Mini Home Makeover

20140508-164215.jpg

Kleenex has excellent timing – I have suspicions that they’re stalking me. You might remember I did a Kleenex-sponsored post back in February, right after I had used up my supply of tissues during a crappy cold. This month I was invited to participate in another campaign, and this one has a theme: styling the perfect space for guests. And wouldn’t you know it…my parents came to town this weekend for graduation, and my bathroom (which is also the guest bathroom; I’m not some kind of millionaire with 2 full bathrooms) was in major need of some sprucing up.

The first step was finally framing and hanging the awesome opera poster Kristin got me for Christmas:

20140508-164225.jpg

Then I decided to keep the yellow theme going and picked up some new stuff from Target. I had had the same bath mat since we moved in to this apartment, and that was 5 years ago. Yeah. It was gross. My new one is adorable and fluffy! [I couldn’t find this exact one on Target’s website, but there’s another really cute yellow & white one that I love too.]

20140508-164245.jpg

20140508-164255.jpg

I’m a pro at wearing mixed prints, but I really have no instincts when it comes to interior design or décor. I usually just buy things that were made to go together. But I decided to get just a little bit daring when picking out my Kleenex boxes. There are a few new designs by Isaac Mizrahi out now, so I went with those. If it’s good enough for Isaac, it’s good enough for me. Black and white go with everything, right?

20140508-164303.jpg

20140508-164312.jpgThis mini home makeover doesn’t stop at the bathroom, folks (I know, it’s crazy…I should have my own HGTV show). Last week I was at a craft store and decided to buy this cute little chalkboard easel for absolutely no reason. So I created a reason by rearranging the top of a bookcase in the living room. I added another cute Isaac Mizrahi Kleenex tissue box because why not? Hopefully my parents feel very welcome during their visit, and if anyone gets a runny nose, I’M ALL OVER IT!

If you need to stock up on tissues, stop by the Kleenex Style Studio page and take the “quiz” to get a coupon! It only takes a few seconds. The more right answers you get, the better your coupon is (but you can take it multiple times)!

Heads up: I will be receiving compensation from Kleenex in connection with this post. Thanks for supporting the brands that support my dangerous shopping habit.

Clinton Kelly is Freakin’ Fabulous.

clinton kelly, freakin' fabulous on a budget, macy's fashion, indianapolis, spring 2014 trends

Friday was one of the best days ever. Part of that was weather related. Part was basketball related. But a lot of it had to do with seeing Clinton Kelly – in the flesh! – put on a fantastic and hilarious fashion show at the Macy’s down the street from me. You might recall that I’ve been to a handful of fashion events at Macy’s over the past year, but this one was by far the fanciest. They really pull out all the stops for A-listers, I guess. Velvet ropes, white couches, mocktails, hors d’oeuvres, DJ…fun times. I was supposed to get to interview Clinton, but at the last minute I got bumped for a TV station so I didn’t get to meet him and take a selfie (that’s all I wanted in life). Apparently being a blogger is a status higher than regular civilian, but lower than actual journalist. Le sigh.

Anyway, in case you were worried that Clinton has been curled up alone in sweatpants, eating Ben & Jerry’s, and crying over the end of What Not to Wear, fear not. He’s staying busy. Now he’s on a cooking show (The Chew), he has a new book (Freakin’ Fabulous on a Budget*), and he’s still stylin’ and profilin’ with Macy’s.

For fellow Clinton Kelly fangirls, I’ll share a few Clinton-isms before I move on to the looks he showed us. First off, he doesn’t really care what people are wearing. What?! I know. I remember going to NYC in college and stressing over what to pack because what if I ran into Stacy or Clinton? Seriously, that was something that went through my mind. Apparently it was for nothing. Clinton said he does notice what people are wearing sometimes, and he’s happy to give people advice on what to wear, but in the end…he just doesn’t care whether they listen to him. And as little as he cares what you are wearing, he cares even less about what celebrities are wearing. He said he’s been asked to do red carpet commentary before but he always turns it down. It’s because celebrities have professional stylists and hair and makeup artists – Clinton’s much more interested in helping regular old gals like us find style that works for our lives (ahem, real life style, you might call it).

This tidbit might disappoint you, but he said he hasn’t kept in touch with Stacy since the end of WNTW. But when he explained it, it makes sense: They spent 60 hours a week together for 10 years. Now they’re “seeing other people.” And if you’ve ever wondered how Clinton snagged that dream job to begin with, he was actually working as a journalist when someone called him and asked if he’d like to audition. The rest is history.

OK, enough blabbering. Let’s get on to the clothes. At this show, Clinton showed several trends on 3 different kinds of women: “millennials,” “curvy,” and “mature.” Apparently as a 20-something I fall in the millennial category, but I found myself liking the curvy and mature looks better overall. I’m not sure what that says about me, but nevertheless here are my favorite looks of the night:

clinton kelly, freakin' fabulous on a budget, macy's fashion, indianapolis, spring 2014 trends

similar Dress 

(just ignore the “millennial” look in the background…kids these days and their short shorts, I tell ya)

clinton kelly, freakin' fabulous on a budget, macy's fashion, indianapolis, spring 2014 trends

similar Jacket

clinton kelly, freakin' fabulous on a budget, macy's fashion, indianapolis, spring 2014 trends

Dress // similar Clutch // Shoes

clinton kelly, freakin' fabulous on a budget, macy's fashion, indianapolis, spring 2014 trends

similar Jacket // Skirt // Bag // similar Shoes

clinton kelly, freakin' fabulous on a budget, macy's fashion, indianapolis, spring 2014 trends

Dress

macys7

…and let’s just stop for a moment to take in the fierceness of these Shoes

clinton kelly, freakin' fabulous on a budget, macy's fashion, indianapolis, spring 2014 trends

Skirt // Blazer

*I received a free copy of Clinton Kelly’s book, along with other compensation, for attending this event at Macy’s and sharing it on my blog and social media channels. All opinions are my own, because who else’s opinions would I have?