Here’s our contribution to this week’s giant “Duh” file.  Holidays can wreak havoc on our sex lives.  Why, you may ask, would a group of people getting ready to indulge in the industry’s coolest office holiday party (we aren’t kidding, our company throws a holiday shindig so cool that if people knew about it, they’d forget trying to crash State dinners at the White House and try to crash our holiday party), be thinking about how their sex lives could be affected?  Easy.  We know that the holiday party is the precursor to the Holiday rush, even for people who devote their time to the best sex toys for couples on earth.

After our party tonight, many of us will be rushing to prepare for family visitors, or to go visit the family.  There will be enough jet lag to keep the sleep medicine companies in business for a while.  Kids will be running amok around us. Grandparents will be pining for the old days. Dogs will take a giant whiz on the old Christmas tree. Uncle Joe will be forced to smoke outside after setting off the fire alarm in the bathroom. All manner of other problems will crop up, not least of which is cooking a dinner for our families and what will seem like several thousand of our closest friends.

To summarize, Après ce soir, le déluge.

For a private moment

And let’s be blunt, a house full of people – even for the most open minded among us – is just not conducive to knocking boots with verve. It’s a stressful time of the year in terms of sex, and if you’re among the lucky who have a healthy and active sexual lifestyle, it can be downright unnerving.  But there are ways to get around the problem, and still keep the old libido satisfied.

Let’s start with those of us flying solo for the holidays this year.  It could be that this isn’t the right time to bring your partner home to meet the family, or whatever other reason.  But you’re in that stage of your relationship where it’s sex, shower, sex, shower again, breakfast, go to work, sex, lunch, shower, go back to work, sex, dinner, sex, sex, sex, sex, shower, go to bed, repeat. It’s a little hard to hit the off button when you’re in that really cool groove.

And now you’re home with the family and you’re still feeling the urges.  We get it.  All of us have been in a similar situation at one time or another.  In fact, that’s why humans invented the shower.  It wasn’t for hygiene, it was to provide a place to wank when the rest of the clan showed up after the annual mammoth hunt.  So there you have it, wank in the shower.  Women can use a discreet vibrator like the White Nights Waterproof Pocket Rocket, and men can freestyle under the water jets with a good masturbator like the Classix Silicone Snatch.

Good for everyone involved

Granted, that’s nothing like the real thing, but as soon as we can figure out how to miniaturize your partner to hide in your overnight bag with a button to restore them to real size when you need them, we’ll be getting a patent and selling “Partner in a Bag” kits.  We already have the miniaturizing down, we’re just trying to get the poor guy back to full size and, boy, is he angry.

For the couples, especially those of you hosting family, you’re really going to have to work together to get through this without putting out the fires.  Guys, pitch in with half the work.  There’s a ton of cleaning to be done – even more if kids are involved – and the breakfasts, lunches and dinners don’t miraculously appear on the tables.  Do everything you can to help.  Ladies, take it easy a little.  Everything doesn’t have to be perfect.  And make sure both of you are showing each other appreciation for the teamwork.

And this would be a great time to go back to our Guy’s Holiday Buying Guide.  This time of year, if ever there was a perfect time, is the time of year to break out the stress fighters.  After everyone’s tucked in, and before you’re tuckered out, break out the massage oil and trade good massages.

And a little cuddling in a nice warm bed is a good way to spend some sensual time together without waking the house.  Of course it could lead to more, but don’t blame us if after the buildup, the moment is spoiled by a fire alarm set off by Uncle Joe trying to sneak a midnight smoke in the bathroom!

Keep your love life simple during the holidays and don’t expect the grand romps you’ve grown accustomed to during the rest of the year.  And if you’re a couple who has the house to themselves this year, you’re duty bound to pick up the slack for everyone dealing with an Uncle Joe.  Try out the Honeymoon Carry On Bag and have a blast!

Happy holidays and safe travels, and keep the fires burning for the New Year!

Only three weeks stand between you and another New Year.  And we at the Sextoys.com Partyology Department know what that means.  Another January 1st with a bad headache, a realization that at least half of your resolutions were broken before you got in the cab to go home, a dry mouth and a sincere desire to remember what happened between 2 and 5 AM.  We’re here to tell you that this year it can be different.

Time to get ready for the New Year

If you’re willing to put the time, effort and thought into a different sort of New Year, we’re willing to give you the tools!  It all starts with the party.  Sure, go have a toast with your friends.  Enjoy the company and wish everyone well.  But before you go, sit down with your partner and make a list of sexual resolutions.  We’re pretty sure that when midnight rolls around, you and your partner will have plenty of reasons to get home as soon as possible.

