Newsletter No. 20: SPRING 2003

NEWS 

Whether you’ve been happily married for thirty years, recently divorced and re-discovering solo time, juggling multiple poly-amorous relationships, or fancy free and single, romance gets the blood rushing and the nerves jumping.  And with Valentines’ Day on the horizon we like to take a moment to reflect on the people, places and things that weaken our knees and cause those lovely butterflies in our bellies. 

Love may be just a series of chemical reactions in the brain but it feels like an earth-shattering life-changing moment when you look into someone’s eyes and think ‘yes this is it!’ Loving the person you enjoy sexually can complicate matters, but it also can add to the excitement. All sentimental mushiness aside, love is hot!

On the flipside, even the most loving long-term relationships are often associated with the end of sexual excitement. How do you get the newness and excitement back with someone you’ve done the laundry with for ten years or more?

Essentially when it comes to love and sex, communication and time is the key. Dedicating time to figuring out for ourselves what turns us on and then developing those skills to explain our complicated little libidos to those special people in our lives.

This is where our services may be useful. Sex toy stores can be a welcome resource to start the conversation. What do you like? What you are you interested in that you haven’t tried before? Our bodies are covered in nerve endings and it takes a lifetime of conversation and exploration (especially as our bodies change over time) to fully explore all the potential sensations.

We are not trained relationship counselors, our expertise is in providing a space for people to explore their sexual selves in a non-judgmental environment. Wherever or however you define your relationships we are here to celebrate all these differences. 

While we like to keep things on the strictly sexual level here at Come As You Are, we know from talking to each of you that the art of relating to lovers and jumping through all the hoops of love, is by far the trickier business than picking out that perfect purple dildo.

Finding love and keeping love has its inevitable pain and heartbreak. But by continuing to work on our relationships and ways in which we communicate we give love to the world. And on this Valentines Day, we wish all those flittering belly butterflies your way. 

May you find you way in this messy world and love the ones closest to you. You may choose to celebrate with chocolates one day a year or celebrate with heartfelt care every day. Be good to your heart and your heart will be good to you.

WORKSHOP NEWS

We find that our workshops offer a service that is needed and essentially lacking in the world. A place where people can get together and talk frankly with each other about sex. We know this is true when people flock to our workshops and get right into it. Everyone loves to talk about sex and learn something new while they are at it. Currently we only offer workshops at our Toronto store but fear not! For those of you in the rest of Canada, we are hard at work to develop a workshop forum for all of Canada. Stay tuned for development on these plans. 
In the meantime we will be making links with sexperts near and far to bring you the most exciting and varied schedule of sex skills, discussions, and hands-on know how.
The exciting news on the workshop circuit is the arrival of Fetish Diva Midori, who will be presenting three workshops in February just in time to wrap up something nice for Valentines.

Midori is an educator and writer on SM, fetish and human sexuality. Midori’s newest book, "The Seductive Art of Japanese Bondage" from Greenery Press has been greeted with great acclaim. 
Introduction to Japanese Rope Bondage and Other Creative Rope Bondage Essentials 
February 7, 2003
7:30 pm to 10:00 pm 
Rope bondage can be simple, elegant, effective and sensual. But if you don't know how to do it right, it can be dangerous. Midori will teach you how to use this most versatile bondage tool to maximize fun and minimize risks. Learn basic techniques such as two-column restraint, body harnesses and creative positions. $30

The Art of Feminine Dominance    
Sunday February 9
7:00 pm to 9:30 pm
Elegance, power and confidence... Do you want to know how to be a dominant without being a bitch? How do you find a sexy and effective style of dominance? Fetish Diva Midori will share with you her secrets of the feminine art of dominance. She will discuss the psychology, politics, practical exercises, techniques, fashion and more. $30  

Seduction by Voice & Erotic Storytelling   
Monday February 10
7:30 pm to 10:00 pm
The brain is the biggest sex organ and the voice can be the most powerful tool to create the hottest scenes. Midori will show you how to use the hypnotic magic of the voice to seduce your lover long before you enter the bedroom or the dungeon. Learn how to suggest, command, tease and take control with the art of voice. $30

For more on Midori, check out www.fetishdiva.com. For more information on the workshops see www.comeasyouare.com or phone us at 416-504-7934.

TOY KITS

The Sweet Tooth kit is the perfect alternative to the box of chocolates. A hard plastic lollipop vibrator, some flavoured massage oil, and a bottle of chocolate body paint. All sweetness and sentiment. $40

Tough Love is the starter kit for bondage possibilities. Ready to upgrade from the old silk scarf around the headboard? Our Valentines gift collection contains soft fleece restraints, matching blindfold, and a small, super-light latex flogger for a little sensation play. $85

FEATURE TOYS

Boys Toys is the newest craze since the beanie babies. The ultimate Valentines gift for the avid toy collector. Three styles of super cute small vibes: Chef Frenchie, Private Private and Vibo the Clown. $20

Our popular and very inexpensive Silver Bullet vibrator gets a power jolt. Now available as the Supra, this vibe takes three batteries instead of two and adds more speed. Does your sweetheart need a little winding down at the end of the night? This little buzzing gem is a perfect fit. $18

