Title:

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I used to work in the videogame industry. I won’t go into detail, but suffice to say, when At Any Price (Gaming the System) came to my attention earlier in the week via a link in this post by Skye Warren, I was immediately intrigued. My mind began to whir. Was the heroine going to get ‘serviced’ next to the servers? Would the hero decide to ‘review her build’ during the daily Scrum meeting? In my experience, game dev. is a whole load of (stressful) fun, but calling it sexy would be … a stretch, to say the least. Unless you count listening to hundreds of emote .wav files to make sure they don’t sound unintentionally orgasmic, getting shot (repeatedly) with Nerf guns when you tell the dev. team they need to fix a bug the night before manufacturer submission, asking the rigger to make a character’s boobs smaller, and informing the lead artist that the creature he’s spent the last few days concepting needs to look ‘less penis-like’.

However, it turns out that the videogame backdrop for At Any Price (the first in a series of three books by author Brenna Aubrey) is more peripheral than integral, despite the references to patches, servers and avatars. It’s true that Adam, the hero, can code like a god (apparently, he’s the Zeus of C++) but it’s his addiction to his mobile and laptop, rather than his association with MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing) game development, that ultimately define him in Ms Aubrey’s story.

It all starts with an online auction. Gamer girl and blogger, Mia Strong, from whose point-of-view At Any Price is told, is strapped for cash; her mother is recovering from cancer and, thanks to a bunch of medical bills, about to lose her house. Mia herself is struggling to foot her college tuition. What’s a girl to do? Well, if you’re her, you decide, in a rather Catarina Migliorini-meets-Belle de Jour move, to wave your middle finger at the social stigmas surrounding prostitution and sell your virginity online.

 I’ve decided to decry the crimes and impositions put upon my sisters since the beginning of time until now. And I offer, therefore, a new paradigm. One where a woman can sell her purity and enjoy the fruits thereof.

I’m not spoiling the story by revealing that Adam Drake, CEO of Draco Multimedia Entertainment, is the guy who wins the right to deflower Mia. But despite a raft of contractual clauses pertaining to said deflowering, things go a bit … awry.

Hands up, I was more than a little worried that our leading man might turn out to be yet another carbon copy of the dreadful Christian Grey (beware the millionaire with the contract), but, thankfully, he managed to dodge the Fifty Shades of Gaming bullet. So how best to describe Mr Drake, then? What sort of man pays three-quarters-of-a-million for some skin and blood? At the risk of revealing myself as a complete geek, one who is Alpha in both the traditional (me Tarzan, you Jane) and gaming (fully functional but his assets need work) senses of the word.

Mia? She, too, is very much a work in progress – not without her bugs and, like Adam, in possession of an emotional and social codebase that needs a whole lot of finishing.

At Any Price raises some interesting and difficult questions. If you sell yourself for money, just the once, are you a prostitute? Will society continue, as it has done for hundreds of years, to see prostitution in the negative and malign those who engage in it? Independent Institute research fellow, Wendy McElroy’s words seem particularly appropriate in this instance:

“Prostitution is not merely an exchange of sexual favors; it is a financial exchange. At this point, individualist feminists rise to defend the free market as well as a woman’s self-ownership. This is expressed by the question: ‘Prostitution is a combination of sex and the free market. Which one are you against?’”

Of course, I couldn’t help but jokingly accuse a bunch of ex-colleagues of writing At Any Price under a pen name, which lead to some hilarious back-and-forth about whether the hero performed at ‘a consistent 60fps per second’, if he ‘qualified as a Class A’ (for the non-nerds amongst you, that’s the worst type of bug you can get during development and, generally means that no one is getting any sleep for the foreseeable future) and this extremely witty parody from a good friend of mine who is married to an Executive Producer:

“As his fingers pumped the buttons of the controller her thoughts turned to what else those dexterous digits could do… the washing up, putting that picture on the wall that’s been lying around for 6 months, clearing out the garage. #reallifeofagamerswife”

Sexually speaking, At Any Price is relatively tame. But the story is more than interesting enough to carry things along. Some readers may find the coitus interruptus aspect a bit frustrating, but the good news is that although this book is the first of three about Mia and Adam, there’s no make-you-want-to-tear-your-hair-out cliff-hanger.

Tickle your fancy? Click on the following links to purchase a copy.

Amazon.co.uk

• At Any Price (Gaming the System) – Kindle
• At Any Price (Gaming the System) – Paperback

Amazon.com

• At Any Price (Gaming the System) – Kindle
• At Any Price (Gaming the System) – Paperback

*Apologies for the lack of stick figures in this one, troops. My black ink pen has run dry and I’ve yet to buy a new one!

The post At Any Price (Gaming the System) – Brenna Aubrey appeared first on Behind the Chintz Curtain.

What we used: Shimmy mini pleasure wand and Drive Me Balmy arousal balm gift set
From: Swoon (part of the Lovehoney group)
Price: £14.99
Material(s) & Ingredients: Shimmy mini pleasure wand – soft-touch plastic (latex and phthalate free) • Drive Me Balmy arousal balm – (99% natural): Cocos Nucifera Oil (Coconut Oil), Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Olea Europa Fruit Oil (Olive Oil), Simmondsia Chinensis Oil (Jojoba Oil), Glycine Soja Oil (Soya Oil), Camellia Sinensis Leaf Oil (Camellia Oil), Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit (Shea Butter), Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Parfum, Menthol, Brassica Napus Seed Oil (Rapeseed Oil), Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil (Crambe Oil), Borago Officinalis Seed Oil (Starfower Oil), Camelina Sativa Seed Oil (Camelina Oil), Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil (Blackcurrant Oil), Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil (Echium Oil), Bisabolol, Benzyl Alcohol, Coumarin, Amyl Cinnamate
Reviewer: Lizzie

The Swoon Shimmy. Nope, it’s not a new Strictly Come Dancing routine but a little bullet vibrator from the folks over at Lovehoney. The question is, did it make Lizzie want to tango? And was she Driven Balmy?

