Oops and Daisies

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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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  • My 10 Favorite Books From the 59 I Read in 2025 January 1, 2026
  • Oops, Daisies, and Dreams: Interview with Author J.M. Guilfoyle December 3, 2025

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authorlizsanfilippohall

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

Ohhh my goodness, my editor totally made my MONTH Ohhh my goodness, my editor totally made my MONTH when she shared why she wants to publish my Young Adult Historical Fantasy about Charlotte Corday. Pinch me! “I was immediately pulled into the magic and fantasy elements of the story. I really loved how you connected real history to the plot without it ever feeling like I was reading something overly educational or dense. I’m honestly not much of a history person, but your writing made me curious enough to want to look into some of the historical elements more after I finished reading. I also grew up loving fantasy and magic-focused stories like Harry Potter and Percy Jackson & the Olympians, so that part really resonated with me.”#AuthorsOfInstagram #HistoricalFantasy #WritingCommunity #TimeTravel @apprenticehousepress
And I’ll have you know, I still blast my punk ro And I’ll have you know, I still blast my punk rock in the school pickup line. #Millennial #AuthorsOfInstagram #BeYourWeirdSelf #AmEditing
I spy something new I’ve created 🧐😉 If yo I spy something new I’ve created 🧐😉If you want to see it firsthand, hop on by the Wheaton Library Local Author Fest on 4/25 between 1 and 4pm!Otherwise, you’ll have to wait until next week for the full reveal 😊#WritingLife #PictureBook #AuthorsOfInstagram
I made a big change… because this account is abo I made a big change… because this account is about a whole lot more than my blog. It’s a place to celebrate my writing journey, share more about my creative life, and more. Stay tuned… there’s so much more to come! #WritingLife #MomLife #AuthorsOfInstagram
Someone told me they thought journaling was a wast Someone told me they thought journaling was a waste of time… that they weren’t into “navel gazing.” That it didn’t seem “productive.”But, take it from me, someone who has kept a journal for more than 3 decades. Journaling doesn’t necessarily mean keeping a diary… and I’m sorry, but who decided EVERYTHING needs to be productive all the time?!There can be a lot of beauty in slowing down.I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for a slower pace of life. A kinder life. A more gentle life.Journaling is a safe space, one that we can reflect, think, and grow.For me, it’s also become a place not for story endings, but beginnings.What story do you dream of telling? Do you use a journal to start working on your story? Or what does your creative process look like?#Journaling #AmWriting #MomLife #TheStoriesWeTellOurselves
What do you do when you have “too many” ideas? What do you do when you have “too many” ideas? You start where you are, and give yourself permission to begin.#FridayPoetry
When I learned that “Shift” was being marketed When I learned that “Shift” was being marketed to fans of Hunger Games, I knew I had to read it. While the book’s structure was different than what I’m used to from YA books (with some exposition up front), the concept and storytelling had me hooked:Shapeshifters stereotyped as criminalsPolitical intrigue and shady government dealingsThe main character Sybil trying to figure out who she is in a world that just didn’t seem to accept her “kind”Challenging family dynamics… especially with her brother ArtNot knowing who to trust or believeBonus: Lee’s world-building was super impressive, blending real-world elements like the beautiful Appalachian Mountains and DC with a land divided over magic and what should be done about the Shifters.I look forward to reading the sequel!Thanks for sharing an advanced copy with me @jpleeauthor! #BookReview #YAReads #AdvanceReview #FantasyBook
Do you ever create simply for the sake of creating Do you ever create simply for the sake of creating? To enjoy the process?In my attempts to spend less time on social media , I’ve been doodling and coloring with no specific plans… just to unwind and relax without a screen. It feels like a mediation of sorts.#Creativity #MomLife #ColoringForAdults
Save the date! April 25th I’ll be at a local aut Save the date! April 25th I’ll be at a local authors fest in Wheaton signing my Etta Betta and the Beast books! There might also be a sneak peek of something new 🧐💖#KidLit #AuthorEvent #WritingLife
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