Vanessa & Debby – image copyright Sean Molin 2011

We consider ourselves to be researchers, teachers, authors and advocates for the vulva. However—because that title is a bit long—our business cards say that we are researcher scientists at the Center for Sexual Health Promotion at Indiana University. We come from different disciplines but have both focused our research on understanding how women think and feel about their vulva/vaginas. In fact, we both did our dissertations on the vulva/vagina. We met at a conference in 2008 and were thrilled to be able to work together. We have since conducted a variety of research projects that we are very excited about. However, this book has been one of our proudest moments as it has allowed us to reach a more diverse audience. In short, we strive to be revulvationaries (we just made this word up but we like it)!

Tell us a little about Read My Lips:

The book still feels a little like a dream. When Vanessa first came to Indiana University, Debby and Vanessa sat down to create a ‘dream list’ of projects that they wanted to work on together. This book was at the top of the list. We are thankful that our publisher (Rowman & Littlefield) took a chance on us and we are so grateful. We think that Read My Lips represents our eclectic, quirky backgrounds. In addition to science-backed sex and health information, there are stories, quotes, quizzes and crafts (yes—we said crafts!) As researchers, we are proud to say that all the research is empirically-validated (and sometimes conducted within our own labs). However, while based on science, we wrote Read My Lips envisioning we were talking to our very best girlfriends. In a certain way, those who read RML are just that—dear friends through a love/appreciation/interest in the vulva.

What inspired you to write this book?

We have talked with A LOT of people over the past several years about vulvas/vaginas including colleagues, students, friends and family. While some are uncomfortable talking about it, most have been thankful for the opportunity to discuss/ask questions about a topic that is too often ignored. So, we wanted to write a book to give people accurate information and open conversations about the vulva/vagina. We wanted to write a book that would have something for every generation of women (and those who love/came from them).

Who should read this book and why?

We like to say that this book is for “anyone who has a vulva, loves someone with a vulva or has come from a vagina.” In other words, we are hopeful that it has a little something for everyone. Unfortunately, the vulva/vagina remains a topic that few people feel comfortable discussing. So, a lot of the information out there may not be accurate. However, the reason we wrote Read My Lips was not only to correct misperceptions (although we are certainly happy when it does); it was to provide readers a guide that would help them celebrate and learn to love their own and/or their partners’ bodies a little more.

What surprising facts did you discover when writing the book?

How much we had to say about vulvas! We talk about vulvas all day long but we nervous that we wouldn’t have enough to say to fill 300 pages. We were (very) wrong. It turns out we actually had to edit down the book once we were finished. Also, we interviewed 1000 men and women before we wrote the book. We weren’t necessarily surprised—but we were delighted—about how those responses helped us to continuously change our thoughts, feelings and beliefs about vulvas. We learn something new every time we talk to someone about their experiences such as how some women have come to love their vulvas and vaginas, sometimes in the face of very difficult situations.

Anything else?

We are thrilled to be able to donate a book in partnership with GladRags as we share the belief that women should care for and celebrate their bodies in ways that make them happy and healthy!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tons of you took our survey last month (thank you!!) and we learned that the vast majority of you regretted not hearing about GladRags sooner. It’s our mission to make sure no more women have to spend years hating their periods and the disposable products they use, but we need your help!

To sweeten the deal and show how much we appreciate your efforts, we’re giving away $200 worth of GladRags gift certificates. You could be the winner of either $100, $50, or one of two $25 gift certificates — not too shabby!

Entering is easy: just follow the instructions in the entry form below to win. You can choose to do just one entry, or do them all! The more you share the giveaway — and spread the word about reusables — the more chances you’ll have to win.

GladRags wouldn’t be here without YOU, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for everything you do to support healthy, sustainable menstrual supplies!
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Got a pain in your neck? No worries — Imbue is here to naturally heal what hurts, so you can get back to doing what you love! The Imbue Pain Relief Patch is a special blend of herbs developed by acupuncturist and expert in Chinese Medicine, Dr. Peter Borten. Stick the fabric patch where it hurts, and feel your pain melt away!