First thoughts
The Shimmy is the first new vibrator that I’ve tried out in what seems like ages (we’re talking calendar months!) and, I have to say, I was quite looking forward to putting it through its paces. That said, I haven’t come across a vibrator that’s really knocked my socks off for quite some time, big or small, so wasn’t getting my hopes up too high for the size and the price of this one. I do have a bit of a thing for lotions and potions that stimulate the clitoris, though, so was very interested to see how the Swoon formulation compared against my current favourite, Durex O.

The packaging
Nice colourways – mint green and black, with flapper-esque photos of the greyscale variety. You can’t really tell that there’s a sex toy inside the box unless you read the copy, which speaks to Lovehoney’s intent to sell the Swoon products through pharmacies such as Boots. Inside the main box, a glossy little tin (featuring identical branding), which opens to reveal the white Shimmy (although it’s billed as a pleasure wand, it’s really a bullet vibrator), a small (7 gram) tub of Drive me Balmy arousal balm, and a spare AAA alkaline battery (there’s one already contained within the Shimmy) – all encased in moulded foam. Very cute, really, and highly reminiscent of the beauty brand Soap and Glory.

The vibrator and balm
Emergency memo to Swoon design department! Who on earth thought that white was a good colour for the Shimmy?! At this size, with the little green waterproof seal stripe, this bullet looks exactly like a tampon.

You even twist it to get to the battery chamber in the same way you would a tampon wrapper. Don’t get me wrong, tampons are great and all, but they don’t scream sexy. They scream personal hygiene. And cramps. Lest you think I’m being overly critical and that I was the only one who made the sanitary product connection, Thomas’s first words to me as he watched me turning the Shimmy over in my hands were ‘That looks like a tampon’. Myself? I would’ve gone for black or green and avoided the whole product confusion issue entirely.

In use

Drive Me Balmy*
So, when I finally got the chance to apply this to myself, I opened the tin up to find that Thomas had already beaten me to it and taken out a sneaky dab to rub on himself during a session we’d had the previous night. (I wasn’t in a position to see him do it but I did recall thinking things seemed to be, er, progressing a little more quickly than usual at the time.) When questioned, he confirmed that he had, indeed, had his fingers in the balm jar and the sensations it created when applied to his penis had been rather pleasant. Naturally, I was keen to see if it would have the same effect on me.

To start with, I applied a little balm to my clitoris with my fingers and then used the Shimmy to spread it around the vulva; it melted very nicely with my body heat and a little seemed to go a reasonably long way. However, I did notice that the Drive me Balmy had a slightly oily texture and thus began to wonder whether it was safe to use with latex condoms – extremely important information if, like Thomas and I, you use them as your main form of contraception. After scouring the paper instructions (no joy) I finally found the following notice in very small print on the bottom of the Shimmy’s exterior box and the Drive me Balmy tin: ‘Not for use with latex condoms’.

The effects? Pleasant. I experienced a mild to moderate cooling sensation (the ‘toothpaste effect’, as I like to call it), which seemed to increase bloodflow and make my clitoris slightly more engorged. As a result, it was easier to stimulate myself with the Shimmy pleasure wand.  To be clear, the sensations the balm produced weren’t overly drastic but I could definitely feel something going on down there! Did I prefer it to Durex O? No. But I certainly wouldn’t object to having Drive me Balmy applied to my girly parts in the future.

The Shimmy
When I first switched it on I thought I’d unleashed an angry mosquito. The Shimmy isn’t exactly loud, but neither is it particularly quiet. It has three speed settings – all controlled by a small button at the base – and, at the highest one, it really gets quite a buzz going on.

I started with the Shimmy on the lowest notch but, as soon as I became aroused, dialled things up to the highest. At full power, the vibrations were pleasantly strong – certainly enough to stimulate without vaginal penetration – and I was pleased to find that, in conjunction with the Drive me Balmy, I was having a very enjoyable clitoral orgasm within the space of ten minutes (from a cold start, that’s pretty quick for me). The Shimmy’s size made it particularly manoeuvrable, too, which meant I could get it in just the right places (you can easily run it around the entrance of the vagina, over and around the clitoral hood). Even better, it was the perfect size to stimulate Thomas’s testicles and perineum – which meant I was able to give him a very lovely buzzy hand-job once I’d finished dealing with myself.

Clean-up was short and sweet – because the Shimmy is waterproof, it was the work of a minute to wash it in warm water and antibacterial soap – although I did pay extra attention to the tip of the bullet as there is a moulding notch there that could very easily attract build up.

The verdict?
Because it’s so small and the packaging so inoffensive, I think the Shimmy is perfect for beginners or those looking for something super discrete (this is an excellent travel vibrator) and I had more fun with it than some of the bigger, more expensive vibes I’ve tried over the past year. It’s not super cheap – I think the RRP of £14.99 is a little steep for what you get – but this little bullet is certainly powerful enough to get the job done, especially when coupled with the Drive me Balmy arousal balm. And I loved that both Thomas and I could both use the contents of the Shimmy tin. It would make a lovely, saucy little gift, too.

