Skip to main content

Sexplorations with AJ: Self pleasure, giving season, and a sexy small business gift guide!

Hello everyone! Hope you're all not too chilly reading this. For all of us in the northern hemisphere, it is definitely getting colder and that means that winter festivities are on their way. 

Anyone in the southern hemisphere, enjoy your summer. Lucky fucks. 


Now over the last few months, we have covered everything from body positivity to exploring self pleasure. I do want to say a huge thank you to every one of you who have read this over the past six months, it truly has made my year. 


Possibly the best present I could have ever received.


As the season for giving is here, I think that with all the seasonal joy in the air right now, we could start talking about self joy... and pleasure. 


Fairy lights and tinsel are all well and good but how about making yourself feel just as twinkly on the inside. 


The power of pleasure is so underrated. Self touch and masterbation can raise your mood, give you energy and also give you a lovely blush (NARS didn't call it Orgasm for nothing).


Self pleasure can also be a way of getting closer to yourself. I mean ... physically yes of course, but also mentally. 


Self stimulation can be used to treat disorders such as vaginismus, tight pelvic floors and tight or restrictive foreskins. It can even be recommended as treatment by doctors, insert Aimee Gibbs ‘prescribing a wank’ gif here.


Masterbation can also be an effective and rewarding way of building your body confidence and accepting your sexuality. 


By physically making yourself feel good, you are empowering yourself. You did that. Your body did that. Think about how incredible that is. You're great, you!


Even saying affirmations to yourself while you masterbate can be incredibly powerful. 


While you are feeling good physically, you can condition your brain to accept any affirmations you say. Think ‘I'm sexy, I'm smart, I'm beautiful’, or, even better, make up your own! 


Let the gift of pleasure be your own little present to yourself this year. The power of a little self lovin’ is quite literally magic.


Speaking of presents, I have spent the last few weeks compiling the best sexy small business finds for the sex positive people in your life. Why not start that self pleasure train with a cute wall print, tee-shirt, piece of jewellery or a mug. 


Whatever you fancy, we have you covered this festive season. Dive in below!


1. Romy Prints


Run solely by Romy, Romy Prints is a small business that sells both stunning art prints and size inclusive clothing. Whether your vibe is more song lyrics, self affirmations or body positive, Romy Prints has you covered. 


Find Romy Prints on Instagram - @romyprints



2. Leftbians


Started in 2019 by lesbian couple Tab and Jade, Leftbians is the shop for all your queer accessory needs. Their sapphic and self pleasure tarot designs are available on everything from stickers to tote bags so you can show your pride however you choose.


Find Leftbians on Instagram - @leftbians



3. Meg Garrod Art


Created while studying at university, Meg Garrod Art is a one woman business that focuses on self love and appreciating our bodies. Start the new year off right with a new set of body positive stationery, including washi tape and planners or give your phone a refresh with an exclusive Meg Garrod x Skinny Dip phone case.


Find Meg on Instagram - @meggarrodart


4. Slinky Sketches & Slinky Slurps


Based in Bristol, Slinky Sketches is run by feminist illustrator, Emily. Bespoke sex toy croc charms and naughty bookmarks are all standouts from this shop. 


Sister business, Slinky Slurps are just as sexy, selling glass sippy cups and mugs with raunchy slogans so you can let everyone know exactly what you're into while you slurp away. 


Find them on Instagram - @slinky.sketches & @slinky.slurps


5. The Naughty Peach


This North East based brand sells lightweight and hypoallergenic, kinky and queer jewellery for literally everyone. Selling a variety of earrings, necklaces and keychains, The Naughty Peach is the place to go for gifts for friends and partners. Whether you want to remind your partner that they are, in fact, a pillow princess or give a friend a stunning 3-D printed Venus necklace, this place is a one stop shop. 


Find The Naughty Peach on Instagram  - @the.naughty.peach


Written by AJ Craig 

Edited by Emily Duff

Most Popular

Fashion For a Cause: Brands That Stand with Palestine and the history of fashion as a form of Activism

by Oana-Maria Moldovan For over two months, there has been an ongoing genocide war in Gaza. To simplify a long and horrific issue, the situation that started, on a larger scale, around one hundred years ago, and has only become amplified since October 7th 2023. Taking place around the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and Israel–Lebanon border, the armed conflict is between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups.  The problem is about “stolen” land. Said land is seen as an important holy part of both religions involved. But really, how holy can we consider a land to be, if people kill other people for it? It’s important to remember that this genocide is about three things: forced occupation, zionism, and religion. It’s also important to remember what ethnic erasure is. This terrible expresion, also known as cultural or ethnic assimilation, refers to the process by which the distinct cultural or ethnic identity of a particular group is gradually diminished or erased, often due to...
Read more

Now What? The Aftermath of the 'Manic Pixie Dream Girl'

by Susan Moore Here is a bit about me: I am an open, excitable, creative AFAB who is also moderately attractive. I have a unique sense of personal style and a personality that on the surface can only be described as “bubbly” and “quirky”. For this reason, dating is a nightmare. To be sure, I do not have a hard time finding dates or potential suitors. The problems arise when said dates spend some time with me and decide that I am a rare specimen, and the connection they feel with me is “unlike anything they have felt before”. Then, things go one of two ways.  Either a) they decide I am too high maintenance and no longer palatable, or  b) they choose to never look further than the surface and are content to date the idea of me rather than the real me. There is something rather interesting, perhaps funny, about my situation. It is in no way unique. I have met so many people who constantly dealt with the same problem. Even funnier still, is the fact that there is a trope that simu...
Read more

‘Make Tattooing Safe Again’: Sheffield Based Tattoo Artist Exposed for Indecent Behaviour

 by Emily Fletcher TW: SA, Animal Abuse, Transphobia Photo Credit: @ meiko_akiz uki Recently, an  Instagram account  has been created to provide a  ‘space to safely give a voice to those who want to speak out about the behaviour of one, Sheffield based tattoo artist’. A  total of 40+ posts have been made by the above social media account regarding  one of Sheffield's most popular tattoo artists .  Thankfully, all posts are prefaced with a Content Warning prior to sharing screenshots of the messages that have been sent anonymously to the page. The majority of Content Warnings refer to sexual behaviour, abuse, and sexual assault. It is clear that there is a reoccurring theme within each submission, as many clients appear to have had the same experiences with the tattoo artist. Women, mostly, are being made to feel uncomfortable while being tattooed. One of the most vulnerable positions anyone can be in, tattoo artists should make their clients feel ...
Read more