Chynna T. Laird's Blog, page 4

Foodie Friday ~ Going South W/Fried Green Tomatoes

I was told that when you crave something, when you aren't pregnant and craving everything, it usually means there is an element in that food your body is low in. That makes absolute sense to me but what about when you crave something completely out of the ordinary...like fried green tomatoes?

Maybe I really just wanted something fried as I am not supposed to have deep-fried foods anymore. I'll admit to cheating from time-to-time but...tomatoes? I think, in this case, I really wanted comfort...

Music Mantra Monday ~ Nothing Will Break My Stride

Okay, this is a total flashback to the '80s for me. And, I have to say, hilarious.

I was getting ready for bed tonight and my youngest sent me a text from upstairs (my bedroom is in the basement), which isn't unusual in this house. Anyway, this is sort of how it went:

SOPHIE: Last night I had the strangest dream.
ME: Did you kill someone or die?
SOPHIE: I sailed away to China.
ME: Hm. This sounds hauntingly familiar.
SOPHIE: In a little rowboat to find ya.
ME: ...oh geez...
SOPHIE: You said you had...

Writing Prompt Saturday ~ Positive Words From A-Z

Wow. We've been going through the worst cold snap I can remember since moving to Alberta. All this week, it's been around -40 with the windchill. I believe we were even colder than some places up north from us! That's pretty cold.

Extremes in temperature seem to take a real toll on many of us, myself not excluded. I haven't has the motivation or energy to even come downstairs to my office and get some words out (that added to it's dang cold down here). So I thought I'd try something that might...

Writing Sample Wednesday ~ Blackbird Flies

I had an awesome post for Tuesday's slot but, sadly, it didn't get posted soon enough. Ah well. I'll save it for next week.

For today's writing segment, I'm going to share a snippet from a novella very close to my heart - it was one of my first fiction works. The story revolves around 15-year old Payton who had a very troubled beginning to his life but always found a way to steer him away from the statistics that said he'd never amount to anything.

I don't want to give too much away here but...

Music Mantra Monday ~ Stalking Is Dangerous...Even In Music Form

In keeping with our focus of this month's theme, I wanted to share a few thoughts of another way a stalker can get close to their victim without actually getting close: through music.

It stinks for me to believe that one of my favorite and most beloved forms of creativity and relaxation can be used as a tool to harass, scare or further stalk another person. Of course, we have all heard songs that talk about it, or have heard "song battles" between different artists but it is truly terrifying...

The Face of Liver Disease ~ Hope

One issue that has always bothered me, and what triggered the addition of my, Talk About It, segment is when people close their minds to certain subjects without making the effort to understand them first. After all, it is so much easier to pass judgment based on what you see or think you know rather than taking the time to absorb the right information to understand. That is something I have always taken great pride in. I may not like a specific subject or issue but I will give...

Talk About It ~ Stalking: Help Make It Stop

Every month of every year, we focus on specific causes that require people to get out there, talk about and make a difference. In January, our subject of focus is stalking.

Now, stalking is very different today than it was when I was younger. Back then, it was very much like it is depicted on television shows and B-movies where "girl is watched, girl is followed, girl becomes overwhelmingly paranoid, etc." What is tremendously overlooked is that this is not just an issue that is isolated to...

Writing Prompt Saturday ~ Finding Inner Peace

I am a self-proclaimed worry-wort.

I worry about everything and never just one thing. That would make it all so much easier. I worry about everything all at once, even things that I shouldn't even be worrying about. Events that have happened I can never change, events that haven't even happened yet (or, most likely never will) and every form of "what if..." you can imagine. And when does it usually kick in? At night, of course. You know, that time you're supposed to make your brain settle down...

Foodie Friday ~ One-Pot Ground Chicken Fajita

Well, this was a super fun and easy dish to make and my family loved it.

I was in the mood to have something different tonight. Almost everything I try to eat lately makes a rather obnoxious re-appearance and I just wanted something simple, healthy and "safe". I found some ground chicken in the freezer and immediately had a flood of ideas. Then I came across this recipe and knew it would be a hit.

You could make this even more simple by using one of those store-brand, pre-made taco packets, but...

Writing Sample Wednesday ~ A Snippet from the New Just Shut Up and Drive

Okee dokee. My posting times seem to be getting later and later, don't they? I'm so sorry. We have a lot going on around here, especially this time of year.

Today, I really wanted to get back to my wonderful works I love so very much. This one, Just Shut Up and Drive, is one of my favorites and I really hope you all have a bit of time to check it out.

I have a book blog tour in the making for this book and will keep you all posted on that.

For now, here is a sample from the second chapter....