jessica barone Archives - Coffee Meets Bagel

Posts

Orgasms – Not Business As Usual

December 6, 2012/in Date Tips, For Her, For Him, Uncategorized /by CMB

Everyone wants great sex, you know this, I know this. (Berkeley college kids know this – as seen in this snappy recent sex article.) But sometimes orgasms are complicated, sometimes they’re MIA and sometimes they’re faked. (Guilty, guilty and guilty). OneTaste, a company dedicated to helping people live healthier, orgasmic lifestyles, knows that very well.
So when I agreed to attend a OneTaste seminar downtown on a rainy Saturday morning, (you know, for the sake of journalism) I was expecting a lot of girl talk between just us ladies. I’d been in the Vagina Monologues in college, I enjoyed sex; bring on the climax chat. I arrived at the holiday-decked Hilton hotel, Starbucks in one hand, pen in the other – I was ready.
Or not.
I was not prepared for the variety at the gathering. There were a few couples, there were some single ladies – but also a large collection of men. A fellow of at least sixty years with cowboy bootssat down next to me in the front row as the seminar began. The two speakers, Marcus and Joann, were well-dressed and smilingly, undeniably at peace. Given the setting, I ventured to think I knew why. Everyone introduced themselves and why they were there, and willingly divulged:

“I want to reintegrate sexuality into my life.”
“I want to be able to get what I want, and give more.”

I had to resist squirming in my seat when it was my turn to share. What? Me talk about my cum history in front of all these dudes? Surprisingly, I opened up: I wanted my next relationship to be more open, I admitted. More honest.
OneTaste was all about that – through Orgasmic Meditation (OM), Joann and Marcus revealed, which was defined as “extended, focused touch” on the woman during an OM. There were plenty of couples at the gathering, but having an Orgasmic Meditation can be strictly business, too, with another OMer found in the OneTaste community, no romance involved. The goal is to get that essential dose of oxytocin (with a helping hand) and gradually start seeing the benefits in all aspects of your life.
Okay, I thought. So, people – strangers – can just get together and have one of these “OM’s” whenever, wherever, without any romantic connotation? But what if I want romance in my orgasms? There was a demonstration between Marcus and another experienced OMer before the lunch break, and no, I didn’t expect to see someone else’s vagina that afternoon. While part of me was mortified to be intruding on something so seemingly intimate (with fifty other people), another part of me was determined to get over myself. Okay, some dude is going DJ-style on another lady on a table in the middle of the room, but you know what? He seemed to have been doing a crackerjack job.
Needless to say it was an eye opening experience.

If you’re single and want your next sexual relationship to be more rewarding (by leaps and bounds), I still recommend the seminar. The community is open to anyone and everyone, and signing up is available on their site.
Learn more about OneTaste now – Or read more about the day’s seminar here.
Source reference by Nadia Cho of the Daily Californian and special thanks to Maya Gilbert for inviting us at CMB to get a taste of OneTaste.
Jessica Barone @chai_haiku is a writer, nerd, health nut, technophile, and the social media head n’ main scribbler for Coffee Meets Bagel. Learn more.

Holiday Season Dating Tip: Is It Time to Meet The Parents?

November 29, 2012/in Date Tips, For Her, For Him, Uncategorized /by CMB

It’s that harrowing time of year again – family holidays are full speed ahead and that means you and that flame you’ve been blissfully running around the city arm and arm with, not a care in the world, suddenly have to decide – is it time to meet the parents?
This can be a terrifying notion for both guys and gals, because we all want to be liked by our beau’s family. Buy why is making a good impression on the fam so important in the 21st Century? It seems outdated to some, but meeting family is a big step in a pair’s relationship. If the people who raised your sweetheart from birth – who made them who they are today – have trouble interacting with you, then it may be a sign to reevaluate your relationship.
But hey! Don’t despair! Normally, all it takes is a little extra courtesy and self-awareness to make that trip home to meet his or her parents smooth sailing. And luckily, there’s plenty of easy-to-follow advice on how to make a great first impression.
BostInno’s great writer Lisa DeCanio advised last week in an article about first-time family meet n’ greets: ”Be yourself – but don’t be yourself. Don’t be a phony, but remember that this is much more important that hanging out with your buddies. First impressions matter.”
DeCanio goes on to warn of common mistakes you can avoid when meeting the ‘rents, including:

Don’t show up empty-handed.
Avoid any and all mentions of politics.
Don’t do anything you wouldn’t want Grandma to see.
Be nice to the family pets and little cousins.
Do your research – learn about the family.
Stay off your cell.
Don’t swear.
Go easy on the booze.

