Melissa Hugel

Bio

Melissa is a freelance writer and blogger. She has written for the Scottish Book Trust and regularly contributes to Edinburgh based Illicit Ink. A keen interest in all things pop culture, Melissa studied history and film at McMaster University, and has an MA in creative writing from Edinburgh Napier University.
9 Guys We Need to Ban From Dating Apps in 2016
By Melissa Hugel
Now that an estimated 20% of Americans between the ages of 25 and 34 are using online dating sites, it seems like everyone and their mother is on Tinder. But with the rise in online dating comes the rise of assholes who see dating apps as a vehicle…
This Long-Distance Couple Came Up With an Ingenious Way to Stay Connected
By Melissa Hugel
Some long distance couples sext. Others Skype every day. Korean couple Danbi Shin and Seok Li have their own unique way of staying connected: It involves Instagram, some smart photo editing and an impressive amount of time coordination.  The couple…
These Are the Fights Couples Have When They Move In Together — And How to Resolve Them
By Melissa Hugel
If you're thinking of moving in with your significant other, you might want to think again. According to studies, moving in with your partner at a young age can lead to a higher likelihood of divorce down the road. That's in part due to the…
8 Celebrities Talk About Anxiety — And Teach Us How to Deal With Ours
By Melissa Hugel
A constant nervous feeling, sweating palms, a rapidly increasing heart rate and a vague sense of impending doom. These are just some of the common symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder.  Many of us have felt anxiety and dealt with its symptoms to…
7 Ways to Make Your Long-Distance Relationship Stronger
By Melissa Hugel
3,317 miles. That's the distance between Toronto and Edinburgh. It also happens to be the distance between me and my long-distance boyfriend. We've been dating for 10 months. Most people think of long-distance relationships like mine as doomed from…
8 Unexpected Female Masturbation Lessons We Learned From Pop Divas
By Melissa Hugel
Remember Hailee Steinfeld, the little girl from True Grit? The 18-year-old actress just released her first single, "Love Myself," which has a theme that's not often celebrated in pop music: female masturbation. At first blush, "Love Myself" seems…
What Our Fixation on the Beard-and-Man-Bun Combo Really Says About Us
By Melissa Hugel
Is there any combination sexier than a man bun and beard?  Uh... no. There is not.  The man bun/beard is enjoying something of a cultural moment, if the multiple Pinterest boards devoted to the style are any indication. And in light of the rise of…
Here Are the Real Condom Questions We're Asking Behind Closed Doors
By Melissa Hugel
We've all heard the advice: no glove, no love. Don't be silly, wrap your willy. Cover your stump before you hump. Basically, wear a condom. Well, unless you're in a committed relationship. Or on birth control. Of if you've both been tested in the…
14 Pieces of Proof Chris Pratt and Anna Faris Have All the Relationship Advice We Need
By Melissa Hugel
As if it were at all possible, Chris Pratt and Anna Faris got even cuter last week. Their super sweet exchange about Faris' jealousy in regards to one of Pratt's Jurassic World costars sent hearts aflutter across the Twittersphere: Talk about…
9 Doubts Everybody Has in Their 20s That We Should Get Out in the Open
By Melissa Hugel
You're innocently scrolling through Facebook when it hits. "Wait, am I really supposed to be married right now?" you think, staring at the onslaught of wedding photos. Or, "Look at everyone with their fancy new degrees — should I have gone to grad…
Can Science Predict Whether You'll Stay Friends With Your Ex?
By Melissa Hugel
"Let's stay friends" — it's the breakup mantra, as inevitable as the tears that accompany it. Sometimes it's meant sincerely, other times it's meant to soften the blow.  It's a noble thought, but unfortunately not the reality for plenty of people.…
14 Facts About Sex That Will Remind You Just How Awesome It Is for You
By Melissa Hugel
If only your doctor recommended it more.  Sex gets talked about as a guilty pleasure, that thing we do out of pure desire when we could be spending our time productively or improving ourselves. But instead of feeling guilty, it's worth remembering:…
17 Tweets That Perfectly Sum Up What Sex Is Really Like in Real Life
By Melissa Hugel
Sex is a beautiful, wondrous experience that always ends with both parties orgasming wildly.  At least, according to Hollywood. Oh, and it always looks sexy and beautiful. Hell, The Notebook has us thinking that first time sex between long-lost…
This Is How You Know Your Mom Is Your Best Friend
By Melissa Hugel
How can you tell if your mom is your best friend? Well, first check if you're a millennial. According to Fusion's Massive Millennial Poll, 55% of millennials consider one or both of their parents to be their best friend. This is especially true for…
This Is What It's Like To Stay With Your High School Sweetheart
By Melissa Hugel
"How do you know they're the One if you haven't been with anyone else?"  "Do you ever wonder what else is out there?" "Don't you get bored?"  Staying with a romantic partner you've been with since high school may seem unconventional at best and…
Want to Get Laid in England? Here Are the Right Words To Say
By Melissa Hugel
"Fancy a snog, hen?" No, it's not a line from an unpublished Dr. Seuss book. Actually, it's fairly common British slang. Translation: "Do you want to make out?" While we may all technically speak the same language, North Americans and Brits have…
12 Pieces of No Bullsh*t Sex Advice From the Older Women Who Know Better Than We Do
By Melissa Hugel
The impression you'd get from looking at our culture around us (save for a few Cialis commercials) is that sex is for young people only. Take most TV shows, and you'll see sweaty young things writhing around with one another while anyone over 40…
12 Couples Who Ignored Expectations and Did Their Weddings Their Way
By Melissa Hugel
The $50 billion wedding industry would have us think that in order to celebrate your special day, you need to tick off certain boxes: white dresses, formal tuxes, bouquets and bouquets of flowers, religious vows, toasts and countless more…
Here's What It's Like to Date When You Live With Your Parents
By Melissa Hugel
It's hard enough living with your parents, from keeping your room up to their cleanliness standards or arguing over a single Netflix account. But what happens when you throw dating into the mix? Take Craig*, 30, who lives in New York City but lived…
7 "First Time" Stories Remind Us What Really Matters When It Comes to Sex
By Melissa Hugel
Losing your virginity — it's a seemingly simple concept that in fact glosses over a complicated reality.  Talk of "losing your virginity" (or simply our "first time") typically requires a rather restrictive definition of sex: penetrative sex, or…