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MAVPR's Top Cannabis & CBD Products [You Can Buy Online]

2/18/2021

1 Comment

 
[Feb 2021]
My last post MAVPR's Top Pleasure Products corralled some of my current favorite intimacy essentials. As a Sex and Drugs publicist, beyond pleasure products, the most requested recommendations I get asked for is cannabis consumption accessories and my favorite CBD products. I try a lot of CBD and cannabis products both for my own interest and for professional curiosity and purposes. 

Don’t get me wrong, when in a jam, I can macgyver smoking accessories from anything from aluminum foil to an apple. But day-to-day, I prefer my consumption  to be more glam, cost effective and fit my style. 

Below are my top favorite cannabis consumption and CBD products that you can buy online. 
​

While I do currently or have previously represented a handful of brands listed below, I only recommend products that I personally believe in and support.​
Last Prisoner Project CBD Pre-Roll 
& Her Highness Signature Gold Lighter 

The first item on this list has to be the joint mission between Last Prisoner Project and Her Highness to spark aid and awareness for women with non-violent cannabis convictions. 

The Last Prisoner Project Pre-Roll Collection features the stories of three of Last Prisoner Project’s female constituents, Evelyn LaChapelle, Natalia Wade or Stephanie Shepard with 50% of proceeds directed at aiding women with cannabis convictions working to be released from prison or helping with reentry, include the three women featured on the product.  A half-gram of organic CBD in organic hemp wraps, this slim pre-roll CBD hemp wrap has an extra-long filter that’ll protect nails and eyelashes from getting singed, paired with a coveted, re-fillable gold lighter. 

If you’re going to buy a fancy lighter anyways, get one with a pre-roll that rights injustice. 

As featured in Rolling Stone’s 2020 Cannabis Gift Guide

Get it: $15 via HerHignessCBD.com 
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Her Highness Grindzilla Luxe Grinder

As a decade-plus-long smoker, I’ve racked up my share of grinders, but this is the only one that rests outside of my stash drawer. The grinder itself is sturdy and tackles the stickiest buds with ease. It’s absolutely glamorous and after a year of constant use, it doesn’t look any different than when I got it. I recommend keeping this bad-boy at your bedside table; if someone comes in uninvited and you have decent aim, it doubles as a weapon. And of course, we adore that this brand is female-founded. 

Get it: $36 via HerHighnessCBD.com
Smoking Ashtray with Lid

This little guy is my party trick: disguised with my decor, the top flips open to reveal a smoking tray with a little grove to hold your joint. The top acts as a trapdoor when you’re done. The round, deep body means you’re not emptying your ashtray daily. 

Get it: $20 via Amazon.com 
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Her Highness Thigh High Ashtray 

For those who want an ashtray that won’t knock over, take this sturdy style. Made with marble and accented with gold-colored metal legs, this ashtray is style. This is also the largest ashtray I’ve ever owned and is large enough to hold your joints, another ashtray, a jar full of lighters, hand lotion, eyedrops and other stoner-self-care essentials. While it's pricier than most ashtrays, it's also the one built to last the longest. And of course, we adore that this brand is female-founded. 


Get it: $90 via HerHighness.com
Heir Water Pipe
Gold Edition

Some loves from London who don’t use cannabis nearly as often as I do, were staying in this bougie Williamsburg AirBnb and within moments of walking in asked me to settle a debate between then: was this item in their rented flat a bong or for seltzer. Within seconds of inspecting it, I had put a call out to friends asking where I can find this and what the brand was. Modern elegance is the only way I can describe this product. The toke is one of the smoothest you’ll ever take. Well-made, modern and great customer service programs that understand that breaks and falls happen. 

Get it: $260 via SmokeHeir.com ​
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Rational Hemp 2400mg CBD 

I have seen a lot of CBD brands, but Rational Hemp gets me excited because they’re out to trim the fat on a saturated market. CBD is tough for many to integrate into their routine because of the cost or low-concentrations of serving size that make daily use a hassle. These products are concentrated and effective at one of the fairest-cost per volumes on the market. 

Get it: $88 via RationalHemp.com
Her Highness Masquerade 
CBD Facial Mask 

Disguised as a sheet mask, this facemask is as powerful as a spa day in a compact packet. This facemask is a luxurious treat we all deserve. Especially with all the harsh treatments we’re using for the dreaded mask-ne, this mask is how I treat myself after a particularly tough busy season. And of course, we adore that this brand is female-founded. 

Get it: $22 via HerHighnessCBD.com
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Soul Addict Honey Mama Manuka Mask

Who doesn’t love a good mask? Especially one that is all natural. Manuka Honey is known for its powerful healing properties, coupled with the natural exfoliants, this mask is the pick-me-up you need between facials. 

