Mani Pedi: Sally Hansen + Prabal Gurung = Fabulousness

okay, so i'm a little late on the bandwagon but this recent sweet find from Sally Hansen Salon Effects is still right on time!  while perusing my local pharmacy, i found this pattern, Sweet Marble Floret on clearance.  that's right!  i snatched it up for $4.95.  i was drawn by the tie-dye inspired print as well as the combination of silver, purple, lilacs and pink.  

photo credits

it wasn't until this post that i realized that this pattern was a collaboration between designer Prabal Gurung and Sally Hansen!  i found out because i didn't know the name and thanks to Google, i found out the whole story.  it was apparently one of two patterns, inspired by Prabal Gurung's spring 2012 collection.  according to Vogue.com, the designer has been collaborating with Sally Hansen for a while but this was the first time that patterns were actually a mini version of patterns from his line.  how cool!!  that's why i LOVE clearance sections!! you never know what you will find... not to mention what you will learn!  xo Sesheta

p.s. Happy Weekend!!!

Mani Pedi - Color Club Lava Lamp

i don't think i've had a pedi pic all summer!  i definitely haven't been hiding my toes but the right opportunity hadn't presented itself.  i am trying to get my last hurrah in before the summer comes to an end and it's time to cover the toes again.  what better way to celebrate the warmth than with a neon orange!  Color Club's Lava Lamp is just what the doctor ordered - especially since the weather in NY has been on the cooler side.  while i don't mind the break from humidity, i did miss beach-worthy weather this weekend.  there aren't that many beach weekends left so i hope that the sun gets some inspiration from my nails and brings back some heat! (i hope i don't regret saying that!!). xo sesheta

Mani Pedi: Dipped Tips and New Tricks

Nothing wrong with adding a little sparkle to the tips of your nails...Sesheta's doing it and I am too! It will extend the life of your mani and get you compliments galore at the same time. Or check out this Chanel-inspired manicure which is like the inverted version of ours with a hint of metallic silver outlining the nail bed. Love, and can't wait to try it out! xoxo Becca

(Essie Chubby Cheeks with Sally Hansen Gem Crush Nail Color - Big Money)

Mani Pedi via Instagram: Vanilla ice Cream with Sprinkles

i have to admit it... i almost bailed on posting today.  sometimes blogging about your life or what you are doing can be challenging.  i am trying to learn that i have to fight through the urge to just throw my hands up and say forget it.  instead, i am learning to use this as a platform to express what i am feeling/thinking - no matter what the feeling.  even more so because, believe it or not, i am actually a private person.  i also believe in just living life.  in an age when everything is documented (literally),  it can be hard to be a free flowing spirit.  i find myself thinking in terms of what i can post or tweet or snap a pic for my documented life.  sometimes, i'm all for it.  other days, i got nothing lol.  that doesn't even account for the fact that you may not even care. ...that's a whole other ball game lol.

i guess your wondering what this has to do with my topic for today lol.  i guess it doesn't but i love this pic nonetheless.  besides being my current mani, it rocks for a couple reasons: 1) it is from one of our posts on instagram (follow us @mavenfresh), 2) this nail polish is green beauty product (yay) and 3) it's got glitter!  what more do you need??! 

here's to just living life.  hope you have a great day! i sure plan to! xo sesheta

Mani Pedi: 50 Shades of Color

This mani-pedi combo may be a little much for some ladies, but I'm always up for trying something new. A recent collaborator with the Sally Hansen line is Avril Lavigne...let me just say, she's done good! I love her Purr-fect Harmony leopard print in gradual shades of the rainbow. They have a rock 'n roll vibe while still being bright and colorful. As usual, the nail stickers lasted almost two weeks. Your manicure doesn't always have to match your pedicure...in fact, I'm a firm believer that they should not be exactly the same. My toes were a happy accident...a day after getting them done, I stubbed my big toe and the polish chipped right off. What's a girl to do? Just grab your favorite bottle of glitter polish and paint both big toes! There just happened to be flecks of soft plum in the glitter that picked up the Essie pedicure color perfectly.


