Rocket Girl Writes

How Doxycycline Saved My Sex Life

Earlier this year I wrote a post about UTIs and how to avoid them. In it, I repeated much of the standard stuff about wiping front to back and drinking plenty of water. I should have also mentioned wearing cotton underwear and not putting yogurt on your vagina if you’re prone to such infections, but I digress. What I want to talk about in this post is my experience I had with chronic UTIs. And I mean chronic in the sense that almost every time after PiV I would pee straight after intercourse and still get a UTI. Had it not been for my NP, I might’ve just thought I was condemned to a life of filling this or that prescription for different courses of Macrobid or Bactrim. But my NP wanted to get to the bottom of my burning problems, so she had me tested for something I’ve never heard of: ureaplasma.

BEDSIDE BUDDIES 100918 — These were my constant bedside buddies. They saw heavy use while I was thrown from UTI to UTI.

What is ureaplasma? According to my doctor, they’re part of a group of organisms called mycoplasmas, which are bacteria without cell walls. The ureaplasma in particular usually inhabit the vagina, cervix, and occasionally the urethra of the penis. This bacteria generally doesn’t cause problems, but on some rare incidences, the presence of ureaplasma in the urethra of a vulva can cause chronic UTIs. But how does this happen? The ureaplasma is not the bacteria of the infection, instead, it makes the colonization of infectious bacteria much easier. Ureaplasma is passed sexually, though it isn’t commonly listed as an STI because of its presence in healthy individuals who don’t experience any symptoms. This means that if one partner has an issue with the bacteria, both partners need to be treated to avoid passing the infection back and forth.

Testing for the ureaplasma was a bit difficult for me. I’m more than used to providing samples for urinalysis, but one of the tests for ureaplasma is the ‘clean catch’ test. This test involves collecting the urine sample mid-stream so that you can get a good look at the sample without any interference from the vaginal flora. To further this aim, the doctor provided me with some antibacterial wipes so that there would be as little interference from my vaginal flora as possible. Well, this kind of test required me to have impeccable timing and sadly I did botch it. Luckily, after I washed my hands, the second test was a vaginal swab and I was able to do that no problem. After I turned in my samples, I was given a stop gap prescription of Macrobid in the event that it wasn’t ureaplasma.

About four days later, the doctor confirmed that I did indeed have ureaplasma and was told to discontinue use of the Macrobid. I was prescribed a two week course of doxycycline, which some people know from using it as an anti-malarial. This medication had to be taken twice a day and I was barred from sexual intercourse, which wasn’t an issue since my partner was away for the summer.The medication was rough on my body, and there was one instance of it making me so ill that I vomited and had to call in sick from work. But I persevered and completed the medication course. But because of the nature of the bacteria, my partner also needed to take a round of medication or else he’d risk re-infecting me when we had sex. I cannot tell you what a blessing my partner is. When I was anxious about asking him to go in for this testing, he reassured me that he was more than happy to do this since he had been worried about hurting me and was glad there was a solution.

After the summer, he was finally able to convince the doctor to give him a swab test and a prescription. The swab test indeed confirmed he had the ureaplasma and he was given the go ahead to start his medication. He took doxycycline twice a day, though the nausea that I had experienced was notably absent. During this time, we refrained from what we termed ‘a touching reunion’ for a full month, waiting for the medication. It felt like an eternity waiting for him to finish the medication. But once we had both completed the medication, the satisfaction of being able to be sexually intimate with my partner again sans the persistent fear of infection was absolutely worth it.

Now that we’re nearly a month out from the medication, I’ve been pain and infection free despite having several PiV encounters with my partner. I’m keeping up with my prevention techniques by making sure I’m adequately hydrated and I’ve ditched all my thongs, but I feel noticeably improved. I’m sharing this story in the hopes that it reaches the people who are in a similar chronic UTI situation. While this may not be the case for everyone who has chronic UTIs, it’s something I’ve not seen talked about very often as a possible cause behind chronic infection. I believe that this lack of conversation around it has people buying every cranberry pill, taking lots of unnecessary medication which is contributing to antibiotic resistance and generally feeling broken because of their constant infection. If you’re suffering from chronic UTIs, I would urge you to ask your doctor to test you for this. Insist if you have to, because sometimes getting your best healthcare requires self-advocating. Doxycycline quite literally saved my sex life and it might save yours too.

Reviews

The Lust Burster Review

CN: Fake blood in one image

Bless Lust Arts, those wonderfully quirky dildo makers. Not only are their designs perfect for this spook filled month, they were kind enough to send me their Lust Burster after I approached them about how PERFECT it would be to feature a horror themed dildo on my blog this month.

