A good favorite!

It’s Friday and we feel lucky, so we’re going with the number 7, even though there are a few other minor issues we could mention here.  But we wanted to get a few items out on the table that haven’t been there before in this blog.  Sex toys are great additions to the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen or wherever else you want to use them in private.  That said, we also want you to enjoy them, and enjoyment can hinge on avoiding these common problems.

1. This one is for the guys out there (that means you, sitting there stewing over your partner’s favorite dildo).  NEVER, ever, compare your pride and joy with your partner’s favorite playmate.  The “Duh Factor” on this one is immense, but it bears discussing.  Unless you were chosen by a picture showing you in the Full Monty, your partner wanted you for reasons other than the length or girth of captain happy.  Let your partner have her or his fun and roll with it.  That dildo or vibrator is a pleasure instrument, not a measuring stick!

2. Fantasy is NOT reality.  Even the most experienced players know that there is a time and place for everything.  Trying to recreate a special moment in a moment that isn’t so special (think 6:30 AM, prior to the first coffee), is a recipe for disaster.  Sex toys are great when your partner is in the mood, but they don’t fit in every time.  Don’t blame the tools, if you’re attempting to use them when the job isn’t called for.

3. Keep what works, discard the rest.  Think about it, you don’t keep eating food that you don’t like in hope that it will taste better next time.  The same rule applies to your sex toys and erogenous zones.  I’ve tossed out at least $1,000 worth of toys, lubes and other items because they didn’t work for me (yes, I actually paid for them – they weren’t perks).  How many bad meals have you sat through?  It’s not that big of a deal to spend some bucks and decide that something doesn’t work.  If you look at it as an investment in finding what does work, you are on your way.

4. Revisiting tools, always make sure that you have everything you need.  You’ve invested time and energy to meet someone who shares your proclivities.  Then, just when everything comes together, you forgot the condoms?  Have you lost your mind?  Nope, you are simply unprepared.  Don’t let that happen.

5. One last thing on tools, always use the right tools for the right jobs.  If a sex toy isn’t designed for anal play, don’t use it there.  If you are going to try out the large dildo, have the right amount of lube on hand (or wherever else you need it). Make sure that your sex toy is safe around water before you take the pleasure bath – and know the difference between splash proof and waterproof.  Your sex toys are only as good as you want if you use them properly.

6. Modification is not good with sex toys!  Some people have had serious injuries because they attempted to change their sex toys.  And, by the way, we hear tons of talk about homemade sex toys.  For some people, that’s possible.  But like anything else, the rest of us would do far better buying a professionally designed sex toy.  The fact is, most of us should avoid the nightmare of a poorly functioning or poorly designed sex toy.

7. Keep realistic expectations.  A sex toy can’t replace a loving relationship (though it can enhance one).  And a sex toy isn’t supposed to.  Enjoy your toys, but don’t expect them to give you everything you need.

As most of you know, we love our sex toys.  Keep these issues in mind and you can avoid most mistakes.  And always be ready to experiment.  You never know when you might discover a whole new avenue of pleasure!

If you’ve read our blog for a while,  you know that we’re big fans of masturbation and orgasms.  Both are healthy and normal activities for human beings.  Our website offers sex toys, like the Monkey Spanker, that help people to enjoy both.  We also get excited when we find research that supports the health benefits (and in this case, reproductive benefits) of masturbation.

The Monkey Spanker

Scientific American’s Jesse Bering has a great post on why humans are so good at masturbating (Hat Tip to the Reverend Monkeyspank), and why, contrary to what you may believe, masturbation is a healthy part of the reproductive cycle.  Wait!  Masturbation helps men to be more effective in reproduction?

You betcha! Here’s Bering’s documentation:

“When it comes to sex, we put this capacity to very good—or at least, very frequent—use. In a now-classic, pre-Internet-porn (I’ll get to that later on) study  by British evolutionary biologists Robin Baker and Mark Bellis, male university students were found to masturbate to ejaculation about every 72 hours, and “on the majority of occasions, their last masturbation is within 48 hours of their next in-pair copulation.” If they’re not having intercourse every day, that is to say, men tend to pleasure themselves to completion no more than two days prior to having actual sex.

