Wellness
Our Social Media Guru's Guide to Visiting Boston
Share
Last week, our Social Media Team Lead, Devin Dilday, took a trip to Boston for our Best of Wellness Event with Erin Foster. We asked her a few questions to find out everything we need to know about planning a trip there!
Knowing what to pack is always a challenge. What are the essentials for a trip to Boston?
This mid-November trip was my first time in Boston, so it was the perfect time to show off my festive fall gear in front of the iconic Bostonian views. Before packing, I checked my iPhone weather app one last time, and luckily I did because the weather had dropped by almost 20 degrees! I was looking at the weather in the 20s now, so the first thing I did was ask one of my co-workers from the East Coast to borrow *all* of her winter coats.
To battle the cold, I packed a few pairs of jeans, a multi-colored scarf, and my favorite fuzzy sweaters. I wish I brought gloves and a beanie, but luckily while walking down Newbury Street, I was able to grab them at a boutique. Other than that, I packed an assortment of workout clothes to wear for our wellness event, and for the morning workout classes I booked on the MINDBODY app.
1
Knowing what to pack is always a challenge. What are the essentials for a trip to Boston?
This mid-November trip was my first time in Boston, so it was the perfect time to show off my festive fall gear in front of the iconic Bostonian views. Before packing, I checked my iPhone weather app one last time, and luckily I did because the weather had dropped by almost 20 degrees! I was looking at the weather in the 20s now, so the first thing I did was ask one of my co-workers from the East Coast to borrow *all* of her winter coats.
To battle the cold, I packed a few pairs of jeans, a multi-colored scarf, and my favorite fuzzy sweaters. I wish I brought gloves and a beanie, but luckily while walking down Newbury Street, I was able to grab them at a boutique. Other than that, I packed an assortment of workout clothes to wear for our wellness event, and for the morning workout classes I booked on the MINDBODY app.
What did you do while you were there (we heard you met Erin Foster)?
Going to Boston, I had all the recommendations. The Freedom Trail, The Paul Revere House, Fenway Park, Museum of Fine Arts, the list goes on and on. However, the majority of my time was spent at our Best of Wellness Event! This event was a huge success, as 200 attendees enjoyed different services and activities from various wellness brands and vendors. Not to mention, Erin Foster!
Because we were having so much fun at this event, I really didn’t get to visit many of the Boston landmarks people had recommended. We did explore Boston Commons, Faneuil Hall Marketplace, and Boston Public Garden. Looks like I’ll have to plan another trip soon to hit the rest!
2
What did you do while you were there (we heard you met Erin Foster)?
Going to Boston, I had all the recommendations. The Freedom Trail, The Paul Revere House, Fenway Park, Museum of Fine Arts, the list goes on and on. However, the majority of my time was spent at our Best of Wellness Event! This event was a huge success, as 200 attendees enjoyed different services and activities from various wellness brands and vendors. Not to mention, Erin Foster!
Because we were having so much fun at this event, I really didn’t get to visit many of the Boston landmarks people had recommended. We did explore Boston Commons, Faneuil Hall Marketplace, and Boston Public Garden. Looks like I’ll have to plan another trip soon to hit the rest!
Let’s get to what we’re all really interested in—food. What did you treat yourself to while you were there?
We didn’t get to too many food places, but we did, of course, get the best cannoli in Boston from Mike’s Pastry. We were staying in South Boston, which was trendy and filled with dozens of crafty restaurants with award-winning chefs and mixologists. Again, I gotta book another trip.
3
Let’s get to what we’re all really interested in—food. What did you treat yourself to while you were there?
We didn’t get to too many food places, but we did, of course, get the best cannoli in Boston from Mike’s Pastry. We were staying in South Boston, which was trendy and filled with dozens of crafty restaurants with award-winning chefs and mixologists. Again, I gotta book another trip.
One weekend isn’t enough to experience everything a city has to offer. What’s at the top of your list if you go back?
I would absolutely love to go to a game at Fenway Park, or experience one at a bar nearby. We also didn’t explore the North End too much, and I would love to go back for some pizza in Boston’s Little Italy.
4
One weekend isn’t enough to experience everything a city has to offer. What’s at the top of your list if you go back?
I would absolutely love to go to a game at Fenway Park, or experience one at a bar nearby. We also didn’t explore the North End too much, and I would love to go back for some pizza in Boston’s Little Italy.
What are some tried-and-true tips you’ve learned from traveling?
