LELO Ogden 2 - review

LELO Oden 2

When my friend Alaskanson offered to let me try out the LELO Oden 2, I was as giddy as a school girl. Lelo makes some of the best toys in the industry and their innovations have been remarked upon by many of my fellow reviewers and friends.

I first saw this to at a BDSM coffee. A friend of mine had the controller and offered it to me to play with. I had no idea what the vibrator looked like but I could see the reactions on his girlfriend's face as a group of us proceeded to play table hockey with the remote control. She was certainly having a tortured yet pleasurable time.

Lelo Toy Shop describes the Oden 2 thus:

Oden™ 2 Design Edition is the upgraded version of the world’s most advanced couples’ ring, designed for men to wear when making love. Like its predecessor, Oden™ 2 features an industry-first SenseMotion™ remote control, allowing you to change vibrations with a tilt of your hand - now with a 3X greater wireless range and a 50% stronger motor for more intense sensations. The fully-waterproof and rechargeable design now also offers the option to play without remote and comes with a new additional closed-ring attachment of flexible silicone, to offer increased presence and stamina for him and intense pleasures for her.

I like the caption "For Men To Wear When Making Love"
and would like to add -
or masturbating or for your favorite dildo or...

Eden Fantasys praises the Oden 2:

The Lelo Oden 2 is a fantastic example of using new technology to bring pleasure and ease of use into the bedroom. The quality of the build, the effectiveness of the toy, and the intuitive controls all combine to make an excellently conceived and constructed toy for couples or individuals to use.

I have to agree with the excellence in the Oden 2 conception and construction.

It's like those boxes expensive jewelry comes it! So pretty!

The Toy Box

The Lelo Oden 2 comes in a beautiful box that holds all of its parts like strange jewelry. The toy comes with two attachments  the vibrator, wireless remote control, manual, lube, warranty, a tool to open the remote for battery change, and a pin with the Insignia logo.

The logo pin is adorable. It makes me think of a pin that one would wear when entering a secret club. I would imagine that it is worn to signal the fact that the wearer has the Oden 2 on them, and only those who have the same toy would recognize. It's like secret exhibitionism.

The sample of lube is the same as the Lelo personal moisturizer I reviewed previously, complete with pictures of my feet for those foot fetishists out there.

The Oden 2 warranty is for 1 year and also has a 10 year quality guarantee. Both it and the manual are little booklets that fit in a space under the toy box and are printed in several languages including English, German, Swedish, Spanish, and Russian. The manual, along with tips and instructions, is also illustrated for ease of use.

The entirety could be kept in the pretty box or be slipped into the included silky bag to keep dark and discreet in a purse or toy drawer.

Such a sleek look and velvety-soft!

The Oden 2

This toy is very basically a vibrating cock-ring. However, there is nothing basic about this high-tech sex gear! The vibrator and ring are made of body-safe silicone that is velvety-smooth to the touch.

Then there is the Sense Motion wireless remote control. The controller with the Oden 2 is what sets it apart from the original Oden.
Erotic Toy Town says of the Oden's remote control use:
No fumbling in the dark when you want a bit more power, just move your remote and enjoy the ride.

The sequel has 3x the wireless range than its predecessor  a great advancement for partners wanting to really tease their significant other.

The vibration alone is quiet, strong and can be felt through the ring marvelously!

Distance and Discretion

When we brought the Oden 2 home, I slide the vibrator in my panties and watched as Sir Phryxus shook the remote, walked around the room with it then promptly left the room, shut the door and tested the range of the wireless remote. He can use it in any room of the apartment and the signal is as strong as it is when he's sitting next to me.

The next test was to see how noticeable it would be if I wore it in public. While it was in my panties, pressed solidly against my clitoris and the remote safely in Sir's pocket, he and I headed to Anchorage to have coffee at Modern Dwellers with local kinksters.

We picked up my girlfriend, Wolfy, after five orgasms on the trip between Wasilla and Anchorage. I hugged her tightly and we let her guess why in the world I would look blushed and flustered. She could not hear the vibrator and if it wasn't for the sanguine look on my face, she would never have guessed I had a vibrator rumbling between my legs.

