<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title>Babeland Customer Service</title><link>http://www.babeland.com:80/categories/babeland-customer-service</link><description>Babeland Customer Service</description><item><title>So, What's the Deal with Arousal Gels?</title><link>http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2011/05/02/so-whats-the-deal-with-arousal-gels-and-sexual-satisfaction/</link><description>&lt;img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-7156" title="orgasm" src="/Media/BLND/BlogMedia/uploads/2011/05/orgasm.jpg" alt="" width="285" height="162"&gt;There are so many different kinds of sexual enhancers on the market, it's hard to tell what's the "real deal" and what's got the same level of credibility as those blue mysterious pills you see next to the cash register at your local bodega. So in the interest of sexuality journalism (and a little sex geekery on my part), I looked into arousal gels and how they actually work to enhance your sex life.

There are many ways in which a person could be experiencing sexual dissatisfaction. A person could be new to a relationship and nervous about communicating their needs and desires, or they're in a long term relationship and in need of some new and exciting sexual exploration. They could have recently had &lt;a href="/www.clevelandclinic.org/reproductiveresearchcenter/.../agradoc199.pdf"&gt;surgery in the pelvic area&lt;/a&gt; and be experiencing issues with arousal and orgasm as a result, or perhaps they've gone on a new &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-SSRI_sexual_dysfunction"&gt;anti-depressant&lt;/a&gt; and are finding that it's affecting their sexual function. Perhaps they're getting older and are either menopausal or post-menopausal, so the &lt;a href="http://www.webmd.com/menopause/guide/sex-menopause"&gt;level of estrogen&lt;/a&gt; has lowered, which sometimes causes vaginal dryness and decreased sensitivity/blood flow. Maybe they're just new to sexual intercourse and haven't found their favorite ways to get off yet (or haven't had their first orgasm yet!).

Our sexuality is complex and has many overlapping elements to it that can come into play, whether we're on our own or with a partner. Issues of sexual intimacy, partner satisfaction, previous sexual trauma and self-image are also factors to consider in maintaining our sexual health.

So while some of these concerns have to be addressed by a &lt;a href="http://www.aasect.org/"&gt;medical professional&lt;/a&gt;, others can be aided by a trip to Babeland for a &lt;a href="/events/"&gt;workshop&lt;/a&gt; or a shopping expedition with your partner. Here at Babeland, we currently carry two arousal gels, the &lt;a href="http://store.babeland.com/safe-sex-lubes/blossom-organics-arousal-gel"&gt;Blossom Organics Pure Pleasure Arousal Gel&lt;/a&gt; and the &lt;a href="http://store.babeland.com/not-yet-live/sliquid-organics-stimulating-o-gel"&gt;Sliquid Organics Stimulating O Gel&lt;/a&gt;. Both of these gels are paraben-free and contain organic ingredients. The Sliquid gel is also vegan and glycerin-free. Neither of these gels are compatible with latex condoms, as they both contain natural oils that can break down the latex.

The primary function of these arousal gels is to promote vasocongestion, or the swelling of tissue that increases blood flow to an area of the body. The increased blood flow can increase the sensitivity of an area when a gel is applied topically. The resulting vasocongestion is responsible for erections, the swelling of the nipples, the tingling around the clitoris as well as the "sex flush" some people get in their cheeks and face. Vasocongestion can be stimulated by a variety of arousal gel ingredients, including L-Arginine (the amino acid that precedes nitric oxide production, causing increased blood flow), menthol (which may promote the gel's absorption and draw blood to the area) and niacin, or B3 (which causes flushing). Cinnamon oil, which is used in our &lt;a href="http://store.babeland.com/safe-sex-lubes/emerita-oh-warming-lubricant"&gt;Emerita Warming Lubricant&lt;/a&gt;, has long been used as a sexual stimulant as well, due to its tingling, stimulating effects.

It's best to try a gel or lube on the inside of your mouth before applying it to the genital area. This will give you a better idea of how the sensitive skin of the genitals will react. The reaction will vary significantly from person to person, so like any new product, proceed slowly and listen to your body. Arousal gels only address one physical aspect of sexual function, so don't be discouraged if they're not the right product for you. As I mentioned earlier, there are a multitude of factors to consider when examining sexual satisfaction and overall health. And if you have concerns about the ingredients in a product and how they might react with any other medication you're taking, consulting your doctor is key.

Got more questions about arousal gels, or sexual stimulating products? Post your questions here and I'll answer them here! body. Arousal gels only address one physical aspect of sexual function, so don't be discouraged if they're not the right product for you. As I mentioned earlier, there are a multitude of factors to consider when examining sexual satisfaction and overall health. And if you have concerns about the ingredients in a product and how they might react with any other medication you're taking, consulting your doctor is key.

Got more questions about arousal gels, or sexual stimulating products? Post your questions here and I'll answer them here!</description><pubDate>Mon, 02 May 2011 12:44:07 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2011/05/02/so-whats-the-deal-with-arousal-gels-and-sexual-satisfaction/</guid></item><item><title>Behind the scenes at Babeland: an interview with Kristie, Sex Educator/Donations Coordinator extraordinaire</title><link>http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2011/04/18/behind-the-scenes-at-babeland-an-interview-with-kristie-sex-educatordonations-coordinator-extraordinaire/</link><description>&lt;a href="/babeland-staff-picks"&gt;&lt;img class="alignnone" title="Kristie" src="http://cms.babeland.com/about/images/Staff%20Photos/Kristie%20-%20Seattle" alt="" width="140" height="157"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;It's time for another peek behind the velvet curtain at Babeland! Every month, we take a look at one of our &lt;a href="/babeland-staff-picks"&gt;Staff Pick&lt;/a&gt;-ers, and show you a little bit about who they are, how they got here, what it's like for them to work here, and more. This month, we've got Kristie on deck! Kristie's one of our hard-working, wonderful, and always-stylish staff at our Seattle store.  She's a perfect example of how people come to work at Babeland from wildly varied backgrounds, but stick around because of the wonderful environment they find here.  Read on to find out more about Kristie's Babeland story...

