Review: Tantric Binding Love Universal Cuffs

As much as we enjoy all the vibes and toys we receive from the lovely folks at Cal Exotics, it was a nice surprise this month when we got something a little different - these cute cuffs!

Appearance:  Way cute.  And quite classy.  The ribbon is mostly decorative, but it's a nice touch.  And so is the cute, little heart-shaped T-ring.  It's an adorable little detail.

Size:  These cuffs are about as one-size-fits-all as you could get.  They stretch - and they stretch quite a lot - so they should fit just about anyone.  They even fit my teeny-tiny wrists pretty well.  And the stretch means you could use them as ankle cuffs, as well.  

Materials:  The cuffs themselves are a pretty heavy-duty black elastic.  Think Ace bandage.  The ring is a non-tarnishing, nickel-free alloy, so it should hold up well and look nice for years to come.  The satin ribbons are a bit of a disappointment, though.  They're not the nice, soft kind of satin ribbon, but the cheaper, stiffer kind.  They still look pretty cute, but I'd have been much happier had the ribbons been a bit nicer.  I kind of have a thing for ribbons, though, so I might just be super picky...

Function:  Good!  Obviously, these cuffs are mostly just for fun.  You (or your sub) could easily slip out of them unassisted, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.  These would be perfect for introducing someone to bondage, especially if they were a bit nervous.  You get the feeling of restraint with the assurance that you can get free quickly, if need be.  And even if you're more "advanced," and into more intense play, it wouldn't hurt to have these on hand for those times when you don't feel up to anything heavy.  

The one downside is that, since the cuffs are connected - there's a seem in the middle that holds them together - you're limited to that one configuration.  Still, it's a pretty classic position anyway, and there's plenty you can do with it.  

Pros:  Inexpensive, unintimidating, fairly durable, can be used on wrists or ankles, fit a wide range of sizes

Cons:  quality of ribbons could be better, limited to light play, limited to one configuration

Overall:  These are very nice cuffs for a great price.  They'd be absolutely perfect for beginners, but a nice item for a more experienced player's arsenal, as well.  They're cute and comfy and serve the purpose rather well without being intimidating or difficult to use.  These babies are simple and sweet!  So go grab a pair now!

Review: 10 Function Clitoral Hummer

Appearance:  Quite pretty.  The pastel colors (ours is purple!) and the smooth curves make this vibe feel very "girly" to me.  

Size & Shape:  Size isn't much of an issue as this isn't really an insertable toy (I suppose you could insert it, if you really wanted to, though).  That being said, it does fit your hand nicely, and the length makes it very comfortable to use - on a partner or yourself.  

The shape is the interesting part of this toy.  One side of the tip has an intriguing little "scoop" shape and the other has a nice little bloop.  The scoop is made to fit the clitoris, and though I was initially skeptical that it would really make a difference, I have to say, it feels amazing.  It's quite a different sensation than a bullet or any other type of vibe provides.  And that nub on the other side offers an intense, targeted sensation, so you can change things up just by turning the vibe around, which helps keep things interesting.  

Materials:  ABS Plastic (very nice, very smooth) with a silver plated ring

Controls:  A button on the very end works in a very simple manner, exactly as you'd expect, which is perfect for this toy, because you're going to be a little distracted. Make that a lot distracted.  Hold down the button to turn it on, push it again to change vibration patterns, and hold it down again to turn it off.  Easy!

Vibration Strength: Intense, in the most wonderful way. Varies from steady to pulsing to alternating patterns.

Noise: Fairly quiet for a vibe this powerful. You might be able to hear it from an adjoining room if the house was really quiet.

Pros:  Unique shape, simple controls, waterproof

Cons:  Haven't found any yet.

Overall: This is by far our favorite vibe, now. It's completely unique and the sensation is fantastic no matter which side you're using. We highly recommend it.  It is a little pricier than some of the toys we've reviewed, but it's still around $20 and completely worth the extra for the unique factor. Plus, it's really nicely made and quality is always worth paying a little more for.  You'll get a toy that lasts as long as you need it to....and then some.  So what are you waiting for?  Go get yours now!

