Books Make Great Gifts!

How is your holiday shopping coming along?

 If you need a few more gift ideas, check out the House of Fifty Book Gift Guide...

{p.170}

Books do make great gifts!

Holiday Cards

This year I stumbled across a holiday card from The Met Museum Store that I just adore...and subsequently not only put in my order, but showcased it in a HOF article! It must have something to do with my ultimate dream of someday living in a row house in some fabulous city.

If you've not yet selected your cards, take a look at our other favorites, a list of resources to order personalized cards and the key dates to remember. (If wanting the chosen style to arrive in friends and family's mailboxes before the holidays are gone!) Click here.

Enjoy the season!

Kassapanola Pillows: Great for Gifts & Here's a Discount!

Looking for gift ideas to put under the tree...who doesn't love a beautiful pillow, or two or three?!

Kassapanola is offering Isabella & Max Rooms readers a wonderful 25% off discount:

Simply use the code HOFHOLIDAY at checkout.

Here are few of my favorite styles currently in the shop!

Oh so fun for a child's room!

In a master...

...or in a den or living room.

Visit Kassapanola here to see more!

Are You Making Progress on Your Gift List?

Did you take advantage of all the sales over the last few days? 

I did, and a good deal of my holiday shopping is done!

This certainly makes me happy, as I don't enjoy last minute dashing around for the perfect gift.

The gift finding seems to be going a little smoother this year,

and perhaps its due to the tips I got from Pauline's article!

If you have yet to begin, a good starting point might be a quick read of these tips.

{beginning on page 64}

And if you haven't already, check out the Graphic Image Givaway here.

A Giveaway From the House of Fifty Gift Guide!

I have not hosted a giveaway in forever, so today I have a fabulous one that will make a wonderful gift...for yourself or to give away!

In HOF's Gift Guide for Women we featured a leather iPad case from Graphic Image. After seeing their item in the Holiday issue, Graphic Image contacted me asking if we'd like to host a giveaway! Well yes, thank you!!

The winner will receive an item of their choice from Graphic Image valued up to $120, with a complimentary addition of personalized initials in gold or silver foil.

You could choose the iPad Envelope Brights Leather in a range of beautifully bright colors, or a number of other wonderful items, to store electronic devices and much more!!

To enter, simply visit Graphic Image and leave a comment on this post sharing what your selection would be. The giveaway is open to residents in the USA and Canada, and will run through next Monday at midnight, PST, with the winner selected by Random.org and announced the next day. For an additional entry each, Tweet or Facebook a link to this giveaway and please make sure to let me know in a comment.

Also, to help with your holiday shopping, Graphic Image is offering 20% off orders from their site during the duration of this giveaway! Simply use code FIFTY at checkout.

Finally, need more gift ideas? 

See the HOF Gift Guides for Women, Men, Tweens & Teens Girls and Boys, and The Little Ones,
beginning on page 72.

Good luck! Janell

Countdown to Christmas

Can it really be? A short 31 days until Christmas?

 A wonderful way to enjoy the season is through the modern Advent calendar.
 Courtney Fernan provides several ideas for creating your own in the Holiday issue of House of Fifty! 

Read here beginning on page 152.

One charming way to countdown the days until Christmas is with the adorable Danish Garland Calendar.

 Available at Splendid Willow Avenue, it has 24 pockets to put a little something into.

"My three kids take turns sharing. One child per day! And they do not expect sweet treats all the time. A little personal note from their Mom make their day!", says Monika of Splendid Willow Avenue.

p.s. Readers can receive 15% off orders at this shop through December 10th.

Use code LIVESPLENDID15 at checkout.

Let the season begin!!

One Year Ago

One year ago, I was sitting in this house wondering what was next.

While spending a few days with my family at a friend's beach house, I was trying to figure a way out of a slump brought on by a little run-in with "ageism".

See the post on that event here: Doesn't Everyone Know 49 is the New 29?

I knew I had to find something to get excited about, for myself and my career, if I didn't want to buy into the message that my best days were behind me.

That is when the idea that led to the launch of House of Fifty began...

{three issues to date with another in the works}

One year later, I'm thrilled. It was been such a rewarding venture to work on and I am so thankful to all the people who have become part of this project, and to the reception it has received from you. I think it is very fitting the "anniversary" of the idea for House of Fifty falls on the week of Thanksgiving!

{now available in "print to order", and as an App from the iTunes store}

Here's to being thankful for all life brings to us.

A Couple Sweet Treats & Two Wonderful Blogs

I enjoyed learning a bit more about how two women I've met through blogging celebrate during this time of year recently, sharing their stories in the Holiday issue of House of Fifty. Meenal from Delhi (Maison Marigold) and Sukaina from Dubai (Sips and Spoonfuls). If you've not been to their blogs, you must!

And if you are looking for some sweet treats to prepare for Thanksgiving, how about trying something new? Sukaina shares two of her favorite recipes, see here beginning on page 119.

Enjoy your weekend and the holiday preparations! Janell

House of Fifty is Now an iPad & iPhone App!

When we first launched House of Fifty six months ago, the most frequent feedback I received was the request to be able to read the magazine on the iPad.

So we got to work and finally, I am excited to announce that House of Fifty is now available as an app through the Apple iTunes store!

The images and text just pop off the screen, with easy to use functionality and share options.

Take a look here, and share the app with friends and family that will also enjoy reading House of Fifty!

Frost On Windows

It's that time of year again! Are you waking up to frost on your windows?

Painting by Kerri Rosenthal 

To see more of her beautiful work and the story of how she began her flourishing painting career, visit here.

{Beginning on page 50}

LL Textiles from Lauren Liess & Pure Style Home

I am quite taken with the line of textiles launched by Lauren Liess. Have you seen them?

The designs are such a wonderful reflection of Lauren's design aesthetic:

 Timeless, earthy and beautifully classic.

The photos of the fabrics are pretty fantastic as well!

{don't you think?}

To see more of the line visit the shop here.

And to read an article featuring her fabrics, furniture and the story about how she decided to launch this venture, see 'Talent We Are Taken With: Lauren Liess' in the fall issue of House of Fifty!

Thank You: HOF Sponsors!

A big thank you to the sponsors of the

Holiday issue of House of Fifty!

Click here to visit our 'thank you' page with links to all their sites.

So many great gift ideas and a couple coupons as well, to help you get a jump on the gift finding adventure!

{see page 92}

$15 off purchase of $50 or more at Joss & Main with code HOF1211

and

15% off purchases at Live.Like.You. & Splendid Willow Avenue through 12/10 

with code LIVESPENDID15

Thank You!

All of us who have worked on the holiday issue of House of Fifty are delighted with all the wonderful feedback you given us! We are also incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped spread the word; through posts, facebook, tweets and by passing it on to friends and family!

If you haven't read the issue take a look this weekend, and please pass it on to your friends and family, which will help us continue to make this venture a success as we work on future issues!

Holiday Card Guide with helpful tips from Pauline.

A Gift Guide for Tweens & Teens; oh, the hardest ones to find gifts for!

And Gift Ideas for Men, (another hard category!) by Monika of the Splendid Willow.

A Chic "Mom Cave"

The story of a talented Jewelry Designer

Hostess Gift Ideas: Show up at your next party with a thoughtful gift!

Tips for Organizing Your Gift Giving, it can get overwhelming.

Ideas for enjoying the season to its fullest as a family.

A sampling of what awaits you in the Holiday Issue of House of Fifty...

Enjoy & Happy Holidays!