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Review: Crocodile Clamps

Published

Nadia

on January 4, 2009

in D/s, Uncategorized and reviews

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Crocodile Clamps from Babeland

In my life I’ve experienced the nice, beginner tweezer clamps. They’re good for when you’re just starting out with nipple clamp play as they’re very adjustable and not especially tight. Unfortunately, the plastic tip on one of mine fell off a while back, so mine are unusable. The only other option at MasterDoc’s was the clover clamps, which are way too tight and painful for me. Really, I’m a nipple wimp. I cringe when he flicks his fingers at my nipples or hits them with the little flogger. It is really easy to put me in pain by my nipples.

Now on the bright side for nipple wimps, these crocodile clamps are adjustable - there’s screws on each one that will hold the clamps at varying distances apart, so you can control how tight they are. (And this is why I grabbed them when Babeland offered them for reviewing - I needed to save myself from MasterDoc’s clover clamps!) You can adjust the screws precisely so there’s a lot of variation of tightness with these clamps. The bad news for nipple wimps - when the screws are let out, and the clamps are as tight as can be, these babies hurt. MasterDoc started out with them at the tightest setting and I commented, “You know, you can use the screws to make them less tight.” Now, this comment was a mistake for two reasons - 1) he knows damn well how they work and I don’t need to tell him, clearly he wanted them to be at their tightest and 2) I didn’t say “Sir.” Yes, this was a bad move on my part. So he put them on at their tightest and I whimpered, said “Ow, ow, ow” and generally did not enjoy myself. When they’re tight, you can easily pull on the chain and twist the nipples around via the clamps. If you’re into tit torture, these are fantastic. Not as brutal as the clover clamps but definitely hardcore enough to be fun. They’re well made, so I expect them to last a very long time. Crocodile clamps are the right level of evil for a wide variety of nipples.

After the clamp experiment, he had me lay face down on the bed and used the under bed restraints to secure my ankles. (We really like these restraints.) Then he gave me a thorough beating, something which I was in need of this weekend. He used his hands, the floggers, the slapper, etc. and boy did it hurt. The funny thing about masochism is that in the middle of it (at least for me) I can think to myself, “Why do I want this? This hurts. Ow! Wow, when is he going to stop? Is he waiting for me to beg him to stop? I don’t want to break down and beg, I want to take everything he dishes out.” And afterwards, I’m in this blissful state and my mood has improved thoroughly. It’s like magic. I’m also wet afterwards. I suppose the nipple clamps are the same, in the heat of the moment they hurt like the dickens, but afterwards I’m glad I did it. I wonder if there’s been scientific research into the overlap of pleasure and pain, and how pain can be cathartic and leave you feeling better than before. I was feeling mildly depressed before this round of play, but I’m in a far better mood now.

Review: Under the Bed Restraints

Published

Nadia

on January 3, 2009

in D/s, restraints, reviews and sex

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Under The Bed Restraints from Babeland

Setup: Super easy. There’s a long strap that runs up the middle and then four straps with hooks and cuffs that come out at either end. We each took an end and slid it under the mattress into the middle. Then brought the cuffs up each side.

Secure: MasterDoc put first my ankles, then wrists into the comfy velcroed cuffs. A simple pull of the adjustable straps pulled the cuffs closer to the bed (and therefore secured me well).

The scene: I was blindfolded and the bit gag was in my mouth. MasterDoc left me for a moment while he went to use the bathroom, and I was helpless lying there. He came back and used the magic wand on me, after removing the gag because I was completely parched with it in my mouth. As I would push my pelvis up into it he said to me, “That’s it, work it.” I worked hard to get myself on the edge of orgasm. He slid the magic wand down further, away from my clit and that cooled me down a little. Then he’d bring it back up to my clit and I’d start moaning and writhing again. He did this for a little while, then I begged to be allowed to come. He switched off the wand and asked if I was ready to be fucked. “Yes, Sir.”

