As this is my inaugural post on the Femme's Guide to Absolutely Everything, I thought I would go with my favorite category: "How-To". Big love to Scarlet for setting this up, a clearinghouse resource like this is integral to community building. One of the things I love best about Femme sisterhood is sharing resources. My mom was a second-wave lesbian feminist. The trappings of Femme were things I cobbled together mostly through the graciousness of my Femme friends, performing as a drag king (no kidding) and the magic of you tube.

The first "How-To" guide I present to you is entitled "How to Have a Gorgeous Beach Body" graciously modeled by my BFF and Consigliere, Zoe Femmetastica.

You may be saying to yourself "Bevin, I am so glad beach weather is over. I can't possibly go to the beach. I am too fat/pale/gender non-conforming/[insert your insecurity here]." I am here to tell you that you, too, can totally go to the beach without worry!

The first step to Having a Gorgeous Beach Body [TM] is to decide to go to the beach. Summer is over, technically, but here at FemmeCast headquarters (New York City) we refuse to give up the ghost until it is absolutely too cold to bear a day on the beach. Thus, Zoe's birthday weekend of September 14 was never considered too late for a beach day.

The second step to Having a Gorgeous Beach Body [TM] is deciding which beach to go to*. Our favorite beach within driving distance is the Cherry Grove section of Fire Island. Historically gay, the beach is beautiful, water cool and clean and the beach is populated with a hugely diverse array of homos, a smattering of lesbians and virtually every body type one can imagine. It is both kid and dog friendly, while not being overpopulated by either.

We like homo beaches because we are homos** and enjoy hanging out with our people. Also, gay men usually ignore lesbians and disinterest based on your gender presentation makes being out in your bathing suit a little bit easier. I am also a huge fan of surrounding yourself with diverse body types in all situations, because nothing is more normalizes fat bodies in bathing suits than actually seeing fat bodies in bathing suits.

The third step to Having a Gorgeous Beach Body [TM] is to assemble a Posse of Homos. I find all situations far more fun surrounded by amazing people, fat queers and allies. We sent out an evite and cobbled together a group of twenty people ready to celebrate both Zoe's birth and Have Gorgeous Beach Bodies [TM] with us. We carpooled and hopped the ferry to Cherry Grove.

Zoe is smiling so big because she loves the beach and loves being surrounded by people who love her.

The fourth step to Having a Gorgeous Beach Body [TM] is to concoct a durable and appropriate cover up outfit to get you to and from the beach with style.

H & M polka dot dress--$14.99, stretchy size 14. Black leggings from pretty much anywhere. Black and white croc (seriously) wedges, $40.00.

The fifth step to Having a Gorgeous Beach Body [TM] is to make sure you have the proper levels of sun protection. Zoe is high maintenace, therefore her sun rituals involve a gallon ziplock bag full of various SPFs for each part of her body, depending on the amount of tattooedness and contiguous sun exposure.

Mine is simple--bring a huge umbrella and/or hat and Baby Sunblock in the highest SPF possible--minimium 50. My Irish Heritage has insisted that I burn immediately upon contact with the sun. Owning that fact and working to prevent burns has gone a long way to encourage my comfort with the beach.

It also helps to have gentleman butches on hand to apply sunscreen on parts of your body that are unreachable--these butches should be appropriately grateful for the honor of application. Femme sisters/admirers/lovers are also good for this.

The sixth step to Having a Gorgeous Beach Body [TM] is to enjoy the hell out of your time at the beach! The real secret to Having a Gorgeous Beach Body [TM] is having a great time. The first few times you step out in public in a bathing suit are anxiety ridden, but baby step your way to comfort! If you have to keep your cover-up on to feel secure, do it, but challenge yourself. Take your cover-up off for a few minutes and feel how good it is to sit in the sun (or under an umbrella), splash in the surf and live in your body. Even if you have to dissociate for awhile and purposefully forget that you are not in street clothes, try it out. People truly respond to the you that you radiate to the world, not your body. If you are radiating positive energy and having a good time, that is what people will notice.

Take a look at Zoe here--there's no way this isn't a gorgeous beach body.

During our seven years of friendship, Zoe's passion for the beach has definitely rubbed off on me. I know that I have a Gorgeous Beach Body, in part, because of her.
Happy Birthday, Zoe!