Two new toys great for the men in your lives and made specifically for the male g-spot. The Raspberry Kiss is a strong silicone vibe with a curved end to fit snugly against the prostate. Cute and curvy with a removable mini vibrator. $50

Aeneros is one of the few medically tested and patented adult toys. A highly effective prostate toy with a unique feel that increases in intensity when maneuvered. $64

Body Candy is a new flavoured natural massage oil that comes in three very tasty flavours: lemon drop, orange creamsicle, and chocolate mint. A great gift for Valentines Day and fabulous for both giver and receiver. $22

FEATURE BOOKS

Books that tell tales of romance and still do the sex justice. Gritty, honest-to-goodness sex with a little bit of love to make it all that much more tasty. Real-life meets fantasy in the newest offerings of books for the year.  

True Lust is the newest work by the esteemed Tristan Taormino, author of the best-selling Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women. In True Lust Tristan reveals all, in classic dishy sex-advisor style. An interesting recollection of funny anecdotes and emotional highs on the road to a career in high-profile sex writing. $24.95

From the creators of the popular soft-core erotic magazine Yellow Silk, comes the short story collection follow-up, Yellow Silk II. Great writing, good scenarios, and lanquid sex for those of us with a little romance in mind. Heterosexual focus. $19.95

Penthouse: Between the Sheets is one of our newest big sellers. A classic collection of smut put together in a pretty package. Explicit, lurid tales with few distractions. $18.95

Cherry is one of the best erotic novels to date. A dyke on the make finds love and heartbreak on the streets of London. Sad, real, and full of raunchy well-written sex. $24 

Wet is a softer collection of real-life lesbian sexual exploits. Short, sweet, and ripe with drama. Perfect for the tender-hearted and oh, so curious. $25
If you lived through the 70's (or if you've seen Boogie Nights and The Ice Storm) you'll laugh your way through this original sex manual from 1973, Loves’ Photo Album.  Complete with 100's of sexual positions, terrible hair styles, and misguided but hilarious sex information, Love's Photo Album is a great collectors item.  $15
VIDEOS & DVDs KITS

The Great Couple’s Directors Kit features three videos by stellar directors we’ve come to love: Andrew Blake, Candida Royalle, and Paul Thomas. Great sex gift-wrapped with romance. VHS $85 DVD $145

The Red Hot Raunch Kit takes it to another level. Three films that feature a little story and a lot of sex for lovers of more risqué sex. Nacho, Kelly, and Rocco tag team a lovely group of porn stars and encourage fabulous moments of unbridled lust. VHS $85 DVD $145 

Andrew Blake Box Set is the perfect gift for the collector. Lush, cinematic and beautifully composed. Includes three videos: Possessions, Night Trip, and Dark Angel. VHS $60

FEATURE VIDEOS & DVDs

Stories that appeal to our hearts as well as our bodies. Raunchy, racy and yet full of moments of sweetness to carry us off into fantasy.

Story of O, the classic 70’s take on the popular novel by Pauline Reage. Closely related to the novel, well-acted and great fun to watch. For lovers of 70’s drama but with a little more campy sex value and no explicit sex. VHS $40 DVD $70 

Like an Andrew Blake film, China Box has all the glitz and glamour but with more intense sex and definitely more heat. Explicit, well-made porn featuring Laura Angel in a very steamy three way. A staff favorite. VHS $34 DVD $50

Rocco Animal Trainer Vol.8 is the newest in the popular Animal Trainer series. Great scenarios, explicit anal sex, and a crew of lusty men and women on the make. VHS $34 DVD $60

Urban Friction – A Modern Romance, from the creators of Libido Magazine, and bestselling Ecstatic Moments, is the newest offering of smart porn featuring real people. A young couple explores their limits, finding love and fun along the way. Kinky, cute and intelligent.  VHS $55

WORKSHOPS 

Pre-registration is required for all workshops. Sliding scale is available. “Women” includes trans women. For more info or to register, please call us at 416-504-7934.

Introduction to Japanese Rope Bondage and Other Creative Rope Bondage Essentials 
February 7, 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm
The Art of Feminine Dominance    
February 9, 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm
Seduction by Voice & Erotic Storytelling   
February 10, 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm
A selection of workshops by author and sex educator, Fetish Diva Midori. For more information see inside panel. Cost per workshop is $30. Register for all three of Midori’s workshops and save $10 off the total cost.

Handling the Family Jewels For Couples 
March 3, 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Lovely to own but lovelier still to play with. A practical hands-on workshop for couples only. Includes safety considerations and the range of sensation possible with penises, testicles and their owners. With Lily Fine. $25

Erotic Photography 
April 2, April 5, April 9 (times to be announced)
A workshop dedicated to the process of developing erotic fantasies into erotic photography. The workshop will create a comfortable space in which to explore a diverse range of erotica, share opinions on photographic aesthetics, and create personal erotic imagery through the photographic medium.With Christine Ablett and Leanne Gillard. $75