He slid into me, slowly as it was dry and felt tight. He commented on how I must be dry, then thrust into me. While the thrusting caused some arousal in me, the dryness did not go away. I wavered between pleasure and pain, unsure if I should speak up. A thrust would make me moan, but at the same time my cunt felt sore from the lack of lubrication. He fucked me for a while and eventually I had to ask him, “Can I please have some lube, Sir?” “You don’t like being fucked dry? You liked it when I fucked you up the ass that time.” And it’s true, I enjoyed it when he continued on after my asking for lube. I just couldn’t get this to translate into pleasure enough and my body, frustratingly, wasn’t getting wet.

He resumed using the wand on me, teasing me, getting me wildly worked up. I grabbed onto the straps securing me down. I had a very limited range of motion and couldn’t have pulled my legs together if I tried. He kept up the vibrations of the wand and had me begging to come. When he finally allowed me to come, I was thrown into an amazing orgasm. I could hear MasterDoc chuckling as I tossed my head back and forth and moaned, cried out and came really hard. He told me to quiet down and I did my best to be quieter. He kept working the vibe on my clit and I went from orgasm to orgasm. Just when I thought it couldn’t possibly get any better I would flow into another earth shattering orgasm. The world around me ceased to exist. All I was aware of was my clit, and my convulsing vagina and MasterDoc chuckling at the sight of me lost in pleasure. It seemed like he went on forever, and I couldn’t get enough. I felt him slip some fingers inside me, and he pressed up on my g-spot. Oh god, I came again, even stronger than before. I grasped on the straps, very much aware that I couldn’t bring my arms or legs together. I was in heaven.

He slowly stopped, and brought me back down to earth. He told me that he should sell tickets to watching me come. I asked for some water as my mouth was terribly dry. He brought the glass to my mouth and I gulped down some water. He undid the restraints and I lay there, dazed, thoroughly relaxed. The restraints did their job quite nicely, and they were very easy to use. Three thumbs up!

Addendum: MasterDoc read this over my shoulder. He wanted to say that these were worth every penny of the price. He had bought restraints previously that were comparatively poorly designed. These clearly were well designed.

Review: Big Foot

Published

Nadia

on December 24, 2008

in Uncategorized, reviews and sex toys

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When I started this blog, I did so because I like to write and I like to keep a record of my adventures. However, it turns out that being a sex blogger has perks. You already know about my reviewing for the wonderful Babeland. But I’ve also been given something by For Your Nymphomation, the locking sex toy case company, to review. They’ve just debuted their big foot case and I am the proud owner of one big foot (ok, actually I have two big feet but we’re talking about the case here). I have lusted after FYN cases for a while now. (I really, really want the rolling toy trunk but I don’t know that it’s in the budget just yet, sadly.)

Look how much stuff it holds! That’s an Njoy Eleven in there! (I’m lusting after that baby too!) For guys, it was actually created with the Fleshlight in mind. The Fleshlight is big for a toy, and who couldn’t use a locking case for it? (Especially you parents out there!) As you can see in the picture, there’s elastics on the sides and top to hold toys, little bottles of lube, the instructions for my Naughtinano (that’s what I have in the top bit of elastic). Your little bottles of lube will stay upright! There’s also two pockets on the long sides of the case, where you can conveniently put condoms, nipple clamps and small vibes (which are easy to lose in a bag). As I mentioned before the case locks - securely - and the zipper pulls glow in the dark (handy for finding the bag in a dimly lit sex club). If you’re going to spend overnight with a playmate this bag would be perfect - not too big, but big enough to fit enough stuff for a hot evening. It looks like an old-fashioned cosmetics case, the kind that every luggage set once came with, so people will be none the wiser as to the contents (they’ll just think you’re being retro). I love the big foot, I sometimes carry it between my place and MasterDoc’s. I tend to leave a lot of my toys at his place, but sometimes you want your favorite vibe at home, ya know? This gives me a discreet way to carry the toys (and with this they don’t get lost at the bottom of my backpack).