Also, I have purposefully ignored the selection of a bathing suit since clearly Zoe's body isn't gorgeous because of the suit she's wearing (or isn't wearing). And, also, Fat Girl Bathing Suit Selection is another series of blog posts I'll get up here closer to next year's beach season.

Do you have a Gorgeous Beach Body story to tell? Email me! FemmeCast at Gmail dot Com

xoxo,

Bevin

*I understand not everyone lives geographically close to a beach, but this guide easily translates to the public recreational swimming establishment near you, as well as for any vacation opportunities you choose to create for yourself.
**Socially I use the term homo to refer to pretty much anyone on the queer spectrum, including Zoe who is a bisexual.

Technorati Tags: beach, diets, fat, femme, femme clothing, femmes, nyc, queer, real life, tattoos

I was talking in my kitchen the other day with F, the woman I'm fucking/seeing/having an amazing time with. I'm not quite sure what it is that I said, but I was talking about my Femme identity.  She said something about not knowing quite what a Femme was, but that she was sure she wasn't one, because of how she acted/dressed/etc, the lack of make up often, and so on.

I tried to explain that for me, I created my own Femme identity. I don't own stilettos (never have, never will), and I wear the hot pin up heels I have very rarely, due to 3 knee surgeries and ankle injuries. I am allergic to pink, and own 1 pink sex toy, and there is pink on my "fuck you" purse.  Otherwise, I live a pink free lifestyle. I *just* bought my first foundation ever, and I only wear lipstick if I am dressing up in a 50's rockabilly style, or for a photoshoot. I LOVE to shovel snow and to cook (in nothing but a leopard print apron!). I can check my oil and tire pressure, and change a tire, and I am amazing at doing interior design. I like to bottom, I like to top. I like being dominant and submissive. I have long hair and wear cute fucking underwear, but sometimes like to sleep in boxers and a t-shirt.

I am a Femme.  I like Butches, I like transguys, I sometimes like other Femmes, and I like undefined people as well.  I have created this identity for myself. I am a Femme. Not the same Femme as Hussy or Scarlet or Miss Avarice or Catalina or or or or or.  I am my own Femme. Femme is what it means to me, and no one can take that away from me.

Technorati Tags: butch/femme, definitions, femme, femme identity, gender, gender presentation, identity, queer

I’m fabulous, but my wallet really isn’t right now.

Can you relate? The current economy is causing me to curb my spending habits in a way that would make the incredibly hot and smart Suze Orman happy. Overall, I am a pretty thrifty shopper. As a kid, I remember my mother teaching me to shop at the grocery store by looking at the “price per unit” instead of the overall price. And, as such, this frugal spending thing is something that has prevailed well into my adulthood.

I am sure, that you are one savvy spender too, but let me explain the lengths of my thriftiness. Over ninety percent of the furniture in my home, at least half of my clothing, and nearly all of my jewelry I purchase myself is thrifted. I own a hatchback car for the simple reason that I can get loads more thrifted junk in the back than I can in a sedan (and I didn’t want an SUV/Van because of gas mileage). In fact, some of my friends will deliberately avoid roads that have decent junk shops because they know I *will* make them stop. So, I know of what I speak (and am a bit obsessed).

And, I thought to myself, why not share this knowledge?

Frame of Mind

First of all, when you decide to go thrifting you need to make sure you are in the right frame of mind: Open. Rookie thrifters often go in with an idea of what they are looking for and miss out on some fabulous stuff. At the same time, do not purchase something simply because it looks neat, you know someone it would fit, or because you think it might be worth a lot of money. That is the fast track to wasting money. Ask yourself the following questions: “Do I really love this? Do I have a use for this? Is it in decent condition, is the cost of fixing this item worth the item cost?” and “Is this a fair price?” The “fair price” question is often tricky as we can fall in love with something and overpay. I avoid this by deciding what an item is worth before I look at the tag. If the tag is lower than my worth price, then (after asking myself the other questions) I would purchase it. If the tag price is over but close to my worth price then I would haggle. Obviously, if the tag price is much higher than my worth price then I would pass on the item.

Budget

Go shopping with a budget in mind. If you shop with a friend, tell the friend your budget and ask that they help you keep to it. Whether you plan on thrifting at one shop or many, decide how much you can afford to spend and don’t go over.