&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abby: &lt;/strong&gt;Tell us the story of how you started at Babeland.  What brought you here? &lt;/em&gt;

&lt;strong&gt;Kristie:&lt;/strong&gt; I've had a pretty eclectic employment history.  I did a lot of retail through school, then worked in theater doing costumes and dressing.  Just before Babeland, I had been working a stuffy corporate job in marketing for a cruise line, and I quit to focus on a handmade undies business I had at the time.  I was actually out celebrating leaving that job and ran into a friend who worked at Babeland, and he told me they were hiring for part time.  Initially, I just thought I would work here for a short while, but I found such an amazing community here, and so much joy from what we do every day, that nearly four years have now flown by.

&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abby:&lt;/strong&gt; So now that you're here, what do you do at Babeland?&lt;/em&gt;







&lt;strong&gt;Kristie: &lt;/strong&gt; I'm a sex educator/sales associate, so most of my shifts are spent on the sales floor, helping our awesome customers.  Also, I'm the Donations Coordinator for Seattle, so I put together goodie bags and raffle prizes for lots of great fundraisers.  I'm a giver.  Recently, I filled in for our Marketing/Education Coordinator while she was on maternity leave, so I got to plan workshops and events and tweet a lot.

&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abby:&lt;/strong&gt; Speaking of maternity, what was your own family's reaction when you told them you work at Babeland?&lt;/em&gt;

&lt;strong&gt;Kristie: &lt;/strong&gt; My mom was funny.  She was okay with it once I explained the mission and everything.  I've tried to get her to come into the store, but she keeps saying, "Oh, there's nothing in there for me."  I'm like, "I bet there is..." but it doesn't work.

&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abby:&lt;/strong&gt; Tell us about your favorite/most touching/most life-changing moment with a customer or coworker.&lt;/em&gt;

&lt;strong&gt;Kristie:&lt;/strong&gt; There are so many!  Recently, there was this couple who came to one of the free Babeland Brunches, and afterwards signed up for five more classes.  They were so cool.  The lady told me that they had both previously been with partners who were pretty sex-negative, and then they found each other and realized they just wanted to learn and try everything they could together.  It was so inspiring to see two people so excited about sex education!

&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abby:&lt;/strong&gt; What's something you've learned about yourself through your work at Babeland?&lt;/em&gt;

&lt;strong&gt;Kristie: &lt;/strong&gt; I learned that I really like teaching.  I was a painfully shy child, and even in college, giving presentations to the class freaked me out.  But here, I've found that I really enjoy being in front of a crowd, sharing information and coming up with funny analogies like, "The vagina is a cul-de-sac but the anus is a superhighway, so you need a flared base on your anal toy."

&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abby:&lt;/strong&gt; Very true.  And what's something you've learned about sex through your work at Babeland?&lt;/em&gt;

&lt;strong&gt;Kristie: &lt;/strong&gt;I've learned a lot about male-bodied folks.  Being a gold-star lesbian, I didn't have much knowledge previously about cock rings, prostates, and masturbation sleeves.

&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abby: &lt;/strong&gt; Finally, what's your favorite word for your favorite sexy body parts?&lt;/em&gt;

&lt;strong&gt;Kristie: &lt;/strong&gt;Lately, I keep using "lady bits."













&amp;nbsp;by: &lt;/strong&gt; Finally, what's your favorite word for your favorite sexy body parts?&lt;/em&gt;

&lt;strong&gt;Kristie: &lt;/strong&gt;Lately, I keep using "lady bits."













&amp;nbsp;</description><pubDate>Mon, 18 Apr 2011 10:43:27 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2011/04/18/behind-the-scenes-at-babeland-an-interview-with-kristie-sex-educatordonations-coordinator-extraordinaire/</guid></item><item><title>Got Sex Questions? Ask A Sex Educator! </title><link>http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2011/04/03/got-sex-questions-ask-a-sex-educator/</link><description>&lt;a href="http://babeland.tumblr.com"&gt;&lt;img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-6926" title="question key brown" src="/Media/BLND/BlogMedia/uploads/2011/04/question-key-brown.gif" alt="" width="150" height="189"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Here at Babeland, we pride ourselves on giving our customers a personalized experience and consider ourselves a knowledgeable source of sexuality information. After all, we undergo a lot of training to call ourselves Sex Educators and we take that very seriously! Yet not all of our customers have the luxury of coming into one of our New York City or Seattle locations to get the personalized experience.

In addition to the &lt;a href="/sexinfo/howto/"&gt;How To and Sex Tips&lt;/a&gt; portion of our website, we also have an area on our fabulous &lt;a href="http://babeland.tumblr.com/"&gt;Tumblr&lt;/a&gt; where you can &lt;a href="http://babeland.tumblr.com/ask"&gt;ask a sexuality educator&lt;/a&gt; questions directly. If we think your question might be a question that others have (and often, it is!), we'll post a lengthier response on the blog as well as answer you directly (anonymous, of course, if you prefer). So ask away! Nothing like having your very own sex ed teacher, right here in your home.</description><pubDate>Sun, 03 Apr 2011 10:00:05 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2011/04/03/got-sex-questions-ask-a-sex-educator/</guid></item><item><title>Customer Appreciation Party at Babeland Brooklyn</title><link>http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2011/03/24/customer-appreciation-party-at-babeland-brooklyn/</link><description>&lt;a href="/Media/BLND/BlogMedia/uploads/2011/03/babeland-brooklyn1.jpeg"&gt;&lt;img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-6879" src="/Media/BLND/BlogMedia/uploads/2011/03/babeland-brooklyn1.jpeg" alt="" width="251" height="163"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Thank you for being a friend, Brooklyn!

