There are very few girls out there who don’t like to feel pampered occasionally. Whether it’s getting highlights at a fancy salon or doing an at-home pedicure, we all deserve a chance to feel beautiful. What I’m unsure about is whether to choose the DIY route for my facial/hair treatment/manicure or leave it to the professionals.

Help, I’m torn!

Love it: It’s rainy days like today that all I want is a good DIY pedicure. Why would I venture out of the apartment into inclement weather just to pay someone $20 to paint my toes? I have all of the tools (nail polish, lotion, exfoliant and a nail file), so why not do it myself? Plus, while I’m at it, I could scour the Internet for some other great DIY treatments, like this brown sugar scrub to soothe my skin. Between my fridge and pantry, I probably have all of the necessary ingredients. Plus, with the money I save, I can buy a new pair of shoes!

Loathe it: I’ve had my share of DIY beauty flops, mostly involving hair dye. (Including splashes, splatters and squirts of the stuff that are still stained on my walls and ceiling.) And you know what, after I screw up at home, I wind up having to go to the salon anyway just to fix the damage. If you’re going to have to pay for professional beauty treatments anyway, why not start out in the salon and not risk permanent damage to hair/skin/nails?

And when it comes to creating your own face masks/shampoos/etc, why the heck would you EVER want to rub a raw egg anywhere on your body? Or mayo. Just the thought of squeezing that burger topping in my hair makes me want to vomit. As does the thought of having to clean everything up when I’m done. That’s not relaxing. That’s not being pampered. And now that most salons are offering natural-based treatments, I don’t have to scramble an omelet on my face to avoid all those harsh chemicals.

But I do have to pay….

So, I’m really not sure.
What do you think?
Are you a fan of at-home treatments, or do you think your beauty needs are best left to a professional?

Sometimes, the best things in life come unexpectedly. Like that time you ran into a store “just to browse” and you found a rockin pair of jeans for super cheap. Or when you got randomly paired up with your roommate and now you can’t imagine how you lived the last 20 years without her- you swear you must have been separated at birth.

This got us thinking – that perhaps, the best MEN in life also come unexpectedly… not only is timing everything, but apparently so is location. So we’ve put together the 5 most unlikely places to meet a man. Try them out or try out an unlikely place of you very own…

The 5 Most Unlikely Places to Meet a Man

Fro-Yo Shop: Usually these places are jam packed with annoyingly chatty, trendy, dieting chicks. But on the rare occasion you find the cute guy whose sister/ex-girlfriend/mom convinced him to try it and now he’s hooked. Hook- Line and Sinker that is.

Massive Sale: I have to say I was AMAZED by the number of HOT men at the Nordstrom Anniversary sale last week. Men like to shop too, ladies. And no that doesn’t mean they are gay! What it does mean is that they will be happy to accompany you on a trip to the mall! Can you say Keeper?!

Hair Salon: Fact is our boys need hair cuts too…. Meeting one while your hair is wrapped in foils that make you look like you are channeling outer space? Always Special. But if you are confident to talk to him looking like that, chances are he is going to appreciate the gesture and ask you out.

New Kids on the Block (or other pop-star) Concert: Sure you are chomping at the bit to get your hands on tickets to see your heart throbs back in concert- but while you were 7 screaming about the Right Stuff, our male counterparts were playing with Ninja Turtles and GI Joe’s. But you never know; there are always the guys who are forced to go for work or who work for the band… or who are IN the band.

Yoga Class: There is nothing like being in a Downward Dog peering at a HOT guy with no shirt on from between your legs. Just what you needed to get you through your workout (and coming back all week). Now you get to stare at his ass all class long. I will Namaste to that. Best. Day. Ever.

[Photo courtesy of NYTimes.com]

Maybe it’s how you were raised or maybe you are just cheap. But if you are going to walk into any place that is offering you a service of some sort, be prepared to spend a few more bucks on the person waiting on you. If you are going out to a “splurge” restaurant- be prepared that the tip is going to be an extra chunk added on to the bill. Want the $30 dollar steak but don’t feel like tipping on it? Then please, that’s what Burger King and Denny’s are for.

In lieu of cheap tippers that I as well as other friends of mine in the service industry have come across–here are some of the guidelines when it comes to tipping. Click here For a full list of tipping etiquette for every service imaginable (and I mean everything).

Restaurants/Bars

Servers: 15-20% or more if the service is fabulous. Many people don’t realize that servers don’t make minimum wage. They make there salary in tips. If you are with a large group or are being extra picky then you should tip on the higher end of the spectrum since your server is accommodating your every whim.

Side note: if you had a bad dining experience, remember it’s not always the server’s fault. Always ask to speak to the manager rather than skipping out on the tip.

Bartenders: 10-15% depending on how difficult the drink is to make. Example: Corona-Not as time consuming as a Long Island Ice Tea which has many different kinds of liquor (thank god for that) and will take the bartender much longer to make.

Takeout: A couple of bucks on the order is fine, unless the person packaging up your food goes above and beyond- then give a bit more.

Late night munchies/Delivery Guy: These are the guys we love. The angels who bring us the grub when everything else is closed. If you are coherent enough to actually place the order, then being too drunk to remember to tip is NOT an excuse. 15% is customary but never less than $2.

Hair Salons

Hair Stylist/Colorist: 10-20%. $3-5 extra for last-minute service.

Shampoo or other assistant: $2-5 for each person. Hand the tip directly to the person providing the service.

Manicure or Facial: 15%

Airport

Porter or skycap: $2 per bag or more if the bags are heavy. If you arrive late and he helps you get to your flight on time (or in my case waves the overweight baggage fee) tip an extra $5-20.

Hotels

Doorman: – If he hails you a cab, $1-2

Bellman: If he schleps your bags, then tip $1-2 per bag. Give him the tip when he shows you your room. If he just carries the bags to the front desk and then disappears, save it for the person who carries the bags to your room. Upon checkout, tip whomever helps with your bags

Concierge: $5-10 for help with hard-to-get dinner reservations or theater tickets. Tipping is optional for just plain advice.

Maid Service: I don’t know why but for some reason, many of my friends don’t think this is necessary. Uh hello, they are cleaning up all your crap! (and lord knows you left the contents of your 75lb bag all over the room). $1-5 per day typically, up to $10 per day depending upon how much mess you make. Tip daily because there might be a different maid each day. Leave the tip on your pillow. Err… on the side of being generous, and tip on the last day also

So there you have it. Next time you are getting your hair did for formal or are out to dinner with your gals sucking down diet cokes, you are now fully aware on how to tip properly. Now go ahead, make me proud!