So if you and your honey decide it’s time to meet each other’s families this year, just remember: come with a smile, a bottle of fine sparkling cider and your phone on airplane-mode.

3 Workout Tips for Staying Fit "On-the-Go"

November 28, 2012/in Date Tips, Uncategorized /by CMB

By Jessica Barone @chai_haiku
Hey guys and gals, the holidays are coming up – and amidst all the commercial cheer is a secret threat to your dating scene. What could be a worse enemy for your favorite date outfit than the dreaded Heavy-Traveling & Heavy-Eating season? You’re forced to skip gym visits because you’re flying home for the holidays, you want to spend time with family, and – man, oh man – you forgot how good home-cooking could be!
So how do you find time to work out during this hectic holiday season? Inventively.
Here’s three strength n’ cardio exercises to do anywhere, any time. Stuck in an airport? no problem. Staying at hotel without a gym? Not to worry. Read on.
1) The Plank 5
Find a patch of floor that you can spread out on, get onto your feet and hands, back straight, and lower yourself onto your elbows. You’ll want a stop watch nearby.

Stay 30 seconds on both elbows
then turn onto your left elbow and do a side plank for 30 seconds,
then back onto both elbows for 30 seconds,
then onto your right elbow for 30 seconds,
and then finally finish with a last 30 seconds on both elbows.

Repeat five times with a minute rest in between. Enjoy those 7.5 minutes! For the more ambitious, double it and do a full minute for each plank position.
2) The Jumping Jack of All Trades
This is great cardio drill to get you sweating. Get into the jumping jack position, feet shoulder-width apart, arms at your side to start.

Do twenty jumping jacks (jumping your feet wide apart and bringing your arms over your head each time)
followed by twenty quick, high knee kicks (as if running in place, bring each knee HIGH into your palm, above your hip, arms swinging in an easy, jogging motion).
That’s one rep. In between, drop to the floor, do ten pushups, then leap up and do your next Jumping Jack and High Knee drill.

Repeat five times, take a full sixty-second break, then repeat another five times. Do more reps if you feel up to it, with a minute-rest in between each set.
3) The Squat of Atlas

For this you need a heavy object – a stack of books, even – something that you can lift comfortably, but gives your arms a burn after lifting five times.

Standing, spread your feet a little more than shoulder-width apart, heavy object(s) in hand, and squat deeply (the deeper the better), then rise and hold the heavy object above your head, hold for two seconds. Do ten reps, rest for thirty seconds, then another ten reps. Repeat between five to ten times.
NOTE: Always listen to your body and never rush a workout – no injuries this holiday season
When not heading the social media and marketing for Coffee Meets Bagel, Jessica is training for triathlons, cooking Paleo and supporting others as a GoalSponsor fitness and health trainer in San Francisco.

Sunday Spotlight #8: Iso Rabins

November 24, 2012/in Date Ideas, SF /by CMB

Iso Rabins is the founder of forageSF and The Underground Market. A chef, writer, eater, and forager (Foraging: Foraging or sourcing of wild, uncultivated plants for food): . A native of Santa Cruz, raised in Vermont, Iso returned to the west coast 5 years ago without any idea what to do with his life, and found it foraging in the hills.

His projects include, The Wild Kitchen, an underground supper club where each family style course focuses on the wild edibles found all around us, The Underground Market, and most recently, Forage Kitchen, the first co-working space for food. His mission is to support the local food economy through projects that keep him inspired.

Check out his recipe here for a delicious flower garnished dish.

