essie

Cheers to 2018!

It’s officially the first mani Monday of 2018! Cheers! My New Years Eve mani was def last minute, but still festive to ring in the new year!

Holo Polish for NYE

I wore two holo polishes this New Years, a silver one from Zoya and a black one from Julep. For a little confetti I added an Essie Luxe Effect topcoat on my middle and added some nail gems on my ring. Quick, easy and festive!

New Year Mani

Here’s to all the mani’s I loved in 2017 and all the ones to come in 2018! Cheers!

Nailed It! Happy Easter With Easter Egg Nails!

Nailed It! Happy Easter with Easter Egg Nails!

Happy Easter everyone! I hope the Easter Bunny didn’t hide your basket too hard 😉 I’m celebrating today with family, friends and food… and these super cute Easter egg nails!

Nailed It! Happy Easter with Easter Egg Nails!

I paired my favorite peach polish, Essie A Crewed Interest, with these clear Jamberry Paint Me Pastel wraps. I’ve tried this Easter egg look many of years with hand painted nail art and it’s been a fail each time. That’s why I love Jamberry, perfect nail art each time, and quickly!

Jamberry Paint Me Pastel Over Essie A Crewed Interest

You can shop Jamberry here and Essie at your favorite beauty or drug store.

Easter Vibes

Hoppy Easter!

Mani Monday Inspo: Golden Globes Edition

I actually caught the Golden Globes last night and not just the red carpet recap the next day. It was super entertaining with Jimmy Falon hosting and of course even more entertaining with all the fun fashion! Such a glam evening is transferring to my not-so-glam Monday by inspiring my mani. It’s time to take off my NYE jam’s (see here) but what to replace it with?

Kristen Bell Inspo: Black Holo with Julep Ebony (last seen here)

Julep Ebony

Priyanka Chopra Inspo: Gold with mark. Nailed It Gift Set (gold shade – last seen here)

mark. Nailed It Gift Set

Emma Stone Inspo: Light Pink with Stars with Essie Fiji and stamping with mark. Nailed It Gift Set (silver shade) (last seen here)

Essie Fiji

All The Sequins and Metallics Inspo: with Essie Penny Talk (last seen here)

Essie Penny Talk

Janelle Monae Inspo: Pearly white with Avon Creme Brûlée (last seen here)

Avon Gel Finish in Creme Brûlée

What’s your vote!? What mani should I do next? What topped your favorites list from last night’s Golden Globes?

(pics via pinterest)

Mani Monday: Nude Blue and Leopard Top Pinned Recreate

So lately this pin has been receiving so many re-pinnes. Before that it was this cheesecake recipe I’ve yet to make it, but looks easy and delicious… I digress, back to the mani. Because it was getting so much pinterest love I decided to recreate it.

Recreating Most PInned Mani

For my recreate I did it a little differently but kept the nude, blue and spot design. I recently got this Avon Gel Finish Polish in Barely There, a darker nude shade and been wanting to use it so figured this was the time! I applied 2 coats over the Avon Ridge Filling Basecoat on every finger except my ring where I used Essie Borrowed and Blue (last seen here). I then used a gold glitter on my middle and a leopard jamberry wrap on my pointer. The wrap is called Spot On, which is just a leopard print on a clear base.

In Full Sun: Nude, Blue and Leopard Mani

Jamberry Wrap Spot On on Pointer

All together my recreation has the same color scheme and overall design as the pin but with a little different twist with the glitter and clear based Jamberry wrap. I love the whole look and feel for spring and I can see thing working really well in the fall too coming off of summer brights.

Featuring Essie Borrowed and Blue and Julep Tazeen (glitter)

Can I comment on how awesome the Avon Gel Finish polishes are! They are so perfectly self leveling, shine and wear great without a top coat and last! Right now these polishes are any 2 for $8.99. You can shop the gel finish polishes and the ridge filling base coat at my eBoutique. You can shop Jamberry here.

Avon Gel Finish in Barely There

Mani Monday: Shall We Chalet and Golden Globes Faves

Mani Monday: Essie Shall We Chalet

My first mani of 2016… fully 2016 since this guy I technically did 12/31/2015. Because I’m not good at moving on from Christmas I was still feeling red but I wanted something simple and shiny and clean for the new year. Enter in Essie Shall We Chalet. The prettiest slightly deep red, with a perfect creme finish with shine. Shall We Chalet is from the Essie Winter Collection Apres Chic and because I’m on this Apres Ski trend (see here) I think it fits perfectly for my mood lately and my favorite outfit on heavy rotation as of late (see here).

From Essie Apres Chic Collection: Shall We Chalet

After last night’s glam at the Golden Globes and my glam red nails I decided I needed to glam it up today for a regular girl Monday with a red lip and sparkle! (mark. Lip Click in Siren and old mark. necklace). In addition here are my fav glam moments from the Golden Globes:

Monday Glam With mark. LipClick in Siren

Juliane Moore (blue + sequins+ long sleeves + cutouts!)

Katy Perry’s 60’s Vibe (eh on the color of the dress but the look as a whole)

J.Lo (all of IT! the dress, the shoes the NAILS!)

