Keeping Romance Alive - Week 9

Week 9

Have your own masquerade ball right at home, day or night. No limitations on costumes, or lack thereof, so long as there are masks.

Did you know your vagina could...

Here's another article I found - written by another sexpert - Didn't keep the name of the author - so if it’s you - let me know so I can credit you. 

10 Wonderful Things You Should Know About Your Vagina

Consider this an ode to your amazing anatomy

You probably already know your vagina is seriously impressive.

This amazing body part can bring about intense pleasure, annoying pain, and even another tiny human being. In short, it's pretty awe-inspiring. That's why we think it's crucial to stay on top of everything going on below the belt.

Need a primer? Read on for all the fascinating facts: 

It can handle a pretty intense workout. 

"The muscular tone of the vagina is so strong," says Alyssa Dweck, M.D., co-author of V is For Vagina. On a related note, kegels are seriously effective at strengthening the surrounding pelvic floor muscles for more intense orgasms. Could there be any better reason to exercise?

Your diet may affect how things smell down there. 

While there hasn't been much research on the topic, anecdotal evidence suggests that your scent can vary during ovulation and even when you eat something pungent like garlic, says Dweck. 

The clitoris has more nerve endings than anywhere else on the body

No wonder it's like the control center of your orgasm!

Your vagina actually expands during sex. 

Ever wonder how it can seem pretty shallow when you're putting in a tampon but can also accommodate even a well-endowed guy? It's called vaginal tenting, says Dweck, and it's when the inner two-thirds of your vagina increase in length and width when you're aroused. Seriously, vagina, you never fail to impress us. 

Not all lady parts are created equal.

In fact, some clitorises may be a little closer to or farther from the vaginal opening. A brand-new study found that women whose clitorises were farther away from the vaginal opening were more likely to have trouble orgasming (probably due to decreased stimulation). But don't worry, these nine positions practically guarantee an orgasm. 

It tells you when it's baby-making time. 

"It's incredibly cool that your vagina will let you know when it's the optimal time to get pregnant," says Dweck. "The cervical mucus during ovulation is clear, rubbery, and stretchy." If you're not taking oral contraceptives (which interfere with this process), watch out for this pretty cool sign from below. 

 It allows for so many different types of pleasure. 

All those pleasure-packed areas in the vagina mean you can have four different kinds of orgasms (clitoral, vaginal, blended, and multiple). Correct us if we're wrong, but can't guys only have one kind of orgasm? Yeah, thought so. 

 One word: childbirth. 

"It's an unbelievable fact that the vagina can allow a 10-plus-pound baby to come through it and still come back to a normal size," says Dweck. The healing process generally takes about six months post-baby, but that's still pretty impressive considering what the body part went through. And because we know you're wondering, check out what sex really feels like after you have a baby.   

There's no such thing as a "normal" vagina. 

From the vulva to the labia, they come in all shapes and sizes, so don't fret about being perfect below the belt. 

Your vagina is so self-sufficient, it even cleans itself.

In fact, many intra vaginal products and washes can increase your risk of bacterial and yeast infections by throwing your pH levels out of whack. So stick to regular soap and water, and let your lady parts do their own thing. There are probably more bacteria in your mouth than in your vagina, says Dweck.  

For more need-to-know info, check out our ultimate guide to your vagina. 

Does Penis Size Count?

I've decided not to reinvent the wheel - so I'm going to share articles written by other Sexperts. 

hope you enjoy!

PENIS FACTS

13 Crucial Facts about His Penis

PUBLISHED: SEPTEMBER 15, 2014  |  BY GISELLE CASTRO

If you’ve been with enough guys in your lifetime (however many that may be) you might think you know your way around a penis. But the truth is, whether you’ve been with one or 10, you probably know a lot less about them than you thought. So to enlighten you on all things member-related, we've rounded up some of the most fascinating facts about penises. Enjoy!

Physical Health and Penis Health Go Hand-in-Hand
If your guy has been having a hard time keeping it up lately, take a look at his lifestyle. Has his sleep schedule been thrown off or has he put on some weight? Men who are heavier tend to have lower testosterone levels, which can contribute to erectile dysfunction.

Meanwhile, not getting enough sleep or exercise can also screw with his erections.

Boners Are Not Made of Bone
FYI, there is no bone surrounding his hard on. Instead, it's caused by fibrous tissues that carry blood to the area and make it erect. And those crazy stories you hear about guys breaking their penis? It’s actually caused by a fracture on the outermost penile tissue, according to urologist Harry Fisch, M.D., author of The New Naked: the Ultimate Sex Education for Grown-Ups.