Baker and Bellis’s quite logical argument for this seemingly counterintuitive state of affairs (after all, shouldn’t men try to stock up as much sperm as possible in their testes rather than spill their seeds so wastefully in a rather infertile swath of toilet paper or a dirty sock?) is that because there is a “shelf-life” for sperm cells – they remain viable for only 5-7 days after production – and because adult human males manufacture a whopping 3 million sperm per day, masturbation is an evolved strategy for shedding old sperm while making room for new, fitter sperm. It’s quality over quantity.“

I won’t recite the entire article here – you really should read it – but I will say that Bering’s research is thorough and entertaining.  Monkeys don’t spank it very often, you know. It turns out that humans have an edge (no pun intended) when it comes to masturbating.  What is it?  Imagine all the possibilities.

So those women who are looking for a new addition to the family, maybe it’s time to let your partner do his thing.  We can provide him a huge supply of sex toys for men to help him along his way.

Try three of Wet’s most popular sex lubricants in one convenient package with this exciting sampler.

This set features one 1.5 oz flip top travel size lubricant in the following three Naturals varieties: Beautifully Bare, Sensual Strawberry, and Silky Supreme.

These formulas are crystal clear, glycerin and paraben free for sensitive skin, and are sugar free so they wont disrupt vaginal health. Beautiful Bare is a water-based lubricant that’s perfect for anyone with allergies or sensitivies to regular lubricants, Sensual Strawberry features a hint of natural strawberry taste in a water-based formula, and Silky Supreme is a silicone-based lube for extra smooth glide.

Type: Lubricant Sampler
Includes: 1.5 oz bottle in Beautifully Bare, Sensual Strawberry, and Silky Supreme Lubricants.
Weight: 9 oz (in package)

It’s Monday and we’re all probably trying to shake off the woes of another weekend slipping through our grasps.  For some of us, Sunday was a blur and we have the headaches to prove it.  Others of us had a dull weekend filled with duties and chores.  Yet others had a hodgepodge and just want to kick the Monday blues.

Time for a Handie

One day to help a guy get over the dreaded “Mondays” is to not let something slip through your grasp.  That’s right, today we’re talking about the woefully underrated, and seldom enjoyed hand job.

Some of you may find that a boring idea, but let me stop you there.  An average guy has been the recipient of hundreds, if not thousands (depending on his sex drive), of self administered hand jobs. Guys KNOW hand jobs. They like them. If you can administer one properly, he’ll be seriously impressed!

But a partner giving a hand job has many options available that aren’t when the guy is flying solo.  Let’s look at the options.

Option 1 – Old Reliable

Sometimes simple is best. There isn’t a swinging dick on the planet who will deny that a good old fashioned monkey-spank produces good results. If you’re new to the hand job, a good stroking is a great place to start.

Details: This one really is simple.  All you have to do is get a suitable grip and start to stroke up and down the shaft. The results will be exactly what your partner wants.

Manufacturer’s Notes: You can spice this one up by showing the boys some love.  Lift the shaft out of your way and have at them with some oral affection.  You’ll hear the groans and grunts of happiness if you’re doing it right.

Option 2 – The Herky Jerk

Edging is something many guys enjoy.  Basically, the idea is to get right to the point of orgasm and to stop, cool down and then repeat.  When it’s time to blow, the reaction is volcanic.  An edged orgasm is one of the most intense a person can have.

Recommended for the Herky Jerk

Details: This one requires a lighter touch and you’re going to need time.  Want a quickie?  If so, forget The Herky Jerk.  You have to spend time building up the heat and then letting it dissipate.  A good lube is perfect for The Herky Jerk, like the one we recommend here.

Manufacturer’s Notes: You’re absolutely going to have to communicate well to “pull off” a Herky Jerk.  You have to know when he’s close, so that you can ease the pressure.  This is a great time to kiss and get some reciprocation!

Option 3 – The Kiss of Little Death

The French have long referred to orgasm as the “little death.”  Sounds kind of depressing, unless you think of the rush and concluding temporary exhaustion, which then makes the phrase more sensible. But you can make the little death a little more bearable with a few oral pleasures added in.

