Freakin' Fabulous on a Budget

September 2, 2013
Expanding on his 2008 book, Freakin’ Fabulous: How to Dress, Speak, Behave, Eat, Drink, Entertain, Decorate and Generally Be Better Than Everybody Else, TV personality Kelly offers witty tips on how to live well on the cheap. Beginning with simple dishes and basic cocktails that won’t break the bank, Kelly does a terrific job of demystifying the role of host or hostess. He’s less effective when it comes to decor, focusing mainly on thrift-store dos and don’ts before breezily skipping on to crafts. Depending on the reader’s tastes, DIY napkins made from old shirts, homemade terrariums in canning jars, and spray-painted gourds could be the best things ever or completely horrific. Style tips on shopping are thoughtful and practical, just as one would expect from the former cohost of What Not to Wear. Readers in search of basic housekeeping and party-hosting tips—not to mention Kelly’s fans—will find the book informative and entertaining.