Get it: $52 via Soul Addict.com
TribeTokes CBD Masks Bundle
Pumpkin Peel + Superfood Mask

In the same vein as above, we love a good mask set and boy, did the boss babes at TribeTokes really knock this one out of the park. The Superfood Facemask has been a favorite of mine for a while, and their recently-launched pumpkin peel is my go-to when my skin is tired, dull and dehydrated. When I want my skin to glow and feel supple and radiant, the superfood mask is a must-have. And of course, we adore that this brand is female-founded. 

Get it: $95 via TribeTokes.com 
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Her Royal Hempress Royal Treatment Set 

If you carry your stress in your body, this set is for you. Envelop yourself in CBD. The Supreme Relief Muscle Rub is perfect for soothing aches and pains, formulated with 500mg of full-spectrum cannabidiol and a potent blend of analgesic herbs that cause a warming sensation. The luxurious Chakra Bliss Body Oil, is infused with 400mg of full-spectrum CBD and deeply nourishes with notes of jasmine and lavender. The body oil is also incredible for my seasonal eczema. As featured in Rolling Stone’s 2020 Cannabis Gift Guide. And of course, we adore that this brand is female-founded. 

Get it: $112.50 via HerRoyalHempress.com ​
Emojibator X Period. Bomb

Cramps. Be. Gone. Periods can be rough and cramps can disrupt your plans (in addition to the mood swings, cravings, migraines etc). For back aches and cramps, Emojibator’s Period. Bomb has been an ultimate natural remedy when combined with a hot bath. Emojibator partnered with Period. to continue their mission of making the hottest trends in sexual wellness, accessible. 

Get it: $15 via Emojibator.com 
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New Highs RISE & SET CBD Roll-On Topical Duo

My go-to for unwinding at the end of a long day. When you need to prepare for the work ahead, RISE gives you calm and balance. When you’re ready to leave the work behind, SET’s aroma helps you separate the stress from relaxation. Formulated to jumpstart the day for success and relax in the evening, the RISE AND SET DUO is a unique blend of essential oils paired with organic, US-grown full-spectrum hemp CBD by New Highs. RISE’s formulation uses peppermint, which is known for headache relief, controlling blood flow, and opening sinuses, to provide a refreshed boost to your morning routine. SET’s formulation uses ylang-ylang from flowers of the herb Cananga odorata var. genuina known best to promote relaxation, soothe inflammation, and boost sexual libido. Together these formulations work in tandem with the bouquet of benefits that CBD provides to be your on-the-go relief throughout the day.

Get it: $68 via NewHighsCBD.com 
Her Highness Highly Orgasmic
CBD Pleasure Oil 

This pleasure oil needs a warning label… for seeing stars. I include this one in my pleasure product roundup but seeing that it’s made with 500 mg of Broad Spectrum CBD and comes in a THC version (California only, sorry friends) it had to be included on this list, too. Spark up the pleasure with this perfectly concocted intimate oil that brings the power of CBD to the body’s hot zones. Starting with a tiny tingle and ending with a thunderous finish, this oil utilizes the “Love flower” which stimulates the G-spot (anatomically known as the urethral sponge) and brings a pulsating tingle wherever applied. Start with a half-dropper or less and build up from there. 

Get it: $60 via HerHighnessCBD.com
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QuNaPu Gold & Crystal Joint Tip Necklace 

The incredible human behind this curated collection of glamorous smoking essentials gifted me this gorgeous joint tip at the start of COVID when the New York Post profiled the changes in my smoking habits. It’s been my pandmeic-staple ever since. 

Get it: By request via QuNaPu
1 Comment

MAVPR's Top Pleasure Products [Feb 2021]

2/9/2021

0 Comments

 
[Feb 2021]
By Melissa A Vitale
 
Every once in a while, I like to take a break from commentary on the ever-confusing world of public relations to mention some of my favorite products at the moment.
 
With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to round up my recent intimacy favorites. 
 
While I do represent a handful of brands listed below, I only recommend products that I personally believe in and support.​
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Zalo King Vibrating Thruster Turquoise Green

A member of the brand’s Legend Series, with a Swarovski Crystal and gold-accented details and a name like King, this toy is right up this queen’s alley. Zalo focuses on not just beautiful, hand-crafted and luxe-encrusted toys, but their technology is innovative and designed for a seamless consumer experience. Other styles have warming options. 
 
