In a few short days I will be 50 years old. I know there are billions of people all around the world who have turned 50 before me, and there will be billions who turn 50 after me, but…it feels both special and surreal. I remember when Tim, who is six years older than I, turned 50. A few weeks after his birthday, we were sitting at the dining room table and I looked at him and thought, “How did I end up married to a 50-year-old guy?”
Indeed. And now here I am. How did I end up a 50-year-old woman? I am smiling broadly as I write this.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always enjoyed my birthday and embrace each new age with a sense of hope and optimism, but with 50, there’s also a sense of urgency and…whoa!!…I’ve not felt before. Note that I didn’t say that the hope and optimism are gone…it’s just that urgency and whoa!! has been added to the mix. And that’s okay. Bring it!
So, in honor of my 50th birthday I’m giving away a $50 gift certificate to a company called Novica. A representative from Novica reached out to me a while back asking if I’d be interested in writing about it in exchange for a $100 credit. They recommended I use $50 for myself in order to try it out and see how it works, and give the other $50 to one of my readers.
So what is Novica? Associated with National Geographic, Novica is a fair-trade organization that describes its mission this way:
We want to give artists and artisans around the world a global platform to express their true artistic talents and to spur their creativity. And, we want to provide you with access to unique, hard-to-find items at great values that only the Internet infrastructure can allow. At the deepest essence of our philosophy, we want to create a bridge between you and the many talented artisans across the globe. We want you to know about whom you’re buying from. We want you to feel that attachment to the product and to the hands that created it.
What’s also cool is that Novica does not charge artists any fees. Artists remain fully independent and are free to raise and lower their prices, or to remove their items from Novica’s website. By cutting out the middlemen, Novica allows both consumers and artisans to get the most out of each transaction.
I spent quite a bit of time looking through the website and decided on an embroidered wool wrap called Fabeled City and made by Syed Izaz Hussein, who is from the Kashmir Valley region of northern India. Isn’t it gorgeous?
It’s important to note that shipping times are a little longer (about two weeks from order to receipt), as items are coming directly from artisans around the world, but Novica’s customer service and communication are excellent. Items are packaged beautifully and come with personal messages from the artists in their own languages.
If you’d like to win, please visit the Novica website and tell me in the comments section below what you’d purchase if money were no object.
To get you started check out the garnet dangle earrings, Peruvian necklaces, silver cocktail rings, batik shirts, women’s clothing, capri pants, and men’s clothing from Indonesia.
This giveaway is open to readers around the world as Novica ships across the globe. Enjoy shopping! I will choose a winner on Saturday, November 10.
Disclosure: I received a gift certificate from Novica. The opinions in this post are my own.
{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
Happy almost birthday to one of my favorite inspirational women! If I won, I’d choose one of these:
http://handbags.novica.com/under-$50/beaded-cotton-batik-tote-bag-princess-art/198135/
http://jewelry.novica.com/bracelets/cuff/garnet-and-leather-cuff-bracelet-nam-nao-blossom/185610/
http://jewelry.novica.com/bracelets/wrap/leather-wrap-bracelet-purple-duality/189333/
http://jewelry.novica.com/bracelets/wrap/leather-wrap-bracelet-autumn-leaf/176722/
What a fab site… bookmarked
If $$was no objective I would purchase a set..both by same artist Khun Boom
:Lady garnet earrings
and
spirit voice necklace….OM symbol with garnet
(garnet is my birthstone)
What a fabulous organization Karen! I’m going to share because this is something many people will want to explore for holiday gifts.
As for turning 50…have a blow-out party and soak up every single moment. I did and people still talk about it! Celebrate how great you look, not to mention how great you feel at this age compared to say…15? I did and it was so empowering. We have truly come a long way baby!
b
oops…forgot to say what I’d get with the $50 gc… I love the silver cocktail rings!
First congratulations and happy big 5-0! I laughed reading your wondering how you were married to a fifty year old. I did the same thing and with the same age range! I truly hope that I am ebrace fifty like you. Bring it on. I think I will because I too am not all to caught up in my age or attach some significance. It is about what you are doing and how far you’ve come and what you put out there (because you can). You do that oh so well.
I saw that Nat’l Geo is doing microloans. Isn’t that so in keeping with their over all theme. Love that they found that fit. Sorta like Kiva (for those who know about that) for artisans (Info is in their top banner). It lifts people out of poverty and gives more isolated folks a leg up. Kudos to Nat Geo!
Okee dokee. Enjoy your birthday Karen. Much to appreciate.
*the wrap is a beaut. : ) Bet it will be warm.
I understand the “whoa” way too well these days. I love the garnet dangle earrings, and the wrap you bought.
Hope your birthday is a very happy one!
Happy 50th Karen! You wear it beautifully! :)
That wrap is so beautiful! And I so wanna have one of the beautiful handbags! I cannot decide on one. So if money were no object, I’d want them all! :)
Happy 50th!
Love the jewelry – especially the Cultured pearl and blue topaz waterfall necklace, ‘Dancing Queen’!
This site is amazing! I think I’ll try and do some of my Christmas shopping from here.
If I could buy anything I would buy the “Enlightenment” painting. But really any of their paintings are gorgeous!
Early happy birthday wishes…and welcome to my decade! It’s fairly wonderful here. :)
What a wonderful site! I’m so grateful that you posted about it as I’d not heard of it before. I’ve had so much fun exploring, and if money wasn’t an issue, I’d choose a beautiful painting titled “Nude in Red”. It would be perfect hanging above my bed.
