Midori is one of THE best sex educators I have had the honor of learning from. I especially love how much she pays attention to her pupils and weaves their questions into the lesson in seamless ways so we are all learning her tips and tricks and applying them to specific real life situations.

This weekend she is teaching the Art of Feminine Dominance, Level 1. I have taken this class before, and it has a major positive impact on my sex life. People often think they have to be a dominatrix to take this class, but really this class is about getting what you want in the bedroom, and in life in general to be honest.

This class is really a confidence booster at its core. It teaches you how to walk into a room and take charge. Not ordering people around and using a whip “take charge” (unless that is what you were hoping for), but how to channel your feminine energy; head up, shoulder back and walk into that room and with the turn of your head, the way you sit down, or ask (read: tell) someone to get you something, or touch someone, or look their way, “take charge”. It helps in the bedroom whether you want to be the top, or the bottom. It helps on first dates asserting yourself and conveying what you want in a relationship. It helps in long term relationships when you want to spice things up. It helps if you are typically passive and want a little role reversal. And it helps when you need that boost of confidence in other, non sexual situations. Midori is great at helping each participant develop their own brand of feminine dominance. It looks and feels really different for everyone, and she is a master at helping each person bring it out in their own way.

Take advantage of this opportunity to learn from Midori while she is in town. She might not be back again until next February so don’t miss her now.

Comment below to enter to win a ticket to this weekend’s class. Tell us your own tips for being dominant, sexy, feminine, how much you want to go to this class or anything else. We will pick a winner on Saturday afternoon.

Midori: The Art of Feminine Dominance, Level 1
Sunday, February 05, 7:30PM, $35
Elegance, power and confidence…learn an effective style of dominance that is authentic to you. Using her own special technique, Midori will help you to unleash your power femme, allowing you to pursue erotic fulfillment and sensual play. She will discuss psychology, politics, practical exercises, techniques, fashion and more. Novice and experienced dommes will pick up something. Open to all genders and orientations. Partners are welcome to attend.

This class is held in the Seattle Store.

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This post, Art of Feminine Dominance with Midori (WIN a ticket!), originally appeared on Babeland's Blog on February 3, 2012. Tweet This Post!

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1. Throw out what you’ve been told about sex, what you think you should be doing, the way you think you’re supposed to act or respond. It’s making your sex life less fun, less playful, and less fulfilling.

2.  All bodies are hot and however your body works is right. Great sex isn’t bestowed on people who look a certain way. Every day, our customers tell us that something about their sex lives doesn’t correspond to the response they think they should be having. None of it is true! All bodies and desires are different. Resolve to have the kind of sex you actually want and to learn what your partner wants, as well.

3. Lube! This one isn’t new, but it’s still one of the most important tools in your nightstand. Lube can take any kind of stimulation and make it feel even better. While we can offer some helpful advice about different types of lube for different activities – thicker lube for anal sex, silicone lube for use in water – what works best is a personal preference. Try the Sliquid Lube Cube so that you can sample six different kinds of lube.

4. Dirty talk is magical. Take any kind of stimulation and suddenly by talking about it, the whole act can feel even more intense and incredible. If it feels awkward, get started by describing the action. It’s okay to feel a bit silly at first. “I’m rubbing you with this finger vibe,” or “I’m going to slide this vibrating cock ring on you.”

5. Better communication via a Yes/No/Maybe list. Make a list of all the sex acts you can think of, from kissing to fisting to 69 and BDSM, or take the list from Moregasm: Babeland’s Guide to Mind-Blowing Sex. You and your partner get to mark each act indicating your willingness to do it. At the end, you have a hot sex menu to choose from! In the New Year, you can use this as a tool to see what you want to try out for the first time and what you want to learn about.

6. Try something new, like backdoor sex. One of the most common questions we’re asked is about how to start out with anal penetration. We love answering this question and there’s so much we could tell you, but it mostly comes down to this: use thick lube, go slowly, start with something small. Anal sex shouldn’t hurt, and it’s a nasty, persistent myth that it will. It should feel really, really good for both women and men.

7. Use the right tools for stimulating the G-spot. A good G-spot toy has a dramatic curve and can be made of a hard material so that you can put pressure on the G-spot. The Uma and the Gigi are two of our favorites.

8. Try a twist on an old position. Instead of the missionary position for anal or vaginal sex, lift the butt of the person being penetrated. This lets the other partner be on their knees, instead of holding themselves up on their hands. Try using the Heart Wedge. It’s a dense foam cushion designed for sex and it positions the butt at the perfect angle to enhance G-spot or prostate stimulation. It also opens up the front of the body so that you can stimulate the clit or cock.

9. Touch, stroke, and play with your partner’s whole body. There are so many different kinds of stimulation. Try a massage candle to loosen them up all over. Running a Pinwheel up an arm gives a delicious chill. A small, soft leather flogger can bring a sexy sting to a butt. Use your imagination.

10. Have fun! Laugh! Be messy! Make weird noises! Let go of your inhibitions. There’s no right way to have sex, so take the pressure off yourself and enjoy it.