Where to Shop

In my experience, the best deals in thrift shops often aren’t in a city. City thrift shops are either picked-over, or overpriced. The shop owners in the city are usually savvy to current trends and popular items, and will price those items accordingly. And, as such, often the people who shop in the stores are either willing to pay these prices (making haggling nearly impossible), or have already purchased the items. So, shopping in the suburbs, rural areas, or dare I say hinterland is often your best bet. It can be tricky to find these shops because the names don’t always feature the word “thrift,” so below is my guide to finding, and shopping at, great stores.

1. Goodwill, Salvation Army, Potter’s House, ValuVillage No doubt, you’ve heard of most of these stores (and most likely shopped a few). Find a wealthy suburban area with any one of these (and usually you’ll find them grouped together) and be prepared to fall into bliss. The wealthy discard all kinds of cool stuff. Usually, when you first enter the store there will be a sign letting you know what items are on “sale” or what the “special” is for the day. Sales aren’t marked anywhere else in the store, so be sure to remember what the special is for the day. The prices at these shops are firm, and you can’t do too much haggling. And, be careful if you fall in love with an item that doesn’t have a price; because that item will have to be “reprocessed” (wherein it is given to a manager who decides what the price will be) which usually takes 24 hours.

1. Anything called “Antique Mall” An “antique mall” usually means a large store with tons of small vendors set up in booths. Most “antique malls” require that at least 90% of the items be vintage. But, here’s a great catch, vintage only means that an item is 20 years old, and that is hardly antique. These malls are among my favorite places to thrift. The vendors have already sorted through tons of junk to bring you items that are already in the best condition and of interest while maintaining low cost. These malls are usually well organized, and often booths have themes, so you can skip/pay attention to different booths accordingly. Plus, unlike many thrift stores, you don’t have to hold on to what you find. Take your item to the front register area, and the employees are happy to hold it for you until check-out. While many of the vendors aren’t actually on-site to haggle with, you can still talk yourself into a better price. Ask a store employee if you think the vendor would offer a better deal. In most cases, the store employee will call the vendor and ask if a deal is possible. In my experience, a vendor is typically willing to offer at least a 10% discount. However, if an item price is marked “firm,” then do not attempt to haggle because you won’t get anywhere.

1. Anything called “A Flea An’Tique” Pronounced: “A flea and tick.” I’ve only seen shops like this in the south, so I can’t really attest to their existence everywhere, but I’m sure there are regional equivalents. They are, essentially, one step down from the “antique mall.” These shops still feature booths with different vendors, but often there aren’t as many restrictions on condition, age, or cleanliness. Often, the items in these shops will require some level of “fixing.” You can makes some great finds in these shops, but you should be prepared to rummage (and carry lots of hand sanitizer).

1. Flea Markets and anything with the word “Junk, Rummage, Thrift, or Value” These are the obvious places to thrift. Usually owned by Ma or Pop, these stores and/or flea market booths are a hot mess of stuff. And, when I mean hot mess, I mean there is stuff in there from 1950 that hasn’t seen the light of day. Typically, there is no rhyme nor reason to the placement of goods, and you have to work hard to find your treasures. Often, Ma or Pop is concerned that you will pocket items and will follow you around the store. Don’t be offended, just make friends. Be prepared to have them tell you the value of every item you pick up. These guys are seriously experienced hagglers, so be sure to bring your “A” game if you’re going to talk cost. And, under no circumstances, act as if you are truly in love with anything in the store; you’ll be fleeced before you know what hit you.

1. Southern Living, Country Living etc. magazines This sounds a little out there, but often large antique malls, thrift shops, and flea markets advertise in the back of these types of home goods magazines. Next time you’re waiting in line at the grocery store, give them a peek and seek if any local shops are listed

Thrifting Tips

-Thrifting is all about finding and haggling. And, since everyone wants a find you have to be careful because you don’t want everyone interested in your find. If you see an item of interest don’t get excited; feign a slight interest. Give the item a good lookdown, and if you even *think* you might want it, then, get it in your hands. And, don’t discuss it with anyone. Act nonchalant. See, people notice you noticing something and that makes them think you may have found something that they want, and they will circle like sharks. But, once an item is in your hands, then it is yours to purchase. In the same vein, if after picking up an item, you realize you don’t want it, then, put it back down.

-Pay attention to your basket and/or shopping cart. Any item left unattended, whether it be on the ground, table, or even in a basket and/or cart is free game to any other thrifters. My advice would be to ask a friend to watch your basket and/or cart if you have to leave it.

