I have been reading your review/blog site and is quite interesting.  I have a question. What would you recommend: pjur MY sexual enhancers, K-Y INTENSE Arousal Gel for Her and Durex Play Utopia Female Arousal Gel?

I have used Durex and I really really like it, but I am not sure what [to] buy next–KY or pjur.  I have used for years pjur original and eros and they are both fantastic.

Thanks!  And I am sorry if you don’t usually answer this kind of emails.  It can end up being a post

Warm regards,

C

Dear C,

First of all, thanks for reading our blog! We appreciate it a lot. You can email me or Joseph anytime with questions. This is becoming a post ’cause no one else asked me anything. Yay!

Secondly, onto the lube. I have never used a “sexual enhancement”-esque lube other than the flavored sort, so I can’t speak about any of your options from experience. Pjur is a good brand for lube, so of the three I would probably choose that one on account of familiarity and pre-established trust. I’ve used the brands KY and Durex in the past, but they were not particularly great for me.

However, something to bear in mind with lube is that everyone’s body functions differently and thus has different requirements. I don’t self-lubricate very well, so my body needs a lube that lasts long without tackiness. Plus, a few of my favourite toys are silicone, so I can’t use silicone-based lube with them and must be mindful of that when purchasing lube.  Maybe those aren’t concerns of yours, but I’m sure there are other priorities you have for lube.

Maximus, Liquid Silk, Slippery Stuff Gel, pjur, and Babeland are brands I have used in the past with noteworthy results (i.e., I can actually remember them).

Good luck with your lube shopping! If you have any other questions, feel free to send me another email or respond directly in this post. Whatever your preference.

- Mimi

Getting Undressed is better when you tell everyone on the internet!

Australlia bans depictions of small breasted women and depictions of female ejaculations. Words fail me.

LGBTQ:

Hawaii decides not to vote on same-sex civil unions this year because it is an election year. Boo Hawaii.
Testimony ends in Prop 8 trial. Appeal expected regardless of outcome.
eHarmony finally allows gay and lesbian users. Of course they had to be sued first.
Indiana senate Oks same sex marriage ban. Douches.

Education:

Planned Parenthood and Siecus release report on the failings of abstinence only education in Mississippi. Doy
The term oral sex in a dictionary causes problems in Riverside, Ca.
Wisconsin passes bill making teaching of birth control and STIs a mandatory part of sex ed.
Parents in Green county, OK are trying to get a book that makes reference to same sex couples raising kids pulled from school library shelves. Cause they are dumb.

Tech:

Bettersex.com says that LELO NEA is the sex toy of the year for 2009. Anyone surprised to see LELO win?
Adobe subtly points out that the iPad won’t play most internet porn. My blackberry does…

Drugs:

New emergency contraception effective up to five days after sex. Probably will give you cancer in 15 years.
Pfizer to tone down sexual innuendo in Viagra commercials. Pfizer still sucks.

General:

Older folks still getting fun-kay. And it makes them healthier.

Who cares:

Tiger Woods blah blah sex blah blah.
Bristol Palin vows no sex till marriage. And blathers to Oprah about it.
Andy Dick arrested for sexual assault.

Got a tip? Send it here

Getting Undressed is better when you tell everyone on the internet!

Moregasm provided for review by Babeland

Although I’ve been a visitor to the Babeland website for years and have seen pictures of their stores, I’ve never actually been to one. I suspect reading their new book Moregasm is much like walking through the Babeland door, looking around, and having helpful employees answer all of your questions. In terms of design and photography, Moregasm follows an aesthetic that is hip, fun, colourful, and easy to read. It’s 800 times less embarrassing than sneaking a peak at your mom’s copy of some such sex guide made in the 60’s with two skinny, monster bushy lookin’ people “making love” on the cover. It’s also much safer than trusting some random sex blogger on the internet. (Ha!)

Claire Cavanah and Rachel Venning, the founders of Babeland, enlisted the help of Jessica Vitkus (writer), Sarah Small (photographer), and Headcase Design (duh) to bring Moregasm together. All involved deserve a big pat on the back. Not only is the book very informative – even for bold sexual adventurers who have a big cowboy belt buckle proclaiming, “been there, fucked that” – it also navigates the sticky terrain of not being too heavily biased toward Babeland products really well. They do an excellent job of presenting information in an exciting, yet easy to understand and comforting way. I wish this book had been there for me as a pre-teen. I probably would have still made some bad decisions, but I’d have this snazzy sex book to show off to my girlfriends!