Just before we got into October, Lust Arts sent me their Lust Burster design in their Soft 0050 shore silicone and in their Moaner size. This dildo is a chunkier one, at about 2.2 inches thick at the widest point, but is a pleasant 6 inches long, so it doesn’t unnecessarily bother my cervix when I insert it. The silicone is addictively squishy to the touch, and were I not so enamored of how it feels in my vagina, I bet it’d be a fabulous stress ball. The design itself is glorious, and exactly calls to mind the chest bursting scene in the original Alien film. Fun fact, the reason I watched Alien was because I was going to be reviewing this dildo. Sex toys can expand your horizons in more than one way don’tchaknow.

LUST BURSTER PHOTO 100618 — My Lust Burster and its ADORABLE charm self

When I last reviewed a toy from Lust Arts, I was introduced to texture in a big way. Compared to the Mermaid, the Lust Burster is a much gentler dildo, feeling almost tame compared to the very intense sensations that the Mermaid elicits. This amuses me, as I find the monstrous Xenomorph inspired sculpt to be gentler than a sensual Mermaid one, but I suppose dildos are just like that. Sometimes, a monster’s tender touch is just what your vagina needs. However, the Lust Burster is even bulkier than the Mermaid, and requires me to use smaller warm up dildos in order to best enjoy the Lust Burster. The few times I tried to insert the toy without warmup, I winced. But thanks to warm up dildos, I can enjoy using the Lust Burster as a finale dildo. Once I do get it inside me, the Lust Burster feels oddly organic, the soft density and gentle texture giving it a novel, fleshy feeling that I haven’t felt with any other sculpt. Even semi-realistic soft dildos like the Real Nude Rollo or the TruSkyn Curve don’t feel this fleshy.

If the Mermaid is an aggressive massage, then the Lust Burster is a sensual stroking of my vaginal walls that I can’t get enough of. The Moaner size is filling, stretching me nicely at my vaginal opening, and the texture is just noticeable enough without being overwhelming. Also, the texture isn’t so overwhelming that it ever irritates my vaginal opening, the way the Mermaid sometimes can. The size and texture encourages thrusting, something I’ve only just started enjoying doing with my dildos. Thrusting the Lust Burster feels excellent, and actually made me understand why reviewers enjoy thrusting so much. Hey everyone, I finally get it. Thank the Lust Burster for bringing me as its plus one to the ‘people who actually thrust their dildos’ party. I’m so glad to meet all of you. Jokes aside, the Lust Burster has expanded my masturbation repertoire and I’m psyched I got to add this toy to my toybox.

LUST BURSTER PRODUCT PHOTO — The Lust Burster’s signature colors. Kinda into the bloody one honestly.

If you’re new to texture and a horror fan, then this a dildo I would highly recommend. This is an incredibly unique and, in my opinion, beautiful dildo. It even comes in a bloody version for the most hard core of horror fans. When I’m not in the mood for a rough ride but want more texture than say, the Pure Wand, the Lust Burster has got my back.

The Lust Burster was provided to me free of charge in exchange for my honest review. Thanks so much Lust Arts!

Reviews

The Butters Lube Review

I didn’t mean to get a bunch of lubes to review, it sort of just happened that way. It happened that way because one night after GCL’s Almost Naked Lube left a mosquito bite style rash on me, I’d had enough. So I hopped on Peepshow Toy’s website and bought both Sliquid’s Sassy Lube and the Butters. And in this installment, your friendly neighborhood lubescout is pleased to say that the Butters are an excellent lube.

I received the 8 ounce cocoa butter formulation of the Butters lube. As soon as I got it out of the package, I opened it up to take a look at what was inside. The lube has a light and fluffy texture, and is a light yellow color, much the same color as the butter I have in my dish. The smell is ever so slightly earthy and something I and my partner found very enjoyable. In fact, my partner said that he was tempted just to eat it right out of the jar and was only stopped because he didn’t want to eat up all the product. It’s a lube that I really have little to compare it to but is absolutely delightful nonetheless.

I’ve used an oil based lube once before, in the form of unrefined coconut oil. However, I was too nervous to use it vaginally and used it only anally. I felt that same nervousness as it came to time to put it to use for the first time. Slicking up the dildo I was going to be testing, I understood that many other reviewers with sensitive orifices have tried this lube to no ill effect. Nonetheless, anxiety still flooded my nerves as I eased in the toy. It slid in like silk, the lube feeling just inside me. It didn’t feel sticky or artificial, and though I can’t say it blended perfectly with my natural fluids, it really did feel fine. Notably, the Butters lube lasted a good bit longer than my normal water based lubes, which was delightful. I can usually expect a reapplication every time I remove a toy from my vagina, since my body absorbs the water based lube, but the Butters didn’t necessitate so much reapplication.

