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Review: Go Girl

March 05th, 2010 | Category: Real life stories, gender, linkage, queer, review, toys

The name of this product alone makes me want to get all sassy and say “you go girl…”

What is it?

It’s the Go Girl, provided to me for inspection and review by Babeland.

It comes in Camo (above, which we got) or pink.  Not so much my thing. What is it? It’s a STP (stand to pee) device, useable for all sorts of things from gender varient people wanting to use urinals to going camping or even rocking out at musical or Pride festivals. It’s an easier way to pee standing up.

Now, I’ve tried something similar before, also from Babeland last fall; the P style (read my review). I was excited to see what made this one different, and hopefully better, and even chatted it up on twitter with the lovely Nina Hartley.

This review may turn into a comparison of the two. Sorry, but I think that is more helpful.

The Go Girl wins for transit, that’s for sure. It’s flexible, so you can roll it up, put it in this cute little tube it came in, put said tube (and TP if you want) in the little Go Girl plastic bag it came with and done. It’s tiny – you can put it in your purse, pocket, back pack, even sock.  Contrast this to the long and fairly rigid P-Style, and Go Girl wins out on transportable-ness.

How about usability? P-Style wins. Hands down. Both Q and I tried the Go Girl….it aims well, yes, and fits fairly well in the crotch-al region. However, we both had our own issue; when she was using it, she over flowed the cup part, and had to work on slowing down/stopping her urination stream, which is not easy to do.  Mine seemed to be ok as far a speed/quanity was concerned, but I somehow wound up dripping it down my leg (perhaps it was trying to use it while wearing a skirt?). Contrast this with the P-style, which was easy to use, didn’t overflow, and was no drip. Plus, with the P-style, the harder surface can be used to wipe excess pee off in a forward motion much more easily. P-style wins on action.

Both are fairly easy to clean, both can be wiped down easily, both have color options.  All in all, I’d say take the P-style if you have room (they make cute little baggies for it), but the Go-Girl if you have a space/packing issue. One last thought; I think Go Girl is a really stupid name to market something that will be very useful to gender variant folks.  Q certainly doesn’t identify as a girl (nor do I for that matter), and I can’t see a lot of trans men and genderqueer people being like “let me just grab my go girl” with it’s pink packaging.  Marketing could certainly have done better on this part.

5 stars for the concept for Go Girl, but only 3 for actual function.

I wonder what Nina thought of it…

Click here to get a Go Girl of your own, or click here if you’re more in the mood for the P Style.

-Essin’ Em

2 comments

Sex Toy Review: Tantus Revolve

February 26th, 2010 | Category: linkage, review, toys, video

Here is my first fabulous video review (toy and video awesomeness courtesy of Fascinations!). It’s of the really cool aluminum dildo by Tantus, the Alumina Revolve. I liked it a lot, as you can see, and my vulva puppet Viviane makes a cameo as well!

3 comments

Sex Book Review: Morgasm

February 19th, 2010 | Category: book review, linkage, review, toys

I was really excited about this book, and not just because I have a bit of a fetish for collecting every sexuality based book IN THE WORLD (ok, not really, but close). Moregasm is Babeland’s new Guide to Mind Blowing Sex, written by the owners/founders of the lovely Babeland (who sent me this book to review. Take that FTC).

Why was I so excited? Because I was really for an all-encompassing, queer and straight friendly, monogamous and non-monogamous, rocking sex ed book, ready to take the world by storm. As a whole, Babeland is a great company, providing accessible and inclusive sex education to people of various genders, identities, backgrounds and more.

Maybe I hyped it up too much in my own mind, but I do have to say that I wound up being disappointed.

Some parts were great. I loved that they showed different XX bodies; women, genderqueer, gender fuckers, different races, different sizes, etc. Awesome.  They also showed lots of different vulvas, showing that everyone is unique. Again, awesome. They did a great job with talking about cuntacular/vulvar plumbing.

But then the poor pensises didn’t get that kind of love. There weren’t pictures of lots of different XY bodies.  Nor were there pictures of different types of pensises, to help normalize different sizes/shapes/circumcized/uncut.  I remember the first time I saw an uncut penis in a text book in college, and it was a whole different world to me.  Lots of people have never seen one, or are concerned about their size, whether they are curved or not, etc.  I thought it was kind of sad that they chose not to show the awesome variety of men out there.

So I started thinking that maybe this should be called the Queer Guide to Mind Blowing Sex, which, in my mind is a needed book, and that would be awesome.  Yes, Babeland is women focused, but the poor cis guys were getting the short end of the stick here.

