I know it’s not a Friday, but there are some really good Lovehoney sex toy deals floating around at the moment (particularly in relation to LELO products) and I haven’t done a Freebies and Discounts post for quite a few weeks – naughty me! Ergo, I thought it prudent to let you all know about them before they disappear into the ether. As many of you are aware, I’ve shifted countries recently so, going forwards, I’m going to do my best to keep the various parts of the globe covered with regard to sex toy bargains. Geography shouldn’t impact your ability to obtain good toy discounts, in my opinion.

FREE SWOON CROSS MY PALM VIBRATOR – LOVEHONEY U.K.

Until midnight on Friday 16 May, Britain’s online sex toy giant is giving away a free Swoon waterproof vibrator with all purchases of £10.00 or more. And you get free delivery, too. No idea what to spend that first ten quid on? Check out Lovehoney’s ’3 for £10.00 toy selection, which you can find here.

UP TO 40% OFF LELO – LOVEHONEY AUSTRALIA

For those of you who shopping in the Southern Hemisphere, Lovehoney Australia has a brilliant LELO deal going on at the moment: up to 40% off LELO selected products, including the Smart Wand, the Oden 2 Couples Remote Control Vibrator Ring (one for the men), and the Tara Rotating and Vibrating Clitoral and G-Spot Massager.

UP TO 40% OFF LELO – LOVEHONEY U.S.A

Fear not, those of you in North America, that you’re going to miss out on all the LELO fun to the Aussies and Kiwis. Lovehoney U.S. is also running the 40% off selected LELO products deal. In fact, there are actually more items included on the U.S. site than on the Australian site, such as the Liv 2 Rechargeable Vibrator, the Billy Prostate Massager and the Insignia Alia Clitoral Vibrator.

Wherever you are in the world, I hope you find something to interest you.

Jane

xxx

The post Freebies and Discounts: Lovehoney and LELO sex toy bargains around the globe appeared first on Behind the Chintz Curtain.

… and had something of a ‘heck, yeah!’ moment. Mainly because Betty had managed to articulate in less than 140 characters something that has been bugging me for a long time: sex toy manufacturers’ use of annoyingly euphemistic language within their instruction manuals. Or, put another way, their ridiculous insistence on providing virtually no practical instruction whatsoever when it comes to anything other than nuts and bolts functionality.

When I questioned her further about her tweet, Betty went on to say:

If you own a vibrator, or a dildo, or a cock ring, or a butt plug, or any other kind of sex toy or implement, you’ll likely understand exactly what it is she and I are talking about. How many times have you taken something out of the box, perused the manual, and gotten a run-down on Button A and Button B but nothing whatsoever about how or where to insert it? Looked at something online, twisted your head sideways and thought ‘how the hell does that work?’ Turned something over and over in your hands and, after scratching the old noggin, thought ‘well, I get the basic idea, but is this the front or the back?’ Granted, most of us can work out where to stick a dildo or a vibrator but as toy designs evolve and change, become more sophisticated, it’s not always as simple as it might seem to navigate the parameters of functionality.

How about the WeVibe, which Betty mentions in her tweet above:

Image: Lovehoney

Or the Metal Worx Double Trouble Dildo (which, confusingly, and despite its name, has three protrusions):

Image: Sex Shop 365

It should come as no surprise that I’ve bought a truckload of sex-related paraphernalia over the years. And, yes, most of the time, I know what I’m supposed to do with the various toys and instruments at my disposal. But that’s no excuse not to explain clearly and in plain language what something actually does – for safety, if nothing else – and how it should be used to best advantage. Because for every person who can use that triple-armed vibrating dildo with patented electro-pulse feature blindfolded and hanging by one foot, there’s going to be someone who can’t.

As far as the woolly language of sex toy manuals goes? Well, the only thing I can deduce is that that while companies are perfectly happy to sell us all sorts of wonderful baubles, they’re less comfortable with, oh, I don’t know … actually talking to us about them in real terms. It’s almost as if they think we’re incapable of handling the truth of our purchases; God forbid we see words like ‘vagina’ or ‘anus’ or ‘vibrator’ anywhere on the product box or in the manual. And the irony is that in trying not to (I can only assume) ‘embarrass’ users by coming up with all sorts of flowery phrases to explain what their product is and what it does, they actually manage to do just the opposite, i.e. turn something that is completely normal – sexual pleasure – into a shameful thing that can’t be overtly referenced or named.