When I used the Butters for PiV, my partner didn’t notice anything different about the lube. I couldn’t tell much either, though I thought I detected that the lube was more satiny in use than others. It made our sex It’s at this juncture in my review that I’d like to remind everyone that oil based lubes do degrade latex. So if you’re planning on using condoms as a method of birth control, either use a water or silicone based lube for PiV or consider an alternate method of birth control.

Personally, I’ve quite enjoyed my experiences with the lube, and my partner also approves of the formulation as both a lube and a snack. The Butters lube are an excellent choice for anyone looking for something that lasts a little longer than their regular water-based lube, but want something toy compatible.

I purchased this from Peepshow Toys and just wanted to let everyone know how I felt about it. Thanks Peepshow and The Butters!

Reviews

Rope Review: Agreeable Agony vs. Twisted Monk Cotton

For people who are looking to buy their first ropes, a lot can factor into their decisions. Price, maintenance and quality are the first ones to come to mind. I know about these long considerations because last year I was that person making a decision that would affect how I explored bondage. Luckily Twisted Monk provided an answer, and I purchased the Curiosity Cotton Kit and used it happily with my partner for nearly an entire year.

But this month, a challenger arrived. Thanks to RGN Toys, I received the Agreeable Agony rope in a gorgeous blue/black color scheme. They sent me a 30 ft length to compare to the Twisted Monk Cotton rope, and over the past month I’ve been contemplating the two. Having had my partner and I test them, I’m happy to say that I can recommend both of these ropes, but the rope you might ultimately prefer will depend on which sort of play and what rope qualities are most important to you.

The Agreeable Agony rope is spun from a vibrant, man made fiber and is finished with whipped ends. I received the blue and black blend and delightedly ran my hands over it as soon as I freed it from it’s packaging. The feel of the rope is slick, and to my untrained hands it felt silky and strong. The colors, blue and black remind me vaguely of hiking gear and I thought were a delightful change in tone from my other ropes, which are a plain white.

In use, the Agreeable Agony feels strong against the skin. My partner put me in a karada body harness and pulled on me this way and that, seeing how it felt in his hands and how it felt against my skin. He reported that the rope felt more slippery and that the knots seemed a bit less sticky, but found it fun to pull on. On me, the feeling was more intense. While it was never painful, I was more acutely aware of being pulled on, and I was constantly aware of the rope against me. Also, when it was plucked at, the Agreeable Agony rope conducted vibrations better, something to keep in mind.

By contrast, The Twisted Monk Cotton ropes are, as you would expect, spun from cotton and are also finished with whipped ends. To the touch, the cotton ropes feel softer, reminding vaguely of a soft T-shirt. The plain white color is what it is, and I’m content with the classic look, though I might personally like a little more flair with my bondage.

In use, the cotton ropes are much softer against my skin. When my partner put me in a body harness using the cotton ropes, the tactile experience was gentler against my body. A more sensual bondage compared to the more intense and focused and more intense bondage experience that the Agreeable Agony gave me. When pulled on, my partner reported that the knots felt sturdier and the sensation of being pulled on was softened. The entire experience was a soft, sensual one and something I personally enjoyed quite a bit.

When taking care of these ropes, neither need to be oiled regularly, so carving out time to service your ropes isn’t necessary the way it is with hemp ropes. They also both come with a fascinating feature! Should your ropes get dirty, whether through body fluids or otherwise, both of these ropes are machine washable. I can verify the washability of these ropes; I put both in pillowcases and washed them with two caps of Twisted Monk’s Rope Soap on a delicate cycle. Both came out of the wash with no wear or degradation. However, the cotton ropes were more twisted and had more kinks in it, requiring gentle stretching and a hang drying to ensure these ropes were as good as new. The Agreeable Agony looked pretty much the same. However, I was feeling adventurous and decided that I wasn’t going to hand dry these. I kept the Agreeable Agony in the pillowcase and tossed it in my dryer on a low cycle. I had worried it would shrink or would otherwise warp. I was delighted to see that the rope withstood the dryer and lives to tie me another day.