When Sir told Wolfy what was going on, they proceeded to play a game of catch with the remote that left me squirming. They at least took pity on me and allowed me to leave the vibrator and remote in the car during coffee. By that point I had delightfully suffered six orgasms and not sure how quiet I could be about a seventh.

Lelo Oden 2 on my big purple cock

For Couples' Use

The Oden 2 Insignia Uner Manual states:

Oden 2 is often most enjoyable with the vibrating pleasure point worn upwards to stmulate the clitoris when the woman is on top, or rotated downwards and facing the testicles for extra stimulation...Oden 2 also makes an amazing addition to foreplay.

The first base attachment is an open loop that is meant to be slid around the erect penis with the pleasure point (the vibrator) facing out.

The second base attachment is a closed ring that "offers greater constriction." The manual instructs to stretch the ring around the erect penis and wear above the scrotum or below. Upon closer examination of how far this ring stretches, there is no way possible for us to stretch the ring around both Sir's penis and scrotum without hurting him badly. His balls just won't fit that tiny ring.

We felt that the open ring would better fit an erect penis and scrotum and are still curious why that wasn't recommended instead.

During sex, the vibration is not only strong against the Oden 2 but can also be felt through the penis and into the vagina during penetration. This was a pleasant surprise that was easily replicated with use on a dildo.

Muwahahaha! I have the control!

Sir Phryxus Reviews

My husband, Sir Phryxus, used this toy with me enthusiastically. He too had played with the remote control of our friend's toy and had been talking about using this toy on me for some time now like a threat that we both were salivating over.

We've used cock-rings together before, and have had hit and miss on them as Sir has a decently sized penis with considerable girth. This one was also hit and miss.

While the open styled ring was comfortable enough for Sir to wear the Oden 2 while playing video games and just messing around on the computer, the closed ring was a very different story. The ring is supposed to be large enough to stretch over both penis and scrotum, however, while it was only on Sir's penis, it was tight enough to cut of circulation very quickly.

This toy as a closed cock ring is not for big boys!

He did enjoy the vibrational settings and felt very comfortable wearing it and positioning it during sex.

Is your cock in an open or closed relationship with the Oden 2?

The Oden 2 comes with other attachments available for separate order. These are the Lyla 2, which turns the Oden into a kegel exerciser with an extraction cord, and the Tiana 2 that allows the woman to wear the Oden during sex similarly to the We-Vibe.

Final Thoughts

I give the Oden 2 from Lelo a 4 out of 5 stars! The only negative aspects is that the closed ring isn't stretchy or comfortable enough for Sir to wear without cutting off circulation, however the open ring was comfortable and the toy so fun we couldn't count this one negative thing against them too strongly.

I love this toy as a wear-in-panties discreet vibrator to play with in a secretly exhibitionist sort of way!

Zado Leather Ankle Cuffs - a review

Zado Leather Ankle Cuffs 

from Eden Fantasys 

I love that new leather smell! I was so excited to receive these beauties as they are the third set of cuffs I've reviewed and, after two bad reviews, I figured third time's a charm. I figured correctly as these were exactly what I wanted  in a pair of ankle cuffs.

Materials

The package (which was promptly eaten by my roommate's dog and thus not pictured) lists the following traits of the cuffs:

• Restricts free movement for extra excitement!
• Two ankle cuffs with a detachable metal chain with two karabiner hooks. 
• Cuffs made of black leather, softly padded inside. 
• Each approx. 6 cm wide, adjustable size with buckle between approx. 18 and 30 cm. 
• Metal chain including karabiner approx. 60 cm long.
• Material: split leather/metal.

About the materials, I will say that the leather is genuine and gorgeous to look and feel. It's not that bad-quality, thin crap that I often see at many adult novelty stores that frays and rips easily. This leather is thick and sturdy enough for aggressive use in bondage play.