Review: Babeland Anal Beads

Published

Nadia

on December 10, 2008

in D/s, Uncategorized, anal, blow jobs, orgasm on command and reviews

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I suppose this won’t be a regular review but instead a story of how I spent my afternoon. I was feeling horny, MasterDoc was feeling tired, but he did feel a bit like beating me. I wasn’t sure if he was going to feel up for it though. We cuddled in bed for a while before he said, “Get the lube, anal beads, your collar and the nea.” Yes, Sir!

I’ve had the beads for a little while now, but they’ve been hanging about unused. I could have used them by myself but isn’t it much more fun to use such a thing with a lover? I was getting antsy to use them (just like the underbed restraints) since I’m super conscientious about getting my reviews done. But of course I had to wait until MasterDoc felt like using them. The restraints wait to be tested (but PantheraPardus reviewed them well, so I’m keen to use ‘em) but the anal beads have now been used.

He didn’t lead off with them, he played with the nea on my nipples a little bit. Then he grabbed the beads and an idea came to him - use it as a whip. Yikes. That thing fucking stings on your breasts. A short while later, I found out that it stings like a motherfucker on your ass as well. Babeland, I wish you had told me that it had a dual use! Now MasterDoc has another impact toy to torture me with. (I kinda hate it but kinda don’t mind it at the same time. Masochism is a funny thing.)

He spanked me, paddled me, whipped me with the beads. My ass was sore and I’m sure red. Then he tells me to use the nea on myself as he goes off into the next room. He gets the floggers and starts whipping my ass. Pain, pain, pain. I think the beads left me more sensitive because they stung so much. He had me raise my front end up a bit, so that my back was further up, and he went to town flogging my upper back. Thankfully he didn’t use the beads on my upper back.

I got quite a spanking. When my knees got tired, he had me lay on my back. “Look at me,” he said and I looked him in the eye as he flogged my thighs. He slapped them a bit, which actually hurt worse than the flogger. He had me put my arms over my head so he could flog my breasts. The flogger stung when he would happen to hit a nipple. He had me get up on my knees again.

Oh, um, I was going to talk about anal beads wasn’t I? I’m getting to that.

He lubes up my asshole and starts to insert the beads. The very end is really tiny and feels like a tickle, but the beads gradually get larger and he had to push gently to get the larger ones in. Since the thing is about a foot long, I imagined not all of it going in, but MasterDoc assures me that it all went in. He jiggled them a bit, slid them out, slid them back in again. At times it felt like the bigger beads were too much. But then it would feel absolutely divine. When in motion it stimulated my ass, when stationary I felt filled. (The beads are thermo plastic rubber, which apparently has no phthalates. They were easy to clean. I assume since Babeland is selling them that the material won’t harbor bacteria like the plastic toys of old.)

He removed them. I was really wet by this time from the spanking and beads. He had me suck his cock for a while to get it nice and hard. I was told that if I got it nice and hard that maybe he’d fuck me with it. Rowr. I had been hoping for that all day. I got it hard and he had me put the condom on and get on top. I rode him, him thrusting up into me. I was moaning and gasping, nearly to the point of asking for permission to come when he says that delightful word to me, “Come.” I came and came, he spanked me, twisted my nipples and other delightfully awful things to me as I came. I came again. Finally, he said, “That’s enough for you young lady.” I sat on his cock for a little while, brushed the hair out of my face and stroked his chest.

As we lay next to each other after, he asked me if I’m a lucky girl. I responded with the “correct” response, “Yes, Sir, I am a very lucky girl.” He chuckled and said that he should ask that again when I didn’t have the collar on. He did ask me and I gave the same response, he seemed satisfied by that. It’s funny how during a spanking it hurts like the dickens, but after the after-spanking sex I’m just so happy that the pain totally fades away. Ah, orgasms and endorphins. Gotta love ‘em.

Review: Cry Baby

Published

Nadia

on December 7, 2008

in reviews

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I have long desired a remote control vibe. I mean, what better way to have some discreet fun with your Dom/significant other? So when Babeland offered the Cry Baby I had to have it. Now, I had pictured it being a clitoral vibe - a bullet small enough to go against my clit under my clothing. But it turned out to be a thick, stubby vibe - definitely meant for insertion (unless you want a huge, strange bulge at the crotch of your pants. I don’t think you’d be able to walk or move with it on your clit either without it moving.).

