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Acuvibe Mini Stands up to the Magic Wand

I do love my Hitachi. I love my Hitachi so very much. But sometimes the cord is just a hassle, and it's too cumbersome for partner play. So, when I spotted the more compact & rechargeable Acuvibe Mini, in Babeland's review newsletter, I just had to give it a go, and boy am I glad I did!

Appearance & Construction: Much like the Hitachi and full-size Acuvibe, the Acuvibe Mini is a utilitarian looking toy. The body is made of hard plastic, and the vibrating head sits on a short flexible neck. There's a slight nub on one side of the head, but I suspect that's more useful for actual muscle massage than for recreational purposes. Of course, it's my luck to get the pink Mini to review, because the universe has a sense of humor like that, but it also comes in a neutral bluish-gray (as shown).

The Acuvibe Mini is roughly half the size of the Hitachi, and the big, huge, tremendous advantage is the built-in rechargeable power supply. Plug it in for 8 hours when you get it, plug it in every 2–3 uses after that, and you're set. No cumbersome cord tying you to the wall.

Function & Features: The Acuvibe Mini is a basic one-speed, non-insertable vibrator. The vibration intensity is roughly equivalent to the Low setting on a Hitachi Magic Wand, but at a seemingly slower vibration frequency (which may be a good or bad thing for different users … it's mostly a neutral difference to me).

It's pretty innocuous-looking, making it appealing for partner play with guys who aren't thrilled to invite gigantic fake dicks into bed with them, and you can even sneak it between the sheets by starting out using it for an effective back massage! This little bugger is perfectly strong enough to use for innocent, legitimate massage.

And, have I mentioned it's rechargeable?! ;-) These days I really can't see any reason to make your customers mess with replacing batteries all the time. Rechargeable power supplies have really come a long way in the size/weight department.

Technique & Conclusion: Technique? Switch on, hold against skin where ever it feels good. It's blessedly fool proof.

Conclusion? Buy the Acuvibe Mini if the following list describes you…
You love your Hitachi dearly, but:

• …wish you didn't have to be within a few feet of a power outlet at all times.
• …you'd like something a little more compact (and a bit quieter) as your traveling companion.
• …want a similarly powerful but less cumbersome toy to enjoy with a good "friend".

…say hello to your vibrating knight in shining armour, the Acuvibe Mini!

Q: how can i convince my wife for anal???

Well, you don't say whether you've brought the subject up with her before or not, but my number one piece of advice is this: Don't push it! Seriously, if you have mentioned the idea to her, and she wasn't open to it, bringing it up over and over again is just going to kill any chance you may have had in the first place.

Now, there are a whole bunch of reasons someone might be against the idea of having anal sex. They may have heard it hurts (which it can, if you're not careful). They think the idea of anal sex is dirty, and something only "perverts" do. They may have religiously-based beliefs against it. Or, they may just think it's unsanitary and/or gross. They may even have tried anal before, and had a bad experience with it. The problem here is that except for reason #1, the rest are really hard to argue with, because there's really no way to prove any of them wrong.

Now, if you haven't brought up the subject yet, or her reaction wasn't completely negative, here are some things you can try doing to warm her up to the idea:

• Use your finger while you're going down. (And yes, if you want her to give up the back door, I'd consider it damn near a requirement that you do some favors for her first. ;-) When you're going down on her, and she's getting really excited, you could try gently stroking or tickling her anus with a wet finger, and see how she reacts.
• Move up slowly. If she seems to like external stimulation, the next time you could try applying some gentle pressure, and eventually getting a little lube on your finger and inserting it a little way inside. If using your finger goes well, you could buy a small butt plug, or beginner anal toy, and using that with her. Once she gets used to the idea, suggesting anal intercourse will be easier …
• Don't push your luck. The really key thing to remember is that she may only ever be willing to go as far as your finger, or a toy … or she may never be comfortable with anal stimulation at all. So, don't push it. The last thing you want to do is push her to the point where she starts resenting it. If you already have a good sex life, you wouldn't want to ruin it trying to "score" something you're never going to get in the first place.

Q: I really enjoy my boyfriend, and we usually have a good time in bed. However, he's really *ahem* long, and I'm really not.

We've tried different positions to alleviate his being too long, but what would really help if there was a sex ring that we could put on his cock during sex to "take up some space" so he wouldn't have to concentrate on going to deep and hurting me.

