FFJD 101: Being A Good First Date.
Hello there, ladyloos. You’re in class now – so stop bbming (and by bbming I mean GroupMe) your friends and doing whatever and Facetiming Dominoes and demanding extra pepperoni (guilty). Today we’re here to talk about being a good first date. First dates are hard, always awkward, and combine some degree of too much bronzer and bravado. Or trying to seem really cool, or that you don’t care, or some random combination of both. I got coffee with a friend who told me that she feels like she’s a bad first date. I’m not even sure what this means, and she’s cool and popular and accomplished and probably has every flavor of LipSmackers, so I’m not really sure what she’s talking about. That being said, there are some no-brainer pointers for first-datedness.
Be on Time.
I am often late to things, and it pisses off both myself and whomever I’m meeting, if only the elliptical. Allow yourself the time to get to your location, scope out a prime table that’s not too noisy and not too awkwardly quiet so you’re sitting there making small talk and really you can even hear a spoon drop in the kitchen (and you wonder whether they observed the five-second-rule, which should only occur in the privacy of your own home). The point is, being late, for either party, is like an automatic five point knock-off. Who knows if your flat got stuck in the subway escalator and you feared an imminent death or flipping upside-down and everyone seeing your undies, but when you are late the other person often assumes you don’t care. It’s just the way it comes off. If you are going to be late, let the person know as far ahead of time as possible. Be apologetic, and then move on. And if there’s a second date, be early.
Politeness.
This goes for girls and guys. Guys – you may think that chivalry is dead and we’re in the era of the strong, independent woman (which we are, although apparently we’re not supposed to talk about our careers?) but opening a door gets you a REALLY long way. I mean it. General politeness, especially to a waiter or waitress, is considered a good measure of character. So just err on the side of being overly friendly.
pick a place in ebtween you two
open doors
Email: meredith@theffjd.com
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Read What I Wrote For Scoutmob On Surviving Summer Office Activities {Link}
Puff, The Magic Relationship. {Dating in Fantasyland}
Firing up the old FFJD cauldron, if you will. Constance is on “holiday” with her extended family, so I need someone new to buff my nails.
While waiting outside before drag queen Mother’s Day Brunch (literal), I overheard two girls talking (complaining) about their love lives. I can’t tell you how fun this is (“overhearing”), and especially when it comes to men. I hear things like – “Why can’t he just say I love you already>” “it’s really weird whenever he invites me over he insists I take my shoes off at the door, but only remove one sock” or “is it normal I think 50 Shades of Grey would help our relationship”.
In this particular instance, the overhearing touched on one of my favorite dating conundrums that affect the modern woman. “It was really fun, but I dumped him after two months,” the girl in gladiator sandals said, “there was just no magic.“
Bippity, boppity, boo!
Ladies, we need to talk. Our expectations for men (and often vice versa) are so out of whack, we go straight to fantasyland as a stand-in for our disappointment. Are you expecting to board the Platform 9 and 3/4 Train to Boyfriendland? Where everyone looks like Liam Hemsworth or Javier Bardem and they’re just waiting for you arrival, holding three bags of Louboutins and a puppy?
It’s time to get real. As in, based in non-unicorn reality.
Email: meredith@theffjd.com
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FFJD Buys Sh*t: Scarf Print Sh*t
1. TOPSHOP Scarf Print Bandeau Bikini, $52 2. TOPSHOP Scarf Print Shorts, $60 3. Clover Canyon Printed Crepe Dress, $280 4.TOPSHOP Flower Scarf Dress, $76 5. Wallis Blue Scarf Shirt, $61 6. Clover Canyon St. Thomas Shirt, $211
Email: meredith@theffjd.com
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FFJD Buys Sh*t: Color Blocking
1. Zatchels Color Block Leather Satchel, $218 2. 10 Crosby Derek Lam Colorblock Shift Dress, $325 3. ASOS Color Block Sunglasses, $22 4. ASOS Fluro Belt, $14 5. Jeffrey Campbell Suede Combo Heels, $180 6. Claudia Schiffer Tri-Color Silk and Linen Sweater, $525
Email: meredith@theffjd.com
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What I’d Imagine a SoulCycle Class To Be Like, Even Though I’ve Never Been To One.