One strike against it right off the bat is that it doesn’t have any way to lock the controls. So on my way over to MasterDoc’s the battery in the remote ran down because the thing turned itself on in my bag. $8.99 at Radio Shack later for 2 replacement batteries (it takes one special remote control battery), we were ready to give it a go. We were going to have a young Domme-to-be come over for some lessons from MasterDoc, and he had me put it in right before she got there. I lubed it up and slid it in pretty easily. It wasn’t very noticeable after putting it in, except for the plastic string hanging out of it, which felt awkward against my labia.

Of course, he had the control and I had no idea of when he was going to turn it on. This is the whole point to a remote-controlled vibe - the element of surprise and someone else having control. After we spent some time talking with the Domme he switched it on. I think I twitched a bit and he told her why I did so. Now, I could feel the various vibration settings as he scrolled through them (there’s 10 settings, different rhythms, all graphically represented on the controller). The various settings are a stellar idea because you can play around with so many different patterns of vibration. The controller is easy to use, just the on/off button and a button to scroll through the vibration settings. The down side was that inside of me, it didn’t do much to work me up or get me off. If it hit the g-spot that would have been great, but it didn’t, and if it sat against my clit that would have done a great job of teasing me, but it didn’t. I can’t speak for all women, but vibrators inside of me don’t do me much good. Most of the nerve endings are at the clit and there isn’t so much sensation inside. I felt the vibe, it just didn’t have the desired effect on me. We tried it for a little longer and declared it a dud.

I can see it being fun as a way of a Dom keeping a sub aware of her cunt - that it can do. But I don’t think there’s going to be fun watching her struggle not to come in public. If I had left the vibe in it might have turned me on slightly but after a while it would make me numb. However, if internal vibrations are your thing then you would probably enjoy the Cry Baby. I think that, sadly, it will end up relegated to the pile of toys I don’t really use.

Review: Sliquid Sassy Lube “Booty Formula” & Fukuoku 9000 (& NaughtiNano)

Published

Nadia

on November 18, 2008

in Uncategorized, masturbation and reviews

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This morning I woke up early, and I had some time before work. I decided that since it was my birthday I should start the day with an orgasm. I decided to use the one time a week I have permission to masturbate right to orgasm. (Versus the one time a week when I can masturbate but I have to hold back on coming for a bit.) I knew I had some stuff to review so I got out the two things I could review solo - the Sliquid Anal Lube and the Fukuoku 9000. I also decided to try out the NaughtiNano I got as a giveaway at the Sex Blogger Calendar party. (I figure if I’m trying out a toy I should tell you all about it even if I’m not required to write a review - after all the perk of getting free sex toys should be offset by the benevolence of telling people where they should spend their money - I have a bunch of sex toys I never use that I wish I hadn’t bought. I could have used reviews but this was in the days before I was a sex blogger and everyone started reviewing everything.)

I plugged the naughtinano into my iPod nano and turned it on. Nothing happened. I went into the next room to get the instructions and it says to turn the volume up to at least 75% in order for the vibe to work. So I had to crank the volume all the way up to get the vibe really working, and of course by this time it’s too loud to put the earphones in my ears. Still, it was fun that it would vary the vibration according to the music, and I really want to try it with something spoken word, because as I was walking out of the party the other night a woman I don’t know stopped me and said, “Spoken word! That’s the best. Audiobooks!” And I will certainly use this sage advice at some point in the near future. (I’ve pretty much given up audiobooks since I finished grad school; I’m no longer under duress to finish so many books a week.) The vibe wasn’t strong enough to get me off on my own, so I slid it inside after lubing myself up and left it threre for the duration. (The vibe takes these really odd sized little batteries, kinda like half size AA. But it comes with two sets.) It was easy to clean up and I want to try it out with the end cap that makes it into a regular vibrator.