In summary, the Agreeable Agony is a low maintenance rope that delivers a more intense bondage session and appeals to people looking for a quirky aesthetic rope. The Twisted Monk Cotton rope requires a little more care, but for people who want a softer and gentler bondage experience, this is the rope for them. With my personal preferences, I enjoyed the feel of the cotton rope more, but I can’t deny the ease of use of the Agreeable Agony, as well as the wide variety of colors available. With this in mind, I find myself heartily recommending both ropes as both beginner friendly and as excellent first ropes. Happy tying all!

I wrote this honest review in exchange for a commission from RGN Toys. All feelings are my own. Thanks RGN Toys!

Reviews

Good Clean Love BioNude Lube Review

I have three tubes of Good Clean Love’s Almost Naked formula in my toy-box. I know, it seems a little excessive, but I’m sort of a hoarder. Every time I see lube I feel obligated to stock up. And for a long while GCL’s formula worked for me and my body and was my go to lube. But earlier this year I started to notice something. Sometimes lube leavings would cause my body to have a reaction. An errant smear of lube caused a small speckling of redness on my thigh. I shrugged it off, not really sure it was attributable to the lube. It was a hot summer, maybe I was having a little heat rash. I kept using it until one evening I held ice to what looked like a large, red mosquito bite where lube had smeared on my thigh. It was then I decided it was probably best not to continue using the Almost Naked I had as my nightstand standby.

But that was not the end of my affairs with the Good Clean Love brand. No! Good Clean Love was kind enough to send me their more gentle BioNude line after I asked on Twitter about my swelling. And it is with delight that I can recommend this lube for everyone!

The BioNude lube comes in a three ounce tube with a pop cap, as does the rest of GCL’s lubes. It’s fairly minimal packaging and looks eco-friendly, as do all of their lubes. When I asked the representative on the phone what the difference was between the two lubes, I was told that the original formula had some small amount of flavoring, while the BioNude line does not. I can confirm this, and in fact I once claimed that the Almost Naked line made it smell as though I’d baked a batch of cookies in my vagina. The BioNude line smells and tastes of nothing, which can be a pro or con depending on if you minded the Almost Naked flavoring.

I also looked to see that the formulas were in fact different, which is what likely makes the BioNude line runnier than the Almost Naked formula. If I were to compare the water based lubes I have currently and order them from thickest to thinnest it would be: 1. Almost Naked GCL 2. Sliquid Sassy 3. BioNude GCL. The Almost Naked has been the thickest water-based lube that I’ve tried, comparable to the thickness of Astroglide’s gel formula, though naturally with a healthier ingredient list. The BioNude has a thinner, less sticky quality to it, reports my boyfriend and I’m inclined to agree.

In use, the BioNude performs admirably. Because of its ultra gentle formula, I don’t have a reaction to it the way I did the Almost Naked line, and I found it thick enough to use for a variety of activities. When I used it anally, I found it perfectly comfortable for sliding in my butt plug, more comfortable than the Almost Naked formula to be honest. Likewise, when I used it vaginally in conjunction with the dildos I was testing, it performed admirably. While my partner didn’t notice a difference when we used it for PiV, I noticed that things felt a little better than when using the Almost Naked formula. In the bedroom, the BioNude formula has proved to be an excellent all rounder for whatever activities I want to get up to.

The BioNude line has really impressed me. While I loved the smell and feel of the Almost Naked line, the gentler formula of the BioNude line has me hook, line and sinker. Its performed anally, vaginally and it does all of that without giving me a mosquito bite style swelling. I recommend BioNude for anyone looking for an all around excellent water-based lube.

This product was sent to me free of charge without the expectation of a review, but I liked it so much I wanted to tell everyone how I felt. Thanks Good Clean Love!

Advice

Warming Up: Part Two on Foreplay

So now we come to the second part of my Warming Up series. I’ve already discussed what foreplay is, or what my personal definition of it is, this post is meant as sort of a rough guideline of possible foreplay activities. Most of this has been drawn from my own personal experience so your mileage may vary. This isn’t meant as an instructional guide on foreplay, merely offering my methods to see if you find anything you might want as an addition to your warm up repertoire.

In warming up for vaginal penetration

In warming up for vaginal penetration, there are a couple of things I’ll do differently depending on whether I’m preparing for PiV sex or if I’m planning on penetrating myself with a dildo. With a partner, I enjoy giving and receiving oral to get ourselves physically and mentally ready. Personally speaking, giving my partner a blowjob before sex makes me feel incredibly sensual and sometimes gets me aroused enough for penetration all on its own. Being able to control the experience my partner receives isn’t something I get to feel when I get fucked, so I relish the control I have for the time being.

