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4 Sex Toy Shows: ANME, XBIZ, SHE and AVN

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For those of us in the adult toy industry, January kicks off the year as the crazy month, at least for those of us behind the counter. I’m dizzy with the FOUR shows within two weeks starting on Monday, that let me learn, share, buy, grow and my favorite, schmooze. ANME, XBIZ, SHE and AEE/AVN. Hold on to your seats and join me for this whirlwind schedule.
ANME, the Adult Novelty Manufacturers Expo, is the beginning of the series of shows on January 12 and 13. While January is considered the slower show of the two shows, the other being held in July), everyone always poses the question: “What’s new?” Ah yes, what’s new. I am sure I’ll be seeing plenty of new styles of pink rabbits, more BDSM related products because of the impending release of the hotly anticipated movie “Fifty Shades of Grey.” The printed version caused a frenzy in our industry two years ago and many of us are hoping that when people actually SEE the dominant and submissive action between the two characters, that they’re gonna run right out and buy lots and lots of equipment from us. Sportsheets is anticipating a newly minted audience rushing out to discreetly buy kits and have prepped themselves with their cleverly titled Sexperiments line, which is so new, we don’t even have them yet on the GrandOpening.com website! But check it soon! I’m sure there will be plenty more at the show and I can’t wait to see everything.
Right after ANME is the XBIZ360 show from January 13-16. It’s a really good, trade only networking and learning event that’s really good. It’s not so much booth oriented but allows plenty of time for schmoozing (my favorite!) and the learning is excellent. Even I learn a lot when I’m there (especially when I poke my head into the adult film and web masters parts of it).  It offers all the cousins in the smut family: adult film industry, the adult toy industry, the adult web industry, or in any aspect of the adult pleasure industry so it’s always fun to get together during this perverted kind of family gathering. My favorite!  XBIZ Industry Executive Awards with YOURS TRULY being nominated as Community Executive of the Year! Can’t wait for that and wish me luck! I’ve been in the biz for 22 years now and in LOTS of communities in this wacky industry I love so much. Stay tuned! I’ll let you know when I win!
And the XBIZ Awards on January 15 are gonna be so hot, it’s gonna scorch the Nokia Theatre in downtown LA! It’s gonna be great. My favorite new gizmo, Bubble Love, is nominated in a few categories so I’ll keep my fingers crossed we win!
The XBIZ 360 event runs into the SHE show which is the Sexual Health Expo, put on by XBIZ at the Sofitel Hotel in Beverly Hills on the weekend of January 17-18. It IS a consumer show and I’m sure there will be many hungry and savvy sex curious attendees wanting to attend every workshop offered. And yes, there are awards to be given out over the weekend for the top female sexual health products on the market today. Another award show, another dress, no problem!
Then it’s home for two days to catch my breath and do laundry and other shit around the house (do I buy groceries?!?) before I drive out to Vegas for the granddaddy of ’em all, the AVN show, aka the big ass porno convention that has been in existence for over 30 years. I’ve been going to it since about 1997 and it’s hard to believe it’s been that long. It’s pretty whack and it’s at the Hard Rock from January 21-24. It’s a crazy time keeping up with all the action there which covers the gamut but in a very different way from all the other shows, mixed with industry folks and a shitload of fans, which I love and drive me crazy at the same time.
And yes, there’s not one but TWO award shows during the event: the O Awards for the adult novelty products and the AVN Awards for all of the other parts of the industry (including – ADULT NOVELTIES!!). That’s two more dresses I need to get!
On Sunday, January 25, I am happy to announce that I’ll be recovering, from what, I don’t know. I’ll be driving back and will leave early enough to avid the stampede down the 15 back home to LA. Two weeks of shows that are back to back and front to front will keep me at a crazy pace and force me to drink far too many 5 Hour Energy Shots (my favorite ones being orange and grape).  I’ll have a lot to write about so as they say in Hollywood (or at least they USED to), “Stay tuned!”
Okay, I’m going to start a tradition which is one of my favorites. As you may know, I have been blogging on XBIZ for years (here’s the link) and I always write a Joke Of The Blog at the end of it, so why not here?
So here’s the first one… there will be a lot more…
Speaking of Vegas, one night a couple had angry sex. You know, the kind you get through because you want to spite your partner, and you get through it but when you’re finished, you know you’re done. After the woman had sex with her husband, she angrily pulled on her clothes, started packing her suitcase and barked “That’s it. I’m done. I’m moving to Las Vegas where I can get $300 for what I just did with you.” Her husband looked up at her and said “Ya think you can survive on $900 a year?”

