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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 Es Vedrá And Its Magnetic Attraction As promised in the previous FULL MOON story, I would come back to the name of my new assistance dog, "Vedrá". If you missed the previous article, click on the related article below. Let me begin with what Es Vedrá means to me. First, a few facts. It is a large rock located southwest of Ibiza, approximately 400 meters high, consisting mainly of limestone. It is the primary botanical area for the Balearic Islands, with high concentrations of minerals and metals, creating a significant magnetic field. Only the Bermuda Triangle and the North Pole are said to be more magnetic. Next to Es Vedrá are Es Vedranell (also known as its sister) and Els Illiot de Pontent. The three rocks together are part of the natural reserve Cala d’Hort. Hundreds of people visit Es Vedrá daily to admire it. Could it be because of the magnetic field? The allure? Something rarely seen? The myths? I have met one of my best friends there, and he feels like family to me. Es Vedrá brought us together, or was it Atlantis? We enjoy the view, paint, laugh, make music, or simply sit in silence. Most visitors come only for a selfie, all from the same angle, the same bush, the same pose, you name it. The beautiful birds of prey are often entirely overlooked. Many visitors also leave behind trash, which we jokingly refer to as the 'new botanical garden,' picking it up on the way back for our coffee table. Is the beauty of Es Vedrá and its magnificent heart being exploited? What does Es Vedrá have to do with an assistance dog? When I met my trainer, she gave some tips on how to better function with your assistance dog. Not touching a assistance dog is, of course, number one (except for the user). You can slowly expand this indoors, but not too much. The name of an assistance dog is the most beautiful gift. The name means everything to the dog. It might trigger an action, like going outside, doing laundry, or having a meal. By not sharing the name, people cannot call her from a distance. This was not the case for my dear retired assistance dog, Louis. He was recognized so quickly that "hey Louis" would be shouted from 100 meters away, resulting in falls, etc. I know that if I'm in a room with you and I call her name, you'll know who she is. I hope that by explaining this, we can receive the respect so that we can continue to be a team for a long time. Vedrá and I know that assistance dogs have an attraction just like Es Vedrá. It is magnetic with love and light. Related content Previous Next

< Back Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link 12 Months of Summer The day starts as it goes and so does the weather. When I’m awake I need to lay down for at least an hour. There’s no control. I live by what is provided for me. MUNISA ELEPHANTI loves summer. It’s almost an addiction. The tempertures feels so much better on my body. I feel less pain and I am able to go outside more. Training outside in the water and seeing a blue sky is the best. That’s a millionaires life. People who only know me from the cold and wet weather are always shocked when they see me in good summer weather. It’s not that I don’t have bad days in summer, but its different if you take good care of yourself. So how do I manage that?! Over the years I’ve learned that it’s my body and my mind that make the dissision weather or not your able to join in in life. There’s no control. Let that go as fast as possible! I live by what is provided for me. Not in a way of people preparing food or anything for me, but what does the day give me. What can my body handle and how’s my mind feeling by that fact. Every morning when I wake up I forget that I have a disability. Yess people… every day I forget! But soon as I’m awake the body will let me know! Depending what I was hoping to do that day, my mind goes along. Regular appointments with people nearby you are a big difference to cancelling weddings, holidays, babyshowers, etc. However, it can blow up my mind and make me really sad. The day starts as it goes and so does the weather. When I’m awake I need to lay down for at least an hour. In summer time that’s my moment to lay in the sun and enjoy the sky, birds, butterfly or a tiny ants. I say my thanks for today. I’m grateful, no matter what. If you practice this long enough you’ll feel joy all over your body. I can’t stay to long in the sun if I want my skin to stay safe. It’s okay to go back inside or in the shade. With this time you helped your mind for at least an hour to be happy and calm. You’ll see the benefits when you need to cancel your events another time. If you’re going on a holiday this summer and you feel like you really need it this year, I invite to try to keep that happy feeling longer then last time. Keep summer in your heart and mind. It’s not only making pictures to show everybody where you have been. Make pictures of moments and places in your mind (mindpicture). So, when you’re