Because my partner values reciprocity, he’s often not the only one getting oral. In fact, even with the difference in our sizes, we’ve actually pulled off the 69 position to great success. Getting oral is a fantastic act in its own right, and for some people it may be the whole sexual encounter , but I often find it to be an amazing warm up for PiV with my wonderful partner. When receiving oral, I prefer to also be fingered at the same time. The internal stimulation and getting used to being penetrated makes it so I can enjoy feeling stretched by my partner without feeling claustrophobic from his dick. I know it seems strange that my vagina with size queen tendencies can feel claustrophobic from anything, but it remains the case. If I don’t warm up to penetration and I’m not turned on enough, it’ll hurt.

If I’m warming up for a solo session, I’ll often start off with a vibrator. I’ve got a few that have been featured so far, namely the much loved Turbo Glider and Mystic Wand. Warming up my clit turns me on and gets me ready for a dildo. Now, I should use a smaller dildo in preparation for my larger ones, but most times? I just go straight for it and endure a little discomfort as my body gets used to it. In this respect, I would ask my readers to please use smaller dildos to warm up first rather than just plunging in. Your orifices will thank you.

The last crucial piece for warming up is: LUBE. I cannot stress enough how essential a good lube has been for my sex and masturbation life. Good Clean Love’s original formula was my go to until I noticed I started having some irritation, so I discontinued use. Thankfully, Good Clean Love has graciously offered to send me their BioNude formula, which I’m very grateful for. In the meantime, I ordered both the Butters and Sliquid from Peepshow, which preliminary testing is showing some very good results! Of course, I’ll fill you in more on a later post with regards to how these lubes feel.

In warming up for anal play

So a quick disclaimer: I’ve not had penetrative anal sex yet. Well, I’ve had an entire 8 inch dick in my ass, but after insertion (we didn’t use lube) it got pretty uncomfortable so he pulled out and we moved on to something else. So most of my experience with anal has been using toys or getting my ass fingered. Regardless, here’s how I warm up.

Usually I start with lots of lube and gentle digital penetration, because my butt is a delicate flower. The few times I’ve been impatient, I’ve wound up bleeding slightly and had to take a long break from anal play of any kind. So if I’m doing anything with my butt, I make some time to read some erotica, stimulate my clit, and slowly ease into anal. Making sure my clit is involved ensures that I’m turned on enough and still feeling pleasure while I’m easing into anal.

I’ve also done an enema in preparation for anal, though I later wasn’t able to actually follow through on that desire. I’ve done an enema using a bulb, and while I did feel cleaner, I felt oddly dehydrated and headachey afterward. This bad feeling nipped any chance of sex in the bud, so my partner and I ended up just snuggling while I recovered. So if you’re planning on doing an enema, I’d recommend: 1. Doing several rinses. 2. Making sure you’ve got access to a bathroom you can hog for about an hour. 3. Drinking plenty of water in the event you feel like me after. Also, while an enema once in a while is fine, too many too close together can really upset your gut flora! So be mindful and take care of your body.

Last words

You know your body best and know where your limits are. The things I’ve described above may work for you, and they may not. I encourage you to experiment with several activities and to take your time in getting your body ready. In a lot of ways, warming up for sex is like warming up for any other athletic event. Take your time to get your mind and body ready so that you can enjoy whatever encounter you decide to participate in!

Cryptokink

Cryptokink: Teratophilia

Welcome to another installment of Cryptokink, wherein I explore some of the more fantastical fetishes that I’ve found online. This time I’m examining teratophilia, something that’s grown quite a bit more popular on the internet!

So what is teratophilia? According to the definition provided by Wikitionary it is: “1. The paraphilia characterized by sexual attraction to deformed or monstrous people. 2. Attraction to monsters.” But what does this mean in practice? For some people, it might mean an attraction to people considered conventionally ugly, leaning towards the first listed definition. But for a growing population on the internet, and for the purposes of this post, it means that they get turned on by things that are…more than human.

In reality, teratophilia, or at least a degree of it, is quite common. Paranormal Romance is a sub-genre that is rapidly gaining popularity within the romance market, featuring broody vampire or werewolf boyfriends which woo the heroines and the readers. Twilight comes to mind as a popular, if somewhat nasty example of the growing trend. The television series Teen Wolf also comes to mind, as well as the Netflix series Hemlock Grove, which I personally enjoyed. This doesn’t necessarily mean that everyone who liked Edward Cullen in middle school is now a card-carrying teratophile. Just that this fetish, despite its seeming niche appearance is actually pretty common.

CTHULU PRODUCT PHOTO — The Cthulhu dildo from Uberrime, looking both otherworldly and alluring.

