Sunday, July 26, 2009

An Eco-Friendly Wind-Up Sex Toy?


Inventors in Ireland recently released their patented eco-friendly sex toy, The Earth Angel. Not only is this vibrator made of 100% recycled white plastics (as is its packaging), this thing does not require batteries whatsoever! All you have to do is crank the handle for a total of 8 minutes and you are all set for 60+ minutes of vibrating good times. Some extra perks include an easy on/off switch with multiple speeds, as well as the ability to plug it into a 5volt charger when you are feeling a little lazy:).

While I absolutely love the concept behind this new vibe, I must caution new users on proper "cranking" etiquette. The handle is designed to crank in one direction, and if you force it the opposite direction (is that counter-clockwise?), you will break the green aspect of your charging ability for this vibrator. Let's just say that I now have to plug my Earth Angel into a 5volt, and I think the Green Gods are shaking their heads in disappointment at this very moment.

Overall, I think this toy is great for anyone looking for an eco-friendly vibe that will save them a lot of money by never having to buy batteries, with light-to-medium intensities (oh, and this person has to be very good at distinguishing right from left a well!).

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Latex Clothing Battles


We are now carrying a beautiful latex clothing line by Syren in our shop. Because we are all so new to the wonderful world of latex beyond safe-sex products, our polishing practices for our display pieces have been in dire need of immence improvement. After much trial and error, we have concluded the following process for streak-free, shiny latex:

1. Most latex pieces will come pre-powdered. The first step towards obtaining squeaky-clean latex is to wipe off as much of the power as possible using a soft, damp sponge. Please note latex scratches and tears easily, so you will not want to use anything with a rough consistency or sharp edges.

2. Using ArmorAll wipes (available at your local drug store), wipe down the pieces entirely to get rid of any excess powder. This will also give it a temporary streak-free shine.

3. Touch-up your latex every 8-10 days with a silicone lube or spray (Pjur or Black Beauty will do the trick). Dab a small amount of lube on a soft sponge or towel and wipe down the entire piece. This is not only necessary for maintaining shine, but is also required in order to avoid cracking.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Pure Pleasure 1-Year Anniversary Party!


Happy Birthday, Pure Pleasure! As of June 13th, 2009, we are one year old! The Pure Pleasure staff celebrated the occasion sporting sexy corsets, indulging in gourmet appetizers while sipping champagne and mingling with our wonderful customers. Not to mention the raging dance party that took place at an after hours hot spot...

Check out our beautiful Pure Pleasure Mamacita in her stunning corset!

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Midori Teaches Hand's-On Rope Bondage



Click here for more classes at Pure Pleasure Shop.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

SC Pride 2009


Pure Pleasure was offered a booth at Santa Cruz's Pride 2009, and we gladly set up a mini pleasure palace fully equipped with toys and prizes and others sexy items. While any booth displaying vibrators is almost guaranteed to be a hot spot to check out, I think the reason why we had so many visitors was our very own Miss April displaying her rainbow pasties...

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Sex Shop Goes Green

Our beloved adult toy boutique, Pure Pleasure, is joining forces with other locally owned eco-friendly businesses by becoming the first Certified Green adult toy store in the Monterey Bay Area. After an eight-month application process with the Department of Public Works, we have finally been recognized for our environmentally contentious business practices.

The process of becoming a Certified Green Business includes carrying a selective range of products made of non-toxic materials, abiding by strict shipping and packaging standards, low usage of water, electricity and other power sources, as well as recycling and proper waste management. We offer an extensive line of rechargeable sex toys, and even a battery recycling program for those who own toys that require regular disposable batteries. We also created our own toy recycling program where dead or defective toys are being made into modern-day pieces of art. And to top it all off, the majority of our staff either walk, skateboard, or ride a bike to work.

Check out our article in the Santa Cruz Sentinel for more information.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

A Sex-Negative Journalist on a Sex-Positive Activist

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Friday, February 20, 2009

Sex Toys on the Red Carpet...