The metal chain was also a surprise. When seeing metal and not getting an in-depth description of the type of metal, I usually assume cheap aluminum and/or nickle. Instead, the chain is made of the same sturdy material used to make high end dog leashes for large and aggressive dogs (found this out through a friend of mine who has a large, aggressive breed of dog). I was impressed and do not have many worries about wearing these cuffs out any time soon.

Wear and Tear

I received these cuffs the day before the Anchorage Fetish Ball at Mad Myrnas. What a perfect event to try them out!
The cuffs were comfortable enough to wear the whole evening walking around the club and standing to watch various play scenes. I showed the cuffs off to friends and fellow kinksters at the event and everyone who saw them was impressed and wanting to know where to purchase a set of their own.

I have since Fetish Ball also worn them to a couple of smaller meet-up events that leather-gear was welcome at. They received the same interest and praise there as at the large event.
I have also worn them to sleep in. Their comfort and easy wear allowed me to sleep in them all night with no problems and woke without discomfort or any scratches to the leather from movement in my sleep.

Cleaning and Care

Since these cuffs are genuine leather, they can be cared for, conditioned and cleaned like any other leather gear. My first recommendation is to have them cleaned by your local boot black at an event. If you've never had this done, it is an experience that is sensual, instructional, and beneficial to the leather gear.

If there is no bootblack near you, then you can clean and condition your leather just as you would leather boots. In many cases all that is necessary to clean leather is a damp cloth or a store bought leather cleaner. For a deeper cleaning a leather soap or saddle soap can be used. This is followed by polishing with a good leather polish/conditioner.

The metal pieces will be fine when cleaning the leather. Simply make sure they are dried and wiped-down completely before storing.

I give these cuffs a 5 out of 5! They're comfortable enough all night, sturdy enough for intense play, and beautiful to behold!

Fun Factory Share

The Fun Factory Share is a silicone, double-ended dildo that can be used without a harness. 

According to Eden Fantasys, the Share's unusual shape is made with customers, comfort and sexual bliss in mind. "A short, curved bulb is designed to be inserted into the vagina, while the curve below cradles the pubic bone and clitoral area. This enables the realistically shaped longer dildo to be maneuvered and thrust into a male or female partner."

Fun Factory USA lists the special features of the Share:

• comfortable handling
• good hold
• vaginal and anal stimulation
• easy to insert
• pleasures the active and passive partner simultaneously
• scooped base provides hold without reducing necessary freedom of movement 
• strong, natural shape 
• suitable for harnesses

Never would have thought I had penis envy...
but I certainly enjoy having one now that I got it

As a female using this for masturbation and for use with my girlfriend, I love the Share.

The silicone is firm yet flexible and has a soft, velvety texture. The only issue I found with the texture is that it picks up lint and cat hair easily so keeping clean it in a storage bag is necessary between uses.

The head of the dildo, though unassuming in its curve from the rest of the length, was large enough to stretch a both myself and my girlfriend. Once in though, it was a fantastic texture and sensation that we both enjoyed greatly.

As for the jelly-bean shape of the other end, it is quite large and not for the faint of heart...or for those who don't have strong kegel muscles. My girlfriend brags that I have fantastic kegel and thigh muscles, but even I had to work with the bulbed end before I was comfortable with it.
My recommendation is use lots of lube and go easy on yourself until you have it. Even then, make sure you can handle holding it comfortably before sharing with a partner.

Since the Share is silicone, a water-based lube is best used as silicone lube will damage the toy.

As for a masturbation toy, not only is the size of the dildo perfect for me, but the bulb on the end is a great handle. I think my fears of carpel-tunnel have been taken care of with this one, haha.

I have not used the Share anally on myself or on others, though I am sure using it while pegging would be satisfying for both partners involved. If you do use it anally, be sure to use a condom if you plan to use it vaginally after so as to prevent bacteria transfer. Other than that, a thorough cleaning and sanitizing should do the trick. Silicone is safe to be cleaned in the dishwasher, with soap (free of silicone ingredients) and water, or with a 10% solution of bleach. I usually clean my silicone toys in the dishwasher.

