Show & Tell | Ruffles, Lace & Bedhead

As a lingerie addict who is trying to stick to a budget, I’m always on the lookout for affordable, cute lingerie that’s also nice quality. I was super excited when I stumbled across Blue Bella Lingerie – a lingerie line from the UK. Their pieces are gorgeous and sexy, without being over the top. Most of the pieces have that vintage inspired look that I love so much.

I was thrilled when the nice people at Lovehoney offered to send me one of their pieces to try out. The whole line is really pretty so it was hard to pick just one piece, however I eventually settled on this Anais Cami & Shorts Set. As someone who often blogs about things like oral sex simulators, this may seem like a really “safe” choice, however I’m really happy I chose this set. As I’ve mentioned before, I love sleeping in lacy, sexy things. Even if I’m sleeping alone, wearing something comfortable that’s also pretty makes me feel good. This is the kind of set that I could easily wear solo or with someone else.

The Anais Cami & Shorts Set is made of crinkled, light pink, sheer polyester trimmed in black lace. The camisole is lined with a silky soft non-crinkly fabric which makes the piece ultra-comfortable. The shorts are not lined, but instead feature two thin layers of the crinkle fabric which meet at the bottom to create the ruffle effect. The shorts are a “hipster” cut which means they sit comfortably below the belly button.

Although the shorts have a built in cotton gusset (which means you could wear them as panties if you wanted to), I still prefer to wear them with a pair of my favourite hipster or boy-shorts for sleeping. The shorts are quite sheer, so unless you live alone, with your partner or are trying to establish your reputation as the roommate/family member that’s always flashing everyone, you’ll probably want to pair them with some panties! For the purpose of this post, I wore a pair of black bathing suit bottoms underneath.

I really like this lingerie set. It’s fun, flirty and just slightly retro. Although it’s named “Anais” (I assume after the famous French writer?) this sleep set feels way less like 1930’s Paris, and more like a toned down version of something Barbara Streisand would have worn in The Owl and the Pussycat or the girls from Grease would have worn at one of their sleepovers.

In other words, it’s the kind of thing I imagine guys think we wear at sleepovers when really we’re rocking our flannel PJ’s.

To give you guys an idea of what the set looks like in person, I snapped a few photos last Sunday before heading out to meet my Dad for Father’s Day brunch. Since I rarely wear makeup and do my hair on the weekends, the theme of this DIY photo-shoot is “bed-head.”

Et, voila! Although I look a little depressed in this photo, I’m actually really excited about the forgiving cut of this camisole. I did a lot of eating and drinking in Vegas, and I’m still trying to get my abs back in shape. This top cleverly disguises any tummy insecurities you may have.

As you can tell from the photo below, this set was way more ruffly in person than it is in the product photo. The ruffles are fun, however if you are trying to draw attention away from your hips, they do create a lot of extra volume in that area. On the flip side, if you want to create more curves, this outfit will definitely do the trick.

Whenever I’d stay in hotels with my parents as a kid, my favourite thing was jumping up and down on the ultra-bouncy hotel beds. I’m pretty sure it drove my parents nuts. Sorry Mom.

Overall, I give this lingerie set by Blue Bella two Skinny Dip thumbs up. I love the gorgeous pink and black colour combo, I feel cute in it and it’s comfortable. The problem? Now I want to try everything Blue Bella makes. Ahhhh!

Thank you Lovehoney for this review and for fuelling the fire of my lingerie addiction 🙂

Lovehoney.com The Sexual Happiness People
*I received this garment free of charge in exchange for my honest review of the product. All opinions and awkward confessions about over eating in Vegas are my own because that’s how I roll. 

Review | The Fantasy Box – Sexy Subscription

Although it’s sometimes nice to be able to sit around with your partner, pant-less, eating Dorritos, watching back to back episodes of Dexter while not talking; what I’ve learned from being in long-term relationships and writing about them, is this: Communication is really, really important and sometimes even the best relationships need spicing up. 

Now enter The Fantasy Box – a monthly subscription service designed to help couples communicate better and explore their fantasies.  The Fantasy Box was born when friends, Chris and Mariah, started talking candidly about the pitfalls of long term relationships and sex. The best sex was fun, adventurous, varied and based on a foundation of communication and trust. It was anticipated and prioritized, even when life got in the way. The worst sex was the opposite – monotonous, often full of judgment and something that was done out of obligation. To quote their website, “Sex is the glue that draws you back together when you can’t remember why else you are in this relationship.” My grandma recently told me, “You know what gets you through 50+ years of marriage to the same person? Good sex!” I think they’re all onto something.