Get it: $200 via ZaloUSA.com
Exsens Tiger Eye Macadamia Crystal Massage Oil
 
This massage oil is light, fragrant, hydrating and relaxing; everything you expect in a massage oil without the excess oil residue. The Tiger Eye Crystals in the bottle give it a luxe feel. Whether it’s a placebo effect or real, I always feel a bit mystical when getting pampered with this.  
 
Get it: $29 via Exsens-usa.com
​
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WARM Warming System

I am a born-and-raised North-East gal, yet somehow, I have not gotten used to the chill of the East-Coast winters. The cold can be a huge deterrent of self-love or intimacy. Rather than sticking my toys where they should't be, this sleeve safely warms all everything I need to be comfortable use even in the winter months.
 
Get it: $150 via OrganicLoven.com
​Her Highness Highly Orgasmic Pleasure Oil
 
One of the highest concentrations of CBD per bottle, this pleasure oil is made with 500 mg of broad-spectrum CBD and a South American medicinal plant extract known for increasing salivation—AKA wetness. A half-a-dropper is all you need to start seeing stars. Plan to get intimate within 10 minutes of application otherwise prepare for ceaseless arousal.
 
Get it: $60 via HerHighness.com

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Saffron Ping Pong Paddle
 
I love a toy that arouses the senses first. With the buttery-looking patent leather and rich red color, this is a paddle you want to hang right up on your wall. Ping pong paddles are a great beginner shape because the larger surface area distributes impact more evenly and the shorter handle is great for learning control and follow through for those new to spanking.
 
Get it: $23 via OrganicLoven.com
​
Pure Romance GPS G-Spot Cream
 
Say what you want about MLM companies, but Pure Romance has some great proprietary products. My recent favorite is their G-spot cream. If you want to increase the frequency of squirting or the intensity of your orgasm, this cream is for you.
 
Get it: $36 via PureRomance.com
​
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Emojibator Funfetti & Unicorn Rainbow Bondage Rope
 
Even if you’re not an expert rope-tyer or passionate rope-bunny, this is a must have for any adventurous play kit. Maybe because I grew up camping or spent over a decade in the Girl Scouts, but I find having rope handy to be so useful, especially if you’re getting creative in the power-play department. This rope is gorgeous with vibrant rainbow tones, silky smooth, and hypoallergenic because it’s made from bamboo! Just make sure, beginner or not, you have safety scissors handy: if you or your partner are having a bad reaction to being tied, cut them out immediately, being extra careful of their skin, and start aftercare proceedings.
 
Get it: $35 via Emojibator.com
​Pillow Talk Cheeky Wand
 
If you’re someone who prefers the highest possible intensity imaginable for clitoral stimulation, you’ll want to get yourself a Hitachi. If you’re looking for something with a more moderate intensity or if you don’t know what intensity you want, this is a great wand for you. Rechargeable and body-safe silicone with a larger head to more evenly distribute the vibrations.  
 
Get it: $65 via OrganicLoven.com
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​We-Vibe NOVA 2.0
 
I cannot rave enough about this toy. It’s made to be flexible to fit more body sizes and can be tailored to preference so easily. This toy is tech savvy, powerful and you can tell that We-Vibe and their sister brand Womanizer prioritize quality. The USB recharge port is magnetic, and I’ve found these help maintain the longevity of a toy compared to insertable USB ports. Like all WOWTech Toys (Womanizer, We-Vibe), I highly recommend reading the instructions thoroughly before your first use and keep the directions handy during your first time.
 
Get it: $149 via OrganicLoven.com
​Emojibator Orville Vibrating Anal Plug
 
With so many options for vibrating butt plugs over $100, it’s great to try something at a lower price point that allows you to try this type of toy before making a larger investment. This bad boy is rechargeable, relatively slim as far as beginner plugs go and comes with a hygienic satin storage pouch. Like all of Emojibator’s products, the Orville is made with body-safe silicone.
 
Get it: $54 via Emojibator.com
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Promescent Before & After Wipes 

If you are a sexually active individual, even if you only have sex with yourself, you need these wipes. They should come standard in night clubs. The ultimate wingman for going from a non-stop day to a date night without having to worry about stopping for a shower. Also incredibly handy for cleaning yourself up before knocking out after a particularly exerting, and especially messy, self-love session. 

Get it: $15 via Promescent.com
Satisfyer Petting Hippo 
​

Beyond a playful design, with a $50 price-tag this accessory makes a perfect beginner toy, and it's girthier than most toys at this price point. The nose of the hippo is designed to hit the G-Spot just right. The toy charges easily and offers a variety of vibration intensities. 