Lights, cameras, champagne, over-the-top dress wear, uber-famous celebrities, and vibrators. Yes, a certain special vibrator called the We-Vibe will be making a guest appearance on the red carpet. This Sunday night you can expect to see Clint Eastwood, Brangenlia, Sarah Jessica Parker, and the We-Vibe all glamed up for the Academy Awards. Finally, a reason to watch!

"The Canadian inventors of the world's only dual sex toy worn by the woman while making love, the We-Vibe, have been invited to go to Hollywood this week to showcase their product to celebrities searching for some pre-Oscar bling bling.

'We are absolutely thrilled to be showcasing the We-Vibe at the Academy Awards and look forward to meeting the celebrities," says inventor Bruce Murison of North Gower, Ont., a small town outside of the capital city of Canada, Ottawa. "The adult lifestyle industry is undergoing an explosion with an annual growth rate of 25 per cent a year. Societal views on sexuality are opening up with an emphasis on romance, education, fun and luxury and the fact we have been invited to participate in the Oscar gifting suites is proof positive that adult sex toys are going mainstream.'

'The We-Vibe is a huge leap forward in the adult toy market - a paradigm shift really - in that the adult toy market now has a vibrator that can actually be shared by a couple while making love," says Murison. "High technology is finally being introduced to the adult toy market which is starved for truly innovative products. The world is looking for toys to spice up the average heterosexual couple's sex life and the We-Vibe does that without alienating or replacing the man.'"

From www.we-vibe/Press_Room.php

Friday, January 30, 2009

I know this may be a weird question, but...

Often times when people ask me a question at Pure Pleasure, they tend to begin with the phrase, "I know this may be a weird question, but...” The question that follows is generally a very common inquiry, such as “What size butt plug should I buy for my boyfriend?”, or “Do penis pumps really work?” Similarly, many people come in the store and vocalize their fears about every aspect of buying a product from asking for recommendations to walking out the door with a vibrator-in-tow, even to admittedly being an owner and user of the product.

While these are all very common concerns (I’m sure at least half of our customers feel some sort of socially-induced anxiety around dildos), it always makes me wonder-customers are worried about inquiring about one or two toys to the lady who owns an entire store-full of them. Vibrators, anal beads, handcuffs, you name it, I got it. You may be worried about walking out of the store with a “Pure Pleasure” bag in tow, while I had my face on the front page of the local paper with a title somewhere along the lines of “Sex Still Sells”. You may be worried your friends or lovers will find your toys in your goodie drawer, or maybe even a Pure Pleasure receipt in the garbage can. I spend Thanksgiving dinners talking to my aunts and uncles and grandparents about how the store is doing, top sellers, upcoming classes, you name it.

Moral of the story: There are no weird questions at Pure Pleasure. We do not judge you for what you may be interested in or curious about, partly because that is our job, and partly because we are/were probably curious about the same thing at one point or another. In fact, some of us actually live for juicy questions and sexy stories. So come on in and ask away!

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Adventures in Adult Toy Land

On June 13th, 2008, I opened a sex shop in downtown Santa Cruz right in between a public library and a family dentistry, on Church St, nonetheless. To top things off, I co-own the store with my mother. Together the Baldwin mother-daughter duo strives to change the world by selling dildos and vibrators and anything in between.

Besides being your typical family-run sex toy boutique, Pure Pleasure also offers weekly classes on everything from sensual massage to anal play. We bring in educators from across the nation to teach an 18+ crowd the ins and outs of all that is erotic. Speakers such as Midori, Jayme Waxmen, and Annie Sprinkle share their knowledge and expertise right here on the main floor of our shop. Blow-job techniques? You got it. Energy orgasms? We got that covered, too. While the classes at Pure Pleasure tend to be more 'R' rated rather than NC-17 (we use blow-up dolls for anal demo's instead of the real thing), we aim cover as many topics along the continuum of sexuality as possible.

Much like the educators that teach in our store, I am creating this blog to share my experiences and new found knowledge with anyone who is interested in learning a little something new about sex and eroticism. These are the adventures in adult toy land from the Pure Pleasure archives...enjoy!