&lt;a title="event page" href="/events/" target="_blank"&gt;This Friday night,&lt;/a&gt; Babeland Brooklyn wants to show how much we appreciate you. We'll be   pouring Babeland Bubbly, offering mini-workshops, and even raffling  off  $250 dollars worth of sex toys from our fabulous "&lt;a title="moregasm kit" href="http://store.babeland.com/sexy-packs/moregasm-kit" target="_blank"&gt;Moregasm Kit."&lt;/a&gt;

Why?  Because we love you!

Stop by &lt;a title="babeland brooklyn" href="/about/new-york-brooklyn-store/" target="_blank"&gt;Babeland Brooklyn&lt;/a&gt; at 462 Bergen Street from 7pm - 9pm this Friday night. See you there,&lt;a title="babeland brooklyn" href="/about/new-york-brooklyn-store/" target="_blank"&gt; &lt;/a&gt;Brooklynites!</description><pubDate>Thu, 24 Mar 2011 16:23:58 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2011/03/24/customer-appreciation-party-at-babeland-brooklyn/</guid></item><item><title>March Madness Flash Sale: 40% Off the Butterfly Kiss!</title><link>http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2011/03/01/march-madness-flash-sale-40-off-the-butterfly-kiss/</link><description>The Butterfly Kiss, now also in blue...and only $10!

&lt;a href="http://store.babeland.com/vibrators-rabbit-style/butterfly-kiss"&gt;&lt;img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-6669" title="mm_flsale_bfkiss_600x400" src="/Media/BLND/BlogMedia/uploads/2011/03/mm_flsale_bfkiss_600x4002.jpg" alt="" width="462" height="308"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;</description><pubDate>Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:04:27 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2011/03/01/march-madness-flash-sale-40-off-the-butterfly-kiss/</guid></item><item><title>Need Last Minute V-Day Gifts? Why Not Get Them Delivered...For FREE! </title><link>http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2011/02/11/need-last-minute-v-day-gifts-why-not-get-them-delivered-for-free/</link><description>&lt;p style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.va-va-vroom.com/"&gt;&lt;img class="size-full wp-image-6499 alignleft" title="duo4" src="/Media/BLND/BlogMedia/uploads/2011/02/duo41.jpg" alt="" width="286" height="190"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;This Saturday, Sunday and Monday only: for those of you who live in Manhattan/Brooklyn or Seattle, but can’t make it to one of our Babeland stores to get your sweetie their V-Day gifts, we’re offering &lt;strong&gt;free &lt;/strong&gt;delivery to your home! The best part? NYC and Seattle residents will get their deliveries handed off to them by &lt;a href="http://www.clementinecourier.com/"&gt;Clementine&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="http://www.va-va-vroom.com/"&gt;Va Va Vroom&lt;/a&gt;'s lovely couriers respectively, with bikes in tow! So spend more time indoors with your honey this holiday weekend and have your goodies brought to you, in expert hands. For NYC residents, deliveries will occur within 3 hours of the order and during store hours. For Seattle residents, deliveries will also be within 3 hours of the order and between the hours of 12pm and 6pm. All stores will be participating from February 12 through the 14. To call a store for a delivery, go to our &lt;a href="/about/locations"&gt;Store Listings&lt;/a&gt; for more contact details.&lt;/p&gt;
</description><pubDate>Fri, 11 Feb 2011 12:47:35 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2011/02/11/need-last-minute-v-day-gifts-why-not-get-them-delivered-for-free/</guid></item><item><title>25% Off the Best Sex Toys of 2010!</title><link>http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2010/12/27/25-the-best-sex-toys-of-2010/</link><description>Make the most of those gift cards and returned sweater credits and buy something just for yourself or your honey! Now through January 12th, Babeland is offering an awesome &lt;a href="/sexinfo/features/best-of-2010"&gt;25% off of our 25 bestsellers of 2010&lt;/a&gt;, including such popular items as the &lt;a href="http://store.babeland.com/vibrators-electric/we-vibe"&gt;We-Vibe II&lt;/a&gt;, the &lt;a href="http://store.babeland.com/men-cock-rings/sonic-ring-kit"&gt;Sonic Ring Kit&lt;/a&gt;, and the classic &lt;a href="http://store.babeland.com/vibrators-rabbit-style/elastomer-rabbit-habit"&gt;Rabbit Habit vibrator&lt;/a&gt;. Take advantage of your post-holiday downtime and give yourself the gift of pleasure!

&lt;strong&gt;Happy Holidays from All of Us at Babeland! &lt;/strong&gt;

&lt;a href="/sexinfo/features/best-of-2010"&gt;&lt;img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-5999" title="toyfriend_holiday_600x400" src="/Media/BLND/BlogMedia/uploads/2010/12/toyfriend_holiday_600x400.jpg" alt="" width="432" height="288"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;</description><pubDate>Mon, 27 Dec 2010 13:40:21 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2010/12/27/25-the-best-sex-toys-of-2010/</guid></item><item><title>There's Still Time to Shop!</title><link>http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2010/12/22/theres-still-time-to-shop-2/</link><description>Plus, free next-day shipping on &lt;a href="/sexinfo/funstuff/babelands-12-days-of-christmas"&gt;orders over $250&lt;/a&gt;!