With that said, even couples with a fantastic connection experience slumps and issues with communication when it comes to sex. Often couples are curious about wanting to try new things but don’t even know where to start. Recognizing this, Chris and Mariah started Fantasy Box so they could provide couples with an effortless way to introduce a new level of fun into their sex lives without stress, guilt, or judgment. Aka, no more missionary in the dark. (Amen to that!)

Everyone has fantasies – it’s totally natural. After consulting with focus groups and sexperts, the duo came up with over 60 of the most common fantasies for men and women. With The Fantasy Box, every month you will receive a different fantasy, instructions for how to play it out and all the goodies needed to turn fantasy into reality. I am super excited that Chris and Mariah kindly sent me a Fantasy Box of my own to test drive!

My parcel arrived in discreet packaging but when I opened it up I found this gorgeous red box adorned with funky black and white designs. I love all the cartoon lips, panties and hand-cuffs!

Inside the box I found note cards with instructions for the “Leader” and the “Follower”  The couple gets to decide “who’s who” and can always switch it up depending on the mood.

Underneath the cards I found the mother load  of goodies! Ahhhhhhh so many fun and cute things!

Here’s what was inside:

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Review | Panty by Post

I can think of very few things that I enjoy more at the end of a long day than coming home to pretty lingerie that’s been sent to me in the mail. My underwear drawer is pretty full these days, but I never, ever, tire of a new pair of pretty panties.

Meet Panty by Post  – a monthly subscription service for luxury panties. Every month Panty by Post sends you a new, gorgeous pair of panties based on your personal preferences  (you can choose thong, boys-cut or the bridal collection). When I first heard about Panty by Post, my thoughts were “Yay! A subscription service for people like me who love receiving pretty, lacy things in the mail!” So, when Panty by Post offered to send me a pair of their panties to sample, I was pretty excited!

Panty By Post started in Paris in August 2008 and is based in Vancouver, Canada (yay for Canadian companies!) Owner and founder Natalie Grunberg has always been inspired by Paris and it’s no surprise she’s built a company that has distinguished itself as a unique brand with a very French twist. She’s since made it her company’s mission to spread the pleasure of French lingerie all over the world. Each gorgeous Panty by Post package is meant to send a message of love and joie de vie!

Looking at Panty by Post’s gallery of photos, there’s a definite luxurious vibe (with just a hint of French flair!) to everything they carry. Featuring brands like Blush Lingerie and Hanky Panky, these are definitely not your run of the mill panties. Anyone who has ever worn a pair of Hanky Panky panties (which feel almost like you’re wearing nothing at all) can attest to that.  FYI, one of my best friends swears by their stretch lace thongs.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Blush Lingerie, it’s another fantastic Canadian company based in Montreal, Quebec. I adore their lingerie because it suits my style perfectly: it’s comfortable, a little bit retro and sexy without being over-the-top. To get an idea of what you can expect from their panties, here are a few images I pulled from the Panty by Post gallery.

(I’m totally obsessed with the black and white polka dot pair!)

I was delighted when I opened my Panty by Post package and found these beautiful violet hued satin panties with black lace trim.

 

Made of super soft stretch satin, the panties feature delicate stretchy black lace trim along the front and back, with a subtle black bow detail on the front.

To be honest, these are some of the nicest panties I have ever owned. Not only are they gorgeous, the quality is excellent and they feel luxurious as soon as you slip them on. I thought because of the cut in the back that these would be wedgie central, but you actually don’t really feel any of the seams when you have them on. Sexy and comfortable? I call that a Win/Win! The only downside (for my wallet) is that now I’m intent on tracking down the matching bra 😉

I should also mention that the panties arrived beautifully packaged. They were shipped in a Panty by Post envelope printed with a delicate floral design and sealed with a silver sticker. Inside the panties were wrapped in gorgeous tissue with a cream and gold angel print. Along with the panties was a personal note from Panty by Post. The package was so beautiful I couldn’t bring myself to recycle it, so I kept it because I’m a nerd like that.

