shauna by night

Bubble Head

You know, it's really hard to write about something you don't have strong feelings about. I neither liked nor hated Doc Johnson's Bubblehead. It's another in a growing line of toys that vibrate and rotate - and I'm not impressed with any of them. I didn't much care for the jelly material it's made of, and I found the "bubbles" a bit too rough for my delicate insides. However, the vibration gets pretty strong and the rotating movement can feel like petting on your clit if you do it right. It's a pretty good toy especially if you're fond of the rotating-type. I'm not. So you're on your own.

Bubblehead courtesy of Amantis.

Energie

Natural Contours has engineered a fantastic Kegel exerciser. All of us ladies know that we should do our exercises so we stay firm and tight, both for our own pleasure and for our partners. But, as with most exercise plans, it tends to get pushed to the bottom of the priority list. This baby will entice you to bring it up to the top of the list. Not only does the Energie bring with it all the benefits of Kegel exercises, but it feels absolutely wonderful in the process. It's smooth, heavy (relatively), and perfectly shaped for its purpose. One end is slightly bigger than the other to accommodate all sizes, and the instructions included explain the exercise clearly. After my first set of reps, I was running for my vibrator to finish myself off. I figured cumming around it would only add to my workout. Right? I strongly recommend adding the Energie to any healthy sexual lifestyle. I never thought exercising could be so much fun!

The Energie courtesy of Natural Contours.

Crystal Sleevz

The Crystal Sleevz set is a 7" vibrator with two jelly sleeves that fit snugly over the vibe. The vibrator is a slender one with a pretty powerful motor and the usual twist low-to-high knob on the bottom. The sleeves come in two shapes: one lifelike and the other with a curved tip for hitting your g-spot.

They both feel pretty damn good, and the vibration carries through the jelly just fine. My biggest complaint, though, is that the jelly feels cheap and sticky. I actually yanked out a few hairs that got stuck to it when I put it in my mouth to wet it. Ouch! I guess you gotta use lube instead of spit with this toy.

Crystal Sleevz courtesy of Amantis.

The Wave

The Wave is one of Doc Johnson's newest creations. It's designed to be inserted while the vibrator rests on the clit.  It's made of some very firm and flexible latex stuff, sort of like the old dildos but a little more forgiving. The vibrator is good and strong, and the wired remote can give your partner control of the action. It's waterproof too! You can always rely on Doc's stuff being of high quality, well constructed, and nicely packaged.

I would love to sit in on a design meeting one of these days. It's different from most things out there, but I have mixed feelings on the "all in one" toys. While they are a good idea for convenience and ease of use, insertables and clit stimulators - like components in a good stereo system - are better left separate. Women, obviously, come in all shapes and sizes. Getting an off-the-shelf toy that fits properly is tricky at best. Also, since the way an insertable is enjoyed and the way a clit stimulator is used are two very different motions, I find it difficult to get any kind of rhythm going. So, while the Wave is of superb quality and has a powerful vibe and, in fact, feels good, it just didn't make as one of my favorites.

Rock Chick

The Rock Chick is a high quality toy intended to be used inside and out at the same time. The hook is for your g-spot, and there's a bullet vibe in the other end for your clit. It's made of non-porous silicone and is waterproof. Supposedly once you've got it in position, you can sit up and stimulate yourself with a slight rocking motion (thus the name). I, however, couldn't get comfortable with it. The angle of the toy is too severe for me, so when I got the vibe where it ought to be, the hook was pressing way to hard on my insides. I guess I'm just not a fan of g-spot stimulators and clit stimulators in one toy. Too much depends on you and the toy being the same size. If this toy had a hinge instead of an inflexible elbow, I think we might have been in business.

Rock Chick courtesy of Eros Boutique. 

Vibratex Beehive

The Vibratex Beehive is a rotating vibrator, similar to the rabbit-style vibes but without the clit stimulator. It sports two sliding switches - one switch controls the vibration and the other controls the rotation speed. It's made out of that soft jelly stuff, with a nubby shaft. The vibrator is in the beehive tip, which is a good thing.