-If you decide to purchase a piece of furniture, then stop all other thrifting and pay for the item immediately. That way, it can be marked as “sold” and you don’t have to worry about anyone buying it out from under you. Everyone I know has heard the story of my vintage dental cabinet which I put my hand on just before another thrifter. He was so intent on purchasing the cabinet that he offered to pay me to let go of it, tried to convince me that I was being unfair, told me it was ugly, and tried to distract me away from it. I literally sat astride the thing side-saddle style and rode it to the cash register with the other interested thrifter following me the whole way.

-Haggle. Ask if a seller can give you a better price. Tell them what you think that fair price should be. Don’t be afraid to do this; sellers aren’t offended, and often enjoy a good haggle. However, be realistic and polite in your dealings. Making friends with good sellers means better deals for you in the long run.

-Bring cash as appropriate. Goodwill and Antique Malls will accept debit cards, however, most other stores will require cash. And, don’t expect a seller to hold an item for you while you visit the ATM.

-Make friends with sellers you purchase from often. These sellers will sometimes contact you when items of special interest come in, letting you have the first look. And, sometimes they will clue you in to other amazing thrift sites.

-Some people claim hitting the stores early is best, but I have a more laid back attitude. I figure that if something I truly need is at the store, then it will be there when I get there.

This past weekend, one of my best buds from the city asked me to take her thrifting to some of my favorite haunts. And, oh wow, we made some finds like I have never seen before (usually I’m lucky to find one thing I like). So, after one gorgeous, fun femme day of thrifting, I thought I’d share with you my haul just to show you how amazing the finds can be.

We visited two different antique malls and a local Goodwill where I found these items:

$11.00

Tiny beaded purse. Imagine my delight when I realized the previous owner had left a delicate handkerchief behind.

$5.00

Another tiny beaded purse. This time in black.

$9.00

A mint condition, silk-lined, fur collar.

$5.00

This is a femme octopus complete with beret, earrings, lashes, and red lipstick. That bit of pink that she is holding onto is her panties. This had to be mine.

$7.77

Pink suede leather mary-jane heels –never before worn- in my size (put on after liberal application of Lysol). Hot Holy Femme!

Total Spent: $37.77

I hope that this gives some insight into how to “tear-up” the thrift shops (and wasn’t too over-obvious). If you live-in, or plan on being in the Georgia area anytime soon leave a comment or send me an email and I’ll clue you in to some of my absolute favorite stores.

Technorati Tags: femme clothing, shopping

Over the past few weeks I have slowly come to the realization that I am pretty isolated from other gender-conscious femmes. By gender-conscious, I mean queer ladies who are keen on gender theory and the purposeful, thoughtful performance of gender. I am the only one around these parts. I do interact with other femmes when I'm out in the clubs and stuff. There are several burlesque performers and go-go dancers in the area whose gender politics I have discovered. But that's it. Most other queer ladies I know are either butch, somewhere in between, or just don't care to define themselves (which is also totally fine by me!). As I was reading everyone's accounts of the Femme Conference in Chicago I was totally jealous, I found myself longing to be in a crowded room and femmes and femme allies. After Sinclair invited insisted upon my presence at the next one, I vowed to myself that I participate more formally in this conversation about queer femininity. It's for my own survival, really.

Are any of you isolated like this? My closest friends are butches, and so is my girlfriend. All of my other friends and acquaintances are straight, or bisexual living heteronormative lifestyles. It's hard to be a soldier in an army of feminine gender warriors when there's no one around to link arms with for the kick line, ya know? I'm totally grateful to such a very warm and welcoming brigade of femmes in this family, but I sure wish I could go out for coffee with all of you so we could get to know each other's stories and and histories.

So how do you girls do it? How do you cultivate sisterhood with other femmes when they're not right there next to you, in the flesh? Where do I go to find other gender-conscious femmes? What if they're just not there, how do I come to a place of autonomy, and if so, how do I get plugged into the matrix?

Technorati Tags: butches, female identity, femme, femme conference, gender presentation, queer, real life, society

I've pretty much been craving the Fukuoku Vibrating Glove since I turned 18 and first set foot in a sex toy store. I mean...five fingers, all full of vibrations? How could you *not* want one of these.

