Gifts for Cat Lovers: Our Top 10 Picks of 2017

From Cat Chat With Caren and Cody: We were not compensated for this post.  Most of the products we are writing about today, we have blogged about in the past, three of them were items we received from fellow bloggers either by winning on their blog, or by being gifted an item. There are NO AFFILIATE LINKS IN THIS POST. With the holidays rapidly approaching, Cody and I wanted to share our faves from 2017. Enjoy!

ANIMAL HEARTED: 
We first featured Animal Hearted April 21st, 2017. They are are passionate about animals. Not only do they make fun and creative clothing and accessories for animal lovers, they are dedicated to saving the lives of shelter animals. They donate 25% of proceeds from every order to a non-profit animal shelter or rescue. They have helped save thousands of shelter pets. When YOU place an order, you will help save thousands more! Animal Hearted Apparel carries an extensive and ever-expanding collection of tee shirts, sweatshirts, tank tops, and hats/beanies in unisex, women’s, and youth sizes. We recently received the cutest cat socks, our favorite is the "Paws" design! 

BOOK: BLACK CATS TELL ALL
"The first collection to promote Black Cat adoption!" Black Cats Tell All (edited by Layla Morgan Wilde), is a  true labor of love that took months to come to fruition. Extolling the virtues of black cats is a calling that has completely consumed Layla.  Black Cats Tell all is a "celebration" of all that is positive about black cats, with the hope of once-and-for-all reversing negative stereotypes that to this day are still far too prevalent.  In most cases the stories are narrated by the cats themselves.   A portion of the proceeds from this book will help Shelter Cats.

BOOK: ROME AT HOME 
 The Spirit of la cucina romana in Your Own Kitchen by Suzanne Dunaway of Living With LouLou

A number of months ago I struck up a conversation with the oh-so beautiful and talented Suzanne Dunaway on her blog, celebrating our mutual love of cooking and FOOD! I was lucky enough to be gifted this book by Suzanne, which I have not yet made a recipe from, but hang in there, I am going to and hopefully you will see them on the blog in 2018!

"Suzanne Dunaway has been in love with Italy for thirty years, living in Rome off and on and absorbing as much as possible about the cuisine of the Eternal City. Now she has put the basics of la cucina romana into one seductive book. Rome, at Home will enable anyone to savor the irresistible, straightforward flavors of Rome’s best ristoranti, trattorie, pizzerie, and home kitchens."

"A culinary tour of one of the world’s most enchanting cities, Rome, at Home is equally a marvelous gift and a book to cook from every day."

Some of the recipes I am looking forward to making (listed by their American names for the purpose of this blog) are: Minestone Soup, Spaghetti with Garlic, Olive Oil and Hot Peppers,  Pasta With Meat Sauce,  Roast Lamb With Potatoes, and many, many more!

BLOGGING CATS CALENDAR
I don't know about you, but if  I didn't maintain an editorial calendar for each of my blogs I would be even more disorganized than I am now! That being said, you do NOT have to be a blogger to enjoy seeing some of your favorite kitties from the blogs you love featured in the 2018 Blogging Cats Calendar .  Kitties from all over the world submitted photos to Mom Paula from the adorable blog, Sweet Purrfections (starring Truffles and Brulee), who had the painstaking and rather daunting task of adding all of the kitties to this incredible "week-at-a-glance" planner! Once again, Mom Paula outdid herself. The calendar is exquisite!  And...this year there are special contributions to the calendar from a number of talented cat writers!

HONEYCAT COSMETICS
One of our HUGE favorites of 2017,  we blogged about them August 14, 2017. There are many things I love about Honeycat Cosmetics, from their scents that are "gourmet, NOT ordinary", to their branding, to the fact that there is no "junk" in their products. Honeycat products are natural, and never tested on animals, "especially sexy felines."  Their product descriptions are fun, sassy, sexy and tantalizing without being sleazy.  "Sexy, fun, clean and hip...that's Honeycat!"

Honeycat Cosmetics are the creation of Brooklyn native, Terri, a vegetarian and cat lover! (my parents and MUCH of my family is (or was) from Brooklyn, so anyone that comes from there has a special place in MY heart!). The name Honeycat came about by accident when Terri thought her fiance said "Honeycat" but he REALLY said "honey, that...."it was meant to be!! The collage below features items I received in August, visit their website to see all of the new items that have been added (and old favorites!) 