In summary

Things I liked:

• The strength of the Shimmy’s vibrations. It’s small but mighty!
• The discrete packaging. No one’s going to glance at the Shimmy tin and think ‘vibrator’.
• The fact that both Thomas and I were able to benefit from the vibrator and balm – the size of the former is perfect for man parts and the balm seems to work just as well on men as it does on women.

Things I wasn’t so keen on:

• The colour of the Shimmy. The white plastic body really does make it look like a tampon.
• The size of the Drive me Balmy tin. Seven grams isn’t a lot and, depending on how much of the balm you apply, I’d say you’re looking at two to five uses, max.
• The very small latex condom warning. This needs to be far, far more prominent.
• The price. Buying the Shimmy isn’t going to break the bank but, equally, there are some good bullets out there for less than a ten pounds. You’re paying for the packaging with this one.

*Drive me Balmy pleasure balm can be purchased separately from the Shimmy in 20 gram pots.

Tickle your fancy? Click on the following links to purchase:

Lovehoney

• Swoon Shimmy mini pleasure wand and Drive Me Balmy arousal balm set
• Drive me Balmy pleasure balm – 20 grams

Boots

• Swoon Shimmy mini pleasure wand and Drive Me Balmy arousal balm set
• Drive me Balmy pleasure balm – 20 grams

The post Did the Shimmy make me Swoon? appeared first on Behind the Chintz Curtain.

What we used: RO-100mm soft tip bullet vibrator
From: Rocks-Off
Price: from £12.90 (varies by retailer)
Material(s): chrome-plated ABS/silicone tip
Reviewer: D

This Rocks-Off RO-100mm bullet write-up is a special one, because it is has been undertaken by my newest reviewer, D, who is an amazing 74-years-of-age. All of you out there who think that sex toys aren’t for those of increased maturity? Think again!  Reading her comments on this little vibe was fascinating – and I’m thinking that maybe I should have given her something a bit bigger to kick off with!

All I can say is that I hope I’m as wonderful and sexy as D is when I hit my 70s …

Packaging
Simple. Functional. Not very exciting.

Size and design
The size is fine if this is intended for a fairly inexperienced and modest user! They say size matters, but that is all relative, I guess. The RO-100mm was good for me as an inexperienced operator, but having seen something much more exciting (i.e. the Swan you recently received for review!), the Rocks-Off bullet seems a bit of a sparrow!

Value for money
Fabulous.

Materials/construction
Good quality; smooth with a very comfortable tip. I liked the black and silver colour combination although I understand the tip is available in different colours*, including pink. If the pink is a natural, flesh tone then I think this would be very acceptable, too. More attractive packaging would be appreciated but at such a modest price, one can’t have everything!

Ease of use
Very easy to use (you don’t have to be a rocket scientist) but the instructions are extremely difficult to read as the printing on the leaflet is microscopic. No problems with taking off the battery protector tab off (it runs on a single LR1 battery) or getting it started. Simple to clean.

Level of vibration
Well, I guess it all depends on what the user is used to! For ‘old hands’ who are used to a high level of vibration, this Rocks-Off bullet will probably be too tame. I found it fine, but then I don’t need a lot of intensity. (I think this is a very difficult area to assess as everyone is so different in their sexual needs and make-ups.) I liked it but haven’t had much experience with other vibrators. My feeling is that this bullet would be very suitable as an introductory model.

Anything else?
Just be careful not to ‘lose it’ during use! At 4 inches (10 centimetres) long and 0.8 of an inch (2 centimetres) wide, it is quite small!

In summary

Pluses:

• Value for money;
• Visually pleasing;
• Good for beginners.

Minuses:

• Extremely basic packaging;
• Difficult-to-read instructions.

*The Rocks-Off RO-100mm bullet is also available in blue, pink and red.

Tickle your fancy? Click on the following links to purchase (colour availability varies by retailer):

• Bondara
• Chemist Direct
• Passion8
• Amazon.com

The post Get your Rocks-Off no matter what your age appeared first on Behind the Chintz Curtain.

What we used: Silver Swan vibrator
From: Swan
Price: from £89.95 (varies by retailer)
Material(s): Phthalate-free seamless silicone
Reviewer: The Dairy Maid

The Dairy Maid doesn’t usually go in for pink things; she’s not really a girly-girl. But then she met the Silver Swan vibrator. And, well … I think it’s safe to say she really (really) liked it.

First impressions

The packaging

Very well packaged. There’s a smart, rectangular outer box with an accurate picture of the product on the front that gives the Silver Swan a high quality, contemporary feel and within, a hardened cardboard case with a magnetic closure. Once opened, this reveals a black card insert containing a comprehensive instruction booklet that lifts to reveal the vibrator itself, a satin carry pouch, and a multi-plug adaptor for recharging.

All in all, the packaging gives the impression of an expensive, high-end product – so far, so good!

The vibrator
The Silver Swan vibrator is pink – you’ll know from my previous vibrator review that that’s not normally my favourite colour – but it’s a dark rose (so not garish) and has a matt texture. The vibrator has a 100% silicone body, which feels smooth with none of the tacky, almost sticky feel I have experienced with cheaper products. It is also waterproof and phthalate-free.

The two control buttons are integral within the body of the vibrator and are easy to operate without feeling conspicuous.

Shape-wise, the Silver Swan is a rabbit-type vibrator in that it provides both a penetrative shaft and a clitoral stimulator – both of which operate with independent motors, each with their own controls.