I cut it out of its packaging...and groaned. It takes AAA batteries, and while I have more AAs than I could possibly need EVER, I couldn't scrounge up 3 AAAs. Sigh. I texted F; "If you have any AAA batteries, can I borrow 3 when you come over?" She wrote back that she didn't have any, and asked if she should pick up any. We're not at the point where I'm ok asking her to grab me something, so I told her I'd figure it out on my own.

Once she was over, I showed her the glove, placing it on my right hand (you can also get it for your left hand...but although I'm left handed, I'd asked for the right one...I didn't think I'd have enough dexterity in it, so I wanted it on my non-dominant hand, so I could use my left hand for um...you know, important things. Like fucking people). We joked about how I looked like a super villain, and that I should keep AAA batteries around. As I moved to take it off, I hit the on button...and it came to life. That's right folks, this toy COMES WITH BATTERIES. Ah-May-Zing. 10 points right there.

It has two vibrating options; low and high. The glove itself is pretty damn comfy, but was a little big on me (I have really small hands), even once I tightened the wrist strap, so the vibes didn't sit perfectly on my fingers. Didn't matter. They vibrated my fingers like WOAHFUCK, and as I ran then up and down F's back, they really seemed to work magic. She moaned a little and let me rub my hand all over her back. With extra pressure, I got extra moans. It was fabulous.

I flipped her over, for access to her stomach. I ran the glove all over her; breasts, tummy, and all elicited pleasant sounds on both high and low settings. The only thing she didn't like so much was having it on her nipples, on either speed. She said it was just too much.

Then we switched, letting her put it on. I think it fit her hand a little better. Starting it on low, she rubbed it all over me. It didn't feel as good as getting a massage from her, but it did feel quite nice (and was much less work for her, I'm sure). She moved it up to my nipples, to show me how it was too much vibration. Ha. I, she of the nipple clamps, LOVED it, especially on the higher setting. As I always say, each to his/her own!

With her body pressed against mine, I was getting really turned on. She moved it between my legs, over my underwear. Mmm. It felt good, but to be honest, I can't really see getting off with a glove. I'm iffy about cleaning it (although you can remove everything and wash it...or so they say), and I really preferred it as a massager. I mentioned that it was a lot less cheesy than I thought it would be, and F pointed out that it was still pretty cheesy. I agreed, but said it was cheesy in a super hero kind of way. Which then turned into talk about a sexy super villain-heroine in distress role play (why yes, I do own a cape. and a cloak), which then turned into giggles.

While I don't really see this becoming my go to for getting off, I was really bloody impressed (and not just because it came with batteries). For running on AAAs, it packs a decent punch, and I really enjoyed watch F's face and body as I ran it over her skin. Definitely great for foreplay and sensation play, and it wasn't even that loud, which was a nice surprise. 4 out of 5 stars!

Want your own sexy super-villain glove? Click here to buy it at VibeReview!

-Essin' Em

Technorati Tags: review, sex toys, VibeReview, vibrators

Big Momma by Altered Aperture (http://alteredaperture.com)

Imagine 12 of NYC's best sex-positive writers, educators, and film makers working on the same project for a good cause - all proceeds benefit Audacia Ray's Sex Work Awareness Project. The NYC Sex Bloggers 2009 Calendar Project has officially been launched. The theme: NYC style burlesque and pin-up. What began as as a little "what if..." has materialized into a project that is underway and on schedule for release soon!

So who are these dynamic women I'm going on about? They are

• Audacia Ray
• Desiree
• Diva
• Elizabeth Wood
• Jamye Waxman
• Lux Alptraum
• Mariella
• Rachel Kramer Bussel
• Riese
• Sinclair Sexsmith
• Tess Danesi
• Twanna A Hines

Oh, and a contest! I love contests because I love to give things away!!
The first 7 bloggers to write a post on your blog that sends people to the NYC Calendar Project: http://www.sexbloggercalendar.wordpress.com/ and send the link to me (catalinaloves@gmail.com) will each win a day on the calendar. In other words, instead of "buying a day", you can have your blog url on your day, or any personal message - you can wish them luck or send a greeting to your favorite blogger (me) or celebrate your birthday or anniversary - up to 80 characters will be printed on your day.

Now go and read all about the project!

