Meet Our Affiliates: Penny Piquant

By Julia | January 11, 2012 – 1:00 pm

Say hello to one of our affiliates: Penny Piquant!

Penny is a self- identified queer/pansexual, sex-positive, kinky, polyamorous, slut, feminist. Her mission is to educate, normalize, teach, advise, and ultimately help others to explore and enjoy their sexuality… Truly a woman after our own hearts!

Penny writes thoughtful posts about topics from pthalates and HPV, to porn and fisting. You’ll also find informative reviews of some of our favorite toys like the Pure Wand, Ella, Ace, and the Fascinator Throe. Oh, and she also writes nice things about us fairly often, which makes us feel all warm and fuzzy. Thanks, Penny!

Posted in toys | Comments

SPRING 2012 Workshops!

By searah | January 10, 2012 – 3:27 pm

Here is a list of all our Spring 2012 Workshops.. with more to come!

February 2nd : Stage Your Own Sexual Revolution

Presented by Dabble, this workshop is held at ETB. SIGN UP HERE

February 5th: Sexy Mamas: Getting Your Groove Back After Baby

Presented by Hip Circle Studios, this workshop is held at 709 Washington, Evanston   SIGN UP HERE

February 9th: How to Bed a Trans Man

This workshop is held at ETB   SIGN UP HERE

March 13th: Men Below the Belt I

This workshop is held at ETB   SIGN UP HERE

March 27th: Pleasurable Prostate Play

This workshop is held at ETB   SIGN UP HERE

April 17th: Men Below the Belt II: Advanced Penis Play

This workshop is held at ETB   SIGN UP HERE

May 24th: Wrapped For Pleasure: Scarf Bound for Sex with Midori

This workshop is held at ETB   SIGN UP HERE

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Workshop: How to Bed a Trans Man

By searah | January 10, 2012 – 3:11 pm
Feb
9
8:00 pm

This workshop is designed for folks who would like to know more about trans sexuality as it relates to their own dating life. Perhaps it’s a fantasy you’ve had for awhile. Perhaps you’ve never thought about it before, but you’ve met a hot FTM and don’t know what to step to take next. Either way, you want to be prepared for whatever might come up, from dinner conversation to the dance floor to the bedroom.

We’ll cover what language to use, sex acts, trans bodies and biology, and how to be flirty without being fetishistic. While this workshop is specifically geared towards sex with trans men, the material presented will be useful for bedding people on all parts of the gender spectrum, not just trans men, and at the end there will be discussion and opportunities to ask any question you want to a real live trans man.

Instructor Bio: Raymond is a writer, storyteller, DJ, and karaoke host who has been known to show up in dance, drag, and burlesque performances. He is also a consultant who has provided trans education for over 10 years to national LGBT organizations, diversity workshops, graduate and undergraduate classes, healthcare professionals, and posters of casual encounters ads on Craigslist.

$15 / $10 for students/ low-income

This workshop is being held at Early to Bed •  5232 N Sheridan rd.

Sign up now by clicking here

(If anyone is interested in similar workshop dealing with trans women please let us know! We welcome any other ideas about future events we can do that interest and support all folks along the gender spectrum.)

To see a list of all our current workshops you can click here

Posted in Events@etb, FTM, sex tips, store info | Comments

Which Packer Should I Get?

By Julia | January 7, 2012 – 4:49 pm

I dunno! But I thought it was time we compared all our “classically-styled” packers (meaning ones not mean for penetration) in one place to help you make a decision. If you still have questions about what might be best for you, drop us a line at info@early2bed.com.

Non-Silicone Packers

Packy: The classic. The Packy wins for price and usability.

Pros:

  • Our squishiest packer, for a life-like feel and all-day comfort.
  • Three sizes and three colors to fit your needs.
  • Inexpensive!

Cons:

  • SoftSkin material is porous and may not stay in tip-top shape forever.

Sailor (AKA GV Softpack) : AKA “Holy shit, this thing feels real!”

Pros:

  • Slightly firmer core makes this squishy packer feel incredibly life-like.
  • Two sizes and three colors to choose from.
  • Comfy and affordable.

Cons:

  • Softskin material is porous and may have slight surface imperfections.

