Musical Musings: American Horror Story & the White Witch

Typically when I post about music the mix is geared towards new-ish artists punctuated by the occasional throwback. Today's musical musing is geared toward the throwback completely. 

But, is it a true throwback if it is something that has been completely refreshed by its inclusion in a recent pop-culture phenom? I am speaking of course about Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac fame, the White Witch, appearance on last week's episode of American Horror Story. 

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Lily Rabe's character has been obsessed with Stevie Nicks all season and as she approaches (perhaps) becoming the Supreme, Fiona calls in a favor to do something nice (if only it were that simple) for Misty Day. Catch the video here on RollingStone.com.

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American Horror Story is truly some of the best TV around. The costumes, the lighting, the setting in New Orleans... It's pure art. It's one of the few shows (e.g. Game of Thrones) that leaves you wanting more. The way the show skewers the topics of religion, racism and, in particular, the way women treat each other, it serves as a foil for our lives in a creepy, confounding way. Watch it tonight on FX at 9pm CST. You won't regret it.  

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PS. Fascinated by the concept of modern day witchcraft? Polish photographer Katarzyna Majak captures several such women in her series, Women of Power. Featured on Flavorwire and Beautiful/Decay, the images are pretty spellbinding (couldn't help myself). 

Check out her website here to see them all and learn more. 

PPS. Check out this sweet remix of Dreams by Fleetwood Mac:

I Love Art Tuesdays: Spotlight on Mario Ceroli

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Thanks to the wonders of the internet, aka Pinterest - follow me here (thx!) - great visual art comes trickling to the surface (not to mention a multitude of ways to organize your closet, lose 5 lbs, and paint your nails in crazy ways). Of course, not everything you read on the internet is true, as illustrated by the amazing site Pinterest Fail. 

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Any who, ART... Due to the internet a small portion of the great art of the world has additional exposure and because of this I found these gems.  This leads me to this week's spotlight on Italy's own Mario Ceroli. Thanks to thisiscolossal.com his work made it onto Pinterest and then onto one of my boards. 

The sheer magnitude of Mario Ceroli's glass waves is overwhelming and impressive. Not to mention the glass waves in particular are so life-like, as if they were instantly frozen in place by some mystic force. Can you imagine what it takes to move these or build them? Amazing.

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Check out his wood piece. It looks almost like it was molded in clay or sand. Or as if it is a claw of some subterranean giant reaching up from the earth's core. Utterly inspiring. 

Laugh it Off Mondays: Little Monkey in a Snow Suit

Warming Up that Winter White Dress

Dress (similar-ish here) // Necklace // Purse // Scarf-hood (similar-ish here) // Boots // Loafers // Rings

My best-LA-based girlfriend (she wrote all the movie reviews for TheWellSet back in 2009) texted me way back in November? December? asking for guidance on how to style her winter white dress (hey girl hey!). She texted me a pic of a gorgeous dress she had just purchased from Madewell (shown above, sorry about the quality) and sought clarity on what to wear with this new, pale frock.

Let's start from the ground up, shall we? My personal preference is to sass it up by wearing it with black leather. It grounds the look and makes it more seasonally appropriate. If you choose the boots or the loafers it instantly says January instead of June. If you live in a colder climate than LA then pair this look with opaque tights in black or bonus points if you wear gray opaque tights. Side note: I am really into gray right now. Gray walls, gray sweaters, gray leather, gray boots... It's the best newish neutral around. Jk, it's not new at all. I am just obsessed.

I choose the classic YSL purse for many reasons, but the main one is: it's gray. It's seasonally on par, it's roomy, plus you can wear it with anything. I love the look of layering of necklaces and a scarf. The scarf-hood from the street style pic would look great with the dark metal of the necklace. I've also chosen the gold mid-finger rings from ASOS because I think they are rad in an subtle-unexpected-touch-sort-of-way. Not ready for mid-finger rings? Try the black and gold mani if you have a steady hand. Check out this how-to on Jezebel (let me know how it goes because I'm too nervous to try it).

It's not quite Versace, but we cannot all be Atlanta-based hip hop moguls Migos. Check out my latest rap jam love - also isn't that video SO AMAZING? A cheetah + mansion AND Versace? 1996 MTV GOLD.

Houston Brides - Wedding Style Featuring TheWellSet.com

You know when you work really hard on something and then it pays off? That is how getting featured in Houston Brides felt. Only more surreal. They contacted me last October and sent the wonderful photographer, Laurie Perez, to my house to shoot me. Then I worked with the amazing editor, Melanie Warner, on the content. It was so fun and easy! That being said, I was really nervous on how it would turn out... Would I look fat? Would I sound dumb? You know, the usual crazy woman thoughts. 

Well, the feature just debuted and I could not be more thrilled. After spending so much time getting others published it is really interesting being on the other side of the lens. Interesting in a good-introspectivly-self-critical sort of way. Big thank you to Houston Brides and all my friends at Houston Magazine that recommended me for the piece. You're the best!

Click here to read the digital edition. 

Musical Musings: For the Foxes, Hurts, & Noah and the Whale

Who can forget my Micky Avalon stage? I think I saw him twice that year?
This pic is so old it was taken on an actual camera-camera. It was taken at Emo's in Austin in 2008.