Panty by Post offers a variety of different subscription options which range from $15-$25/month. You can also purchase one or two panties a la carte. When I told my best friend about the service her reaction was probably the same as many of you are having: “That’s a lot for a pair of panties! Wouldn’t it just be easier to go to the store and buy a pair?!” Yes, in theory it would be, and I realize $15+ for a pair of underwear is on the expensive side for a lot of people (me included). However, part of what you’re paying for is the shipping and the element of surprise. It’s definitely an indulgent purchase, however when it comes to subscription services I’d much rather get one luxury item that I’m going to *love* adding to my collection, versus a whole box of small sized sample products, some of which I may not use. When you look at it that way,  Panty by Post is a nice way to pamper yourself.

I’d recommend Panty by Post to anyone who is looking to build a collection of high quality lingerie or as a bridal shower gift for one of your best friends.

Have you ever tried any lingerie subscription services?

The Wheel of Many Tongues

A few weekends ago I was hanging out with one of my girlfriends, when she said to me:

“Simone, I bet a lot of people send you weird stuff because of your blog”

“Define weird”

Then she brought up the photo of the Sqweel 2 that I posted on Instagram recently.

“Well, I’d say that thing that looks like wheel of tongues is definitely on the borderline

I then went on to explain that the The Sqweel 2, “the world’s best selling oral sex toy” is actually kind of awesome. The nice people over at Lovehoney sent me a Sqweel 2 a few weeks ago (thank you!), so I’m really excited to finally give you the skinny on what this toy is all about.

Lovehoney-Sqweel-2

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of oral sex. When a guy goes down on me, it’s pretty much a guarantee that I’ll get off. I only wish I could say the same about good old fashioned penis in vagina sex, but alas, I can’t. So, for those of you who like me and Kelly Rowland “like our kisses down low” the Sqweel 2 is made with you mind.

Sqweel 2 features a wheel with 10 lapping silicone tongues and an exciting ‘flicker’ mode for amazing clitoral stimulation and powerful orgasms. When you turn the toy on using the one touch button on the side, the wheel rotates, allowing the tongues to stimulate your clitoris & do their job! If you want to see what the toy looks like in motion, I suggest watching this short video.

The tongues are made of silky, soft body safe silicone which has the same velvety texture as real skin. To clean the toy, simply press the unlock button on the side of the toy, remove the wheel and clean it with warm soap & water or antibacterial toy cleaner.

Lovehoney-Sqweel-2

The most important thing to understand about the Sqweel 2 is that it’s a completely different sensation than your usual vibrator. Instead of relying on strong vibrations to get you off, it uses friction and flickering motions, much like a real tongue. Although it doesn’t feel exactly like real oral sex – the “tongues” are bit firmer than a real tongue – it definitely feels more like a finger or a tongue than a vibrator. The Sqweel is completely different from any sex toy that I have ever used before, so it took a while to get used to at first. However, once I did, I was able to just lay back and enjoy the ride – which I very much did!

It could just be that I’ve been feeling a pretty sexually frustrated lately (and could probably have an orgasm just by standing next to a washing machine) but the Sqweel got me off really, really good. Within less than a minute of turning the thing on I was having a pretty amazing orgasm…which then lead to several more before I had to shakily peel myself from the bed to catch my breath.

Lovehoney-Sqweel-2

I enjoy the Sqweel because it is so different from any of the other sex toys I own and it works, for me. Because the toy relies on a touching/flickering sensation this is a great option for someone who is looking to experiment with sex toys that don’t involve intense vibrations. Personally I enjoyed the more intense speeds on this toy, however if you have a super sensitive clit you may find the slowest speed is more your pace.

Confession time: I actually own the previous incarnation of this toy “The Sqweel 1.” Having tried both toys, I really like the improvements they made with the Sqweel 2. Not only is it aesthetically a nicer looking toy, the tongues are made of a nicer material and they’ve added fun “flicker and “reverse” modes which the previous version did not have.

Lovehoney-Sqweel-2

Here’s another photo so that you can get an idea of the scale of the toy. It’s roughly the height on a smartphone and easily fits in your hand.