FOUR Sex Toy Shows this month: ANME, XBIZ, SHE and AEE!

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For those of us in the adult toy industry, January kicks off the year as the crazy month, at least for those of us behind the counter. I’m dizzy with the FOUR shows within two weeks starting on Monday, that let me learn, share, buy, grow and my favorite, schmooze. ANME, XBIZ, SHE and AEE/AVN. Hold on to your seats and join me for this whirlwind schedule.
ANME, the Adult Novelty Manufacturers Expo, is the beginning of the series of shows on January 12 and 13. While January is considered the slower show of the two shows, the other being held in July), everyone always poses the question: “What’s new?”
Ah yes, what’s new. I am sure I’ll be seeing plenty of new styles of pink rabbits, more BDSM related products because of the impending release of the hotly anticipated movie “Fifty Shades of Grey.” The printed version caused a frenzy in our industry two years ago and many of us are hoping that when people actually SEE the dominant and submissive action between the two characters, that they’re gonna run right out and buy lots and lots of equipment from us. Sportsheets is anticipating a newly minted audience rushing out to discreetly buy kits and have prepped themselves with their cleverly titled Sexperiments line, which is so new, we don’t even have them yet on the GrandOpening.com website! But check it soon!
I’m sure there will be plenty more at the show and I can’t wait to see everything.
Right after ANME is the XBIZ360 show from January 13-16. It’s a really good, trade only networking and learning event that’s really good. It’s not so much booth oriented but allows plenty of time for schmoozing (my favorite!) and the learning is excellent. Even I learn a lot when I’m there (especially when I poke my head into the adult film and web masters parts of it).  It offers all the cousins in the smut family: adult film industry, the adult toy industry, the adult web industry, or in any aspect of the adult pleasure industry so it’s always fun to get together during this perverted kind of family gathering. My favorite!  XBIZ Industry Executive Awards with YOURS TRULY being nominated as Community Executive of the Year! Can’t wait for that and wish me luck! I’ve been in the biz for 22 years now and in LOTS of communities in this wacky industry I love so much. Stay tuned! I’ll let you know when I win!
And the XBIZ Awards on January 15 are gonna be so hot, it’s gonna scorch the Nokia Theatre in downtown LA! It’s gonna be great. My favorite new gizmo, Bubble Love, is nominated in a few categories so I’ll keep my fingers crossed we win!
The XBIZ 360 event runs into the SHE show which is the Sexual Health Expo, put on by XBIZ at the Sofitel Hotel in Beverly Hills on the weekend of January 17-18. It IS a consumer show and I’m sure there will be many hungry and savvy sex curious attendees wanting to attend every workshop offered. And yes, there are awards to be given out over the weekend for the top female sexual health products on the market today. Another award show, another dress, no problem!
Then it’s home for two days to catch my breath and do laundry and other shit around the house (do I buy groceries?!?) before I drive out to Vegas for the granddaddy of ’em all, the AVN show, aka the big ass porno convention that has been in existence for over 30 years. I’ve been going to it since about 1997 and it’s hard to believe it’s been that long. It’s pretty whack and it’s at the Hard Rock from January 21-24. It’s a crazy time keeping up with all the action there which covers the gamut but in a very different way from all the other shows, mixed with industry folks and a shitload of fans, which I love and drive me crazy at the same time. And yes, there’s not one but TWO award shows during the event: the O Awards for the adult novelty products and the AVN Awards for all of the other parts of the industry (including – ADULT NOVELTIES!!). That’s two more dresses I need to get!
On Sunday, January 25, I am happy to announce that I’ll be recovering, from what, I don’t know. I’ll be driving back and will leave early enough to avid the stampede down the 15 back home to LA. Two weeks of shows that are back to back and front to front will keep me at a crazy pace and force me to drink far too many 5 Hour Energy Shots (my favorite ones being orange and grape).  I’ll have a lot to write about so as they say in Hollywood (or at least they USED to), “Stay tuned!”
Okay, I’m going to start a tradition which is one of my favorites. As you may know, I have been blogging on XBIZ for years (here’s the link) and I always write a Joke Of The Blog at the end of it, so why not here? So here’s the first one… there will be a lot more…
Speaking of Vegas, one night a couple had angry sex. You know, the kind you get through because you want to spite your partner, and you get through it but when you’re finished, you know you’re done.
After the woman had sex with her husband, she angrily pulled on her clothes, started packing her suitcase and barked “That’s it. I’m done. I’m moving to Las Vegas where I can get $300 for what I just did with you.”
Her husband looked up at her and said “Ya think you can survive on $900 a year?”