But back on Earth, I love the shoulder bag, “Bali Masks”. In fact, I’m going to send the link to Santa right now. :)
http://hammock.novica.com/cotton/over-$200/cotton-hammock-sea-breeze-single/193578/
I have heard of this site Karen! Hey, when is your bday? I am next week. – 55 – YIKES! I am in the process of writing my thoughts for a post. :)
I would probably get some jewelry – maybe the cuff bracelets if money were no object. We were burglarized a few years back & I lost all of my jewelry & never really could afford to replace.
Thank you for doing this!!!!
I love Novica…and could get lost in their website for hours! Right now, I’d choose one of the brightly colored baskets from Bali and Java, but in an hour, who knows?
My husband is six years older than me, and I’ll be 50 next year. Parallel lives? ;) Happy early birthday to you – start celebrating now!
This is a lovely idea, Karen, and I love the Peruvian chrysocolla choker!
Wow… so exciting about your birthday. Are we allowed to know what day specifically?
As for my wishlist:
A mexican rug!
Most of the wrap bracelets
A silk / embroidered shawl
The gorgeous wool shoulder bags
Oh…. Karen. I had to stop looking.
Thanks for introducing me to this site!!!
Deb
Wow – you and I share the same birthday – how cool! And this site is so cool. I’d love a pair of beautiful earrings for my birthday because all the beautiful I have owned, are now lost.
Dorit
http://www.GivingVoicetoVoicelessBook.com
Hello! I would get http://jewelry.novica.com/earrings/snake-and-lizard/sterling-silver-dangle-earrings-infinity-serpent/99843/ or http://www.novica.com/itemdetail/index.cfm?pid=91993
What a great website
Omg. This is so beautiful.
http://jewelry.novica.com/necklaces/pendant/pearl-and-lapis-lazuli-pendant-necklace-midnight-moon/181806/
Happy birthday gorgeous! What a beautiful post!
I would love the wrap.. The colors are so beautiful!
First off, Happy Birthday! I’ve found 50 (now 52) to be all kinds of awesome. May it be your best year yet!
Happy birthday! I hit my big milestone in May.
Well, a happy birthday to you! And how nice of you to share the gift from Novica. I did peruse the site at first picked out a little wooden sculpture called “Essential Elephant” which would fit the $50 gift card. I have a lion my father brought be from Africa years ago and it would be a nice companion piece.
http://www.novica.com/itemdetail/index.cfm?pid=182589
Then I looked more closely at what your text actually said and it said “if money was no object” so I then looked again and picked a lovely Murano vase called “New life” – it’s so pretty!
http://vases.novica.com/murano/murano-handblown-vase-new-life-medium/169328/
Sigh… if money were no object…
Karen, you’ve just introduced me (yet again) to something amazing. This site is incredible – I had no idea that it existed. Having just started my business in August, I can appreciate the difficulties, excitement and thrill of putting ones handmade items ‘out there’ for all to see. A service like Novica so that these artisans can live their dream and share their work is incredibly inspirational. Personally, I am hooked on handmade. How can you not be, right?
Well, I loved going through the website and I simply love this cotton wall hanging of daffodils (Product ID: 173962). It reminds me of a Gustav Klimt – one of my favorite painters.
Wishing you loads of love and peace on your birthday and beyond. Hugs to you xoxoxo
I’m all about supporting other artists!
So, if money were NO object? Hmmm….
I love this Chess Set: http://chess-sets-games.novica.com/chess-sets/wood-chess-set-the-general/17576/
I got completely lost in the jewelry section, as I pretty much want ALL of it. But I love that this has a dreaming face in it: http://jewelry.novica.com/necklaces/favorites/amethyst-and-garnet-necklace-dreamer/118052/
What a fabulous site!
I’m so excited for you and your 50th year. There’s something very special about milestone birthdays. They mean a little something bigger. And in case you didn’t already know (but I think you do) I LOVE to celebrate birthdays! Wishing we could be there to dance around with you to celebrate in person!
Thank you for introducing me to Novica. What a beautiful site full of incredible things.
Here are a few I would love to have:
A Gorgeous Orange Scarf made from Alpaca Wool
http://www.novica.com/itemdetail/index.cfm?pid=201033
A charming Elephant Strut wood sculpture
http://www.novica.com/itemdetail/index.cfm?pid=182591
This cotton clutch handbag is the stuff my fashion dreams are made of:
http://www.novica.com/itemdetail/index.cfm?pid=188660
xo
What a great website. I could spend a lot of time (and money!) over there! I got hooked looking at the rugs. Amazing work. I guess that is what I’d get if money was no object.
Happy Birthday Karen! Once you get past the idea of turning 50, it is fine!
The Novica site looks very cool! If I won the giveaway, I would probably buy jewelry.
Hello Karen & Happy Birthday Wishes to you. We have managed to live to an age that many people do not get to live, not only in life, but also in finding our self worth. What really matters to us. Thank you for sharing with me your journey and also helping me on my journey. It is amazing how much we have learned in a half century and it is only recently, that I have found what real happiness means. I have learned to love myself. It has taken me over a half century to learn to love myself and to really focus on what really matters. It’s a choice that I have learned to make. Thank you for your gift to me. And if money was not an object, I would love to have everything from Novica.com. But, I would settle for the beautiful Garnet Dangled Earrings, “Heart of Peace” beautifully crafted by Nyoman Rena of Bali & Jana, on page 6, because, I have found peace with myself. Or Sunny Treasure, designed by Khan Buren of Thailand on page 8, because I am so very happy & have a sunny disposition and I love sharing happy thoughts with everyone. I also love the wrap that you have. I just love everything!!!! I would be honored to support all of the artists if money was no object. Thank you for letting me share what I can with you. Lynn :)