Never fear; the chapters on blow jobs and intercourse completely reinforced hetero-normitivity.  All the illustrations showed a traditional looking woman (pretty hair and all) with a traditonal looking man (biceps and all).  Cause you know queer people don’t give blow jobs or have sex.  The strap on section was ridiculous short, and not as inclusive as I had hope.

What did they do well? I thought they showed off a great variety of sex positive toys in all of the chapters. The one exception to this was the lube chapter, where they ONLY showed Babeland lube. Now, Babeland carries other awesome lubes, like Maximus, so it wouldn’t be promoting something they don’t carry, and I know I personally get yeast infections from their Organic Babeland Lube. Ergo, I don’t know why they didn’t expand that chapter.

The book itself is beautiful; I love the color, the pictures inside, the quality. I love the list of resources in the back. I love the relaxed tone they use to talk about sex (although I’d say that lots of women/gender queer people with cunts, myself included, don’t like being refered to as “babe” but I totally get that it IS “Babe”-land).

I think this book would be good for an open minded straight couple, or maybe a therapist working with lots of hetero couples. I’d give it 2 or 3 stars (out of 5), because it is well written, but I was just really sad not to have an inclusive book coming from such a great company.

Click here to be the owner of your own copy of Moregasm.

-Essin’ Em

2 comments

Pleasurists #64

February 12th, 2010 | Category: book review, linkage, pleasurists, review

by Jen Dixon via modelmayhem

Pleasurists is a round-up of the adult product and sex toy reviews that came out in the last seven days. For updates and information follow our RSS Feed and Twitter.

Did you miss Pleasurists #63? Read it all here. Do you have a review for Pleasurists #65? Be sure to read our submission guidelines and then you can use our submission form and submit it before Sunday February 7th at 11:59pm PST.

Want to win some free swag? All you’ve got to do is enter.

Looking for sexy posts other than reviews?

e[lust] #7

Editor’s Pick

  • LELO Ina by Raven Quince

    • Yes! Yes! Yes! Do it again! Mmmmmm! Wow. Thank you, baby.

    INA has given me insta-orgasms. On my first try, despite not knowing how to work the controller and accidentally attempting to insert both parts of it into me, I fumbled my way to a gushing orgasm in just a few quick minutes. The second trial included my husband’s cock and a butt plug – I came strongly and in no time flat. INA my new best friend.

    Note: Possibly the most adorable LELO review ever! Who doesn’t love to see photos of the reviewer in a bunny suit to celebrate LELO’s awesome rabbit vibe! Seriously, go look at the pictures and read it.

Editrix

Scarlet Lotus St. Syr

On to the reviews…

Vibrators

Dildos

Anal Toys

Toys for Cocks

Lube, Massage Oil, Bath Stuff, & etc.

BDSM/Fetish

Adult Books & Games

Adult Movies/Porn

Storage

Lingerie

Miscellaneous

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Book Review: Big Book of Sex Toys

February 09th, 2010 | Category: book review, linkage, review, toys

One of my favorite sex educators, the lovely Tristan Taormino, has just published another fabulous book.  Now, I hold her book Opening Up on various types of relationships (both non-monogamous and monogamous) to be the best in the field, and her book Down and Dirty Sex secrets is one of my favs.  I’m happy to say that her newest book, the Big Book of Sex Toys, does NOT disappoint, and I think is absolutely stunning.

In the past, there have been one or two other books on sex toys. However, the sex toy field has definitely evolved and changed drastically in the last decade, and we needed new material.  Moreover, we needed from someone who knows toys, loves toys, works with and is around toys on a regular basis. Thanks Tristan for stepping up to the plate.

This book talks about toys as a whole, breaking down categories, talking about materials, going from the broad to the specific, covering everything. I didn’t see as much as I would have liked on either kegels/sex toys for kegels, or on sex toys that are great for disabilities, but other than that, I was incredibly impressed by the amount of both breadth and depth of this book.  Tristan really knows her stuff (and knows how to research) and it shows.

My one issue with the book is that while there are absoultely stunning color pictures throughout, with close ups of the toys (although some pictures are used multiple times), and while these pictures contain some racial diveristy, there is certainly no gender or orientation diversity, none the less size and ability diversity.  However, I don’t fault Tristan for this; I know that certain publishers like certain looks for their books, and sometimes go over the author’s head regarding the photography.  Sad, yes, but it happens.

