I’m (not) a Sucker for You [REVIEW]

I’ve always loved the idea of clitoral sucker toys. Clitoral stimulation is my favorite way to get off, so I figured it would be something I’d enjoy, and it may be in another form but this one isn’t for me.

Imagine my excitement when Paloqueth offered to send me some toys of my choice from their site to test out. Along with my favorite wand that I already reviewed, I picked out the Holyvo Sucker Vibrator to finally test out one of these toys I’ve been so intrigued by.

First Impressions

The package arrived and it was adorable: it’s purple, which – aside from black – is my favorite color, and the little emoji button is just too cute. It looks and feels like a quality toy, smooth buttery silicone, the works.

It’s also nice and compact, so it’s not overwhelming to use and it fits perfectly in the palm of your hand.

So how does it perform?

My first issue with this thing is turning it on, which is not easy. Granted, I may be doing something horribly wrong, but I can’t figure out how to get it to turn on without several tries each time, so that’s strike one.

Strike two is the actual use of the toy itself. I have what I would say is probably medium sensitivity in my clit, so not nothing, but not so sensitive that I scream if someone touches it. But it is sensitive enough that I cannot use this toy.

I can’t even get the suction going because the vibrations are too intense and buzzy for me to leave it anywhere in the vicinity of my clit for more than a second. I’ve mentioned before that I like more rumbly vibrations rather than buzzy, and this is most definitely one of the buzziest toys I’ve ever tried.

I hate to say that I haven’t even really tested this out for a proper review because I can’t stand to use it, which makes me sad after how excited I was about it.

Final Thoughts

If you enjoy buzzy vibes, clit torture, or maybe are someone who doesn’t have so much sensitivity in your clit, maybe you will enjoy this.

Don’t let this discourage you from checking out Paloqueth, they have some awesome, quality toys. After all, they have the magical wand vibrator that changed my life. I also have a couple other items from them to test out in the future which I am definitely looking forward to.

If you are interested in checking out what products Paloqueth has to offer, head to their website, and don’t forget to use code MAREN for 15% off your entire order!

 

Though these products were sent to me, and I am affiliated with Paloqueth, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

“We bought sex toys, isn’t that cool?”: Self Exploration and Education on Buying and Using Sex Toys

I originally wrote this my senior year in college, in the midst of working on finals and writing research papers, I was writing about sex toys even then.

I have always enjoyed this piece and decided to share it here. I feel like it is a great kick off to Pride month with it’s points of bisexual empowerment, and of course it fits right in with my blog content.

It’s interesting to see how far I’ve come in my sex toy journey so far from when I wrote this – the first time I ever wrote about sex toys.

It was written, submitted, and originally published in the Summer 2015 issue of Bi Women Quarterly, a publication run by and for queer women, and headed by the Bisexual Legend herself, Robyn Ochs.

I hope you enjoy!

I remember the first time I bought a sex toy, it was a few years ago…my friend and I attended a sex toy party at a mutual acquaintance’s house, one of those cheesy, stereotypical events where guests play funny games and win prizes like penis erasers and whistles, and everyone sits around in front of a young woman touting jelly rabbits, funky flavored lubes, books on how to “tickle his pickle”, and cheap, somewhat trashy lingerie that is “sure to get him going”. It was also an interesting affair due to the fact that the majority of guests were queer women, and yet the language was heteronormative and to be honest, a bit trite. All of the toys ant other various products at the party were extremely overpriced for their quality, and as young college students we didn’t have a lot of expendable cash, nor were we yet all that comfortable with the idea of purchasing a sex toy. My friend and I made an agreement to go to the mall the next day and look at Spencer’s where they had similar toys for less than half the price.

We each bought a different kind of vibrator and were enthralled, saying to our friends “isn’t this funny? We bought sex toys, isn’t that cool?” It was still taboo and I remember hiding the purchase from my roommate when I got home, tucking it away in a dark corner at the top of the closet. I only used the toy a few times that year, mostly because I lived in a dorm and shared a room, but also partly because I was embarrassed and worried about what she would think of me if she knew I had it (I’m pretty sure she never had a clue).