Follow Iso on twitter @forageSF to keep up with the latest on underground dinners.
By Jessica Barone @chai_haiku

The Easiest Recipe for Two – Give Your Date Flowers (For Dinner)

November 20, 2012/in Date Tips, Uncategorized /by CMB

By Jessica Barone @chai_haiku

Hey CMB goers, looking for a more romantic twist on Thanksgiving this weekend? Why not make a supper for two based off this awesome Nasterium Pesto Recipe by local San Francisco foodie and writer, Iso Rabins. We were lucky enough to get a special recipe from him this week:

Prep: 2 min

Time: 30 min

Yields: 2 servings

Level: Easy

People love to eat flowers. I was talking to a vendor at a farmers market one time, and he told me that the $4 salad mixes he sold could sell for $8 if he put in a couple edible flowers. Nothing fancy, just nasturtiums or wild radish, things he found around the farm. There is something about eating something so beautiful that draws people in. Consuming beauty, rather than just observing it…maybe too deep, but maybe true. No need to pay $8 for this recipe, just find a patch of nasturtiums. Use the leaves for the recipe, so you can save the flowers for garnish. Pick leaves that are small and deep green, these have the most intense flavor.

1 Cup fresh nasturtium leaves, chopped
1 Cup fresh basil
1/2 Cup freshly grated Parmesan-Reggiano
1/2 Cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 Cup pine nuts or walnuts
2 medium sized garlic cloves, minced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

A lot of people know that nasturtium flowers are edible; a surprise is that the leaves are too. You can find them anywhere, and make a great pesto with a nice peppery bite. We make this with fresh gnocchi and garnish with wild radish flowers:

1. Put pine nuts and garlic in a food processor, pulse for 15 seconds.

2. Next blend in the nasturtium and basil leaves with an ice cube (the ice helps keep the intense green color).

3. Slowly add the olive oil in a steady stream, with the food processor running. Stop periodically to scrape the sides. Check for flavor every once in a while. Decide for yourself the consistency you want.

4. Add the grated cheese and pulse again until blended. Add a pinch of salt and pepper to taste.

About the Chef:

Iso Rabins is the founder of forageSF and The Underground Market. A chef, writer, eater, and forager. A native of Santa Cruz, raised in Vermont, Iso returned to the west coast 5 years ago without any idea what to do with his life, and found it foraging in the hills.

Want some more organic goodness in your life? Iso is having a dinner series for the Wild Kitchen next month! Find out more here.

Date Inspirations

November 8, 2012/in Date Ideas, NYC, Uncategorized /by CMB

The weekend is almost here, and we wanted to give our awesome CMB members in NYC, Boston and San Francisco some fun date ideas for the weekend. Want to treat that special someone to a romantic night? Or maybe you want to make a great first impression with a new Bagel? Read on, city singles!
New York City goers, looking for something to sweeten up your weekend (literally)? The Annual New York Chocolate Festival is back with tickets starting at just $35 per person. Sample treats and decadent wine from over 65 chocolate companies, meet famous chefs and authors, and schmooze the night away!
WHAT: NY Chocolate Festival
WHERE: Metropolitan Pavillion
WHEN: Friday Nov. 9th through Sunday Nov. 11th, 10AM – 6PM

For all our Bostonians, why not get to know your date better over some Art, Wine & Art at the Soprafina Gallery this Saturday? $40 per person for all the music, wine and hors d’oeuvres you can eat! Then maybe you two can grab some coffee afterwards at a nearby café (for an even more intimate night cap).
WHAT: Art, Wine & Art Exhibition
WHERE: Soprafina Gallery
WHEN: Saturday Nov. 10th, 7pm

Finally – San Franciscans, how about exploring some new culture in the Mission? The annual Diwali celebration, the Festival of Lights, with $11 admission per person. Dancing starts in the streets and leads to the venue, where there’s sweets, good eats and music (and even dance lessons for those wanting really to join in the festivities)!
WHAT: Diwali Festival
WHERE: Public Works
WHEN: Saturday Nov. 10th, 9pm
So city singles, what are you going to be up to this weekend?
By Jessica Barone @chai_haiku