Share vs. Harness
Comparing the Share to a harness, I found the Share to be much easier to manipulate and use with another partner. I believe the ease of handling comes from how the Share sits once inserted. The way it cups the pubis easily, it sits in a way that a penis would naturally rise if the woman were indeed a man. A harness, however, takes more manipulation of the straps to bring it low enough, and even then, I have found that getting it to sit comfortably over the vagina is very difficult if impossible. Also, harnesses tend to chafe and cut into skin during longer play sessions.

5 Shimmering Stars
I give the Fun Factory Share 5 shimmering stars for its ability to give me a fantastic orgasm, the ease of use over that of a harness, and it comes in my favorite color - purple!

New Toys and their Anime counterparts

Eden Fantasys has two new glass toys that reminded me of two of my favorite anime characters -

Jupiter and Neptune from SSA Glass

clone it

In case you haven't picked up what anime characters I'm talking about yet, it is Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Neptune from the anime series Sailor Moon. 

I felt Neptune was particularly appropriate not only in color but also in that it was an anal plug...seeing as her girlfriend is Sailor Uranus...sorry, very punny, I know. 

My First Toy Buy - Advice

I've been seeing a lot of posts online asking about what people would recommend for a first toy, what your favorite toy is, what is the best toy for a couple, etc.
So many questions and when asked together, I liked to focus in on the first part - the toys recommended for a first time sex toy buyer.

What Gets You Off?
One of the biggest questions when it comes to buying a toy is being honest with yourself about what really gets you off? What makes you orgasm?
Do you prefer clitoral stimulation? Does it take a light touch or do you need it rough? Does it take a long time or are you quick to come?
Do you need penetration? Do you prefer girth or length or do you need both? Does too much texture make you uncomfortable or do you like ridges?
Are you in tune with your body?
Do you get uncomfortable when considering keeping something overtly sexual in the house or is kinky, raunchy, yumminess ok with you?

If you need penetration but the idea of keeping something that looks like a disembodied dick laying around the bedroom makes you squirm you might want to look at something a little more inconspicuous.
Same with if you need clitoral stimulation but it only takes a light brush to get you going, a really strong vibrator might not be the most comfortable.

I know it's a lot to think about, however, the answers to these questions will help you dial into what toy is most likely to make your body sing.


Quality
Once you figure out what gets you off, safety and quality are the next things to consider.
There are certain materials that are safer than others. The safest materials include silicone, stainless steel, polymer coated wood, pthalate-free plastic, etc. The grading of safety for sex toys is based on a few properties of the material. These properties including chemicals in the material, how porous it is, and sterility or ability to clean it thoroughly and easily.

Chemicals such as pthalates in materials are good to avoid as they are potential carcinogens, which can cause cancer. When it comes to chemicals like this, it is better safe than sorry.
How porous the material is effects whether or not it can be thoroughly cleaned and if the material will hold onto bacteria. Porous materials include rubber, fabric like leather and nylon, and similar. Non-porous materials include glass, stainless steel, and
Sterilizing toys is important, especially if the toy is going to be shared between people or if it will be used both vaginally and anally. Some toys, like jelly, cannot be sterilized without being destroyed so if it is going to shared a condom must be used.

Quality isn't just about the toys but also about the store they are purchased from.
Some stores are known for their quality not only in product but also in pricing, shipping and customer care.
Online stores that are easy to navigate, offer information about the toys and brands that they sell, have customer reviews available, and quickly answer customer questions by e-mail or chat are good indicators of a great store. Also, if you are living with others or simply don't want the mail man knowing what you've ordered, avoiding stores that do not offer discrete shipping is a must.
The same goes for offline stores in their customer care and appearance. If the store feels sleazy  the workers are obviously uncared or if they simply seem to have no knowledge at all of the products, it will create an uncomfortable shopping environment that doesn't appeal to the customer's needs.