Phthalates in Sex Toys: A Thing of the Past?

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Actually, since I know the industry so well, almost all of the major manufacturers have eliminated phthalates in their products and are making them out of TPE (thermo plastic elastomer) or TPR (thermo plastic rubber) both of which contain NO phthalates yet still look and feel like the typical jelly rubber toys.

phthalates in sex toys

Phthalates in sex toys are bad news!


The EU has outlawed phthalates in products so in order to export sex toys to Europe, the major companies have eliminated using the rubber softeners phthalates in their toys. At GrandOpening.com, there is a HUGE variety of sex toys and they will each state if they are phthalate free, which the majority are.
When buying a sex toy, the best way to determine if there are phthalates in the toy is to try to detect an odor on the toy while in its packaging. If it was made with phthalates, the toy will give off a slightly unpleasant scent. If the toy does not have phthalates, it will be odor free. Also, many of the common jelly rubber toys ARE, in fact, phthalate free. But what’s the best way to check? Scent, of course.

What’s the Problem with Phthalates?

 
There hasn’t been a ton of research done on the subject, but what we do know is this: they are a type of chemical group that is used to soften plastics; they are used in a wide variety of products; and they can rub off onto the skin when you use a product containing them. Yuck! Plus, one study has connected these chemicals to thyroid issues.
So what can you do? Look for phthalate-free products or purchase a silicone sex toy to eliminate the concern entirely. More and more major manufacturers are switching over to safer materials but that doesn’t mean you can let your guard down. Pay attention to what you’re putting on (and in!) your body!

Sexual Education Videos Available at Passionate U

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Passionate U Sexual EducatorsAll I can say is WOW! I had known Kali for years as we both were in Boston for more than a decade, crossing paths at various functions all having to do with educational sexuality. When the opportunity to be part of the Passionate U crew of sexual educators, I jumped at it.
I am so excited to be sharing the two plus decades of experience I have with everything to do with sex. How to enjoy it, how to expand it, and most of all, how to add sex toys to the excitement of it all.
You know, I’ve always said “Remember what it was like when you were given a toy when you were a kid? There was boundless enthusiasm, you were happy, you just couldn’t wait to get home to rip open the package and have fun!” I say have that same excitement you had then with a toy for grown ups! Your very own sex toy! Drop the embarrassment, the hang ups, the “bad girl” impressions you may have grown up with… you’re an adult now! Go forth and have fun!
So this is the excitement and attitude I want to bring to all of my videos on Passionate U as one of their sexual educators. As you know, I have an unending enthusiasm for sex toys and sex and this is what I want to personally share with you. If you’d like me to address something that you personally want to know, just get in touch with me through Passionate U, leave a comment here on the blog, or tweet me @KimAirs and I’ll get right on it. Promise!
And when you join the wonderful, in depth and incredibly educational Passionate U through my exclusive link, I get to share in your happiness, so you’re supporting me, Kim Airs, and GrandOpening.com, too! I’d totally appreciate it, big time.
Looking forward to your becoming a member of Passionate U and opening up the world of everything sex with the best sexual educators around. My first videos should be going up this weekend. Woo hoo!
Lots of love,
Kim

Adult Toys Abstract Accepted by Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality

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Society for the Scientific Study of SexualityI have good news to report! My abstract for a presentation has been accepted for the annual meeting of The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS)! It’s taking place in San Diego in November and I couldn’t be more excited about it.
The presentation is called, “Practical Knowledge of Adult Toys for Practitioners.” Intrigued? You should be! Adult toys and their role in medical practice is one of my favorite topics. I’ll be posting more updates about this soon and maybe even some info on the subject for those scientific minds out there.
The SSSS was founded in 1957 to promote and encourage the study of sexuality.