That said, this is an amazing reference book, and while I think anyone would do well to have it, I would specifically and emphatically recommend it to  sex bloggers/sex toy reviews, sex therapist/counselors, sex educators, and anyone who works with people in the field of sexuality. It’s important to know about toys, about materials, and the back of the book has an excellent reference guide pointing out great sex toy stores, sex toy companies, and much.

I give this book 4.5 stars (out of 5). It loses half a star for a combo of the lack of diversity/little bits of missing info I’d like, but I HIGHLY recommend this book, and will definitely be giving it as a present to many of my friends in the future.  Hats of to Tristan for yet another great book!

Click here to get your own copy of the Big Book of Sex Toys!

-Essin’ Em

1 comment

Sex Toy Review: Bendy Beads

February 05th, 2010 | Category: linkage, review, toys

Thanks to the oh so lovely site VibeReview, I’ve gotten a set of Fun Factory Bendy Beads to review.

Now, if you know me, or have read me for any time, you know I’m not a huge fan of the butt sex. I’m certainly no Tristan Taormino.

I’ve tried. I have. J and I gave it a go (both directions), as did F and I.  With J, it involved some epic emotional release on both our parts, and while that was much needed, we just didn’t go there again.  F and I were interested in trying to explore more, but then with all the trust issues and breaking up, that obviously didn’t happen.

However, while chatting with Jiz Lee last January in San Francisco, I got convinced that I wanted to try some actual anal, at some point.  Not because I think it’s hot or awesome or the end all be all of sex, but because it seems like some people have a ton of fun with it. And because I’m adventureous and like doing new things.

So I asked for some anal beads. I figured they’d be a good start.  And they were. However, a large line of black bendy beads was a little intimidating to me and my little butt home.

They’re made of 100% medical grade silicone (so it means to clean, you wash them in soap and water. To sterilize, boil them 3-5 minutes, wipe them down with 10% bleach solution, or dishwash them on the top shelf with no soap).  However, as a reminder, make sure you use water-based lube with them, as silicone-based can reacted badly with the other silicone.

I’m still working on these. Apparently, I have a shy butt. Add to that a new job, not a ton of alone time, and stress, and getting things in my ass has become a little difficult.  I’ve been able to get the first two in. And you know what, for me, that’s a success.  This is definitely going to be a process.  However, that’s ok.  If anything, it’s good for people do know that not everyone goes from butt virgin to anal queen over night.

This is a good product. It’s actually probably a great product.  I’ll let you know as I get to test it out more.  I might also invest in a Flexi Felix, as I think he’s a little bit smaller and less intimidating.

And that, my dead readers, is the first step of what may become an epic anal adventure.

Click here to get your own set of Bendy Beads.

5 comments

Sex Toy Review: Lovemosielle Aveline

January 29th, 2010 | Category: review, toys

I love love love sex toys made out of various materials.  I own wood, glass, steel, ceramic, aluminum, granite, silicone and more. I’m still lusting after marble (if you want to help me out here, drop me a line and we’ll talk).  Ergo, I was quite excited when one of the sex toy companies I review for offered to give me a new ceramic dildo to test out.

This toy (the Lovemoiselle Aveline) is geared towards G-spot stimulation and exploration, or so it says.  Because it’s ceramic, it IS sterilizable, meaning you can boil it (3-5 minutes), dishwash it (top shelf, no soap) or wipe it down with a 10% bleach solution in order to share it.  Otherwise, soap and warm water will do fine.  As a note, I believe this product is hollow, unlike the other ceramic dildo I have…I’m not sure if that changes how you clean it in general. I just popped out the seal at the bottom, and boiled the ceramic part.  Why it is hollow, I have no idea, but I don’t like it.  It’s not as safe, in my mind, as a solid ceramic piece.

I enlisted Q to help me on reviewing this one. When we started dating/fucking, she only like soft (read: silicone) toys.  Since then, her favorite toy has become the Tantus Motion, and she also really loves a G-spot geared glass toy we have. Ergo, I thought she’d be the perfect candidate.

Verdict? She does in face like this toy, but not nearly as much as the glass or Tantus one. She didn’t seem to like the feeling of the material as much, both of us were annoyed by how light it was (compared to other ceramic toys, as well as glass and metal), and the curve didn’t fit either of us just right.  That said, it’s still a pretty good toy. If you don’t like a LOT of curve in your G-spot toys, this might be a happy medium between a super curved one and a straight one.  Also, I’ve met a lot of people that DON’T like the weight that is present in most ceramic, glass and metal toys. Because it’s hollow, this toy is in face much lighter, so that make work perfectly for anyone looking for something more…feathery light. It IS a nice dildo.