Technology
Buying your first toy in the age of technology can be a little overwhelming, especially if you're not technologically inclined. My best advice is when perusing the world of toys with buttons, cords or cordless, accessories and more is the KISS method, Keep It Simple Stupid.
When choosing a first toy, it might be best to go with a simple bullet rather than a Hitachi wand all of its attachables.  Too much going on with a toy can make for a frustrating time when all you want to do is relax and get off.

Budget
After figuring out what sort of toy you are after and have found options made with body-safe materials, money comes into play. Toys can range from $5 to $200 depending on brand, material, technology, and more.
When starting out, I would recommend keeping your budget low until you have pinpointed what you like then splurging for a larger buy when you've become a more seasoned sex toy buyer.

My Recommendations
Disclaimer for Recommendations:
The following toys are almost exclusively chosen for women. This is because I am a woman and have very little knowledge of men's toys and what would be recommended at the beginning stages of buying toys.
Also, if a toy you are looking at is not on this list, that does not mean that it is not a good buy for you. All choices for this recommendation are colored greatly by my own opinion.
The following toys are from Eden Fantasys, a store that offers discreet shipping, great customer service, and in-depth reviews.

Dildos
The Sweet Candy Cane is a smooth, glass dildo with a fun shape that will not look overtly sexual on your night stand. This glass dildo falls into the lower price bracket at $25.
Riley is a silicone dildo that is slender for those who aren't ready for much girth but a curved, bulbous head that is perfect for G-spot stimulation. This one has a medium price range of $45.
Classic Aluminum, while more expensive than the other insertables mentioned here, is on the cheaper end of the price range when it comes to metal toys at $90. The smooth body with graduating curves is a great way to figure out how you feel about texture in dildo shape.

Vibrators
When it comes to a basic bullet vibrator, my favorite is the Tantus Original Bullet Vibe. It is a strong vibrator with very little noise and small enough to store anywhere secretly. It is also easy on the budget at $25
The Doc Johnson Janine vibrator is a larger vibe that can be used easily as an insertable as well as for clitoral stimulation. My girlfriend enjoys this vibrator a great deal and is her go-to for multiple orgasms. This vibe is also very low on the price scale at $11
The Nestlin Bunny is a great choice for a rabbit vibe in that it is can easily conform to your insertion needs as well as still holds true to the traditional rabbit look and strength. It is a little higher on the price range at $28.

Anal Toys
The Crystal premium small plug is a glass butt plug is tiny and light weight which is perfect for beginners. The cost of this starting point is also small at $17.
The Silicone X-10 anal beads are made with body-safe silicone and graduate from tiny beads to large 3 inch balls. The handle is also perfect for removal. The price range is also great at $12.

Kobe Tai Anal Adventure Review

The Kobe Tai beginner’s anal adventure kit appealed to me because I am just that, a beginner. My husband has wanted me to try anal since we started having sex four years ago. I’ve tried but I can never seem to relax enough to accommodate any more than the tip of his finger. When I saw the kit on EdenFantasys, I loved the variety…and that it was purple, my favorite color.

I brought the idea of reviewing the kit up to my husband, as I was afraid of receiving the toys for review and then being unable to review them at all...due to past experiences of saying I was ready and not being able to have anal sex mostly due to what my husband calls "spazzing out at the good part." He assuaged my fears and I requested the kit.

Like any other EdenFantasys' product, the kit came in a discretely marked box but I was surprised at how huge it was. All of the toys are in a very long, plastic display case with a Taiwanese model, Kobe Tai, in a skimpy outfit on the front. I would say the packaging of the product is not discreet at all, nor would it close completely once opened. So, we disposed of it rather promptly, opting for our toy bag to keep the toys in.

Plugged In

The kit includes 2 butt-plugs, one of which I believe is more of a stretcher as it is slender and widens as it nears the base instead of bulges large enough to remain inside. The stretcher is made of rubber and the other, which is what I would normally call a plug as it is bulging and then tapers for the rectal muscles to close on and hold, is soft and made of pthalate-free jelly.

