Oops and Daisies

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Our Latest Side Quest: Apple Picking!

September 29, 2026 by Liz SanFilippo Hall

Apple picking

My two kids don’t agree on much. They both have different favorite meals and snacks. They love vastly different types of music. Their hobbies are pretty much opposite (even if they both like their devices).  So I was surprised they still love going apple picking after all these years. I think we’ve made it to an apple orchard nearly every year we’ve lived in the suburbs (eight years now!), and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cool Experiences, Life With Kids, Travel Tagged With: apple orchard, apple picking, fall adventure, family fun, life with kids, October, parenting, side quest

How I, an Elder Millennial, Feel After 3 Days of Riot Fest

September 22, 2026 by Liz SanFilippo Hall

How I feel after 3 days of Riot Fest

I’m home. I didn’t stray too far from home—after all, I do live in the suburbs of Chicago. But I just took what has become my new annual “mini-vacation” (it counts as annual since it’s been two years in a row, right?) I was at Riot Fest, all three days, yes, even when it rained. And while I’m exhausted, as I texted my friends, it was “SO WORTH IT.”  From a killer lineup on Friday, with Alkaline … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Art & The Creative Process, Cool Experiences, Inspiration, Random musings, Travel Tagged With: creative writer, elder millenial, music, music festival, Riot Fest, writer

How Can Anyone Be Bored?

August 13, 2026 by Liz SanFilippo Hall

How can anyone be bored?

When I think of all there is to learn and discover, all the people I have yet to meet, I’m simply OVERWHELMED. So when my kids complain of being bored, I try not to guide them…  I want them to ask questions and go searching for either something to do, learn, explore, see, create, etc., without, no offense, Google.  But I used to think I needed to give them “more tools” so they could handle … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cool Experiences, Life With Kids, Parenting, Random musings Tagged With: boredom, imagination, learning, life with kids, parenting

I Want to Bring ‘Michigan’ Home With Me

August 10, 2026 by Liz SanFilippo Hall

Photo of Lake Michigan

I grew up going to Northern Michigan in the summer, and so has my husband. Now, my kids have ‘inherited’ these precious weeks that we spend up north with our families. We spent one week on Lake Michigan; another on Big Glen. Each time we were surrounded by family. Neither week went “according to plan,” but I’ve realized they rarely do any more, especially with so many kids under one roof.  With … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cool Experiences, Random musings, Travel Tagged With: lake michigan, michigan, northern michigan, travel

How I Use My Bullet Journal Every Month

July 31, 2026 by Liz SanFilippo Hall

I don’t remember when I started bullet journaling, but it was sometime after I had kids. My brain felt too chaotic, and I needed something more “personal” than a regular old planner. Now, it’s a regular part of my daily (and monthly) routine.  But it isn’t Pinterest worthy (I write, even as I plan to share this on Pinterest).  And it’s even simpler than it was when I wrote this post about … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Inspiration, Journaling, Personal Development Tagged With: bullet journal, busy moms, creativity, goals, inspiration, journal, organization, personal development, productivity, task list

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Recent Posts

  • All My Stories, All My Thoughts – Where Do I Put Them All? October 26, 2026
  • Our Latest Side Quest: Apple Picking! September 29, 2026
  • How I, an Elder Millennial, Feel After 3 Days of Riot Fest September 22, 2026
  • Book Review: If You Like Unique Literary Thrillers, Read “All The Colors of the Dark” September 2, 2026
  • Join Me on My Personal Writing Journey August 25, 2026

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authorlizsanfilippohall

Multi-genre author. 📚BECOMING CHARLOTTE CORDAY, a YA historical fantasy coming 4/27/2027 from Apprentice House Press

Looking for a spooky read? Or love stories about h Looking for a spooky read? Or love stories about hidden histories and the stories we tell ourselves about our fears? I adored this book, and not just because I learned stories about Scottish witches. This book is about memory, legacy, and why it’s so important to listen before we act. And it had me guessing what was real until the very end. The Lighthouse Witches by @cjcooke_author #WitchyReads #HistoricalFiction #Scotland #LizReadsALot
Writing and creating can be such a mindset game. W Writing and creating can be such a mindset game. We need to be our own cheerleaders AND advocates. You have something you want to write and create? You’ve got this… but if you need some more cheerleading, please know I’m here - ready to cheer you on. #CreativeSpark #BookCoaching #WritingLife #MindsetMatters
Another incredible way to learn about history? By Another incredible way to learn about history? By asking people about their stories and their experiences! And surprise surprise, I’m advocating for interviewing the people in our lives first and foremost. Our stories are powerful… they shape us. But only if we’re willing to ask and listen. #Storytelling #OralHistory #WritingTips #FamilyStories
Time to shout out our writing goals! Speak them ou Time to shout out our writing goals! Speak them out loud, schedule time for them, make them happen. This week: going strong with edits!! These characters have been directing things lately. #WritingGoals #AuthorsOfInsta #Creativity #GoalSetting
Other than books, how else can we dive into histor Other than books, how else can we dive into history and learn about our past? Through museums… and I’m not just talking about history museums either. No, they don’t always have “virtual reality” experiences but I promise you’ll feel “immersed” in totally different cultures and spaces. What’s your favorite museum or historical site? Shout out to @geoffreybaerwttw for his wise words about local history. #LearnHistory #CoolExperiences #PeekInsideMyBrain #HistoryLesson
Want to learn more about history? Don’t start with Want to learn more about history? Don’t start with the internet or AI. Today I’m sharing how I start the process of learning about a culture, civilization, or topic before I start writing… all without typing into Google search. What random fun facts have you learned without the use of an internet search? #HistoryResearch #WritingLife #ReadABook #KnowYourHistory
I focus on only one “big” creative writing project I focus on only one “big” creative writing project a week, and only have, maybe, 4 hours max to work on it at the computer…. It can be hard when it looks like the word count doesn’t change much. But hey, this is the editing life! And I’m making progress… currently one scene at a time. #WritingLife #WorkInProgress #AuthorsOfInsta #WeeklyUpdate
I talk a lot about finding joy in the creative pro I talk a lot about finding joy in the creative process… but can you find joy in trying to get published? In sending query after query? Rejection is hard, but it’s a fact, and it’s one we need to try to get comfortable with if our goals include publishing. In my latest Substack, I share my experiences with querying, rejection, and how we can build resilience even when we hear “no” again and again. I promise: we can do hard things… you got this.Link to the full story in my bio/story. #Publishing #Rejections #WritingGoals #MindsetMatters
Once upon a time, I struggled to share my writing Once upon a time, I struggled to share my writing with others. Yes, I was (and am!) a professional writer and editor, and I’ve written for what feels like countless industries and publications over the last 20 years... but my fiction? Hah! But I’ve long dreamed of becoming a career author, of publishing my books and my stories with the world... and I needed to step out of my own way. In 2025, I did just that, and it took some DEEP mindset work to get past some pretty big self-limiting beliefs. I know I’m not alone in feeling this way, and so I wrote an ebook: Your Permission Slip To Chase Your Writing Goals. It includes creative nonfiction based on my own journey to “claim” my identity as an author, plus writing prompts to help you think deeply about WHY you want to write. The result? Progress with your writing!Link in my bio/story. #SelfLimitingBeliefs #TheStoriesWeTellOurselves #WritingGoals #Creativity
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