Oops and Daisies

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5 Gift Ideas to Encourage Creativity in Kids

November 28, 2025 by Liz SanFilippo Hall

5 Gift Ideas to Encourage Creativity in Kids

One corner of our house is bursting with art supplies, the drawers full of colored pencils, markers, beads, pipe cleaners, construction paper, and oh so many odds and ends. The kids use all of our random art supplies when they just want to explore and experiment. That alone can be an incredible way to encourage creativity in kids.  But sometimes kids just want a project to play with, or to test … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: art set, arts and crafts, Christmas, creativity, drawing, gift guide, gift ideas, life with kids, sensory kits, stem kits

Gift Guide: Educational Gift Ideas (Or Presents that Keep on Giving)

November 24, 2020 by Liz SanFilippo Hall

With learning at home continuing for the foreseeable future, I've been focused on finding activities that not only engage my kids but also teach them a thing or two. In other words: this holiday season, their list includes fun educational gift ideas. After all, learning should be fun... and I'd rather buy them something that they'll use again and again. This list of educational gift ideas … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Family & Lifestyle, Writing, Books, & Resources Tagged With: educational gifts, encourage reading, gift guide, gift ideas, holiday gift guide, math toys, science gift ideas

Gift Guide: Encourage Creativity and Imagination with these Gifts for Kids

December 2, 2019 by Liz SanFilippo Hall

gift guide: gift ideas that encourage creativity

"Look mom!" my two-year-old declared. "Paw patrol tower!" He pointed to his latest creation: a very tall stack of duplos, complete with what he said was a "slide" at the top. It was not, in fact, a slide, but more Duplos. (Affiliate links included). His creativity astounded me and almost convinced me that he didn't need a Paw Patrol tower for Christmas (but his obsession has been so long … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Family & Lifestyle, Life With Kids, Parenting Tagged With: creative gifts, creativity, experience gifts, gift guide, gifts, gifts for kids, imagination

Holiday Gift Guide: Gift Ideas for Mom

November 18, 2019 by Liz SanFilippo Hall

Holiday Gift Guide

After I became a mom — or maybe it’s just a part of “growing up” — when someone asked me what I wanted for my birthday or the holidays, I had a standard gift list. I typically asked for things I tended to need, like clothes, socks, underwear -- and last year even curtains -- rather than things I wanted. If you’re looking for something a bit more, shall we say, creative and thoughtful when … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Family & Lifestyle, More than Mama, Self Care, Self Care & Beauty Tagged With: gift guide, gift ideas, holiday gift ideas, holiday shopping, self care

7 Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for the Busy Moms in Your Life

February 1, 2018 by Liz SanFilippo Hall

I’ll admit it. I like Valentine’s Day. I love that it’s a day dedicated to letting loved ones know that we care about them, and why. I’ll also be the first to admit that one of the top things I'd want as a gift would be to sleep in. But, in addition to sleeping in, what would the busy mom in your life value this year?  If you’re still looking for a few Valentine’s Day gift ideas, here are a few: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Family & Lifestyle, More than Mama, Parenting, Work From Home Tagged With: busy moms, gift guide, gift ideas, me time, self care, valentine's day, valentine's day gifts

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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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