Sliquid’s Sassy Anal Lube is meant for butt sex, and I used it like that when MasterDoc fucked me anally at a club last week. I don’t think I used enough that night, because when I used it today it was just great - slippery and similar in texture to my own juices. The other night I felt like I needed just a little more lube. I will have to try it again sometime soon (for research purposes of course). The lube lasted throughout my masturbation session this morning and even for a couple of hours after - I felt all slick and slippery as I headed to work and I had to wipe some of it off when I used the bathroom. It never got sticky and I didn’t need to add more - definitely the criteria for great lube. Overall I am really happy with the Sassy Lube. Even when I tried it out by rubbing it between my fingers when I first got it I was impressed by how slippery it was and how long it lasted (without stickiness). I can definitely see the appeal of using it for anal lube. I like this lube.

The Fukuoku 9000 is a vibe you put on your finger. I have been dying to try one for ages. I found that I liked it best when I had it between the first and second knuckle (from the tip of the finger), that way I could bend my finger and manipulate the vibe on my clit. There’s three sleeves (sillicone!) with different textures and I liked the bumpy one best of all, even though the stimulation got a bit much on my clit when I was really aroused. You can put the vibe further up on your finger but it leaves your finger rigid, which may work for you but didn’t work for me. I stroked it against my clit and when the nubbly bits got to be too much I merely tilted it on its side a little. I find it’s not quite as strong as my bullet vibe or the Nea, so it took me a little longer to reach orgasm than one of those, but it’s not significantly weaker. If you don’t like strong vibes the Fukuoku could be perfect for you. (I like ‘em strong, but then some women hate things like the Hitachi magic wand and sybian. The Hitachi gets too much for me sometimes.) It comes with a carrying case and two sets of watch batteries (you use two batteries to run it). It’s conveniently small and I can’t wait to try it out when it’s on MasterDoc’s finger - the sensation of someone else touching you is inevitably different than touching yourself, and the Fukuoku may really excel there.

So overall I enjoyed the three things I tried out this morning and they led to a wonderful orgasm which put me in a good mood. (When I got to work I got an email that put me in a lousy mood, but c’est la vie.) I have underbed restraints to try out, but I need MasterDoc’s help with that. Review will come as soon as I am able to try them out.

�

Review: Wahl 7-in-1

Published

Nadia

on October 6, 2008

in reviews and sex toys

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When I spotted the Wahl massager on the list of toys to review, I knew I had to give it a spin. It plugs into the wall like the Hitachi Magic Wand, and I wondered how it would compare. Let me just say that I love this toy!

It’s far quieter than the Magic Wand, but still very intense. I think the lower setting is a bit less intense than the Wand, which I’m glad for as sometimes the wand can be too intense for me. But the high setting is plenty intense. I immediately sought out the nubbly end to use on my clit. Davey and I played around with a couple of attachments - the cupped one working well on nipples, I later found out that the “knuckle joint massage” attachment works well on MasterDoc’s ass (for external stimulation), but my favorite was the “spot application massage” (aka the nubbly end, not to be confused with the “scalp massage” attachment, which I suppose could be called a nubbly end). Holding the spot application tip to my clit was amazing. The low setting packed a punch that battery-operated vibes can’t ever hope to have. I had an orgasm really quickly and it was intense! After I gave the Pleasure Tops a whirl (and Davey played with the Wahl on his balls and shaft, he said it felt good but wouldn’t get him off by itself), I went back to using the Wahl while Davey fucked me from behind. OMG. Did I mention that I love this toy? I came so hard. I got to use it again later at MasterDoc’s and again it made me come really, really hard. His former roommate Liz tried it on her hand and declared that she wanted to keep the toy. I was not going to part with this for anything! The Wahl has definitely secured a place in my list of favorite toys (with the bullet, Nea, Magic Wand and sybian). This massager rocks. And, you can use it for what it’s marketed as being for - a massager for sore muscles.