Yeeeeeeaaaaaahhhhhh

As you may be able to tell from the pictures and my tone, it is precisely the youthful “hip-ness” of this book that may make older people feel silly or out of place when reading it. I’m not saying they wouldn’t find any of its information useful. My grandmother revealed to me a few months ago that until then my grandfather had never removed her bra. It’s a small example, but you get my point. I would urge any older man or woman reading this book to try seeing it as a new adventure, and not their sad attempt at being young and cool. (Please don’t torture yourself like that. If you don’t believe me because I’m too damn young to know any better, head over to Joan Price’s blog. She’s a smart lady.)

The only disappointment was in “The Satisfied Customer: The Lube Guide” section. It gives a brief introduction to lubricants – not mentioning SILICONE lube, by the way – and then offers three examples of Babeland water-based lubricants. In case you didn’t know, there are many, many, many different kinds of lube. Some are better than others, some are more expensive than others. It depends on your needs. When I was open to those two pages, I felt like I was reading a Babeland advertisement, not a guide to lubricant. Why did they not show an extensive variety as they did for other products like vibrators and anal toys? I don’t know. Since they did suggest a wider variety of products later in the book, I don’t see any reason to take huge issue with it. It’s just a little baffling, that’s all.

Lubricant is important, especially if you have problems with self-lubrication (which as Moregasm points out, may or may not be related to your level of desire) or for anal play, so I would suggest doing some research aside from what Moregasm offers in its pages.

Thankfully, several resources are listed in the back of Moregasm, from “BDSM” to “Youth”, so you can look up more information on topics of interest. It’s a nice continuation of the educate-yourself, sex-positive attitude.

I would eat both of those things. Possibly at the same time.

Joseph

Mimi has done an excellent job of covering Moregasm. I will play the part of the downer and add one final note.

Remember that this book is written by a sex product retailer and they sell everything that they promote in the book. Now as Mimi said, Babeland has done a great job of not being too biased in their promotions, but the fact still remains that they have a vested interest in promoting the products they promote.

So look through its hip and easily approachable pages. Take away lots and lots and lots of sex positive information. Say “Hallelujah, Woot, or Hells Fucking Yes” (whichever you prefer) that a business like Babeland exists.

Just be sure to do a little independent research before buying anything. = )

And now…a tap dance!

The Naked Truth

Aesthetics: 4 out of 5 stars

Educational Value: 5 out of 5 stars

Quality of Writing: 5 out of 5 stars

Entertainment Value: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars

If you’re hungry for more, check out their first book: Sex Toys 101

Getting Undressed is better when you tell everyone on the internet!

Toy Covers provided for review by Eden Fantasys

Mimi

Safer sex is something very important to me and Joseph. The cleanliness of our toys is also important to us. When it comes to anal play or the possibility of sharing a toy with another partner, it’s best to protect yourself. Toy Covers, a product of California Exotic Novelties, is a non-lubricated condom designed specifically to do just that.

Since the soft pink latex condoms are lubricant free, it allows you to use your silicone or water based lubricant of choice. This also means that the Toy Cover is less likely to slip out of place while you’re using the toys. Being non-lubricated is perhaps the biggest selling point for Toy Covers. Okay, other than the fact that you can slip a new Toy Cover over your “traditional size” dildo or vibrator (whatever the hell that is), lube it up, use the toy on a partner, slip the condom off, and then use it on yourself without fear of… contamination.

Technically speaking, having Toy Covers can make post-sex clean up faster and easier, but I am not one to advocate the continual creation of unnecessary waste. If you can’t really clean your toy adequately within a reasonable amount of time, you don’t need Toy Covers, you need a better sex toy.

Yes, it serves its purpose quite well. Do you hear a “but”? I do.

At this time, for me and my relationship with Joseph, it’s not worth it. The toys we use for anal play can be and always are sanitized. We don’t share any toys with other partners because we are currently monogamous. Both of us have been tested and both of us are healthy. The presence of Toy Covers in my life essentially equates to a shrug at most. However, I could see this product meeting the needs of other individuals. As always, you should keep in mind your own needs before purchasing.