Is there such a thing?
-Shorty

Not to worry, Shorty. :-) You can indeed get a stretchable cock ring, and have him wear it just around the base of his shaft (rather than around both penis and scrotum, like usual). If you pick out an extra wide cock ring, it should help "take up space" just fine … and if that ring doesn't do the trick, here's a 2 inch wide cock ring that might work even better.

Of course, depending on how hard he's thrusting it's possible that those rings, when stretched around him, won't be thick enough to stop penetration, so I was looking around for something thicker that could serve the same purpose. I found an adjustable cushion and strap set designed to be used with a penis enlargement gadget. Magnum Comfort Cushions look like they'd work perfectly! They're quite thick, and fit over an included adjustable strap.

Good luck, Shorty! :-)

Big Teaze's Tuyo is not a tease at all.

I wanted to review Big Teaze Toys' spherical Tuyo vibrator because it was strange. It's about the size of a baseball, so it's no good for penetration. There's no little nubs sticking out anywhere, so it can't do much for direct clitoral stimulation. How well would this pretty thing actually work? Surprisingly, it works quite well for me.

Appearance & Construction: Made of an elegant-looking combination of smooth plastic, silicone (for the center band and control button), and shiny stainless steel rings (which, as I discovered, actually help hold the thing together, rather than just being a pretty decoration), the Tuyo feels quite well-made when you hold it.

It's a lovely toy to look at, and it comes in a well made, satin-covered and lined box, with a hinged lid. Yet another toy you could leave sitting around, in or out of its box, without many people realizing what it was.

Function & Features: The Tuyo features three steady vibration patterns and five pulsation settings, powered by three AAA batteries. You cycle through the settings by repeatedly pushing the control button. Interestingly, the pulse patterns are more involved than a simple repeating "high/low" throb. One is so fast it's more of a stutter, one follows a couple low-intensity beats with a sudden strong buzz, and so on.

The vibrating motor is located in the bottom half of the sphere, opposite the control button, so the button is convenient to your index finger if you grip it around the silicone band with the rest of your hand. This is quite nice while experimenting with the different settings, looking for the one you like best.

Big Teaze describes this toy as "splash proof", and the instruction book specifies it shouldn't be submerged. I'm guessing it would probably be OK in the shower, but don't bring it to a hot tub party.

Technique & Conclusion: The shape is very comfortable to hold, and rolls nicely in circles without losing contact with any important spots (unlike smaller clit vibes), which is exactly what ended up working for me: Rolling it in circles at the highest steady-vibration setting.

The shape does inspire interesting possibilities: You and your partner might be able to nestle the ball in between you during sex, or you could squeeze it between your thighs while giving head, or even use it as a back massage tool… it definitely sparks the ol' creative thinking more than the usual "vibrating dick" style of toy. Also, if your partner isn't really comfortable bringing more conventional-looking toys into bed, the Tuyo might be abstract enough to convince them otherwise.

I am one of those women who just loves a Hitachi wand, so I'm all about the intense vibration thing. A lot of women find really strong vibes are just too much for them, and I think the Tuyo would really shine for that crowd! It also nestles quite nicely between your thighs, so another potential fan crowd might be women who like to lie on top of their vibes when they masturbate. But all in all, it's quite reasonably priced for such a well-made toy, and I think almost anyone could find an interesting way of enjoying one!

Q: is it normal for cum to have inconsistent texture? mine always has more than one: a runny clear fluid, runny milky, and a thick gooey milky one. all at the same time. i know i'm clear of any std's or other illnesses. it has been like that as long as i can remember

If you're otherwise healthy, and it's always been that way, then it's normal for you. In my experience, the first "spurt" of semen is always a bit different than the last, with variations in between. The thing to watch out for is any change in what's "normal" for you … but if everything is the same as it's always been, I doubt you have anything to worry about.

One thing I feel compelled to add here is never to watch porn and assume it has anything to do with what should be "normal". It's not uncommon in the adult movie industry to have cum "stand ins" for guys who don't shoot movie-quality "monster loads", so don't give it a moment of thought if your ejaculate doesn't look like what you see on DVDs or the internet! (To say nothing of the fact that I haven't talked to any women who are worried about their male partner's semen, unless they're trying to get pregnant and can't.) If you enjoy your sex life, and you're STD free, it's all good!

[added] It occurred to me today that I should add something here: Your level of overall hydration also affects the consistency of your cum. The more dehydrated you are, the less fluid your semen will be.