In fact, he says if it goes untreated, the guy can end up with scar tissue in the area and a condition called Peyronie’s disease, which leaves the penis bent or curved when erect.

Size Does Matter...To Men
According to Fisch’s book, the average man's penis is 3 inches long when flaccid and anywhere between 4.5 to 6.5 inches long when erect. Sounds about right. Yet recent research found that many men stress out about their penis size—regardless of how big they are.

He Might Actually Be Able to Make it Grow
A group of men in Italy dissatisfied with their manhood tried out a method called "Traction," which used a penile extender that stretched out their appendage for several hours a day for four months (ow, right?!).

The men who participated saw a growth of 0.59 inches to 0.98 inches (about 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters). A less painful way to make him bigger? A study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine found that during oral sex, men reported larger penis measurements compared to other methods of arousal.

Circumcision Doesn't Change Much for You
Sure, there's a little more there than you're used to working with, but experts say sex with an uncircumcised guy will feel pretty much the same. As for his sensation, some reports have said that uncut guys are even more sensitive below the belt. For more, check out four things you should know about circumcised guys.

Semen Is Low in Calories
In fact, it's actually composed of citric acid, amino acids, fructose, enzymes, and water, according to Fisch. Plus, a teaspoonful only has 36 calories!

His Shoes Tell You Nothing about His Penis
Sorry to break it to you, but just because a guy has a size 13 shoe, that doesn’t mean he’s packing down there. Foot size and penis size are totally unrelated. The fact is, studies have not found a predictor that tells you if a man will be big or not. 

It's More Flexible Than You Think

A 2002 study from the University of Stanford analyzed couples having sex under an MRI (seriously). They found that the penis curves into a boomerang shape when the man is inside the woman during the missionary position. How bizarre is that?!

Cigarettes Can Stunt His Penis
Not only does research show that smoking screws with libido, but one study found that cigarettes can even lead to weaker erections. Fisch says this is because smoking constricts the blood vessels, making blood flow to his manhood way more challenging. The result: a less than stellar erection.

Package Size May Vary By State
If a man’s penis size matters to you, then you may want to take a trip to North Dakota. According to data from Condomania.com, guys in North Dakota are buying the largest-sized condoms, while men in Mississippi are buying the smallest ones. 

It's Basically Like a Big Clitoris
Believe it: When boys and girls are in the womb, our genitalia aren't all that different until the male sex hormones kick in, says Fisch. That's why the clitoris and the penis actually share very similar nerve endings.

The Surrounding Areas Can Be Just As Sensitive
The penis may seem like the end-all-be-all of his orgasm, but there are some outlying areas that are hidden hot spots, too. For instance, the male G-Spot is located on their prostate, while the perineum—the skin located in between the anus and the scrotum—is another major erogenous zone.  

Some of Them May... Surprise You
You've probably heard about—or witnessed—the difference between growers and show-ers. But interestingly, a guy's size when flaccid really doesn't predict what he'll look like when erect. "The flaccid penis has nothing to do with size. It's just about blood flow when it is erect," explains Fisch. In fact, a study in the Journal of Sex Research found that smaller flaccid penises saw much greater increases in size when erect than larger flaccid penises. So yes, growers exist, and they just might shock you.

Keeping Romance Alive - Week 8

Week 8

Fill your trunk with helium balloons that say “I Love You”. Ask your partner to go for a drive. When you get to a secluded country spot, ask him or her to go to the trunk and get your jacket for you. Release the balloons together.

Keeping Romance Alive - Week 7

We live in a day and age where lives are busy and schedules are swamped.  The working day is also a little more versatile than it has been in days past, and people are working longer hours or irregular shifts.  

This can put a damper on your love life, but this should not discourage you from enjoying you and your partner no matter what time of day it is.  

Romance is not just for evenings anymore, and here we have a list of 25 things you can do during the day, or during the evening that will help ensure you make the most of every second with your lover.

Week 7

For movie night in, rent “An Affair to Remember” and the accessories to remember for this one are champagne or wine, chocolate covered strawberries, and you.

How to use Rabbit Vibrators

How to Use Rabbit Vibrators

By Cory Silverberg - Sexuality Expert

Rabbit vibrators describe a style of dual action vibrator designed for simultaneous vaginal penetration and clitoral stimulation. Rabbit vibrators can differ widely in terms of quality, size, and function.