Silicone Packers

Mr. Right: Best balls of the bunch. And they’ll last forever!

Pros:

  • 100% silicone is easy to clean and lasts a life time
  • Ultra-realistic detailing right down to the asymmetrical testicles
  • Heavier and firmer, holds its shape better.

Cons:

  • Only comes in one (largish) size.
  • On the pricier side

Private Packer: Sure to stay where you put it however you move.

Pros:

  • Sturdy silicone is non-porous and long-lasting
  • Ingenious little lip helps this guy stay put in a packing harness
  • Highly detailed

Cons:

  • May have some surface flaws
  • Less flexible than the rest

Looking for the perfect way to wear your packer? We have tons of options! Try the Rodeoh Harness, the Pete Jock Strap or Boxer Briefs, SpareParts Harness, or our classic packing strap.

Posted in FTM | Comments

Workshop: Stage Your Own Sexual Revolution

By searah | January 3, 2012 – 4:14 pm
Feb
2
8:00 pm

This revolution will not be televised… unless you are into that sort of thing. In which case, it totally could be.

Stage a coup against your old, functional-yet-antiquated sexual regime by tapping expertise about adventurous, creative, and spicy bedroom** behavior. This workshop will cover ideas for jump-starting bedroom action, getting the most out of your body, and toys and accessories that make sex alone or with partner more fun and satisfying.

It doesn’t matter what your gender, sexual orientation or relationship status is, this workshop should provide new insight and information to almost anyone who likes a good time.

** The term “bedroom” includes, but is not limited to, bedrooms, dining rooms, kitchen floors, conference tables, tents, back seats, airplane lavatories, etc.

WHAT TO BRING:

Open mind (required)
Beverage (alcoholic or otherwise) (optional)

This class is presented via Dabble at Early to Bed. You can register here. The cost is $20. Taught by Early to Bed’s owner, Searah Deysach

Posted in Events@etb | Comments

Our Top 11 New Toys of 2011

By Julia | December 31, 2011 – 5:08 pm

Its been a good year for sex toys! Here are our favorite new items of 2011. Agree? Disagree? Tell us all about it in the comments! Here we go…

Best New Beginner Vibe…

Love Bunnies are the most adorable by far! But that’s not all. These little guys’ bodies are long-lasting, soft, silicone, and waterproof to boot!

Cock Toy..

We’ve been hunting down a high-quality, easy to use, vibrating stroker for a while now, and we think we’ve finally found it. Hand Solo’s removable bullet is replaceable, which means you’ll be loving this silicone stroker’s nubby texture for a good long time. This toy also easily wins the best sex toy name of the year.

Dildo…

We were devastated when this lovely little dil retired, but this year Amor is back and better than ever! Say hello to a more lovable silicone surface texture and harness-friendly triangular base. Amor looks unassuming, but packs a delightful punch, especially for G-Spot play.

Harness…

You’ve heard all the buzz. The Rodeoh harness has been flying off our shelves. We say “yes please!” to underwear you can fuck with.

Remote Vibe…

Remote vibes have faired particularly well this year with Tiani and the Club Vibe, but the We-Vibe III just might take the cake. Like its predecessor, you wear this rechargeable, waterproof vibe during penetrative play for dual G-Spot and clit vibrations. The fancy new remote is easy to use and the multiple speeds and vibration patterns feel yummy.

Butt Toy…

Ergonomically designed with prostate (or g-spot!) play in mind, the G-Rider packs intense vibrations into a velvety silicone body. We also love the perineum-stimulating base and that it uses easy-to-find AAA batteries!

Innovation…

Often, new sex toy technologies seem amazing on paper, but don’t quite work when we’re on the verge of orgasm. Not so with Ola’s uber responsive and intuitive interface. Control the strength of vibration with the pressure of your fingers and create endless vibration patterns that repeat at the press of a button. All that fancy new technology is packed into a sleek rechargeable, waterproof, silicone package.

Lube…

We’re still celebrating Uber Lube’s return! This beautifully packaged, locally made silicone lube is super long-lasting and boosted with skin-friendly vitamin E.