How to use it

The longer arm is inserted into the vagina while the shorter one rests between your labia and over your clitoris. You set the vibration setting for each arm with the two raised controls by pressing and holding until the desired vibration level is reached. Each arm has a generously curved bump, making it easy to reach your G-Spot area internally and provide effortless pressure to your clitoris.

The controls are beautifully unfussy and easy to manipulate during play. You can change the vibration settings by holding down on the buttons and releasing them to go up or down in intensity, then switch off with a quick click.

The Silver Swan also has a travel lock, which you activate by holding both buttons down until the little lights go off.

Why I liked it

It’s visually really attractive and feels sleek and sensuous – and this makes you want to play with it without feeling embarrassed. The Silver Swan is a ‘grown-up’, classy sex toy!

The design is very intuitive and body friendly; it felt comfortable when inserted and the curves fit snugly in all the right places. The dual vibrations were incredibly powerful, too, and enabled me to effortlessly control my climax without the distraction of fiddly controls. At maximum power the vibrator was almost unbearable as the motors were so strong – achieved by PowerBullet technology according to the supplied info.!

My partner was really impressed and enjoyed trying it out – he gave it 10/10 for flexibility and ease of use and we found using it together very erotic and sensual. It is certainly the first vibrator I have tried that I haven’t felt awkward using in front of him.

After play it is very easy to clean and being seam-free it’s far more hygienic overall.

The Silver Swan also has a rechargeable, environmentally-friendly lithium ion battery, which can be fully charged within three hours (with a little light that indicates when it’s locked and loaded). This should enable the product to be used for years. In fact, the Silver Swan has a one-year limited warranty and a ten-year guarantee, which I think is amazing.

What I didn’t like

It’s just about perfect in every way but if I was being picky I would have liked a vibe pattern rather than just the options of faster and slower.

Would I recommend it?

Absolutely! It looks, feels and performs like a premium product and I can’t imagine that anyone wanting a decent-quality vibrator would be disappointed, whether buying it for themselves or (hopefully!) receiving it as a gift.

This toy is also flexible enough to accommodate any stretching that needs to happen to reach yummy spots or apply extra pressure. The Silver Swan is so well curved in all the right places that handling it and using the controls during play is intuitive and doesn’t once become a distraction. (I loved the separate motors and chose a low rumble for the shaft and a faster, more powerful setting for my clit.)

All the extra issues I usually find manufacturers stumbling with, the Silver Swan handles with as much understated aplomb as it does everything else.

A premium toy that should give you premium, environmentally-friendly pleasure for years.

Tickle your fancy? You can buy the Silver Swan vibrator from the following retailers:

• Ann Summers
• Simply Pleasure
• Pulse and Cocktails

*Please note that the Silver Swan vibrator was provided by Swan Vibes, free of charge, in exchange for a fair and impartial review.

The post Swan-sational! appeared first on Behind the Chintz Curtain.

What we used: Fantasy Man vibrators (The Fireman, The Millionaire, The Tennis Coach, The Frenchman)
From: Smile Makers
Price:  €39.95
Material(s): silicone
Reviewer: Jane

Every so often, I do Alert Me posts, which are basically round-ups of – unrelated – news stories I’ve come across during my travels about the Interweb. Sometimes they’re about sex toys, sometimes about erotica, sometimes about eBooks. Occasionally, they’re about completely random things that have simply taken my fancy.

Anyhow, back in December I wrote an Alert Me that included an article about some new Fantasy Man vibrators from a company called Smile Makers. Basically, they’re vibes based on the stereotypical hunks of romance: The Millionaire, The Fireman, The Frenchman, The Tennis Coach.

Well, Smile Makers saw the post I did and a week or so later got in touch to ask whether I’d like to review them. To which the answer was, of course, ‘Oh, yes!’.

What did I think of this quartet of romance-novel inspired manliness? Well …

The packaging

Love it! The stylised images of the vibrators on the boxes are really different and fun, leaps and bounds beyond most of the sex toy packaging you see for products in the sub £50.00 price range. The back-of-box copy is particularly hilarious; each Fantasy Man has his own personal ‘bio’, written in Mills & Boon-esque prose, that cannot fail to bring a smile to your face:

Per The Frenchman:

‘Who knows what he’s saying, but does it matter? This sexy linguist has got you locked in this gaze and soon you’ll be delightfully fluent in his native tongue. So make yourself comfortable, mademoiselle, because when it comes to passion this master’s going to give you an education.’

Phwoar!

The only thing I would say is that the construction material isn’t listed on the exterior packaging. If you were picking a Smile Maker up off the shelf – rather than buying one online – you wouldn’t know it was made of silicone.

The vibrators themselves

Getting them out of their boxes, I was immediately struck by their size. I couldn’t find any dimensions on the Smile Makers website, www.comeplaywithus.com, and they were a lot smaller than I thought they would be.

Each Smile Makers Fantasy Man is just under six inches in length, with a main shaft diameter that’s fractionally shy of an inch. The Frenchman and Fireman, however, both reach 1.6 inches at their widest points. (Before you let that measurement scare the bejeezus out of you keep in mind that both of these fellas are supposed to be used externally rather than internally.) They all run off a single triple AAA battery and are waterproof, too, so you can take them into the shower or bath without any worries.

The Fantasy Men have all been designed to do slightly different things: The Fireman to be rubbed across the vulva (his ‘nose’ is used to stimulate the clitoris); the Frenchman to be used like a tongue on your outer bits; the Tennis Coach to stimulate the G-Spot; and the Millionaire to multi-task (he’s a basically a large bullet).

