Lyssa Chiavari's Blog, page 10

Seasonal Sweets Sunday: Snowball Cookies

“This post is going up later than I meant it to” is becoming a theme, isn’t it? XD Today I was supposed to go see Star Wars: Rogue One, but it was sold out, so we saw Moana instead. (Secret: I actually wanted to see Moana more, so this worked out in my favor.) I loved it! I don’t know how much longer it will be in theaters since it’s been out awhile at this point, but I really recommend it if you haven’t seen it yet.

So, today, I will be sharing the recipe for another of my favorite holiday...

Holiday Crafts: Make an intergalactic ornament

As you know, I’m a little bit obsessed with anything to do with outer space. So this year, I decided to add a little cosmic cheer to my Christmas tree, and make an outer space ornament! Here’s what you need:

Clear ball ornaments designed for crafting:Stores like JoAnn’s and Hobby Lobby have a ton of these in different sizes and varieties. I like to get plastic rather than glass as they are shatter-proof. Durable ornament hooks:Thick ribbon would also work, to hang the ornament from. These c...

Seasonal Sweets Sunday: Peppermint Stick Cookies

This week’s recipe is actually making it up on Sunday! Barely. XD Once again, it’s later than I meant it to be, but this time it’s because of an unexpected holiday surprise of the best kind:

An unexpected new addition to the family!

Holiday rainbows

So, even though I’ve been sparkly and holly jolly this December, I realize that the holidays aren’t always a super fun time for everyone. I’m very lucky to have a family that is accepting of my asexualityand has never made me feel unwelcome or unloved for it. But I also have close friends who are forced to leave their homes at the holidays, driven out by acephobic relatives. I have queer friends who have been homeless, or who have no contact with their families. For them, the holidays aren’t...

Seasonal Sweets (Monday): Making fudge!

So, my plan for yesterday was to post a recipe, but…

Today’s holiday cheer post has been delayed due to an exploding candy thermometer. Stand by…!

— Lyssa Chiavari (@lyssachiavari) December 5, 2016

But now we have a new candy thermometer, so here is the recipe! I’m going to post a different family recipe every Sunday (except this week, of course), and it shall be SEASONAL SWEETS SUNDAY! *confetti* The first recipe is for our Christmas fudge

Wish on a shining star~

So, today’s Holiday Cheer post is coming a bit later than I meant it to… and it’s also a different topic than it was originally going to be… which is largely due to an exploding candy thermometer… long story. XD So the originally planned post will be coming tomorrow, but don’t think that I’m going to leave you hanging on the holiday cheer front! It’s time to make a wish on a shining star… for some great new books you should totally check out!

Lyssa’s Shiny New Indies Wishlist

It’s the fourth...

Hasn’t snowed a single flurry, but Santa, dear, we’re in a hurry

I’m the sort of person whogets a little intense over the holidays. Almost every holiday, actually. I love decorating the house for the different seasons, making crafts andfinding cutesy wreaths and rugs and window clings and other kitschy ways to show my holiday spirit, be it Halloweenor the Fourth of July. And after the doozy that was November, as Angela Lansbury sang in Mame, I need a little Christmas NOW!

And I feel like maybe other people might need the same thing. Regardless of your pol...

Interview with author Imani Josey!

Today I’m so excited to share this special interview with Imani Josey, debut author of The Blazing Star and all-around awesome person! From the moment I saw the cover reveal for The Blazing Star, I knew this was going to be a special book. As you’ll see from this interview, I am a bit of a history geek—especially for ancient Egypt, which was my study emphasis in college. So when I saw this book? Let’s just say I preordered it so fast that I may have given myself whiplash. I am so excited to r...

Giving thanks for readers

Thursday was Thanksgiving in the USA, a day for being grateful for everything we have. 2016 was a year of ups and downs, but the one consistently positivesthing through the whole year was the wonderful readers I have met in my last year of publishing. I am so grateful for all of you!

As you may recall, last month I put two short stories up for free download on InstaFreebie. This turned out to be such a success that I decided I wanted another way to thank you allfor yoursupport, and give more...

November is on my list

At this point I’ve pretty much decided that November is the worst month in the calendar. Unlessyou’ve been living under a rock, I’m sure you’ve noticed that this November has been particularly crappy for the usual world-event reasons. But it seems like Novemberreally had it in for me on a personal level this year. It actually started on October 29, when I was supposed to go to a Halloween party but got knocked flat by a fever. That fever lingered… and lingered… and lingered, until last Friday...