Prairie School...

Where is a girl supposed to keep her oh so stylish clothing, shoes and accessories?  In an oh so stylish home, of course!  For me, there are no homes as stylish as Prairie School or Usonian structures.  I am crazy for Prairie School architecture, particularly the Midwestern homes designed and built by Frank Lloyd Wright.  The clean lines of his "organic architecture" are so stunningly beautiful to my eyes...

Since childhood, I have been obsessed with one home in particular right here in Fort Wayne, designed by Francis Barry Byrne, one of Wright's students.  I drive by the home as much as possible, imagining what the inside looks like and if the owners cherish every day spent there.

There is an actual Frank Lloyd Wright house in southwest Fort Wayne but that's another post for another day and another website.



I dream of living in a Prairie School home some day...maybe even one of Mr. Wright's homes...after all, what good is a dream if it isn't BIG?

Linda Evangelista...

There are no models as exciting and glamorous as the Supermodels of the 1990's...Linda Evangelista in particular.  She is my absolute, all time, hands down favorite model.  It's so boring of me to state how she's like a chameleon (because everyone does) but that is literally one of my favorite aspects.  I used to change my hair color, style and length almost as much as she did back then and her every move was an inspiration to me.  These days I'm not so daring with my mane but I love to watch old videos of Linda to relive the good old days.  Check out the video below that aired on MTV in 1991:

this week...

Welp, it's Monday again and I'm setting some style goals for the week:

* locate, purchase and wear a particular pair of kick ass booties...stay tuned for some ferocious kicks!
* research and complete an article about sustainable style
* book a hair cut - trying to decide if I'll do a trim or something more exciting...
* enjoy a no polish pedi to get my toes ready for boot weather (I've stopped painting my piggies during the winter months)
* finally take down Halloween garb and skip right to Foxmas decor...I'm excited to put up my Cape Cod/Seaside themed tree but am also doing a pink feather tree for my office.
* GET MY ASS TO THE GYM AT LEAST 3 TIMES THIS WEEK!
* potentially buy a netbook for easier blogging on the go...still debating this one

Happy Happy Anniversary...

Today is the 2nd Anniversary of Navigate with Style!  When I first started this blog it was a private, creative outlet for me during a difficult, professional time.  I was wondering where my career would take me and pondered my options daily.

As I started to post here and there I rediscovered a passion of mine from long ago - to be a writer.  As the posts grew the focus and tone evolved.  I learned a bit more about blogging, played around with the layout, designed a logo and opened a Twitter account.

I have a ton more to learn about writing and blogging but I'm having so much fun and today I woke up to find I'd surpassed 4,000 page views!  I'm sure this number is small potatoes to most but I'm positively giddy about it!  I think I deserve a prezzie, actually...

Since the beginning of this blogging endeavor I have grown as a mother and a wife and we've moved from our beloved city of Boston, Massachusetts to be closer to our families in Indiana.  I said goodbye to a company that taught me almost everything I know to date and that feels a bit scary but also really fantastic!

NWS will undergo a few more changes as the year draws to a close; a new logo is on the way and I'll be updating the look and host of the blog.  Navigate with Style will continue to evolve as I do and it's certainly a journey I am more than thrilled to be on...

xx
JDF

introducing @fwshopreport...

I am a buyer by trade and am always searching for the coolest new stuff and the best deals and promotions around.  While I follow many retail brands through social media it's hard to catch every relevant tweet.  This got me thinking...

What if there was a Twitter feed customized for my local area that captured the greatest retail opportunities?  Shoppers could tweet at this account when they spotted great items for sale or on sale.  Local vendors could tweet at this account for more visibility and to drive traffic to their stores.

I'm happy to introduce to you now: @fwshopreport

As I scout around town and online I'll share with you all what I find of note through this feed.  I encourage all genders and ages and interests to tweet to @fwshopreport when you spot something another shopper might find interesting.  Please share the handle with your friends and family and as you interact with shop owners and managers.  I started this account a few months ago but I hadn't sussed out exactly how I would use it...AND I fully expect it to evolve further as more people engage with the idea.

I will do my best to retweet the best deals...I can't wait to see what everyone finds!!

xx

JDF