Musical Musings: the 2014 Grammys

I haven't watched the Grammys in years. It was always something I watched with my parents and something I could never remember to catch as an adult. But I do have fond memories of them because some of my first exposure to alternative/rap/rock music was via the Grammys winner CDs from the 90s. So, naturally when we were at my parent's last weekend we watched the Grammys and lets just say the show has changed since I last watched it 10 years ago... 



This performance elevated Imagine Dragons to a new level of rock n' roll. Kendrick Lamar's performance intertwined with their song Radioactive was the best performance at this year's Grammys. Who would have thought they were so legit? The song is aggressive , but the mashup fits perfectly. 

The other best mashup of the night was between Carole King and Sara Bareilles. It made my heart grow two sizes, left me teary eyed, and inspired. What a great performance! Music that is uplifting is a gift from the Universe. 

Sorry for the delay on these posts. Between taking a vacation, Houston having a 'snow' day Tuesday (it was a trace?), and my parents visiting last night I have been swamped. I've got some goods in the works so come back soon. 



PS. Need a laugh? Watch this.

Pinterest is Calling: Pretty Pics n' Stuff

image via jamieshop.com

Those walls. That couch. The art. The brass. Agh! If only I can get my ducks in a row enough to get my home painted (or painted by B-Rad and I, let's get real here). All of this is exactly what I am into right. now. This wall color is specifically call soft grey. Apparently folks struggle with getting grey too dark or blue or purple or whatever. Just another reason for me to procrastinate putting it off. Anyone have a grey paint they recommend that will look as luscious as the above? I would be much obliged. 

image via TVatemywardrobe.com

Can you believe that this photo above is dated January 26, 1994? Just check out the top right hand corner of the polaroid if you do not believe me. Beyond the date can you believe that this aesthetic is back? The plaid, the shoes, the jeans... I am not one for the 90s look and I think it is because I wore it so badly then. I was all of 8.5 years old when this came out (anyone else born in '86?), but our mother fancied herself a fashionista and kept me stocked in Doc Martins, baby doll dresses, and the world worst shag haircut (the pics are too bad to share). I dressed like this and for that reason I will not be doing it anytime soon. Sorry grunge movement. Minimalist-downtown-girl-chic is the one for me. 

image via WWD.com

This image was captured at Yiping Yin's Couture Spring 2014 show in Paris. I love the cut of the coat and the color - that grey again! Plus the juxtaposition of the textures of the feathers, the shininess of the pants, and the fluff of the coat. I love that it is a cold weather crop top too. So legit. WWD said that this show was an interesting foil to the butterflies portrayed on the other Paris couture runways because it's emphasis was on the moth. Very interesting indeed.

Skication + Gucci + Beyonce = Bye for Now, K?

image via

I am going to sign off for a bit and enjoy my vacation at chateau bailē (aka my parents house). In the meantime, I have to share two things with you: 1) this Gucci purse I am totally obsessing over because that purple in the sky in the above image is nearly an exact match. Not the most practical purchase, but the fringe is very on trend, you know. Let's just say that if I won money in Vegas on my birthday I would def buy it? 2) Two songs I cannot get enough of that are on two totally different ends of the musical spectrum: Partition by Beyonce (Queen B! her tumblr is the most.) and Thunder Clatter by Nashville-based Wild Cub.  Over and out. 

image via

Art Talk: This is Your Brain and This is Your Brain on Drugs

Caffeine

Crystal Meth

Cocaine

Heroine

Adrenaline

Speed

Artist Sarah Schoenfield was privy to the extremes of drug culture when she worked in a Berlin nightclub. Soon after she changed her photo studio into a laboratory and exposed a variety of legal and illegal drugs to film negatives and then magnified the results to comprise her section of work titled All You Can Feel. 

Depending on if you are a user of illicit substances or not you definitely have some expectations and presuppositions of what those drugs do to you because of your exposure to the media's portrayal in films, music, and TV. Sarah Schoenfield's work is interesting because it examines drugs on a different level entirely: it's not what it makes you do, but what it is does to you - specifically your brain cells and blood stream. 

To me these images are a reflection into what the chemical nature of these drugs do to your insides. Plus, even more hauntingly, they all seem to reflect how I would draw or paint the way they make people feel. Kind of like doing your moods on a color scale. Not a scientific portrayal, but a visceral one... It is as if they are all exactly what I would expect to see: as they truly are on a molecular-emotional-basis. Cool, huh?