Over the next couple years, I started talking about sex and masturbation more openly as I got closer with my friends at college, and I was becoming more educated on sex toys though research, talking with friends, and a whole lot of self-exploration. I now own more than a few toys and have become expertly comfortable talking about sex toys with anyone who will listen or wants to know more. Though it only cost ten dollars, and in all honesty was pretty shitty, my first neon purple vibrator helped teach me a lot about myself, masturbation, pleasure, and my own sexuality and body. It opened me up to learning about sex toys, gaining more knowledge about quality toys and safety, and that there are more women using them than people tend to think, and that they aren’t just for straight women, but their queer counterparts as well.

I talk about sex toys, comfortably and openly, on a nearly daily basis…whether with friends, educators, people I’m educating, colleagues, or even my mom. Yet I still am constantly learning new things and changing/adapting my views and opinions on toys, and sex positivity in general. My friends and I talk about sex all the time, in my education of my community we constantly talk about sex, even my parents and I talk about sex. It is something that is always coming up, yet even in those situations where I am most comfortable, the subject of toys is still sometimes taboo or avoided, or at the very least fairly controversial…and I wonder why.

Within the queer community, particularly as a woman who identifies in the middle sexualities, there are a lot of stereotypes placed on my identity and my sexuality. Bisexuals are often labeled and stereotyped as promiscuous, slutty, and therefore our sexualities are often the subject of stricter scrutiny than that of others. This is an interesting issue to combat, especially as a bisexual woman – women’s sexuality being constantly under review and seen as lesser – while also remaining adamantly sex-positive. It can be extremely important to focus on sexual empowerment in the bisexual community and use sexual liberation as a form of self-care, specifically when having to deal with the common myths/stereotypes/discrimination that ae specific to the bi community. I attempt to use sex toys to promote sex positivity and empowerment within my communities, using them as a form of self-love expression, and it is difficult to navigate the line between my sex positivity and the stereotypes I face due to my identity as a queer woman. I believe that it is important for everyone, but queer women in particular, to feel empowered to embrace their sexualities and express themselves through their sexuality, chiefly to combat the fetishization of our identities, telling the public that we are here and we are whole people, and that our sexualities do not exist for the pleasure or prejudice of others.

I have taken quite the journey from buying my first sex toy in Spencer’s with my friend, with little to no knowledge of sex toys, to getting to a point of educating friends and peers on the subject of sex toys and writing for a company that sells toys and promotes feminist, sex positive exploration of one’s own sexuality. It may not be an easy journey for everyone to take, and becoming comfortable with discussing these topics may not be a simple feat, but I whole-heartedly believe that everyone can reach their own sex toy epiphany. As bi women, we can rise above the stereotypes and labels placed on us and come to embrace and love who we are, and not be afraid of sharing that with the world.

 

Bi Women Quarterly is a really cool publication and tied to an awesome organization – Bi Women Boston. Check them out here!

If you know of an organization looking for a speaker, check out Robyn

 

Bibbidi-Bobbidi-New Toy Review: first wand review

This is my first wand. I know I’m behind, it seems like you’re not really a true sex blogger until you own a wand. I never felt like I had the means to shell out the steep prices attached to most good wands (and I still feel like I haven’t made it as a “real” sex blogger until I own a Magic Wand lol). So when a company reached out to me and offered to let me choose products to be sent to me, I knew I needed to snatch up one of their wands…and boy was I not disappointed.

Now, I will say that because it is my first, I don’t have a lot to compare it to, so it may not be as great as I think it is. But, as far as I’m concerned, this bad boy is my new best friend. I can’t use it constantly because I have other stuff I also have to test out, but I wanted to make sure I had tested it many times before I gave a review.

Paloqueth, a company I had never heard of prior, reached out to me a while ago asking if I would like to choose products to review and I figured why not. I perused their site and ended up picking a couple things. The wand I’m talking about is their Handheld Rechargeable Massager.

First Impressions

The head of this toy is flexible and large, made with medical grade silicone and a nice motor. I love the fact that it is rechargeable because having to deal with power cords just seems like it would be a nightmare (though I always hear good things about the corded Magic Wand), and the size of the head is great for broad stimulation.

How does it perform?

If you already like wands, I’m sure you would enjoy this one…and if you have never tried a wand, I would say that this is a good one to start out with. If you are newer to external play, this wand is a good starter in my opinion because as much as I love my bullets, a lot of them can be way too intense, particularly for someone who isn’t used to extended clitoral stimulation.