&lt;a href="/sexinfo/funstuff/babelands-12-days-of-christmas"&gt;&lt;img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-5994" title="day11_2010" src="/Media/BLND/BlogMedia/uploads/2010/12/day11_2010.jpg" alt="" width="480" height="320"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;</description><pubDate>Wed, 22 Dec 2010 12:49:29 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2010/12/22/theres-still-time-to-shop-2/</guid></item><item><title>Tis the Seasion, to Give and Receive...</title><link>http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2010/12/21/tis-the-seasion-to-give-and-receive/</link><description>With orders over $150, get a &lt;a href="/sexinfo/funstuff/babelands-12-days-of-christmas"&gt;FREE Babeland gift card&lt;/a&gt;!

&lt;a href="/sexinfo/funstuff/babelands-12-days-of-christmas"&gt;&lt;img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-5982" title="image001" src="/Media/BLND/BlogMedia/uploads/2010/12/image0011.jpg" alt="" width="477" height="308"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;</description><pubDate>Tue, 21 Dec 2010 07:13:08 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2010/12/21/tis-the-seasion-to-give-and-receive/</guid></item><item><title>Roll the Dice and Get Lucky! </title><link>http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2010/12/20/roll-the-dice-and-get-lucky/</link><description>With today's &lt;a href="/sexinfo/funstuff/babelands-12-days-of-christmas"&gt;holiday deal&lt;/a&gt;:

&lt;a href="/sexinfo/funstuff/babelands-12-days-of-christmas"&gt;&lt;img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-5977" title="image002" src="/Media/BLND/BlogMedia/uploads/2010/12/image0025.jpg" alt="" width="475" height="306"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;</description><pubDate>Mon, 20 Dec 2010 13:00:15 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2010/12/20/roll-the-dice-and-get-lucky/</guid></item><item><title>Free Shipping on Orders Over $99!</title><link>http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2010/12/17/free-shipping-on-orders-over-99/</link><description>&lt;a href="/sexinfo/funstuff/babelands-12-days-of-christmas"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Now until December 21st!

&lt;a href="/sexinfo/funstuff/babelands-12-days-of-christmas"&gt;&lt;img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-5951" title="image002" src="/Media/BLND/BlogMedia/uploads/2010/12/image0024.jpg" alt="" width="477" height="305"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="/sexinfo/funstuff/babelands-12-days-of-christmas"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;</description><pubDate>Fri, 17 Dec 2010 07:45:59 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2010/12/17/free-shipping-on-orders-over-99/</guid></item><item><title>Holiday Treats from Babeland.com!</title><link>http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2010/12/16/holiday-treats-from-babeland-com/</link><description>&lt;span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"&gt;Today only, stuff those stockings, trim those trees, and take $10 off your order of $100 or more!&lt;/span&gt;

&lt;span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"&gt;&lt;a href="/sexinfo/funstuff/babelands-12-days-of-christmas"&gt;&lt;img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-5943" title="day05_2010" src="/Media/BLND/BlogMedia/uploads/2010/12/day05_2010.jpg" alt="" width="480" height="320"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;</description><pubDate>Thu, 16 Dec 2010 09:14:30 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2010/12/16/holiday-treats-from-babeland-com/</guid></item><item><title>One Day Only – 40% Off the Mystic Wand!</title><link>http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2010/12/15/one-day-only-40-off-the-mystic-wand/</link><description>Only until &lt;a href="http://store.babeland.com/vibrators-premium/vibratex-mystic-wand-vibrator"&gt;supplies&lt;/a&gt; last!

&lt;a href="/sexinfo/funstuff/babelands-12-days-of-christmas"&gt;&lt;img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-5925" title="mysticwandcorrected" src="/Media/BLND/BlogMedia/uploads/2010/12/mysticwandcorrected.jpg" alt="" width="480" height="320"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;</description><pubDate>Wed, 15 Dec 2010 08:12:07 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2010/12/15/one-day-only-40-off-the-mystic-wand/</guid></item><item><title>On the 3rd Day of...Get a Free Babeland Delight Kit!</title><link>http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2010/12/14/on-the-3rd-day-of-get-a-free-babeland-delight-kit/</link><description>One day only, when you purchase from our Babeland &lt;a href="/sexy/gift-guides/holiday"&gt;Holiday Gift Guide&lt;/a&gt;.

&lt;a href="/sexinfo/funstuff/babelands-12-days-of-christmas"&gt;&lt;img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-5897" title="155498_10150098892848828_351173938827_7186802_876333_n" src="/Media/BLND/BlogMedia/uploads/2010/12/155498_10150098892848828_351173938827_7186802_876333_n.jpg" alt="" width="478" height="308"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;</description><pubDate>Tue, 14 Dec 2010 10:10:52 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2010/12/14/on-the-3rd-day-of-get-a-free-babeland-delight-kit/</guid></item><item><title>Get A Free Silver Bullet with Any Purchase Over $50!</title><link>http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2010/12/13/get-a-free-silver-bullet-with-any-purchase-over-50/</link><description>Make your holidays bright, and keep &lt;a href="http://store.babeland.com/sexy-gear/babeland-silver-bullet"&gt;buzzing&lt;/a&gt; all year long!

