Thankful Thursday: Coloring Book & Gemstone Bracelet Won On Basil's Blog!

Hi all!! Today we I am excited to show you the prizes we won from our dear furiends at Basil's Blog. and decided to feature it on our buddy Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

They have a special feature on Mondays which I greatly enjoy called COLOURING WITH CATS where a different Mandala is featured that Basil's human has colored.

Used without permission lol
from Basil's Blog
but we don't think they will mind

For those who may not know, the meaning of Mandala:  a Sanskrit word, is circle and like a circle, the mandala represents wholeness. A circle also denotes balance, perfection and eternity as the distance from its center to all points on it remains the same, from wherever it is measured.

Every Monday Basil's human features another Mandala and exercises to help keep us calm. (If only that worked for me! lol). 

So, back on February 6th,  there was a contest on Basil's blog  which was open world-wide! Here is what was being given away, and here is what I won!

I was so excited to win this book because I have been doing quite a bit of coloring lately, and what is so unique about  it is that it also has Wordsearch puzzles (which I adore!!!)

I started coloring this page, but didn't finish because there is soooooooooo much detail! It was NOT relaxing lol, but the Word Search was fun!

My FAVORITE part of these prizes though was this GORGEOUS semi-precious gemstone bracelet that was DESIGNED and MADE by Basil's human!!! That makes it EXTRA SPECIAL  and it is something that I will always cherish.

Isn't it beautiful!!!??? I was meant to win it I think because the colors of the bracelet and the bag PURRFECTLY match a blanket that I have that I used as the backdrop for this photo.

Each bracelet that Basil's human makes  is unique and full of healing energies from the large amethysts in  her crystal room.  What I particularly love, is I have a rather thick wrist and many bracelets don't fit me, but this bracelet doesn't have a clasp and stretches to fit any wrist! I just LOVE IT!!!

I am sending  a HUGE thank you to Basil's human for these wonderful prizes that came all the way from the UK!!! THANK YOU!!!

Winners on Wednesday!!!! Zen Cats:MEDITATIONS for the WISE MINDS of CAT LOVERS

Thanks to all who entered our give-away for:

It's time to announce the

FIVE LUCKY WINNERS!!

HUGE CONCATULATIONS TO ALL!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book:Zen Cats:MEDITATIONS for the WISE MINDS of CAT LOVERS and a Give-Away

Zen and Cats.  The purrfect pairing. Zen is commonly defined as: "a total state of focus that incorporates a total togetherness of body and mind. Zen is a way of being. It also is a state of mind. Zen involves dropping illusion and seeing things without distortion created by your own thoughts."

Humans strive for perfect Zen. Cats often appear as if their body and minds have already attained a perfect state of Zen. Cats exude calm, relaxation, peace. They can sleep in the most uncomfortable appearing positions and locations, and make them appear to be the epitome of comfort.

Cat are often a symbol for mysticism .   They have the "ability to seemingly read the minds of other animals and humans. Thus, being so in tune with nature and the universal intelligence which some would refer to as God that they realize things ahead of their happening."

Those qualities make Cats the purrfect animal to be featured with the thought-provoking quotes from Buddha.

Cover Photo Courtesy of Mango Media

I have always been a fan of books that feature daily affirmations and quotes.  There is something inspiring and calming about beginning my day by reading something positive and having that message provide me with what I need to face the coming day.

I also love reading verses that inspire and encourage me to think. I am one that can sit with a book, find something that resonates with me, and then gaze out of a window for long periods of time, lost in contemplation.

Zen Cats: MEDITATIONS for the WISE MINDS of CAT LOVERS is the perfect addition to my books of quotes, affirmations and the many Philosophy books (I majored in Rhetoric-Greek Rhetorical Theory, and minored in Philosophy in college),  that line my full-to-the brim bookshelves! It  features photos of cuddly cats and kittens and  a collection of sayings from the Buddha. The verses, taken from the Dhammapada, were written centuries ago, but today they offer insight for all of life’s basic struggles.

The book is broken down into sections and within each section you will find a number of thought provoking verses. The sections are:

• Mind and Body
• Happiness
• Virtue
• Truth
• Eternity

Photo Courtesy of Mango Media

Beneath each verse is a synopsis or a definition if you will, as written by the editors of Mango Media, as to their interpretation of the verse featured on the page.

As shown above, the cat photos that accompany each verse are beautiful, adorable and often calming.  Zen and Cats the purrfect pairing.

Some of my favorite verses in Zen Cats are:

VERSE 49-Fools follow after vanity, men of evil wisdom. The wise man keeps earnestness as his best jewel.
Mango Media's Interpretation:An honest character is worth much more than any sum of money and will bring more happiness. Appearances can fool you.