The flight from San Diego to Boston is one of the longest domestic flights, so it’s always good to be prepared. When I fly, I always bring healthy snacks (and, I’ll admit, some that aren’t so healthy), sanitary wipes to wipe the seat, essential oils to help with any headaches or stress from flying, AirPods, a good book, and a computer charger (a girl’s gotta work!)
5
What are some tried-and-true tips you’ve learned from traveling?
The flight from San Diego to Boston is one of the longest domestic flights, so it’s always good to be prepared. When I fly, I always bring healthy snacks (and, I’ll admit, some that aren’t so healthy), sanitary wipes to wipe the seat, essential oils to help with any headaches or stress from flying, AirPods, a good book, and a computer charger (a girl’s gotta work!)
Beauty
Gratuity Guide: How to Tip a Hair Stylist (and Show You Care)
Share
Tipping. While it can be a taboo topic that no one really wants to talk about publicly, the fact is, it’s a very important one that shouldn’t (and can’t) be avoided. This is all too true, especially now, when it comes to beauty services. Even before, “all of this” happened, there appeared to be some ambiguity about exactly how much to tip, when, what’s a respectable amount, and why. Now that we’ve tried our best at #homebeauty, it’s time to head back to the salons, spas, and other boutique beauty businesses (if you haven’t already). We’re here to guide you through gratuity in the new normal and why tipping a little extra to show your stylists and service providers you care during this tough time is the right thing to do.
To make sure we get you all the right answers, we asked around about it (so you don’t have to). Turns out, our Instagram followers had a lot to say about how to tip your stylists and show them some extra love right now.
Here’s what you think:
You’ve already been tipping more
79% of you said you’ve been tipping more for beauty services recently. We’re all so grateful for our stylists—with split ends, grown-out roots, out-of-control brows, and terrible home-cut bangs to prove it. And now that many of us can return to our salons and spas, we’re appreciating the ones who help us feel beautiful even more right now.
But, how much more?
We got a range of responses to this question. Some said they tip 5% more than they previously did, and many said 25%-35% total! Not only are these stylists actual artists, but they’re providing services we just can’t do ourselves. On top of that, many had to close their doors for several months, many were displaced as their salons shut down for good, and all of them are trying their best to get back to a sense of normalcy and do what they do best—help us look and feel beautiful. So, take this as a guide. Tip what you can but remember how much these wonderful people do for us.
New services are not top priority (yet)
When it comes to trying new services, 69% of you gave it a big fat NO, while 31% remain intrigued. It makes sense that many would stick to their go-tos right now, as salons are just starting to reopen in some areas or may not be open yet at all.
Depending on where you live and your overall health, you might be sticking with the bare minimum for now. But if your city has put in place safe reopening guidelines and measures, and you feel ready to head back out there, you can do so safely at a Mindbody salon. And you may be interested in trying out some new services right now as a way to show your local salons some extra support. If that’s you, browse beauty on the Mindbody app—and filter your categories to find out what’s out there.
Why retail therapy is important
Another way you can support your stylists right now? Shopping. It’s the safest way to show them some love without actually going in for a treatment. Many salons offer pre-payment on the Mindbody app and curbside pickup or a plethora of shipping methods, so you can keep contact to a minimum as much as possible. Plus, they have some pretty great stuff. If you need to invest in a good shampoo—especially because you haven’t gotten your hair done in months—so why not buy it from your stylist? According to our poll, it’s a pretty even split. 55% of you haven’t bought any products yet, while the other 45% have been shopping away. If you’re part of that 55, consider checking out your salon’s product offerings (you might see something you like).
Anything else?
Finally, we asked you all open-endedly how else you’re supporting your stylists right now. We got a lot of great answers. There was a lot of overlap, but we thought you might like to see some of the ones that stood out. So, if we didn’t cover it all so far, we’re about to—because you all are awesome and you did it for us. Here are some of the great ideas you had:
• “Paying in advance!”
• “Being more diligent about scheduling appointments versus letting my hair grow out”
• “Referring friends!”
• “Being flexible” (this is a good one—check out the 5 things your stylist wants you to know before you book)
• “Scheduling my next cut before I leave!”
• “Sharing their photos on Instagram and telling friends!”
So, if you’re a stylist reading this, thank you. We all want to continue showing you support during this time and beyond. And if you’re a regular person like me who really needs her highlights done, just schedule the damn appointment already (if you feel comfortable) or buy some purple shampoo from your favorite salon.