Q: how do i do masturbating in the easiest way……..without using any tools or sex toys?………….am a boy……..

Well, if you don't want to use any tools or toys, I hope you don't consider lube (or hand lotion) a "tool" … Not being a boy myself, the consensus of the boys I do know is that your hand is the best option if you don't want to use anything else (unless you're flexible and/or well-endowed enough to give yourself a blow-job).

Some guys put on condoms, and use the gap between the mattress and box spring on their bed as a "partner", or between the couch cushions and couch frame, or lay on top of a pillow and use the gap between the pillow and the bed (the condom is pretty important to prevent chafing if you're using furniture), but compared to the good ol' hand job, I'd hardly call any of those options the "easiest way".

Sorry I don't have a more revolutionary answer for you, but if it ain't broke don't fix it, right?

Eco Delight: Who couldn't love it?

The Eco Delight kit (which I've been eagerly awaiting since I first started reviewing for Babeland) pairs one of Babeland's nicest premium vibrators with a collection of truly delightful accessories: a Babeland soy massage candle, three vegan Mambo condoms, and a full-size bottle of Babeland Naked organic lube, all wrapped in pink Babeland tissue paper inside a handmade paper bag studded with flower seeds (you can actually plant the bag and grow a flower garden!), with a classy gift tag already attached.

If you're looking for Valentine's Day gift ideas, and your girlfriend or wife loves to play with toys, have Babeland ship one of these kits to you ASAP! Not only will she enjoy the Delight vibe for a long time to come, but the rest of the kit is just perfect for a romantic night together at home.

The folks at Babeland clearly put some thought into the selection of products in this kit, because they all work well on their own, and work even better together…

Delight G-Spot Vibrator

The Delight g-spot vibe just might be the be-all and end-all of vibrators for women who like a gentler vibe than something like the Hitachi Magic Wand, or for women who love their g-spot vibe, but need a little clitoral stimulation to put them over the edge.

Appearance & Construction: The Delight is a beautiful toy. With it's gracefully curved s-shape and two-tone silicone & hard plastic body, it's almost as much a work of art as it is a sex toy. It comes in three color combinations: Black silicone and white plastic, two-tone pink, and blue silicone with purple plastic, each with a discreet charger/storage case in matching colors.

Features & Usage: The Delight is rechargeable, so if you keep it stored in its charger/storage case, and keep the power cord plugged in, it's always ready to go. And go it does! The simple + and - control buttons glow red when it's turned on, making it really easy to see what you're doing in the dark. Just hold the + button down for one second to turn it on, then continue to press the + button to cycle through all the settings.

I have read descriptions claiming there are 32 different settings on the Delight, but actually there are 11: eight increasingly intense steady vibration options, followed by three pulsating vibration patterns that switch on after "Level 8", when you hold the + button for another second. Each pulse setting is a bit faster than the last, and my lord, I don't think I've used anything but the pulse settings since the first test drive!

Technique: The curve of the Delight is perfectly engineered. When the flexible silicone end is inserted, it finds the g-spot almost instantly, and the plastic body curves back over your clitoris so the lighted control buttons face toward you over top of your pubic bone. It may or may not be able to hit your g-spot and clit at the same time, depending on how the shape fits your body, but when you rock it back and forth, which the shape almost begs for, it will definitely hit them both (and when you get it rocking in time with one of the pulse settings… woooo!).

The end of the handle forms a loop behind the controls, perfectly shaped so you can hook a finger through it and have the controls right at your thumbtip. Then just rock it back and forth and play with the speed and pulse settings until you find the magic combo that tickles you just right.

Babeland Naked Organic Lube

The label carries the following boasts: 100% Natural; Infused with herbs; Therapeutic-grade essential oils; Cruelty-free, 99% vegan; No petro-chemicals; No parabens. It comes in a pretty blue glass bottle, with a tastefully designed label. It smells nice. That all sounds very good, but does Naked Lube actually perform when it's put to the test?

The answer is a resounding YES! I first tried Naked lube with the Delight vibrator (and with the soft texture of the silicone end, you definitely want to use lube with the Delight). It worked phenomenally well. A half hour later, the lube hadn't disappeared or gotten uncomfortably sticky (both problems with a lot of water/glycerin-based lubricants). Definitely a match made in heaven.

