essie summer 2011 Brazilliant

TGIF – Instant Vacation Flashback

Flashback Friday needs to take an instant vacation. I’m not sure about you but I could definitely go for a vacation right now.  With the long Memorial weekend coming up, planning summer vacations, outings and bbq’s I’m in a vacation mode today.  Well that and mark. just released this years Instant Vacation capsule collection!  Every year mark. releases a vacation-ready capsule collection themed around a killer vacation destination, this year being Buenos Aires.  Each piece of the collection is anchored around a fragrance and always themed out perfectly, and we know I’m a sucker for a good theme execution.  Since the mark. Buenos Aires Vibe collection is my Friday Favorite for today, let’s flashback to the last 4 Instant Vacation collections that read as as a summer travel bucket list!

Saint Barts

Saint Barts Soleil Collection

Saint Barts Soleil Collection

Looks from the mark. Sait Barts collection:

LOOK 1 / LOOK 2 / LOOK 3 / LOOK 4 / LOOK 5 / LOOK 6

Marrakesh  

mark. Marrakesh Collection

mark. Marrakesh Collection

Looks from the mark. Marrakesh collection:

LOOK 1 / LOOK 2 / LOOK 3 / LOOK 4

The Hamptons

mark. Hamptons Collection

mark. Hamptons Collection

Looks from the mark. Hampstons collection:

LOOK 1 / LOOk 2

Ibiza

mark. Ibiza Sol Collection

mark. Ibiza Sol Collection

The Ibiza collection has a special place in my heart.  It’s the exact campaign when I joined mark. in 2011, pre blog, so I don’t have any looks but it’s what introduced me to these Instant Vacation releases and I’ve been forever smitten and brings me 4 years later to the Buenos Aires Vibe collection!

mark. Buenos Aires Vibe Collection

mark. Buenos Aires Vibe Collection

“Destination:  Buenos Aires!  Cobblestone streets, neoclassical mansions, surly tango parlors… Welcome to South America’s chicest metropolis, where old world elegance meets contemporary cool.  Today’s biggest decision:  Explore the bohemian barrio of La Bocca?  Shop the posh boutiques of the aristocratic Recoleta neighborhood?  Or maybe just linger over a cortado at one of the city’s cafes, staring at the impeccably dressed locals, aka portenos?  Either way get ready for a night on the town, weber the clubs start thumping at 2am and you’ll dance till dawn.  This is Buenos Aires… let our fashion and fragrance take you there!”

Check back for my reviews and looks from this collection that will fit your summer vacation no matter where you go!  Here’s a few looks from the collection and Lucy Hale I’m totally loving!

buenosairesvibe shoppinginlaboca nightoutinpalermo Sightseeinginrecoleta

mark. Buenos Aires Vibe Looks

mark. Buenos Aires Vibe Looks

Are you ready to catch the vibe!?  What vacation destinations are you planning for the summer?  What looks are you loving from the mark. Buenos Aires Vibe collection?  You can shop these looks NOW at http://www.youravon.com/aliciahessinger 

 

Essie Color Coordination with Spring Pastels

Every once and a while I get it together and match.  Usually when I’m painting my nails I pick my mani look completely separate of my pedi look, but this week I was inspired by a spring color pallet for perfectly coordinating pastels!  I’ve been TOTALLY digging pastels this spring ESPECIALLY mint green!!!  (I’m dying for some mint pants and/or jean shorts).  I’ve been eyeing all the beautiful color pallets other ladies have been putting together, especially on Pinterest.  So when deciding on my mani/pedi colors I decided to go with a beautiful spring pastel pallet coordinating my fingers and toes and I liked it!

Spring Pastel Pallet all by Essie

Spring Pastel Pallet all by Essie

I decided to go with a mint green and a lilac accented with flakie.  For the mint green I choose Essie’s Absolutely Shore from the summer 2011 Brazilliant collection and my ultimate favorite pastel purple, Essie’s Nice is Nice from their spring 2011 French Affair collection.

Pastel Pallet Mani and Cross Your Fingers Ring

Pastel Pallet Mani and Cross Your Fingers Ring

For my mani I used the Absolutely Shore with an accent nail in the Nice is Nice with the flakie gradient in Essie’s Luxeffects in Shine Of The Times.  The ring is a new mark. release dropping 5/18 at my eBoutique.  I really liked the weathered gold and aztec appeal with my spring mani, extremely on trend 🙂

As a true accent nail was created for, the accent nail color is what I put on my toes!  Perfectly coordinated!  Then I topped it off with a single topcoat of the flakie Shine of the Times.  It was one pretty pallet perfectly coordinating on my digits!  It was really hard to show how killer the flakie looked over the pastel shade so here’s a bunch of more pics!

Close up of the accent nail and flakie gradient

Close up of the accent nail and flakie gradient

In the shade, see how it glimmers!?!

In the shade, see how it glimmers!?!

My perfectly coordinating Essie Nice is Nice pedi

My perfectly coordinating Essie Nice is Nice pedi

pedi sparkles too!
pedi sparkles too!

mark. Tall Order Sandals highlight a pedi

mark. Tall Order Sandals highlight a pedi

Ok my feet look weird and I felt weird taking pics of my feet but I have to share how much I LOVE this combination!  I look down and it just makes me happy and sunny with such a fun spring pallet!

And how much do you love those sandals!  They’re SO comfortable and go with everything.  The sturdy heel makes them so easy to walk in and wear all day.  I’m typically a 5 and these are a 6 and they are huge even with inserts, but that’s the problem I’m used to.  These sandals are only available in full sizes and run a little big so I say half sizes order down.  You can snag yourself a pair of the Tall Order Sandals for $38 at my eBoutique or through me (aliciah.mentorassistant at gmail dot com).  One of my FAVORITE mark. products fo sho!

So  how do you like the look?  Do your mani’s and pedi’s usually match?  Or ever do an accent nail that matches with your pedi (like its supposed to haha)?