Go Girl

Since I reviewed the P Style, another reusable tool to allow the dickless to pee standing up, I thought it only fair that I review this product for comparison. The P Style was functional (with practice). The Go Girl, however, puts it to shame. It is a clearly superior design and is a 100% no-leak win from the very first piss. Better than sliced bread. I kid you not!

It's soft and bendy, like a dick is 95% of the time (unless it's 14 years old, then that percentage drops to 50) and easy to aim.

It has an enclosed channel -- again, like a dick -- so no matter how hard and fast you pee, the raging river isn't gonna overflow its banks.

It's comfy against your body. No hard plastic edges to scratch delicate places.

And it's really quite fun. You totally could write your name in the snow with this bad boy... erm, girl.

I found it simplest to use with one foot resting on the toilet seat, which is fine if you're naked or wearing a skirt but a bit more problematic if you're in pants/shorts. It's not difficult to use with your britches around your ankles, mind you. It just takes a bit more effort to hit the bowl. Outdoors while hiking or camping or skiing? No problemo. Let 'er rip! (You'll want to stop, if skiing. Do not attempt to use Go Girl whilst zooming down the slopes or you'll have piss-cicles on your ski pants.)

Both are very easy to clean & reusable. Both are priced at $12. I think that's on the high side for the P Style, but fair for the Go Girl.

Until next time...

peace & passion,

~ Alessia

Here's what Babeland has to say:

If you've always wanted to pee standing up but your anatomy prevents it, the Go Girl is the STP (Stand to Pee) device for you. Soft, flexible silicone cups you comfortably, allowing you to pee freely and direct the stream where you want it to go. Of course, the silicone also makes for easy cleanup — just rinse/wipe it off, then boil it for disinfection later. And the pliable material allows you to fold/scrunch it up and stuff it in a bag or pocket for later. Great for gender transition, camping, public bathrooms, writing your name in the snow...

Smartballs Teneo

Some product reviews take a bit longer than others because there's so much testing to be done, and the Smartballs Teneo by Fun Factory is one of them.  Part sex toy, part health aid, these silicone puppies are designed to strengthen and tone a woman's pelvic floor -- her pubococcygeal (or PC, for short) muscle -- thereby enhancing sensation during sex (in addition to other health benefits such as preventing urinary incontinence).

They can be worn discreetly for exercise or stimulation, and they can be used during many types of sex play -- either solo or with a friend (or two or three). Unlike some Ben Wa balls I've explored, this product doesn't have that metallic, almost gong-like chime that can sometimes be heard *eep* through layers of clothing. Thus, if you go to that PTA meeting wearing the Smartballs Teneo Uno (single) or Duo (double), you're not going to potentially broadcast your secret to those near enough to hear it. I find the Uno delightful accompaniment while grocery shopping, for example.

I'm not all that fond of the Duo as an exercise device. It seems having that much bulk inside leaves no room for movement, and movement is key to exercise. Even the inner balls seem to move less. I just feel... full. Not stimulated.

Now, during masturbation, the Duo provides a very nice assist to clitoral stimulation. Unlike a dildo, it doesn't have to be held in place in order to provide that desired fullness. (If you need thrusting action, of course, you'll want to stick with the dildo.) Vibrations, thanks to those inner balls, carry well and provide more than adequate g-spot stimulation.

The product comes with a packet of water-based lube, and I recommend using it. The balls have the circumference of an above-average penis, and they can take some maneuvering to insert -- especially if you start while unaroused. Given their size, I was a wee bit concerned about removal, but the silicone "string" did just fine. (I had visions of it snapping like a rubber band, leaving the ball inside and a nasty sting outside. My worries were completely unfounded.) They're super easy to clean, too!

I gotta admit, the ridges on the outside did nothing for me, either during insertion or while inside.  In fact, they undoubtedly made insertion a bit more laborious. I suppose if you had really loose muscles, they might help keep the balls from sliding out when you didn't want them to, but I have a hard time imagining anything this big "accidentally" sliding out of anyone. Besides, the Smartballs Teneo doesn't have the weight of traditional Ben Wa balls, so I never really felt the pull of gravity in that way.

I recommend you give the Smartballs Teneo a try.

Until next time...

peace & passion,

~ Alessia

Here's what Good Vibrations has to say:

Similar in design to the original Smartballs, these new "smarter" balls have an ergonomic finger groove for easy insertion, a silicone string for ready removal and extra texture for increased sensitivity. Hailed as the modern Ben-Wa, these silicone coated spheres contain a ball bearing. When rolled, they produce a sensation often referred to as “natural” vibration. Their size and shape also make them great for G-Spot stimulation.