I tried the jelly plug first and wished I had opted for the rubber stretcher instead and recommend this to other users. The stretcher is easier for a beginner to start out with, as it is a gradual stretching of the opening rather than an abrupt filling, then a sort of “pop” as the sphincter closes over the bulge.

Once in, the plugs create a sensation that isn’t unpleasant, if a little alien. Eventually, I seemed to get used to it and it felt pleasurable, if not orgasm-inducing. I give the plugs by themselves a 3 out of 5 stars, as the fun mostly lies in my husband making my body relax enough to take the plug and not in wearing the plug itself.

Probed

Also included is a set of jelly anal beads that are surprisingly firm. I had thought, since they were made of jelly, the beads would be squishy like the plug. Instead, they were more akin to a hard plastic. The whole length is also ridged with seams around the beads, which are not aesthetically pleasing but not big enough to feel when in play. Also, I have been informed by another sex toy reviewer that the seams on the beads are unsafe due to the fact that they can cause minuscule tears on the rectum and anus.
The beads graduate in size, and the last four are quite large. I don’t recommend using the last three, as they make for a better handle than an insertion point. Once inside, I did have a bit of a giggle at the way the beads looked hanging out. At first, we likened it to a stubby tail but the more I looked at it, the more it made me think of an improperly placed antenna and I made the comment that I felt like I was being probed, which made my husband and I both giggle. 

My husband and girlfriend also learned that the beads make a great small impact toy. This was almost certainly not what the beads were initially intended for but we had a lot of fun implementing them in some light spank play. In all I give the beads a 2 out of 5 stars as I have seen beads that are a single piece of silicone without ridges that collect any sort of bacterial-creating matter and no threat of tearing. 

I wanted to add that, since the beads are made of pthalate-free jelly like the aforementioned butt plug, they are considered not as chemically safe as silicone. This should be taken into account if you are sensitive to this sort of thing. Silicone would be a better alternative. 

Sensual Roller Coaster

My favorite part of the kit was the 6 inch metal vibrator and its 2 sleeves. Ironically, I don’t enjoy vibration anally, but for those who do, this vibe is something I would recommend…if you like power. This is no wimpy bullet, but a strong buzz that even when I inserted vaginally, I felt through my vaginal walls to my tailbone and buzzed against the bed. Thankfully, it has a gradual setting change so the speeds can be adjusted by a swivel at the base of the vibrator, which is not black as seen in the below picture but clear plastic that shows purple beneath.

The sleeves are made of rubber, according to the kit papers. I also prefer them vaginally as they, with the vibrator, have quite a thick girth and not a lot of give or squish. Their ridges and bumps are amazing and they, with the vibe, have become one of my favorite toys, sensation wise. The longer sleeve with the rounded bumps was rather difficult to slide on the vibrator, however, and could have been made to fit better. As it is, this sleeve needs lube. 

I recommend the vibrator and sleeves for double penetration (vagina and anal) with your man (or woman, if you enjoy strap on play). Having him behind with the sleeved vibrator in front is a sensual roller-coaster…especially when he has control of the vibrator speed.

The kit comes with Doc Johnson anal lube as well as the toys. However, I sadly could not review the lube in action. I will say that the no-mess bottle was a great idea. It’s a pump action with a small spout that only gives a dollop of lube at a time, which is all that is needed during most play. The lube is thick and sticky, silicone-based, and condom-safe. I recommend it for those of you who don’t have allergies…like me.

If you’re wondering, yes, I did use lube, and I recommend that anyone interested in anal do so whether you’re a beginner or an anal academic or practically a pornographic expert. More on the kind of lube I used in a later review.

For all of the toys involved, I recommend using a condom for easy clean up after anal sex and if you plan on using the toys both anally and vaginally as the materials are porous and not safe to use that way otherwise. The condom also helps with the anal beads and not getting bits of "yuck" along the bead seams. I also recommend obtaining a container for them, even if it's a simple freezer bag that is later tossed in a larger toy bag or chest. Various toy bags and toy boxes can also be found on EdenFantasys. 

