Dear Lovelies: What do you call a group of bloggers?


There is something very special about Maxabella loves... and it's not me, it's you.

The little community we've grown here together is absolutely amazing. I know that lots of bloggers have 'met' each other through the the comments on each post, liking the way a person phrases something and checking out their blog. Through the Grateful linky many have gone on to become great friends and that makes me feel like I'm doing something right.

People come over here to hang out and continue the conversation. Intelligent, creative, wise and wonderful women all contribute to this blog. My posts are just the entree, the comments have always been the main course.

Which got me thinking about dessert...

I've got this idea to turn my Sunday posts into 'Dear Lovelies' - where we pose a question to the Maxabella Lovelies that needs a collective solution. You see, I get emails seeking advice from time to time (I know, they forget I'm just the entree!) which I give some thought to and email back what I think. But I think it would be great if I posed their question on Sundays and sought the advice of all who come here... together we can help!

I've sort of done it before here, here and definitely here, but I want to enhance this by doing it weekly, and adding a collective solution to a conundrum based on the comments left on the post. I'd add this to the end of the post after all the comments were in, linking back to it the following week.

A bit like an Agony Aunt column but there are lots and lots of Aunties. Blogging Aunties. I can't wait to get started next week. Oh and you can email me with an idea for a problem to discuss, confidentiality firmly assured. If you're facing a challenge, just something you're struggling with, something that happened that you don't understand, something big or little that you're facing and you just don't know what to do.

Now, this may seem a little off topic, but bear with me. I realised that we need a collective noun for a group of bloggers and I'm thinking 'an advice of bloggers' or 'a support of bloggers'... see, it ties in!

What would you call a group of bloggers?

Bidding now open for Cuddle Craft Collective!

Morning folks! Remember my post about the fabby Cuddle Craft Collective initiative a while back? Well, bidding is NOW OPEN on an amazing collection of goodies from now until March 25. The only difficulty you will have is in choosing what to bid on! But for such a great cause, it seems a shame not to bid on them all! Remember, every cent goes to children in Ethiopia so you can feel great about participating in such a great cause.

Visit the auction here. 

Bubby Makes Three is proud to be involved, and I'm auctioning this pillowcase dress, available in sizes 000-3 with shipping anywhere. You can grab this item  here: 



Here are a few of MY picks and the items I don't think I will be able to stop myself from bidding on!

The kids would fight over this one - granted - but LOOK at it! 

So sweet for Fern's room...

I adore this; would be so sweet in my outdoor room!

This would be very sweet in Fern's cubby house!

Elliott NEEDS one of these dinosaur hoodies this Winter -- I absolutely love this!

A.DOR.able!

I'm a sucker for a softie...
.... and one for mummy!

If you have a blog or Facebook page, it would be lovely if you could also share the details of this auction to get as many people as possible bidding on these items... remember, its all for the kiddies! What pieces do YOU like?

Oodles of Eggs - Review & Giveaway

Eggs ready for the Easter Egg hunt
Oodles of Eggs
Oodles of eggs packaged
Hotel Chocolat eggs
Chocolate Eggs and sequin eggs

I was recently sent Oodles of Eggs to review from the lovely folks at Hotel Chocolat. I received an eye-catching cluster of 50 hollow-cast, 40% milk chocolate eggs, all individually wrapped in gold foil. They are deliciously creamy and yummy!

For my Easter Egg hunt I have packaged some of them up in pretty turquoise egg boxes to hide in the garden. The rest I will be using for my Easter table, perhaps hidden amongst the sequin eggs!?!

Hotel Chocolat have got a great selection of Easter chocolate gifts this season, from the vanilla mousse-filled choc cross buns to the truly enormous ostrich egg! There is something to suit all tastes and budgets.

I am pleased to announce a giveaway of Oodles of Eggs from Hotel Chocolat - worth £35!

To enter, please visit Hotel Chocolat and then leave a comment below this post letting me know what delicious chocolates you would like to give or receive this Easter. The giveaway ends on Monday, April 2nd 2012 at 10pm (GMT) and I will randomly select and announce a winner on Tuesday, April 3rd.

To increase your chances of winning this fabulous prize, you can gain one additional entry for doing each of the following:
  • tweeting about this giveaway
  • blogging about it
  • following the Torie Jayne blog
  • following Torie Jayne on Twitter

For the first two, please leave a comment below with the link to your tweet or blog post.

This giveaway is open to UK readers.

Good luck and have a sweet day!

healing time...


Need to go away for a bit. I'll return when the sun shines on our little corner of the earth again.