Covered up toys…

Joseph

I have a big problem with this product. Namely, there is no reason for its existence. Toy Covers are just unlubricated condoms except…you can’t use them as condoms. It says right on the box that they should not be used for intercourse. That warning would make me a little nervous. Why can’t they be used as condoms? Do they not provide an effective seal? Are they not strong enough? If the answer is yes to either of those questions, wouldn’t that defeat the purpose of putting them on your toys to share with someone else?

While you can use a regular unlubricated condom as a toy condom (and know the condom is doing its job) , it does not work the other way around. You see what I’m getting at here? Just. Buy. Condoms.

“But they come in different sizes,” you say. SO DO CONDOMS.

“But they come in pink,” you whine. SO DO CONDOMS.

“But I have 0% chance having intercourse,” you correctly point out. Well…you have fun with your pink pseudo condoms.

The Naked Truth

Entertainment Value: N/A

Aesthetics: 4 out of 5 stars

Functionality: 3 out of 5 stars

Ease of Cleaning: N/A

Overall: 3 out of 5 stars

I take it back, these are totally useful.

Getting Undressed is better when you tell everyone on the internet!

ID Glide provided for review by productEROTICA.com

Mimi

Frankly, we have such a large stash of lube samples that it can be hard keeping track of what we’re using and when – unless of course one of them stands out as being especially bad – and ID Glide could rather easily get lost in the mix were it not sent to us in a blue, convenient squeeze bottle.

ID Glide is pretty standard, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, because I’m speaking of a good lube standard, not a “you used THAT?” standard.

It’s clear, water-based, odor-less, and virtually tasteless. There’s a sharp tinge of generic chemical taste initially, dissolving into nothingness after a second or two. I wouldn’t recommend using it for oral sex because of the weird chemical taste, but it’s not altogether abhorrent either so if you accidentally get some in your mouth, more than likely it won’t significantly interfere with the moment.

The consistency is the same as that of many water-based lubes – it’s slightly slippery and slightly runny. ID Glide is a bit more substantial than some other lubes we’ve tried, such as pjur Woman Aqua, but definitely not to the level of a gel lube.

I have sensitive skin and it didn’t negatively affect me in any way. Nor did it dry to a tacky film. It did dry up fairly quickly on us (example: over the course of two hours, we had to re-apply three times), BUT my body does not self-lubricate very well at all. Even when I am really, really turned on and my clit is swollen and my ass is up like a cat in heat I am as dry as overcooked chicken. Fact of life.

In short, a little did not go a very long way for us, but it might for you depending on your body.

As with all water-based lubes, you can use this with your beloved silicone toys without damaging them and you can also use it with latex, as mentioned on Product Erotica’s site description of ID Glide Squeeze Bottle.

Although ID Glide is not a really remarkable lube, it still fulfills its purpose well. It provides non-irritating lubrication that is safe for my toys and latex, and makes sex comfortable without removing the necessary friction/tension/OMG. If you want a thicker lube, a longer-lasting lube, or one that tastes as good as it feels – you’ll need to look elsewhere.

Joseph

Based on the design on the bottle, I expected the worst. It looks pretty generic and my experience with generic has been that it is gross and worthless. ID Glide is neither of those. It is also not terribly remarkable.
As Mimi said, it is colorless and almost tasteless. For me, it is just the right consistency because it is easy to dispense but it won’t drip off of whatever I happen to be applying it to. It does dry out more quickly than I would like, but that is not a huge issue. The bottle is usually within reach.

The bottle itself has some funky grooves in the side that I believe are indented to be finger grooves. This is unnecessary at best and uncomfortable at worst. Some marketing guy wasted his time.

Probably the same marketing guy wrote the blurb on the back of the bottle which claims that you should apply it to the genital areas for “lubrication and pleasure.” I think that’s a first. This lube claims that the mere application will bring you pleasure. I call shenanigans!

Strangely, I’d be fine if it claimed that you should apply to genitals for super sexy fun times….

The Naked Truth:

Scent: 1 out of 5 stars

Consistency: 3 out of 5 stars

Longevity: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Tackiness: 2 out of 5 stars

Taste: 3 out of 5 stars

Versatility: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

Just another face in the crowd…

Getting Undressed is better when you tell everyone on the internet!

pjur med Clean provided for review by ProductEROTICA.com

Joseph

This product is pretty much an adult version of Wet Naps. A good one, at that.