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This post, Babeland’s Top 10 Sex Tips of 2011, originally appeared on Babeland's Blog on January 2, 2012. Tweet This Post!

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This raucous evening, co-sponsored by Bluestockings Bookshop will feature:

emcee Jessica Valenti,

The burlesque stylings of Sake Fevah, Franny Fluffer, Essence Revealed, and Tiny D.

Jaclyn, interviewed live on stage by Irin Carmon.

Tunes spun before & after the show by DJ Lobotomy Copter.

and appearances by Samhita Mukopadhyay, Chloe Angyal, Sofia Quintero, Deanne Zandt, Jamia Wilson and other special guests to be announced.

No cover, 21+.

At Fontana’s, 105 Eldridge Street, Manhattan.

Be there!

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This post, What You Really Really Want Book Launch, originally appeared on Babeland's Blog on November 18, 2011. Tweet This Post!

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People, especially young adults need sex education. Some folks like to think that sexual knowledge leads to sluttiness. But that’s not true.  Sex information helps people have more satisfying sex and happier lives. Good adult sex ed. goes beyond procreation and disease prevention, it teaches the anatomy of pleasure and the physiology of arousal. It also encourages people to notice their feelings, communicate their desires and to expect sex to be pleasurable. Chaste or promiscuous, the sex they have will be better. Encouraging people, especially women, to insist on their right to sexual pleasure helps undermine a culture of drunken groping that leaves women feeling used.

One of the concerns of Yale President Richard Levin is that sex week is overly commercial. Babeland, for example, has offered workshops and discussions on the G-Spot, Oral Sex Tips, Sex Toys etc.,  and of course we always mention babeland.com. The fact is there are still very few resources for adult sex education, and Babeland is a good source of the accurate sex information and encouragement that is so needed. Although there are a few new academic programs in sexuality studies (SF State has a great one) and a handful M.D.s who have focused their practices on sex, there isn’t a large credentialed professional class of sex educators at the college level. For the most part today’s sex educators come from a grass roots movement of pleasure activists who have trained each other in non-institutional settings.

Sex education is a big part of our mission at Babeland and we do tons of outreach and in-store workshops that teach various aspects of human sexuality. Helping to empower folks around their sexuality is the juice that makes selling vibrators a thrill. Going to Yale has been a fun part of that. But if Yale wants a less commercial sex week, I hope they pay that forward with a program to train those educators at Yale. I’d love to see a pleasure focused Sexuality curriculum in every college and medical school in the country.

Until that happens the students at Yale are regrouping and are planning a new SWAY- Sex Week All Year. If they invite us we’ll be glad to be a part of it.

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This post, Yale Needs Sex Ed, originally appeared on Babeland's Blog on November 17, 2011. Tweet This Post!

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Abby:  What first brought you to Babeland?  Tell us the story of how you started working here.

Jennyrose:  Well, I had always been interested in sex, sexuality, and gender.  I was unschooled and was really encouraged to pursue my interests, which led to a lot of reading youth-oriented sexuality websites and forums like Scarleteen.  Before I knew it, I discovered the Babeland website.  When I was 19, I moved to Brooklyn and immediately sought out Babeland on the Lower East Side.  I was surprised by the coziness of the store, because I had built it up in my mind to be larger than life.  A couple of weeks later, I met someone who was leaving New York and their Sex Educator/Sales Associate position at Babeland, and told me I should apply.  So I did, and after an interview with Jen May (now C.O.O.) and Claire (co-founder/owner) in the Rivington Street store basement, I was hired!

Abby:  And I will always be thankful that you were.  Where were you before Babeland?  Give us a summary of your career.

Jennyrose:  Well, my parents are glass artists who make dip-style writing pens and knitting needles, so I spent my formative years driving to craft fairs around the country, educating customers about different kinds of glass and capillary action.  I got to see almost every state in the continental U.S., and met all kinds of people.  It’s funny how that experience really translates well into educating customers about lube ingredients and silicone sex toys!  I’ve worked out of all three Babeland NYC stores, as well as the Oakland, CA warehouse/administrative offices, so I’ve learned a lot about Babeland, and I’ve gotten to work with so many wonderful, passionate, fun, engaged people.

Abby:  Tell us about a day in the life of the Babeland Allocation Analyst.

Jennyrose:  I manage the inventory for our four stores and website, and I work with our Director of Purchasing and Buyer to ensure that our product mix is fresh and responsive to customers’ needs.  On the daily, I spend most of my time analyzing product sales, creating sales projections, placing orders with vendors, and moving inventory around within the company to make sure that no one location is over- or under-stocked.  Even after eight-plus years, it’s always challenging, and I look forward to going to work every day… which isn’t something most people can say!

Abby:  What was your family’s reaction when you told them you work at Babeland?

Jennyrose:  They were and still are really supportive.  We are a very tight family, so my parents were not really surprised when I told them that I wanted to work with sexuality.  My mom proudly tells a lot of her friends what I do, which I think is really sweet.

Abby:  Tell us about your favorite/most touching/life-changing moment with a customer.