The rotating, hand-held vibes mystify me. I've tried several of them, each a little different, and still come up with confusion. OK, the idea is you insert this bad boy into your vagina and let it caress you with its circular motion. The reality (in my experience) is that once it's inserted, the handle rotates and the head is held still. So, I grab hold of the handle and hold it still instead. Now, the motor sounds like it's really laboring and it starts heating up. I know from my limited knowledge of machinery that hot motors are unhappy motors. Could it be that my muscles are too strong for this vibe? If so, . . . cool. I guess I really need to try a Sybian after all.

Vibratex Beehive courtesy of Wild In Secret.

Vixskin: Bandit

I've got only one thing to say about this new dildo - Holy Shit! I've never felt anything like it in a toy. Yes, it's just a plain, non-vibrating, dick-shaped toy, BUT the Bandit is made of this new silicone stuff that the folks at Vixen Creations are calling Vixskin. It feels a whole lot like real skin and warms to the touch quickly. It's the closest thing to a real penis that I have had the pleasure of experiencing. When it arrived I couldn't wait to try it out. I dropped what I was doing and ran to the bedroom to give myself a good fucking. I didn't stop until I came twice - hard. I have played with it several times since its maiden voyage, and coupled with my favorite vibe, it's pounded me through more than a dozen really intense orgasms. Wow! 

Vixskin: Bandit courtesy of Wild In Secret.

Ribbed UR3 G-Spot Hard Throb

The G-Spot Hard Throb is a simple design that really feels great. It's a standard 7" missile-type vibe just like the first one I ever got off with, including one of those flaky twist switches on the bottom. However, the addition of the soft jelly sleeve is amazing. The vibration carries through the jelly tip to tickle and press on my g-spot, and the ribs add that extra something to penetration. I love this new jelly stuff, but it takes a little more care. Thus, the Hard Throb comes with a storage bag, and a little cornstarch will keep the jelly from getting all sticky.

The Devil Dildo

It finally happened. Here we are on 6/6/06. Awesome. Assuming nothing biblical happens, I think this is as good an excuse as any to get naughty. It just so happens that I have the perfect review for today - the Devil dildo by Divine Interventions. These wackos offer a range of wonderfully offensive, handmade silicone toys. The Devil not your thing? Fine. Choose from offerings like Buhdda's Delight, the Grim Reaper and Jackhammer Jesus. My friend Bella tried this one out for me. She said she liked the feel, but the shape was a little uncomfortable for her. Bah! These things are definitely a style over substance statement. Buy one, try one and you can honestly say you have had the devil inside you. Rock on.

Wahl Massager

Technically, this review could fall into the "Perversions" category, but I am not the only one to have  discovered the alternate uses for this little wonder. It's as famous as my beloved Hitachi. Sold originally as a personal massager, the pervert community has turned it to the dark side. It comes with seven, different massage heads, and my friends at Wild In Secret ship it with one of the unofficial attachments intended for sexual use (the blue one in the picture on the left). It plugs into the wall with 9 feet of cord to roll around with, and it has two powerful levels of vibration to indulge in.

Pulsating Heart

The Pulsating Heart is a wearable, micro vibrator designed to be worn hands free. It's got three straps to secure it in place and a wired remote to control the settings. The tiny vibe is pretty powerful, so it penetrates the silicone "heart" well. The best thing about this one is the controller. There are seven settings: 1. Vibration I, 2. Vibration II, 3. Vibration III, 4. Pulsate, 5. Surge, 6. Escalate, and 7. Off.