Smartballs are also excellent kegel exercisers. Fabulous for focus, they give the PC muscles a wonderful workout. Now available as either doubles or singles, you can take two or choose just one and use them both for fitness and fun! Each Smartball is 1 3/4” long, 1 1/2” in diameter. Assorted colored Silicone.

Best Lesbian Erotica 2009

Being a writer of high-quality smut myself, I love really good dirty stories.

Tristan Taormino's Best Lesbian Erotica 2009 anthology marks her last year as editor of the series, and she has ended her tenure with an amazing collection of hot erotica. Some of these stories are so intense, touching or thought-provoking that they have burned themselves into my brain, and I find myself going back and reading them over and over again. "Dream Date" by Radclyffe features one of the sweetest, yet incredibly hot, pay-for-sex scenes I have ever read. Teresa Noelle Roberts' "Tough Enough To Wear A Dress" is, hands down, my favourite piece in the book, providing wonderful insight as to why one of the characters has panic attacks when confronted with feminine clothes. These are only two of the two dozen pieces in the book and no matter what you are looking for, I am positive you will find at least one story that makes you weak-kneed.

One interesting point worth noting is most of the stories deal with butch-femme, BDSM or strap-on sex, and in many cases all three at once. "On Snow-White Wings" by Shanna Germain is the only pure vanilla story in the collection that comes to mind and actually sticks out noticeably. The story is sweet, emotional and sensual and acts like a summer afternoon rain shower -- cooling and refreshing -- allowing the temperature to build once again in the second half of the book.

Being of the male gender, I'm not sure if I am the most appropriate person to review a fabulous book of lesbian erotica but I am very glad to be given the chance to dive into a world where the lesbians aren't all lipstick, the bois have more between their legs than I do and the passion is honest and true.

~ Maximilian Lagos
www.maxlagos.com

Here's what Babeland has to say:

We don’t know how, but the bestselling Best Lesbian Erotica series manages to get hotter every year, and 2009 is no exception. Beloved sex educator/director/author Tristan Taormino puts together another winning collection, taking us along for sexy trysts at the bar, the beach, the tattoo parlor, and the public park (to name just a few). Desire knows no bounds here in the world of handsome butches, flirtatious femmes, and every lezzy in between and beyond. No matter what gets you going, from sweet seductions to hardcore fucking to envelope-pushing power dynamics, you’ll find erotic satisfaction here.

• Binding Style: Paperback
• Type: Erotica
• Number of Pages: 302
• Copyright: 2008

Tenga Squeeze Play

Environmental concerns aside, the concept of disposable sex toys makes a lot of sense, especially masturbators for men. No muss, no fuss, just pop the cap back on when you are done and into the garbage it goes. And the Tenga Squeeze Play, in addition to being one use, is one of the best masturbation toys I have ever tried.

Physically, it resembles a freakishly large tube of toothpaste. Tenga also didn't bother trying to make the opening look anatomical, opting instead for a simple hole. The entire design of the product is very purpose oriented, which is really what men look for when we need to get off solo. It is even prelubricated which makes things VERY convenient. But that is just packaging, the real magic is on the inside.

The inside of the tube is nicely form fitting and lined with tiny knobs to add to the sensation. There is a small hole in the top which easily controls the suction and pressure inside the tube but which also leads to some amusing squishing and farting noises. Overall however, it was still a pretty insignificant distraction. The sensation will never fool you into thinking you are making whoopie to another human being, but it still felt very good and was more than capable of completing its task.

Overall, the Squeeze Play is almost perfect. Almost.

The biggest drawback would be the price. For a disposable item, it should be cheap but the prices I have seen online, although not as much as a Fleshlight, for example, are still much too high for a throw away. Until the price comes down, I am afraid for me anyway, the Tenga Squeeze Play will remain a novelty as opposed to a temporary, but replenished, resident of my toy chest.

~ Maximilian Lagos
www.maxlagos.com

Here's what Babeland has to say:

You’ll be entering (get it?) a whole new realm of masturbation sleeves when you try Tenga Squeeze Play. As soon as you touch the inner ribs and bumps and feel the glorious suction, there’ll be no turning back. Tenga has custom-engineered a line of men’s products based on extensive product testing and feedback from a veritable army of volunteers, so it’s no wonder that this toy provides a solo sexual experience like no other toy we’ve encountered. Your choice of two sizes and how tight you squeeze on the Tenga determines the tightness of the ride. Tenga products are disposable, pre-lubricated, and designed for one-time use.