VERSE 85-And he who lives a hundred years, ignorant and unrestrained, a life of one day is better if a man is wise and reflecting.
 Mango Media's Interpretation: A reflecting mind is open to growth and change throughout a life. To live every day without reflection is to live the same day over and over, without growth.

 Meditate along with the verses to gain a greater understanding of you, your life, and your purpose. Find the meaning of truth in these verses and how to find it in the world around you. Let your inner Zen Cat guide you to enlightenment.

"Whether one believes in a religion or not, and whether one believes in rebirth or not, there isn't anyone who doesn't appreciate kindness and compassion."

Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama

• ISBN-13: 9781633530485

166 pages
AVAILABLE ON: AMAZON,   BARNES & NOBLE,  and KOBO

GIVE-AWAY!!!
 Mango Media has generously offered FIVE OF OUR READERS who reside in the U.S. (our apologies to our International readers) the chance to win a copy of Zen Cats: MEDITATIONS for the WISE MINDS of CAT LOVERS. An approximate $15 value. Entering is easy! Just enter on the Rafflecopter below. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

I was not compensated for this review/give-away. I was sent a copy of Zen Cats in exchange for my honest review.

ZEN CAT or "GATTO ZEN" brought to you by Rivelazioni.com

If this isn't "Easy" I don't know what is. I was sent this extraordinary video via Facebook by my friend Molly D.Campbell, (if you aren't familiar with her blog, Life With the Campbells or Molly D.Campbell, View from the Empty Nest, DO check it out), she is insightful and hilarious......

Now.....back to our "Easy".........

Post by Rivelazioni.com.

Easy Sunday: "Daily Yoga For a Happy and Healthy Cat" by Shri Swami Sattvapurrrrrananda, aka "Swami Zoe" Photography by Julianne Victoria

Happy Sunday my furiends!

I have always considered myself to be one pretty laid back kinda guy. Nothin' much rattles me. I take meds like a champ, I don't "sing" and claw on my way to the V-E-T, the "sucky monster?", fughet about it, he barely fluffs my fur! I just kinda take things in stride and go with the flow. As long as there is a bowl of food after any aggravation that life throws my way, then I'm happy!

Being a rather "zen" kitty myself, my interest was piqued when presented with the oppawtunity of reading Daily Yoga For a Happy and Healthy Cat by my furiend Shri Swami  Sattvapurrrrrananda ( hey if it's misspelled don't blame me, I'm not the typist and that is ONE mouthful! Thankfully she is also known also known as, Swami Zoe.)

I was eager to get my paws on this, after all, I'm HAPPY, HEALTHY (knock on wood, whatever that means, my Mom told me to say it!), and I am a CAT! I figured that learning Yoga would be another tool I can use to continue being the laid-back kinda mancat that I am!

On the first page of the book I read:

"If one stretches completely, one relaxes completely. Look at a cat, a master of stretching and a master of relaxation." -B.K.S. lyengar, Light on Life.

For kitties out there that might be experiencing more than their share of stress and for those like me, that are more of the laid-back type, this book is right up your alley!

It is also a book that your humans can enjoy right along with you! Have THEM get down on all fours, stretch those legs, have them show THEIR bellehs! It will be a catabulous bonding experience for both of you! That being said, I don't think my Mom could do these poses because her belleh is so big that if she gets down on the floor she may never get up, but I digress....

I suggest you light some incense, grab a sunpuddle or go to your favorite cozy spot, grab a snuggly blanket and you are all set to put some of the moves that are shown in this book into practice!

Daily Yoga For a Happy and Healthy Cat features poses that cats ALREADY are masters at and puts names to them such as:

Balasana (kitten pose)

Sphinx Asana (Sphinx pose)

Anandamarjari Asana (happy cat pose) (which is one I do all of the time)

and it tells you when and what these poses are best suited for.

From Daily Yoga For a Happy and Healthy Cat: Keeping the body clean inside and outside is an important part of living a yogic lifestyle. Regular bathing and adequate hydration and nutrition are necessary to cleanse and nourish our perfectly beautiful feline temples!

No worries! Those are things that kitties just instinctively know! This  sweet and sometimes funny handbook is one that you will want to keep close-to-your-paws when you feel you just need a little break from the outside world.  The poses in this book may be practiced in any sequence and combination and for any length of time! At first, some of the poses might appear to be hard but with practice you should be able to perform them quite easily!

Daily Yoga for a Happy and Healthy Cat is a sure way to start your "Easy Sunday" off on the right paw!


A portion of the book sales will be donated to animal rescue.

To purchase visit Createspace  here or Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

Want a daily dose of Swami Zoe? Visit her blog!

Visit Swami Zoe's Haiku writing brother here

Visit Swami Zoe's Mom's (Julianne Victoria's) blog

Visit On The Streets Of San Francisco (Photography blog)

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