IMPURRFECT LIFE
I have featured Impurrfect Life twice because I was lucky enough to win two give-aways that were held!  From Impurrfect Life: "for animal lovers who are going through the grieving process and trying to find normalcy again. It’s about moving forward after life throws you a curveball. 

 "Impurrfectlife.com manifested out of my own journey as a pet parent experiencing loss looking to reclaim joy, motivation and comfort. Life’s not perfect, so we shouldn’t expect perfection. Really and truly I think more people can identify more with authenticity and imperfection as opposed to a false sense of perfection. We may not be flawless but what we can do is make the most of everyday for a better quality life experience. That’s what I intend to do. The world needs more positivity!"Pick a gift for a special friend to let them know you care. Choose one for yourself, and keep the memory of your pet alive."

MEMORIAL GLASS

 The necklaces at Memorial Glass Pendants are gorgeous "wearable art." Each piece is unique, no one else will ever have one exactly like mine or yours. They are handmade in a small Northern California studio.

The glass used is called "borosilicate", which is much more durable than standard glass, and all of the pendants are " kiln annealed". When you visit the Memorial Glass Pendant website, you will see a number of designs, each and every one are beautiful. Many of the necklaces are encased with the ash of someones  beloved pet, however my necklaces were made without ashes.

MY FLOWERS FOREVER AND BELLA BEADS

Our friends at  Flowers Forever, understand that pets are more than just animals. They become your companion, your friend and part of your family. They share your laughs, your tears and your love.

Having to say goodbye to a pet is one of the hardest things to do. It can feel like there's a hole in your heart that can never be filled. They believe that the only way to move forward is to reflect on the beauty of the life that you were able to share and memorialize this remembrance. 

That's why they create beautiful memorial and remembrance jewelry for you. Each piece is handcrafted with love by their team of artisan jewelers and is one-of-a-kind. They use hair or ashes from your dearly departed pet to create memorial beads and pendants that you can wear, give as gifts, or pass down as treasured heirlooms.

Photo Courtesy of  My Flowers Forever Jewelry

"Cat-Inspired Apparel" from Triple T Studios

We have featured items from Triple T Studios a number of times on our blog, and each and every item that I have featured I love and use frequently!  Cody and I love that Triple T Studios is passionate about supporting global conservation projects and that they love and support  the "BIG" Cats (Lions and Tigers!). Below are items that I received when we last blogged about Triple T Studios. 

Vaya Tyffyn Lunchbox

I saved my FAVORITE for last!!!! I follow A LOT of blogs, most are animal related, but not all of them! Another HUGE passion of mine is FOOD. In 2017 I had the pleasure of discovering one of the most hilarious, "in-your-face" blogs, GiGi Eats Celebrities, that is on my MUST READ LIST, EVERY SINGLE WEEK! About "GiGi Dubois Ashworth of GiGi Eats Celebrities: "GiGi, a former competitive snowboarder and horseback rider has since become a popular allergen-friendly cook and certified nutritionist with a master’s degree in Nutrition Communications. This blog/vlog is a place where people with diet concerns, can get advice (such as traveling with food intolerances) along with allergen-friendly recipes that everyone can enjoy. A self-proclaimed extreme eater (she can eat 6 pounds of salmon in one sitting) and foodie fanatic, GiGi is proof that you can educate and inform as well as entertain at the same time!"

GiGi is MY KIND OF PERSON, she is NOT for the faint of heart. (If I had given birth to a daughter of my own, I would have wanted her to BE GiGi!) GiGi is often raunchy, bawdy, and has an "in your face" personality that I appreciate and love. GiGi is REAL. There isn't an ounce of insincerity about her. Back on September 12, 2017 GiGi posted about the most innovative, modern, brilliant and attractive lunch boxes by Vaya Tyffyn.  She also had a give-away and I won!!!

 Featured above is the Vaya Tyffyn lunch box that I selected. It is the smaller version of their original. From the Vaya Tyffyn website: "Introducing Vaya Tyffyn 600 ml, a two container, vacuum-insulated lunch gear that keeps your meal warm for up to 4-5 hours, Perfect for a quick and fresh meal at school, college or work!"

It comes with the "Bag Mat" which can be used for picnics, work, etc. The mat wraps around the lunchbox, zips closed and becomes a carrying case for the lunchbox! It even has room for utensils and it has a handy strap to attach to make it easy to transport!! 

