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The best skis you can buy to hit the slopes

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The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

skis 4x3

  • With the right skis strapped to your boots, you can zip down the mountain at speed and under control, carving around moguls, cutting through the trees, and even catching some air.
  • The Faction Prodigy 2.0 Downhill Skis are our top pick for alpine skis because they can be used on all sorts of slopes, from fresh powder to groomed runs and terrain parks. The skis are available for both men and women.

Skiing is one of the most popular winter sports on earth, and is enjoyed on every continent on the planet. OK, maybe "enjoyed" isn't the right word to use when we're talking about using skis in Antarctica, but everywhere else. People have been skiing for thousands of years, with the modern version of the recreational sport developed in the 19th Century. The word "ski" comes from a Norse term that loosely means "split wood" in case you were wondering.

When buying a set of alpine, or downhill skis, you need to think first about a few basic factors, such as your height. The general rule of thumb is to choose skis that are about as tall as your nose. For a person standing six 152 centimeters tall (AKA five feet) that would mean skis around 145 cm. For a person 183 cm in height (which is six feet), go for skis around 180 cm. Why am I using the metric system? That's just what you do with skis. Novice and/or more cautious skiers should choose shorter skis, while more advanced skiers can manage longer, faster skis.

The length of ski you want is also subjective to the terrain you'll be hitting. For downhill skiing on the open slopes, a long pair of skis are faster and track better. But if you're skiing through the trees, or "glades", you want shorter skis that will be responsive enough to dart in and out of pockets and away from obstacles. And if you're going into the terrain park, you'll also want a shorter ski for aerial maneuvers.

Beyond length, you need to think of the type of skiing you most enjoy. If you like to zoom down hill at top speed, straighter skis are best. If you prefer to carve and turn your way down the slopes with precision control more important than speed, parabolic skis are best. Those are skis that widen toward the tips and backs, helping you dig in during turns and plow through powder. And of course, the cross country skier needs cross country skis. Make sure you buy a pair that will serve you well because while skiing is great fun, it's not exactly a cheap hobby.

And keep in mind that, with a few limited exceptions (such as the kid's skis on our list), most skis sell without bindings. You'll need those in order to attach your boots. Also, you'll need boots. And poles. And snow pants, a parka, gloves, probably a mask and maybe a helmet, and so on. Skiing is not a cheap hobby, but if you buy the right gear and maintain it with care, you will only have to buy all that accouterment a few times in your life.

And once you're flying down a snowy mountain at top speed, pine trees zipping past on all sides, a bright blue sky above, and the crisp winter wind whistling past your ears, you'll agree that the costs are well worth it.

Here are the best skis you can buy:

Updated by Owen Burke on 12/10/18: Updated pricing and formatting, and added this season's models and women's skis for each pick.

Read on in the slides below to learn more about our favorite picks.

The best skis overall

Why you'll love them: The Faction Prodigy 2.0 Downhill Skis are comfortable on packed snow, powder, or freestyle terrain, plus, the skis are available for both men and women.

If you are looking for your first ever pair of skis, you probably need to look elsewhere. These Faction Prodigy 2.0 Downhill skis cost six hundred bucks, and that's without the bindings and boots you'll need to actually use them. For the dedicated skier looking to improve his craft or for the advanced skier looking to enjoy all sorts of terrain, these skis are well worth consideration. There's also a pair for women.

The Prodigy 2.0 has a responsive wooden core made out of beech and poplar. The ski offers quick response time and enough flex to transfer your motions into easy control without losing durability. The topsheet (upper surface covering, e.g.) wraps down over the edges of the ski, preventing chips and cracks commonly suffered by skis of lower quality after scrapes against rocks, trees, or other objects. And the midrange width of the skis makes them suitable for use on powder without sacrificing much in the way of speed during a downhill charge.

A reviewer with Newschoolers said the Prodigy 2.0 skis had "confidence-inspiring performance" and noted the "versatile camber lines." In a video review, a gear tester with Snowtrax called the skis versatile and noted the "really solid core" and "snappy feel" created by the wood core.

On a Freeskier ranking chart, the Faction Prodigy 2.0 skis scored near top marks for versatility, though they ranked only average for float, or the ability of the ski to stay on top of the snow instead of settling down into it. Ski Mag also named the Faction Prodigy 1.0 a best value ski for women of 2019.

Pros: Highly versatile, responsive and reactive core, durable construction

Cons: Not suitable for beginners

Buy the men's Faction Prodigy 2.0 Downhill Skis on Amazon for $599

Buy the women's Faction Prodigy 2.0 Downhill Skis on Amazon for $599



The best skis for kids

Why you'll love them: These Lucky Bums Kid's Beginner Snow Skis are the perfect pair for a budding young shredder age five and under. 

Unlike the case with most adult sized skis, these Lucky Bums Kid's Beginner Snow Skis come with the bindings attached. And also unlike with grown-up's skis, the wearer of these Lucky Bums skis need not get a pair of ski boots. These can be strapped over just about any pair of boots or shoes. The affordability and ease of use of these kid's skis is, however, but one reason they are worth considering.

