{My 365 Grateful Project}

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"There are no ordinary moments." ~Way of the Peaceful Warrior

{The '365 Grateful Project'} -  was created by Hailey in early 2008 in an effort to fight depression. 

This effort began a year long photographic project which involved taking one Polaroid photo a day of something she felt grateful for. 

The discipline of having to look for the good things that happen every day is life-changing, in so many ways. Hailey found not only her marriage, spiritual life and health improved, but this project accidentally, wondrously spread and affected the lives of many others.

Are you taking part?

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{My 365 Grateful Project}

{my week of photos for the 365 Grateful Project ^_^}

{Day 24 - I am grateful for Cory making me muffins ^_^}

{Day 25 - I am grateful for Buster's cute lil face (wanting muffins)}

{Day 26 - I am grateful for my sweet lil nieces}

{Day 27 - I am grateful for Lyla being super cuddly}

{Day 28 - I am grateful for my new tea pot}

{Day 29 - I am grateful for this amazing book that I wanted that Cory picked up for me!}

{Day 30 - I am grateful for everything being pretty in white again}

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☆ 14 Ways Your Cat Improves Your Health (infographic) ☆

I love my cats. They are absolutely my babies. The joy that I receive from these adorable little fur-balls cannot be put into words. If I am in a bad mood, they always cheer me up and make me feel loved. 

Now there's even more reasons to love your cat: by revving up your cat’s purr motor!

Our feline friends provide us with more than just emotional support. House cats may actually be contributing to our physical well-being. When a cat purrs within a range of 20-140 Hertz, nearby humans may be therapeutically benefiting from these vibrations. Purring has been linked to lowering stress, decreasing symptoms of Dyspnoea, lessening the chances of having a heart attack, and even strengthening bones.

Pet-therapy has been gaining momentum and it is already a well-established fact that having cats or dogs (or bunnies, etc.) in the family is good for your health. Even the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) acknowledges it. Many studies have found a variety of health benefits we derive from petting and interacting with companion animals. And there is scientific research that suggests pet owners live longer than those without pets.

Daily Infographic illustrates:

Infographic courtesy of Daily Infographic

(“dysponea,” usually spelled “dyspnea,” means difficulty or pain with breathing.)

Cuddling up with your cat is good for you and for her. Scratch her favorite spot (try her cheeks!) and get a good purr going. She’ll be ecstatic, and you will get healthier. (Good news for those who cannot take advantage of this feline-based health regimen because of cat allergies: an effective treatment may be only five years away.)

Even if she doesn’t get her purr on, time with your cat (or other animal) is still good for you. Here are just a few of the many ways they take care of you.

Pets Help Sick People Feel Better

WebMD describes a number of benefits ill people derive from living with companion animals.

1. “Alzheimer’s patients have fewer anxious outbursts” if they live with a companion animal.

2. “Pet owners with AIDS are far less likely to suffer from depression than those without pets.”

3. People who suffer from high blood pressure, then adopt a cat or dog, navigate stressful situations with lower blood pressure than people who don’t have pets.

4. “Heart attack patients who have pets survive longer than those without.”

Pets Also Help Prevent Health Problems

5. Taking care of a pet provides elderly people with “exercise and companionship,” with such a positive effect that one company gives bonus points to elderly life insurance applicants for having a pet.

6. “Male pet owners have less sign of heart disease — lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels — than non-owners.”

7. Want your kids to breathe easy? Make sure they have furry family members. That lowers the risk that they will have allergies, asthma and even eczema, plus it strengthens their immune systems.

If you have quadripeds in the house, go play or snuggle with them at once. If you don’t, get thee to the local animal shelter and save the life of a homeless animal who will pay you back with years of good health.

Thanks to Care2: http://www.care2.com/causes/14-ways-your-cat-improves-your-health.html#ixzz2aGjzojbG

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♥ Meet the furry members of my family!!! ♥

On Tuesday we adopted our second kitty, Buster, and I wanted to share him with you all. Then I realized that I'd never formally shared my first kitty, Lyla, with you and decided that it would be unfair to dedicate a post just for Buster. I love them both immensely so, here I am sharing them with you :). 

Pets are not possessions, they are members of your family--furry ones. They deserve to be treated with love and care and attention. They have emotions, they speak with their cute individualized sounding meows (and barks or any other noise your pet may have) and are more than just "pets."  

Lyla:

Lyla is our first baby. She's an adorable female short-haired tabby with beautiful markings, likely has some bengal mix. Her fur is the softest I've ever felt!! 

We got her when she was 8-weeks old from my husband's cousin, her 1-year birthday is coming right up at the beginning of July. :) Looking back, I wish I had adopted, however I love Lyla to death and can't imagine my life without her. We'd just moved back to Nelson and the timing was perfect. She was the rut of the litter, swatting her brothers and sisters as they passed by. We simply couldn't resist taking her home with us. 

She can be quite shy, and likes to keep to herself, although she has slowly gotten more cuddly and sometimes sleeps on our laps when watching movies. She is also very needy (which I love!) and follows us around the apartment wherever we go, greets us eagerly at the door, always sleeps on our feet. She makes up for not being the cuddliest kitty with her amazing fully-packed spunky little personality. She has "tornado modes" where she loves to run around the apartment making little ferret noises. She is super sweet and the prettiest kitty I've ever seen!

Buster:

Buster is a super cute (and handsome) male long-haired black and white kitty. He has white on his face, belly, and his little paws. He has adorable little mismatched features, including pink spots on his nose, and a black spot under his white bearded chin.

We've only had Buster for three days today. We picked him up at one of the animal shelters here in Nelson, immediately falling in love with him when I first saw him. He's only six months old but has had a rough little life. He's a stray, found at a lumber yard and has had lots of rectal problems which resulted in two months of staying at the animal hospital and surgery. The animal hospital was amazing and performed all the surgeries and care for free, saving his little life! He was moved to the animal shelter about a month ago and has been doing really well--his poops have been looking normal now for a month as well. 

He is ridiculously cuddly, affectionate and sweet and we are too happy to give him a loving home. All he wants to do is cuddle, and sleep on our necks, faces, laps, anywhere close to us. He also likes to hang off things to the point of sliding or falling off. He is a little spitfire, has lots of personality and so far loves to chase Lyla around our place--she's slowly warming up to him and playing back. 

Both our kitties are gifts in my life and I am grateful for their companionship and love. I'm hoping the two of them get to be really close and cuddly together... but we'll have to wait and see. Lyla has been weary of him in her home but now that she's warming up to him I think they will be friends in no time. :) 

I'd also like to remind everyone to always adopt, spay or neuter your pet, and be responsible pet-owners! There are so many animals in need of homes, they deserve that chance at a loving home. 

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