“Prime-time sexual lubricant commercials” says it all for ‘08. Those KY Yours+Mine lube ads featuring randy couples trying to fit sex into their daily lives while viewers at home were eating dinner made a solid statement: Sex toys are coming out of the closet in a big way. And guess what? This year, ladies, it’s all about pleasing you with classic items built to last. Sex toys are shedding their porn-y image in favor of high-end design, couple’s fun, and precision pleasure. Oh yeah, and keeping your body safe and healthy with products made from materials you can identify, like glass, wood, and natural plant extracts. The bottom line? Your goody drawer just took a page from Couture 101. Like Coco Chanel once said, “Innovation! One cannot be forever innovating. I want to create classics.”  Want to find our what’s hot and what’s not in sex toys? Click here.

P.S. Stock up on sex toys here.

Warm up your libido together this Winter with a game of Twister. It might be fun for both of you to start the game by wearing some sexy accessories that can be taken off as one of you lose ( a la strip poker). Also, maybe try seducing him with Shakira impression by using a hula hoop! It’s all in the hips ladies. Read this for some more foreplay fun!

Here are some useful and easy to follow tips on how to clean your sex toys that I have found. Horray for blogger’s em & lo at “Daily Bedpost.” Here’s what’s written on this blog and a link to the rest of the article:“1. First, try to buy toys that come with specific cleaning instructions — if it doesn’t (and no “novelties” do), be sure to ask or email a nice sex-toy salesperson for advice. But keep in mind that cheap novelties are often so poorly designed that they can’t be cleaned properly. For instance, if a toy has seams but can’t be taken apart without it breaking, it’ll never get really clean; those nooks and crannies can harbor bacteria that’s harmful to sensitive vaginal and anal canals.

2. Wash a toy before its first use, immediately after every use (as opposed to just waiting to clean it before the next time), and immediately before each use, too, if you’re not storing it correctly (i.e., if it’s gathering dust bunnies under your bed).”Read the rest.

AdamEve.com has come out with a toy cleaner that works with any adult toy regardless of material! Check it out here. Also, here’s a great intro to the wild and wonderful world of sex toys.

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Something new for couples from that delightful shop, Coco de Mer that appeals to both your erotic and political voice, the Bondage for Freedom kit. A personal favorite of mine, the kit contains wrist ties made from 100% silk in black and a 100% silk black blindfold which is embroidered in orange, with the words, “The only real freedom is freedom from fear”.

Bondage for Freedom is the newly created non-profit section of Coco de Mer. All the profits from the sale of this product is donated to charity.

But what good is being blind folded without the release of some endorphins right? Try the “Ostrich Feather and Black Whip” also by Coco de Mer. Build up the intensity with this sexy riding crop and use the feather to build anticipation, swishing it between the legs. It feels fantastic!

Spanking not included.

I love my iPod. Goodbye bulky books of CDs or those racks of plastic jewel covers in my living room. Now I love my iPod even more…when I plug in an OhMiBod vibe into it! (If you have a techie boyfriend, he’ll love this toy too!) The vibe pulses to your favorite music and totally gives a new definition to “playing your favorite song.” Check out their super cute (video not suitable for people who don’t want to see a simulated orgasm…you know, just to make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into. There’s no nudity or anything.) If you like Suicide Girl Zoli, this one’s for you.

For more sex toys click here.

And if the toy sale isn’t enough inspiration and you feel a little lost about  the ins and outs of goodies in the bedroom, check out our blog archive on Position of the Week and Fun with Toys. That’ll be enough to inspire some hardcore summ-erotica.

(We’re certain it wasn’t Swedish hunk Freddie Ljungberg who complained. He may have to go without if shopping at Apoteket, but we have a few ideas on how to keep him happy.)

Sometimes people just have too much time on their hands! Men in Sweden got their panties in a ruffle because the state-owned pharmacy only stocks sexual aids for females. Sometimes activism just seems like attention seeking. Read all about it in David Thomas’ article in the Daily Telegraph:

, the state-run chain in Sweden, has been reported to JämO, the country’s equal opportunities ombudsman, over its decision to stock only female sex aids. (See below.)

The chain introduced the lines of vibrators and other items (from LELO) in June, but two claims have already been made against it.

One said that Apoteket was guilty of double standards, giving a “misguided and untrue view on sexuality where a woman with a dildo is seen as liberated, strong and independent, whereas a man with a blow up plastic vagina is viewed as disgusting and perverted.”

But the company has defended its decision, saying it would stock sex toys for men if there were any good ones on the market.

Eva Fernvall, who oversees products for Apoteket said the company believed “there are no products of good quality for men on the market”.

“Should there be such products specifically for men, then there is nothing stopping us from selling them,” she added.

The ombudsman has rejected the claims, saying that “Apoteket’s goods are made available to men and women, and therefore Apoteket does not break the law regarding sex discrimination”.

 And if you’re nervous about visiting an adult toy store, do preview a visit in this delightful video! Or you can always go online…

No, not because the battery dies at the crucial moment, but because of how it is made, what it’s made from, or, well, read on and find out why your sex toy may be irritating you.

Latex

Yup, just like that condom allergy, many sex toys have latex in them. Try 100 percent silicone, glass, wood, or metal toys instead.

It Could be the Lube

You might be allergic to preservatives, such as paraben (used in MANY body and hair care products), in your lube or the glycerin in water-based lubes. This form of sugar can be particularly unpleasant of you are prone to yeast infections. Silicone lubes may be a better option for sensitive yous.

Color Me Not Fine

The agents that color and scent products you use can be highly irritating to the body. (By scented, I don’t just mean the banana-flavored condom, but that new toy scent that comes with many objects of desire.) 100 percent silicone toys or those made from natural materials

Phthalates?

This group of chemicals, banned in the EU, may or may not be doing anything to you. PLENTY of evidence suggests they are hormone disrupters and equally as much evidence suggests that they do nothing. Bottom line: it’s inconclusive what they do, but you can err on the side of caution with natural-material toys, phthalate-free, or wholly silicone options.

Also…

Always wash your toy fresh out of the box. It may be slicked in mineral oil. Always wash your toy after use. Know your body: you may be aggravating an existing irritation. Pay attention to your shifts and changes. Love yourself by playing safe, even when it’s solo. Don’t be afraid to ask questions at your local adult toy store!

Our own SheKnows blogger from Alytude gets intimate about her favorite things! Numero Uno: The Rabbit.