Oops and Daisies

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Letter to My Daughter as She Starts Middle School

August 29, 2025 by Liz SanFilippo Hall

Letter to my daughter as she starts middle school

My darling daughter,  Here we go again, hurtling toward another milestone: you’re in middle school!  Throughout fifth grade, there was so much anticipation, so many questions, so many concerns (that you mostly shared between your friends) about what to expect. Your elementary school did a fabulous job of preparing you for this transition, but I wanted to emphasize, even though I’m sure … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Family & Lifestyle, Life With Kids Tagged With: family, growing up, kids, lessons from little miss, letter to my kids, little miss, middle school, school

Letter to My Kids As We Start The School Year at Home

September 21, 2020 by Liz SanFilippo Hall

To my darling kids - I know this isn't what we thought this was school year going to look like. I remember, back in January, talking about how the next school year was going to be different. We talked about how you, little miss, were going to finally be in full-day school. We talked about how you, buster, were going to school five mornings every week. Then, the world got turned upside … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Backyard Fun, Family & Lifestyle, Homeschool Tagged With: arts and crafts, homeschool, kids, letter, letter to my kids, life with kids, painting, pandemic, school year, willow tree

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: Family & Lifestyle, Life With Kids, Parenting Tagged With: boredom, kids, quiet-time, quiet-time boxes

Mom Burnout is Real, and Self Care Isn’t the Answer

October 8, 2019 by Liz SanFilippo Hall

Mom burnout

If you’ve been following my blog, or my social media accounts for any length of time this might come as a surprise. As much as I’m a proponent of self care, I don’t think its the cure all for what I hear so many moms going through, what I myself have gone through, and what we need to be talking more about: mom burnout. It’s real. It’s hard. So, so, so hard. And I want you to know, that if you’re … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Family & Lifestyle, More than Mama, Parenting Tagged With: kids, life with kids, mom burnout, motherhood, parenting, self care

I’m More than Mom: Finding Ourselves After Baby

November 21, 2017 by Liz SanFilippo Hall

Before having my first child, I knew life as we knew it was totally going to change. But as much as I read all the pregnancy and parenting books, and joined a bunch of online mommy groups and read all sorts of advice… There was one thing I don’t think anyone could have prepared me for. I didn’t realize how all the diaper changes, middle-of-the-night wakeups, nursing and feedings, laundry (it’s … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Family & Lifestyle, Parenting, Self Care Tagged With: family, kids, makeup, mom hobbies, more than mom, parenting, self care, self love, take care of yourself

Recent Posts

  • “I want to know more about your creative process.” July 29, 2026
  • Oops, Daisies, and Dreams: Interview with Author Lisa Maggiore July 9, 2026
  • 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’m trying something new... and something that a I’m trying something new... and something that all the “gurus” tell you not to do: I’m turning my blog into what blogs used to be. It will no longer be overly polished or put together. It will stop focusing on SEO. And it will be so much more vulnerable. More about why I’m making this latest pivot over on the blog, naturally. Www.OopsAndDaisies.com#WritingExperiment #AuthorsOfInsta
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
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