Now, I had told GiGi I hadn't had a chance to test this out, and asked if I could share HER video that is better than any testimonial that I could give! GiGi graciously gave me her permission to share it with all of you, not only will you get to see how fabulous the Vaya Tyffyn Lunch Box is, but you will get to see the adorable GiGi as well! The video IS on the longer side but is worth every moment! Enjoy!!

Once again we thank GiGi for this awesome prize that WILL be used soon! We also thank GiGi for allowing us to share her video!

Well friends,  Cody and I hope that you enjoyed our top picks of 2017 for Cat Lovers! Now...go out and do some shopping!

Hand Blown Memorial Glass Pendant Winner!

Thanks to all who entered our give-away!

Huge concatulations to the

 lucky winner listed below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway


We are so happy that Ellen was randomly selected! She is always so generous with so many kitties (including ME) that it is nice to be able to give back to HER! For those that may not know, Ellen has a blog, click to visit!

Honor Your Pet With A Hand Blown Memorial Glass Pendant (Give-Away!)

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. I was sent two pendants from Memorial Glass Pendants , in exchange for my always honest review.

With Monday having been Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day, I wanted to continue to honor not only Bobo, but all of the many, many pets that have left their beloved families.

Recently I was  contacted by Dana from Memorial Glass Pendants asking if I would like to have a custom made necklace honoring Bobo, I was ecstatic and grateful. The necklaces at Memorial Glass Pendants are gorgeous "wearable art." Each piece is unique, no one else will ever have one exactly like mine or yours. They are handmade in a small Northern California studio.

The glass used is called "borosilicate", which is much more durable than standard glass, and all of the pendants are " kiln annealed". When you visit the Memorial Glass Pendant website, you will see a number of designs, each and every one are beautiful. Many of the necklaces are encased with the ash of someones  beloved pet. I did not want to upset Bobo's ashes, but Dana told me if I sent her some photos of Bobo she could work on a pendant for me that didn't require that I send Bobo's ashes!

The process was easy, and Dana was wonderfully patient.  She had me tell her more about Bobo and had me send her some photos, I sent her the two shown below.

The pendants that Dana created for me were both the Kindred Spirits pendant. Dana's goal was to incorporate Bobo's colors and a color representing me. The first pendant she created was an "experiment." Dana wasn't happy with it but I think it is beautiful.

The silver, black and white are the color of Bobo's stripes. Dana included it with the final pendant she made for me which also had some of Bobo's beige coloring, as well as a color that represents ME. I chose green, because green is my favorite color.

I think it is just beautiful and I love how the glass is blown with the colors entwined, symbolizing that Bobo and I are forever "entwined" and are forever "Kindred Spirits." It represents the two of us embracing.

Original photos courtesy of Memorial Glass Pendants
I just made them into a collage

For your pendant you can pick the colors of the two spiraling designs. The piece in the photos uses orange and golden tan, but Dana has  many other colors to choose from. If there are colors that you are curious about, just  ask her and she can show you examples.

Each necklace arrived in a beautiful black little pouch, tucked inside a darling box with a bow.  I love that they are on a black, sturdy cord necklace. For the first week they arrived, I wore both because I just love them!

 I will be cherishing my pendants forever, just as I cherished my Angel Bobo. They would make lovely gifts for someone who has lost a beloved pet, or a gift to yourself. You don't have to wait for a holiday to "gift" one of these gorgeous pendants. They are a gift that will be cherished and appreciated any time. 

It is the hope of Memorial Glass Pendants  that having one of these will bring some comfort to you, and that it will act as a reminder of the joy that you and your companion gave each other.

GIVE-AWAY! Dana is generously offering one of my readers who is 18 and over and who resides either in the U.S. or Canada a pendant of their own. (An approx. $60 value!) Entering is easy, simply enter on the rafflecopter below and good luck!!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day: Honoring My "Baby Bobo"

FROM CAT CHAT WITH CAREN AND CODY: This post first appeared last year, I was going to write a new post and include a give-away, but yesterday I had an AWFUL kidney stone attack. (Thank God for meds! Because of pain meds I didn't have to go to the hospital.) Please be sure to stop by this WEDNESDAY for a special Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day Give-Away from Memorial Glass Pendants.