Need convincing? Check out the below extracts from the manuals of a number of well-known sex toys. (And just in case the intent of the various excerpts escapes you, I’ve included helpful ‘Jane translations’.)

‘Continue pressing the button, and you are gradually elevated through all of the SWAN’s variable motions until you find yourself at an intense fluttering sensation.’

– Kissing Swan rabbit vibrator

Jane translation: Hold it against your clitoris, and keep pushing the power button until you find a setting/speed that brings you to orgasm.

‘This innovative technology has you lost in your thoughts and holding on for more pleasure.’

– Explaining the purpose of the Kissing Swan’s ‘press and hold’ feature (which is billed as a function that ‘mimics the natural escalation of human passion’).

Jane translation: Hold the button down to make the vibrations stronger and get yourself off more quickly.

‘Congratulations on acquiring the ELISE / IRIS pleasure object. Before getting more closely acquainted with your ELISE / IRIS, please take a moment to review the information in this user manual.’

 

– LELO Iris vibrator

Jane translation: Thanks for buying this vibrator. Before you put it in your vagina, please read the instructions.

Manufacturers! Hear my plea! I have bought something to stimulate my clitoris/vagina/anus/breasts/[insert relevant body part]. You really do not need to try and fool me into thinking that I have bought a ‘massager’ or a ‘pleasure object’ or an ‘objet d’art’. I’m a big girl; I think I can handle the truth – and my sexuality.

*A big ‘thank you’ to Betty for allowing me to use her tweets in this post. Want to know more about her? You can find her at Betty Herbert – This is Love or follow her on Twitter, @52Betty.

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What we used:

Do good things come in small packages? Lizzie shares her thoughts on Gigi, LELO’s rechargeable G-Spot vibrator, who she’s been getting to know for a while now.

First thoughts …

Lizzie
As you may know from reading my A not-so-Happy Rabbit review, I’ve been using vibrators – alone and with Thomas – for quite some time. But Gigi was a bit of a departure for me because, at the time I bought this little G-Spot gem, it represented a number of firsts. One, it was made by LELO, a brand I’d not tried before. Two, it wasn’t a rabbit (and up until Gigi’s arrival, all my vibes had ears). Three, it was the smallest vaginal vibrator I had ever purchased. Gigi was a bit of stab-in-the-dark, to be perfectly frank; I’d just divorced my latest rabbit – things hadn’t worked out between us – and I was desperate to find a vibrator I enjoyed using again.

How it looks …

Lizzie
I won’t spend too much time talking about the LELO packaging, except to say that, as with all LELO products, it’s sleek and appealing. As you can see from the below picture, the company’s marketing team have clearly thought a lot about how to make their product look and feel luxurious, non-threatening, and appealing to women. Bluntly, you don’t feel like you’ve just bought something from a seedy backstreet sex shop.

The Gigi itself is quite small. In fact, even though I perused the dimensions before purchasing it, I still got a bit of a surprise when I pulled it out of the box. With a length of 16.51 centimetres (6.5 inches), a circumference of 10.16 centimetres (4 inches) and a diameter of 3.3 centimetres (1.3 inches), it’s not exactly the biggest vibrator on the block. From a purely aesthetic point-of-view, however, the Gigi is lovely. The base of the vibrator is constructed of a gloss-white plastic, upon which is mounted a single, flush control button. Very uncluttered. At the bottom of the base, a small recharging socket (Gigi has a usage time of four hours at full charge and a standby life of ninety days) that can be revealed or concealed by lifting or lowering a small, pliable tab. A thin metallic band separates this base section from the insertable shaft. The latter is made of FDA-approved silicone that’s super-smooth to the touch and pleasingly coloured. (I ordered the Gigi in deep rose although the vibrator is also available in two other colours – pink and turquoise blue.)

While not waterproof, the LELO Gigi is splash-proof, which means that you can wash it with antibacterial soap and water once you’ve finished using it. (You can use sex-toy cleaners to clean this vibrator, too, but not all are silicone-friendly, so make sure you check before applying then to the Gigi or any other toys constructed of this material.)

How it feels …

Lizzie
Given its size, I was a bit worried about how the Gigi was going to perform (not to put too fine a point on it, I’m generally a girth sort of girl). Consequently, I had everything other than my legs crossed, hoping that I hadn’t made an expensive error in judgement.