As any man that has ever charmed the cobra without proper planning knows, come is damn hard to clean up. Water just makes it sticky, normal soap just rubs it around. It’s like trying to clean up melted marshmallows.

I took one for the team and made myself a big sticky mess earlier today. It was on my hands, penis, pubes, and lower belly. I’m a hella hairy guy, too. So when I say that it was a mess, I’m not kidding. Now that you have that lovely image in your head, let me tell you how freaking easy it was to clean up with one of these wipes.

It only took me one of the “intimacy soft cleaning fleece” wipes to clean myself completely. All that sticky mess gone with just one little wipe. It left the area basically scentless and slightly moist. So that’s it for how well it cleans intimate areas. I’ll leave the description of how it works on sex toys to Mimi.

Now, down to brass tacks:

The pjur med Clean wipes are alcohol free, perfume free, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral. The package says that they are intended for gentle, hygienic cleaning of intimate areas and utensils. As far as the anti-viral aspects, you should take that with a grain of salt. The package clarifies that “when cleaning utensils pjur med clean has to a certain extent an anti-viral effect against lipophilic, enveloped viruses.”

The package that we were sent contains 25 wipes. It also has a resealable opening so that your wipes will stay moist until you need them and if you’re livin’ right, needing them shouldn’t take you too long.

Mimi

There isn’t much for me to say about the pjur med Clean wipes. They’re soft wipes. They’re alcohol and perfume free. They perform their job well. Ta-da!

I used them on myself – both to freshen up and to clean come off of me – as well as on a few toys. Just as Joseph said, one wipe is truly sufficient. In fact, when I used two wipes on myself because I felt especially unclean pre-sex, it caused a slight stinging sensation for a few seconds. After inspecting myself, I could find no sign of irritation, but I would still recommend only using one wipe as a time. If nothing else, you’ll save money that way and create less waste by only using one wipe.

According to the packaging and based on my own experience, this product does not negatively affect latex, rubber, or silicone so you should be able to use pjur med Clean wipes on your sex toys. They’re especially handy for toys that are prone to collecting (cat) hair and lint or toys that have a lot of ridges that make cleaning them quickly an art form in itself.

I’m not going to be using this product frequently, but to know that it’s there for special circumstances, like when I don’t feel like taking a shower, is really comforting. Just like chocolate pudding and reruns of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

The Naked Truth:

Effectiveness: 5 out of 5 stars

Astringency: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Eat your heart out, Randy Newman.

Getting Undressed is better when you tell everyone on the internet!

Tristan Taormino’s Rough Sex provided for review by Babeland

Joseph

Rough Sex is composed of five scenes that are presented as the female performer’s real life fantasies. Adrianna Nicole and Marco Banderas act out a breaking and entering scene, Satine Phoenix plays a stranded motorist at the mercy of good samaritan Derrick Pierce, Francesca Le forces Christian to pay more attention to her – with a flogger, Marie Luv gets caught in a lie by Julius Ceazher and has to pay the price, and Sasha Grey….just fucks Danny Wylde. Each scene starts off with both performers explaining what the performers like about rough sex, what the term means to each of them, and (for the females) what the fantasy involves.

This film certainly lives up to its title. There is plenty of slapping, spitting, hair pulling, choking, and manhandling. Over the course of our relationship, Mimi and I have been discovering and pushing our sexual boundaries. Spanking, hair pulling and aggressive sex are becoming more and more common between us. We are still tender with one another when it feels right, but we also have the outlet of very aggressive, passionate sex in our repertoire. Because I have come to enjoy rough sex so much, I expected to enjoy the depictions in Rough Sex quite a lot.

I was pleased to hear the performers speak to their likes and dislikes and describe why they chose the specific partner that they did to help them make their fantasies come true. There were only a few moments within the actual sex that I found appealing, though. For the most part, this felt like just another porn movie to me. The people looked like freakish sex mannequins, the sex acts were sterilized of all emotion and the god awful porn noises were ubiquitous. The editing choices cut out almost all of the transitions and all of the safe sex practices.