Amy Adams (makes me dream of summer and that fit is spot on)

Olivia Wilde (a monochromatic wonder in my fav winter shade)

Taraji P. Henson (white + those earrings + that bag)

Emmy Rossum’s Necklace

What were your favorite moments from the Golden Globes fashion or non fashion!?!

Mani Monday: Essie Virgin Snow Winter Collection 2015

Essie Virgin Snow Winter 2015 Mini Set

November is always a switch here in Nor Cal. Come November 1st it finally feels like fall, the leaves start to change and sweater weather creeps in. With the new month, new season it’s time to countdown to the holidays! It’s time to switch out my mani and I couldn’t be more excited to do so with Essie. For winter Essie released their Virgin Snow collection, 6 shades that capture winter perfectly in my opinion. 2 reds, a pale pink, pale purple, a shimmering silver and a dark lit within purple shimmer. I personally love picking up the mini collection which this year included Haute Tub, Apres-Chic, Virgin Snow (the namesake) and Shall We Chalet leaving out Altitude Attitude (bright pink red) and Peak Snow (pale pink).

Essie Virgin Snow Winter Collection 2015

Apres Chic

Haute Tub

Shall We Chalet

Virgin Snow (the namesake)

I think this collection as a whole could not only be worn year round but all the shades you really need to get you through the fun holiday season. Lately I’ve been inspired by fresh shades you’d see on the first day of snow and the feelings of apres-ski so this collection really had me smitten. There is nothing outrageously unique about these colors but as a whole they play so well together and will compliment all the fall and winter fashion I’ll be wearing the rest of 2015.

Mixed Mani With Essie Virgin Snow Collection and mark. Shine Of The Times Ring

New Mani Monday FAVES!

Mani Monday: Jamberry Sweet Nothing

mark. Let Your Finger Do The Talking With Jamberry Sweet Nothing Nail Wrap Mixed Mani

Happy Columbus Day! Need something to do on your random day off? Do your nails! I love random Monday’s off for a little self improvement, preferably while watching daytime TV! Even if you don’t have today off (like me :/) then just chalk it up to being a typical mani Monday and DVR Kelly and Michael and The Price Is Right to watch while doing your nails.

Mani Monday With Jamberry Sweet Nothing

Today’s mani Monday is a new one for me… Jamberry. As popular as these nail wraps have been and as much of a nail girl as I am, I have yet to try Jamberry. My bestie Krista is hosting a party so her killer Jamberry Rep Jen sent a sample to us interested ladies for a 7 day challenge to see how Jamberry wraps hold up. I have to say, I’m impressed.

Jamberry Sweet Nothing, OPI Mourning Glory and Essie A Cut Above

I selected Jamberry Sweet Nothing as my design. Because the sample was a little big for my nail size I put them on the best fitting option my pointer. The floral design with a black background is a great fall floral design. I had a fun weekend planned so I wanted a fun mani to go with it, so I decided to accompany the floral design with just a basic shiny black polish (OPI Mourning Glory) and some mauve pink glitter on my middle (Essie A Cut Above). I loved the look with just the basic black but the glitter stepped it up and made this a fall mani I’m loving!

Dark Floral Mani For Fall

Word Of Alicia Review: Immediately I could tell that these were higher quality than nail wraps I’ve used in the past. I thought they were easy to apply but the key is heating them up first. I watched the tutorial on how to apply them and used my little desk side heater as my heat source. Besides some edge peeling and some mega filing (and more filing throughout the week) these puppies stayed put way better than any I’ve tried. I would definitely get them again… in fact I’m definitely getting these foxes for Thanksgiving!

mark. Let Your Finger Do The Talking Ring

I also am digging all the unique designs and how each design has it’s own hashtag so you can search how it looks in real life (IRL). That makes an online shopper super happy! You

see here that the design I used looks just as great on everyone else too, I LOVE it paired with stripes!

Avon Above The Fringe Necklace Set (earrings not shown but super cute!)

If you’re interested in trying out some Jamberry shop Krista’s Creative Jamberry Party here! Be sure to select Krista’s party and take advantage of the buy 3 get one free promotion going on now! You can shop my ring and necklace set at http://www.youravon.com/aliciahessinger

Pretty Little Things For Fall

Editors Note: for whatever reason this post didn’t post on Monday so day late and a dollar short… deal with it.

Summer Camp Nails

July has been a busy month for me between warm summer nights and weekend getaways, summer and summer vacation mindset have been in full swing! Busy month also means neglected nails. Sorry digits. I went camping the other weekend and I knew I was gong to feel super dirty and super un-polished so I knew I needed to polish those nails with a good mani to have at least that.

Essie’s A Crewed Interest and Julep Chevron Decals

We went camping up at Bullards Bar in Dobbins, CA. Which you might remember from this post when we spent our summer vacation there on a house boat. During that trip I wore this mani/pedi combo so I thought let’s wear that same peach! Only this time with aqua chevron decals from my last Julep maven box!