feeling blue, or fed up with the bad weather, close you eyes and go back to your mindpicture. The big difference with a picture to show where you’ve been and a mindpicture is: a mindpicture has not only the visual of the place but (more importantly) the feeling, the sun on your skin, the wind in your hair, the food you ate, the people around you! So look around be thankfull be presend and make your mindpicture (click on the related content button below) to keep summer all year long! No closing picture this time. Let me describe a picture that only exists in my mind. There’s a slight breeze touching my skin and it blows my hair softly up and down. It’s warm outside so the breeze comforts me. The surface I’m walking on is rocky and it is easy to fall. My eyes concentrate on every step I take. My best friend holds my hand, so I won’t fall. I see beige, red and grey colors of stone. Green of threes and when I look up the sky is blue and there are falcons dancing in the sky. I hear people more and more as I walk closer to the end. Nobody saw the falcons but us. The sun is preparing to set so she shines her last colors of the day. The sky turns orange, yellow, purple and even a bit of pink. It disappears slowly behind a huge rock of love and makes her dive of the day into the sea. This is such a peaceful moment! I’ll will never forget this moment. This mind picture reminds me that I’m not alone and gives me 12 months of summer. The sun will set but she will also rise again tomorrow! MUNISA ELEPHANTI wishes you a happy summer filled with tickles and laughter! Related content Previous Next

< Back Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link A Pink FULL MOON and we love Pink! Pink often symbolizes love, compassion, and femininity. This FULL MOON is named pink because of the wildflowers (phlox from North America) that blossoms in spring. But their various names are based on cultures and regions. The Pink moon represents renewal, growth, and the arrival of spring. At MUNISA ELEPHANTI we’re in desperate need of spring. The need for dry and sunny weather could help the body to feel much better. Let’s go south! As traveling isn’t always that easy to accomplish, I travel in my mind. This time to Mexico! My uncle came back from a trip to Mexico when I was around 9 years old. That had a huge impact on my life. Beside the funny foods and tequila, he was explaining to my dad, he told me for the first time about Frida Kahlo! I immediately fell in love. To hear about a woman with a disability who was wearing a same kind of casquet a I had just weeks before. She was a painter an artist and had her own thoughts of life and wasn’t afraid to share her mind. Actually, all her paintings are a view inside her mind. The way she captures the feeling of pain and being lost or trapped into a body that doesn’t matches your hopes, believes, and dreams is incredible. I hope I can one day visit her old house to give my absolute honor and respect I have for her. As she would say: “¡Viva la Vida!” If you can’t go to Mexico, you bring Mexico to you! Two years ago I was really lucky because the paintings of Frida Kahlo visited The Netherlands at the Cobra Museum in Amstelveen and an exposition at the Drenths Museum. At the latter I could finally see my all-time favorite painting ‘The broken Column”. The painting is symbolic of the physical and emotional pain she endured throughout her life. Seeing this painting was amazing! I had tears of joy and sadness at the same time. Frida made very explicit paintings with blood and death. I can understand it’s not for everybody. However, the broken column has no blood. The column represents her spine. The nails piercing her skin suggest her constant pain she experienced. The suffering expression on her face is one of strength and resilience. Even writing about this moment makes me so happy. There are multiple ways to experience other countries and we all love to do some shopping! Especially for my service dog Vedrá (click on the related content button below), buying for her always makes me happy. I found a dog brand from Mexico named Tulum. They joined the “Tzotzil” Indian community to mix modern design with ancient artisan techniques. The “Tzotzil” are an indigenous Maya people of the central highlands of Chiapas, Mexico. Every sale provides a sustainable and local employment. They also support a rescued dog foundation with animal health care, buying food or whatever the rescued animals need. That’s why MUNISA ELEPHANTI loves a brand like this! But how did I get it here in The Netherlands?! Well, my local animal shop is the first one in The Netherlands where you can buy Tulum from Mexico! Doesn’t Vedrá look lovely in it?! So, to end my day in Mexico. I’m going to make myself a nice Mexican diner. I’ll put on a Mexican playlist and watch Frida Kahlo the movie. My mind was in Mexico even though I couldn’t go, I was there. MUNISA ELEPHANTI wishes you a mind that travels from time to time for renewal, growth, and the arrival in you! Related content Previous Next