Review: Crazy Little Thing (Called Love)

I’m a reader. I will read pretty much anything that is put in front of me. I like keeping a variety of books on hand to suit the fact that I like to change up what I read every now and then. When I first read little blurbs here and there about Crazy Little Thing by Liz Langley, it sounded extremely interesting. The fact that there are studies behind the science of love and why we love sounded like a good read to me. I picked the book up from EdenFantasys however it has since been discontinued on the site.

The book is a 280 page paperback measuring 8 inches tall by 5 inches wide. It was written by Liz Langley and was published by Cleis Press in 2011. It’s a little bit bigger than the cheaper older paperbacks I have but it’s about the same size as most of the recently published paperbacks in my collection. Inside, the paper is the same quality paper used in my other recently published paperbacks. It’s matte and a bit thicker than printer paper. The ink does not smudge if it gets damp.

The back of the book describes Crazy Little Thing as being “a light-hearted look at the science of why we long for love.” That line hits the nail right on the head. This book is an easy to read look at what our brains do when we’re in love. The author has numerous interviews with those studying the brain, psychologists, and other professional sources. She describes how love effects our brain’s waves and what causes us to release chemicals that effect how our brain operates. She also discusses how hormones and endorphins come into play. Each interview inside the covers of the book really helps understand exactly what the author is getting at and introduces us to years of studies and research on how the brain operates during different emotions.

At the same time, the author keeps the book light and easy to read by adding in real stories of people in love. These aren’t your Disney classic stories where the prince and princess meet, fall in love, and live happily ever after. They’re much more complicated than that. For example, in one, a young girl in love is told by her mother to stay away from her boyfriend. She comes up with stories such as pregnancy in order to keep them together. When her lies are no longer believed by her mother or boyfriend, she turns to murdering her mother so that she can be with him. She then realizes what she has done, calls 911, and is put on trial for the murder. At the time of writing the book, she is still in jail and is visited by the author so that she can tell her story.

Each story is added in so that it directly supports the evidence being discussed in the chapter. The author continuously refers to these relationships throughout the book. While some of them are terribly tragic, they really support the science the author is introducing to us and help us to understand what she’s getting at.

I like that the book discusses not only our positive reactions and emotions felt by love, but also the crazy and dangerous things we sometimes go through in the name of love. It really brings to reality the fact that not all relationships are like those on TV; that everywhere there are people hurt or doing crazy things to prove their love.

The way the author discusses the topic is perfect. She positively promotes the research and scientific studies involving the brain in love. She is genuinely interested in the subjects within the covers and conveys that through her writing. The amount of references she took the time to gather when writing shows she really cares about ensuring her information is correct, easy to read, and entertaining.

I have so far read the book once, though I may go through and read it again sometime soon. To me, this is one of those books you can reread constantly and still feel you are learning something. There is a lot of information to learn within the covers and just one reading really isn’t enough to remember everything.

I would definitely consider this book appropriate to read out in public. It does use the phrase “sex” on the cover, but not in a really sexy way. If anyone happens to look at the cover, they’d understand the context of the word if they read the whole cover.

I definitely recommend reading this book. I think it would especially be a good read for anyone going through a rough patch love-wise. Sometimes we just don’t understand why we are acting like fools for someone and this book helps us understand that.  I think it would be a good read for teenagers especially, who are just getting used to the way their bodies are working post-puberty.

I give Crazy Little Thing by Liz Langley 5 out of 5 stars.

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Flowers and Cupcakes

It's been a while since I've posted in general, let alone a picture of my toys. I've been unbearably busy with a ton of other projects, though thankfully in a couple of months all of that will be over. Something else I'm looking forward to being over? Winter! We're supposed to get another half a foot of snow today. Maybe this flower will summon spring for me already...

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Review: Icicles No. 8

Recently, I received the Icicles No. 8 from AdultSensations.com to review. I’ve found the Icicles toys to be interesting and had wanted to try them out for a while, so receiving No. 8 to review was exciting. Just looking at photos of the glass dildo online left me wanting to see the lovely colors of the glass in person.

No. 8 arrived in a small, discreet brown box addressed from AS International Retail, Inc. Despite the package having been shipped internationally from Canada to my home in the US, it arrived pretty quickly. Inside the box, No. 8 was padded with a layer of foam packing peanuts.

The toy itself is packaged in a black and white box. A small ribbon on the edge of the front pulls away the front of the box to reveal a plastic window with No. 8 behind it. The dildo is described as a glass massager all over the packaging rather than as a sex toy so it is a bit more discreet. I think the packaging is classy, attractive, and great for gift giving. It’s also informative as it goes over the pros to glass toys on the back. Inside the outer box, No. 8 is padded in a thick mat of foam. If you choose not to save the packaging it can be recycled.

Icicles No. 8 is much more beautiful in person than it appears in photos. Online, it looks like just a clear glass wand with blue swirled inside. It’s actually iridescent glass on the outside, which gives it lots of color. The appearance of the outside glass is different on each area of the dildo and changes according to how you move it in light. My toy has a few small bubbles swirled inside it, but other than that it’s flawless in appearance.