Review: Cal Exotics Water Missile Tear Drop Probe

Appearance:  Quite lovely.  It's very curvy and feminine.  Rather graceful.  Ours is actually teal rather than the purple pictures, and it's a very pretty color.  

Size & Shape:  That graceful, curvy shape that's so nice to look out also feels quite nice.  It's a simple shape, but very effective.  The size is more  substantial than it looks.  At first, I thought it might be a bit too big for effective insertion, but it's definitely not.  You'll probably need a good warm up first for insertion to be comfortable, but once you get there it feels amazing.  For me, at least, the size is perfect.  That being said, if you do find it a bit too large for insertion, the size and shape are still very nice externally.

Materials:  ABS Plastic.  Nothing soft and squishy here, which means plenty of strong, intense vibration.  The plastic is very smooth, and the only seam is at the end around the battery compartment.  Cleanup is easy too - this toy's waterproof!

Controls:  This vibe uses a dial on the end to turn it on and off and control the vibration speed.  Turn it one way, and the speed increases.  Turn it back the other way and it slows down, and eventually shuts off.  Simple.  Also a bit awkward, especially in the middle of things.  You can change the speed during use, but you probably won't want to bother.  

Vibration Strength:  Like most of the vibes I've reviewed from Cal Exotics, this one packs a punch.  But it also has a nice range.  The lower end offers a nice, gentle buzz or you can crank it up for something more intense.  

Noise:  On the lower settings, this one's actually fairly quiet.  You could probably use it behind closed doors without attracting unwanted attention.  That being said, it does get pretty loud when you turn it up to the higher settings.  

Pros:  

• The size and shape are wonderful.  That lovely bloop is great for stimulating the g-spot, and even if you don't insert it, this vibe still feels quite lovely.  
• It offers a full range of vibration speeds from pretty tame all the way up to quite intense.  
• It's easy to clean and it's waterproof!

Cons:  

• The controls are a bit awkward to operate during use

Overall:   This is another very nice vibe from Cal Exotics.  At only $12.99, it's a great value for the price!  I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good waterproof toy that won't break the bank.

Date Night

Hi folks!  I know it's been a while since I posted anything here that wasn't one of our monthly Cal Exotics Sexpert reviews, and I'm terribly sorry for that.  I'm afraid things have been rather hectic between moving and getting a new house in order and the holidays and all...

But now it's the start of a new year and things are a bit calmer, so hopefully I can get back to posting with some regularity.  And speaking of doing things regularly...

After a lot of "hey, one of these we totally ought to..." kind of conversations, we have instituted an official "Date Night".  Every Friday evening when Miss K. comes home from work, we have a special dinner then head upstairs and spend the rest of the night in bed.

Initially, I have to admit, we felt a bit silly.  Surely the fact that we were now scheduling our playtime was a sign that we were getting old and boring.  However, having done this for a few weeks now, I can assure you that is not the case.  It's been anything but boring.  In fact, we've have some of the best sex ever these last few weeks.

Having a specific time set aside helps ensure that we get some fun time together every single week, no matter what.  And it gives us both something to look forward to every week also.  It's breathed new life into our sex life, which was already pretty damn good.  Now, it's absolutely fucking fantastic.  Seriously.

So if you've ever even considered trying something like this, go for it!  And if you haven't, do it now!  I can't guarantee you'll have the same results.  Everyone is different, after all, and what works for us, may not work as well for other couples.  But it can't hurt, right?

Now, tell me folks, do the rest of you have a "date night" or do you just wing it?  What are your thoughts on the matter?  Leave a comment and share with the rest of the class. ;)

Review: THE ACCOMMODATOR

Appearance:  Undeniably hilarious.  I challenge anyone to stick a dildo on your chin and not giggle.  Go on.  Try it.  Can't do it, can you?  I sure couldn't.  I looked at it and laughed.  I tried it on... and laughed.  I stuck it on my forehead and proclaimed myself The Dildocorn.  And laughed.  