As I’ve said in other reviews, external stimulation is my favorite, particularly with vibration, so I knew that wands would be for me. This particular model has a powerful enough motor but isn’t so intense that it’s overwhelming and has several different power levels – also includes patterns which, if you know me, is not my thing.

I have even ignored other toys I should have been testing and chosen this one instead just because I already knew I wouldn’t be disappointed by its performance and wouldn’t have to deal with the awkwardness of getting comfortable with something new, figuring out how it worked.

Final Thoughts

This thing is an orgasm machine. I don’t think I have ever reached orgasm as quickly or as hard as with this wand, at least not in the same way. And that is why I love it so much. I can, of course, draw things out as long as I need to, but it also can get the job done if I’m short on time. And it’s pretty much guaranteed that, no matter what, it will get me there which I can’t say of every toy I’ve used, even some of my favorites.

So I think it’s safe to say that the magical massager wand will be in heavy rotation from here on out, at least until something better comes along which I don’t see happening anytime soon.

 

Like I said previously, I don’t really know a whole lot about this company, but they do seem to have a fairly decent selection on their website and I plan to do a bit more research into what they’re all about, especially since I love their wand so much.

Products were sent to me by Paloqueth, but all thoughts and opinions are my own

 

New Vibes In Town: plusOne review

A little while ago, I was sent a couple products from a new line called plusOne, which is part of the Clio products line who make things like bikini trimmers and personal razors. I have used Clio products in the past so I was excited to learn that they now are making a line of affordable sex toys.

plusOne sells through Walmart, Target, and Amazon, which is great because it makes sex toys more readily available to folks who don’t necessarily have access to sex shops in their town and don’t want to order offline; either due to shipping costs, or safety/privacy reasons. (Though my local Walmart does not have them in stores because I live in the Bible Belt…)

These are sleek and well-designed affordable toys, even the most pricey not exceeding $30 which means a nice quality and affordable price to those who aren’t financially able to shell out for toys priced upwards of $80-$100.

So what products are offered in this line?

Personal Massager – $25

A small vibrating wand massager that can be used for anything from sore muscles to kinky partner play. The rounded head is perfect for g-spot stimulation or broad clitoral stimulation. This wand has enough length to be used internally, but is also small enough that it’s not clunky and hulking like a lot of wands – don’t get me wrong, I love my wands…but if you want something a bit smaller and easier to wield, this may be right for you.

Vibrating Ring – $16

A super stretchy, vibrating cock ring that also provides clitoral stimulation, making it perfect for partner use. If you aren’t using this toy for PIV sex, it could also be used in the same way with a strap-on, anal sex, or could also be used as a small clitoral vibe in solo play if you wanted something a bit smaller than a vibe but not quite a bullet.

Dual Vibrating Massager – $29.98

A “rabbit” style vibrator with dual motors for simultaneous internal and external stimulation, and works for solo or partner play.

Vibrating Bullet – $9.98

A small bullet vibe the sizeof your typical bullet, but packs a punch.

So what are they like? How do they perform?

I was sent the dual vibe and the bullet from the line and have been testing them out for a little while in my rotation.

Dual Vibrating Massager

This vibrator is very flexible which is good for various body types, particularly since each piece is flexible itself, meaning they can stretch apart and bend for larger bodies, or folks with limited mobility. It is made from super soft, smooth silicone and is a bit squishy which is nice because it’s not too rigid but substantial enough that it’s not TOO soft. The best part about the two toys I received is that they are both 100% waterproof, and rechargeable.

This is my first rabbit vibrator for a few reasons. I’ve always shied away from them becuase I don’t always love internal vibration, typically preferring penetration with just a dildo or something like that, and focusing vibration externally. The little animal shaped parts have always weirded me out, so I love that this one does not have that, plus the little wibbly ears always seemed like they might be tickly which is a sensation I’m not really looking for.

I do think that I enjoy some of the patterns on this one, which is rare for me as a person who typically hates patterns. Some of them are more like alternating between the internal and external motors, or a sort of wave vibration which are much more enjoyable than the morse-code-like patterns of a lot of toys.

Vibrating Bullet

I will admit that, like the Sixty I recently reviewed, I was initially turned off of this toy because when turned on it is LOUD, however I kept trying things out with it because I love bullets and wanted it to work. I figured out that the first setting is the most powerful of the steady vibrations and it goes down to a medium, then a low, which is a bit backwards from what I’m used to.