Glass is a really good choice of material for any kind of sex toy. It’s 100% safe to use since it is non-porous, hypoallergenic, easy to clean, and it can be stored in with any other toys. Since it is glass, you will need to inspect the toy before each use for any chips or cracks in the material. Even the slightest chip could cause you serious internal injuries. You’ll also want to keep the toy stored in a manner that it can’t fall or smash into something else to keep it from breaking or chipping.

No. 8 is average-sized compared to other glass toys in my collection. It measures 7 inches long total with approximately 6 inches of that being insertable. The circumference varies from just under 3 inches around to 5 inches around depending on the portion of the toy. The shaft of No. 8 has two gentle bulges in it as well as the bulbous tip and large bulbous base. The larger end is great to hold onto during use or if you prefer, you can insert the toy with that end first.  

This toy isn’t designed to specifically stimulate the G-spot. The shaft is too slim and straight to provide much in the way of G-spot stimulation, so you’re mainly going to receive stimulation from the feeling of the toy being inserted and rubbing against the vaginal canals. The slim shaft and small head do make this a good choice for thrusting, at least for my body. The glass did not hit my cervix uncomfortably at all. If you’re able to insert the toy with the larger end first you may experience G-spot stimulation. I personally am not able to insert that end due to its size.

As beautiful as No. 8 is, I didn’t really receive enough stimulation from using it alone. I feel many users would receive more stimulation from using No. 8 along with a small vibrator on their clit. I think I would have enjoyed No. 8 more if it had had a slightly thicker shaft or a larger head for more G-spot stimulation.

I do think this toy is a good choice for a warm-up before intercourse. Since the glass is completely smooth, adding just a little lube to it before inserting it will be enough. I felt my body created more lubricant during use so that I was fully ready for intercourse. I sometimes suffer from being extremely dry vaginally due to my birth control pills, which makes sex extremely uncomfortable at times since no matter how much lube we use I always feel too dry. Used during one of my “dry spells”, No. 8 helped make sex a bit more comfortable for me than it normally would be.

Glass also has a few “special features” to it. It’s very easy to alter the temperature of a glass toy for temperature play. Stick it in the fridge or freezer to cool it down or place it in some hot or warm water to heat it up a little. I strongly recommend testing the toy’s temperature before inserting in case it may be too hot or too cold for your body to handle. I personally like to hold onto it for a while to warm it up to body temperature.

No. 8 is safe to use with any kind of lubricant. I personally prefer to use silicone-based lubricant with glass toys, however if you are going to be using a silicone toy as well I suggest using water-based lube.

Cleaning No. 8 is very easy. It can be washed with soap and warm water or you can use a toy cleaner. It can also be boiled or thrown in the dish washer to sterilize it. Once it’s clean and dry, I recommend storing it in either the original packaging or in a padded toy pouch to keep it safe. It can be stored in with other toys, however if it were to hit against other toys it may chip. For the time being I keep No. 8 stored in a padded toy pouch but I am going to be wrapping it in some bubble wrap as soon as I get some since the padded pouch is way too big for it. Again, I recommend inspecting the toy before use and before storage to ensure it does not have any cracks or chips in it.

I think No. 8 is a decent toy. The packaging is discreet and good for storage. The glass is beautiful. I do wish the toy offered more in the way of stimulation as I felt a bit bored with it during use, however it does prove to be useful for a warm-up. I think this would be a good choice in a glass toy if you’re looking for something with a slimmer shaft, however if you are a size queen you’ll be left extremely disappointed.

I give No. 8 3 out of 5 stars.

I’d like to thank Adult Sensations for sending me Icicles No. 8 to review on my blog. If you’re interested in any other toy in the Icicles line, click here to view the entire collection on Adult Sensations. 

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Review: No-a Vibrations

I’ve been reviewing sex toys for quite a while now. I’m always interested in trying new types of toys, especially vibrators. One type of toy I had yet to try and wanted to experience was a vibrator meant to be used by couples. I’ve tried lots of vibrating c-rings, but the idea behind an insertable couple’s vibe seemed interesting enough. I decided to go ahead and order Lelo’s Noa so I could kind of kill two birds with one stone. This is my first LELO brand toy as well. I ordered Noa in pink (or cerise). The toy is also available in rose and black.

 

Noa is packaged in a small white box. The outer white paperboard box (which is wrapped in shrink wrap for safety) lists a basic description of Noa on the back in a few languages. Inside of this box is a nicer hard storage box. Lifting the lid, you’ll find Noa set into a foam liner. Inside the lid is a small pouch with the product registration, instructions, one year warranty, and a small packet of Lelo’s personal moisturizer (or water-based lubricant safe for use with all of Lelo’s products). Under a flap of cardboard next to Noa is a black storage pouch and the USB cable needed to charge Noa. Both the inner box and the pouch are good for storage. I plan on recycling the outer paperboard box.