I feel I should add, though, that the dildo itself is quite lovely.  We got the black version, and there are few things sexier than black latex.  It starts out dull but we've discovered that with some use it develops a lovely shine.  And using your vagina to shine your latex?  That's pretty hot.

Size & Shape:  It's pretty substantial.  Not too big, but you'll definitely want to warm up a bit before you try and use it. As far as the shape goes, it doesn't look all that exciting.  It's totally smooth, but it does have a subtle curve that feels pretty freakin' fantastic in use.

Materials:  Latex.  I was already a huge fan of latex garments, but this is the first latex toy I've tried, and I have to say, I think I'm hooked.  It's a great material for a toy, since it has a nice balance between firmness and flexibility.  The only downside - and it's not really downside for me, personally - is that you may need a bit of extra lubrication for things to be totally comfortable.  

Function:  To be perfectly honest, I was a bit hesitant to try this thing as it is intended to be used.  It just looked like it would be so awkward.  It was a good concept, but I just couldn't imagine it working that well.  So the first few times we played with it, we used it just like any other dildo.  And it was great.  

But I couldn't write this review without trying it properly at least once.  So I found my spirit of adventure, gathered myself, and stuck it on my head.  We both laughed hysterically, and got a bit distracted as we started plotting a webshow in which I would discuss very serious matters while wearing a zentai suit and my chindick (which I still think is a pretty fantastic idea).  But eventually, we steered things back into serious, sexy territory, and I... dove in, so to speak.  

In truth, it took a bit of maneuvering and fiddling to get things right.  Steering a chindick is a bit of a challenge.  That being said however, once it was in place, it quickly became quite apparent just how wrong we had been about this contraption.  

It actually works really, really well.  Miss K quite obviously enjoyed herself thoroughly, and I had plenty of fun as well.  Having the dildo there to help out made it easier to relax and enjoy myself, whereas I usually feel like I'm not quite doing enough and I need to find a way to ramp things up a bit.  

I can hardly believe I'm saying this, but what it may lack in form, this thing totally makes up for in function.  Just don't expect to keep a straight face when you're wearing it.

Pros:  Latex - nice looking and cleans up easily; Nice, moderate size; Very pleasant shape;  Makes cunnilingus more enjoyable for both parties

Cons:  Looks ridiculous (though, this could be a pro, depending on how you look at things)

Overall:  It wasn't love at first sight, but The Accommodator really won me over.  If you're looking for something to spice things up, it would be well worth trying out.  Even if you didn't enjoy using it as intended, you'd still have a nice latex dildo.  You can snag it from Cal Exotics for only $26.99.

Review: Cal Exotics Bound by Diamonds Diamond Teaser

This time of year is pretty busy for most people, and we're no exception. Still, it was a wonderful surprise when our next toy to review arrived. We've only had mere minutes of free time this month, rather than hours of playtime, but with this powerful little vibe - the Bound by Diamonds Diamond Teaser by Cal Exotics -  minutes are all you need. Make sure you have a few AAA batteries and a nice comfy, sturdy spot. 

Appearance:  one of my favorites, black and chrome with little rhinestones in the controller

Size & Shape: small and compact, because....well it's a bullet

Materials: ABS plastic with a lovely satin finish, which makes it feel nice and luxurious.

Controls: very simple and easy to use - just two buttons on the controller.  The top button turns the toy on and increases the spead while the bottom button slows things down and eventually turns the toy off.

Vibration Strength: 5 levels, very intense, especially considering how little it is. There's an especially noticeable difference between level three and two - from a strong rumble to a toe-curling, spine-tingling buzz - but even level one is  strong enough for me. All the way up to level five is breathtakingly wonderful.

Noise: this is not a particularly quiet toy, I have to say, certainly not on the higher speeds

Pros: This is one of our strongest vibes, and it's a great value. It's a very pretty little toy. and it's certainly small enough to store pretty much anywhere. 