Of course, teratophilia isn’t just sulky vampires who can’t decide between fucking and eating you. A number of the kinksters who identify as teratophiles actually see vampires and succubi as the ‘vanilla’ version of the kink. A significant amount of teratophilic art features aberrant, eldritch horrors getting it on with their human counterparts, often with these human counterparts enthusiastically receiving their alien lover. What Lovecraft considered horrifying and ghastly, these individuals consider a perfect fuck buddy. Often times, teratophilia will coincide with a number of kinks. Oviposition, which I wrote about earlier, is often in tandem with a monstrous lover. Some inflation porn coincides with having a monster pump you full of its fluids. Macro/microphilia occasionally plays its part in scenarios, with the monster towering above its lover by a significant margin. Put simply, teratophilia enjoys a lot of crossover appeal because of how broad the definition of monster is.

ARGUS PRODUCT PHOTO — The XenoCat Argus in a gorgeous color scheme.

So, if you are a teratophiliac, how is it exactly that you get your fix? While monster roleplay is certainly an option, I most often hear of it indulged through written or visual erotica. Some erotica uses real life actors, with some of the actors posing as the monster, while other pornography uses either drawn or CGI characters to get the desired effect of monster fucking. In addition to this, there are also a number of companies that make fantastically shaped sex toys to really scratch that itch for teratophiles. While many large brands worry about veering too far off the human model, other brands such as Uberrime, XenoCat, Lust Arts, and Exotic Erotics have stepped forward to meet the challenge. Each of these companies produce unique designs that are pleasurable in their own right, as well as potentially scratching that itch of someone wanting to get it on with a creature of the night.

A lot of teratophilia fiction is available on blogging platforms like Tumblr and on fanfiction sites like Ao3 if you’re interested in exploring on your own. On Tumblr, there are both SFW and NSFW teratophile blogs, allowing you to engage with the material at your level of comfort. As with most kinks, teratophilia can be experienced in a variety of ways and moods, so for as many stories featuring a borderline violent encounter with a monster in the dark, there are beautiful stories of tender fucking with your loving orc spouse. And so with that, I leave you to go out and find your own perfect monster significant other!

Reviews

2 in 1: Stockroom Gentle Persuasions Paddle and Adjustable Blindfold Review

Stockroom knows leather. They just do. In the box they sent me, everything was a gorgeous piece of leather and I went just starry eyed and soft. I’ve spoken at length already about their O-ring Choker and now I’d love to tell you about the two other products they sent me: The Adjustable Blindfold and the Gentle Persuasions Paddle. Both of these products are simple and effective introductions into BDSM. They’re beginner-friendly, budget-friendly and of course, excellent quality.

The paddle

This paddle is a great and simple introduction to impact play. It doesn’t try to pull anything extreme, and doesn’t aspire to be anything more than what it is, a leather paddle. And for people new to impact play, this is a good thing. The Gentle Persuasions Paddle has two sides: a soft, fluffy side meant for gentle warm up, and an unadorned leather side for more intense play. The soft, fluffy side is extremely gentle, in fact, I found it far too gentle for my taste, even for warm up. Most people who are actually into the pain aspect of being spanked are going to find that side a little too mild to be honest and could probably advance straight to the leather side.

The non-fluffy leather side, however, is one that brings a little more intensity. Compared to the acrylic paddle I have, the leather has a more thuddy impact, meaning there’s less immediate surface level pain. Because of this, I’m able to take much harder swings from this paddle than my acrylic one. This makes me feel like an accomplished submissive and so I find myself gravitating to this paddle when I want to take a little more. I enjoy receiving smacks from the leather side a great deal, either having them administered to me from my handsome male counterpart, or just smacking my ass apropos of nothing. In the hand, the paddle feels not exactly weighty, but comfortingly soft and substantial. When my partner swung it, he noted that the soft handle made it very comfortable and easy to deliver a smack. My boyfriend feels far more confident swinging this paddle with force than he does with the acrylic paddle, so I imagine that this would be a nice choice for those just learning to be Dominant.

The blindfold

This is a simple concept done very well. The blindfold fits both my and my boyfriend’s head, and for reference, I’m a 5’2″ woman and he’s a 6’5″ man. Since we both were able to fit and be comfortable with the blindfold, I can confidently recommend this blindfold as being good for a variety of bodies. Our only other experiences with blindfolds was a silky sash from Sportsheets, which slipped and often didn’t secure very well, so the Adjustable Blindfold absolutely blew that out of the water. My boyfriend commented to me later how much he loved the quality of the material, and impressed upon me that he found it extremely well made. To be honest, I was a little surprised by how much he liked it. Let this serve as a special note, because my boyfriend has not been that emphatic about anything else in my toybox.