Technorati Tags: burlesque, contestsnew york sex bloggers, nyc, NYC Sex Blogger Calendar, pin up calendar, sex bloggers, sex positive, sexy women

Image courtesy of mzberlinsblog.com

Hooray Hooray, for Cleavage of the Day!  And sometimes, shoes, too!

One comment I hear over and over is that I have very interesting friends, and indeed that is true.  Take, for example, my friend, Tess.  She’s to be blamed for distracting me every day with her Cleavage of the Day and today I had to interrupt both her work and mine to talk about her shoes!  Boobs and shoes.  I’m in bi-femme girl heaven!

Technorati Tags: femmes, gender, gender presentation, shoes

http://www.daciaslovemachine.com

Audacia Ray's new short film, "Dacia's Love Machine" has been released! The 25-minute director's cut is available online in .mp4 and .flv and is only $2.99 to download. Pathetic, but true fact, downloading this film costs less than the gas it would take to drive to my nearest Starbucks to hang out with a friend over coffee.

I have seen it and it is hilarious. Obviously it's a movie about a fucking machine, but ultimately it's a comedy and the fucking machine is really the star.

You see, Dacia originally received the Love Machine to review. As I recall, it was something along the lines of her orgasm being in spite of, not the result of the Love Machine and so she was less than thrilled to have it laying around her house, so she put an ad on Craigslist:

Sex machine for sale (not a person, an actual machine) - w4mw - 27
Date: 2007-12-03, 9:37PM EST

So I’m a sex toy reviewer, and a little over a year ago I acquired a fucking machine to review (Topco brand, it retails at $395). It’s kinda big, and I really want it out of my apartment. It has all but one attachment (the one I used, which I will throw away), and technically it is lightly used.

Yes, it’s true, I’m trying to sell my lightly used sex machine on CL. I’m asking $100 for it, you come pick it and get it out of my life. It’s manageable to get it on the subway (probably easier with two people), but I recommend wrapping the box in brown paper or something, since it has pictures and words that will make your package very obvious.

CL doesn’t allow me to post the link to the review, but go to fleshbot[dot]com and search “Marital Aid Test Kitchen: The Fucking Love Machine,” and scroll down to the bottom of the page - the review was posted on October 20, 2006.

She filters through the responses, some of which are so outlandish that I had to ask her, "Did people really respond that way?" To which she replied, "Yes, all of those responses are genuine!" WOW! A study in strange humanology, but I love to peek through the door of the crazy world in which we live. Human nature only gets more and more curious as people stop by to look at the machine in person.

Click the picture to go to www.daciaslovemachine.com and download the movie. The first twenty five people who buy the download get a free sex toy courtesy of EdenFantasys - you have your choice between a pocket rocket and a masturbation sleeve.

Seriously, I personally guarantee you that this will be the best $3.00 you spent today ($2.99, actually). Marky and I got to preview the film and we both thought it was clever, funny, curious, voyeuristic, entertaining, and did I mention funny? Now go! Enjoy 25 minutes of unique entertainment.

Technorati Tags: Audacia Ray, Dacia's Love Machine, dildos, fucking machines, Movies, real life, Reviews, sex toys, vibrators

Lily by Lelo

Classy.  Sophisticated.  Discreet.  Three words that sum up the entire Lelo line, but in particular today I’m talking about Lily.  I have a few Lelo products now, and they are all a little bit different.  Their dildo vibrators are definitely top of the line!  I have even tested out and reviewed their exercise/pleasure system, the Luna Beads.  This time, I had the opportunity to try something different, so I chose Lily.

Just like every Lelo product, the Lily comes in an elegant package with a charger and a satin pouch.   It is such an upscale clitoral vibrator that it wouldn’t even raise an eyebrow of suspicion that it’s a little bundle of pleasure.  For that reason, exactly, I have recommended the Lily to a friend of mine as a nice gift for his girlfriend as a travel surprise in her carry-on bag.   He was very specific about his request - something that she would not get hassled for in security, something that didn’t need batteries, and something that was classy enough for a very sophisticated and worldly woman.

Well, the Lily isn’t just for the well-traveled, cosmopolitan, Manolo Blahnik wearing woman.  Everyday women and moms all over America have to keep in mind that your children might come across your sex toys.  Yes, I have a teenager and I have to keep in mind that she’ll be coming in my room at some point in the morning, which means discretion is important to me.  If she walks in my room looking for her missing shoe and finds a giant dildo on the nightstand, that’s not cool.  If she walks in my room looking for said shoe and the Lily is on my nightstand, she wouldn’t give it a second glance.  This stuff matters to us!