It is a very pretty toy (glad mine was blue and not pink!), and could totally be left out as an artistic piece.  We like it, but not enough to keep it in the night stand.  However, it does make the FYN Toy Case, and has not yet been shunted to the FYN Rolling Toy Trunk. 3.5 stars, out of 5.

Click here to get your own beautiful, ceramic dildo.

-Essin’ Em

1 comment

Sex Toy Review: Better Than Chocolate

January 22nd, 2010 | Category: review, toys

BTC

I LOVE chocolate.  Particularly GOOD chocolate. Milk chocolate is ok, and I’m not a fan of white, but a good piece of dark or bittersweet can really rev me up, and provides almost as much pleasure as a night with the Hitachi.

So when I first saw this new Nomi Tang vibe with the name “Better than Chocolate,” I did a double take. NOTHING is better than chocolate.  I mean, perhaps it was “close to as awesome as chocolate,” or even “on par with the amazing-ness of chocolate,” but certainly not BETTER than chocolate. I HAD to have one in order to verify these claims, and Babeland was kind enough to oblige my curiousity.

What is this new toy that claims to be superior to the cocoa bean? It’s a futuristic stingray shaped, ergonomic (would be great for people with varied motor skill abilities) vibrator that distains the traditional button system, and instead allows you to control your level of vibration as well as type of vibrating stimulation by a fancy schmancy little slider bar.  You slide it one way to increase vibration, the other way to decrease, and you tap the blue NT (NomiTang) logo to change the type of vibration you’re getting. It doesn’t stop there; once you figure out exactly how you like the buzziness, you tap the other end of the slider for two seconds, and it locks it on your setting. Impressive? Yes.

Currently, the color selection is purple (kind of a magenta) or blue (deep, dark blue). Thank goodness – I was afraid I’d fall in love with this new toy, and that it would be pink. [new readers: I am incredibly allergic to, and HATE the color pink]. It’s made of elastomer, which is phthalate free (although I don’t think it is sterilizable – any yays or nays on this?), and feels absolutely delightful. I always love sex toys that you WANT to touch and feel and put on your naughty bits.

It takes AAA batteries, which after having reviewed so many rechargeable toys(like the Form Six and the Delight), we had to actually scrounge to find them. Totally worth it.

I like this toy a lot. Which surprises me. I don’t usually like vibrators unless they can blow up a nuclear missile. While the BTC probably will never be ever to get me to climax, it felt good. Really damn good. I enjoyed having it hug my clit, and tease me. It was tantilizing.  And Q? Ha! Q loved this toy.  She loved it when she put the batteries in, she loved it when I ran it over her body, and while she didn’t really form actual words while I used it on her cunt, I’m pretty sure by the noises she DID make that she loved it there. Its shape is brilliant, and actually let me stimulate both her clit AND her cunt opening at the same time.

I also really appreciated the box it came in, and the little cloth carry bag (similar to the idea of the one that comes with all Lelo toys). They actually made a big deal about not using plastic in the packaging to be more earth friendly.  Marketing schtick? Perhaps, but it sure got me to notice and be impressed.

While I’m not sure that this toy is in fact better than chocolate (because really, even the Hitachi is a tie), it is pretty damn close.  It’s been very hard finding a vibrator that BOTH Q and I like, since we have so varied tastes, but we both give this one 5 stars. It’s eco friendly, body friendly, pink haters friendly, and has an interesting concept with great vibrations options. I can say that despite my expectations of wanting to pick it apart, I actually really do like this vibe.

Click here to get your very own, pretty damn close to as satisfying as chocolate vibrator.

-Essin’ Em

7 comments

Sex Toy Review: The G-Pop

January 15th, 2010 | Category: amusing, linkage, review, toys

g pop

This is the G-Pop.  After more than 3 years of reviewing (and 6 years of trying out) various sex toys, I can in fact honestly say that I have truly never seen anything like it. Period.

I mean, I’ve seen crops that look like lollipops. And lollipops that look like they shoul be inserted (but really shouldn’t be, because that’s just asking for a yeast infection). But in all my sexplorations, I have never seen a dildo that looks like this. A lollipop for your G-Spot.

Right. It’s a long metal rod, with a giant (it comes in three diameters; 1.5″, 2″ and 2.38″) steel ball on the end. Yup.

That’s the G-Pop.

I got the 1.5″ in red. You can also get it in pink or silver (the ball – all the rods are silver with a black handle).  It doesn’t look that big, but it was a little tight going into the cunt.