What makes most rabbit vibrators unique, and it’s one of the things people love about them, are the rotating beads in the shaft of the toy. Below are some tips on how to play with rabbit vibrators taking into account the basic functions most rabbit vibrators share.

Difficulty: N/A

Time Required: Make sure you've got time and privacy the first time you try your rabbit vibrator.

Here's How:

1.         Prep your bunny.

Take your rabbit vibrator out of the package, put fresh batteries in and make sure it works properly.

Once you’ve done that, wash the vibrator well before first use, taking care not to get water need the battery compartment or any openings where wires may be coming out.

Always let your vibrator air dry before putting it away in a drawer or bag.

 2.        Use lube.

Apply a good quality personal lubricant to the shaft and rabbit part of the vibrator. Thicker lubricants are easier to use with sex toys as they stay put.

The safest choice is a water based lubricant. Silicone lubricants can damage silicone toys, so only use one if you’re sure your rabbit vibrator is not made of silicone (most aren’t).

3.         Try it out on your own first.

If you want to use your rabbit vibrator with a partner it’s still a good idea to try it out first on your own.

Being alone lets you focus more on your own response and worry less about a partner. It also lets you figure out what you like so you can tell them if they want to use it on you.

 4.        Work from the outside in.

Most people need to warm themselves up a bit before diving into penetration and you can start by turning on the rabbit motor first and seeing how that feels when pressed against your body externally.

Notice how the body of the rabbit vibrates differently than the ears and how the different vibrations produce different sensations in you.

 5.        Ease into it or surprise yourself.

There’s no right way to use rabbit vibrators the first time. Some people like to insert the shaft without having the rotation on, using it as a dildo and getting comfortable and aroused with penetration without vibration.

Once the vibrator is inserted comfortably you can turn on the rotation. Other people prefer to start with the rotation on slow and tease themselves as they begin penetration. Either way, starting with the switch at the lowest setting and working up is probably a good idea.

Remember to apply more lube if the toy gets dry.

 6.        Get a grip.

You’ll notice that if you don’t hold the base of the vibrator while it’s inserted all that happens is that the part outside of your body twirls.

 This is something most sales clerks don’t point out; rabbit vibrators aren’t great for lazy sex toy users.

 To get the most of the rotation option you need to keep a relatively firm grasp on the toy at all times. 

 7.        Moving your hand, not the vibrator.

Because rabbit vibrators move so much on their own, you can significantly change how stimulation feels simply by adjusting the angle that you’re holding the vibrator at in relation to your body. This will change where the shaft presses most inside the vagina. Some women have certain areas inside the vagina that are more pleasurable than others, and rabbit vibrators can be great to explore these areas.

 8.        Anal stimulation.

Rabbit vibrators are designed for vaginal penetration and in almost all cases aren’t effective for anal penetration at all. But you can use your rabbit vibrator for external stimulation of the anus and perineum.

Depending on the flexibility and size of the rabbit you may be able to rotate the rabbit away from your clitoris so that it’s between your butt cheeks, and once turned on it will be pressing against the perineum and may reach the anus.

If you want to use your rabbit vibrator like this just be sure to wash it very well before using it the other way. Best is to use a toy cleaner – Try Eva

Read our article on how to clean your toys.

Keep Romance Alive - Week 6

We live in a day and age where lives are busy and schedules are swamped.  The working day is also a little more versatile than it has been in days past, and people are working longer hours or irregular shifts.  

This can put a damper on your love life, but this should not discourage you from enjoying you and your partner no matter what time of day it is.  

Romance is not just for evenings anymore, and here we have a list of 25 things you can do during the day, or during the evening that will help ensure you make the most of every second with your lover.

Week 6

Take a hot air balloon trip!

Keeping Romance Alive - Week 5

We live in a day and age where lives are busy and schedules are swamped.  The working day is also a little more versatile than it has been in days past, and people are working longer hours or irregular shifts.  

This can put a damper on your love life, but this should not discourage you from enjoying you and your partner no matter what time of day it is.  

Romance is not just for evenings anymore, and here we have a list of 25 things you can do during the day, or during the evening that will help ensure you make the most of every second with your lover.

Week 5

Plant a tree together and make a ritual. After you have planted it, celebrate with a glass of champagne, right by your tree.  Do this every year on this anniversary.