Erotica…

Tristan Taormino won our hearts and our panties with Take Me There, a collection of trans and genderqueer erotica. Favorite writers like Patrick Califia, Kate Bornstein, Julia Serano, and Sinclair Sexsmith tell scorching hot tales that lay bare the diversity of gender expression and sexuality.

Dual Action Vibe…

Sugar Pop takes dual action to a whole new level. The rotating pearls rotate on three different tracks for undulating internal sensations and the clit stimulator has a whole lotta power. Both parts have multiple speeds and patterns that are controlled separately for a perfectly customizable toy.

Porn…

Award-winning director, Courtney Trouble brought us Live Sex Show. Filmed in front of a horney live audience of 200 people at 2010’s San Francisco’s Masturbate-a-Thon, hosted by Carol Queen, this film has it all. Read my full review HERE.

What do you think? Buy any goodies this year that you can’t stop gushing (pun!) about? We hope to see all your cute faces in 2012. Have a orgasm-filled new year!

Posted in Uncategorized, toys | Comments

How do I know if a women has had an orgasm?

By searah | December 27, 2011 – 6:08 pm

NOT what everyone looks like

This was the question I got today from a man who called the shop (although he used “girl” instead of woman, so I am taking that slight liberty) and he seemed to expect a simple and succinct answer, but sadly that was not what I gave him.

And based on the questions he asked, I was reminded once again, that so many people in our culture know so little about how women’s bodies work because NO ONE EVER TELLS THEM!

So to sum up the points we touched on and to clear up some things that I know at least one person in the world was confused about, here are some points I hope everyone will know someday:

• TRUE: Vaginas get wet when a women is turned on. Except for when that isn’t true. Women can be turned on and not get super wet, women can get wet and not be super turned on. So while the conventional wisdom is that wetness = sexually aroused, that equation is not 100% accurate all the time. But wetness is not considered  a sign that a woman has had an orgasm.

• FALSE: There is one way to “give” a women an orgasm. Every single woman on the planet is different and responds to sexual stimulation in her own way. There is not a guaranteed toy, trick, gel, drink, herb, patch or technique that will work for each women. It is TRUE that a majority of women like/need direct clitoral stimulation to have an orgasm, but the actual type of stimulation varies and is not necessary for every woman.

• TRUE: Yes, female ejaculation is real and women can ejaculate when having an orgasm, but LOTS of women have fantastic orgasms without ejaculating.

• FALSE: There is ONE way to know a woman has had an orgasm. The only real way to know is to have you partner tell you that she has. Some women make a loud guttural noises. Some women are quiet and silent when they come. Some squeak. Some laugh. Some cry. Some yell. Some just smile. And yes, some even lie about it. But you will never truly know if your partner has had an orgasm unless she tells you. And she might not do that unless you ask her. I suggest not jumping in right after you come and saying “did you come huh huh did you have an orgasm?”, but maybe asking her gently something to the effect “Was that nice? Do you want a little more attention anywhere? Can keep pleasuring you?” or ask her when you are not in the sack “Soooooo.. I was just wondering cause I can’t really tell from your body language, but do you have orgasms when have sex/fuck/make love?”.  I know that can be an awkward question, but if you really can’t tell if she is having an orgasm, it actually a really nice thing to do. And if her answer is “no, I don’t, then a great follow up question is “oh, sorry.. what can I do to help that happen for you?”.

So to sum it up.. TALK TO YOUR PARTNER ABOUT SEX. Be generous as a lover and communicate your desires, your questions and your needs. And women - tell your partners what is going with your body. It is HOT and people like knowing you are feeling good when they touch/stroke/tickle/fondle you RIGHT THERE.

Wanna get more info on the amazing and complicated world of women’s bodies and sexual response? Below are some great resources. And keep those questions coming!

Scarleteen. Yes, it is for youth, but there is so much great, honest sex info here, it is a valuable resource for ANYONE.

I Heart Female Orgasm. This book is the BIBLE on the subject. Everyone should read this.

Tristan Taormino’s Expert Guide to Female Orgasm . If you are more visually inclined, this video has lots of great info and naked people.

Women’s Anatomy of Sexual Arousal. Another great book that really details the workings of woman’s bodies and sexual response.