Lily is more than just a pretty face though - she is a sweet little clitoral vibrator.  The function is pretty simple - two buttons: (-) and (+) do everything you can imagine and then some.  Aside from decreasing and increasing the intensity of the vibration, the (+) button also gives you access to some pre-set vibe patterns and settings,and the combination of the two buttons held down together locks and unlocks it so it doesn’t start vibrating in your handbag unexpectedly.

I must admit, after using the Hitachi Magic Wand for years, I was worried if the Lily would “get me there.”   Unlike the Hitachi, there isn’t the instant wowsa.  This is good though.  What happens is a gradual build-up, a sexual tension that builds, and then finally a beautiful orgasm that is less intense than the Hitachi, in my experience.  Again, in my opinion, this is a good thing.  Sometimes the Hitachi is so intense that it’s just instant “yow” and I can’t get it off my clit fast enough - with Lily, I found that I was able to ride out the intensity and go for another.  So my first experience with Lily got me there not just once, but twice, quite nicely.  It’s worth noting that I did this right next to my husband without waking him (poor Marky was so tired, I didn’t have the heart to wake him up to get me off).

Obviously I can’t say enough about Lily.  I’m once again convinced that Lelo makes a superior product - it’s design and look are beautiful, the packaging makes it discreet, it performs almost silently and very subtly.  It brings you to a state of pleasure and then orgasm again and again, making it an A+ sex toy in my book.

Order Lily Using This Online Coupon Code And Get 10% Off through Election Day!

Technorati Tags: clitoral vibrators, lelo, Reviews, sex toys, VibeReview, vibrators

If you read my review of Lelo's tiny Nea vibrator then you already know that LELO (Luxury Erotic Lifestyle Objects) is my new favorite toy company. When I had the chance to pick out some new toys from VibeReview, Lelo's "pleasure object" Iris was right at the top of my list.

Iris comes in a beautiful black storage box with a charger (like all Lelo toys Iris is rechargeable--no pesky batteries to mess with), a satin pouch for traveling, warranty information (Lelo gives a one year warranty standard with all of their toys), and an instruction manual. The manual informs us that Iris is made of medical-grade silicone (the insertable shaft), and PC-ABS (the handle), both of which are non-porous and some of the highest quality material for sex toys on the market.

Like all Lelo vibrating toys, Iris has a LED strip around her interface dial that lights up when you press any of the four "quadrants" of the dial (+ or - vibration, and < or > vibration type). The manual mentioned that Iris will change color from white to red if the rechargeable battery is running out, alerting you to plug her in, blinking while she’s charging and then solid white when she’s charged up and ready to go. It takes up to three hours to charge her up for a full four hours of play. Other information in the manual includes how to turn Iris on, how to lock for traveling with Iris (a standard feature), troubleshooting, and the different types of vibration Iris offers.

Not only is Iris beautiful like all Lelo toys, the details on her shaft reminding me of the bud of a flower getting ready to bloom, but she also packs a pretty hefty punch. She has two different vibration centers, in the crown (or tip) and in the base (where she meets the handle), which you can set with continuous vibration in one or the other, or both. The other two vibration options are pulses either a slow or quick pulsation of the entire length of her. Personally I love using just the crown vibration for clitoral stimulation, which it does quite a wonderful job at!

Iris is curved just right for g-spot stimulation, be it shallow or deep, so she's good for both thrusting and just pressing inside and letting her pulse as you play with something else on your clit (my favorite way to use her). She is also curved nicely for clitoral stimulation, as Iris curves right along the mons allowing for ease of maneuvering. I did find it a little too easy to press on the dial when in the middle of masturbating, which was annoying but not overly so.

Like I've said before, "there’s just no substitute for the quality of pleasure Lelo’s pleasure objects bring." They are well-made, beautiful, elegant, and inform you of all the information you might need about the toy in the manual (including troubleshooting and recycling instructions!). I absolutely love the Iris, though it hasn't quite outranked the Nea, it definitely comes close. I would highly recommend Iris to anyone who especially enjoys high-quality g-spot stimulating toys as well as works of art.

-Scarlet Lotus Sexgeek

Technorati Tags: g-spot toys, lelo, sex toys, VibeReview, vibrators