Cal Ex Intensity by Jopen

Intensity by Jopen Review

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Cal Ex Intensity by Jopen
Jopen raises the bar yet again with the Intensity by Jopen. This is not merely a toy for snuggling with… it is more of a sexual health product that may help women with various medical issues. Before I get ahead of myself, let me begin by saying that this 4 AAA battery powered gizmo is hefty in size but not in weight (the insertable shaft is a typical 5” x 1 ½” but the entire contraption is 12” long). It offers the user many different options…
Here goes: the silicone shaft has an accordion type sleeve which gently expands when the bulbous base is squeezed (there is a button on the bottom to release the air which remains self-contained). The button controls in the front are easy to use when the shaft is inserted for use. The main feature of the Intensity by Jopen is, to put it mildly, intense. It has two electro-stimulation pads on the top and the bottom of the shaft that make a connection via your vagina when inserted. The pads are placed to stimulate above the g spot, and, more accurately, the PC muscle (pubo-coccygeal muscle which is the muscle that you exercise when doing Kegels, it’s also commonly known as the “pelvic sling”).
The variable speed electrostimulation pulses in order to stimulate the muscles which may be contributing to urinary incontinence caused by a number of underlying issues such as childbirth, aging, lack of use, etc. And there’s also a variable speed, three eared rabbit type external stimulator in case your clitoris feels lonely and needs attention during your internal romp. The same vibration button also controls a vibrator on the shaft in the g spot area.

What Did I Think of the Intensity by Jopen?

It’s intense, to be sure, but the Intensity by Jopen is a high quality product. Hopefully there will be medical professionals aware of the Intensity who can recommend it to their patients that need this product to increase vaginal health and sensitivity.
But then again, there’s a big contingent of kinksters out there who would love to get their paws on the Intensity – health issues be damned!  Line me up!

Replacing your vibrator

Replacing Your Vibrator: When Should I Toss It?

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No matter how well you take care of your sex toys, there is going to come a time when you’ll need to throw out your trusty old vibrator and replace it. It’ll be a sad day, indeed. But it’s for the good of your sex life, I promise. Replacing your vibrator on occasion will help to preserve your health by reducing your risk of infection. However, it also gives you a chance to switch it up and try a new toy. So it’s not all bad, right?

Replacing your vibrator

Yeah, these would definitely need to be replaced.
Source: ClintJCL


If you’re wondering how long your vibrator will last and when to throw it away, here are a few signs.

Signs That Now is the Time for Replacing Your Vibrator

  • It’s damaged. No brainer, right? But if the vibrator is cracked, has worn spots, or is damaged in any way, toss it. You’ll find that you need to replace jelly and latex sex toys much more often than silicone or metal ones. FYI: Plastic sex toys tend to get brittle over time.
  • It’s unexciting. You’re bored. It happens. Even the best of toys can get a bit too familiar with repeated use. Instead of relying on ol’ faithful yet again throw it out and buy a new toy to satisfy your lust for adventure. Don’t just buy the same toy again, either. Replacing your vibrator is an opportunity to have fun. Switch it up!
  • It’s been around the block. With different people, I mean. Sure, you might have your standby vibrators that always get the job done, but a new partner might be a bit leery of using some dusty old toy you pull from the back of your nightstand. Instead, buy a new sex toy together to add some more fun to your sexual escapades.
  • It’s old. Your vibrator might be in excellent condition. It probably is if you use a toy cleaner regularly and always store it in a cool, dry place. Still, even the most high-end toys should be replaced every couple of years. A lot of inexpensive vibrators wear out long before that due to the motor breaking, the plastic cracking, the jelly or latex splitting, etc.

And there you have it! Some quick pointers for recognizing the moment when your vibrator has lived a full life and needs to be put out to pasture. Just think of it as an excuse to go shopping!

Cleaning Your Sex Toys, Step-by-Step

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This probably doesn’t sound so fun, but cleaning your sex toys regularly is important if you’re going to hang onto them for any length of time. Proper care ensures toys that stay in good condition and naughty bits that stay in good health. So, for the love of all that’s holy, clean your toys!

sex toy cleaner

Please, don’t use household cleaners.
Source: the.barb

Out of the Packaging

As soon as you receive a new sex toy, clean it. Use a mild anti-bacterial soap and warm water to clean off any chemicals that may still be lingering from the manufacturing process. Or, if the toy has a battery pack, avoid submerging it and use a sex toy cleaner.

The Material Matters

What the sex toy is made out of will directly affect how you go about cleaning it. Most of the time, soap and water will do, but let’s take a look at each of the materials and get specific for a minute anyway.