Speaking of safe sex, there was a DVD extra that went over the importance of safer sex and that is the only place that it is mentioned or acknowledged as important. I understand that the idea is to portray a fantasy and that realistic depictions of anal warm up or condom or dental dam usage would interfere with that suspension of disbelief. However, the sad truth in America (thanks in large part to Abstinence Only education) is that a lot of people get most if not all of their ideas of what sex should be from the media, porn included. It seems like there must be some sort of acceptable middle ground.

I’ve made my opinions on mainstream porn pretty clear before and maybe that takes some of my credibility away but I was not excited by this film.

Mimi

I really wanted to love Rough Sex because I happen to enjoy slapping, biting, scratching, manhandling, and the like – both as the one doing and receiving. I also have a great deal of respect for Tristan Taormino. It seemed like a match made in pornographic heaven.

As you can probably tell already, that was not the case.

Satine and Derrick Pierce’s “stranded” fantasy scene and Sasha Grey and Danny Wylde’s switch scene were the most arousing and dynamic to me. Perhaps that has something to do with the roughness and power play in those scenes appearing much more natural and pleasurable to both individuals. (I have a stranded fantasy, too, which may contribute.) The connection between Satine and Derrick is continuous, and it helped me believe that domination. When she mouthed “thank you” as she lay on the ground with his cum on her bare chest, I thought, “Now that’s something I can relate to.” As Sasha and Danny exchange power and react to situations within the scene, their lusty playfulness is, again, something that feels palpable to me. I’m not interested in pure fantasy. Just as these five women are orchestrating their fantasies into reality, I’m interested in where fantasy meets our imperfect physicality.

This is why I take similar issue to Rough Sex as Joseph. I won’t bother repeating what he has said, for obvious reasons, but I want to be clear that I definitely agree with his points about the overall sterilization that occurs in this film. Like I said, I really respect Taormino and I think she has done a lot to bring subjects like anal sex, nonmonogamy, and rough sex to new audiences, but surely a balance can be created.

Technically speaking, this is a well made porn about rough sex, specifically women fulfilling their fantasies. If you don’t have similar stipulations as us when it comes to porn, you may love Rough Sex. I have to settle for only liking it.

Rough Sex? Check.

Getting Undressed is better when you tell everyone on the internet!

Seven Minutes in Heaven: Coming Out! provided for review by Good Vibrations

Mimi

After reading an interview with Courtney Trouble in Bitch magazine , I could tell that we were missing out. (We also need to know more about some other people in the interview, such as Bren Ryder, but hopefully we’ll get to them in another post.) Trouble is an individual working in the adult industry committed to making feminist pornography and bringing queer sexuality and lifestyle into a more accessible, realistic state if being. She founded No Fauxx, an arousal and art driven website for the queer community, which the site claims is the first of its kind. Whether or not that’s true, it’s still pretty amazing. I recommend reading the interview and checking out the links we’ve provided to further understand Trouble’s perspective on her own work and her goals.

We suddenly ended up with three of Trouble’s films – much to our delight – and Seven Minutes in Heaven: Coming Out! is the one we chose to start with. The first line of description on the back of this pink, very contemporary punk rockstar DVD case is, “Reality porn is coming out of the closet in this first-ever gonzo queer film.” It probably sounds silly, but I give Trouble props for having a case that accurately represents the film – all of the “fresh-faced performers” are on the cover with obvious tattoos, piercings, “alternative” style and/or diverse body types so we can see who is involved; again, in the description – which is kind of rough-looking typewriter text – it is described as a “kinky slumber party” and that definitely carries through in the film; all throughout the film there is music that reflects the style of the DVD case itself; and “reality porn” along with mention of how the cast picks their own partners and their own toys gives the viewer an indication that this is not going to be like scripted porn with professional stars and excellent lighting in every scene.

Since I have been disappointed in the past with how misleading a DVD case for porn can be, I really appreciate knowing what I’m getting into, especially if I am actually purchasing the porn.