Here’s a helpful list of suggestions:

Resolution 1: We will start our sexual New Year as soon as possible! 1 AM sounds about right.  We’ll have to get home fast to make it!

Resolution 2: We’re going to try new things this year together.  Oh, we think you have a good idea of new things you want to try.  Sit down and do a bargaining session (I’ll let you use that Strap On if you promise to try the deep throat mints and give it a go!). Ya might want to do this bargaining a little before (like now), since it’s hard to find strap ons and deep throat mints at 1AM on January 1st.

Resolution 3: I’m going to find a different stimulus to get an orgasm.  Oh dear, this could take some time and experimenting.  On the other hand, WOO HOO, it’s going to take time and experimenting!  Heck, let’s make our entire body a playground.  Let’s try some anal play, nipple stimulation, different massages and anything else we can think to tinker with!

Resolution 4: I’m going to turn my play time into something really fun.  Try some games together, maybe fun sex dice, or strip poker, or, well, use your imagination!  You’ll figure out ways to laugh and make love in a whole new way!

Resolution 5: We are going to do this more often.  Do we need to explain this one?

Make your own resolutions and stick to them.  And always remember that the Sextoys.com Partyology Department is here to help you stay on track to a great sex life!

Black Friday seems like a perfect day to do a post on simple shopping lists for your sex toy loving friends.  Since we love using our products, we think we can do a good list of suggestions to help you choose the perfect gifts for men, women and couples.  So we’ll skip the intro and go straight to the list!

Gift Ideas for Men:

1. The Classix Silicone Snatch – Give him the perfect playmate for when he’s alone.  This is a great masturbator at a great price.

He will go nuts for this

2. April Flores’ Voluptuous Pussy – If he has a pulse, he’ll go nuts (literally) over this one.  See our review of this sex toy and you’ll know why.

3. Best Buy Pump – Pump up his manhood and watch him go from average to pumped with this pump.

4. Adonis Pouch – Don’t be a ball buster.  Get him a buzz for his boys!

5. The Original Oro Stimulator – Give him a blow job to go!

Gift Ideas for Women:

1. Ok, this isn’t technically an idea, but it is really a good place to start.  The women at Sextoys.com got together and created an entire category of Gifts for Women, based on what they would want.  Can’t go wrong starting there, right?

2. Silk Binding Sash – This one will let her be tied up in a stylish way.  A must for a little kink.

3. Diamond Lustre – She’ll hit the sweet spot with this one.

4. Rabbit Habit – Because this rabbit is a habit, she has to have it.

5. First Timer’s Strap On Set – We really don’t need to explain how fun this one is.

Gift Ideas for Couples:

1. Kama Sutra Bedside Box – Sarah’s review of this made us all want one for ourselves!

2. Screaming O Plus – Very few products can add a “Plus” to a screaming o, but this one does.

3. Finger in the Ace Kit – Get started with anal play with this great kit.

4. Nina Hartley’s Guide to Anal Sex DVD – Speaking of anal sex, why not get instruction from an expert?

5. Fetish Fantasy Plus Size Strap On – For the curvy fun lovers, this is an awesome choice.

And if nothing here does it for you, with over 20,000 choices, you’re sure to find something you love in our complete inventory.

Sometimes, spicing up adult play can be as simple as a new position.  And the experimental types among us know that many angles are not nearly as easy to achieve as they look in the photo!  Also, some approaches facilitate easier (and better) access to sensitive spots.  But what if you’ve tried and tried, and just can’t get in THAT position.

That’s where an investment in sex furniture can make a great difference in your sex life.  A good product can make it possible for you to get in the positions that weren’t previously possible.  Like Liberator says, “It’s time to teach your old doggie-style some new tricks.”

We should tell you that like regular furniture, sex furniture varies in quality.  Good sex furniture will last longer than cheaper knock offs, and good sex furniture will perform better than the lower quality items.  If you buy an inflatable product, you will have the problems associated with inflatable products.  While you may save a few bucks up front, your long term return won’t be nearly as good as you would get from a solid sex furniture product.

The Liberator Ramp

Take the Liberator Ramp as a good example of high quality sex furniture:

“Liberator Ramp offers support with a deep slope elevation. It strategically lifts your lover’s hips to an altitude of 12 inches, offering access at critical angles that accentuate sensitivity.