Jennyrose:  I always think about all the people who came in when I was working on the sales floor, who told me they’d never had an orgasm, and wanted to make it happen for themselves.  Usually, we would spend at least half an hour together, talking about books, videos, toys, libido, anatomy — everything.  My favorite experiences were with women who were in their 70s and 80s, and had finally decided to take control of their own sexual pleasure after all those years.  Amazing and so humbling.

Abby:  And what’s something you’ve learned about yourself through your work at Babeland?

Jennyrose:  I’ve learned how to speak publicly and work through my shyness, through teaching workshops and helping customers in the stores.  And I’ve learned that I’m a total nerd when it comes to Excel.

Abby:  How about something you’ve learned about sex?

Jennyrose:  I’ve learned that sex and sexuality really are unique to every person.  That you can’t assume anything about people’s desires, regardless of who they are, how they identify, or their background.  Also, that talking openly and honestly about personal desire is scary and challenging, whether you’ve been working in this industry for years, or you’ve never set foot in a sex toy store.  It takes constant practice.

Abby:  Indeed it does.  Finally, what are your favorite words for genitalia?

Jennyrose:  Hunnah-hunnah.  Pussy.  Cock.  Business.

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This post, Behind the scenes at Babeland: an interview with Jennyrose, Allocation Analyst, originally appeared on Babeland's Blog on October 18, 2011. Tweet This Post!

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This month, with every sale of a Pink October toy, Babeland is donating 10% of its sale to the Young Survival Coalition, an organization dedicated to supporting young women living with breast cancer.  I can’t tell you how grateful I am that an organization like this exists, and that they’re doing such important and tireless work.  Check them out, please!  And while you’re at it, check out our How-To article for women dealing with post-cancer sexuality.

Traditionally, there hasn’t been a lot of attention paid to women’s sexuality following cancer diagnosis and treatment — many doctors don’t even discuss possible sexual and reproductive side effects of treatment with their patients.  I have my theories about why this is, and one is that we still have an outdated notion that only older people get cancer, making post-cancer sexuality an afterthought.  After all, we’re taught that sex is for the young(-ish), and that older women should gracefully tuck away their libidos and sublimate all that energy into embroidery and cross-stitch.  Not only is that a ridiculous notion — for so many women, sex only gets better with age! — but it leaves out the countless young survivors who are left wondering how to find community, and how to deal with the issues that arise around cancer and their sexuality.

I welcome you to use the comments to tell a story about how cancer has affected you, sexually or otherwise.  Share concerns or inspirations, ask questions… the intersection of cancer and sexuality is a reality of many lives, and it’s time for us to talk about it!

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This post, Come for a Cause: Cancer, Sexuality, and You, originally appeared on Babeland's Blog on October 11, 2011. Tweet This Post!

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This post, Free Gift This Weekend With Orders of $100+, originally appeared on Babeland's Blog on October 7, 2011. Tweet This Post!

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Do you have a funny sex toy shopping story of your own? Share it in the comments section.

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This post, Babeland Brooklyn Featured on Web Series “The Slope”, originally appeared on Babeland's Blog on September 30, 2011. Tweet This Post!

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Many thanks to our co-sponsor Jimmyjane for donating the fantastic products that helped support this effort.

And since October is Family Sex Education Month, here are a few things you can do to help pay your own sex education forward to the next generation:

• Be prepared. If you’re wondering how to approach the topic, pick up a book like Third Base Ain’t What it Used to Be: What Your Kids Are Learning About Sex Today and How to Teach Them to be Sexually Healthy Adults by Logan Levkoff or Birds + Bees + YOUR Kids- A guide to sharing your beliefs about sexuality, love, and relationships by Amy Lang. Learn how to make sex education a normal part of life rather than one big scary talk.
• Be available. If your child asks you a sex question, even if you can’t answer it in the moment, make sure you circle back around to it later so you don’t leave a curious child in the dark.
• Be supportive. If you see a child of any age struggling, offer your support in a non-judgmental way. Helping teens find a useful website, a clinic, or a place to talk can make all the difference.
• Help other parents tackle sex ed—post a comment on the Moms in Babeland blog about your experience talking to kids about sex! Offer an open mind and friendly advice. Come to our next Talking With Your Kids About Sex event at a Babeland store in New York City or Seattle.

Through the Come for a Cause philanthropy program, Babeland donated $115,000 to 300+ organizations in 2010 and will exceed that in 2011. Look for your next opportunity to support organizations doing fantastic work in the community during Pink October. Babeland is partnering with Young Survival Coalition again to raise money for their work with women under the age of 40 with breast cancer. Let’s keep up the good fight!

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This post, Babeland Customers Donate Over $22,000 for Sex Education, originally appeared on Babeland's Blog on September 27, 2011. Tweet This Post!

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Bring along our music-activated OhMiBod Freestyle vibrator to really turn up the volume.

Sexy Badass Girl Rock Fest

Tuesday, September 27th, 6pm

The Knitting Factory

Visit Sexy Badass Girl Rock Fest for more information.

See you there!

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This post, Sexy Badass Girl Rock Fest, originally appeared on Babeland's Blog on September 21, 2011. Tweet This Post!

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