SHOP small THIS SATURDAY!

Forget Black Friday...all the cool kids will be shopping small on Saturday, November 26th!  There are fabulous stores in your local area (you might just have to do a little digging) that NEED your support!

I often find customer service is more tailored and genuine from a small, locally owned company.  The owner has more interaction with their clients and employees which can make for a more intimate shopping experience.  AND, if you wish to provide feedback about their goods or services, the powers that be are much more accessible.  PLUS, smaller retailers don't stock hundreds or even tens of the same item which means you won't see your new find on every other girl in town (that's worth its weight in gold to me)!

Starting a small business takes guts and maintaining a small business takes MUCH more.  It's a rough retail world out there so help the little guys give the big guys a run for their money while supporting your local community!

For more information about Small Business Saturday 

check out the official website sponsored by American Express!

It's easy being green...

I'm always looking for better ways to green my life and it's getting easier and easier due to increased awareness, technology and availability.  Today on INsight I chatted with Emilie & Charity about how much easier it is these days to go organic!

Being Green at Home - I am a HUGE fan of reusable shopping bags by Baggu because they are lightweight and fold up into thin square packs making it super easy to stash one or two in your handbag or your glove compartment.

Also, I referenced the Dirty Seven list of foods to buy organic but I was missing a few!!! It's the Dirty Dozen - oops!  Click HERE for a list you can keep in  your wallet or save to your phone for quick and easy reference.

Eco Friendly Cosmetics - Gone are the days when finding natural beauty products was a challenging task.  Drug, department, big box and mainstream specialty stores now offer multiple eco friendly lines in all categories.  Of course, just because a product has the word "organic" or "natural" doesn't mean it's free of harmful chemicals.  Read the labels of your personal care products just as you would food labels.  The ingredients are listed in order of volume within the product and as always, the fewer ingredients the better...especially the hard to pronounce ones!

The site I reference on the show for checking the toxicity of your beauty products is: The Environmental Working Group Skin Deep Cosmetic Database.

I welcome any product related questions via email so please do not hesitate to email me: navigatewithstyle@gmail.com

As always, thanks for watching!!

xx
JDF

support small business...

I do my best to support small businesses, local and otherwise.  November 26th marks the 2nd annual Small Business Saturday, founded and sponsored by American Express.  I challenge you to do the bulk of your holiday shopping for loved ones by shopping at independent businesses in town and online...let's help the little guys give the big guys a run for their money!

Some of my favorite local and/or independent businesses are:
* Symmetry - to die for women's clothing and accessories
* Etsy - the website is chock full of amazing goods and offers a local search option
* The Monogram Shoppe - fun gifts and stocking stuffers for everyone
* Rustic Hutch - for festive and stylish holiday decor and gifts
* Firefly Coffee House - their boutique is almost a mini Etsy shop!

Check out and 'LIKE' the Facebook page for Small Business Saturday for more information about the event and associated promotions.  Don't forget to share your favorite shops and deals on Twitter: @fwshopreport

Shop SMALL on November 26th & everyday!

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

daytwahhh...

I spent two days in and around Detroit this week and it was a mix of highs and lows.  I am super excited to see a shift in the development of the once great city.  Yes, there are quite a few abandoned buildings downtown and in the outskirts.  However, many of those buildings are actively being restored.

Currently, Detroit is enjoying a bountiful fall where sports is concerned.  The Tigers are in the playoffs and the Lions are one of two teams still undefeated this season!!  I love that all three major sports arenas are downtown: Joe Louis Arena/Red Wings, Comerica Park/Tigers, Ford Field/Lions.  Having these venues IN the city add some cache, not to mention foot traffic (read: dollars).  

Side note: I am happy to say my first MLB game was at old Tiger stadium with my late father and my brother - what a lovely, crumbling mess that was.  It's a good thing Fenway Park & Wrigley Field are still around (and will be forevermore)...I prefer the dirty old stadiums to modern, gleaming versions...but I digress.

The city was packed with Lions fans while we were there so we didn't brave Greektown (very sad).  Nothing else jumped out at us food wise so we ended up having dinner in the dining room of our hotel (meh).  Next time I go to Detroit I'll need food recommendations FOR SURE!

More importantly, I had a hard time finding anything of note when it came to shopping.  Where are the independent shops of Detroit and the surrounding areas?  I found two malls in the 'burbs but I can shop those stores anytime and nearly anywhere.  For Detroit to flourish they'll need to do a better job of promoting the areas of their city where local food and goods are available.

Finally, I took my little boy to the Detroit Zoo.  We arrived about 1 hour before it closed and we were extended a "Happy Hour" discount which was a nice surprise since 3 year old legs can't cover much ground in 60 minutes.  We had time to enjoy the open aviary and butterfly room as well as the penguin exhibit before spending the rest of the time in the playground.  Unless you take the train, which was not running that day, you must walk by the playground before getting to the exciting animal areas.  This seems like incredibly poor planning since I've never met a kid that didn't want to drop everything for colorful slides and tunnels.  Needless to say, we did not get to see much.

I'm hoping to get back to Detroit soon as I'd love to dig deeper and explore other areas of the city.  Detroit is poised for a comeback and I'm hoping to see some major eco and sustainable innovations come to life.  I think that will be the key to the future success of "The D."