Peach & Aqua Chevron Nails and Camping Uggs

Obviously my nails got dirty after a weekend in the dirt and now showers… did I mention how much I HATE not showering. A lighter shade (Essie’s A Crewed Interest) helped mask the dirt, however the chevron decals not so much. Overall I LOVED this look for summer and even more for summer camping! Next time I wouldn’t try to apply the decals while being sleep deprived, things end up a little wonky haha. If you’re going camping or to a summer camp recreate this mani and have a great time! Use code SUMMER here for a FREE Julep maven box!

Essie’s A Crewed Interest and Julep Chevron Decals

The California drought definitely gave us a completely different experience this time visiting Bullards Bar but as always those waters were stunning! Overall Bullards Bar is a much better lake for boating and jet ski’s. If you have that, GO, but just for regular camping there are so many other great options in Nor Cal.

Bullards Bar Dobbins, CA

The Perfect Summer Camp Mani

Nailed It: Lilly Pulitzer for Target Essie First Timer

Lilly Pulitzer for Target Essie First Timer

I can’t stop. Something about this Lilly for Target that just has me obsessing! Especially in the Essie collaboration on the coordinating nail colors. You already know I’m head over heels for Borrowed and Blue (as seen here) but I’m totally smitten for Essie First Timer too! Now this shade I already owned from when it was originally released for resort 2013. Since I’m obsessing over this Lilly for Target line I figured it was time to pull out First Timer.

Lilly For Target Upstream Print Pairs Perfectly With Essie First Timer

What I love about this shade is that it’s bright but not too bright, green but not too green and creamy oh so creamy! It has a great aqua tone to it so the green isn’t to green. I forgot how much I loved this shade! It’s just the pop of color I needed! I love it just clean on the nail, no need for nail art or an accent nail (not that Essie Gold Nuggets from the Lilly Pulitzer for Target collab wouldn’t look GREAT as an accent nail).

Target Style Finds for Memorial Day

Lucky for me I scored this Lilly For Target Upstream Jumper in my size as a return! I love the navy and white print paired with Essie First Timer. I also found this super cute paper fedora in the dollar bins (only it was $3). I think I have the perfect Memorial Day outfit with these 3 together! Thanks #targetstyle

Essie Polish for Lilly For Target

Did you pick up any of the Lilly For Target Essie Collaboration Shades? I’ll say it again these shades are all you need for your spring and summer mani/pedi needs. I just can’t get over how smitten I am with this Lilly for Target collection. I totally should be pleased with what I got but I can’t stop. I’m just throwing this out there… I’m totally ISO’ing for the plazzo pants (boom boom, my fans or fan dance!) and maybe the Upstream Pom Pom Shorts and maybe the Boom Boom Satin dress aaaaaand that super cute lemon juicer and stir sticks. My gosh I can’t stop!

Nailed It: Essie Lilly For Target Borrowed and Blue

Essie Polish for Lilly For Target

Mani Monday just got a little preppier! If you’ve been living under a rock Lilly Pulitzer’s capsule collection for Target not only sold out in minutes, was extremely cute for even the non-Lilly, and included a special release from Essie in 9 perfectly preppy shades! These are all existing Essie shades but picked to coordinate with the Lilly For Target prints and styles. Lilly is known for her preppy following and happy prints and I think Essie NAILED IT with their collection release. The full collection pictured above from left to right: Baby’s Breath, Gold Nuggets, Forget Me Knots, Capri, First Timer, Pansy, Mesmerized, Borrowed & Blue, and Where’s My Chauffeur.

Lilly For Target Beauty

I didn’t participate in the Pink Sunday Hunger Games, but I did show up the next day on my way to work and was pretty pleased in what they still had left in beauty. After seeing this pale blue shade, Borrowed & Blue, in the sneak peeks it was THE item I was hunting for. When I found it and the coordinating headband, bobby pins and nail file in the “My Fans” print I got pretty excited.

Essie Borrowed and Blue from Lilly For Target Collection

Ready For A Summer in Lilly with Essie Borrowed & Blue

Essie Borrowed & Blue is the perfect pale blue pastel. It has just the right amount of white to not make it look too gawdy on (you know me and blue/green nails). Application was also a dream! It wasn’t too thick and it self leveled perfectly.

Essie Borrowed and Blue Swatch from Lilly for Target

A little note, I totally rushed this mani (I was so excited!) and put on way too much quick dry top coat and my cuticles are bad, like really bad. Don’t let that sway you, this color is perfect! And even with the slight chipping from the massive amount of top coat it still lasted a week!

“Palm Beach Is A State of Mind”

Mani Monday in Essie Borrowed and Blue

Another note, these pictures were taken as the storm was rolling in, so super grey and cloudy day. I tried to boost the exposure to see them a little better but it was so hard to capture the true color. Just believe me when I say this is a true robin egg blue! Here’s a little out of focused shot to see the great shine this polish has.

And shiny too!

If you weren’t able to get your manicured mitts on any of the Essie polish, don’t worry because these are past shades from Essie, so they’ll pop up. Maybe not with the tag (but who cares you throw that away anyways), but don’t pay the outrageous price on ebay, just be patient. I know this shade is going to be in heavy rotation on my fingers this summer in Lilly!

Essie Borrowed & Blue for Lilly Pulitzer for Target

word of alicia

word yo.