Shape-wise, I thought the Frenchman, the Millionaire and the Fireman were great. The Frenchman, in particular, was extremely flexible and I think he was probably the hunky standout from an ergonomic perspective. (Looking at him online I was a bit unsure, but in person? I liked him a lot.)

The Tennis Coach I had more trouble with. Because of the short stem, it was difficult to hold and angle him to hit the G-Spot. I tried with a partner and without and we both struggled to get a good angle and maintain a decent grip. Trying to get the Tennis Coach in the right place also meant that the shaft of the vibrator very quickly became slippery and thus more and more tricky to hold on to.

Volume levels?

Excellent. These are probably some of the quietest vibrators I’ve used.

Power

For me, personally, the Smile Makers weren’t strong enough. By which I mean that I wasn’t able to use them and achieve an orgasm without additional stimulation, e.g. hands, fingers, etc. That said, the Fantasy Men have been specifically designed for first-timers looking for gentler vibrations. In other words, if you’re particularly sensitive, have never bought a sex toy before, or the idea of a bigger, more powerful vibrator scares you, these would likely be a good choice.

In summary

I love the Smile Makers branding, packaging and aesthetics and, with the exception of the Tennis Coach, I think the designs are excellent. They’d make lovely, fun gifts for friends and partners, too. I don’t think they’ll satisfy those ‘old hands’ who like stronger vibrations, but if you’re after something quiet and gentle they’re definitely worth a look.

Tickle your fancy? You can buy a Fantasy Man by clicking on one of the links below:

• The Fireman
• The Frenchman
• The Millionaire
• The Tennis Coach

*Please note that the Smile Makers Fantasy Men vibrators were provided free of charge in exchange for a fair review.

The post Going to bed with a Fantasy Man appeared first on Behind the Chintz Curtain.

What we used: Pipedream Icicles No.1 Dildo
From:  Adult Sensations
Price: From $29.96
Material(s): Pyrex glass
Reviewer: Lizzie

A few weeks ago Adult Sensations, who have e-stores that serve both Canada and the U.S. (North American Chintz visitors, take note!), were kind enough to send the very stylish Icicles No. 1 dildo to us for review. This is the first toy we’ve reviewed in the Icicles range – there are 42 different designs, last we counted – and the No. 1 is the initial design in the series.

First thoughts …

Lizzie
Glass is fast becoming one of my favourite sex toy materials. It’s easy to clean, can be cooled or heated, and has a firmness to it that I find really, really pleasing during use (more on the later). Needless to say, I was really looking forward to trying the Icicles No. 1 out.

I don’t normally buy ‘straight’ dildos – generally I opt for ones with a curve so that I (or Thomas) can better target my G-Spot. As such, the No. 1 was a bit of a departure from the path most trodden. I also tend to be a bit sceptical of ridged toys, often finding that the various bumps and protrusions don’t really add that much to the experience once they’re inside me. Would the spiralled ridge, which runs the length of the No. 1’s insertable shaft (which is roughly 7 inches long) be any different because of its glass construction?

The packaging …

Lizzie
Very inoffensive and gender-neutral; I would be equally happy giving or receiving this dildo as a gift. The box features a black-and-white colour scheme with some nice, clear pictures of the Icicles No. 1 dildo inside it and has a ‘door-like’ side that can be opened to reveal the toy without breaking into the box itself. The actual dildo is cushioned within a thick block of Styrofoam to prevent breakage during transport and delivery.

One thing that I would have liked to have seen? A storage pouch for the dildo. The box is really too unwieldy to store it in permanently and having something to house the dildo post-receipt would’ve been very handy.

How it looks …

Lizzie
The Icicles No. 1 is really pretty, and looks more like an ornament than a sex toy. (It sort of reminded me of an oversized cocktail mixing stick!)

It’s made from clear Pyrex glass, has a ridge that twists around the insertable length, and a ball-shaped base to help you grip it during use.

In use …

Lizzie
After giving the Icicles No. 1 dildo a good clean with antibacterial soap and toy cleaner, I ran it under the hot tap for a short time in order to warm up the glass. (As mentioned earlier, I think the ability to change this toy’s temperature is a significant plus because it allows you to ‘tweak’ it to suit your mood.) It held the warmth of the water really nicely and this meant that it was very pleasant to insert. No leaping about from the shock of something cold.

Lube-wise, I found I put a bit too much on the toy to start with – I generally subscribe to the ‘more is better’ philosophy, which works fine with glass toys that have ring handles but not so much with those that are more streamlined – and made the dildo overly slippery, but the ball base was relatively easy to grip, despite the overly liberal application. (Tip: try and keep one hand, preferably your ‘operating’ hand, clean of lube so that you can maintain a good, firm hold on the toy.)

Because the dildo is a pretty decent length and made of a rigid material, I went relatively slowly insertion-wise, giving myself time to become accustomed to it. To start with, I kept my movements quite gentle but as I became more and more aroused, I was able to use it with more force. Although it wasn’t curved and couldn’t really be angled to comfortably hit the G-Spot, the firmness of the glass made it easy for me to get the friction I needed to generate some lovely sensations internally.

Using the Icicles No. 1 solo was great fun but, as I generally find it quite difficult to climax without clitoral or G-Spot stimulation, I ended up lying on my stomach and handing control over to Thomas so that I could concentrate on touching my clitoris. He had no trouble gripping or controlling the No. 1 – the ball-shaped base fit easily in his palm – but I did have to ask him to go easier than I would have with a silicone or plastic toy. Result? A very nice, blissful orgasm.