I tested the blindfold on my boyfriend by having him put it on before I gave him a blowjob. He secured the blindfold while I watched, stroking his cock and waiting for it to be secured to his face before I went down on him. From my perspective, sucking my boyfriend off while he was blindfolded was something new and hot. Looking up and seeing the blindfold on him and listening to the sounds he made while I sucked his cock was exhilarating. I felt powerful and sexy as I went down on him, and tried to make that blowjob and my feelings of power last as long as possible. After I decided I had enough, I got his side of the story. The blindfold was very comfortable, he explained, but it didn’t necessarily add anything to it sensation-wise. He did say he would do it again, and that made yours truly very excited.

Final thoughts

In all, these are well executed pieces of leather that are very accessible for beginners. They are simple, gorgeously made and reasonably priced. My one note for the paddle is that the soft side was too mild for me and may be too mild even for the beginners. If you find it too mild, just switch over to the leather side and let your backside have a treat.

These products were provided to me free of charge in exchange for my honest review. Thank you Stockroom!

Reviews

Stockroom O-Ring Choker Review

Earlier this month I received a delightful box full of gear from my affiliate Stockroom. In that box were three items, but the one I ended up most excited about was the sexy red collar. Or, as it is more accurately listed on the site, a choker. This review features my take on Stockroom’s O-Ring Choker in red. And I have to say that this is a gorgeous piece of leather, though I would not recommend trying to use it for any heavy play.

The choker is a little thing, meant to fit necks 10.5″ to 14″ around. So for someone as petite as I am, it fit pretty well. The band is made of red latigo leather, which makes it nice and soft, perfect for everyday wear. The O-ring is shiny nickel plated hardware and is 1 inch in diameter according to Stockroom, translating into something that looks fairly petite on the choker. The choker is easy to fasten and adjust and I could even put it on myself, something I consider an accomplishment given I have trouble putting necklaces on. It’s also very accessible since it retails for $22 on Stockroom and is made of quality materials. While I don’t think this would be the end all be all of BDSM accessories, it’s a nice way to see how you feel about BDSM and kinky accessories without spending too much cash up front.

While I don’t anticipate that you’d need to clean this choker much, if you find that you do get something on it there are a few tips to clean leather. You can wash it with a saddle soap and use a small amount of leather conditioner to keep it looking in good shape. If you wash it, be sure to keep it out of sunlight while it air dries so it doesn’t fade.

When I first received the choker, I admit that I fawned over it more than anything else in that box. I am absolutely enamored of the look of the choker. The bright red leather and shiny o-ring feel very sexy, especially when paired with a matching lip color. I’ll admit that I spent more than a little time preening in the mirror. But I noticed that it fell a bit short when I attempted to use it for more than decoration. With the narrow band of leather and lack of padding, I found it uncomfortable when tugged on, feeling it pinch my neck around the edges of the choker. My partner agreed with this assessment, noting that he wouldn’t be comfortable trying to use it for control. Furthermore, he’s not able to hook his fingers through the ring, making it difficult for him to use the O-ring to lead me. While I don’t anticipate that the choker would snap, it wouldn’t be comfortable for the submissive during play, possibly in an unsafe way.

Where the choker falls short during play however, it excels in another aspect. Taking a good look at the gorgeous red leather, I figured I could use it to add some flair to an outfit and wearing it outside of the bedroom. When I asked my partner if he thought it might be discreet enough for day wear, he said that you could probably get away with wearing it out and not arouse too much suspicion. My friend and his girlfriend, who possess the same model of choker, confirmed that no one had noticed when his girlfriend had worn hers out.

Not being satisfied with this, I decided to test out the choker’s daywear capabilities. Here’s a list of places I wore it to:

The mail room of my apartment complex
Out while I was rescuing fish from the recent hurricane
Barnes and Noble
My local coffee shop

In all of these places, the choker didn’t attract any strange looks and generally passed unnoticed. It felt really cool to wear my choker and get some work done while wearing it out in a coffee shop. The leather was supremely comfortable against my neck as I wore it around doing errands, making it excellent for daywear. If you’re feeling bold, this would be a good choice to wear out without attracting too much attention or making anyone too terribly uncomfortable.

My final verdict? This is a fun way to see if you like the BDSM aesthetics and if you just need a collar for symbolic purposes. If you’d like something for heavier play, Stockroom has plenty of options with more padding to suit your purposes.