It’s time to teach your old doggie-style some new tricks. The key to perfect rear-entry penetration is supported elevation. Supported elevation prevents falling forward, slipping, sore elbows and wrists and hips buried in the mattress.

With Ramp a couple can sustain the doggie-style position for longer, more satisfying sessions. Other Ramp specialties include positions off the side of the bed and an unbeatable girl-on-top ride.”

And let’s focus for a moment on a sensitive issue.  Some people have been injured, have chronic back or arthritis problems, or are physically incapable for whatever reason, of getting into a pleasurable sex position.  Good sex furniture can give those people their sex lives back.

Consider the Liberator Scoop, which can put someone in the perfect position, which includes almost any position you can imagine:

“Tilt it, tip it, dip it, flip it. The most dynamic of the Liberator line, the Scoop makes its own love locomotion, rocking you into action-packed, thrill-ride climaxes.

Flip it for a more stable sex setting and superior spinal support. As athletic or anchored as you like. Add other shapes for extra height, slope and support.

The Liberator Scoop

What’s Included: Scoop, dressed to thrill in a machine washable Microfiber cover as well as a silky nylon water-resistant play surface. Scoop-centric position guide to spark and inspire desire.< Black, nylon gig bag for luvin’ on the go.

Please note that Liberator products can only be shipped within the continental United States and cannot be shipped to military addresses.”

Think about what you’ve spent on your couch, your lamps, your coffee table, your bookshelves and even your dining room furniture.  Unless you are a seriously kinky sort (who wouldn’t need any help anyway), none of those things will ever provide the intense orgasm that a good piece of sex furniture can help you to achieve.  A small investment in a good piece of sex furniture can change your life.

And we mean for the better!

So you think you know everything you need to know about sex?  Did you learn everything you need to know in your Sex Education class?  What if you discovered a better technique to stimulate a G Spot orgasm?  What if you learned how to do a provocative strip tease that would have your partner begging for more?  Do you really know what your partner wants?

All of those are simple questions that are answered in many of our Adult Educational DVDs, that are sure to give you information to improve your sex life.  Even the best lovers can learn new tricks and techniques to make sex better than ever.  For instance, our recently much discussed G Spot ideas have a DVD that provides more information:

Unlocking the Secrets of the G Spot

“The G-Spot has long been regarded as one of a woman’s most mysterious, elusive, and sought-after pleasure zones. Through this enlightening DVD, learn how to push through the boundaries of sexual pleasure to reach unprecedented levels of satisfaction.

Learn the power and pleasure of unlocking the secrets to how both women and men can experience The Ultimate O. Attractive couples explicitly instruct in how to find the spot and enhance your G-Spot pleasure.

Men will learn simple but powerful techniques that help them tolerate more stimulation, unlocking the mystery of male multiple climax and how to experience more. Nationally recognized experts dispel myths and teach you and the one you low how to release inhibitions and surrender to pleasure!”

And that’s only the beginning with Adult Educational DVDs.  As we’ve said before, the largest sexual organ is the brain.  Learning to titillate and excite your partner can lead to more fulfilling and passionate sex.  Nina Hartley is an expert at the tease and she gives you all of the inside information you will need to turn your partner into a willing participant in her video “Nina’s Guide to Stripping for Your Partner.”

Those of you who have read our blog for a while know that we’re all about the orgasm.  You don’t have to do all of the work figuring out how to have a better orgasm – though that certainly sounds like a great homework assignment – if you have a good instructor.  The Big O Better Orgasm Guide can give you information you are sure to find useful.

The Big O Better Orgasm Guide

“This is an exciting DVD guide to sexuality’s most pleasurable, intense, and sometimes-elusive experience: the orgasm! If sex sometimes leaves you high and dry, or if you simply want to experience more climaxes that are satisfying more often, The Big O is must-see viewing for your and your partner.

Hosted by Dr. Marty Klein, The Big O delivers both the latest research findings on orgasms, and explicit footage of attractive couples demonstrating how to heighten the orgasmic experience by letting go. You will see how to tune in for a fulfilling climax.

Why women need to avoid faking it. Moreover, how both genders can experience multiple orgasms. In addition, get answers to questions about your role in your partner’s pleasure, styles of arousal, and much more.

The joyful and ecstatic orgasm is yours for the asking. Watch The Big O today with your partner – and start doing what comes naturally!”

You can learn new skills, new ideas and new pleasures if you’re willing to spend a little time watching.  Our Adult Educational DVDs can greatly improve your sex life.  Have a look through the category, located in our DVD Straight section, and find the DVD that will change your life.  You’ll be happy you did.