&lt;a href="/sexinfo/funstuff/babelands-12-days-of-christmas"&gt;&lt;img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-5891" title="image001" src="/Media/BLND/BlogMedia/uploads/2010/12/image001.jpg" alt="" width="472" height="303"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;</description><pubDate>Mon, 13 Dec 2010 14:40:25 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2010/12/13/get-a-free-silver-bullet-with-any-purchase-over-50/</guid></item><item><title>Too Chilly To Go Out Shopping? Stay In and Stay Warm!</title><link>http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2010/12/10/to-chilly-to-go-out-shopping-stay-in-and-stay-warm/</link><description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="/sexy/gift-guides/holiday/"&gt;&lt;img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5879" title="4287931193_59bd18483e" src="/Media/BLND/BlogMedia/uploads/2010/12/4287931193_59bd18483e-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Don't have time to pay attention to all those pesky cut-off dates for holiday shopping online? If you live in NYC, you can have all your sexy gifts &lt;a href="http://nymag.com/guides/everything/deliveries/69674/"&gt;delivered straight to you&lt;/a&gt; or a loved one! Courtesy of the speedy and thorough delivery service &lt;a href="http://nymag.com/guides/everything/deliveries/69675/"&gt;Clementine Courier&lt;/a&gt;, your Babeland gifts will arrive in less than 3 hours from your calling time during store hours. Beat the stores lines as well as the online deadlines and stay cozy with your lover instead - just have the toys come to you! Delivery fee is $35 and available to customers in the Manhattan and Brooklyn boroughs only. Call your &lt;a href="/about/locations"&gt;nearest Babeland store&lt;/a&gt; to get your goodies to your door.&lt;/p&gt;
</description><pubDate>Fri, 10 Dec 2010 05:52:44 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2010/12/10/to-chilly-to-go-out-shopping-stay-in-and-stay-warm/</guid></item><item><title>“Check in” at Babeland and Receive 10% Off!</title><link>http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2010/10/25/%e2%80%9ccheck-in%e2%80%9d-at-babeland-and-receive-10-off/</link><description>&lt;img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-4827" title="foursquare" src="/Media/BLND/BlogMedia/uploads/2010/10/foursquare-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="140" height="140"&gt;Love &lt;a href="http://foursquare.com/"&gt;Foursquare&lt;/a&gt;? Visit Babeland? Make the most of your FourSquare check-ins and get 10% off &lt;strong&gt;every&lt;/strong&gt; time you shop. That's right, every time! Come in and be Mayor of our SOHO, Lower East Side and Park Slope locations. Present your phone screen check-in to a Babeland sales associate and get your discount. This offer excludes toys from JimmyJane, as well as gift sets and gift cards.

&lt;em&gt;And while we're talking about great offers, here are some other discounts you might not be aware of: those in the sex industry, those who work for &lt;a href="http://www.plannedparenthood.org/"&gt;Planned Parenthood&lt;/a&gt; as well as &lt;a href="http://bluestockings.com/"&gt;Bluestockings&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href="http://www.tes.org/"&gt;TES&lt;/a&gt; members and students with ID also receive 10% at our stores, at any time! Just another great incentive to shop at Babeland.
&lt;/em&gt;</description><pubDate>Mon, 25 Oct 2010 11:00:54 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2010/10/25/%e2%80%9ccheck-in%e2%80%9d-at-babeland-and-receive-10-off/</guid></item><item><title>Behind the Scenes at Babeland: an interview with Taylor, Fulfillment Systems Manager</title><link>http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2010/10/12/behind-the-scenes-at-babeland-an-interview-with-taylor-fulfillment-systems-manager/</link><description>&lt;a href="/babeland-staff-picks"&gt;&lt;img class="alignleft" src="http://cms.babeland.com/about/images/Staff%20Photos/Taylor%20-%20Oakland" alt="" width="140" height="180"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;My dearest hope in life is that by now, you've taken a look at our &lt;a href="/babeland-staff-picks"&gt;Staff Picks&lt;/a&gt; section of Babeland.com.  Trust me:  it's just too good to pass up. Every month, six of our staff members pick   one of their favorite toys, and we tell you all about it &lt;a href="/babeland-staff-picks///"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt;.   And in the spirit of letting you into our behind-the-scenes  wonderland,  I (Abby, your trusty Web Editor) interview one of our  &lt;a href="/babeland-staff-picks"&gt;Staff Pick&lt;/a&gt;-ers  every month.  This month, learn a little more about Taylor, our Fulfillment Systems Manager!  Taylor has worked out of three of our locations, and brings positivity, an amazing knowledge base, and hardcore workplace dance parties to everything he does.  Read on!



&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abby: &lt;/strong&gt; What first brought you to Babeland?   Tell us the story of how you started working here.&lt;/em&gt;

&lt;strong&gt;Taylor:&lt;/strong&gt; I’ve been a fan of Babeland since I  was a wee lad of *ahem* 18 in Plano, TX when  it was still Toys in Babeland.  A friend had seen an ad in Bitch magazine, and we  visited babeland.com.  I was blown away by the empowering honesty and hotness  of the site.  The way sex of all types -- be it straight, gay, lesbian, queer,  trans, self, etc. -- was held as important and positive was a breath of fresh air.   Since sex toys were illegal until 2008 in Texas, I was used to the roadside sex shops  where “personal massagers” and “anatomically correct condom demonstration  models” were sold.  So seeing a website full of dildos, harnesses, and vibrators  (oh my) being celebrated was so rad.  I knew then that I wanted to work for  Babeland.

&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abby:&lt;/strong&gt; So how did you make it happen? &lt;/em&gt;

&lt;strong&gt;Taylor: &lt;/strong&gt; Fast-forward several years... I was living in Pittsburgh and wanting to move  to NYC, so I took a leap and applied for a position.  A couple weeks later, I  was packed and on the road to New  York to be a Sex Educator/Sales Associate at our Lower East Side store.  Babeland quickly became my  home and passion.  I’m thankful that over three years later, I still get excited to  come to work and be inspired by my coworkers and  customers.