 My inner goddess was purrrrring over this mani-pedi. Just kidding (kind of.)


(Mani- Sally Hansen Salon Effects Purr-Fect Harmony, Pedi- OPI Nicole in Rainbow in the S-Kylie & Essie Play Date , Skirt-Anthropologie, Sandals- Matt Bernson)

Mani Pedi: Purplishious Sparkle

my #nailswag continues with this fun color combo.  if you didn't know, purple is actually my official favorite color.  it would make perfect sense that i have nail polishes in just about any shade of purple you could imagine.  for this mani, i only used three different shades - Essie Lilacism (index finger), Color Club Disco Dress (middle finger) and Color Club Pucci licious and used OPI Nicole Rainbow in S-Kylie as my accent.  since i don't have the time and patience to do super fancy designs, this was a cool and easy way to have color fun.  luv it!!!!  i will definitely do this combo again and even try it out with other colors too! 

PFMs Do It Better: DIY Dipped in Gold Mani

we have been having tons of fun changing up and experimenting with our manis recently.  after going to my cousin's baby shower, i got to see my other "little" cousin's (she's not really little; she towers over me lol) nails.  she is a budding manicurist but the kind that will do over-the-top designs on each nail.  well, i'm not that fancy nor do have the time it requires to do the job but i have been inspired.  below you will find my easy solution to amping up "plain" nail color (yes, even one shade on your nails is plain nowadays) without sacrificing tons of time.  of course, you can use any nail color you'd like but here's what you'll need to make it look like mine

What you will need: 

Base coat of your choice (i use Sally Hansen Hard as Nails)

Top Coat of your choice (i like Essie Chip Free Topcoat)

Nail Color - i chose Color Club Twiggie

Sparkle polish - like this Milani Gold

Time you will need: Approx. 30-35 min

1. Apply your base coat. Wait 5 min.
2. Apply first coat of your color or,  in this case, Twiggie. Wait 5 min.
3. Apply your second coat of color and wait another 5 min.
4. At the tips of your nails, apply the sparkle polish at the tips of your nails.  Apply so that the glitter is even and covers about a third of your nail. Wait 10 minutes to be sure it's dry.
5. Apply your top coat. Wait 5-10 min.

that's it!  just like that you have some fun nails!!  i can't wait to try this with other colors and with different color glitter polish!  happy mani and happy friday! xo

Mani Pedi: Rainbow In The S-Kylie

Is it normal to have this much fun painting your nails? 

With one coat: ooh look at all the colors...so sparkly. Must add another layer .

After two coats: I love the varying sizes of glitter...it's like shimmery confetti. Now my nails look more opaque. Uh-oh I want more.

Yep...three coats: I am in control of this chunky glitter addiction. Really I am. 

Finished (stopped myself) with a coat of clear. Whew, that was intense.

I actually purchased this bottle of nail polish based on looks alone; it was "want-at-first-sight" without even noticing that it was a part of the popular Kardashian line for Nicole by OPI. My nails were looking so hot that I found myself browsing through the collection again today just to see what other options are out there. But no other shade drew me in like this one did!

PS Can't wait to put the "pedi" back into our Mani Pedi posts!

Mani Pedi: Essie Mesmerize

i'm in a blue kinda mood and this cobalt color polish is right on point!  i have had such a fun time wearing it again.  though i bought ages ago, it has been a while since i put it on.  this Essie color is from an older polish trend but it is still current and vibrantly fresh.  


though i love the shade of blue as is, i am still pining for a blue that has a bit more purple in it.  if you know of one, please do share!!  the other color i'm searching for is a neon red -like infrared.  i've seen this on someone and it looks so cool!  if you spot this color anywhere, let me know too! :)  even though we wear bright colors all year round, there's something about combining bright nails and sunshine that makes me happy.  maybe it's because i start thinking about the beach and tanning. ...and that makes me REALLY happy!!

