Bliss Radio - give it a listen!

Did you know that Blog Talk Radio has a show each Wednesday, hosted by Chrystal Bougon, called Everyone Wants to Have Better Sex?

This show has everything about better sex - advice, knowledge, things to think about and you can even write in to ask question about things you want to know more about! If you want to get a taste for it, you can even listen to podcasts on demand on the show's homepage!

Although I do receive toys from Chrystal's Bliss Connection to review, this recommendation is not based on that - it's based on the fact I really like the show and think it's a terrific place to learn about better sex. I get nothing for recommending the show :)

Check it out - you won't be sorry!

Review: Lia Magic Wand by California Exotics

I was sent the Lia Magic Wand from California Exotics for review by the lovely Bliss Connection and, of course, I promptly managed to get sick and had to put off the review for a bit. I hope she forgives me..... :)

The Lia Magic Wand is a g-spot toy that is made of plastic and silicone and is waterproof as well. It arrived nicely boxed in a plastic tray within a see-through plastic box that, as these things go, was not a box I'd hold up as an example of tacky packaging. I like the fact that you can see the entire size of the toy in its box. The Lia comes in three colors -- white, pink and a sort of violet-blue and you can get all three colors at Bliss Connection. I happened to receive the white Lia.

When I unboxed the Lia, it followed through on its promise of being unscented. There were no odd perfumes and not even the smell of mold release or chemicals. This is always a big deal to me because I don't want to have to plug my nose to give my new toy a bath - something completely un-sexy about that! A quick taste proved I couldn't taste anything either! I still gave the Lia a bath, just a good practice with any new toy, and inserted the two AA batteries it requires.

I did notice that, because of the way the base of the Lia closes, over time the silicone seal that keeps the battery compartment dry may degrade and because you cannot cinch the base down further, the Lia may lose the ability to be waterproof. I'd advise keeping it as more of a "splashproof" toy than one you routinely immersed fully, just as a precaution.

The Lia Magic Wand has ten vibration settings, all of which are cycled through using the button marked with what struck me as an EKG trace on the base. Is that a warning that the Lia could cause heart attacks? LOL. I'm always amused by these choices. The other button is the power button, marked with the fairly standard circle with bar through it.

Cycling through the vibration options gave me the following selections:
1) Fast and steady (Bzzzzzzzzzzzzz)
2) Lower and steady (Weeeeeeeeeee)
3) Lowest and steady (Thrummmmmmm)
4) Weeee-Weeee-Weeee-Bzzzzzz
5) Thrum-thrum-thrum
6) Bzzzzz-Bzzzzzz-Bzzzzzz
7) Bzz-Bzz-Bzz-Bzz
8) Wee-Wee-Wee-Wee
9) Bzz-Bzz-Bzz-Bzz
10) Thrum-thrum-thrum

One absolutely wonderful thing I discovered is, unlike most powered toys out there, the Lia remembers which pattern option you had selected and if you power it off, then back on, it returns to the pattern you had been using. I often have a favorite one or two patterns and having to cycle through a bunch of others to get back to my favorite is a nuisance. The California Exotics company deserves kudos for that seemingly small feature!

I tried the Lia out as a g-spot vibrator and can honestly say it will probably become one of my favorite g-spot vibrators for a couple of reasons. One is that it's intended as a g-spot vibrator so most of the vibration is concentrated in the bulbous tip. For me, this means I don't have to be distracted by trying NOT to drag on a piercing or by wishing I could put the vibrations I feel around my vaginal opening where I want them - on my g-spot. I'm a bit of a size queen, normally, but the smaller diameter of the Lia (about an inch and a quarter) combined with the moderate flexibility of the tip meant I could maneuver the tip to just where I wanted it without becoming a contortionist or causing myself discomfort in other ways.

I'm pretty sensitive to the side-effect of g-spot stimulation (the feel that I need to pee - RIGHT NOW) and several of the settings were a bit too much for me. But with all the settings available, I found more than one was Just Right for me!

The Lia is also a great clit vibrator because of the concentration of vibrations in the tip. I really liked being able to run it over my nipples, over my clit and then play with my g-spot with it. It's no one-trick-pony.

As you can see, the Lia is just longer than my hand at six and a half inches long. It's about one and a quarter inches in diameter at the widest point, the head. I know how hard it can be to visualize a toy when you see it on the screen and someone is telling you sizes - I hope this photo helps.

The Lia Magic Wand is silicone covered, which means easy care but also means you should never use a silicone lube on it or store it touching other silicone toys. Silicone has a bad habit of chemical reactions with other silicone and you don't want to destroy your toy. I would recommend a water-based lube and if you plan to share the Lia, a condom will help ensure cleanliness. There is a metal band between the silicone shaft and the control end of the toy that deserves some extra scrubbing just because it could gather bacteria. As always, though, remove your batteries when you are done playing with your toy to make sure it's not destroyed by batter leaks. Never leave batteries in a toy when done playing.

Although silicone can be cleaned several ways, I recommend soap & water and air drying. Because this is a powered toy, I do not recommend boiling or putting it in the dishwasher.

I really like the Lia and would recommend it if you are looking for a great g-spot vibrator that you can explore many settings with and that you can use in other ways. You can buy one at Bliss Connection today!

Review Coming Soon - Lia Magic Wand Vibe

I'm working on the review of the Lia Magic Wand Vibrator, sent to me for review by Bliss Connection. It should be up by the end of the weekend - I'm having a few camera issues.


(Photo courtesy of Bliss Connection's website)

Did You Know: NiCad Batteries Should Be Allowed To Discharge Completely Before Recharging

The most common rechargeable battery is a Ni-Cad (Nickel-Cadmium) battery and most sex toys use this battery if they are rechargeable.

One of the biggest drawbacks for Ni-Cad batteries is that they can develop a "memory" so that charges will last for less and less time the longer you've had the rechargeable toy. This is because a chemical reaction starts to take place in the battery that inhibits charging when people use a toy, then immediately plug it in to charge again before it's discharged.

To get the longest life and best charge from toys containing Ni-Cad batteries, you should always allow your toy to discharge fully before recharging it. This will help extend the life of your toy. You should also do a monthly deep cycle where you run your toy until the toy completely stops (even lights), then recharge it completely.

Did You Know: Remove batteries from toys between uses

If you leave batteries in your toys, you risk the batteries failing and leaking or otherwise ruining your toys. If your toy takes alkaline batteries, remove them when you clean your toy (after every use, right?) and store the toy without batteries. Yes, it does mean that you have to put batteries in whenever you want to use the toys but it can save you money overall.

I keep a small plastic box of batteries in the toybox and put the ones I'm using on top so I use them first.

EDIT: You can read a post about this on http://www.bliss_radio.com.

Did You Know: Don't store porous toys in contact with each other

If you own more than one or two toys, chances are you have either tossed them into some drawer or box together or been tempted to. But if you own porous toys like jelly or silicone toys, don't store them in contact with each other as it can cause chemical reactions to take place and may destroy the toys. It's best to store your toys either wrapped in fabric, in the box or package they came in or in bags if they came with them.

Did You Know: Don't use silicone lubes on silicone toys

Silicone lubes are terrific for being slick and long-lasting and many people really love them but you should never use silicone lubes with silicone toys. If you do, you may cause a chemical reaction between the lube and toy that will melt your toy and destroy it. It would be a sad end for a lovely and possibly expensive toy. Use only water-based lubes with your silicone toys.