Details: This is a classic hand job with a light touch of oral (EMPHASIS: LIGHT) pleasuring added in.  You can use a flavored oral sex lube to add to your pleasure while giving him his. The key is to tease the glans (head) of the penis as you gently caress the shaft.  Doing this over and over again in little teases throughout will drive him wild.

Manufacturer’s Notes: You could end up with more than a mouthful using this technique.  Usually the orgasm comes on very rapidly because of the multiple stimulation techniques. If you’re in a safe relationship and ok with that, enjoy!  If not, watch carefully for your partner’s expressions and have him communicate so that you know when it’s coming – literally.

Option 4 – The Double Fister

If you’re in a relationship with a partner who has a little extra artillery range (very well endowed), this is an option that will fire his gun. Two are usually better than one, and this is no exception.

Details: You’ll need a little coordination for this one.  Get both hands on the shaft with the appropriate grip and stroke them with synchronized movement.  You’ll know you’re off sync by his screams (if you go without lube), so try to keep things together.

Manufaturer’s Notes: Make sure your grip is the same on both hands, to keep the pressure constant. With this one, you can also switch hands off to give yourself a break.

The most important aspect to hand jobs is to freestyle.  Add your own unique touch to give your partner a signature handie.  The best part of all is that if your grip matches your partner’s desired stimulation, you can’t mess up a hand job.

So get a fist full and happy stroking!

We’ve received many requests lately from customers asking which is the best toy for them.  It’s understandable that people can be overwhelmed with the number of sex toys that are on the market.  But it is also tough to answer that question.  If someone asked you which dildo was right for them, where do you begin? That’s a tough question.

Think about purchasing a vehicle, for instance.  A large family might want a mini-van, a carpenter would probably want a truck, some people buy cars to show off, others want hybrids for good gas mileage.  The point is, when you’re ready to buy a vehicle, you think about why you want a vehicle before you go shopping.

The last time we wrote about this subject was January, in a post titled Which Toy is Best?.  And if you’re looking for a bunch of extra details, that’s a great post to read.  But today we’re going to simplify the process (just in time for your holiday shopping).  Here are the basic questions you should ask yourself before you make a purchase:

1. What turns me on? The first key to selecting a sex toy is knowing what stimulation “does it” for you.  For women, do you like clitoral stimulation, G Spot stimulation, penetration, or all of the above?  For men, do you need something to help you take it slow and easy and enjoy the ride, or do you need something for a quickie?  Also guys, do you know the joys of prostate massage?  And for couples, what do you want to do together to spice things up, and what sex toy will accomplish that goal?

2. When and where will I use it? It’s pointless to purchase a sex toy that is impractical for your life.  Say you share a house or apartment and want something you can use privately.  What good is it to buy a vibrator that is extraordinarily loud?  Or you want something to use while you bathe or shower, but you buy something that isn’t water proof.  That doesn’t make much sense either.  Always make sure that a sex toy’s features will match up with the realities of your lifestyle.

3. What will it take to maintain it? Silicone, glass and hard plastic sex toys clean up in a snap, are usually very durable and require much less maintenance than most other materials.  They also last longer.  If you get a porous, or skin-like sex toy, are you willing to spend the time and energy to clean it properly, and store it according to manufacturer specifications?

4. Will this affect my body? If you have a latex allergy, you don’t want a rubber toy.  Remember also that your nose is a part of your body.  Some sex toys don’t have any smell associated with them (yes, silicone, glass and hard plastics – again).  Other sex toys do.  Jelly sex toys and rubber sex toys can carry strong smells in some instances.  You don’t want the smell of your dong to ruin the moment.

5. What am I willing to pay? Notice that this question comes last.  It’s pointless to buy an inexpensive sex toy if you can’t use it because it’s too loud, too big, too weak, not waterproof, and the list could go on.  Once you know what you want, then you can price shop.  For a first sex toy, it is always better to spend a few dollars more and get a high quality product.  The healthiness and happiness it can bring is far preferable to a few dollars saved leading to massive disappointment.

We hope this helps you in your shopping.  Good luck!