Mani Pedi: Color Club Warhol

it's been quite a while since i've posted a mani pedi post.  honestly, maybe due to lack of time, energy or plain state of mind, i haven't had the desire to do my nails.  that means i was rocking the original nude color - naked lol.   just like anything, it's good to take a break and allow for time for healing.  i let my nails breathe for two-three weeks without any color (not my toes though, no color on my toes makes me sad lol).  ...and i was happy with that.  now i'm back in the game with this eye-popping shade of pink. ... or is it red?  this polish from Color Club's Neon collection, called Warhol, is what i'd call neon raspberry - so a little bit pink and a little bit red.  though bright colors are hard to maintain on the nails, they are sooo fun!!!  it's the perfect way to bring in the warm weather!!  YAYY!! :)

(Maci Dress - Ashaka Givens, Denim Jacket - Hollister Co., Crystal Twosome ring - Erica Anenberg, Cowrie Cuff - MavenFresh)

Mani Pedi: Coral is Calling

I'm riding the Coral Color trend to the ends of the earth...or at least the end of the summer. Not only do I have a fresh and bright coral mani this week, I wanted to include a little outfit teaser with a peek at my latest bag addition. It's the Botkier Leon Satchel in Persimmon; the perfect pinky-coral, orangey-red color. I had a bright accessory void that needed to be filled, and this is exceeding my expectations. I love that a bag can be an instant pick-me-up to any outfit! 

Now let's chat nails. Sometimes when you can't find the exact nail color you want, all you have to do is mix 2 together and poof- you have it! This formula is Essie Peach Daiquiri (one coat) + Essie Risky Business (2 coats) = Coral is Calling (my own creation.) Enjoy!

Mani Pedi: Sally Hansen Queen of the Jungle

You can never have enough animal print in your life. At least, the PFMs can't. Whether it's your denim, your blouse, or your nails, we have a thing for it. Makes sense that I was immediately hooked on this Sally Hansen Salon Effects pattern, Queen of the Jungle. So I'm singing the praises of a classic brown-white giraffe print mani that's easy to wear. The compliments kept coming...but mostly in the form of "oooh I really love your crackle polish!" 

Ha ha. Sure I'll take it- I love the crackle look too! Have you tried an animal-print mani yet? What's your fave?

Mani Pedi: Bumble Bee?

i am totally into the trend of two (or more) different shades of polish in one mani.  i have been playing with two color combos for a while now and when i got the inspiration for bright yellow nails courtesy of China Glaze Happy Go Lucky, i thought that combining it with my new Essie Devil's Advocate would be perfect.  if you didn't know, Devil's Advocate is a really deep, deep purple.  i thought that it was a vamp-y dark red but it is even more  vamp-y than that! it is so dark that it looked black!  hence, the name bumble bee...though the combo was unintentional, it totally worked.  hey, it may have even been a sign that spring temps were right around the corner! :) yay!!

Mani Pedi: With Sprinkles On Top

 Look- no Sally Hansen Salon Effects! Haha you know by now that we're devoted to them, but even a dedicated fan has to switch it up once in a while. 

I was immediately loving Essie's Go Overboard  so it was only a matter of time before I bought a bottle for a bit of at-home experimentation. It really is what they say..."a limitless sea blue" with a hint of deep peacock; perfect to satisfy my color craving as we enter into Spring. After waiting for my nails to dry completely with two coats of Go Overboard, I wanted to add some nail jewelry. Sally Hansen Snappy Sprinkles did the trick. It has a clear base with tiny flakes of pink, green, gold, and blue iridescent glitter. Applied only to my ring fingers, it was super easy to get a nonchalant helping of glitter. The polish can be moved around if needed although one coat dries pretty quickly. The lovely blue base color brought out the variations in the glitter more attractively than I imagined. Add a clear topcoat, and you're good to go. Cheers to a simple twist on a basic mani!