Doppelgangsta (repost w/pics)

This has to be the best named toy yet. The "Doppelgangsta" is the name, but I seriously doubt it will ever be involved in a drive-by anything. This baby is 13.5 inches of smooth, flexible, double-sided silicone fun. One side is straight with a bulb at the end, and the other is bumpy. Just holding it reminded me of squished clay - until I started to use it. One rule for silicone toys is you gotta use lube, so I squirted some on and got to work. Wow, I love this thing. It's soft and firm, it's big enough to hang onto, and it gives just the right amount when my muscles tighten around it. There are some toys out there that are actually a bit painful for me to cum around. This is not one of them. This may be the closest in feeling to a real penis so far. I can't wait to get someone to climb onto the other end with me - for a second opinion, of course.

Doppelgangsta courtesy of Wild In Secret

 

Natural Contours - Liberte

The Liberte is another in the Natural Contours line of vibrators. The entire line is sleek and ergonomically designed to comfortably fit in the hand and against the body, each with a slightly different focus. This one is longer and thinner than the rest so that it can reach the g-spot. It has a button that cycles through high, medium, and low settings, and the Liberte has a bonus pulsating setting. It puts out a good range of intensity, but I'm not so sure about the pulse feature. I prefer using intermittent vibrations as a warm up, and a steady vibration to climax. The Liberte pulses with the strongest of the three settings. When I started teasing with the pulse setting and then switched to the low, steady setting to begin my climb to orgasm, it kind of lost something. So, I find myself using a pulse - high combination or a low - medium - high combination. And it feels awesome tucked inside, set on high, while my other hand is free to roam. Hey, options are good.

The Liberte courtesy of Natural-contours.com

 

Layaspot

This little baby is the Layaspot vibrator by Fun Factory. It's so cute, measuring less than 4 inches long and coming in a variety of color combinations. It came snugly packaged in a nice, little box with info on two flaps held together with a magnet - a little overkill, but it adds to the perceived value. It's design is comfy in the hand and on my other curves too. It has a "+ / -" rocker switch to increase the vibration, which is a little awkward to use without looking, but those little switches have a lot of range. I understand that it's even waterproof. Hot tub, anyone? 

The best part is this baby delivers quite a bang! I could hardly believe it. It's so small, but it turns out that's an advantage. It nestles in right on my clit. Initially, I was disappointed. My first test run left me wanting. To be fair though, I thought I'd give it another shot. Boy, am I glad I did! I discovered that the batteries it came with were crap. I replaced those with fresh ones and away I went. Wow! The first orgasm was so good, I added a second toy and went around again. Remember, if at first you don't succeed, try, try again.

Astrea Vibrating Thong

OK. Here's my second attempt at a panty with a vibrator in it, and much like the first one, it just didn't work for me. It's a pretty, lacy panty - very comfy indeed. The wireless remote control for the vibrator was a huge improvement. No more fishing around inside your drawers when you've got to turn the thing off.The problem is the vibrator is kinda huge, and the pocket is slung too low. When the vibe was securely inside, it sat nowhere near my clit. So for my test run, I slid it up where it ought to be, but the lace of the panty was too soft to hold it in place. Thus the vibe rested on my lips instead and tickled me all the way home. Not bad but not enough to get me hot and bothered and definitely not enough to get me off. Seeing that everyone is shaped differently, there's a chance that it might work just fine for someone else, but not for me.

Astrea Vibrating Thong courtesy of WildInSecret.com

Natural Contours - Ultime

This vibrator is one of a line of toys designed to work ergonomically with the curves of the body. They all are made of smooth, hard plastic with three power levels. The Ultime is quiet and comfortable to use. The bend is intended to help you reach the g-spot but I found that it sits real well on your clit too. This one is good for sneaking under the blankets or between you and your lover while you're on top.

Cup N' Cradle

This is a very interesting toy. I can honestly say I had no idea what to expect from it. Its shape is like nothing I've ever seen before. As the name suggests, there's a cradle that rests on your clit with soft, little fingers for stimulation. The rest of it - the "cup" -  goes inside to vibrate your g-spot. It's made of that new jelly stuff, which I guessed would eat up all the vibration. The motor sits in what ends up being the handle, and the on/off is in a wired remote.