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Show & Tell | With Love from Canada

Sadly the word “Canadian” is not internationally synonymous with “Style” and “Sex Appeal.” Although we have some amazing Canadian designers, Canada is also associated with things like toques, hockey hair and the “Canadian Tuxedo.” When I mentioned to an American friend that I would be reviewing a piece from a Canadian lingerie line, I wasn’t surprised that their first question was “Is it plaid?” However, contrary to popular belief, when given the opportunity, us Canadians can be a stylish and sexy bunch.

Homegrown, Canadian company With Love Lingerie is proof of that. I’m always looking for new and unique lingerie, so when I found out that one of my favourite online boutiques, Ohhh Canada,  was carrying some items from the With Love  I was super excited! I was even more excited when the fabulous Katrina offered to hook me up with their black lace floral bra to try.

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The Black Floral Lace Bra by With Love is a gorgeous, beautifully made soft cup (underwire-less) bra with a lacy, vintage inspired look. The bra is made of delicate nude mesh with black mesh and lace overlay. Trimmed with black satin, the Black Floral Lace bra has a cute gathered detail in the front and a hook & eye closure in the back.

I was really excited to try this bra for a couple of reasons. First of all, it’s totally gorgeous. As I mentioned before, I have a serious weakness for lingerie that has a vintage or pin-up inspired vibe and this piece definitely fits the bill. The lace and mesh combo give this bra a retro feel but with a modern twist.

Secondly, I wanted to try something new. Although I have a few girlfriends who swear by the cute, lacy, “bralettes” that are super trendy right now, I’ve always favoured more structured lingerie. I like bras with an underwire and usually a thin layer of padding to conceal my nipples from showing through. Sport bras aside, this is the first bra I’ve owned since middle school that doesn’t have an underwire. Crazy right?!

Sidebar – Has anyone else noticed that bras have become totally insane over the past few years?! Walk into any Victoria’s Secret and you’ll find an endless amount of extremely padded bras that promise to do things like “increase your cup size by three sizes!” – because apparently it’s not enough to have boobs, they need to also be pushed up to your chin. When it comes to lingerie, I can see why a lot of women are embracing a softer, more natural look. Lingerie like the Black Floral Lace Bra by With Love is a welcome respite from this insanity. It also doesn’t hurt that it’s really, really pretty.

with-love-lingerie-black-lace-braPut on this bra and basically feels like you’re wearing nothing at all – it’s that comfortable. However, keep in mind that the bra offers very light support. If you’re a bit on the bustier side, this might be an issue for you. It’s also very sheer so, your nipples will show through. This is why I’m not modelling the bra for you guys today. To quote a conversation I had with my friend yesterday,

“Are you going to take photos of yourself in the bra?”

“No, because I don’t want to spend my Sunday night photoshoping out my nipples”

FYI. How it looks on the model is very true to how it looks in person.

This is the perfect bra to wear in the bedroom or for those days when I’m lounging around or writing and want to feel glamorous. However, I wouldn’t wear it under a fitted t-shirt or to do any kind of semi-strenous activity. Perfect for a retro-styled seduction? Yes. Hiking, jogging or dancing the night away? No.

with-love-lingerie-black-floral-lace-bra

The bra comes in three different sizes –  small (A cup), medium (B cup) and large (C cup) – however, it’s important to note that this bra runs big. I’m a 34 C  and ordered a size Large thinking it would fit, however when I tried it on I was swimming in it. The Large is definitely made for someone who is bigger than a 34 C. However, Ohhh Canada was super awesome about it and promptly exchanged it for a Medium. For this piece of lingerie I would definitely suggest going a size down.

 

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Now for the big question – do I feel sexy in it? 

Yes! Although it’s definitely a change from my usual underwired, cleavage producing bras, I do feel really pretty and sexy in this piece. Because it is so comfortable, this is a great piece to wear in the bedroom. Unlike some of the other lingerie I own, you could easily wear this while you have sex without ever having to worry about chafing or accidentally jabbing yourself with an underwire when you change positions.

However I think my favourite thing about this piece of lingerie is that it is designed and made in Toronto, Canada! It feels really special to have something in my lingerie drawer that’s not only beautiful, but that’s unique and literally handmade With Love in Canada.

What do you guys think – do you have a favourite lingerie brand?

This review was brought to you by Ohhh Canada. I received the Black Floral Lace Bra free of charge in exchange for my honest review of the product. All opinions are my own because that’s how I roll.