  • Silicone sex toys. Antibacterial soap and water will do, as will a toy cleaner. Silicone is a high quality material, so you just need to let it air dry before tucking it away in a storage pouch or drawer.
  • Jelly sex toys. Soap and water or a sex toy cleaner will do the trick. Just keep in mind that this material is porous and can never be disinfected. Never share these toys!
  • Metal sex toys. Good ol’ soap and water, rubbing alcohol, or a universal toy cleaner gets the job done. Want to disinfect your aluminum, titanium or *gasp* gold, dildo? You can boil it. This only applies to dildos, okay, not vibes. Dry it off with a soft cloth before storing.
  • Plastic sex toys. This non-porous material is easy to clean. Use soap and water, a toy cleaner, or rubbing alcohol then let it air dry before storing.

Sharing Isn’t Caring

It’s best not to share porous sex toys unless you cover them up with a condom during each and every use.
Cleaning your sex toys might not sound like fun, but making this little bit of extra effort ensures you’ll be having good clean fun for the foreseeable future.

Amanda Palmer, Kim Airs, and Kirsten Vangsness talk sexual health

Kim Airs. Amanda Palmer. Kirsten Vangsness. The Dirty View

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Happy Friday! Okay, this one’s an oldie, but I wanted to share it with you all anyway because:
A. I’ve never mentioned it on my blog before, and
B. It’s really cool and you should know about it.
Amanda Palmer, Kim Airs, and Kirsten Vangsness talk sexual health
With that out of the way, may I present to you a podcast I recorded with Amanda Palmer, er, I mean, Amanda Fucking Palmer and Kirsten Vangsness from Criminal Minds back on March 11, 2011 at SModCastle in Hollywood.

kim airs and amanda fucking palmer

Source: AFPWire


It’s The Dirty View! We talked all about sexual health, our experiences with Planned Parenthood, birth control, and more. It was fun and educational. Plus, yours truly brought along a bunch of sex toys and they sure are fun to hear on the radio!
Kim Airs putting demonstrating condom application

What, did you think I was kidding about the putting a condom on with my mouth trick? Source: AFP Wire


After we all chatted for a bit, Amanda sang “Map of Tasmania” (with vibrator accompaniment) and we answered a few questions from the audience. Good times!
The really cool part is you can listen to the podcast free or even download it for however much you’re willing to pay. 100% of the proceeds go to Planned Parenthood so if you believe in the work they do or enjoyed hearing us talk about sexual health (or enjoyed hearing me put a condom on with my mouth), think about shelling out a few bucks, would ya?
It’s for a good cause and I had a lot of fun. What more could you ask for?

Anal sex tips for enjoying yourself

3 Ways to Enjoy Anal Sex Even More

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Whether you enjoy anal sex all the time or are afraid of anything getting near your backside, there’s a few things you need to know: you can be enjoying anal sex even more (if you’re an old pro) or for the first time (if you’ve only ever experienced pain) just by following these three simple anal sex tips.
Anal sex tips for enjoying yourself
 

Anal Sex Tips to Live By:

1. Lube. Lots of it. Seriously, you need a lot of lube to enjoy anal sex. If you stop reading after #1 on this list of anal sex tips, just know that making sure your back entrance is slipperier than the 405 freeway after the first spring rain will make the experience more comfortable and a whole lot more fun. The anus and rectum don’t produce their own lubricant, so if you try to insert something in there–penis, butt plug, or what have you–it’s going to hurt. Plus, the excess friction could actually cause tears in the anal tissue. Ouch! Apply lube to the outside of the anus and slowly work it inside. Reapply lube (lots of it!) during penetration as well to keep things slipping and sliding right along.
2. Relax. You know when you tense up how you tighten all your muscles? Well, the sphincter is one of those muscles, and if you’re tense while attempting anal sex, it’s just not going to happen. Or, it’s not going to feel very good. The sphincter is made up of several rings of muscles. You can actually see some of them. The outer ring is what you see when you look at an anus, which you’re bound to do if you’re going to have anal sex. The inner ring can be seen if you push down (like you’re about to have a bowel movement) and it’s pink in color. Once you’ve identified these muscles, you can get down to relaxing them for penetration with fingers, toys, or a penis.
3. Communicate. As with all good sex, you need to communicate if you expect to have a good anal sex experience. So, if it hurts, let your partner know. Tell them to slow down, ease up, or stop if need be. For best results, the receiver should be in charge of communication, letting their partner know precisely what to do and when to do it. Being open about what you’re feeling (and taking things slowly) can help you and your partner skip the pain and get right to the pleasure.
Remember these anal sex tips the next time you’re about to slip in somewhere new.