This was sent to me free of charge in exchange for my honest review. Thank you Stockroom!

Reviews

Silicone Siren Song: The Mermaid Dildo Review

In spite of owning several dildos, I have yet to review any on my site…until now. And so I am proud to announce that my first dildo review is the stunningly crafted Mermaid dildo, provided to me by Lust Arts. Lust Arts is a new sex toy company founded by two women who have dedicated themselves to making incredible fantasy inspired dildos. They’ve really impressed me with toys like the Lust Burster, a Xenomorph inspired dildo that warmed my horror-loving heart, their gorgeous take on a unicorn horn, as well as the Mermaid dildo which I am reviewing today. And after having received the Mermaid in my home and in my vagina, I’ve learned to love it. It is intense, and abrasive at times, but it provides sensations of texture and fullness no other dildo in my toybox provides.

Dildo photography — The freshly washed Mermaid looking magical with my electric candles.

The Mermaid dildo is absolutely gorgeous to look at, there’s no denying that. The artisans at Lust Arts imbued this dildo with a stunning amount of detail, making the Mermaid look like an enticing siren with her wild hair and curled mermaid tail. The color I asked for was Deepest Wave, a gorgeous pale-green over deep black that looks exactly like a sunken copper statue. This is one of the signature colors of the toy, though the Mermaid dildo does come in a range of colors. Lust Arts sent me the toy in a glorious dual-density of Extra Soft 0030 shore-hardness outside, and Soft 0050 shore-hardness inside, making it the most pleasantly squishy toy I own. It’s softer and more flexible than both the Real Nude Rollo dildo and the Truskyn Curve from Doc Johnson.

While the Mermaid comes in a range of sizes, I asked to review the Moaner size, which seemed fairly un-intimidating. At a little over 5 1/2 inches insertable and with the widest diameter on the toy being 2.07 inches, I thought it could even qualify as a warm-up toy. But with the amount of texture this toy rocks, I would suggest warming up by getting either very turned on first or by using a smaller toy to warm up, especially if you’re new to texture like I was.

I had to have a few sessions with this dildo a few times to truly understand it. The first time I used the Mermaid, I didn’t take the time to get properly aroused, which made using the toy a little awkward. I only inserted it a few inches before feeling overwhelmed and uncomfortable. After having paused to lube up properly and become more aroused, I took another shot at inserting the dildo, which met with mixed success. Because I had stopped at the ‘hips’ of the toy, that left a lot of the texture just in my vaginal opening. That amount of texture just in my vaginal opening caused a scratchy, scraping feeling which drowned out the more pleasurable sensations inside. Once I fully inserted the toy however, the discomfort fizzled, replaced by a GLORIOUS stretching feeling at the entrance to my vagina. The fullness at my vaginal opening and all of that texture was AMAZING once inside me.

Through continued use of the toy, I discovered my favorite way to use the Mermaid. I paired the dildo with a clitoral vibrator and stuffed myself full with the Mermaid, jiggling it and twisting it to get the delicious massaging sensation and stretching fullness that the size queen in me craves. The texture is absolutely delightful to my vaginal walls! It felt like being massaged and teased with tiny fingers in a way. With how soft the Mermaid is, the textured parts don’t feel abrasive, provided I fully insert the toy. In trying I also found that I enjoyed the Mermaid externally, as the highly textured head of the toy felt fantastic to rub against my clit and inner labia, which I often did as part of my warm-up.

Cleaning and storing the dildo is fairly easy actually. Because you can submerge the toy, it’s fairly easy to soak off bodily fluids and get your toy nice and clean after a session. When I received it, I worried that the toy would hold onto my juices and be a nightmare to get clean because of all the nooks, crannies and crevices. But having tested this after a few sessions, I found that it was fairly easy to soak it in the sink and then wipe off with a paper towel. The softer density does cause the toy to attract dust and hair, necessitating a wash beforehand if not kept in something like a plastic bag. It’s no surprise that silicone this soft and squishy attracts lint! The bag Lust Arts sends you should be more than enough to keep your toy clean between washes though. For sanitizing, you can either boil this dildo or use a 10% bleach solution and wipe it down.

So what would I say about this silicone siren? I would recommend the Mermaid to users who know they like intensity and texture, as even the very soft Mermaid provides a great deal to experience. For people just starting to explore texture, getting a smaller, softer version of the Mermaid would likely be the best option to decide whether or not you’re into the amount of texture the Mermaid rocks. Me personally? I love my Mermaid, and plan on using it when my insides need a good massaging and stretching.

This toy was provided to me free of charge in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Lust Arts!