I’m going to break it down to lists because there is so much I could say about Seven Minutes in Heaven, but for the sake of a readable review, I probably shouldn’t. So here is a condensed version:

+ The performers are amateurs and a few first-timers so the interactions are, generally, more fun and interesting. Nuances of their individual personalities come through, which is, to me, quite sexy. My favourite performers were Puck Goodfellow and Sophia, but all of them contributed in really special ways.
+ “I have a 48 inch ass. What more is there to say?” – God Bless You, Jae.
+ Sara Lee Sinful has an orchid for a vagina. Seriously. It’s exquisite. Thank you, Tina Horn, for making a point of it during your scene.
+ Safer sex! I was so happy to see gloves and condoms used on all of the toys.
+ Quite a bit of spanking and even a short discussion on appropriate places and ways to spank people. I especially enjoyed the scene in which Tina Horn is being spanked by Carson.
+ Jae showing Sophia how to put on a strap-on was pretty fabulous. I also like how later, despite her inexperience with strap-ons, Sophia totally got into “jerking off” with Tina Horn.
+ NO annoying fake-ass sex noises. This in itself is fucking amazingly wonderful to me. I want to scream it from rooftops and do cartwheels down the street.
+ Oh, and how could I forget… the various body types. (And we ain’t just talkin’ boob size.) Thank you, Courtney Trouble, for recognizing that sexuality is not limited to a size 4 and big tits.

- The scene with Carson and Joline, there’s a wonderful close-up shot of Joline’s vagina being teased from behind by Carson, but the shot is so grainy that it’s difficult to appreciate. Normally graininess isn’t that big of a deal to me – I think it can even be a positive thing in some cases – but in this instance it disrupted my appreciation of the scene. Perhaps the lighting, although little, still had the effect of cooling Joline’s already pale skin down further. A little too cold and washed out. There were other parts of scenes like this, but most of the time the light was warmer in tone, which worked better.
- Music. Nothing against the music selection, it goes along with everything else in the film, but it was pretty disjointed in some places. Were they using an iPod? Is that why a song would end and then there just wouldn’t be anymore music despite the scene continuing? Or why it was louder in some scenes? I’m sure that filming unscripted can be tricky, but a little more consistency with the music, especially because of how aggressive it was, would have been less distracting.
- The editing was also rather disjointed in some places, mostly in the beginning. When going from scenes of the performers kissing to laughing and talking, then to Tina Horn and Sara Lee Sinful’s scene, it was especially choppy and awkward.
- Again, an editing issue. When Puck Goodfellow and Carson were having a scene in one room with Tina Horn and Sophia having a scene in the next room (no door), the overlapping sounds were kind of funny in a way that made me less drawn to the scene. I knew that there were scenes overlapping in a way, but perhaps a direct, visual acknowledgement of that could have worked better. It would have added to the kinky slumber party atmosphere, too. Sex everywhere all the time!!

There were a lot of positive points and quite a few negative points as well, but overall I’m really excited about Trouble’s work and her participation in a movement toward an evolved adult industry, one that encourages a more honest, pro-female approach that brings together fantasy and reality. Sure, it’s a business, but we don’t have to be dirtbags about it.

Joseph

The very beginning of this film let me know that it would not be typical porn. It started with each person being allowed to describe themselves however they saw fit. A few of them told us that it was their first time performing on camera and for a couple of them, it was even their first queer experience. That alone made the dynamic between some of the people filmed very interesting.

I was somewhat worried about my opinion of this film because we’ve been reviewing so many porns made for queers that I have been jonesing for some wang. Being a heterosexual male, I have been desirous of some heterosexual depiction on screen. Upon reflection, I realize that this experience has been a tiny little taste of how frustrating the porn world must be for a queer person. I mean, I am choosing to watch porn that does not directly apply to me. For a long time, persons living alternative lifestyles didn’t even have the option to watch porn that reflected their sexuality. Even now, there are only and handful of directors and production companies making films for that group. That must be really annoying. Anyway, because I was tired of watching porn that does not reflect my sexuality, I was worried that it would be difficult to be fair to Trouble and her film. Thankfully, I don’t think it turned out to be an issue.

One of the first scenes involved spin the bottle and it was fabulous because of the awkward kissing and obvious lack of chemistry between a few of the people participating. It was nice to see those moments because it helped with the sense of reality that Trouble was trying to portray. As the film went on, they all warmed to one another and lost most of the awkwardness pretty quickly. Sex will do that to you.

About midway through watching I began to be worried that this was going to be somewhat of a negative review because I kept finding things that bothered me about the editing and music presentation. My complaints directly echo Mimi’s so I don’t feel the need to reproduce them, but I will say that they were certainly a sore point for me.

