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)

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: 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!

PFMs Do It Better: Dotted Mani How To

I've been inspired to try out a dotted manicure for a while now, and I'm loving the results! With this latest creation I got a bunch of compliments... on my nail polish strips (ha, my fault since I'm always wearing the Sally Hansens.) Suprise, surprise...it's nail polish! It's a tiny bit more work than I usually put into my manicures, but it was super easy and totally chic. Can't wait to try out more ideas in the future. 

Pick your color. Pale lilac is the color of the moment...just ask Lucky Magazine. I agree, but really I picked Zoya Nail Polish in Megan out of my collection knowing that it would be a subtle milky background for the white dots. Other recommendations? A cool mint or soft peach.

1. Prep your nails. Do your thang...file, shape, buff etc.

2. Apply base coat. Sally Hansen Salon Manicure base is my fave.

3. Apply two coats of your nail polish. Let dry completely.

4. Using a nail art pen, make your dots. It's that simple. This pen has a precise point that's easy to use. Hold your hand steady and start dotting! I began closest to the cuticle and worked back and forth with my dots until the tip of the nail. Let this dry completely.

5. Seal with a topcoat. I swear by Essie Good to Go, and I've tried plenty! My mani is still going strong after 4 days...only one nail is chipped (due to a fight with my desk drawer; I lost.)

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 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: 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?

PFMs Do It Better: Introduction

Image Link: Design Vertigo

MavenFresh is starting the new year off with a new adventure! PFMs Do It Better will feature a whole bunch of inspirational tips, documented projects, and style intel. What does that mean for you? Let's just say that you can expect to find various DIY tutorials (including free MavenFresh crochet patterns), get advice on fashion-beauty-design trends and how to recreate them, sneak a peek into our homes...and at our must-have products that we can't live without.

Stay tuned for the premiere, coming soon...!!!

Daily Outfit: A Jewel Tone Combo

 

Why do I find myself wanting to show more leg as the temperature drops down? Maybe because subconsciously I'm aware of that brief window we have in NY before it gets real cold and then tights will be totally out of the question (unless they are being worn under jeans for extra warmth!) So I'll just be rocking my cord shorts to death until that time comes.

One of my favorite winter fashion trends...making a statement in rich jewel tone hues. I love mixing different textures and saturated colors. If anything, dreary days will make the deep berry reds, bright mustard yellows, and bold emerald greens even more necessary. My shorts inspired me to work in other jewel tone pieces. Citrine tights...my collection just keeps growing!

Sophisticated jewel tones also made their way into nail trends...check out this DIY that combines three rich colors of polish and one metallic polish to create a unique look for any holiday party.

PS Can't stop wearing these ankle boots. I just love 'em. And like Sesheta said, outdoor photo shoots rule.

(Wide-Wale Roll-Ups- Anthropologie, Tucker Blouse- Target, Hue Tights- Anthropologie, Silk Blazer- J. Crew, Mixed Olive Elliptical Earrings- MavenFresh, High-Heel Ankle Boots- Zara)