Crystal Sparkler Scepter

If you've ever used any of the glass or acrylic dildos, you'll probably agree that they all share a similar feel. Since they're smooth, once lubed, they slide and move around with almost no resistance. So you really feel the size and the shape of the toy. The Scepter is cool because it's . . . well, it's huge. It's the first toy I've ever owned that could be used to club someone if the need arose. Just kidding. It is, however, big and pretty, and it does feel good wherever you stick it. It's also double sided for double the fun. The Scepter (and its buddy, the Excalibur) are on the pricey side, but not as expensive as a glass one of similar size would be. So if you like 'em big and hard and pretty, as I do, this is a good purchase.

Selene

The Selene is very interesting. It's a strange-looking purple device with a bulb and tube attached. It looks more like something a doctor would use then a sex toy, and when I pulled mine out of the box, I was rather intimidated. It's called a "Vibrating Clitoral Pump," and the basic idea is simple. You place the device over the clitoris, apply gentle suction with the pump so the clit gets engorged with blood and becomes more sensitive, and then add the vibration for stimulation.

The Blind Jockey

I'm sure some of you have used all sorts of things to blindfold your partners. Neckties and scarves are good and handy. I actually own several blindfolds. So, why the review you might ask? Because I found the most comfortable one ever. No more pressure on your eyes keeping them closed. (No smudged make-up either, ladies. Yay!) This blindfold is cupped so you can blink and move your eyes, but it's secure enough so you can't see a thing. It's awesome!  It's made of cowhide and lined with shearling sheepskin.  Use caution if you're sensitive to wool. It makes my eyes itch a tiny bit, but it's worth it.  To those of you who are hesitant to try such things - put aside your fear and give it a shot. I have had many intense sessions that started with being blindfolded and teased. Your other senses really do become sharper when one is denied. Warm breath across your stomach never felt so good!

The Liberator

The Liberator is a set of foam shapes designed to help you and your partner (or partners) get into whatever position you (or they) want.  I'm not going to beat around the bush - these things are amazing.  They are the kind of thing you realize you needed all along the minute you try them.  I have played with the first four shapes:  the Wedge, the Ramp, the Stage and the Cube.  They are big, comfy and encourage experimentation.  If there is anything wrong with them it is their size.  They are so large that it can be hard to find a place to put them and the largest of them can be awkward (handles or handholds on the sides would have helped).  The shapes come with two removable, washable covers that protect and enhance them.  The blue ones are soft, and the purple ones are waterproof.  The blue is the most versatile.  When you set one on top of the other, the blue covers kind of stick to each other so they don't slide around.  My favorite of the four is the wedge.  No more cramming pillows under your hips to get just the right height.  The wedge/ramp combo is the best though.  They sell them together, so I guess I'm not the only one who thinks so.  Everyone I have shared them with has loved them as much as I have.  I understand there are two new shapes too.  Hopefully, I'll be able to try these someday and let you know what I think.

Special thanks to my friend Michelle who agreed to model the Liberator with me.  Our pictures came out so well that we decided to give you more than usual and to make them bigger so you could get a good look at how much fun we were having.  Thanks Michelle!

Get yours HERE

 

Hitachi Magic Wand

All the press on this one says that it's the bomb.  Well, add me to the list!  Right out of the package, this baby is intimidating.  A friend of mine was actually afraid of it.  I know it looks more like a shiatsu massager than a sex toy.  Think of it as camoflage.  You can leave this one on the nightstand, and no one will be offended.  In fact, it serves both functions very well.  I've actually used it on sore muscles that were created by using it to masturbate.  It measures about a foot in length, plugs right into the wall, and packs quite a punch.  The vibration is very strong, even on low.  You definitely need to tease with it before even attempting to rest the head on your clit.  BUT if done right, the orgasms it delivers are amazing.  I sometimes start teasing on top of my clothes or off to the side where the leg meets the body before sliding it slowly from the top down to  my clit.  My inevitable orgasm starts deeper inside than with the other toys and lasts longer.  I think every woman should have one of her very own.  Seriously!