It's no secret that my love of music can be obnoxious at times. Just about every roommate I have ever had has disparaged my constant jamming of tunes (at least you said you liked it?). That includes my husband. Music get's me through tough times and that especially includes every weekday morning between 7 and 8 am. 

I'll never forget driving through UT campus with Jennah as freshmen and cranking the music and rolling down the windows. She was embarrassed. I was floored. It was music how I had always listened to it: loud, sunroof open, and on repeat. What could possibly be embarrassing about that?

Lately my taste steer more towards easy listening, alternative, indy music. When I am not on a rap bender, that is. Here's a few of my latest obsessions. Enjoy!

Sunday by Hurts  


Life is Life by Noah and the Whale


Running Back to Your by For the Foxes 

Little Rap to Cruise to: The Motto by Drake

TheWellSet's 2014 To Do List: Pickles, Abs, and Financial Literacy

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December 31, 2013!

Where-oh-where did the year go? It has been such a friggin blast. We did lotsa-stuff: Vegas-BVIs-Vegas-Vegas-Vegas-Austin-Hunt-Vegas-Maui-Dallas (#humblebrag much?)... What am I leaving out? Ah, home purchasing, puppy adopting, tree removal, friend making/bonding and fence building + our first tenant. It has been a great year although it has also been a tremendous blur, but like all people around the world rather than looking back we are supposed to be looking forward to the new year and all the promises it brings. Rather than going hyper cliche I am just going to call it a To Do List and mix in some items I hope to accomplish next year:

1. Gardening: Something that seems so simple is just so freaking hard. I have managed to kill about 40% off the plants we bought including the sod we laid down in the yard. I hope some day to have a yard man to help, but we just are not that fancy yet, SO, in the meantime I better freaking figure it out. My sister talked to me about hedges and... I've already forgotten... Other green stuff? Any who, I need to read a book stat.

2. Concert Going: I freaking love going to live music shows. However, the general malaise that sets in due to Houston traffic, commuting and crap weather keeps me home most nights (not to mention my full time j-o-b). In 2014 I want to go to more shows. No more excuses.

3. Pickle Making: I really love pickles and want to make homemade ones. This is probably the most attainable New Year's resolution. Baby steps, ya'll. 

4. Ebaying: I had a ton of success selling my gently used designer wares on eBay last month. Plus it was quite fun. Get ready for more content under that Shop button above. Here's to diversification! 

5. Exercising: No, I am not going for that stomach-abs situation (although that would be NICE). I am going for the continuation of the exercise program I put into place in preparation for my nuptials. I actually like it? Weird. 

6. Financial Literacy-ing: I have been working hard with my hubster to get our financials on lock. This has been a big spending year with all the wedding, home buying business, but I am resolved to increase our financial literacy if it kills me. I am about 50% finished with Rich Dad Poor Dad and plan to read the Incorporate and Get Rich book next. Don't laugh - this is important. Just check out the diagram from Rich Dad Poor Dad. Is your mind blown yet?

7. Blogging: 2013 was a great year for TheWellSet blog. The Reddit incident, the Warby Parker connection - it's like it just started to click. I am resolved, damnit, to post more frequently and commit to a editorial calendar and stick with it. I love when you tell me you love my blog. I want to keep this relationship going. Email me suggested topics or questions at aftonbaily(@)gmail.com. Seriously!

8. Consulting: 2013 was also a flagship year for my little consulting side gig, A Brand Strategy. With two satisfied clients and hopefully more to come I feel ready to share it with the rest of the world. Check out my company website here for a more detailed list of what I do. Essentially, I love helping small business get a handle on their PR/marketing strategy, training them, and then setting them free to do it on their own. It's a win-win for everyone. 

Christmas Gifts for Him: Thomas Pink, Hermes & Raybans Ya'll

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Christmas time is in full swing here in Houston, Texas even though it is going to be 60+ degrees (I don't hate that). Work is finally starting to slow down with everyone just about hitting their pre-holiday-need-a-break-burnout phase. The Notorious B-Rad-G and I are spending our first Christmas in Houston in our new house. No traveling for us. We will miss our families, but are so burned out on airports that a week of relaxing and -dare I say it- boredom sounds like a dream. We also got a PUPPY that will need lots of baby dog TLC (not to mention be let out every hour). That makes the Griffin house animals to humans count 2:1. 

We are pumped to wake up Christmas day and open presents, make a big breakfast and drink mimosas... I can't believe that is literally one week away. This year has flown by! Here's a sweet pic of our new girl, Patsy Cline (who needs to have kids when you can keep adopting animals? No, but really...):

Yes, those are my Merrells in the background. What? They are warm and comfortable.

Want one of these sweet puppies? We adopted ours via the LAB Rescue Network. A great non-profit based in Connecticut. 

Buying gifts for Brad is not too difficult and I know he is reading this so I will not go into what I got him exactly, but let's just say it is awesome and will totally surprise him. My family's love language is gifts so I have had to communicate with Brad my almost ridiculous expectations about what Christmas morn will bring. The list above is what  we  I asked my family to get for Brad. It is basically a compilation of things he needs and other things he needs. For example, this man cannot keep a pair of sunglasses around to save his life. Here's to hoping he makes it through January with this latest pair.

Quick shout out to my girl, Kate Doherty (KKG 2004), who is chasing the dream and going after her music career. Check out her EP with her band Stickers. Great voice. So ethereal.