I was finally convinced to buy a vibrator in my early 20s, and I started out with a simple $14 "personal massager" that did the trick all right, but it was noisy and it ate through batteries quickly, and within a year or two, I was ready to trade up.

Enter Lelo, which quickly emerged as the go-to manufacturer of rechargeable toys. That was my first requirement - that I'd be able to plug it into a wall rather than go through packs of toxic batteries - and Lelo fit the bill. I read tons of reviews, and finally settled on the Liv.

Boy, am I glad I took the plunge! I spent days in bed with my new friend, blissfully blowing my brains out with its extraordinary power and grace. Its top vibration setting is intense without over-stimulating, and considering how sensitive I am at times, I really appreciate that. There are other settings, which I use occasionally, but generally, I stick with the steady vibration. I can get off quickly or I can use the other settings and light pressure to drive myself nuts for a while. Because Liv is such an excellent clitoral stimulator, I'll often use the toy through underwear or clothing to get off without any mess or muss. It can also be inserted for G-spot stimulation or dildo play, though the insertable length is only a few inches.

The best thing is that 99% of the time, Liv is ready to go when I need her. She lives in the silky white bag she came with in my top drawer, and since she holds a charge for months, I rarely need to plug her in. When I do, it's annoying that she needs 2 hours to charge, but that's when I remember I have hands, too.