• Size: 6” x 2”; 7” x 2-1/2” (internal)
• Material: ABS and TPE plastic
• Lube Ingredients: Water, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxyl Ethyl Cellulose, Sodium Polyacrylate, Phenoxyethanol, IPBC, Paraben

Truth or Dare

Maybe it is because we are old. Or maybe it is because we have been together for a million years. Or maybe my wife and I have actually had every conversation a married couple can have. Well, for whatever reason, Truth or Dare: A Game of Passion by Chronicle Books didn't teach us anything new about ourselves or each other. We did end the night having great sex, but I don't think it had much to do with the game.

A couple glasses of wine might have shifted our mood a little bit or made the cutsie-worded Dares easier to get into. For a game dealing with such mature topics, the language used on the cards did not do anything to set a sexy mood... made me actually feel like I was back in grade school, way too nervous to ask my crush to the Friday night dance.

The Truth cards were far more interesting than the Dare. So after a few minutes, we just boxed the Dares and took turns reading each other the Truths. We laughed quite a bit and made up some more silly than sexy answers, both agreeing the Truth side was good but could be even better with a group of people playing and again, several bottles of wine.

I did offer to send the game to a friend who is looking to reconcile with her husband. In a recent conversation, one of her fantasies was revealed to a surprised: "I didn't think you would be into that." It might be just the thing she needs to break the ice and open those lines of communication again. New couples would probably have fun with Truth or Dare, too, loosening inhibitions because "the cards told us to."

Personally, I am going to stick with Strip Poker and Spin The Bottle.

~ Maximilian Lagos
www.maxlagos.com

Here's what Good Vibrations has to say:

Think Truth or Dare went out of the style after High School? Well think again with this stylish and sexy version of an old classic great for couples (or adventurous groups). Explore your inhibitions or share some sexy secrets with the 100 game cards and a roll of the die as you take turns revealing your favorite sex toy or demonstrating your hottest sexual position. The questions are smart and sexy and the dares are really fun. Whether rain or shine, you might want to start spending every day indoors.

6 ¼” x 5 x 1 ¾” box.

Includes 100 game cards, one die, and instructions.

Spartacus Alligator Nipple Clamps

I have never had sensitive nipples. Gentle rubbing feels okay, but any real amount of pressure and I just stop feeling altogether. It didn’t even really hurt when I got my left one pierced.

But, I LOVE playing with other people’s nipples. They are a primary target for my tongue, fingers, and clothespins on lovers and playmates. So, the chance to play with a set of Spartacus Alligator Nipple Clamps was pretty exciting.

My wife was eager to try them too, but when I stalked across the bedroom floor, opening and closing the alligator-style clips like hungry little metal mouths, she rolled over onto her belly and wouldn’t let me anywhere near The Girls. Her nipples are oversensitive on the best of days, and the thought of the chained clamps biting down on her tender bits was making them hide in the mattress.

Sadly, her instincts were correct. To keep the clamps with their rubber coated teeth actually on her nipples, they had to be tightened well past her comfort point. Anything less and they would fall off with the slightest movement. And there was NO way we were taking off the rubber coating and subjecting ourselves to the razor-sharp teeth.

They were a bit pinchy even on my small, numb nubbins but they did hold better on mine than hers. The set screw used to hold the clips open didn’t want to budge under pressure, so adjustment meant taking them off, backing the screw off, and clamping them back on… usually to have them fall off again.

If you enjoy nipple torture and have a bit of experience, you may like the Spartacus Alligator Nipple Clamps. I will bring them to my next fetish party and use them mercilessly on my date for the evening. But if you are new to clamps, these may be more of a frustration than a fantasy.

~ Maximilian Lagos
www.maxlagos.com

Here's what Babeland has to say:

Enjoy a tantalizing pinch on your nipples, labia, or anywhere else with the sturdy, adjustable Crocodile Clamps. The slender tips deliver localized pressure, and the screw allows you to adjust the pressure with one hand tied behind your back (or otherwise occupied!). Go as light or as tight as you choose – you’ll be surprised at how pleasurable and intoxicating the sensation can be when you’re in the heat of the moment. Take nipple play to a whole new level with this Babeland classic.

* Size: 17” (LOA)
* Material: Metal and soft plastic

Floggers in Time Magazine?

You could've knocked me over with a feather when I saw the article. I guess sex toys have finally reached mainstream media, even if the hook was environmental.

Check it out. :-)

peace and passion,

~ Alessia