This one has some interesting patterns, but unlike the dual vibe, they’re not for me. This bullet has very powerful, buzzy vibrations rather than a little more rumbly which is more my speed. I definitely don’t hate it and it has made its way to my bedside. It’s currently the only rechargeable bullet in my rotation, which is a plus (unlike my favorite one whose only downside is that it runs on batteries which tend to drain pretty quickly).

Final Thoughts

I love that this brand is affordable, accessible, and well-made. They really seemed to think about every aspect of their designs, including the gorgeous outer-packaging. The products work well with my current favorite lube: Good Clean Love BioNude, which is definitely a plus because it works really well with my finicky, super sensitive skin.

Though these toys were sent to me, all thoughts and opinions are my own – I will always keep it real. If you are interested in checking any of these out for yourself, visit your local Walmart, Target, or click the links throughout this post 🙂

For more information on each toy and the brand itself, check out the plusOne website here.

Faster Than a Speeding Bullet: Review of Sixty from SXOhh

First Impressions

I was recently sent the Sixty, currently the only toy from a new line, SXOhh. I love that this is a woman-owned company.

The Sixty is a sleek, aesthetically pleasing design made with buttery-soft silicone, the magnetic charging makes it waterproof which is always a plus, and the small size of the charger makes it easily portable if you like to take your toys on the go, or if you don’t have a lot of room for clunky charging docks. So overall, I think the visual design is attractive, streamlined, and practical.

The product marketing runs on the claim that the Sixty will take you from 0 to orgasm in under a minute which we will discuss more later, but just know that this isn’t a part that I’m totally in love with.

Okay, but how does it actually perform?

I have been testing out this toy off and on for the past couple of months, and we’ll get to why it’s been off and on.

Right out the gate, the vibrations are powerful. And I mean powerful. The lowest setting is like a jackhammer (not necessarily a bad thing), and while I understand the gimmick and branding of the whole “orgasm in 60 seconds” thing, that’s not always the case.

Every body is different and it’s also not necessarily a desirable outcome. Sometimes orgasm isn’t the number one goal of sex or masturbation, I personally love edging and a nice drawn out session before I orgasm, even when I’m masturbating.

This toy has a lot of patterns…and probably about 90% of the time, I hate patterns. I’m sure that there are plenty of people who enjoy them, though I feel like lately I’ve heard or read from many others who feel the same as I do, so why don’t toys have a wider range of power settings and less patterned vibrations?

Another thing about this toy is that it is really loud, largely due to the sheer amount of power in the toy. This isn’t going to be a negative for some, however, I and many other folx my age do not live alone, or just don’t want a toy that’s so loud and indiscreet. Because it is so powerful from the beginning, it makes a lot of noise. To the point where I don’t use it unless I’m home alone.

My critiques aside, I do enjoy the toy, but I don’t find myself reaching for it frequently, hence the off and on testing. I am not typically at home alone, especially at times that I want to use a toy (e.g. night time after I’ve gone to bed), so lack of discretion doesn’t make this a good toy to reach for when I want to get off before I go to sleep and there is someone in the next room that I’d rather not hear my vibrator buzzing away.

I have gotten off many times with this toy, though not in sixty seconds. I don’t love internal vibration, and don’t typically orgasm from penetration, at least not penetration alone. My favorite thing is intense (but not too intense!), prolonged clitoral stimulation which I find tricky to achieve with the Sixty, though not impossible, it just takes some finessing, and I have rarely ventured past the lowest setting during actual play as the higher settings tend to make my clitoris want to retract into by body and run away screaming.

Most of the times I have used this toy, it was more like a large bullet – which is arguably my favorite kind of toy for various reasons – rather than a small internal vibrator, though it does have a length that works for penetrative play if that’s what you want, and it does a good job of g-spot stimulation due to its shape.

Final thoughts

This toy is an aesthetically pleasing, well functioning design, and while not for everyone, there are definitely aspects that make it a great toy. If you are a power lover, you may have found your new favorite vibrator, or if you sometimes just want to go full throttle with some intense vibrations then the Sixty may be for you.

All opinions are my own, however, I do have an affiliation partnership with SXOhh. If you are interested in testing out the Sixty for yourself, check it out here.