Understanding what gonzo pornography is supposed to be, the low quality lighting and somewhat awkward angles at times didn’t bother me. However, the editing could have been handled better and the music certainly could have, too.

Aside from those two complaints, I am pleased that Seven Minutes in Heaven: Coming Out! was made and I look forward to seeing more of Trouble’s work.

P.S.
Is it just me, or does that title sound like it is setting Seven Minutes in Heaven up to be a series? We can hope.

The Naked Truth:

Aesthetics: 4 out of 5 stars

Level of Arousal: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Educational Value: N/A

Storyline: 4 out of 5 stars

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

Getting Undressed is better when you tell everyone on the internet!

The Anal Sex Position Guide provided by Eden Fantasys

Joseph

I found The Anal Sex Position Guide by Tristan Taormino to be fairly excellent.

There is not much explanation required for this one. Taormino likes her titles to be fairly telling of the subject matter and this book is no exception. It is an anal sex position guide.

As with all of Taormino’s work that I’ve seen, she prefaces the bulk of the book with information about responsible and respectful practices. This includes anatomical information, safe sex practices, a chapter about the importance of communication, a dispelling of common anal sex myths, and a good discussion about the importance of warm-up.

After she gives you the tools you need to succeed, Taormino jumps right into the position guide. She simply breaks down the positions with an explanation of how they are done, the pros and cons of each, and any variations to that position. Accompanying each position description is at least one picture of perfect, airbrushed people demonstrating the position and making faces that they think they would make if they were actually doing it. As you can probably tell by the snarky way in which I described them, perfect airbrushed people leave me with a bad taste in my mouth. However, I think they are fairly appropriate for this book. They are for demonstration purposes only so it is ok for them to be mannequins.

About the only issue that I have with this book (I have to have one problem with everything, it is in my nature) is the subtitle: The Best Positions for Easy, Exciting, Mind-Blowing Pleasure. I can agree that anal sex can be mind-blowing and is almost always exciting for one reason or another. However, I just can’t get behind (heh) calling it easy. Asses are finicky and everything has to be just right for anal sex to work and that ain’t easy. Taormino’s book certainly makes it easier, though.

Mimi

My experience with anal sex has been fairly standard in terms of positions – Missionary, Spooning, Doggie Style, Flying Doggie, and Horizontal Tailgate – with me almost always on the receiving end, so Tristan Taormino’s The Anal Sex Position Guide arrived here with a warm welcome. Sometimes a little extra nudge in the way of practical advice and men and women with bodies made of fantasy is what you need to try something new. And where ever you are in your anal sex escapades, The Anal Sex Position Guide is sure to offer you some useful information that is approachable and classy.

Similar to her writing in Opening Up, Taormino’s voice is friendly and casual, yet direct and clear in its attempt to guide. I feel like Taormino is someone I could talk to without feeling embarrassed or intimidated. It’s an excellent balance she creates in her writing. I love how she talks extensively about safe anal sex practices, lubricants, and toys for both men and women. This book will be most useful to someone who is new to anal sex, but it has other advantages for more experienced individuals. It’s also a great tool for instances where one individual in a couple wants to try something, but they don’t know how to bring it up or discuss it.

As you may or may not have picked up on, me and Joseph are gradually moving into anal play for him, which I have a little bit of experience with but hardly enough to count. Prior to our relationship, I was incredibly uncomfortable with the idea of using a strap-on and became squeamish at the mere thought of using one. It’s not me! I can’t tell what I’m doing! That sort of problem. Chapter 11 Anal Pleasure for Men & Strap-On Sex and Chapter 12 Positions for Strap-On Anal Sex were really useful and really comforting. I was open to the idea of using a strap-on with Joseph before reading The Anal Sex Position Guide, but now I am mentally, emotionally, and physically prepared to attempt this new and exciting activity in our lives.

I can sympathize with Joseph about the models, but I also think that, like Taormino mentioned in the book itself, anal sex is in a sense coming out of the shadows and when you’re presenting a concept that can be difficult for a lot of people, it’s important to try meeting them halfway. Glossy pages, sensual and warm colors, using a traditional perception of human physical beauty – these things make a book about putting things in your butt less… like putting things in your butt. I’m not ashamed of my actions – or my pleasure – and I don’t think I should be. I am a clean, healthy, self-respecting individual. Not everyone shares this perspective.