I remember with clarity that Gigi arrived in the middle of the day, while I was home alone, and I beat a hasty retreat to the bedroom to put the vibrator through its paces as soon as it had enough charge. (Although please note that I don’t recommend you do this as it’s not good for the battery!) The first thing I noticed? Gigi was LOADS quieter than all the other vibrators I’d previously tried. Most sound like electric toothbrushes on acid but the LELO Gigi had a nice quiet hum.

After cycling through all of the available programmes (Gigi has six different speeds and five different pulse patterns), I got started – and made a very pleasant and unexpected discovery.  Whilst ‘warming myself up’, I found that the flattened tip at the head of the vibrator was brilliant for massaging my clitoris. The increased surface area covered things really well – far better than a standard tapered vibrator tip – and, consequently, enabled me to get aroused relatively quickly. But what of the G-Spot? Did the Gigi stimulate it effectively, too?

Well, when I finally got to it, yes, it did.

The G-Spot can be difficult to target during regular intercourse and it’s nice to have a toy that can be used to stimulate this area. The curved design of the Gigi enables you to easily press the vibrator against the front wall of the vagina (where the G-Spot is located) and, once you’ve found the right place, the flattened head at the top of the shaft can be rubbed over and pressed into it to stimulate it. In addition, the vibrator’s relatively slim shaft circumference, makes it very easy to move it around – so its reduced size is actually a benefit as it helps you get it in the right position without stretching anything uncomfortably.

As far as the Gigi’s speed and vibration settings are concerned, I’d have to say I’m pretty ambivalent – but then I’ve never been that fussed over them on any vibrator I’ve owned. Others may enjoy the interrupted or ‘dipping’ pulse programmes on offer but I personally like the consistent vibration at maximum intensity level, purely because it gets me where I need to go faster.

Any downsides?

Lizzie
The LELO Gigi isn’t cheap, although you do get a well-made vibrator for your money – and one that won’t keep your next-door neighbours awake when it’s in use. The control button can be a little frustrating (when you’re lying on your back/side/stomach, you can’t exactly see where you’re pressing) and when your fingers are slippery it’s not the easiest to manipulate. I also think it’s important to note that the Gigi is more woman- than man-friendly, by which I mean that it’s harder for a guy to operate because of it’s size. Thomas finds it really difficult to use this vibrator on me internally because there’s not much for his hand to grip onto around the base. It’s definitely designed for a feminine hand.

The verdict?

Lizzie
Very recently, someone asked me to recommend a vibrator for a friend of theirs, and, normally, I would never do this without first obtaining some specific details (what sorts of vibrators they’ve used before, what they liked about them, what they didn’t like about them, size preferences, etc.) but I found myself suggesting the LELO Gigi. Why? Because it’s a lovely looking vibe that’s quiet, well-made, and relatively easy to operate. But most importantly, its design means that most users will likely to find that its use results in a decent and satisfying orgasm; even if it doesn’t do it for your G-Spot, chances are you’ll enjoy its effects on your clitoris. It’s a vibrator that covers a few bases and it’s not intimidatingly massive.

In summary

Things I liked:

• The materials. Body-safe silicone means that you don’t have to worry about leeching phthalates or horrible rubbery smells.
• The shape of the main vibrator shaft. Good proportions and the flattened tip is great for massaging both the G-Spot and the clitoris.
• The fact that Gigi is rechargeable. No need for a back-up battery supply.

Things I wasn’t so keen on:

• The price. The Gigi isn’t the cheapest vibrator out there. However, the quality of the product is excellent and when you take that into consideration, the cost doesn’t seem so unreasonable.
• The control pad. It’s not the easiest to operate – especially if you have large, masculine fingers.

Tickle your fancy? Click on the following links to buy this item from Bondara, LELO, Lovehoney, and Sh! Women’s Erotic Emporium.

The post This story is about a little vibrator. Her name is Gigi appeared first on Behind the Chintz Curtain.

What we used:

The first in our series of posts on Christian Grey’s playthings, in which we discover that silk blindfolds feel lovely but are very, very hard to keep in place …

First impressions …

Lizzie
This blindfold is beautiful. It’s gorgeously soft, feels wonderfully silky to the touch, and the words ‘Freedom is deciding whose slave you want to be’ are stitched in a pretty scripted font in the middle of the outward-facing panel. The Coco de Mer logo is embroidered at the right-hand end. All-in-all, very seductive and a million miles from sleazy and cheap. I’m impressed – and a bit surprised! – that Thomas has chosen this for me; it’s far sexier than a hanky or one of my pashminas, but being an average bloke, they’re exactly what I’d expect him to be wrapping around my head in place of this!