ABOUT RAINBOW BRIDGE REMEMBRANCE DAY:

"Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day was founded in 2015 by Deborah Barnes, award-winning author and blogger of Zee & Zoey's Cat Chronicles in tribute to her Ragdoll cat, Mr. Jazz, who she had to say goodbye to on August 28, 2013. She shared the journey of letting him go in her critically acclaimed book, Purr Prints of the Heart – A Cat’s Tale of Life, Death, and Beyond and decided to create the day in his honor as a way for others across the world to share memories of their own pets they had loved and lost." 

 To share your post, poem, video, special photo or special memory on Facebook, click here.

My "Baby Bobo"

In order to not make this post overly "photo heavy" I have created three collages to honor my beloved Bobo whom I was blessed to share my life with from December 1989 until July 2, 2007.

Bobo was found as a stray in sub-zero temperatures when he was approximately six months old. He spent every day of his life showing me his gratitude for having rescued him, and more unconditional love and devotion than I ever thought could exist. His life cannot accurately be portrayed in a mere three collages, but that is all I can do for now. Many of the photos I am sharing with you today,  you have not seen, (I apologize for their poor quality, but they were taken before the days of cell phones and blogging), and I will offer some explanation of the photos. Please join me in remembering my beloved Bobo with all of my love and with a heart that still breaks and grieves when I gaze upon his photos and share these memories.

In this collage you will see in the top left some of Bobo's favorite toys that I cannot bring myself to part with, nor do I ever allow Cody to play with them. The photo on the top left shows them in the bag in which they are stored, in the bottom photo you see his "kitty" that he slept with every day, his stuffed woofie, a mouse, two balls and his catnip pillow with a picture of a kitty that looked so much like him.

In the photo on the top right, are his last bowls that are kept in a trunk for safe-keeping. I have never let Cody use them. They were Bobo's and as much as I love Cody, I never could bring myself to allow him to use these bowls.

This collage is rather eerie when you hear a story that accompanies it. First, why in the world I bought my mancat a PINK carrier is beyond me! For the life of me I have no idea why I did that!

The bottom left photo shows my maiden name with Bobo's name on top of the carrier, all ready for for trips to the vet. The photo on the right is my Bobo sitting on TOP of his carrier which he used to do ALL of the time!

The photo on the top left is a photo of the  carrier as it looks today.  I keep it in the closet of my office, everything in it is exactly as it was since the day he crossed the bridge.I haven't changed or touched a thing. I sometimes think I should dispose of it, but I can't. It will be with me always.

What is eerie is one day I couldn't find Cody. I searched everywhere, and when I finally found him I found him IN the closet, IN Bobo's carrier. He had opened the door, crept in, and it has now become  one of his favorite sleeping spots. He does this nearly EVERY DAY.  I like to think that on some level he and Bobo are communicating, and I am convinced that they are. How and why Cody ever discovered this in the closet, I have no idea. For some reason it brings Cody happiness and comfort to sleep there, and it makes me happy that he does it.

I leave you with a photo of Bobo on the top left in his eating area when we moved to Michigan in 2001. 

The other photos show him on the couch that was Lenny's before we were married. There is a photo on the top right of Lenny and Bobo. Lenny didn't meet Bobo until he was 12 years old and had already slowed down considerably, but they were blessed to have six years together. Sadly, that is the same couch that the Vet helped him cross the Bridge on and we no longer have it. I just couldn't keep it, it caused me enormous pain every time I looked at it.

Painting of Bobo by Becart

I used to think Bobo's markings were so unique until I saw a number of cats in the blogosphere who looked so much like him it was uncanny! I adored his perfect four white paws and his "bib", he was such a handsome boy.

He wasn't a people cat as Cody is, I often wondered what Bobo experienced in the months before he found me. He didn't like strangers, he was a much more fearful cat than Cody (who is fearless), but he had a sensitivity and a remarkable way of being attuned to every nuance of my being that was something that isn't experienced often in ones' lifetime. When I hurt, he hurt, and vice versa.

The Rainbow Bridge poem was given to me by a friend when Bobo passed. I keep it in a frame in my office, where it still brings me comfort.

I didn't intend for this post to be quite this long, and I thank you for taking the time to read it. I also would like to thank Deb Barnes for creating this wonderful event.

I send my love to each and every one of you, and look forward to reading your stories and seeing your photos of those "who came before." May we all derive some comfort from these posts.