Noa is a very tiny vibrator. It is made almost completely out of high quality silicone. It’s velvety smooth and has no visible or felt seams on it. The silver band around the larger end of Noa is made out of plastic. As it is in the box, Noa measures 3 ½ inches long. Stretching it out, it measures 6 ½ inches long. The vibrating end measures just over 3 inches around and the smaller end measures just over 2 inches around.



Inside the box.



The only really firm part of Noa is the larger end, which holds the vibrating parts and the rechargeable battery. The other end and the shaft are both squishy and flexible. You can bend Noa pretty much any way you want to, though when you release it, it will return to its original shape. This flexibility makes it very easy for anyone to insert Noa and make it work for their anatomy.

The smaller end of Noa has a slight hook to it to help hold it inside of the wearer. This portion is inserted during intercourse, while the larger end is situated over the clit. Since the shaft of the toy is completely flexible, this is pretty easy to do.

Noa is intended as a couple’s toy that is to be inserted into the vagina while the vibrating end sits over the clit. Its design is meant specifically to work with female genitals. While it can be inserted into the anus, I do not recommend it since it can become lost inside the body. This toy is not limited to strictly male-female couples. Pretty much any couple that has at least one person with female genitals can use this.

This toy is waterproof, making it safe to use in the tub or shower. It’s also small enough and discreet enough for travel if you desire. Most vibrators tend to look very obviously like sex toys. Noa is pretty unique and will leave anyone who finds it scratching their head and wondering what the heck this thing is.

Noa’s vibrations are powered by a small button located on top of the toy. It resembles a Wi-Fi button. Press it once to turn Noa on, and then press it to start up the vibrations. The vibrations come from the larger end of the toy and do not travel very well to the smaller end. You’ll feel them pretty much only on your clit rather than feeling them internally.

The vibrating functions are:

• Constant vibrations

• Long pulses
• Fast pulses
• Slow build up
• Wave pattern
• Random pattern

To turn the toy off, hold the power button for a few seconds.

Compared to other vibrators, the vibrations of Noa are about low to medium. Only a few patterns go higher than low. For that reason, Noa may be a bit too weak for some users. If you’re sensitive the vibrations should suffice.

I personally preferred the fast pulse function. I found the constant vibrations setting to be just too little stimulation. While the vibrations in the pulse function aren’t any higher, the pulse makes them feel just a little more stimulating. I don’t care much for the random setting as I prefer to have a pattern to time movements to and whatnot. Random escalations and pulses just kind of throw me off.

I strongly recommend playing around with positions and Noa. Some, like woman on top, can be a bit uncomfortable. When I am sitting on top of my partner with Noa in between us, my weight just kind of pushes Noa uncomfortably against my clit and pubic bone. Positions where the wearer’s pubic bone and clit are not against something else, like a partner’s body, will be more comfortable. I suggest trying any kind of position where the wearer is entered from behind, like standing or doggy style. If you find that a particular position doesn’t work, experiment a little!

Noa can be washed in a sink with soap and warm water or you can clean it with toy cleaner. I noticed that the vibrating end, which screws off to reveal the charging port, can collect a lot of gunk from use. When you’re done washing Noa, unscrew the vibrating end and use a damp cloth with just a little soap or toy cleaner on it to clean this area out. Don’t submerge the vibrating end while unscrewed as it will wreck the toy! Neither portion is suitable for cleaning in the dishwasher or through boiling.

Noa should be air dried. Wiping it down with a towel will get a lot of lint stuck to it. Once it’s dry, it should be stored in either the box or in the included storage pouch. Silicone toys should not be stored in with other silicone toys without a barrier between them as the materials will be wrecked. For that same reason, do not use silicone-based lubricants with Noa, only water based.



Charging port.



Since this toy is rechargeable, no batteries are needed for it. It is charged via USB cable and must be plugged into a computer for charging. The charging port is located by unscrewing the vibrating end from the silver plastic band. I do have slight concerns behind charging Noa by connecting it to a computer. While it just looks like a little pink bump without the rest of the toy attached, it could raise curiosity from kids or guests if they see it. It is, however, much more discreet than other vibrators that simply charge through a port in the base.

I think Noa would make a nice gift for a partner, especially what with Valentine’s Day coming up. Since this is very small and not intrusive, I think it makes a better gift than other types of vibrators or sex toys, since you don’t really have to worry if Noa will be too large for your partner.

To summarize my opinion of Noa: I find it a unique and enjoyable toy. I like the packaging since I can store Noa in it. I like that it is rechargeable. I like the safety of the material and the ease of use once you get the hang of it. The only thing I really didn’t care for was the lack of power behind the vibrations.  

I give Noa 4 out of 5 stars.

Interested in purchasing Noa or a similar vibrator? Please click on the links below to view comparable toys!

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Toy With Me Tuesday: Pretty Glass

I just received my new Icicles No. 8 in the mail. I'm excited to try it out and am really loving the colors of it. It's true beauty comes from the iridescent surface of the toy combined with the lovely blue swirls inside. Unfortunately, this beauty isn't easily captured on camera. Above was my attempt to try a different filter on the camera, below is the actual view of 8.

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