Today I saw a tweet about @SoulCycle looking for a new social media manager. Which got me thinking, I’d probably have to try the class first. I’ve heard great things – from Kelly Bensimon’s legs to the yoga pants they sell with their logo, which manages to marry soul and cycle perfectly over a left thigh. Instead, here is what I imagine a Soul Cycle class to be like, even though I’ve never been to one.
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Welcome to my SoulCycle class today, my fellow journeypeople. I’m so happy to have you here in my spin class, where we will thoroughly cleanse our souls, one spin of a wheel at a time. Think of it like you’re riding on two chore wheels, but instead of taking out the trash, you’re taking out the negative energy in your mind and spirit. It’s time to put aside the absent craisins from your salad today, or the wait for the 6. My name is Mariska, like the actress, and I’m here to make sure you burn enough calories to last through another overdone wedding at Cipriani.
Please notice the new towels to your left – they were specifically designed by Marc Jacobs for Marc Jacobs by Daisy by Marc Jacobs for Soul Cycle. They smell of lemon patchouli, Jacobs’ ex-lovers, and the microdermabrasion peel that we also offer in the back of our studio. Who’s ready to spin?
A couple housekeeping announcements – one. If anyone is allergic to wild verbena, I need to know right now. Two, as we dim the lights and enter into our tranquil exercise studio, it’s also important to keep in mind that our regular, Jake (Gyllenhaal), is here. Enough with staring at him, we’re all just lost souls, swimming in a fishbowl, as Abraham Lincoln once said. We are all one and the same. Jake – congrats on being an uncle again. Did Maggie end up going through with the water birth?
Today class, we are taking a trip through the hills of Los Angeles.
On this path to self discovery, our pores are invisible, we are dark, coming into the light. Cammie – not so dim please. I am your spiritual guide in this zen journey. There are no people in the 59th Street Bloomingdales. All is calm. I want you to imagine your entire body encased in Spanx. Breathe in, breathe out, and tighten. Keep it at a slow pace and gently turn your knob up to add a bit of resistance. They were just replaced by Marc Jacobs for Waterworks for Marc Jacobs.
Breathe in one two, and out one two. And push, I want you all up, pushing as hard as you can. Let’s do this.
Today’s music is a mixture of tribal, Top 40, trance, and lesbian and occasional lesbian deejay sets. Can you feel the energy in the room? I can. Great elbows over there.
I want each of you to think of a goal for class – my personal one is being nicer to my doorman, and remembering to think positive thoughts. Think of what makes you tick. Envision it dangling in front of you. Or think of a personal mantra to repeat to yourself over and over. Mine is “mantra”.
We’re imagining we’re in the Hollywood Hills, heading up Runyon Canyon. On the left – beautiful vistas. On the right, Lauren Conrad in leggings that aren’t doing her justice. And up! Up Up Up! Hold it. Hold it like Jessica Simpson held her baby for 11 months.
Now we’re cascading down the Hollywood hills, past Paula Abdul’s house. Get Out of My Dreams and onto this bike, journeypeople. Just remember who sang that. As we cascade down the hill, you’ve arrived at your final destination, my journeypeople. There’s a reservation for ten under “Mantra” at Katsuya. You’ve earned it.
Please wipe down your machines. If you’re interested in buying the playlist from today’s class it’s on Spotify. If you’d like to join me for next week’s ride, we will be at Coachella. The ferris wheel ever turning, like our bikes to nowhere.
Another housekeeping announcement: I’d like to remind you that the Hampton Jitney SoulCycle class is new, and debuts for Memorial Day. And revolutionary. Not only will it be combining the soul-intensifying workout but you will be burning calories, on a bus to the Hamptons. Just like in Spice World.
Jake – I’d like to speak to you for a second. It’s about placenta.
Email: meredith@theffjd.com
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