A few nights later, I grabbed the bottle to use with a friend. When he first saw the gel consistency of the lube in my hand, he asked, "Does it work?" I had wondered the same thing at first. It comes out of the pump as a drip-free gel, but there isn't a hint of tackiness when you rub it on yourself, your partner, or your toy. After a couple seconds of thorough "hands-on application" from me, he was convinced too. ;-)

I will say that Naked started to get a little tacky after a solid hour of energetic "testing" … but rather than applying more lube, all that's needed is a little extra moisture. A bit of saliva, and the lube was as effective as ever. Babeland's Naked Organic Lubricant gets an enthusiastic thumbs up from this woman!

Babeland Soy Massage Candle

The "rice flower" scented soy candle comes with a little box of matches tucked in the box, so you don't need to run out and buy a lighter to enjoy it. I often don't like the smell of scented candles; they're usually too strong, too artificial, or too "fruity" smelling for my taste, but I really enjoyed the scent. How does it work as massage 'oil' though?

Much to my surprise, I thought it worked great. With the candle burning, and the wax dripped onto my skin from about a foot above me, the heat of the melted wax was pleasantly intense, but nowhere near actually burning. It provided just the right amount of lubrication for a massage, didn't soak in as quickly as lotion would, and didn't dribble all over the place like oil. I never would have thought of using soy wax as a massage 'oil', but I was really impressed.

Mamba Vegan Condoms

If you frequently have issues with major brand condoms breaking, Mamba condoms may be just what you've been looking for. These natural rubber "rubbers" are quite possibly the most durable condoms I've ever seen. Truly, they don't break (well, I'm sure they might once in a while, but I couldn't figure out how!).

You'll love them even more if you have a serious rubber fetish… because that's what they smell like. This was a bit of a bummer for me, as I'm not really turned on by the smell of new tires. However, a dollop of the nicely-scented Naked lube did help mask the rubbery smell, so once again Babeland has shown perfect taste in choosing the combo of products in this gift pack.

Conclusion:

The Delight vibrator is definitely aptly named. Although I have yet to reach the big O without using the tip of the silicone end as a clit vibe at the end, the "foreplay" before that is better than any toy I've ever tried. I've honestly never used a vibe before this where I found myself perfectly happy not rushing to orgasm ASAP. I spent a good half hour happily trying different angles for the vibe, and my hips, and my legs (it stays in place hands-free quite nicely when you squeeze your thighs together).

If you're a fan of less intense vibrators already, but haven't found a g-spotter that quite works for you, or you need a little extra clit stimulation while using one, or you can appreciate a vibe that does an unbelievable job of bringing you right to the edge of orgasm, and holding you there for what seems like forever, you'll find the Delight quite delightful indeed.

The rest of the Eco Delight kit makes a lovely collection together, but I would say the lube is the only other "must have" item in the bunch (unless you're in the market for bulletproof condoms, that is). However, considering Babeland offers the kit for the same price as the vibe alone, if you're going to get a Delight go ahead and treat yourself to the gift pack. You definitely won't regret the investment!

Q: My partner and I have what you would call an open relationship, he sees and sleeps with others, while I am faithful to him. I wonder why I am ok with that scenario with him where as with others I was not.

Two thoughts immediately come to mind for me:

1. You're not that attached. If you're not that serious about the relationship, you might naturally not feel worried about what or who else he's doing. Not everyone is 'wired' to want to see more than one person though, so even if you weren't that serious, you might still feel more comfortable being monogamous yourself.
2. The relationship is really solid. Kind of the exact opposite of theory #1, if you feel really secure in the emotional stability of the relationship, you may not worry about who else he sees, because you're completely confident that he's coming home to you when he's done.

No matter what the reason though, as long as the two of you can communicate openly about your feelings regarding the open arrangement, and you're both happy with the situation as it is, there's no reason to worry!

Get your PC muscles in shape with Luna Beads!

Luna Beads are marketed as an exercise aid for toning your pelvic floor muscles; an alternative to doing kegel exercises, if you will. They're rather like a large set of ben wa balls, with a silicone harness to keep them in position for optimal effect. Optimal exercise effect, that is, because on the grand scale of things to induce sexual excitement, they really didn't do much for me.

Appearance/Construction: Luna Beads come in a downright elegant and sturdy black storage box. There are two pairs of semi-translucent balls, a pink pair and a blue pair, with a white silicone harness. The kit also comes with a classy little drawstring pouch to store your assembled set (perfect if you want to carry them with you). Everything about Luna Beads is definitely high quality, and aesthetically tasteful.