The Imbue Pain Relief Patch is one of the newest items available at GladRags.com. We’re proud to be one of the first to carry this awesome all-natural patch, and want to share it with you! That’s why the Imbue Patch is on sale for the month of November, and we’re giving away a 4-pack of patches to one lucky winner!

Required entry:

• Leave a comment on this post telling us where you’d put your Imbue Pain Relief Patch!

Optional entries (comment once for each optional entry):

• Like GladRags on Facebook and leave a comment on this entry saying that you did so
• Like Imbue Body on Facebook and leave a comment on this entry saying that you did so
• Follow GladRags on Twitter and leave a comment on this entry saying that you did so
• Follow Imbue Body on Twitter and leave a comment on this entry saying that you did so

The winner will be picked by a random number generator on Friday, November 11th, so get your entries in by then!

Congrats to EarthAmi, the winner of the giveaway! Thanks to everyone else for participating!

We have some exciting new products here at GladRags to share with you!  Planet Wise wet bags are the ultimate tool for stowing your rinsed pads in a very cute (and very functional) way.  Stash the small wet bag under your sink or by the toilet until you’re ready to launder your pads.  Or pick the larger wet/dry bag and hang it on the back of your bathroom door.  You can keep your used/rinsed pads in the wet pocket and always have a fresh supply of pads on hand in the dry pocket.

Here’s the small wet bag, which has a PVC-free waterproof liner and special stitching to prevent leakage, next to a GladRags Day Pad.  It’s small enough to be discreet in even the tiniest bathroom (trust me, I know about this) but big enough that I could comfortably fit five day holders and ten inserts inside it.

Here’s the wet/dry bag with a GladRags Night Pad and Day Pads for comparison.  This bag can hold a whole lot of pads! The zipper on the front is the dry pocket for storing fresh pads, your laundry soap, or whatever else you want to stash out of sight. The main pocket has the same waterproofing as the small wet bag. The loop allows you to hang the bag so you can even add water if you want to soak your pads!

Now, I’m a born skeptic, and I thought that while these bags might be very water resistant, there was no way they could be waterproof. So I filled the small bag with water, squished it around, punched the sides a little bit, let it sit, and… no leaks!  The zipper part is not sealed, so you can’t turn the bag upside-down, but the fabric won’t wick, drip, or ooze all over your bathroom floor!

If you’re not sold on ‘em yet, did I mention that they’re machine washable and dryable?  When it’s time to do laundry, you can just dump the whole bag into the washing machine — no separate handwashing.  Perfect for travel, cloth diapering, or just simplifying your cloth pad routine at home, we can’t wait for you to try these out!  And Planet Wise has generously offered to sponsor a giveaway right here on our blog!

Buy it!

Find both the Small Wet Bag and the Wet/Dry Bag at GladRags.com!  And through May 26th, save 15% on any item in the Carry Bags & Gift Bags section with coupon code PLANET11.

Win it!

One lucky winner will receive one small wet bag and one wet/dry bag in the color of their choice.

The Mandatory Entry:

Comment here with why you would like to win these bags, or with another product you’d like to see in our shop.

Additional entries:

- Subscribe to our newsletter and comment here letting us know that you did
- Like GladRags on Facebook and comment here letting us know that you did
- Like Planet Wise on Facebook and comment here letting us know that you did

Please note: You must be a resident of the Continental US or Canada to enter.  We’ll pick a winner on May 19th using a random number generator.

It’s no secret that we love moms around here, and in honor of Mother’s Day — yes, it’s this weekend, get your mama something nice! — we’re hosting a giveaway here on the GladRags blog. You could win a Color Day Pad 3-Pack AND a Color Pantyliner 3-Pack, so you can divide the loot with your favorite mama… or keep them all for yourself, we won’t judge!

There are two ways to enter (you can do both):

- Post a comment below with the number one thing you love about your mom (or your grandma, auntie, godmother, etc).

- Sign up for our newsletter, then post a comment here letting us know that you did. If you’re already signed up for our newsletter you can still post a comment letting us know you’re a subscriber!

Important: Please comment one time only for each way to enter (max two comments total). We’ll pick a winner Monday morning using a random number generator.

Happy mother’s day, everyone!!