&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abby: &lt;/strong&gt; And now, after those three years, what do you  do here?&lt;/em&gt;

&lt;strong&gt;Taylor:&lt;/strong&gt; My positions at Babeland have varied  quite a bit, and I have settled in as the Fulfillment Systems Manager at our  Oakland  warehouse.  Ultimately, I help make sure that dildos and vibrators safely arrive  throughout the land, and that folks who visit Babeland.com get top-notch  customer service from beginning to end.

&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abby:&lt;/strong&gt; So you're kind of the sex toy fairy.&lt;/em&gt;

&lt;strong&gt;Taylor:&lt;/strong&gt; I like to think so!

&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abby:&lt;/strong&gt; What’s a day  in the life of you at your job?&lt;/em&gt;

&lt;strong&gt;Taylor:&lt;/strong&gt; This job  keeps me on my toes quite a bit, but it's mainly troubleshooting, problem solving, talking to customers, learning from my coworkers, keeping the laughter  going, and cheesy music.  Lots of cheesy music.

&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abby: &lt;/strong&gt; What was your family’s  reaction when you told them you work at Babeland?&lt;/em&gt;

&lt;strong&gt;Taylor: &lt;/strong&gt; I took my mom to Babeland Seattle to  get her first vibrator years before I worked in the NYC stores, so she knew  about Babeland and loved it.  She was happy for me and would bring her friends  into the store whenever she would visit New York.  Then, my stepdad started sending me  shopping lists via text message.  That was a bit awkward.  My family is  generally intrigued and supportive of my job here.

&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abby: &lt;/strong&gt; Tell us about your favorite/most  touching/life-changing/whatever moment with a  customer.&lt;/em&gt;

&lt;strong&gt;Taylor: &lt;/strong&gt; Oh so many!  One of my favorite  customer interactions was when two women came in who were probably in their late  60s.  It was clear that they were in love and had been for quite some time, but  they had this air of secrecy about it.  One of them was celebrating her birthday  the next day, and they had decided to have sex with each other to mark the  occasion.  I helped them pick out just the right dildo and harness combination  along with some lube.  As I was ringing them up, one of them leaned in and said,  “It’s our first time, we’re so excited!”  It turns out it wasn’t just their  first time with each other... it was their first time having sex in their whole  lives!

&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abby:&lt;/strong&gt; That's amazing.&lt;/em&gt;

&lt;strong&gt;Taylor: &lt;/strong&gt; Yeah, it’s the milestone moments that I really get excited about.  This was a  big one!

&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abby: &lt;/strong&gt; Tell us something you've learned through your work at Babeland.&lt;/em&gt;

&lt;strong&gt;Taylor: &lt;/strong&gt; This is going to sound so cheesy,  but working at Babeland has really shown me that sex and sexuality is constantly  evolving, not just for myself but for society.  One of my favorite things about  working here has been moments where things just click for people, and they see  that things that may have been seen as taboo for themselves are really okay and  normal.  It’s especially great when that happens to me, and I get to push through  some of my own hangups.

&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abby:&lt;/strong&gt; Finally, my favorite question:  what are your favorite words for  different anatomical parts?  (You choose which parts.)&lt;/em&gt;

&lt;strong&gt;Taylor: &lt;/strong&gt; Cockpit.  Bonus hole.  Hoohah.   Vaginema.  Cooter.  Tatas.  Tits.   Chesticles.  Jugs. favorite  customer interactions was when two women came in who were probably in their late  60s.  It was clear that they were in love and had been for quite some time, but  they had this air of secrecy about it.  One of them was celebrating her birthday  the next day, and they had decided to have sex with each other to mark the  occasion.  I helped them pick out just the right dildo and harness combination  along with some lube.  As I was ringing them up, one of them leaned in and said,  “It’s our first time, we’re so excited!”  It turns out it wasn’t just their  first time with each other... it was their first time having sex in their whole  lives!

&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abby:&lt;/strong&gt; That's amazing.&lt;/em&gt;

&lt;strong&gt;Taylor: &lt;/strong&gt; Yeah, it’s the milestone moments that I really get excited about.  This was a  big one!

&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abby: &lt;/strong&gt; Tell us something you've learned through your work at Babeland.&lt;/em&gt;

&lt;strong&gt;Taylor: &lt;/strong&gt; This is going to sound so cheesy,  but working at Babeland has really shown me that sex and sexuality is constantly  evolving, not just for myself but for society.  One of my favorite things about  working here has been moments where things just click for people, and they see  that things that may have been seen as taboo for themselves are really okay and  normal.  It’s especially great when that happens to me, and I get to push through  some of my own hangups.

