Heart-Shaped Chocolate Cake

We love Valentine’s Day because it’s an opportunity to celebrate during what can be one of Maine’s coldest, most wintery months. And there’s no denying the allure of a moist, rich chocolate cake. This classic recipe is our favorite for its dependability and ease. If you choose to make the frosting yourself, you won’t be disappointed. It’s rich and creamy …

Indoor Fun for Families in Maine

When it’s too cold to enjoy the outdoors, or the snow conditions are not quite up to snuff, we try to find active indoor spaces that have something for all of us. Following are a few new favorites and suggestions for where you can find similar locations throughout the state.

Winter Adventures 2019

Happy New Year and welcome to winter! We love January for a variety of reasons: it’s a time to wind down from the holidays, start fresh and make our annual list of winter trips we want to experience. Here are a few highlights:

The Sweetest Sugar Cookies from Maine

While shopping at holiday craft fairs over the weekend, MP met Ann Bayer, the owner of Mama Bayer cookies. The self-taught, Falmouth baker makes decorative sugar cookies from her home kitchen. Not only are Ann’s creations thoughtfully designed, they’re also delicious. Her sugar cookies are soft, buttery and made even better with a sweet layer of frosting. 

Family Favorites: Chocolate Pecan Pie

Happy almost Thanksgiving, everyone! We adore this time of year because it’s the kick-off to so many good things, like an afternoon spent making Thanksgiving pies. This fun, family tradition includes making one apple pie, one pumpkin pie and a new-to-us pie. This decadent, chocolate pecan pie began as a new-to-us recipe and quickly rose to the level of family …

Sunday Strolls: Squirrel Point Light

First, can MP just say, wow! It’s been well over a month since she’s posted here. She forgets how busy the start of the school year can be for her family. That’s why whenever Columbus Day weekend rolls around, it’s a gift to sleep in, catch up on a few to-dos around the house, and explore our home state.

Flower & Berry Picking at Goss Berry Farm

Like all summers, ours seemed to go by just. like. that. Between our busy schedule and humid summer days, MP thought she missed the opportunity to pick strawberries altogether. And while buying fresh berries at the farmers’ market is an option, there’s nothing quite like going to a farm or field to pick your own fruit. Then, via Facebook, the folks …

Made in Maine: Moonflower Handmade Dolls

MP discovered these adorable, heirloom dolls on Instagram, and was so pleased to find they’re created at Sunflower Farm, a popular goat farm in our hometown of Cumberland, Maine. Lila Ray— who grew up on the farm and later returned with her husband, Ethan—needed a creative pastime while waiting for her baby girl, Max, to arrive. While Lila hadn’t sewn …

Shade Eatery at Higgins Beach Inn

Every once in awhile, on a spectacular summer weeknight, our family will act like tourists and visit a relaxed, beachside destination for dinner. Shade, a restaurant located inside the Higgins Beach Inn in Scarborough, is such a place. The casual restaurant features a bar with cherry red chairs. There is table seating on the cozy sun porch or on the …

Kite Flying at Little Kineo

While there are many places in Maine that we love, the Moosehead Lake region is near and dear to us. We discovered its quiet beauty in 2015, when our family was fortunate to score a last minute, waterfront campsite at Lily Bay State Park. Since then, we’ve returned every summer, either with friends or on our own, to explore more …