Get it: $50 via Satisfyer.com


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For brands looking to have their product featured in similar stories in outlets like Rolling Stone, Well & Good, Women's Health and more, learn more about MAVPR via: melissaavitale.com/services.html ​
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How to Craft a Quote That Doesn’t Get Cut

2/3/2021

0 Comments

 
By Melissa A Vitale
 
Have you ever had an interview with a journalist, either written like via email or verbal, over the phone or in-person, but when the piece was published, your quotes and insight were excluded? Welcome to media. This is something that happens more often that any publicists like. It’s one of the tradeoffs we face because we’re relying on relationships, not advertising dollars for feature coverage.
 
Providing commentary or quotes is often “in consideration,” meaning it has the potential to be excluded based on the direction of a story. Often times, commentary is excluded from publication for reasons even the most seasoned publicists cannot control.
 
These reasons may include but are not limited to:
  • The outlet a specific requirement of sources (ie: a credential or identity)
  • The other sources of the article provided commentary that took the article in a different direction
  • In cutting down word count, the editor removed that specific quote to save space
  • A similar quote was given by another source
  • A specific reason like the article or only wanting to include one company per industry
 
However, there are times when answers or commentary is excluded because it simply isn’t relevant to the conversation.
 
Because mainstream outlets won’t cover sex-positive or legal cannabis stories regularly, for Vice-category brands, making the most of every media opportunity is paramount. If your quote was excluded from a cannabis article on Allure, another opportunity may not come around for 6+ months. If you continue to give commentary that isn’t relevant, the opportunities may stop all together.
 
By keeping a couple things in mind while crafting your quotes, you can reduce the number of times your commentary gets cut from stories you have the opportunity to speak to.
 
Answer the question in your answer
At any given moment, journalists are often working on multiple stories with three-to-four sources per story. If on a time crunch, journalists don’t have time to fill out a quote. Journalists need to quote complete thoughts, so when you don’t repeat the answer in your question, you’re only giving them half a quote.
 
For instance, the answer to “Why do people enjoy cannabis consumption during intimate play?” should be start with “People enjoy cannabis consumption during intimate play because….”.
 
By saving the journalist time filling out a complete thought, you avoid your answers being cut because of a time crunch.
 
Short & Sweet
Journalists can source 2-5 sources per article. I know one journalists who will source up to 20 sources per article. This is how journalists provide complete and unbiased reporting as is their job. But for this reason, it makes concise answers all the more important when responding to a media opportunity. If a journalist gets 8 sources commenting on a topic but only needs a 15 word quote, he’s going to avoid the big paragraphs.
 
Diversify your answers
Unless you’re speaking as an expert in a niche area, answers to questions usually don’t need to be more than three sentences. Try to dedicate only one sentence to a thought. Keep your thoughts unique. Journalists are often puzzle-piecing commentary from a variety of sources. Having unique points betters your chances that your insight is complimentary to the other quotes provided.
 
Take your ego out of it
Like many things in PR, providing commentary for a story is more about helping a journalist out than it is centering your product. If your entire quote is all about your brand but the story is on a trend in the industry, your quote is not going to be relevant. Journalists often want to promote the brands that help them out and will include a description of your company and usually a link in your title. It’s far better to leave your ego out of your quote and provide non-branded expertise. Sure, you won’t get quoted talking about how wonderful your brand is, but you will establish yourself as a vital industry source, which can often carry more weight than a favorable mention.
 
Have a title (and website) ready
Once have an opportunity to contribute to a story, have a title ready for them that you send over with your responses. Your title should be the name you want known with your brand, your pronouns, a link to your website and a brief description of what your brand is. I also include a link to a drive with brand images in the title. This way, everything the journalist needs to drive traffic back to you is already given with your quotes. If you don't have a website yet, you're going to want one once you start getting press mentions. Site editors are less-likely to link to social media handles because it's so easy to change the name - which results in a dead link for them. Even if it's just a landing page with links to your social media accounts, it will help streamline all your traffic from press mentions. 

Return answers BEFORE the deadline 
Most times, journalists are sourcing from multiple experts. They're also working on other deadlines. If three of four experts have returned commentary for one piece, a writer may start their draft without waiting for the last source to return insight. Get your quotes in well before their deadline to make sure your insight is considered!  
 
This list is not definitive and due to the nature of organic media coverage, there is never a guarantee your quotes won’t get cut (unless the story is about you)
 
If you’re still confused on how to form a great quote that doesn’t get cut, you can always read trend stories by your favorite industry reporters to familiarize yourself with the style of quotes editors and writers look for.

​For vice brands looking to explore cost effective public relations packages, learn more about MAVPR via: melissaavitale.com/services.html ​
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