Chynna T. Laird's Blog, page 14

Writing Prompt ~ What Can You NOT Live Without?

This is one of the most profound quotes I've read in a while. When I woke up this morning, I asked myself the above question. With all of the craziness that has surrounded my little family lately, I took a moment to really think about that.

What things can I truly not live without?

All of us joke about it when faced with this question. How many of you would 'die without chocolate'? Or go ballistic when you can't find your cell phone? Or get absolutely crazy when you're missing your favorite tel...

Foodie Fridays - No Bake Chocolate Muskrat Cookies

I had you at chocolate, didn't I?

In The Spotlight ~ An Interview w/Pierrette d'Entremount-Crimmins On Sensory Chewelry

Sensory Awareness month is almost coming to an end. I am so impressed with the amount of sharing, learning, and guiding that I've seen from SPD advocates worldwide. It truly warms my heart.

Fifteen years ago, there was very little support out there for parents who often felt isolated and alone in their struggles to both understand their child as well as to get them the help they desperately needed. There were very few books out there, even less online resources and no parents out there sharing...

Writing Sample Wednesday ~ A Snippet From Out Of Sync (Adult Fiction)

Happy Hump Day!

I have to say, it is so wonderful to start my day off in the positive and feeling newly inspired and motivated. There is nothing worse for an author than to sit down at your computer to work, only to stare blankly at that stupid cursor mocking you as nothing flows up to be written. It doesn't happen to me often, but when it does it seriously ticks me off.

Today, though, my office is nice and quiet, no one is sick or has any appointments I have to take care of and I'm not so tire...

Talk About It Tuesday ~ Advocating For Red Ribbon Week

Honestly, I had never heard of the story behind this campaign until recently when I was asked to write about it. And, honestly, it was shocking.

Usually on the blog, we talk about issues or conditions that aren't discussed as much as they probably should be and to do our part to help raise awareness for these areas. At the very least, it may inspire someone to learn more about the topics and the importance of bringing them into a brighter light. Red Ribbon Week is definitely one of these subje...

Music Mantra Monday ~ Taking It Easy and Slowing Down

First of all, I am so sorry that we've gotten a bit behind in our posts the last week or so. It has been so busy around here that we were starting to feel like we were living in our car. Rushing around getting four kids to four different places and, naturally, in four different areas of the city induces a lot of stress, bickering, additional stressors stemming from having to be everywhere all day and overwhelming exhaustion.

When I finally got to bed on Sunday night, it dawned on me that how t...

Writing Sample Wednesday ~ Chynna's Middle Grade Novel About Bullying (WIP)

Several years ago, my second oldest girl was a victim of bullying. It came as a total surprise to me because this is a girl who everyone wanted to be friends with, who went out of her way to make other kids feel accepted, who stood up for kids (and her siblings) who weren't being treated fairly and whose bright smile elicited the same in everyone around her. Her teachers even got classmate who were shy or having difficulty making friends to pair with her as she was always able to bring such a...

Music Mantra Monday ~ In the Arms of An Angel

Today is an emotional tribute here on the blog in support to parents out there during National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.

There is no greater loss one can experience than that of a child. And it doesn't matter how long we have been blessed with their presence, that pain doesn't disappear. There can be many reasons a child may not be able to be with us as long as we'd hoped, but parents worldwide, especially moms, need a platform on which they can express the emptiness they keep...

Writing Prompt Saturday ~ Being Open About Living With Illness (Thank you Claire Wineland)

**I've left names out in respect, and to protect the privacy, of those I'm writing about. They can share their individual stories when they are ready to.**

Yesterday evening while cleaning up after supper, I got a phone call from one of my kids' friend's mom. Normally, at least I've found around here, moms of my kids' friends don't usually call me unless there's a sleepover or Birthday party involved, or something terrible happened that involved one of my kids. Because this was the mom of my s...

Foodie Fridays ~ Chynna's Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

My kids have been bugging me all week for cookies. Of course, they prefer Oreos, Girl Guide cookies and all of the other versions filled with additives and other crappy things you can't pronounce. Don't get me wrong, these things are okay for an occasional treat, but I much prefer they eat stuff I make myself. At least I know what's in them.

I'd like to think my version of the funtime foods are a bit more on the healthier side because I can sneak in seeds or different kinds of oil. Not only do...