And the ridges? Even though the Icicles No. 1 is relatively slim (it’s 1.4 inches wide) I could definitely feel the external glass spiral on it, particularly around the entrance of the vagina –  yay! To borrow a line from Wayne’s World, it really was ribbed for my pleasure!

Any downsides?

Lizzie
The straight shape and rigid construction mean you do have to go a little easy to begin with and take your time finding the best angle; if the dildo presses too hard against the pubic bone or is shoved too deep, too soon, it can be uncomfortable.

In an ideal world it would have liked it to come with a storage pouch, but that’s a small quibble.

The verdict?

Lizzie
The Icicles No. 1 dildo is a lovely, smart-looking toy that’s well made and a pleasure to use. Its slim shape means that it could be used vaginally or anally and the spiral ridge actually seemed to do something, particularly around the entrance to the vagina. I couldn’t really stimulate my G-Spot with it, but found it satisfying all the same. A nice toy to use with a partner, particularly as part of foreplay.

In summary

Things I liked:

• It’s aesthetically pleasing. A very pretty dildo.
• The construction. Because it’s made of Pyrex, it’s easy to clean, dishwasher safe, can be used in the bath, heated or cooled.
• It’s slim enough to use anally.
• The ridges really do create some friction, particularly around the vaginal entrance – they’re not just window dressing.
• The rigidity. Glass doesn’t give, so you’ve got something decent to press and rub against.
• Can be used with silicone, oil, and water-based lubes.
• Safe for those with latex allergies.

Things I wasn’t so keen on:

• The lack of storage pouch.
• Can be uncomfortable if used too vigorously, too quickly.

Tickle your fancy? You can buy the Pipedream Icicles No.1 Dildo by clicking on the following links:

• Pipedream Icicles No. 1 Dildo – Adult Sensations Canada
• Pipedream Icicles No. 1 Dildo – Adult Sensations U.S.A.

*Please note that this item was provided free of charge by Adult Sensations in exchange for a fair review.

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What we used:  Beginners Basic Lady Lustfinger Mini Vibrator (silver)
From: Lovehoney
Price: £3.99
Material(s): Phthalate-free plastic
Reviewer: Victoria

Small, simple, and inexpensive. Does Lovehoney’s sub-£5.00 Lady Lustfinger Mini Vibrator hit the mark?

First thoughts
Being a bit of a vibrator novice I was very intrigued to receive the Beginners Basic Lady Lustfinger through the post. I hadn’t used a vibrator either with a partner or on my own before (although do own a dildo), so I was looking forward to giving it a whirl.

So first of all, I have to say that I hate the name ‘Lady Lustfinger’; it sounds like a character from an 80s porn film but (thankfully) there’s no porn on the box. On the looks front, the packaging has ‘Basic’ written on the front, and that pretty much sums it up.

The vibrator itself isn’t intimidating at all as it’s only 5.5 inches long (the insertable length is 4.5 inches) but although it is silver I was quite disappointed at how plasticky it felt and therefore how light is was. It didn’t come with any batteries, either, (the Lustfinger requires a single AA) but then for £3.99 you can’t expect everything!

Using it
After giving the Lady Lustfinger a try, I have to say that I was impressed for the money. I wasn’t expecting it to be all singing and dancing, but overall I thought that it was a good entry-level vibrator – especially for someone like me who hadn’t owned one previously.

It’s controlled by a speed dial at the base, which is simple enough, but if you turn it incorrectly you can accidentally open up the battery compartment instead. Also, to change the speed, it really is a two-handed motion as the dial is quite fiddly. Although I used it solo, I think it would definitely be fun with a partner, as changing the speed would be better performed by someone else. I think it would also work well as a cheeky (but useful!) present, and would have happily received it from my partner.

The Lady Lustfinger Mini Vibrator has definitely opened my eyes further to vibrators in general and now it all feels a lot less intimidating.

In summary

• Great entry-level vibrator
• Good value for money
• Lightweight
• Fiddly speed control

Tickle your fancy? Click on the following links to buy the Lady Lustfinger Mini Vibrator from Lovehoney:

Lovehoney U.K.

• Lady Lustfinger Mini Vibrator – gold/silver

Lovehoney U.S.

• Lady Lustfinger Mini Vibrator – gold/silver

The post Cheap and cheerful: the Lady Lustfinger Mini Vibrator appeared first on Behind the Chintz Curtain.

What we used: Truth or Dare: A Game of Passion
By: Thrusti Kicki Grabbi
Price: From £10.79 (price varies by retailer)
Material(s): not applicable
Reviewer: Jane

I love games. Trival Pursuit, chess, Cranium, 500, Scrabble … But I have to hold my hands up and say that I had never played a sexy one before Truth or Dare: A Game of Passion. Would it feel contrived? Would it be embarrassing? What sorts of questions and challenges would we encounter? Would it just be a slightly jazzed-up version of the truth or dare gauntlet we used to throw down to friends as teenagers? But most importantly, would it be fun?

I actually bought Truth or Dare as a Christmas present for my husband and must admit it was quite fun watching him unwrap it. It took him a second or two to work out exactly what he had in his hands because the box is rather feminine (it’s predominantly pink and white) and thus it wasn’t immediately obvious what was inside it. Then he noticed the silhouette graphic of a woman spanking a man on his hands and knees with a hairbrush and started to chuckle.

