Alia is an Atlanta-based freelance writer who has contributed content to HowStuffWorks for going on a decade now, with a specialty in health writing. She’s also been published by TLC, Animal Planet, and a number of corporate clients. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!), and might someday get around to setting up a professional website. Until then, check her out on LinkedIn.
She and her husband are proud parents to three handsome, too-smart-for-their-own-good boys. Alia is a passably not terrible tennis player, lover of all things dance and music, brownie-obsessed, avid reader and off-key car singer. Her two favorite types of people are those who have a healthy sense of humor and those who actually read articles in their entirety before posting comments.
Recent Contributions
It's easy to get rid of scuff marks from leather shoes, sneakers, Crocs and other types of footwear. We'll show you how.
By Alia Hoyt
Toothpaste is for cleaning your pearly whites, right? True, but there are other cool uses for it that you may not know about. Here are nine of them.
By Alia Hoyt
You know these two products are powerhouses for cleaning, on their own. But together, they have a whole other set of uses.
By Alia Hoyt
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There are a lot of contenders depending on how you slice it. We look at the fastest animals on land, sea and air.
By Alia Hoyt
Making slime is a fun project to do at home or school — and it takes just a few everyday ingredients to pull it off. We've got some recipes inside.
By Alia Hoyt
Everyone loves foraging for seashells at the beach, but the true jackpot is finding a perfect unbroken sand dollar. However, taking one home may not be such a good idea.
By Alia Hoyt
It's 11:11 on your phone's clock. This is what's known as an angel number. Is the universe trying to send you a message?
By Alia Hoyt
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You may have never thought of washing your pillows but there are several good reasons to do it. And it's usually not very hard to wash them.
By Alia Hoyt
The resolutely bipartisan White House Christmas ornament has been an annual tradition since 1981 and is a big fundraiser too.
By Alia Hoyt
There's acting, and then there's voice acting. Both are difficult in their own specific ways. How much do you know about these legends in the field?
By Alia Hoyt
When a peta and a tera won't do, you can now call on the quetta or the ronna prefixes. But just how big are these new metric systems of measurement?
By Alia Hoyt
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Although the day of turkey, football and gathering together has remained a distinctly American holiday, the shopping day afterward has gone global in a big way. How did that happen?
By Alia Hoyt
Just a few people have gotten married at the White House in the last 200-plus years. Who were they and what's required to score a wedding there?
By Alia Hoyt
Turns out we've been mispronouncing these five celebrity names for decades. So, what should they actually sound like?
By Alia Hoyt
If you've ever been curious about what's involved in becoming a nun, we'll explain all the steps as well as the difference between nuns and sisters.
By Alia Hoyt
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Some houses are big and others are beyond belief. These six dwellings boast private bowling alleys, wine cellars, nightclubs and even a snow room!
By Alia Hoyt
So your favorite white Vans are full of yellow stains. No problem. Whether you're wearing leather Vans or canvas Vans, we know the best way to clean them and keep them bright white.
By Alia Hoyt
Indigo children are either here to save the world or need help with their undiagnosed ADHD, depending on your point of view. We explore this New Age concept in more detail.
By Alia Hoyt
Sugar skulls are an integral (and beautiful) part of Day of the Dead festivities. We speak with an artist and sugar skull expert to find out how to make them.
By Alia Hoyt
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Cheetos are more than just tasty, dusty cheese puffs. They've even inspired a major motion picture. And why is the snack so addictive, anyway?
By Alia Hoyt
Research has shown that having a good relationship with your therapist is key to having good outcomes in therapy. But how do you find one you like? We have some great suggestions.
By Alia Hoyt
If the garment you bought at a close-out sale turns out to be too large, or if you've lost weight, it's better to shrink clothes than to buy new ones. So how do you do it?
By Alia Hoyt
Your child's got permanent marker on her clothes, and now you have to get it out — fast. Learn some helpful tricks for getting permanent marker stains out of clothes, walls and carpets.
By Alia Hoyt
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It's a term that's often used in an argument. But gaslighting has a very specific meaning that is often lost. What is it and how can you know if you're really being gaslighted?
By Alia Hoyt
During the fall months, you may see unfamiliar birds in your area as those from the north begin to fly south. But how do they know when it's time to migrate and where to go?
By Alia Hoyt