The hollow outer beads are made of PC-ABS plastic, with weighted rubberized balls inside each sphere. They fit, via molded ridges, into the durable silicone harness (awkwardly called a "composition girdle" in the user manual). One ball in each color coded set has a synthetic loop of string (the "retraction leash"), to facilitate removal.

Features & Usage: Each pair of colored ABS beads provide a different level of exercise. The light pink balls are 28 grams each, and the light blue balls are 37 grams apiece. Depending on the current fitness level of your pelvic floor muscles (PC muscles), you can wear one ball in the harness, wear both 28g balls, one of each set, or both 37g balls at once (at which point you can tell people you have blue balls … sorry, couldn't resist that one!).

According to the user manual (and I do suggest reading it … which is a rarity in the relatively self-explanatory world of sex toys) simply inserting one or two balls in the silicone harness, and wearing them for 30 minutes a day will auto-magically exercise your PC muscles the same way diligent kegels will.

Technique: Put simply, insert the assembled bead/harness set, and go on about your business.

The manual recommends starting with one or two of the lighter-weight balls at first, until your muscles get used to them. Personally, I didn't have any trouble wearing both of the heavier balls right from the start, but if you've given birth, your pelvic muscles might be in need of a little more strengthening than that.

Conclusion: Some women claim their Luna Beads make activities like climbing stairs or riding a stationary bicycle a whole new experience. Sadly, either because I have vaginal muscles of steel or I'm just an insensitive cow, I hardly noticed them most of the time. I wore them all day at work once, and didn't notice much of anything except an ocassional "shifting" sensation when the weighted balls moved around. But, if you consider them more of an exercise machine than a toy, I suppose that's all well and good.

Luna Beads would be more properly thought of as a "sexual health aid" than an actual sex toy. While (apparently) some women find them quite stimulating to wear, buying a set thinking you're going to have the long, slow orgasm of your life would probably be a mistake. However, if you keep meaning to do kegels regularly, but keep blowing it off like any other well-intentioned exercise regimen, they're an easy and relatively fun way to achieve the same effect.

If you're looking for a really exciting way to work your pelvic muscles, I'd suggest a remote control toy like the Cry Baby (an insertable bullet vibe with a remote control … just imagine the mischief you could get into with a willing accomplice!). However Luna Beads are intended primarily as a muscle-toning aid, not an orgasm machine, and the benefits of strong pelvic floor muscles are many and varied! Stronger sensation during orgasms, being able to provide greater stimulation to your male partner during penetration, and improved bladder control are just the benefits that spring to mind… so Luna Beads could well be a worthwhile investment, even if they don't make you weak at the knees!

Q: Im a female and sometimes anal sex hurts, it gets better in a few minutes but at the begining it hurts. What can i do to make the transition from pain to pleasure that much easier?

There are a bunch of things you can do to help prevent pain with anal sex, and pretty much all of them fall into two categories: 1. Lube, and 2. Foreplay. With enough of the right kind of both, you should be able to completely eliminate pain at the start of anal sex!

LUBE: I can't stress this one enough: A good, thick, long-lasting lube is the single best thing you can use during anal penetration (whether you're using a toy, or a partner's penis). Many companies market numbing lube for anal sex, but unless you're really experienced with anal penetration, I definitely don't recommend it.

Something like Boy Butter or Maximus is excellent for anal sex. They're both very thick and won't wear off right away, which is exactly what you're looking for. Which one you like best is a matter of personal preference. Use your lube generously and use it often!

FOREPLAY: If you only experience pain at first, warming up with something smaller than your man (or your dildo of choice) is in order. If your partner isn't squeamish, having them lube up a finger or two is a perfect warm-up (and they can wear a rubber glove if they're worried about messy hands). Starting by 'tickling' around the anus—while conveniently spreading a little lube around—followed by slowly inserting one finger, and then maybe two, is not only a really hot addition to oral sex (for a man or a woman), but does a great job of getting the anal sphincter relaxed enough for more comfortable anal sex.

If fingers aren't going to be part of the game plan, starting with a a small anal toy is also a perfect way to get things ready for the main event. A small anal dildo, butt plug or a set of anal beads are all fun, and very stimulating, additions to foreplay or vaginal sex, and will really help relax your ass in preparation for full anal sex.