&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abby:&lt;/strong&gt; Finally, my favorite question:  what are your favorite words for  different anatomical parts?  (You choose which parts.)&lt;/em&gt;

&lt;strong&gt;Taylor: &lt;/strong&gt; Cockpit.  Bonus hole.  Hoohah.   Vaginema.  Cooter.  Tatas.  Tits.   Chesticles.  Jugs.</description><pubDate>Tue, 12 Oct 2010 06:01:40 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2010/10/12/behind-the-scenes-at-babeland-an-interview-with-taylor-fulfillment-systems-manager/</guid></item><item><title>Babeland is Hiring in Oakland, CA</title><link>http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2010/09/24/babeland-is-hiring-in-oakland-ca/</link><description>&lt;strong&gt;Warehouse Manager (FT)&lt;/strong&gt;

Babeland, the nationally recognized sex toy retailer, has an opening for an experienced Warehouse Manager working out of our Oakland, California offices.  The Warehouse Manager is responsible for all facets of the company’s shipping and receiving operations with an eye towards maintaining the profitability of the department. Responsibilities include shipping and fulfilling orders, inventory management, receiving, transfers, RTV, and warehouse maintenance and personnel management. Commitment to sex positivity, stellar customer service and attention to detail required; knowledge of Ecometry software preferred, as is experience with an alternative or start-up business.  &lt;strong&gt;Please email cover letter detailing your warehouse, shipping, and fulfillment experience, resume, and salary requirements by October 1st to warehouse@babeland.com.&lt;/strong&gt;

Skills/Abilities: Knowledge of warehouse operations best practices. Proficiency in supervising and motivating supervisees. Commitment to excellence and high standards. Strong organizational, problem-solving, and analytical skills. Ability to manage priorities and workflow. Versatility, flexibility, and a willingness to work within constantly changing priorities with enthusiasm. Proven leadership and business acumen. Ability to handle multiple projects and meet deadlines. Ability to deal effectively with a diversity of individuals at all organizational levels. Able to perform physical requirements of the position.

Requirements:
- 3-5 years warehouse management experience
- Ability to cultivate and maintain excellent employee relationships
- Demonstrated understanding of inventory functions and their impact on company finances including but not limited to: turn, fill, gross margin, COGS, terms, forecasting, order cycles and stock outs

- Previous experience with computerized inventory management and order processing system: Ecometry experience a plus

- Experience with Microsoft Office Suite including proficient knowledge of Excel

- Must be able to speak, read, write, and understand the primary language(s) used in the workplace.

- Ability to lift 40 lbs and use a computer for extended periods of time

&lt;strong&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;</description><pubDate>Fri, 24 Sep 2010 13:46:16 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2010/09/24/babeland-is-hiring-in-oakland-ca/</guid></item><item><title>Behind the scenes at Babeland: an interview with Darlinda, NYC Premier Services Coordinator</title><link>http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2010/09/14/behind-the-scenes-at-babeland-an-interview-with-darlinda-nyc-premier-services-coordinator/</link><description>&lt;a href="/about/staff-bios"&gt;&lt;img class="alignnone" src="http://cms.babeland.com/about/images/Staff%20Photos/Darlinda%20-%20NYC" alt="" width="150" height="200"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;I have a weakness for bookstores.  And more than that, I have a weakness for staff picks at bookstores.  I can head into a bookstore completely determined to buy only what I've set out to find, but those staff picks get me every single time.  I trust the store's employees to know what's up.  And you know what?  They've rarely, if ever, led me astray.

If you're anything like me, you'll love our &lt;a href="/babeland-staff-picks"&gt;Staff Picks&lt;/a&gt; section of babeland.com.  Every month, six of our staff members pick  one of their favorite toys, and we tell you all about it &lt;a href="/babeland-staff-picks///"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt;.  And in the spirit of letting you into our behind-the-scenes  wonderland, I (Abby, your trusty Web Editor) interview one of our  Staff Pick-ers every month.  This month, learn a little more about Darlinda, our NYC Premier Services Coordinator (not to mention Blow Job Queen, as dubbed by blisstree.com)!  Having personally worked with Darlinda for the last six years, I can vouch for her passionate sex-positivity, total commitment to spreading a message of self-love, dynamic teaching style, and all-around hilarity.  Read on!



&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abby:&lt;/strong&gt; What first brought you to Babeland?  Tell us the story of how you started working here. &lt;/em&gt;

&lt;strong&gt;Darlinda: &lt;/strong&gt;When I first  moved to NYC from California, I came to Babeland on the Lower East Side to buy my first sex toy. Then I started  performing Burlesque.  I met a Babeland staff member at one my shows.  We started  talking about sexuality and she said, “You’d be a perfect fit at Babeland, but we’re  not hiring right now!"

&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abby: &lt;/strong&gt;Oh no!&lt;/em&gt;

&lt;strong&gt;Darlinda: &lt;/strong&gt;Yes!  But then something opened up, they called me for an interview, and I went.  I was a Sex Educator/Sales Associate for a few years, then worked in marketing a bit, and six years after that interview,  I’m the Premier Service  Coordinator!

&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Abby: &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;What does "Premier Services Coordinator" mean, exactly?  What do you do here? &lt;/em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;

&lt;strong&gt;Darlinda: &lt;/strong&gt;I organize all the private parties (private workshops, Babeland Sex Toy Parties and any off-site workshops that we offer to non-profits or universities). I also coordinate the donations that we give out to local non-profits, social service organizations, and arts organizations.  When you're at an awesome event in New York and you see a Babeland toy being raffled, I'm the one who got it there!

&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abby: &lt;/strong&gt;What’s a day in  the life of you at your job?&lt;/em&gt;

&lt;strong&gt;Darlinda: &lt;/strong&gt;A day in the  office is pretty normal; I talk on the phone with potential party hosts, talk to them about their options for private events, gauge their needs and wants... then, I pack  the suitcases full of awesome toys so that our staff can bring them out into  the world for our toy parties. I also pack bags full  of goodies for donations (see above)!  And on the weekends -- my favorite time -- I get to teach some private workshops, which I love.  So that can  mean going to the homes of wonderful women where I get to teach them all about sex!  I love that through these workshops, I get to improve the sex lives of hundreds of  women.  Whether they start off shy or ready to spill all their secrets, it's always satisfying to see people leave a workshop full of ideas for trying new things sexually.