Also - if you are not sure that you have had an orgasm, this article on sexuality.about.com may help you figure it out.

( and just for fun… you can take out Facebook poll here and tell us how you let your partner know you’ve come)

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments

A Sex Toy Wet Dream

By Julia | December 24, 2011 – 4:23 pm

Around the holidays I often find myself planted in front of the screen, gazing longingly at beautiful designer sex goods that I will never own, with a string of drool extending from lip to keyboard. These amaaazing kinky shoes-cum-sextoys were fluttering around the interwebs yesterday (I ran across them on Jiz Lee’s facebook- thanks Jiz!) and I just had to share them with you. The plug pump just makes way to much sense in my mind, especially because this story has been planted firmly in my mind for the past few of years. I particularly love the ball gag sandal though. Hint.

If luxurious erotic fashion items and beautiful kink-tinged imagery gets your knickers wet, I highly recommend taking a look at this blog. Perfect for taking a small mind vacation from holiday stress.

Posted in art, toys | Comments

Science, Sex, and the Ladies

By Julia | December 10, 2011 – 8:52 pm

Sometimes people send us emails about cool sex-related projects they’re working on. Recently we got one from an independent film troupe in Indiana who are making a documentary about female sexuality. It looks pretty awesome and quite different from most documentaries we’ve seen on the subject, so we thought you might like to see what they’re up to. You can also back them on Kickstarter if the spirit moves you. Here’s what they have to say about the project…

Science Sex and the Ladies is a different kind of non-fiction movie. There are no interviewed talking heads. Instead you will find an ensemble cast, researched arguments, and even a musical number. It is a boisterous, innovative endeavor into a serious subject, and it will move past the status quo to show you female sexuality from a whole new perspective. There are very basic misunderstandings within our society about the female orgasm; specifically why and how it happens on a purely physical level; and this has led to misunderstandings about almost every aspect of female sexuality. As a result, too many women feel disappointed, ashamed, or inadequate when it comes to their sexuality. Too many men are perplexed and often hurt by the sexual relationship they share with the women they love, and too many girls feel confusion and a lack of control over their very real, yet culturally complicated sexual desire. As a society, we can and should do better.

Science Sex and the Ladies digs into existing sexual research and cultural studies on sex; pushing aside lazy incorrect scientific conclusions about the nature of female sex drive and cutting through the layers of mystery and spiritual gobbledygook that unfortunately encompass our societal knowledge of female orgasm. What emerges is a better understanding of female sexuality, female orgasm, and female sex drive; one that is based in solid scientific inquiry, logical arguments, and the reality of the female experience.

And here’s a sweet trailer for your viewing pleasure.
Posted in science, sexual health, video | Comments

Do lubes have expiration dates?

By searah | December 9, 2011 – 3:38 pm

A twitter friend just asked if lubes have expiration dates and I think it really needs a more than 140 character answer.. so here it is:

The short answer is some do and most don’t.

For water-based lubes, most can last at least a year or more.  To keep your lube as fresh as possible, we recommend keeping it in the bottle in came in and keeping it closed when you are not using it.

Liquid Silk and Maximus are the only water-based lubes that we carry that have printed “Best By” dates and right now (12/11) those dates are in the year 2016 so heaven forbid one 50ml bottle lasts you five years, it will still be ok to use.

The Swede flavored lube that we carry has the cosmetic industry symbol for how long you should keep the product once it is opened (see right). For that lube they suggest 12 months.

UPDATE: Slippery Stuff is good for two years

UPDATE: Sliquid lubes are good for 30 months from the date on the bottom of the bottle (see picture below)

Oil-based Lubes (which we only recommend for solo-penis action) can go rancid so if it smells off you might what to chuck it. It’s not gonna kill you, but it could leave a lingering off scent on your wang.

Silicone Lubes should be “good” for years. There really isn’t anything in those that can go bad.

All that said, I can’t find any other expiration dates on most of  our lubes, so I’m going contact the manufacturers and update this if I get more info.

The basic rule of thumb we have always used here (and that I use at home) is if it smells off or seems extra sticky, chuck it. Keep your lube out of the sun and away from heat to help it last the longest!


Posted in lube, sexual health, store info | Comments