In total, I give the entire kit a whopping 4 out of 5 stars. In all I had a fabulous time reviewing these toys and I plan to make at least one or two of them a regular addition to my masturbatory practice and sex life. 

Review: 52 Weeks of Romance

If you want your partner to participate in your idea of cute, sweet, romantic dates or evenings together and make your life feel a bit more like a modern romantic comedy, try 52 Weeks of Romance (2nd Edition). This deck of cards is made up for little tasks for the couple scratch off, read and complete at some point in the week as a surprise for their partner.

I received my deck from EdenFantasys in a discreet package, as normal, and found that the box of cards inside were almost as discreet. There's nothing inherently sexual or naughty about the package. In fact, it looks like something a woman might receive form a friend on Valentines Day. I think it makes for a cute little gift for that bachelorette that you're not really wanting to buy something naughty for but still want to get something for her to enjoy with her partner.

Inside the box are 2 sheets of cards with perforated edges to rip off. Each card is labeled on the back with black or pink as a His or Her card. On the other side is a silver sheet of latex covering the task for him or her. Instructions and wording on the cards and box are in English and French for that added touch of romance.

There is also a black How-to card that explains that one of the partners should select a card and scratch it off to reveal their surprise instructions. The next week, the other partner should do the same to keep things fair. The how-to card also suggests doing this at the same time each week with the example of Friday morning at breakfast.

 Also inside is a black polyester bag with a satin look that holds the cards so that the couple can discard the box, if they so choose, and keep the cards discretely in a bag in their lingerie drawer or toy box.

The cards, even though they say "For Him" or "For Her" to read, are very gender neutral and either partner can follow the secret instructions.

Instructions include such tasks as:

• "Set up a camera and film a commercial promoting yourself as a great mate. Make it like a shopping channel sales pitch. She'll be sure to buy after watching."
• "Recreate a classic movie scene by wearing a trench coat over a skimpy outfit. Even if its a quick trip to get the mail, leave the house in your coat and flash your mate before you leave. He won't believe his eyes! Be ready for more than a warm welcome!"
• "Routines dull the senses. Change them up this week. Start with household chores and switch up who does what. See if you can do something different each day for a week."
• "Grab a cape or freestyle with a towel and announce that you are Super Lover for the night. Ask her which super power she would like you to demonstrate."

My Opinion:

I have to say that despite how much I looked forward to these cards, I was disappointed left and right by them.

My first issue was the immediate smell of the cards when I opened the box. I am so happy these don't go on the body and I'll be storing them away from my toys because it's noxious. My only guess is that the scratch-off latex is giving off the odor.
The latex, as well as being smelly, is very messy to scratch off. I would not suggest doing this in bed at all as, when we did, it got latex shavings all over the sheets. These cards could have easily been non-scratch offs and just simple instruction cards shuffled about to pull out at random by the partner.

Second issue was the black bag. It looks silky but it's actually made of super cheap and super scratchy fabric. If the makers of 52 Weeks didn't want to spend the money on nicer fabric they could have opted out on making a bag at all as the cards can easily be tossed back into the box.

Reading the front of the box, there is no note that these cards are for male/female couples. If I had bought these at a store I would have been sorely disappointed as each card is labeled 'For Him' or 'For Her' to read. After reading the instructions on the cards, and finding that they are actually quite gender-neutral, I couldn't understand why the company bothered with the "His" and "Hers" labeling. I could just as easily perform these tasks for my husband just, as easily as I could for my girlfriend. The makers could definitely make these a little more GLBT friendly, and I think that would make the product appeal to more customers.

Then there were the instructions themselves. My husband, myself and my girlfriend all thought the instructions were somewhat ridiculous. We thought the idea of Super Lover was laughable and if I tried the trench coat with the skimpy outfit, there's no way my husband would allow me to leave the house for fear that something would happen and there I would be in lingerie and a little covering.