Thomas
The blindfold came in quality packaging from Coco de Mer along with several other items, none of which looked cheap or tacky, which is to be avoided at all costs if you are shopping for toys. The blindfold is of decent silk and is well made with black embroidery on one side. It has a nice look and feel and you won’t be embarrassed to whip it out (so to speak) on your partner.

Putting it on …

Lizzie
As you’ve probably gathered, I’m on the receiving end of the blindfolding. Thomas asks me to take my clothes off, kneel on the bed, and close my eyes. After a moment, I feel him climb onto the mattress behind me and, a few seconds later, the blindfold touches my eyelids. My first thought is that it feels lovely and smooth. Thomas brings the sides over my ears and starts to tie a knot at the back but, unfortunately, the silk slips on my hair as he pulls it tight, causing the blindfold to slip down my face and over my nose. I bring my hands up to help hold it in the right place while he yanks the knot a bit tighter and higher on my head. After a bit of faffing about we finally get it to stay in place.

Thomas
Tricky little beast to tie up (the blindfold, not Lizzie). It’s so smooth it tends to slide off and simple knots loosen quite quickly if there is too much vigorous activity. Now where did I put the catalogue with the masks in it?

How if feels …

Lizzie
If I open my eyes I can just make out shapes through the lawn of the fabric – the silk is very fine – but other than that, it feels good on my face. Comfortable but sexy.

The roadtest …

Lizzie
With the blindfold in position, I’m completely focussed on sound and movement because I can no longer see what’s going on; it’s very arousing. I have no idea what Thomas is going to do next or where he’s going to touch me. Unexpectedly, he grabs my shoulder, and I find myself being pushed over onto my back. I’m quite thrilled by this but, unfortunately, the moment my head hits the bed, the blindfold starts to slip. Not wanting to ruin the moment, I squeeze my eyes shut and try to yank it back up. Alas, I can’t get it back in the right spot in my supine position; I sit up and Thomas and I have another go at getting it fastened. (I’m pleased the fabric is soft because, at this point, his knot-tying is quite vigorous!) This is pretty much the pattern we follow for the remainder of the roadtest – us fastening the blindfold, getting a bit physical, and then attempting to reposition it when it invariably slips. The times the blindfold stays in place, it’s great. The times it doesn’t? Really frustrating. In the end, we give up with the repositioning and I just shut my eyes instead.

Thomas
Lizzie enjoys the sense of control the blindfold gives me; I can tell she is quite excited, and it is good to be able to surprise her when she can only hear what I am doing, but the slipping of the blindfold is a pain. We found the best way was to tie it quite high on the head (tying tighter does not help – it just slips off faster if it is not in just the right place).

The verdict?

Lizzie
Blindfolding in general? Ten points. It makes your other senses – hearing, smell, taste and touch – work that much harder. For me, the thrill of not knowing what Thomas is going to do next is a big turn-on. This particular blindfold? It looks lovely, feels lovely, and is a gorgeous gift but it’s the Devil’s work to keep in place. I think a mask-style blindfold would be a better choice for us.

Thomas
I have found blindfolding to be something some woman find very exiting. I think the loss of control, plus the element of surprise, is something that can be very erotic with the right partner. However I agree that despite the quality look and feel of the blindfold, a mask (or similar) would be better – especially where more vigorous activity is going to take place.

In summary

Things we liked:

• The look and quality. This is a lovely, well-made blindfold and a very pretty present.
• The words stitched onto the outer panel of the blindfold. Psychologically, a real turn-on.
• The feel. Once in place, the blindfold is very soft and comfortable.

 Things we weren’t so keen on:

• Slippage! It’s difficult to keep the blindfold in place once you start rolling about. Next time, we’d consider something a bit more stable; the Intima blindfold from LELO has caught our attention. It’s 100% pure silk, adjustable, shaped to fit the nose, and available in red, purple, and black.

Editor’s note: Thomas bought this item for Lizzie as part of Coco de Mer’s ‘Bound to Please’ gift set, which is, unfortunately, no longer in stock. However, a similar blindfold is available as an individual item from the Coco de Mer U.K. and you can buy it here.

The post Christian Grey’s playthings, part one: the blindfold appeared first on Behind the Chintz Curtain.