María Cristina Lalonde: Writer & Editor

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.

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 • 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 • 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 • 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.

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?"

Mashed.com • 4th May 2020

10 Street-Food Dishes to Try in 10 Countries

There's a time and a place to eat at Starbucks while traveling abroad: it's after day 49 when you're hungry and lost and they won't give you the WiFi password unless you buy something.

The occasional blueberry scone at Starbucks during a moment of weakness aside — travelin' meals are best served street-side, squatting on a plastic chair among locals beneath the cool night air, sipping from a dusty bottle of local lager as a grizzled Australian expat tells you the story of how he lost his left hand to a shark while sea kayaking.

getmegiddy.com • 21st February 2023

University Offers Emergency Contraception from a Vending Machine

George Washington students lead an effort to make the pill more accessible on campus.

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.

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 • 16th January 2023

AI Can Accurately Diagnose Breast Cancer, Study Finds

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

Sarah Stacey Interior Design • 4th April 2021

8 of Our Favorite BIPOC Artists and Makers

It would be remiss to write a blog highlighting the work of BIPOC artists without taking a moment to reflect on the events and conversations of the year.

Propelled by the momentum of protests following the horrific deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Rayshard Brooks, and Dominique “Rem’mie” Fell, the world is protesting, watching, listening, trying, speaking out, making mistakes, and — hopefully — changing.

getmegiddy.com • 15th December 2022

Data Shows STDs on the Rise as Condom Use Declines

Many conditions, not just STIs, should make guys think about sheathing their sword more often.

Giddy • 14th June 2022

A Hairy History of Pubic Wigs

Despite getting a fair amount of press, the merkin—or pubic wig—actress Kate Winslet donned for her Oscar-winning performance in "The Reader" is hard to spot. Nine minutes and 37 seconds into the film, you catch the briefest glimpse of it: a crop of dark hair peeking out from under her dress as she's putting on stockings.

The Real Deal • 23rd June 2022

The Coolest Hotels To Book During the Summer of 2022

For reasons we probably don’t need to explain, we did very little traveling over the last couple of years. But after so much time spent baking bread and re-watching “How I Met Your Mother” in our apartments, we’re itching to hit the open road.

Fortunately, there’s no shortage of worthy destinations in our very own backyard. From glittery metropolises to sunny island paradises to rolling national parks, the U.S. is a treasure trove of highly desirable travel destinations.

The Real Deal • 23rd June 2022

Channel Your Inner Betty Draper With This Midcentury Furniture

Cheekily dubbed by some critics as “The Pumpkin Spice Latte of Interior Design,” midcentury modern style is everywhere you look. It’s popping up on your Instagram feeds, it’s cushioning guests on TV talk shows, it’s peppering the pages of West Elm catalogs and — of course — it’s all over our homes.

The design trend was mentioned by The New York Times in 1998, and — more than two decades later — midcentury modern is arguably more popular than ever.

Giddy • 20th June 2022

The Long and Bumpy History of STI Treatments

Mere weeks before his reported death on April 23, 1616, 51-year-old William Shakespeare sat down to write his last will and testament. Though he began the document by proclaiming he was "in perfect health and memory, God be praised," his tremulous signature—and subsequent death a short time later—suggested otherwise.

RetailMeNot • 13th May 2022

Dreamy and Dazzling Euphoria Inspired Looks To Recreate Tonight

Like many of its millions of adoring viewers, I was hooked on “Euphoria” — HBO Max’s exhilarating teen drama — by the first three minutes of the pilot episode. I voraciously consumed the first two seasons, enthralled by the hallucinatory images, stirring soundtrack and ridiculously good-looking cast. I didn’t know if I necessarily wanted to be friends with the troubled characters I saw on screen, but I did know one thing: I wanted their makeup.

From the imagination of head makeup artist Doniella Davy, “Euphoria’s” iconic makeup is bold, unconventional and enchanting. Characters wear tears of glitter, razor-sharp winged liner, daring eyeliner and artfully arranged gemstones.

RetailMeNot • 8th April 2022

Super Affordable Makeup Dupes for Cult Favorite Beauty Products

These days, scrolling through my Facebook and Instagram feeds means navigating a minefield of targeted ads for pricey, high-end beauty products. One ad for a Korean face mask claims to banish wrinkles and under eye circles. Another for a pair of magnetic eyelashes declares it will cut the time spent on my beauty routine in half, while still another ad for an at-home microdermabrasion wand promises to make me irresistible to hunky firemen.

Giddy • 15th March 2022

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

It's the understatement of the century to call 2020 a tough year, but it was especially troublesome for California-based singer-songwriter-slash-music-journalist Jake Kussmaul. In addition to being hindered by the same obstacles as the rest of us—that is, social distancing requirements and a decidedly unsexy sense of gloom and doom—Kussmaul's romantic prospects were limited further by the fact that he was born with cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair to get around.

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!)

Mashed.com • 9th June 2020

10 Famous Food Trucks from Around the Country

Though food carts in some form or another have been meandering the country for hundreds of years, the mobile dining revolution truly took hold of America during the last decade.

RetailMeNot • 15th March 2022

Best Headphones for When You're Up in the Gym Workin' On Your Fitness

I’m an avid climber, devoted yogi and clumsy-but-no-less-determined kickboxer — but so help me, I’ll turn around and drive home if I arrive at the gym and realize I’ve forgotten my headphones. How can anyone expect me to be up in the gym just workin’ on my fitness without “Fergalicious” pumping into my ears?

I’m a firm believer (and I know I’m not alone) that a solid pair of headphones is about as essential to a good workout as a hair tie and deodorant. But they can’t just be any old pair.

RetailMeNot • 15th April 2022

The Triumphant Return of the Banana Clip

In the mid-80s, a curved, plastic hair accessory started popping up on the heads of ponytail wearers across the country. It was called the banana clip, taking its name from its skinny, banana-like shape. The versatile clip featured small teeth and snapped in place on one of its hinged edges to hold your hair together in a voluminous updo that kept your hair out of your face and cascaded down like a waterfall.