Q did NOT like it.  When I oh so sexily tried to slide (or rather, POP) it into her, she gave me a look. Once inside, I tried doing fun and exciting things with it. She was very much NOT impressed. I tried more things.  Wiggling it, fucking her with it, bopping with it. Nada. She put it very politely when she said “I’m sure SOME women would like the sensation of this…but not me.”  However, I enjoyed using it as percussive toy, and used it to gently beat her ass and chest.

So I figured I’d try it. I like g-spot stimulation, and can even squirt/ejaculate (edit: I can pretty much only squirt/ejaculate with her – it’s an unstoppable force of nature). In it went – pop. It felt a bit uncomfortable going in (and keep in mind, I put fists in my cunt), but once inside me, it felt to be a good size.

Squeezing my kegel muscles around it felt good. I grabbed the rod and moved it to and fro, in and out. Over all, it felt fairly good…some angles were definitely better than others. As a warning, be careful with the speed and intensity – it’s a pretty heavy steel ball in your cunt, and too hard or fast kind of hurts.

When I had the right angle, it definitely stimulated my g-spot. In fact, it’s the closest I’ve ever come to having Q’s hand in me (which, trust me, is a VERY good thing).  More over, after I played with it, Q fucked me, and I ejaculated a RIDICULOUS amount (soaked through multi layers of towels) which Q says is in the top 3 amounts of fluid…ever. Ergo, I think the g-pop does a great job of stimulating the g-spot…in people who like that kind of stimulation. I don’t know if I could really use it to get off (although possibly with a lot of foreplay, and no one watching), but it was a fun pre-fucking kind of toy.  I like the 1.5″ – you’d have to hav a fairly large cunt to fit those much bigger…especially since metal isn’t squishable like hands and silicone. Just a thought.

I’d actually give it 4 stars (out of 5). I was way more impressed than I thought I’d be, and definitely more than Q. It’s a different, creative, and pretty toy, and one that gives my g-spot a very lovely massage. I’d recommend it for anyone who loves g-spot stimulation!

Click here to get a 1.5″ G-Pop

Click here to get a 2″ G-Pop

Click here to get a 2.38″ G-Pop

-Essin’ Em

4 comments

Porn Review: Trannywood Picture’s Couch Surfers 2

January 11th, 2010 | Category: linkage, queer, review, video

couchsurfers2

What better to do in honor of having a porn-tastic weekend than review some porn right here on Sexuality Happens.

I’ve been watching and enjoying Trannywood Pictures for quite some time – here you can see my review of Couch Surfers (the first).

It may have taken two years for them to have come out with a new DVD, but it’s worth it. Granted, I was a little heartbroken that my favorite guy, Ian Foxe, didn’t make a return, but heartbreaker Dex Hardlove and the adorable Lube Boy, Ian Sparks and much of the gang are all back in action, plus some new faces.

This gay porn with a mix of trans guys and cis guys is the only thing like it on the market, and it’s no wonder it is so popular. There isn’t much of a plot, but nor does there need to be – it’s a bunch of hot guys (including some bears – oh my!) getting in on all over the place at the Eros Center for Safe Sex.

Speaking of which, I always love that in their movies, Trannywood chooses to discuss and use safer sex.  In this one, there is a conversation between a set of partners about using barriers, and they choose not to. I’m going to assume that they are in a real life, fluid bonded relationship, and I really appreciated seeing that dialogue.  I also loved that overall, there was lots of use of condoms, dams (for analingus), gloves, etc. Oh yeah – the DVD also includes a handout on why fuck a transguy (and the other side for a cis guy) Politics in my porn; I LOVE it.

The sex scenes were hot, and one boggled my mind.  Picture two cis guys going at it, using neither of their bio cocks to fuck (until one gets a blow job at the end). It’s things like that which make me love Trannywood in the first place. I like to think a little while I jerk off, but that’s just how I roll.

While I still think that Couch Surfers (the first) was my favorite, what with Hardlove’s double fising scene (which I got to replicate in a vaginal fisting class I taught, fulfilling that fantasy), I definitely enjoyed CS2 – great quality of film production, hot cock sucking, rimming and fucking, and a fun musical score.  Whether you like gay male porn, or love seeing FTMs in actions, I think this is definitely worth a shot. Don’t forget, V-day is coming up…order one for your sweetie.

You can get your own copy of Couch Surfers 2 at Smitten Kitten by clicking here!

-Essin’ Em

1 comment

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