María Cristina Lalonde: Writer & Editor

EverydayHealth.com • 1st August 2024

12 Best Water Bottles Brands We Tested in 2024

The best water bottle is one that you’ll actually use — one that matches your daily activities and preferences. We tested more than a dozen water bottles, looking at temperature retention, leakage, durability, material, and other key elements. After four weeks of research (and drinking gallons of water; you’re welcome), we identified the top water bottle performers from brands like Stanley, Owala, and Hydro Flask.

Chron • 7th December 2023

‘Cowboys literally exist!’ Scottish comedian Daniel Sloss on why he loves Texas crowds

Comedian Daniel Sloss hasn’t reached the level of celebrity at which he’s recognized on the streets of Houston — yet. But whether or not Texans can identify the 31-year-old Scotsman from his critically acclaimed standup specials “X,” “Dark” and “Jigsaw,” his double-digit appearances on Conan O’Brien’s talk show or his hundreds of performances around the U.S. and worldwide, they tend to be delighted to meet Sloss, anyway. Mostly because of his accent.

The Real Deal by RetailMeNot • 3rd July 2024

6 Legit Ways to Get Free Accommodation While Traveling

In the summer of 2010, I arrived at a hostel in La Paz, Bolivia, with a backpack, a dwindling bank account and a plan.

getmegiddy.com • 20th April 2023

Meet Emily Meade, the Actor Who Changed On-Screen Sex Forever

'The Deuce' star helps standardize the importance of having intimacy coordinators on set.

The Real Deal by RetailMeNot • 2nd April 2024

Top Destinations for Solo Female Travelers

The journey from Cusco, Peru, down to the Lake Tititcaca-side town of Puno takes about eight hours by bus. Travelers en route to Puno or the nearby Isla del Sol often take the overnight sleeper bus to arrive early the next day.

Nevertheless, I was one of only a handful of passengers riding the Puno-bound night bus on a chilly morning in 2011. It was me, a few families and a group of chatty 20-something guys from Brazil.

EverydayHealth.com • 19th June 2024

Circular Review 2024: Our Honest Opinion

What exactly do the Circular Slim Ring's health metrics mean, and how can this data help you lead a healthier life? To find out, I consulted with experts in cardiology, sleep, kinesiology, digital health, and tech. Here’s what they had to say.

Monitoring your heart rate can give you insight into your fitness level and heart health, explains Seth Martin, MD, a professor of cardiology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore.

"Fitness trackers are quite accurate for determining heart rat

Giddy • 12th November 2021

A Comprehensive History of Porn

The year was 1993: Bill Clinton had just been elected president, Tag Team's "Whoomp! (There It Is)" was climbing to the top of the charts, and the CD-ROM (compact disc read-only memory) had barely hit the market when a company called Interotica released the very first interactive porn CD-ROM. The adult game, called "Nightwatch Interactive," let players control a voyeuristic security guard who could navigate between TV monitors to peep on sexy scenes unfolding around the building.

EverydayHealth.com • 19th June 2024

5 Best Portable Cold Plunge Tubs for Small Spaces

Cold plunges may improve your mood, but the practice isn't without risks. Here are some tips from our experts on cold plunging safely.

Do: Build Your Way Up to Cold Plunges

"Begin with cold showers and cold water swimming," recommends Erik Milosevich, a certified Wim Hof instructor in Bastrop, Texas.

Once you're ready to graduate to ice baths, stick to short dips and listen to your body," says Raj Dasgupta, MD, a quadruple-board certified physician and clinical researcher in Los Angeles. "Con

The Real Deal by RetailMeNot • 1st March 2024

5 Hacks for Traveling on a Shoestring

The year is 2007. I am standing in line at a ticketing counter in the Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport in Calí, Colombia. I am crying. I have missed my flight home. Smartphones have not been invented. I have -$11 in my bank account.

Giddy • 15th March 2022

The History of Disability Activism and the Fight for the Right to Have Sex

The denial of the sexuality of people with disabilities spans hundreds of years. In the last few decades, however, people with disabilities have begun to rally against the stigma surrounding disability and break down barriers to sexual expression.