The Truth or Dare premise is very simple. You have two decks of cards (a ‘Truth’ pile and a ‘Dare’ pile) and a six-sided die featuring the words ‘Truth’, ‘Dare’ and ‘Wild’. You and your partner take turns throwing the latter and, depending on what word comes up, pick a card off the relevant stack. (If the die shows ‘Wild’ you get to choose whether you want a ‘Truth’ or ‘Dare’ card but you also have the option of ordering your partner to perform the act on the card rather than doing it yourself, or passing completely.)

We did peruse a couple of cards before we started playing, just to get a feel for what sorts of things we might encounter (our biggest worry was that the questions and Dares wouldn’t suit us) but were pleasantly surprised by the range and diversity:

Dare: Tear a sheet of paper into 10 pieces. Divide between you and write on the pieces an erotic act. Try and think of things you’ve never done or have wanted to do – the more specific the better. Place them all in a hat and randomly pull one from the pile. After you choose, perform the act. If you’re looking for an encore, read the remaining pieces of paper with your partner and pick your favourite.

Truth: On a scale of one to ten, how much of an exhibitionist are you? Describe an episode from your life to prove your point. If you don’t have any juicy exhibitionist stories, then describe what your ultimate exhibitionist fantasy would be.

One thing we realised very quickly was that we were going to need a fair bit of time to play. Truth or Dare certainly isn’t a quick, twenty-minute undertaking. (To give you an idea of scope, our inaugural Truth or Dare session lasted about two hours – and we only got through four cards!) Some of the Dares also require you to utilise various household items (during our first session, we ended up using pens, paper, chocolate buttons, and a few other kitchen items that shall remain nameless) or move between rooms in order to complete them, so you really do need a quiet house or flat before starting in. Not really something you can play with a house full of guests or flatmates!

All in all, a brilliant little game that’s both simple and sexy. Even if you know your lover pretty well and are both truthful and daring in your ‘everyday’ sex life, I’m 99.9% certain Truth or Dare will encourage you both to do something you never have before and/or enable you to discover something completely new about each other. (I always thought I had a pretty good imagination but was totally, totally outclassed, creatively speaking, by my OH. Who knew he had such a deviant mind?!) Conversely, if you’re a bit on the shy side, Truth or Dare could be just the thing get a conversation about sex going – and give you the excuse to try something you might have trouble asking for otherwise. Highly recommended.

Tickle your fancy? Click on the following links to buy Truth or Dare – A Game of Passion:

Amazon U.K.

• Truth or Dare: A Game of Passion – Amazon U.K.

Amazon U.S.

• Truth or Dare: A Game of Passion – Amazon U.S.

Lovehoney U.K.

• Truth or Dare: A Game of Passion – Lovehoney U.K.

Lovehoney U.S.

• Truth or Dare: A Game of Passion – Lovehoney U.S.

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What we used: Climax Pink Skin Vibrator
From: Desire & Pleasure
Price: £15.99
Material(s): CyberSkin (latex and phthalate free)

A few weeks ago, Desire & Pleasure, a charitable sex toy retailer run by the U.K.’s Family Planning Association (FPA), sent us this classic-shaped Climax Pink Skin Vibrator to review. One of our newest Chintz contributors, The Dairy Maid, stuck her hand up to try it out. (If you missed our previous post on Desire & Pleasure, the FPA, and the work they do promoting sexual health, you can find it here.)

Initial thoughts …
My first impression on receiving the Climax Skin was its extreme pinkness. It’s a very bright, almost luminous pink, which was pretty off-putting. It would certainly appeal to Barbie and Ken but not all ladies love pink!

The external packaging is discreet with an almost clinical edge, which means it wouldn’t look out of place at the pharmacy but it’s really too utilitarian to appeal to someone wanting to purchase it as a gift. Definitely a ‘no frills’ packaging approach. It also features a rather bizarre ‘nipple’, which allows you to feel the texture of the outer vibrator layer (sleeve) without breaking into the plastic. A good idea as you can decide if the feel appeals before opening anything (and it’s a lot of fun to use as a pretend accessory nipple once the Climax Pink Skin is out!). The packet is easy to open, too.

On to the vibrator itself …
The Climax Pink Skin has a removable outer sleeve that has a slightly tacky feel and a synthetic smell that improves after washing. This vibrator is waterproof and has an insertable length of 7 inches (17.78 centimetres) and a girth of 1.5 inches (3.81 centimetres) with the ribbed sleeve on (although it can also be used without). It is multi-speed and has a good speed range but between medium and maximum power it does become very loud – which may limit when and where it can be used. It also gets quite slippery when lubricated (because the Climax Pink Skin is made from CyberSkin you can only use non-oil based formulations), which makes adjusting the ring at the bottom and controlling the speed quite tricky.

I road-tested the vibrator solo and with my partner and both times I achieved a satisfying orgasm with a pleasurable build-up, but my partner struggled to control the slippery speed dial with hilarious results. Fine if you’re relaxed with each other but could be mortifying if you are in a less established relationship!

Overall verdict
Good value for money, discreet packaging and does what you would expect from a vibrator. However, the colour needs re-thinking; something more neutral would be better. No batteries were supplied in the pack, either, and the Climax Pink Skin’s CyberSkin sleeve requires a specialist cleaning product to maintain it in tip-top condition. Perhaps a sample sachet should be included with the product? On a personal note, I found it too slim and not long enough, but others may find the proportions perfectly ample. The speed dial was also more fiddly than I would have liked, too.