Review: Pleasure Tops

Published

Nadia

on October 6, 2008

in reviews and sex toys

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When Babeland sent out their weekly list of toys to review, I was intrigued by two of them. The first one, Pleasure Tops, was just too funny-looking not to review. An odd, cone shape, with a thumb-shaped appendage, it was like no sex toy I had ever used before. I was happy when the toy arrived and the box said “phthalate-free,” as phthalates have become a health concern in sex toys. The toy is also waterproof. It contains two internal bullet vibes, one in the top of the cone and the other in the “thumb.” You twist the base to turn it on and vary the speed of vibration.

I tested out the new toys with Davey on Sunday. I started with the Wahl massager (see separate review) and had an orgasm from that. So, I was all primed to try out the toy I thought would pack a far smaller punch than the Wahl - the Pleasure Tops. Now the box says that you can use the cone for either vaginal or anal penetration and the “thumb” for clitroral or scrotal stimulation. I tried kneeling over the toy, as you’re supposed to sit on it, but the toy is way too small to reach your cunt from a kneeling position. I was hesitant to sit directly onto something cone-shaped, so I lay back and inserted it into my cunt. When outside your body, the toy seems to have good, strong vibration. However once it presses into/against you, the intensity goes way down. It felt nice to have the Pleasure Tops in me, spreading me wide, and the “thumb” on my clit, but there was no way I was going to orgasm from the sensation. I declared the toy a bit of a dud.

Later that day, I went to MasterDoc’s and his former roomate, Liz, was there and she was eager to try out my new toys. She took Pleasure Tops into another room and sat on a firm chair. She agreed that it wouldn’t get her off, and she thought it was lame how you’d have to swivel your body to turn the vibe up or down while you’re sitting on it. Sitting did allow her to lean forward into the “thumb” which seems to be the way the toy was intended to be used. She agreed that while it felt good, it wasn’t going to do the job.

Later, when MasterDoc and I went off into the bedroom, Liz grabbed the toy again and gave it another whirl. This time she did like I did, and lay back, inserting the toy into her vagina. She said that this time she enjoyed it much more and changed her opinion of it. All in all, we agree that it feels nice, but there’s design flaws (the controls, the cone doesn’t hit your g-spot at all). I can’t give it a ringing endorsement, but if you like feeling like you’re getting progressively spread open then this may just be the toy for you with its wide base.

Review: The Archer Wand

Published

Nadia

on September 22, 2008

in masturbation, reviews and sex toys

. 2 Comments

When I got home today, the first toy for me to review for Babeland was waiting by the door. I was all excited because until this past Saturday, I had never used a glass dildo before, so I had been looking forward to the arrival of the archer wand. Despite this not being my first time, I was excited to use a different, thicker glass dildo today. The archer wand is a curved glass dildo. It has balls at either end - nice, rounded balls - nothing to poke your tender g-spot.

I immediately went to the bedroom and took my pants and panties off. I had my nea handy because I had a feeling that a dildo wouldn’t get me off alone when I’m the one wielding it (someone else holding it, however, can definitely get me off). I took the time to use the Eros (aforementioned medical device), like MasterDoc wants me to, while having the archer wand inside of me. I played with the wand in between using the Eros (you take one minute breaks between each one minute clit suction session). The archer wand is nicely curved so that rocking the external end up and down nudges the internal side right against your g-spot. The smooth, hard glass feels nice and warms to your body temperature. The packaging says that you can even chill or warm the wand for a few minutes for a different sensation. (Not all glass dildoes can sustain a range of temperatures, check your packaging before putting it in a bowl of ice water or running it under the hot tap. Unless they’re made of pyrex, or a similar type of glass, some can crack at extreme temperatures.)

I find that I can’t get enough leverage with a dildo to thrust it hard enough to get myself off - it’s just the angle of my own arms versus what angle someone else could come at me. It felt good to jiggle the wand up and down and it nudged my g-spot nicely. The smoothness of the glass felt good inside, no friction. I ended up adding my vibrating nea on my clit to give me that extra push towards orgasm. I discovered that by clenching my thighs together, I could get the outer end of the wand between them and by undulating my hips it would press the wand against my g-spot. I moved my hips like this and used the vibe on my clit until I came oh so close to a terrific orgasm. Then I backed off with the vibe so I wouldn’t come just yet. I jiggled the wand with my hand a bit then went back to pressing it between my thighs. The combination of the wand inside me and the vibe on my clit led to a fantastic orgasm.