Also, I’m sure young, sexy, you’ll-never-look-like-this-and-you’ll-never-fuck-anyone-that-does-either models help books sell.  And I don’t mind Taormino making a buck. Or a lot of bucks.

In short, The Anal Sex Position Guide has offered me some needed confidence to pursue my interests. It has done so with style yet without pretention. Can’t argue with that.

The Naked Truth:

Design: 5 out of 5 stars

Readability: 5 out of 5 stars

Educational Value: 5 out of 5 stars

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars

It’s good to have hobbies.

$19.99The Anal Sex Position Guide Book by Tristan Taormino Format: Paperback Publisher: Quiver Buy from EdenFantasys

Getting Undressed is better when you tell everyone on the internet!

Splash Gentle Feminine Wash provided by Tabu Toys

Mimi

Unlike many of the older women in my family, I’m not a pampering product junkie. A lot of functional and/or luxurious objects still equate to clutter in my mind. So that’s what I mean when I say that Splash Gentle Feminine Wash is not something I would normally consider buying for myself. (I’ve got soap. Why do I need “special” soap?) However, as a reviewer I am much more open to various types of products and despite Joseph’s snarky comment about how Splash is “probably just overpriced soap” when the product first arrived here, I was ready to give it a fair chance.

I received the “naturally unscented” version of this product because my body is very selective and unforgiving, and it really is virtually completely fragrance free. After inspecting the bottle, which has a very youthful, girly design, I was pleased to note that Splash has not been tested on animals (major plus), it is hypoallergenic and non-toxic, supposedly removes odor causing bacteria, and is “perfectly balanced to complement of woman’s PH”. (Also, if it matters to you, this product is glycerin free.)

Most of the ingredients are recognizable (water, coconut oil), but you may not recognize EGMS and DMDM Hydantoin. These ingredients are more than likely in many of your standard store bought shampoos, conditioners, and soaps.

As for how it felt, well, it doesn’t feel like regular soap. It has a slightly slicker, almost oil-like quality to it, perhaps because of the coconut oil derived ingredients. (I’m not a damn chemist.) This feels really, really good on the sensitive skin. I found myself washing and massaging more thoroughly than normal just because it was a pleasure to experience. And with Splash, a little goes a long way. One 4.2 oz bottle should last a few months, even with daily use.

I can’t really know whether or not Splash is improving the smell of my vulva, especially because I don’t generally have any problem with unpleasant odors. If you have noticed a serious problem with odor, you should probably see a doctor instead of relying on this product to cure you.

The only odd consequence that I noticed was that my vulva felt moist for a couple hours after using Splash, as if someone lightly sprayed me with a water bottle or like I didn’t dry myself off well enough post shower. It may or may not happen to you if you use Splash – different bodies after all – and I do not perceive it as being a significant hassle. Shower the night before, wear cotton panties, and/or wear pants that aren’t incredibly tight if you’re concerned.

Not only am I really glad that we received Splash for review, 4 or 5 months from now when the bottle is empty I know I’ll feel inclined to replace it. It feels luxurious yet it’s not a huge, unreasonable strain on my budget or my space.

Joseph

I’ll be honest, I had no idea what this was or that we were getting it. Mimi and I put a list of sex toys and things from Tabu Toys together and this was one of Mimi’s picks that I said “yeah, whatever, fine” to. After taking it from the box and inspecting it a bit, I proclaimed it to be “just soap.”

Once the surgical procedure required to remove my head from my ass was complete, I was more able to evaluate the product on a fair level. I tried a little bit on my boy bits in the shower and found it to be soap. Really awesome soap. It is (as Mimi said) slightly slicker than regular soap and feels just delightful on sensitive skin. It rinses easily and leaves the skin feeling moist and clean.

The package design looks like something you would see at Target but hidden within the uber-trendy label is a very well thought out and well executed product.

In summary: Splash Gentle Feminine Wash is soap. Just like a scalpel is a knife and nail polish is paint. It is soap made a special way for a special purpose.

The Naked Truth:

We don’t really have ranking categories that fit this product.

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Not that pussy, silly.

Getting Undressed is better when you tell everyone on the internet!