Congratulations to the winner of the giveaway, commenter #88 — Laura!

Want a free color pantyliner? Just shop for any GladRags product at your local natural grocery or co-op before May 31st! You’ll be supporting GladRags, showing your favorite store that you support their commitment to sustainable options for women, and getting a sweet deal!

To get your free pantyliner, just complete and mail in this form along with your receipt showing the purchase of at least one GladRags product.  Purchases must be dated between April 20th and May 31st and be from brick-and-mortar stores; no receipts from online retailers will be accepted.

Happy shopping!

Have you heard? GladRags is hosting an extra-special giveaway on Facebook when we reach 2,500 fans (aka “likes”)!  We’re almost there, so I thought I’d post a little sneak peek at some of the many awesome prizes.  Want a chance to win?  Make sure you “like” GladRags on Facebook, and we’ll post instructions for how to enter once we reach 2,500 likes!

We’ve all seen the “This is What a Feminist Looks Like” t-shirts, blog posts, Facebook groups, and magazine articles.  This iconic saying originated from the National Organization for Women’s campaign to show that feminists come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and backgrounds.  So we thought: isn’t it time to show the world what a GladRags Guerrilla looks like?

You might be wondering, what is a GladRags Guerrilla?  A GladRags Guerrilla is someone who believes that all women should be empowered to make the best choice for her body, lifestyle, and the planet when it comes to her menstrual supplies.  A GladRags Guerrilla believes that menstruation is not something to be ashamed of, and that we have the power to make positive changes in our society’s view of women’s bodies.  And a GladRags Guerrilla believes that the only way to accomplish these things is to have open, honest discussions with one another.

If you’re reading this blog, chances are that you’re a GladRags Guerrilla, too!  You can make it official by signing up here. When you sign up, you’ll receive a package containing stickers, coupons, postcards and more to help you spread the word about reusable menstrual options and start having conversations with the women in your life.

And now, we want to see what a GladRags Guerrilla looks like!  Send in a photo of yourself next to the poster you put up in your dorm bathroom, wearing your GladRags pin, or hosting a discussion group with your friends.  Be goofy, creative, serious, or artistic — just show us you.

We’ll share the photos here on our blog and Facebook to show the world what GladRags Guerrillas look like.  And I’m pretty sure we’re a diverse crowd of people, so let’s prove that while some GladRags Guerrillas are rocking dreadlocks and Birkenstocks, we can’t all be lumped into just one category.  We’ll pick a few of our favorite pics to spotlight on January 26th and those submitters will win their choice of a Moon Cup Kit or Pad Sampler Kit!  To submit your picture, email it to us at orders@gladrags.com by 1/19/11.

Need inspiration?  Here’s Alex and Tracy showing what WE look like when we’re showing our GladRags pride!

Please note: By submitting your picture, you give GladRags permission to post the picture on our Facebook, blog, and website at any time.

GladRags pantyliners and day pads have arrived on the shelves of Sprouts Farmers Markets!  Located throughout California, Colorado, Texas, and Arizona, Sprouts specializes in natural, organic grocery items — so our cloth pads are a perfect fit!

Show your support for their decision to carry reusable menstrual products by purchasing GladRags at any Sprouts location — and we’ll send you a color pantyliner, absolutely free!  To receive your free pantyliner, download this PDF for directions on how to submit your Sprouts receipt.

• Alternative menstrual products fan and all around cool blogger, RasingBoyChick, writes an in depth and thoughtful review of Flow: The Cultural Story of Menstruation.



• A student makes an amazing gingerbread and candy uterus model!  See photo to the right.  Learn more and see the the candy key here.
• Simply Healthful has a great Moon Cup review.
• Awesome blog post about the pros and cons of menstrual cups from Shuffled Pink. In summary: “Just do it, you big sissy.”
• Do women living close to each other sync up their periods? Our favorite podcast, @MomStuffPodcast explores in a recent podcast why many believe this and what science shows.
• Interesting article from Live Science on the most recent research on what happens to women during ovulation and how this may effect behavior.

Reviews and giveaways!

• Win organic pantyliners from Sacred Bee and read her review here!