Interested in trying out some new bedroom accoutrements but too busy or embarrassed to make it to the local sex toy shop? Several companies offer subscriptions-based delivery services that send you a box of new toys every month. I tried out three options in varying price points.

Research says we know within three to 30 seconds of meeting someone if we are interested in getting to know them further. Three to 8 minutes - the average time of a speed date - should, theoretically, provide plenty of time to give a thumbs up or thumbs down.

But what happens when participants wear blindfolds?

• Becky Knight
• Armed with unique questions, I put on my blindfold and took on the world (or six dates).

While in Austin last year, some friends and I went out to a club after dinner. I began chatting up a man in his early 30s. A fashion designer, he was in town to see one of his creations worn at a wedding earlier in the day. I then explained that I was in town for a conference of sex educators, counselors and therapists. Upon hearing this, he immediately asked, "Is it normal for me to not have any pre-cum?" For the next 30 minutes I listened to his stories and questions. I got a free drink, and he got a free pseudo-therapy session. (And if you're wondering, yes it's normal. Some men don't produce pre-ejaculate. Nothing to worry about.)

It happens rather frequently. Once people learn that I am a "sexpert" - and that I'm non-judgemental (that's key!) - I become privy to their sexual fears, longings, musings, questions and fantasies. At some point in the conversation, they pause, look at me a bit startled, and say "Wow, I haven't told anyone about that EVER!" or "I cannot believe I'm sharing this with a complete stranger."

People long for open and honest discussions about sex. Asking Google, "Is it OK if I think about my old girlfriend while I have sex with my wife?" is a different experience than asking a woman sitting across the table from you. I love that exchange. Men can be quite vulnerable.

I venture to say that men especially enjoy hearing a woman speak frankly about sex. They don't shock me, and I don't shame them.

There are three common questions men ask me. The first two are elementary, but men must need the reassurance. The third question is a tough one; it's a question of the heart and has no easy answers.

About 10 years ago, I began a stint as an independent consultant for Passion Parties. Women invited me into their homes to showcase and explain a variety of sexual enhancements - everything from lingerie to board games to cock rings to $200 vibrators. It didn't matter if it was a group of young college co-eds or a bible study group, the women got pretty rowdy. The parties were a safe, educational and supportive space for women to ask questions, get advice from friends, hear about new things to try, and touch, taste, and feel the products. I never made much money at the parties, but I had a great time and speaking about sex became second-nature to me.

Sex toys have been around, in one form or another, for thousands of years. Dildos were originally made of stone or wood, which I guess would make them eco-friendly before that was a selling point. Still, not that long ago, sex shops were hidden in dark alleys and were the supposed domain of bachelorette parties or horny old men. Today, there's an Adam & Eve store next to my favorite Mexican restaurant, and Amazon lists hundreds of toys in its inventory - nipple clamps, pocket rockets, butt plugs, and everything else. Now, the problem isn't where to find what you're looking for - it's how to decide among the many options.

What catches my attention is sleek design and tasteful marketing. I'm still a "good girl" at heart and I like my naughty play-things to look nice - sleazy '70s packaging is just not sexy. So I was pleased when at a conference last year, I came upon the We-Vibe table. The products are pretty to look at, thoughtfully designed and have some serious vroom! They are high-quality and a bit pricey but worth the investment if you're a fan of toys. Plus, some of them are pretty high-tech. Ladies, start your engines.

Perhaps I'm naive, but I think dating should actually entail, you know, dates. It has been my experience, however, that guys are interested in the first few outings, but after that they prefer to stay at home on the couch, remote firmly in their grip. That's not to say that a quiet night in watching a game or a good movie can't make for an enjoyable evening, but I wouldn't necessarily call that a "date."

Dating should be about getting to know each other, and a good way to do that is to be active. I used to be one of those people who complained that there was nothing to do in Charlotte. Untrue! There are plenty of places to explore, restaurants to try, and events to enjoy - and the dates don't have to be expensive. In fact, in an informal poll of my Twitter and Facebook followers, singles say that they prefer affordable dates because the focus remains on the moment, the connection, and the person you are with.

Here are some date ideas that should help get the creative juices flowing:

• Flickr (Creative Commons)
• Love don't cost a thing

I've never attended a male strip show because before last year, male strippers always seemed silly to me. I remember watching the Chippendales perform on The Donahue Show in the '80s and thinking they looked ridiculous. A few years later, Patrick Swayze and Chris Farley mocked a Chippendales audition on Saturday Night Live. To me, male strippers existed solely for the amusement of drunken bachelorettes. However, my opinion of male strippers changed last summer when I saw Magic Mike. Would I pay to see Channing Tatum dance and take off his clothes? Absolutely.

Justin Whitfield and Taylor Cole, seasoned strippers from Houston and co-authors of Take It Off: The Naked Truth About Male Strippers, told me the movie was fairly accurate. In fact, the movie could have been based on their lives and not Tatum's. Whitfield got into dancing for the girls. It was tough to make money at first, but soon he was successful enough to encourage his gym buddy Cole to join him onstage. They became sought-after performers and calendar and romance-book cover models (think Fabio without the long hair). And yes, they enjoyed an ample supply of eager women.

As a newly single woman, I felt it was my obligation to give the whole match.com thing a whirl. For a while it was fun. I wasn't shy about initiating conversations, and I met some great guys that I otherwise would not have crossed paths with. I even went out with an ex-NFL wide receiver a few times. (I have a thing for football players.) I hadn't been on the dating scene since college, so the ease of finding a guy online outweighed the potential pitfalls.

But if you've tried online dating, you are aware of the downside: people puff up their profiles to sound uber-exciting, when in reality they are as boring as everyone else. Therein lies the trap: Most people avoid being honest and go to great lengths to package and present their best selves. But hey, why wouldn't they? They only have a few seconds to capture someone's attention.

No longer content to preach through their music, Rev Run and Tyrese Gibson have become masters of social media and, apparently, love. They litter their Twitter and Instagram feeds with self-help quips and witty observations about relationships. In their first book Manology: Secrets of Your Man's Mind Revealed, they have broken the "bro-code," they say, in order to help women understand men better.

But the only thing I understood better after reading the book is its authors.