What's In Store with Maggie Moore

I had a recent phone conversation with my Dad who spends the winter in Florida and was getting ready to head back up north to make the long drive to Cape Cod.  He and my step mom were planning to try a different route through Lewes, Delaware and acoss the Ferry to Cape May.  And this would take them over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.  But my Dad said he wasn't a fan of this idea because he hates bridges.  I said "I hate bridges too!"  How did I not know this about my Dad?  Probably because I am my father's daughter and we don't let anyone know if something is bothering us. And this got me thinking that our I Love You Over the Bay Bridge and Back greeting card is really perfect for people like us who hate crossing it!  Maybe it's one of our most popular love cards for a reason. 

I mean the Bay Bridge does have a reputation for being America's scariest bridge and some people pay someone their hard earned money to drive them across it. Check out the Kent Island Express. And once you've watched the Key Bridge collapse on repeat like a child's toy in a matter of seconds, well the Bay Bridge can seem even freakier.  When my husband and I go to the Eastern Shore we often go up to Delaware and come back down, not to avoid the bridge but just because it makes more sense for us traffic wise.   So even though I had been to the Eastern Shore many times, I hadn't actually gone over the Bay Bridge in years, until I had a meeting on Kent Island a few years ago.  Going over the bridge just made sense. I wasn't worried. It had been so long, I didn't even remember how much I hated it. Once through Annapolis, I could see that big body of water on my GPS indicating that I was getting closer.  But as I turned a corner and saw that bridge, I about lost my mind.  There's something about seeing the Bay Bridge on your approach and how it turns to the left so you can see how long the span is and how high (186 feet at it's peak) and you say to yourself, "I'm going over that?"  I gripped the steering wheel, rode in the middle lane and stared straight ahead while envisioning cars crashing into me and sending me spiraling over the edge or a low flying and hopelessly lost 747 taking the whole thing down.  I mean my mom did give me one of those window punch tools in case I find myself in my car floating in the Chesapeake Bay, but if you go over the Bay Bridge, I'm pretty sure you're a goner. Once I could feel my car on the downward slope I knew I was halfway over and just maybe I was going to make it. I took some deep breaths, and I lived to tell the tale.

My dad and I spoke again a few weeks ago once they arrived back home in Massachusetts.  My step mom convinced my Dad that despite his fear of bridges, they were going over it.  Basically, he needed to suck it up. And you know what he said?  The Bay Bridge was fine. No problem!  Maybe if you make it out to be the worst thing in the world in your head, well then it's just no big deal. Do you hate going over the Bay Bridge?  Let us know in the comments below. And check out our Bay Bridge greeting card, the  perfect way to show your love anytime.

What happened to April? It seems like it flew by but we are loving that Spring has Sprung! It was a bit of a quiet month for Maggie Moore but not for Sam who has been traveling in Italy!  I desperately wanted to stow away in her suitcase but she will be back to the grind this week so I'm looking forward to hearing all about her trip in Rome and Tuscany.  What better place to enjoy an Aperol Spritz! Hoping she has brought back some new greeting card inspo.

We are super busy creating new designs for a big drop this summer.  Including a new Type Mashup of the Outer Banks. I've never even been so let me know what should be included!   But until then, we dropped new stickers in April for Red Sox fans like me.  If you're not a Sox fan, we see you with some sweary stickers too. And you can find Maggie Moore in a new store this month.  Check us out in our Nation's Capital at Diament in DC.  If you know another local shop that should carry  Maggie Moore, shout it out in the comments.  We're always looking for new brick and mortar retailers to carry our cards, stickers and prints to Share Moore Love.  And remember to support your local shops and support small business.  They need you now Moore than ever.

Survivor is getting good you guys! And Sam has me full on obsessed with the Traitors.  I finished Season 3 with Boston Rob and now to continue getting my fix I'm onto Traitors UK!  My husband is slightly concerned with my new addiction. 

So much is happening in May!  Besides the day of all days to celebrate Mom (We hope you have a card!), Baltimore is looking forward to Flower Mart!  Mom and I are going to attend and will definitely be partaking in a Lemon Stick. And don't forget Black Eyed Susan Day and Preakness at Pimlico Race Track.  On a side note, did anyone watch Race For the Crown on Netflix?  I'm not really into horse racing but I can get into any sports documentary (even about horses). It was kind of interesting and you got to see behind the scenes of Preakness 2024. Oh and how can we forget? Sam's boys will turn 6 at the end of the month!  How did that happen?