As it’s made of glass that can withstand temperature changes, you can boil the archer wand to disinfect it, put it in the dishwasher, or simply use soap and water like I did. Glass is non-porous and won’t, therefore, harbor bacteria. It makes for a very user-friendly toy indeed. Each archer wand is hand-blown and thus slight variations may occur from one to the next. The strong glass is supposed to withstand minor bumps and drops.

Nadia’s Thumbs Up

Published

Nadia

on September 14, 2008

in reviews and sex toys

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I had scheduled this to post at 9 am but wordpress will not cooperate when it comes to scheduled posts. So alas, as I’m away this week I will not likely be posting at all.

Now that I’ve decided to take a foray into reviewing items, I figured it might be nice to give a “Nadia’s thumbs up” to a few items I actually bought with my own money that I’m really glad I got.

The Rock Chick. It’s one of the mysteries of the universe why I don’t use this often, it’s a terrific toy. It nudges your g-spot while you rock it back and forth over your clit and mons. The part over your clit has a cordless bullet vibe in it. I should resist but I will say it - the rock chick rocks!

The Keeper - Not a sex toy, but as a liberated woman I’m so glad to get away from tampons and pads. The Keeper is a gum rubber menstrual cup, it catches your flow rather than stopping it up. You simply dump it out, clean with soap and water and put back in again. One of my favorite things is that once you start your period there’s nothing to carry - the Keeper is with you at all times. I could never go back to tampons and pads now (especially with their bleached cotton that’s not good for your bits). If you prefer silicone or have an allergy to latex, The Moon Cup or Diva Cup is the same thing in silicone. I also love that I can wear this for longer than I ever could tampons. On heaviest days, I’d have to change my super absorbency tampons every three hours, the Keeper needs to be emptied every eight. On lighter days I can simply take care of it every twelve hours - just twice a day! Not to mention it lasts 10 years and works out to be MUCH cheaper and easier on the environment than tampons or pads.

Instead - In the same vein of the Keeper, the Instead soft cup is another menstrual cup, but it’s shaped like a diaphragm and as such you can have sex with it in. It’s not perfect, I’ve had it leak when my flow is heavy, so it’s not going to replace the Keeper in my life anytime soon, but it is handy to reduce the risk of mess while having sex during your period.

Acrylic wand. Babeland doesn’t carry this any more, so I can’t provide a link. But it’s an acrylic wand, bent at one end for g-spot stimulation and nobbly at the other end. Again, a toy I really should play with more but somehow I don’t end up doing it. I didn’t think I liked hard dildoes until I tried this one. I will have to give this a spin more often.

Lube. Just a general category, silicone-based or water-based ones without glycerin are recommended (glycerin can increase yeast infections in some women). Do NOT under any circumstances use silicone lube with silicone toys, you will ruin your toys. I generally stick with water-based myself. And I once thought this was known by everyone until I had the couple I used to play with try to use baby oil with condoms - you CANNOT use oil-based lubes with condoms. The oil will weaken the latex and your condom won’t provide the protection you’re using it for. If you’re fluid-bound with your partner and not using condoms, or if you use the female condom (it’s made of polyurethane) you can use oil-based.

Silicone toys. Silicone rocks because you can boil it to disinfect. You can run it through the dishwasher even (just take out any vibrating parts first). The rock chick is silicone. I avoid plastic jelly toys like the plague these days (I have a couple I really should just throw out) as the porous jelly will trap bacteria, so even if you’re the only person using it you run the very real risk of infection. (When sharing toys it’s of course recommended to use condoms over them to prevent transmission of infection.) Silicone costs a bit more but it’s definitely worth it.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my little ramble. It’s made me think of toys I should dig out once my period is over (clit toys are so good during your period, you can leave your keeper in). I hope this has been helpful in some way.