In all, I think these would be a cute idea for a bachelorette gift for those friends of mine that I couldn't imagine buying kinky gifts or lingerie for. However, for myself or those kinksters I'm friends with, I'll continue my search for something a bit more grown-up and naughty.

Left in a Jam: Door Jam Cuffs from Babeland

I was very excited about receiving the Sportsheets Door Jam Cuffs as I was hoping to have some simple, easy-to-use restraints that my partners and I could grab and set up without much hassle. While these certainly promised that, I found they were completely unusable due to the fact that once they were set in place at the top of the door they were too high for me to be strapped into.

I received the cuffs from Babeland almost a week after a request for them was made, just as expected. The mailing package was a cardboard box with a return address under Mail Order for discretion, which was appreciated. The cardboard box was actually too large for the product turns out and the packing paper was sparse for the size. This all left it so that when I finally received the package, half of it was crushed. While this did no damage to the product, I would recommend that Babeland opt for smaller packages in the future, just in case.

The Sportsheets Door Jam Cuffs package wasn't exactly discreet itself with a picture of a male and female couple in their underwear with the female in the cuffs. While the depicted couple aren't nude or overtly explicit, the picture certainly isn't discreet.

The package doesn't have much as far as information, only that they are adjustable and fit over or under any door. I had to look on the Babeland website to learn that the materials were fleece, velcro, nylon and plastic. There wasn't a note about phthalates but the plastic did not give off any offensive odor to suggest chemicals.

When we got the cuffs out of the package, they were ready to use. My husband and I both put a cuff on and found the velcro adjusted no matter the wrist size. The fleece cuff was very comfortable and soft enough to prevent chaffing and bruising. We then tugged hard on the nylon strap, as we can be pretty rough on restraints, but no give or damage showed, leaving us both impressed by the material.

My husband set the cuffs over our closet door, so we could use them in the privacy of our bedroom. My initial worry was whether or not the door itself could handle weight bearing on the top of it or any rough play we would decide to do. However, my worries were unfounded as we could use the cuffs there no longer than 5 minutes.

I am only 5 feet tall and my wrists barely make it to the straps at the top of the door. My husband attempted to adjust them but the nylon doesn't stretch or adjust. During the 5 minutes or so that I was restrained to the door my shoulders and arms quickly became uncomfortable. When I began to lose feeling in my hands and fingers I told my husband who immediately helped me out of them.

In the end I could not use the cuffs as they were intended for wrist restraints and being restrained by my ankles at the door does not hold much appeal to me.

After play, I looked at the cuffs with care and maintenance in mind. The plastic easily comes out of the nylon loop for washing and the nylon strap and attached metal D-ring can be wiped off with a damp rag if necessary. The fleece and velcro, however, do not lend themselves to easy cleaning. Wiping the fleece down might mat the furry fabric and velcro can be damaged with cleaning. In the end these would be difficult to clean or sanitize.

The cuffs are fairly small and can be easily tossed into my toy drawer. It would have been nice for them to have some sort of reusable case or bag for storage though.

Overall, despite liking the feel of the cuffs, I am unable to use them due to lack of adjustable strap and am not fond of the lack of being unable to clean them thoroughly.

FTC Statement: The Babeland Door Jam Cuffs were provided to Mimi by Babeland’s affiliate program as a review assignment. Links from Babeland’s Affiliate Program have been used. This has not affected the opinions within the review, and complies with FTC standards.

Reviewing for EdenFantasys

Yes, I am now also reviewing for EdenFantasys ^_^
I love EdenFantasys. They have a great selection of toys and many ways for their customers to get great bargains and participate in programs to get free stuff ^_^

I've already done one review for them on a pair of glass Ben Wa balls, which can also be seen here on my blog. The review I did for Eden Fantasys is a little more extensive than the one on here though, so I definitely recommend you read that one.

I will now be reviewing free toys from them as well as I receive them. Please be assured I will continue to be honest and fair in my reviews as I have been. I hope that not only will I enjoy testing them to review them but that you will enjoy reading my reviews and they will help you in your toy-buying experience.

xoxo
Lady Phryxus