Oops and Daisies

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The Power of Boredom: Why My Kids Are Regularly “Bored”

August 25, 2020 by Liz SanFilippo Hall

Don't get me wrong. I love putting together fun activities and games for my kids. I also think it's pretty clear from this here blog that I'm a fan of crafts with my kids too. But I also think boredom is important too. That's why I'm also a big fan of stepping back and letting my kids get bored. Boredom -- and slowing down -- leads to imagination. It forces kids to become more self-aware. It's … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cool Experiences, Life With Kids, Parenting Tagged With: boredom, kids, quiet-time, quiet-time boxes

How to Make a Simple Mud Garden (and Why My Kids Love It)

June 14, 2020 by Liz SanFilippo Hall

My kids love the mud. They love jumping in it. They love squishing their hands in it. Simply put, they love getting dirty (once upon a time my oldest hated it, but that's another story). So when we set out to make a new raised garden bed, they wanted to get involved. The only problem? We didn't want them stomping down any new plants. That's one of the reasons we decided to make them their … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Backyard Fun, Cool Experiences, Life With Kids Tagged With: garden, kid garden, life with kids, mud garden

How to Throw a Disney-Themed Backyard Picnic

May 24, 2020 by Liz SanFilippo Hall

Disney picnic

We may not be able to travel to Disney World right now, but we can bring the magical world of Disney to our backyard. Hopefully it will also help cast a spell on meal time too. Because, I don't know about you, but I am tired of answering the question: what's for dinner? That's one reason that I'm moving as many meals as I can from the dining room table to the backyard for a picnic. (This is a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cool Experiences, Life With Kids, Travel Tagged With: backyard, disney, outdoor picnic, picnic, picnic blanket, picnic ideas

Lessons From Building Raised Garden Beds (and Why We Love Them)

May 17, 2020 by Liz SanFilippo Hall

raised garden bed

In the Midwest, gardening season is finally upon us! We loved our raised garden bed last year -- and all the tomatoes and vegetables we grew inside it -- and this year we decided to add another one to expand our garden. This year was the the year we finally invested in getting some tools of our own, rather than borrowing them from neighbors or family. Now, we have some fun projects in the works … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cool Experiences Tagged With: backyard, garden, garden bugs, gardening, raised garden bed, vegetables

5 Board Games Preschoolers Love

May 5, 2020 by Liz SanFilippo Hall

board games

My three-year-old's attention span is, shall we say, limited. He tends to flit from activity to activity unless it's something he really loves. Thankfully, he currently loves board games. I love that he loves them. Not only are they a way for me to have quality time with him, but board games also teach him a ton too. (Not that he realizes that!) Many games for preschoolers are great for … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cool Experiences, Life With Kids Tagged With: board games, games, go fish, life with kids, preschoolers

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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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