{See all of her work here. Images via here.}  

Laugh It Off Mondays: A Dog and His Trampoline

Post by Fox 11 Los Angeles.

TheWellSet's Ski Trip Packing Guide: Sundance Film Festival Edition

The Clothes

Day One: Chan Luu Scarf // Adam Lippes Sweater // JBrand Jeans // Zara Jacket // Zara Boots // Rouland Mouret Sunny G's 

Day Two: Zara Jacket // JBrand Jeans // Zara Sweater // Isabel Marant Hidden Wedge Boots // Stella McCartney Sunny G's

Extras: Marni Fur Stole // MbMJ Earrings // Marni Purse // Zara Beanie // Jennifer Fischer Cuff 

This coming Thursday the notorious B-Rad-G and I are headed to Park City, UT for five-glorious-days of wine, food, relaxation, skiing, family time, and the Sundance Film Festival. A little background, my parents retired in Park City the summer after I graduated from high school and I've called the place my second home ever since. Despite the fact that they have had a place there for nearly 10 years, I have only attended one Sundance. This is because my parents house is 1) far, far away, basically a half days travel (not exactly ideal for a weekend visit), 2) it takes place right after the holidays when we've typically had a enough travel & family, 3) my folks winter in Palm Desert, CA, so, there's not much action to be had in their empty house. But, this year is different because we spent Christmas working in Houston without our families and my parents are going to be home, for once, for the festival.

Brad and I are really excited to escape the Houston city limits for a long weekend and I cannot wait to be back in PC amongst the hustle and bustle of Sundance. Of course, the questions has arisen, "what to pack?" With the weather in Houston being more beautiful than ever (helllllloooo 72 degrees & sunny) it is a bit of an effort to switch gears to cold weather mode. Thankfully a lot of my heavy duty stuff is in my closet in PC already, so, the rest is the fun part.

Above I have laid out some of my favorite items for a ski trip, but as some of you may have noticed there are actually no real ski clothes. I have a secret to admit: I am not a skier. In fact, I hate to ski. Two houses in two ski towns and not a single desire in my bones to get back on the slopes. I grew up skiing and then snowboarding (thanks, teen angst), but when I blew my knee out in 11th grade I walked (or hobbled) away from the slopes forever. However, you will happily find me in the lodge (see bar) or the spa (see hot tub/massage table) or in the case of Sundance season on PC's Main Street shopping, seeing films I have never heard of, and looking for famous people. That's why I have only included two outfits. My other days will be spent indoors in full on relaxation mode.

Side note: Everything on Zara is super-duper on sale. Hurry, the good stuff won't last long.

The Films

I really hope to see the following films, but without any tickets I recognize that my chances are slim. However, the use of the eWaitlist and the fact that it is the second weekend of the festival (most of the premieres are the first weekend and therefore most of the stars have come and gone by the second weekend - reducing the riff raff). My goal is to see at least 2 movies. Here are my top 3 and here's the list of the top 9 by Kevin P. Sullivan, if you are curious, where the reviews are from. I will let you know how it goes!

"I Origins"

In the last few years, a fun Sundance lifehack has become more and more dependable. It goes like this: if Brit Marling is in a movie, it's probably good. The writer and actress has appeared in four Sundance films in the last three years, all of which has been consistently good. This year, Marling returns with her "Another Earth" director Mike Cahill in another drama with sci-fi elements.

"A Most Wanted Man"

Famed photographer Anton Corbijn has made two movies since his jump to film ("Control" and "The American"), and his third is set to debut at Sundance. An adaptation of the book by John Le Carré ("Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy"), "A Most Wanted Man" revolves around German intelligence agents, who must find out whether their target is a Islamist terrorist or not.

"Wish I Was Here"

At Sundance, 46,000 Kickstarter contributors are going to find out what Zach Braff made with their money. This is the first major film project of this scale to face this kind of scrutiny from the people who funded it, so early reviews of this title could mean a lot for the future of movie funding.

Can't make the festival this year? I've got something for you...


The top 15 short films of Sundance are live streaming right now on Youtube. It's the future! As of Jan. 16 they've all been available online. I've embedded them all below for you to enjoy. I haven't watched them yet myself, but I hear people are really into Dig. 

Happy watching.