren and students. Saturday is the 'kanon van het balkon' (cannon from the balcony), where at 11:11 PM, the key handover takes place between the mayor and the prince of that year. On Sunday (the original first day of carnival), we have a big parade. Various groups and floats parade through the city center. Monday is the 'Tröötekonkoer' (Trumpet Contest). Various bands and orchestras play in the cafes and on the market. On Tuesday afternoon, it's the 'appelesiene sjmiete' (orange throwing), where oranges are actually thrown to children if they shout 'APPELESIENE' loud enough. In the evening, the mask is buried, and the real die-hards even shed a tear with the prince. In short, how do I participate in such a schedule? It seems impossible, but believe me, with making choices, more is possible than you think. In recent years, I have celebrated Vastelaovend mostly in a wheelchair. Because my illness is quite variable, it can be difficult for others to assess exactly where we stand (or sit). The crutches are for indoors, the walker for short walks and the possibility to sit, and the wheelchair (now electric) is safest for me and my surroundings. I noticed that sometimes, the environment finds it more challenging than you do, or let me put it this way: you have gone through this process much earlier than your environment. By talking openly and accepting that it can sometimes be a challenge for everyone, you prevent people from feeling unhappy or you are feeling unhappy. Do you celebrate Vastelaovend outdoors or indoors? Is there a public toilet or do you have to go to a café? How crowded is it there, and what route is best for me to take? These are all things to consider. Wherever possible, try to take the surroundings into account. If you have never celebrated Vastelaovend or you are new to a city, don't let that scare you off. Even I, who has been walking or sitting around Sittard for many years, have heard both the most beautiful and ugliest words thrown at me. Actually, this experience is no different from attending a festival or any event where many people come together. Some find it brilliant that you dare to go out, and others find it scandalous that you take up so much space in such a crowd. I noticed that younger people were much more open to me, the wheelchair, and my group of friends than the older revelers. There, it was mainly: 'Wouldn't you be better off staying home?' In this way, I would also like to sit in a wheelchair... There are more contradictions. Where there was no public wheelchair-accessible toilet, I always get help from my family and friends. I don't think you can plan everything in that regard. Everyone has fun, maybe drinks a bit too much sometimes, joins in the polonaise a bit too enthusiastically, and experiences 'oops, this is not a passage', but you, from whatever position you are in, go along just as eagerly. I got really angry once because someone was being so mean to both me and my surroundings because I was taking up too much space. But otherwise, I really didn't, because it doesn't make any sense. It only makes it harder for yourself. In all honesty, the electric wheelchair is not the most comfortable tool for me yet. I can't do it alone. Not even with just my assistance dog; it's simply inaccessible. I hope that this really changes and is taken into account with new renovations. An accessible restroom would already be wonderful. But if you focus on what you're doing, namely, having fun, then you won't have time for that. MUNISA ELEPHANTI wishes you a joyful Vastelaovend! Related content Previous Next

< Back Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Saint Rosa Pray for Us In Sittard we honour Saint Rosa de Lima from Peru with a beautiful chapel on top of the hill and a procession for 355 years. The Procession is the last Sunday of august and one of the last processions of the Netherlands. Saint Rosa from Lima was born on 20 April 1586 as Isabella de Flores de Olivia. She was a daughter of a Spanish couple. She lived a sober life with prayer and fasting. She showed an extraordinary calmness and self-control. In 1606 she became a member of the third Order of Saint Dominicus. Her characteristic were penance and spiritual life. Besides this she also was known for her embroidery work and her knowledge of flower growing. Some people called her a mystic. In the second half of the 17th century, Sittard and its surroundings were plagued by a dysentery epidemic, which resulted in many deaths. The Dominican fathers who had settled in Sittard in 1626 ran a flourishing educational institution. They were also active in Peru in South America. Therefore, they were familiar with this first non-European blessed and later Saint Rosa. They advised the people of Sittard to call on Rosa as an advocate against the deadly treat of this epidemic. The city council accepted this advice and promised – if the epidemic would subside – to declare Rosa the city patroness saint. They also promised to build a chapel in honour of St. Rosa on the highest point of Sittard – on the Kollenberg – and to hold an annual procession. The dysentery epidemic passed the city by and the people of Sittard fulfilled the promise made! 355 years later and the people of Sittard honour her every year. Munisa Elephanti loves the tradition. It’s the connection to a higher goal in life. It’s a heavy walk-up hill. Especially, because you walk a procession pass. That’s slow and step by step. On top of the hill the chapel always shines. Munisa Elephanti loves to meditate here or just enjoy the view. The procession starts at ‘de Markt’ where harmonies, scouting, sisters, acolytes, relics, the bishop and the faithful pray their way up. Once you arrive at the beautiful chapel service will take place. It’s that time where you can reflect on life. Since we all know what a pandemic is. It’s even more important to live your life with gratitude and grace. Once the procession walks back to ‘Markt’ it ends with a service in the St. Michael’s church. After the service the relics will be returned to their safe places and we enjoy a retro fair, drinks and food. St. Rosa is an inspiration to Munisa Elephanti. She dedicated her life to inform people how to take care of themselves. How to be hygienic in this time of the epidemic. Unfortunately, she died at the age of only 31. After a fateful 15 years of long and painful illness full of desolation, insults and reproaches. We can never know when it is our time to leave the planet. That’s for sure. However, we can make a decision what we do with the time we have here on earth. Munisa Elephanti just like Rosa loves flowers and embroidery and some call me mystic too. A saint we’re definitely not! Hihihi! Munisa Elephanti is sure about that. So, mark in your agenda every last Sunday of August you need to be in Sittard. To enjoy and experience a procession that’s 355 years old. Nowadays you would call it a retreat or mindful walk. The procession to honour St. Rosa is much deeper that you can ever experience. Even Ibiza can’t top this 😉. Click on the link below to learn more about St. Rosa from the St. Rosa Committee. Related content Previous Next