Mani Pedi: Sally Hansen Animal Instinct

i am loving my latest mani!  it's another fun pattern from Sally Hansen Salon Effects - Animal Instinct.  it is reminiscent of one of my fave patterns Wild Child but a bit more punk. it is right in line with the animal print trend.  the glittery deep pink background of the zebra pattern is totally fun!

have you noticed??  since Becca and i started our love affair with Sally Hansen Salon Effects, they can now be seen on the hands of tons of fashionistas!  there are also tons of other brands that are venturing into the nail sticker market, like Sephora, for example.  Becca and i have to venture out and try some!! 

Mani Pedi: Sally Hansen Lust-rous

Ladies, I think this is my current fave...Sally Hansen Salon Effects in Lust-rous. The black background was a perfect complement to the bold colors that I'm into (note my electric blue jeans.) And the silver 'n gold sparkles are just so whimsical. Are they chunks of glitter? Are they nail polish dots? All I know is- they shimmered in the light and I was wishing this mani lasted longer than 8 days!

Mani Pedi: Sally Hansen Brattlesnake

i just love how the camera picked up the bling of my ring!!

ok, so we have been using and raving about Sally Hansen Salon Effects for a while now.  having tried quite a few of them and i think i have officially found my faves.  it is this newer pattern called "Brattlesnake".  i grabbed it around the holidays and haven't been ready to try them till now.  they are perfect for the animal print trend and, surprisingly, they are the greatest neutral.  i have to admit, at first i wasn't sure.  i though they may have blended too well with my skin color.  i thought that the pattern didn't pop enough.  i guess i was worried that they were too "tame"  lol, if you can call a snakeskin print tame...  after a few days of wear, i was officially hooked!  the only issue now is finding this pattern again...  wish me luck!!

Mani Pedi: Sally Hansen Wishnets

Yep I'm still on the Sally Hansen Salon Effects bandwagon, and I wanted to show off this mani from a couple of weeks ago... it was an unusually inexpensive find. Why? Because these little pretties were released for Halloween and considered limited edition. I did a double take...I was already a big fan of the popular Misbehaved design, and these are a more festive version (see how I wore them here.) I didn't get any "spooky" vibes off them even after wearing them for a week. So- if you can find them on sale like I did ($3.99 at Duane Reade) lucky you, and enjoy! Wishnets are a poppy red with a black fishnet overlay; perfect for a bright pop of color on your nails. And the long-lasting results of the Salon Effects strips keeps me coming back for more.

P.S. Mondays can be flat-out difficult. Sometimes a little motivation and inspiration is all it takes to push you on through...if you haven't read Sesheta's post- do it. Hope it does the same for you as it did for me!

Mani Pedi: Essie Going Incognito

when i saw this color on my cousin, i thought to myself, "if it looks good on her, maybe it will look good on me!"  well, i'm so glad my little cuz gave me inspiration because it was definitely a new adventure wearing Essie's Going Incognito.  i felt like i should be out on a safari or hiding in the forest somewhere lol.  i never thought that i would enjoy this shade of green on my nails but i did!  it is the perfect shade between forest and army green.   it is a funky take on a neutral.  i was also surprised at how well it complimented many of my outfits.  the verdict?  i will totally wear this shade again!! 

Mani Pedi: OPI The It Color

I'm that girl who loves searching for the "it" pair of jeans or the "it" leather jacket, so it only seems natural that the same effort should be put into finding the "it" nail color. Much like my fellow "it" girl Sesheta, I have a thing for bold nail color... and when she gifted me with this amazing nail polish, I couldn't wait to put it on! The rich yellow is so fabulous...think mustard but brighter, and with a touch of gold. Some might say it's a little much for every day wear, but for me it's so perfect. It feels high fashion and mod, just what I need to brighten up my winter days. I only wish it lasted longer, but isn't that what we all demand from our nail polish? Let's make it happen ladies! What are your tried and true tips and products for making your manicures last longer?