You guys can't get enough of our Happy Bird Day Baltimore Orioles card. Now we just need some Moore Orioles wins!

If you're looking for a sign of spring, this week is Flower Mart, one of our favorite Baltimore events!  Flower Mart takes place each May in Mount Vernon.  Flower Mart is the oldest free public festival in the city and it's been around since 1911! It's a great spot to find plant and flower vendors to beautify your gardens, support local artists and enjoy Baltimore music and food.  And speaking of Baltimore food, Flower Mart is where you can try a Lemon Stick!

As fans of the legendary Baltimore sweet treat, Sam and I have designed several greeting cards that feature the iconic Lemon Stick. When we do local markets and pop ups, people pick them up and someone will always ask us "What is with the Lemons with the Peppermint sticks?" or "Is the Lemon Stick a Baltimore thing?" Yes hon', it is!

The history of the delicious Lemon Stick is a bit of a mystery. Some say they were first introduced in 20th century France or England. Another theory is that someone first tried the Lemon Stick on a visit to New Orleans.  So basically we don't know where the heck it came from or who thought this would be a great idea. I mean why would you even think to stick a peppermint stick in a lemon?  But somehow this sweet and sour treat made it's way to Baltimore, and it appeared in a child's essay written in 1911, the first year of the Flower Mart.  The Lemon Stick has been a tradition ever since and the Flower Mart wouldn't be the same without them.  But if you've never had one, what the heck is a Lemon Stick?

So if you're a Lemon Stick first timer, we definitely recommend you try them at Baltimore's Flower Mart for the ideal experience.  But you can also make your own at home.  And this is one of the simplest recipes you'll ever make.  First you need Lemons. I don't think we need to tell you where to find those. And second you need Soft Peppermint Sticks.  The typical candy cane you get at holiday time won't do.  It needs to be soft and porous to let the lemon juice seep through.  We like King Leo Peppermint Sticks which you can find here. So now you have your two ingredients and the rest couldn't be easier.  You're going to give your lemons a little roll on the countertop to ensure maximum juiciness and then cut the lemons in half. You can cut a small x in the center of the lemon to make it easier to insert your peppermint stick.  Then push your peppermint stick into the center of the lemon.  That's it!  Now you have the perfect sweet and sour treat!

Now use that peppermint stick as a straw.  The lemon juice will come up through your minty straw as the peppermint stick starts to dissolve and you will have the most delicious combination of lemony goodness and sweet peppermint.  Sound like a weird combination?  Just give it a try!  It wouldn't be spring in Baltimore without the Lemon Stick! If you're a newbie, let us know what you think in the comments below. Or share your favorite memory of this uniquely Baltimore treat.

As card people, we're always trying to think of the next idea for a card.  And when we get an idea we have to write it in a notebook or the notes app on our phone because if we don't, with our crazy brains it's usually gone. So the idea for a Birthday Bingo card was one that had been written in my notebook for a while but  it never quite happened and other card ideas made it to the top of the pile. 

Until one day I brought the idea up to Sam again as we were tossing around ideas. Bingo seemed to be trending.  And Bingo is in our blood.  Our Great Grandmother had a heart attack at the local Bingo hall! I mean, she died doing what she loved. So the timing was right and with this legendary piece of family lore, how could we not do it? I started to draw and now we had Bingo on the brain. As with all good ideas, and as a Baltimore small biz that celebrates our city, we're always trying to find a local spin.  We thought, Why not Baltimore Bingo?

We started to think of experiences that are uniquely Baltimore to create the perfect Baltimore Bingo card, like serving Jury Duty.  I moved from the county to the city about two years ago and they finally found me in December. I had my first Baltimore City Jury Duty experience!  There are easy ones like Drank an Orange Crush or Wear Purple on Fridays.  Who hasn't done those? But have you Worn a Beehive at Honfest? (Someone needs to bring that back) Or have you Climbed the Patterson Park Pagoda? Can't say I have.  There's a spot for the foodies that Sprinkle Old Bay on Everything or have Eaten a Lemon Stick at Flower Mart.  

For our sports fans, there are Bingo squares for the Orioles fans, if you have you shouted O during the Star Spangled Banner of Drank Bohs at the Yard. And mark a box if you've Partied at a Baltimore Ravens Tailgate. Or maybe you've experienced the Infield at Preakness.  If the Art Scene is more your thing then you must have sweated it out at Artscape. Why is it always so hot?! Or seen a John Waters movie. Pecker anyone?

