Oops and Daisies

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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: Family & Lifestyle, Life With Kids, Travel Tagged With: backyard, disney, outdoor picnic, picnic, picnic blanket, picnic ideas

8 Tips for Taking a Road Trip with Kids

August 19, 2019 by Liz SanFilippo Hall

My family and I recently got back from a two-week vacation up in northern Michigan - my happy place! It’s a trip we make often since my family owns a rental home there. While we always have a wonderful time, it’s not a quick road trip by any means: we’re looking at a minimum of 4.5 hours, and that’s if there’s no traffic… or tantrums from the kids along the way. Over the years, I've … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Family & Lifestyle, Life With Kids, Travel Tagged With: life with kids, mindset, parenting, road trip, road trip with kids, tips and tricks, travel, travel with kids

Michigan Vacations Have Turned Into Trips… But That’s Okay

September 14, 2017 by Liz SanFilippo Hall

My family and I have been coming up to northern Michigan for as long as I can remember… when I think of summer, I think of the sandy beaches, skipping rocks on the water, kayaking down the nearby river, jumping waves and “body” surfing, bonfires and looking at the sky fill with stars. Growing up, every year we’d only go for a week, sometimes two. But every year I looked forward to it more than … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Family & Lifestyle, Travel, Work From Home Tagged With: family trip, family vacation, lake michigan, life after kids, life with kids, michigan rental, northern michigan, parenting, road trip, travel

My Happy Place: Northern Michigan

August 12, 2015 by Liz SanFilippo Hall

Happy Place

Home is where the heart is. While I love living in Chicago, there is absolutely no place I'd rather be than Northern Michigan. Lucky for me, I married into a family that feels much the same way; this part of the world isn't just my 'happy place.' I've been coming up to the area as long as I can remember. Back then, there were hardly any tourists. I spent hours on the beach reading books (oh so … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Family & Lifestyle, Travel Tagged With: happy place, life with kids, michigan, northern michigan, travel

Recent Posts

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  • Big News: I Have a Book Contract! May 15, 2026
  • Oops, Daisies, and Dreams: Interview with Author J.P. Lee February 19, 2026
  • Stop the Mean Girl Voice in Our Heads: How to Do Affirmations February 11, 2026

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authorlizsanfilippohall

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

I laughed, I cried. This book was everything I nee I laughed, I cried. This book was everything I needed and more. Author @alison.espach took something heartbreaking and turned it into something beautiful about how we can embrace who we are. That’s all I’ll say so I don’t give anything away. But you know I can’t help but share a good quote (and there were so many!):“And it was perfect. It really was. But life is strange, always thinking this one thing is going to make you happy, because then you get it, and then maybe you’re not as happy as you imagined you would be, because every day is still just every day.” #AmReading #WomensFiction #5StarRead #BookRecommendation
My deadlines for two projects are approaching… My deadlines for two projects are approaching…But I also need to remind myself that time to create, play, and doodle is important, too. It’s what my family and I have decided is “productive rest.”#AmEditing #HistoricalFantasy #MyPlanner #Creativity
What filled my cup this week…. The views, waves, What filled my cup this week…. The views, waves, games, ice cream, writing… but mostly, time with my family.#SelfCare #Travel #Vacation #PureMichigan
Maybe I should have taken more photos… but once Maybe I should have taken more photos… but once we got to a certain point in the 1,000 piece puzzle it became WAY easier. For me, writing is the same way. Once you start seeing the pieces come together, it starts to feel familiar, and the end is there before you know it. To me, writing is just like putting together a puzzle. #MomLife #CreativeWriting #PuzzleAddict #LakeMichiganLife
When I don’t know what to write (or think for th When I don’t know what to write (or think for that matter)… I try journaling about it. So this week’s Substack, written while looking out over Lake Michigan, looks a little different. I’d love to hear what you think. #JournalWriting #AmDayDreaming #PureMichigan
While I’ve been up in Michigan, I’ve been thin While I’ve been up in Michigan, I’ve been thinking about all the different kinds of writing there are, and how energized I feel when I talk about writing with others. So, without further ado, here is the schedule for my next set of VIRTUAL writing workshops! August 26: Postcards and letters - reflective writing with letters we’ll never sendSeptember 16: Sensory writing - embrace the senses to amp up your writingOctober 14: Haunting flash fiction - seasonal and fun flash fictionNovember 18: Family Stories - journaling and oral historyDecember 9: Year in Review, Year Ahead - closing reflections and intentions. All classes include a writing lesson/craft discussion plus time for writing (and feedback on your writing if you want it). They will also be available individually later, if all 25 spots don’t fill up, but I’m giving first dibs to the people who want all 5!Link in my bio and story. #WritingWorkshop #CreativeWriting #FlashFiction
I suppose this is a good problem to have. 🤣🤣 I suppose this is a good problem to have. 🤣🤣🤣#AmWriting #HistoricalFiction #PureMichigan
We haven’t had as much time as we’d like outsi We haven’t had as much time as we’d like outside during this trip, but at least cloudy days like today - with a ton of wind - are beautiful.#MyMichigan #Inspiration #LifeWithKids
There are paintings galore about Charlotte’s fam There are paintings galore about Charlotte’s famous assassination of Jean-Paul Marat. So how come I wrote a book about her? My latest Substack essay delves into how I learned about Charlotte… and why I wanted to understand her more. #WomenInHistory #HistoricalFantasy #FrenchRevolution #AuthorsOfInsta
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