Cons: It's not especially quiet, but I'd rather have a nice intense vibe than a superquiet one. It might be a little too intense for some, particularly on the higher levels, but there's no reason you can't stick with the first level in that case. 

Overall: This is a well-made, inexpensive, strong bullet. The only downside is the noise level being a bit high, but to us that's pretty minor. 

Review: Cal Exotics First Time Softee Pleaser

Some of the toys we receive get ripped out of their packaging immediately and tested out the moment we're both at home with nothing more pressing to attend to.  Others, due to a variety of circumstances, get set aside and have to wait a bit.  It's not that we aren't excited about them.  Life just has other plans some days.  But whenever a toy gets set aside, it seems like a perfect opportunity always presents itself.  Perhaps it's just a coincidence.  Or perhaps the Sex Toy Gods are smiling upon us.  Whatever the case, it's wonderfully serendipitous.  

Our most recent acquisition, the First Time Softee Pleaser from Cal Exotics was one such toy.  It arrived in the midst of a few rather busy days.  We kept saying to each other, "Hey, we need to try out our new little friend" and then being entirely to tired to do so by the time we got finished with everything else.  And then one evening, Miss K suggested we have a bath together.  Immediately, the proverbial lightbulb over my head lit up, and while she was filling up the tub, I ran upstairs to grab our new toy.  I just happened to remember that it was waterproof, so what better environment in which to test it out than the bath?

We were quickly and thoroughly impressed by the remarkable power of this little vibe.  If you're looking for a good, powerful vibe that won't break the bank, you can't go wrong with this one.  It's at least as powerful as the Warm-n-Glow Vibe we reviewed last month, but it has the added advantage of a nice, squishy outer layer and a better shape for insertion.

Now let's take a look at the details shall we?

Name:  First Time Softee Pleaser

Manufacturer:  Cal Exotics

Price:  $14.99

Appearance:  Cute!  Ours is pink, but it also comes in purple.  It's smooth and sleek and quite feminine.

Size & Shape:  Great!  It's big enough to be satisfying without being too big.  And the shape, with that little bend at the tip, is just right for hitting the G spot.

Materials:  Very nice.  The vibe itself is hard ABS plastic, which transmits vibrations wonderfully.  But what makes this little baby a cut above your standard plastic vibe is the soft plastic sleeve.  It's wonderfully squishy and feels fantastic, but it's still thin enough that it doesn't hinder the vibrations.  Plus, with the hard plastic underneath, you have plenty of control, and if a little pressure is what you need, you can get it.  All in all, it's the best of both worlds.

Controls:  Not bad.  To turn the vibe on and off and control the speed, you turn the dial on the bottom.  This gives you a lot of control over the speed.  You can go from Barely Noticeable Buzz to Small Jet Engine as quickly or as slowly as you like, and hit any point in between as well.  If you're going to take advantage of this toy's waterproof-ness, note that the controls can be a bit difficult to operate with wet hands.  

Also, the dial is part of the battery cap, which means that if you turn it the wrong way, you'll open the battery compartment.  This isn't such a big deal on dry land, but it could be bad news in the tub, so make sure you only turn the dial on the end - not the entire cap!

Runs On:  2 AAA batteries

Vibration Strength:  Variable.  On the lowest setting it's barely a whisper.  Crank it all the way up and...  well, you better buckle your seatbelt and hold on tight. It's amazing.  I'm pretty sure you could find a speed to please absolutely anyone.

Noise:  Also variable.  It's not too bad on the lowest settings, but on the upper end, it sounds like a small jet engine too.  If you're trying to keep quiet, you'd be better to look elsewhere.  That being said, using it in the water does muffle the sound quite a bit.  

Pros:  Wonderful size and shape; incredible range of speed and strength, nice materials

Cons:  Controls can be somewhat troublesome; very noisy on higher settings

Overall:  I'd give this one an A.  It's a really nice vibe for only $15, and as the name suggests, it would be great for a novice toy user.  But don't think it doesn't offer plenty for the more experienced.  With it's nice mid-range size and variable speed, I'd recommend this vibe to pretty much anyone.