&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abby: &lt;/strong&gt;What was your family’s reaction when you told them you work at  Babeland?&lt;/em&gt;

&lt;strong&gt;Darlinda: &lt;/strong&gt;My parents are  really supportive!  I'm lucky.

&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abby:&lt;/strong&gt; Tell us about  your favorite/most touching/life-changing/whatever moment(s) with a  customer.&lt;/em&gt;

&lt;strong&gt;Darlinda: &lt;/strong&gt;Wow -- there are so many! One time, I was teaching a class at a bachelorette party and the bride was a  virgin, so I got to teach her about using lube.  If only someone had taught me about lube when I  lost my virginity, it would have been a &lt;em&gt;lot&lt;/em&gt; more pleasurable! I liked knowing  that her first time would run a lot smoother than most people's do; lube is one of those things many people think they shouldn't need, but if you can make things more slippery and pleasurable, why wouldn't you?  Lube is a lifesaver (or at least a pleasure-saver), and I love helping people discover that.

Another time, I was teaching a &lt;a href="/sexinfo/features/moregasm-promo-2010/"&gt;Moregasm&lt;/a&gt; workshop at  Yale's Sex Week -- there were over 500 attendees, and the lecture hall was packed! The Yale marching  band came in and played Lady GaGa songs... one student deep-throated a banana during a condom demonstration I led... the whole thing was awesome, and it was so great to see students getting excited about safer sex, pleasing their partners, and self-pleasure.  It’s such a rush knowing that people  will go home with more knowledge about sex, and the more you know, the better  your sex life can become.

&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abby: &lt;/strong&gt;What’s something  you’ve learned about yourself through your work at Babeland?&lt;/em&gt;

&lt;strong&gt;Darlinda:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;em&gt; &lt;/em&gt;Wow, I’ve learned so much! Six years  is a long time to be thinking and talking about sex practically every day.  Most important of all,  I’ve learned to love myself, and I’ve learned that each personal  sexual journey is wonderful in its own way, with lots of unique experiences and  changes.

&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abby: &lt;/strong&gt;And what’s something  you’ve learned about sex through  your work at Babeland?&lt;/em&gt;

&lt;strong&gt;Darlinda:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;em&gt; &lt;/em&gt; I could write a book if I wrote down everything I've learned about sex since I started working here.  For one thing, I used to hate giving blow jobs.  Then, as part of a staff training, I watched a lesbian porn that showed me how powerful and fun blow jobs could be on a dildo.  So I applied that same technique and enthusiasm to a penis, and it became one of my favorite things to do!

&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Abby: &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Well, that's lucky for your partners!  And finally, my favorite question:  what are  your favorite words for different anatomical parts?  (You choose which  parts.)&lt;/em&gt;

&lt;strong&gt;Darlinda: &lt;/strong&gt;For the entire vulva region, I love "vajajay," "nature's coin purse," "pussy," and -- for those vulva-havers who are ladies -- "lady parts."a bachelorette party and the bride was a  virgin, so I got to teach her about using lube.  If only someone had taught me about lube when I  lost my virginity, it would have been a &lt;em&gt;lot&lt;/em&gt; more pleasurable! I liked knowing  that her first time would run a lot smoother than most people's do; lube is one of those things many people think they shouldn't need, but if you can make things more slippery and pleasurable, why wouldn't you?  Lube is a lifesaver (or at least a pleasure-saver), and I love helping people discover that.

Another time, I was teaching a &lt;a href="/sexinfo/features/moregasm-promo-2010/"&gt;Moregasm&lt;/a&gt; workshop at  Yale's Sex Week -- there were over 500 attendees, and the lecture hall was packed! The Yale marching  band came in and played Lady GaGa songs... one student deep-throated a banana during a condom demonstration I led... the whole thing was awesome, and it was so great to see students getting excited about safer sex, pleasing their partners, and self-pleasure.  It’s such a rush knowing that people  will go home with more knowledge about sex, and the more you know, the better  your sex life can become.

&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abby: &lt;/strong&gt;What’s something  you’ve learned about yourself through your work at Babeland?&lt;/em&gt;

&lt;strong&gt;Darlinda:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;em&gt; &lt;/em&gt;Wow, I’ve learned so much! Six years  is a long time to be thinking and talking about sex practically every day.  Most important of all,  I’ve learned to love myself, and I’ve learned that each personal  sexual journey is wonderful in its own way, with lots of unique experiences and  changes.

&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abby: &lt;/strong&gt;And what’s something  you’ve learned about sex through  your work at Babeland?&lt;/em&gt;

&lt;strong&gt;Darlinda:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;em&gt; &lt;/em&gt; I could write a book if I wrote down everything I've learned about sex since I started working here.  For one thing, I used to hate giving blow jobs.  Then, as part of a staff training, I watched a lesbian porn that showed me how powerful and fun blow jobs could be on a dildo.  So I applied that same technique and enthusiasm to a penis, and it became one of my favorite things to do!

&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Abby: &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Well, that's lucky for your partners!  And finally, my favorite question:  what are  your favorite words for different anatomical parts?  (You choose which  parts.)&lt;/em&gt;

&lt;strong&gt;Darlinda: &lt;/strong&gt;For the entire vulva region, I love "vajajay," "nature's coin purse," "pussy," and -- for those vulva-havers who are ladies -- "lady parts."</description><pubDate>Tue, 14 Sep 2010 17:51:34 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.babeland.com:80/Blog/2010/09/14/behind-the-scenes-at-babeland-an-interview-with-darlinda-nyc-premier-services-coordinator/</guid></item></channel></rss>