PFM Obsession: Black and White

i am usually anything but black and white; i live in the shading between these colors. ...but, recently, i can't seem to get enough of the black and white trend that's popping up everywhere!  whether it's houndstooth or a tribal pattern, i'm on it.  color blocking with black and white can be a great way to tone down brights.  bringing in a solid, bright color is also a perfect way to accent a black and white patterned item. ...or brighten up black and white with colored accessories like a bright shoe and/or bag (and even nails, like i did above).  the possibilities are endless!! 

i'm looking forward to working this color combo into the rest of my summer days and well into the fall! xo sesheta

(Check It Out Nails Strips - Sally Hansen Salon Effects, Blue Boyfriend Jeans - Forever 21, Black/White Tribal leggings - American Apparel, Sandals - Dolce Vita, Neon Yell-oh - Color Club (on toes))

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 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: 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?

Mani Pedi: Essie Midnight Cami

like i mentioned before, i have actually been changing the colors of my nails to reflect the season.  i can be seen rocking muted colors (how unlike me!!) but, never fear, this will only be for a short while.  my fascination with a color can shift like the direction of the wind lol. 

 this week, i was definitely feeling the vamp-y color Midnight Cami from Essie.  i really do love the contrast of this deep navy as compared to my pale winter complexion ( geesh, maybe i need to start hangin with the Jersey shore crew lol).  while i love dark colors, the satisfaction fades as soon as it starts to chip.  literally the next day after snapping these pics, my nails started chipping away!! but you know me. i'm already onto the next color!

Mani Pedi - Color Club Disco Dress

have i stated before how much fun nail polish is?? i don't even get as crazy with my nail designs as i could, but just seeing a simple pop of color on my nails can brighten the day.  i have taken a break recently from my usual Sally Hansen strips to have fun with all my "regular" nail color collection.  

this week, i went from a nude/mauve purple to this bright purple from Color Club.  it's called Disco Dress... quite fitting i think!  i've had this on my toes for a while and decided to use the same color for my hands.  i enjoy that the deep intensity of the shade is a little bit punk and a little bit goth.  i guess now that the cold weather in NY has really arrived, it's inspiring me to gravitate toward the darker shades (on my nails that is lol).  my only issue with it is, like all polish, it doesn't stay perfect for long :(  sadly, if you look closely, you can see that it's already chipping.  booo!  with all the amazing ground covered in science, why haven't they solved this issue yet??!! lol ahh well, it just has me thinking about what color i'll choose to use next!

PFM Mani Pedi: Merino Cool

although we have been loyal supporters of the Sally Hansen Nail Strips, sometimes it's time to get back to the tried and true colors.  i have an extensive collection of polish and colors and sometimes choosing what color i want to wear next can be difficult.  other times, i get inspiration and i know exactly what color to put on.  


this is the first time i am wearing this color.  it's Essie's Merino Cool.  i was drawn to the cool purple vibe; it is such a fine line between purple a d gray.  when looking at it, i can't help but think of the color the sky can be at times - especially at this time of year.  you can't go wrong with this shade!  the purple is a nice deviation from nude so you can be classic with a twist.  i'll definitely be wearing this again soon!


(Two finger ring - Erica Anenberg, Cowrie cuff - MavenFresh (custom))

Daily Outfit: The Trapeze Dress Goes Mod

Sixties fashion belonged to London, England. And now it's coming back in a big way...have you noticed all the braids, thigh-highs, floppy hats, and geometric patterns that are in the recent trend reports? Who better to lead the way in the Mod fashion trend than British designer Orla Kiely; this dress from one of her previous collections is still such a favorite of mine. Color plays a big role in defining the Mod look, and bright bold patterns are key. Layering my royal purple swing coat on top seemed like the perfect addition! I love that this trapeze dress can be worn loosely or belted for a more waist-defining look. The rest of the details just came together. I was channeling the 60's with braided hair, feather earrings, and bright orange-red lipstick to pop with my dress...but it was too cold for thigh-highs! The final accents were my fab mod inspired ankle boots from Zara (on sale). It's a Mod World!

Oh...yeah...I did up my nails in a houndstooth pattern, black and white seems to work with everything. Check It Out here (pun intended!)

(Orla Kiely Trapeze Dress- Sample Sale, MP Cotton Tights- eBay, High Heel Ankle Boots- Zara, Coat- J.Crew, Feather Fancy Earrings- MavenFresh, Lips- Urban Decay Super Saturated High Gloss Lip Color in Punch Drunk)

PFM Mani Pedi- Skinny Jeans

The name may have sold me on these before anything else... ahhhh Skinny Jeans. Back in May I jumped on the Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips bandwagon. Without sounding too much like a commercial, let me just give you some reasons to try them: they stay on for like 10 days- 2 weeks...yay! They are easy to apply and don't have a smell like nail polish does. And you will get tons of compliments on them because of the fun patterns and colors they come in. This is all purely my personal opinion.

I thought the navy blue denim pattern would be a nice way to slowly transition into fall. Best part is that when they start to chip it's barely noticeable! I love the look of a patterned mani and solid pedi. My jewel-tone violet toes that you can barely see are Essie Big Spender. I will leave you with a tip- don't subject the nail strips package to extreme heat before applying (i.e. leaving them in your car on a 90 degree day). They will loose their stickiness.