This card is the perfect anytime card for the True Baltimorean to see if they can get a Bingo.  Can you get Moore than one?  Let us know in the comments below.

We kicked off March with our first market of the season with the ladies of Stronger Together Collaborative at Heavy Seas Brewery. Sam and I are sometimes (really most of the time) really awful at taking photos so there isn't really photographic evidence that we were there! But the market was made up of badass women owned businesses to celebrate International Woman's Day. Woot! Markets are always a lot of work but It was great to see people in real life again.  And we got to meet Amy from Sprinx and Pink who is a Maggie Moore fan and now we are a fan of her. Check out her incredible cookies. They are so fun! I was planning on grabbing lunch and next thing I knew I was making a meal of one of her Giant Mint Oreo cookies!  And the Lucky Charms Rice Krispie treat hit the spot when I got home.  Sam bought her boys paint your own cookies for St. Patrick's Day which they loved. Combining art and cookies, genius!

Then I got a chance to escape and headed to Florida to see my Dad and to celebrate his  77th Birthday!  Besides basking in the sun by the pool, birthday celebrations, and enjoying daily happy hours, we got to see the George Harrison exhibit at Selby Gardens in Sarasota. Who knew besides being a Beatle he was an amazing Gardener?  The exhibit was inspired by his own gardens at Friar Park in England. Sometimes you need a little inspiration and to realize you suck at gardening.  How cool is that leaf that looks like it has been rendered with little pencil lines? I might be a little obsessed with it.

We are now using a local printer for our greeting cards, right here in Maryland, Indigo Ink and we picked up our first order from them this month.  We're excited to be working with and supporting another Maryland small biz and keeping things local.

We had several new drops this months including Mother's and Father's Day cards, for Moms and Dads from Baltimore, Philly and Boston, a new Eagles Type Mashup print and Card and a new Bird has joined the Flock.  Check out our new Nationals Bird Day Card.

What are we watching? Well White Lotus of course because who isn't? There's got to be a card in there somewhere. I love you more than Lorazepam? Parker Posey is fabulous and I'll watch anything with Walton Goggins.  Oh and speaking of Walton, there's a new (and last) season of The Righteous Gemstones!  I just love saying Baby Billy's Bible Bonkers. And as Survivor fans, Sam has got me into Traitors! Like Survivor (without the Survival aspect) in a Scottish castle with murders and banishment and Alan Cumming! I'm way behind on Season 1. Oh and Yeah, Survivor.

What are we excited about for April? Well for one warmer weather!  And spring means Baseball.  The O's are already off to a great start.  April 25th is Indie Bookstore Day and we have lots of great ones here in Baltimore,  Greedy Reads, The Ivy Bookstore, and Snug Books to name a few.  And don't miss the Tulips at Sherwood Gardens. A Baltimore treasure!

What was your favorite greeting card of the month? Opening Day means our Happy Bird Day Orioles card.  Let's go O's!

Let's face it. 2025 has been a tough year so far and we could all use a little encouragement. That's where our They Made Baltimore Harbor Swimmable card comes in!  Whenever people pick this card up at a local market or a pop up, it always gets a laugh so you have the Maggie Moore guarantee it is proven to be the perfect pick me up.

Sam and I created this card last year following the announcement that Baltimore Harbor was swimmable. Yes, that Baltimore Harbor! That dirty harbor you wouldn't even dare to dip a toe in. In June of 2024 they held a Harbor Splash event for swimmers to jump in the harbor and it seems everyone was buzzing about it.  To celebrate this epic event, Katie Pumphrey local artist and open water marathon swimmer, completed the Bay to Baltimore swim, finishing where else, but in Baltimore Harbor. That's 24 miles! So of course as a Baltimore small biz celebrating everything we love about our city, there had to be a card for that!  And an iconic flamingo floatie seemed just right.

Check out the Waterfront Partnership website here to learn more about the work of many organizations that went into cleaning the harbor.  Our beloved Mr. Trash Wheel is just the beginning! If you missed out on the fun last year, you can even join in Harbor Splash 2025. And you can watch a short documentary about this extraordinary effort here.  Did you know they now grow over 300,000 oysters in Baltimore Harbor each year?! Shucks, we had no idea! 

So if you need a card to put a smile on someone's face or to give them the little push they need, we have a card for that.  And be sure to cheer on Katie Pumphrey on her next swim as she takes on the English Channel in July!