Tickle your fancy? You can buy the Climax Pink Skin Vibrator from Desire & Pleasure by clicking here.

*Please note that this item was provided free of charge by Desire & Pleasure in exchange for a fair review.

*Editor’s note (19 December 2012): this vibrator is currently out of stock with Desire & Pleasure but will be available again shortly. Can’t wait? You can view Desire & Pleasure’s range of alternative classic vibrators here. Enter the code BLOG008 at checkout to receive a 15% discount on all purchases up until 24 December 2012.

The post Girly pleasure: the Climax Pink Skin Vibrator appeared first on Behind the Chintz Curtain.

What we used: Liquid Silk lubricant
From: Bodywise
Price: From £9.99 for a 250ml bottle
Ingredients: Highly purified water, propylene glycol, isopropyl palmitate, dimethicone, cellulose polymer, polysorbate 60, sorbitan stearate, cetearyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate NSE, B.N.P.D, di sodium EDTA, phenoxyethanol, methyl paraben, butyl paraben, ethyl paraben, propyl paraben, BHT.

First thoughts

Lizzie
A quality lubricant in a decent-sized bottle – and at a reasonable price – is quite hard to find. On average, Thomas and I tend to replenish our supply of slippery stuff every two to three weeks. Granted, we’re pretty generous in terms of the quantity we apply to each other but it’s a pain to be constantly buying lube what feels like every five minutes. Enter the 250ml bottle of Liquid Silk.

How it looks

Lizzie
The Liquid Silk lubricant packaging is very simple. The bottle is a good size and resembles the sort you’d buy bathroom handwash in. I like that the pump dispenser isn’t the annoying fixed, squat design you find on the various Durex containers; it screws on, which means that you can unfasten it and get that last bit of lubricant out when you’re nearing the end of your supply. The lube itself is actually a milky white colour, which is quite different to many of the water-based lubricants I’ve used in the past. (The majority tend to be clear.)

In use

Lizzie

True to its name, Liquid Silk does indeed feel really lovely on the skin – incredibly light and silky. The dispenser makes it easy to get just the right amount of lube (a partial pump for a little, a couple of full pumps for a palm full) and it’s a breeze to spread. Best of all it’s not tacky and passes the ‘water test’ with flying colours. (I don’t particularly like lubricants that re-activate and leave behind excessive residue when you run your hands under the tap after use.) You don’t need a great deal Liquid Silk, either, because it spreads so nicely when applied but it is water-based, so you have to reapply it more frequently than you would a silicone-based product. Taste-wise, Liquid Silk isn’t the nicest on the tongue – it has a slightly bitter flavour – but I’ve certainly had worse. The aftertaste takes a minute or so to dissipate, too.

One note of caution. Those who read through the ingredient list at the beginning of this review may have noticed that Bodywise’s Liquid Silk formulation contains parabens. Is that a problem? Well, it boils down to your interpretation of the available research. Some scientific studies claim that parabens, which are used in many cosmetic products, such as shampoos and moisturisers, can be linked to cancer. Specifically, the development of breast cancer in women as parabens can mimic the hormone estrogen. To that end, if you have any concerns about using products containing this particular type of chemical or have a sensitivity to them (parabens can cause skin irritation in some people*), then I would suggest opting for an alternative paraben-free product. You can find out more about parabens here.

*I would classify myself as having relatively sensitive skin and had absolutely no issues with Liquid Silk, despite it having a wider range of ingredients than the organic lube Woohoo! – which I did have an adverse reaction to.

The verdict?

Lizzie
A generous bottle of water-based lubricant that’s pleasant to handle and apply. Great for vaginal and anal intercourse, on toys (we used Liquid Silk when trying out the Pony Play Butt Plug Whip), and to keep things slippery during manual stimulation. Flavour-wise, Liquid Silk has a slightly stronger taste than other water-based lubes I’ve had in my mouth but it’s certainly not dreadful. (I should note here that Thomas found its taste slightly less offensive than I did.) I’d prefer that Liquid Silk didn’t contain parabens, but, for me, their inclusion isn’t a deal breaker.

In summary

Things I liked:

• The size of the container. You won’t be buying replacement bottles as often.
• The texture. Silky, easy to spread and non-tacky.
• The pump dispenser. Makes it easy to get the right amount of lube and can be unscrewed when you reach the end of the bottle, thus enabling you to tap out the liquid at the very bottom.
• The price. Despite the bigger initial outlay, a 250ml bottle of Liquid Silk works out cheaper than many other lubricants millilitre for millilitre.
• As it’s water-based, it can be used on silicone toys.

Things I wasn’t so keen on:

• The taste. Liquid Silk has a slightly bitter tang.
• The inclusion of parabens. In an ideal world, this lube wouldn’t have them.

Tickle your fancy? Click on the following links to buy Liquid Silk lubricant.

* Liquid Silk is also available in a 50ml bottle, although please note that the latter differs in design from the 250ml container.

Amazon.co.uk

• Bodywise Liquid Silk personal lubricant, 250ml

Amazon.com

• Bodywise Liquid Silk personal lubricant, 250ml
• Bodywise Liquid Silk personal lubricant, 50ml

Bondara

• Bodywise Liquid Silk personal lubricant, 250ml
• Bodywise Liquid Silk personal lubricant, 50ml

Lovehoney

• Bodywise Liquid Silk personal lubricant, 250ml
• Bodywise Liquid Silk personal lubricant, 50ml

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