Giddy • 25th August 2022

The Deep, Evolutionary History of Monogamy

While traveling through the highlands of Papua New Guinea, biological anthropologist Helen Fisher, Ph.D., met a man with three wives.

The three wives didn't faze Fisher. Polygamy—the practice of marrying multiple spouses—has been permitted in PNG's mountainous region for generations, provided a husband can cover the increasingly hefty going bride price of livestock, shells and cash.

Instead, what struck Fisher was the man's answer to her question, "How many wives would you like to have?"

getmegiddy.com • 27th September 2023

New Research Suggests a Pill Can Prevent STIs

Doxycycline, an inexpensive, widely available antibiotic, has been used to treat bacterial infections since the 1960s. But now, the decades-old medication is being assigned a new purpose: a tool to prevent bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

getmegiddy.com • 20th December 2021

The Racist Origins of Penis-Size Stereotypes

Clichés concerning penile length are based on dubious research, but the impact remains real.

3rd August 2022

Navigating Dating Apps for Women Over 40

After leaving a two-decades-long marriage, Amy Nobile found herself flung back into the New York City dating scene in her late 40s.

"It was terrifying," recalled Nobile, a former public relations professional.

"It's funny. When you first become single, everyone says they're going to set you up," she said.

"They don't."

U.S. News & World Report • 19th December 2023

Vacation Destinations to Escape the Cold Weather

After the novelty of earmuffs fades and the taste of hot toddies sours, you can flee winter woes with a vacation to a warm-weather destination. You'll find hundreds of spots around the world where the sun is shining, and the weather is balmy, even as your hometown grows dark, and temperatures plunge.

Giddy • 14th February 2022

The Bewildering History of Valentine's Day

In the days leading up to February 14, grocery stores swarm with roving heart-shaped nylon balloons, mail carrier routes clog with orders of imported roses and lifesize teddy bears, and partners throughout the land scratch their head wondering what would be an astounding gift for their loved one.

And the internet floods with Valentine's Day origin stories. (But not as good as this one!)

getmegiddy.com • 19th January 2023

Snakes Have Clitorises…sss, Study Finds

The discovery of the long-overlooked genitalia could change our understanding of reptilian sex.

US News & World Report • 19th December 2023

10 Travel Destinations to Check Out During Shoulder Season

As tourism wanes, flight, cruise and hotel prices plummet. The combination of lower prices and lighter crowds makes shoulder season one of the best times to travel. If you're able to sneak away, you can score deals on flights and hotels to dream destinations. To help you plan your autumn getaway for less, we've included 10 of the more affordable shoulder season destinations below.

1. Hawaii. During the fall, Hawaiian hotel rates fall to their lowest prices of the year. After Labor Day, tourists

Giddy • 3rd November 2021

If Hookup Culture Is Empowering, Why Am I Miserable?

While moralizers and the media tend to characterize hookup culture as chaos and abandon—a haphazard series of one-night stands—the hookup culture trend isn't really about young people having lots of sex or multiple sexual partners. Rather than an increase in sexual excess, the rise of hookup culture refers to a shift in sexual behavior—specifically, the movement of sexual activity outside of relationships, or a hookup.

getmegiddy.com • 27th July 2023

What Is a Prostate Biopsy Like? One Man Shares His Experience

While the trend is to limit these surgeries, they are sometimes necessary. Know what to expect.

getmegiddy.com • 16th January 2023

AI Can Accurately Diagnose Breast Cancer, Study Finds

Researchers hope an automated tool can remove barriers to diagnoses in developing countries.

Giddy • 28th July 2022

The (Often Tragic) History of Abortion Technology

For as long as we can remember, humans have wanted to get rid of unwanted pregnancies.

getmegiddy.com • 7th December 2022

The 'Ideal' or 'Pefect' Penis Size Has Evolved Over the Past 700 Years

Penis length in paintings of male nudes has increased dramatically, a new study shows.

getmegiddy.com • 24th July 2023

Can Flowers Help Improve Your Sexual Health?

From the plucky hibiscus to the sultry squash blossom, flowers have been used as decorations, food and medicine for hundreds of years. The health benefits of flowers are not fully understood, but a growing number of nutritionists and researchers are trying to change that.