Indeed despite their low price, these skis are of solid quality. They are fabricated from durable plastic, which not only reduces the weight compared to skis made with metal, wood, and other materials, but also means there are no sharp edges that could cause injury. The bottoms of the skis have traction that prevents backsliding but that permits the youngster to zip forward down the hill. Moving across flatter terrain is also easy, as the bindings permit heel rise, creating a more natural gait that young kids will appreciate, being as walking may still be rather new to them even without skis attached.

All told, these are the perfect introductory skis. Yes, your child will outgrow them quickly, but they only cost fifty bucks.

A write up with Adventuresome Sprout called these kid's skis easy to use and appreciated how they worked without "special ski boots." And a video reviewer with Little Skiers called them perfect for the youngest skiers who are too small even for ski school.

One happy parent appreciated that both her "two and four year old can use them" thanks to the adjustable binding design. Another raved that his grandson "had the time of his life learning to ski with these" Lucky Bum skis.

Pros: Low cost but durable, traction pattern prevents backsliding, work with regular boots or shoes

Cons: Quickly outgrown, require frequent re-tightening

Buy the Lucky Bums Kid's Beginner Snow Skis on Amazon for $42.91-$44.99



The best cross country skis

Why you'll love them: The Salomon Snowscape 7 Cross Country Skis give you superior stability and control on all the various types of snow you might encounter during a long distance journey.

The Salomon Snowscape 7 Cross Country Skis are not the fastest cross country skis, nor are they the lightest weight. The Olympic cross country skier for whom every second counts should probably look for a different pair, in fact. What these skis offer, though, is superior grip and stability, and for most of us, that's much more important than topnotch acceleration capabilities and speed potential.

The bottoms of the Snowscape 7s use a proprietary "Technology G2 Plus" grip system that provides excellent traction and helps you propel yourself forward while minimizing the amount you can slide backward during uphill stretches. The Densolite 1000 core keeps the skis flexible and responsive yet durable enough for aggressive use in all sorts of conditions, from packed snow to ice to powder. And due to the length and shape of the Snowscape 7s, you'll be able to keep on moving along with ease in those varied conditions, too.

A Trailspace review called the Snowscape 7 Cross Country Skis "durable without being too heavy" and "perfect beginner's skis," while a gear tester with XCSkiStore noted the excellent "grip" and "stability" created by the G2 Plus traction pattern.

It's worth noting, though, that several reviewers did comment on the slower speed of these skis, so if you value rapid cross country runs, then you might want to look elsewhere. For those people who put a higher value stability and ease of use, these skis are a winner. They're also a good price, by the way, especially with bindings (you'll have to sort out boots separately).

Pros: Stable design with great traction, responsive core, good price point

Cons: Slower than many other options

Buy the Salomon Snowscape 7 Cross Country Skis for women with bindings from REI for $200

Buy the Salomon Snowscape 7 Cross Country Skis for men with bindings from REI for $200

Buy the Salomon Snowscape 9 (Men's) Cross Country Skis with bindings from REI for $199.99 (on clearance at time of writing)



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 25 richest families in the world, ranked

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Walton family

  • The richest families in the world own billions, possessing $1.1 trillion in wealth collectively, according to Bloomberg.
  • This wealth is derived from various industries, including retail, media, agribusiness, technology, and more.
  • From the Ferrero family's Nutella fortune to the Walton family's Walmart fortune, here are the 25 richest families in the world.

From the richest families in America to the richest royals in Europe, high concentrations of wealth can be found all around the world.

In fact, there are 2,208 billionaire individuals across 72 countries for a combined total of $9.1 trillion, according to Forbes. But what about the world's billionaire families?

Bloomberg ranked the top 25 families with the richest fortunes across the globe — together, they possess $1.1 trillion in wealth from retail industries, media conglomerates, agribusiness companies, tech giants, and more. 

Bloomberg determined its ranking based on net worth figures from June 15, 2018. It didn't take into account first-generation fortunes, fortunes controlled by a single heir, or fortunes derived primarily from the state. For the purposes of this list, families who wealth stems from a joint company or enterprise are being considered as a single entry.

From the Ferrero family whose $22.9 billion fortune comes from Nutella to the Walton family whose $151.5 billion fortune comes from Walmart, see below for the 25 richest families in the world, ranked.

SEE ALSO: The 25 richest American families, ranked

DON'T MISS: The 10 richest royal families in Europe, ranked

25. The Ferrero family

Net worth: $22.9 billion

Source of wealth: Ferrero Group

The Ferrero family built its fortune on a chocolate confectionary empire. Ferrero Group's roots date back to 1940s Italy when it created what is now known as Nutella. In 2018, it acquired US Nestle's candy business. 



24. The Lauder family

Net worth: $24.3 billion

Source of wealth: Estée Lauder

In 1947, the Estée Lauder brand was born. Today, the company, which includes 30 brands of makeup including MAC and Clinique, generates $12 billion in revenue from the sale of cosmetics and fragrances.

The Lauders are active philanthropists, and sons Leonard and Ronald are major art collectors. Leonard donated $1 billion worth of paintings and sculptures to the Met. The family also owns a lot of real estate.



23. The Hearst family

Net worth: $24.5 billion

Source of wealth: Hearst Corporation

About 67 family members share the fortune that William Randolph Hearst created when he took over the San Francisco Examiner in the late 1800s.

Soon after, Hearst acquired other newspapers and forayed into radio and TV, creating the foundation for today's media giant, Hearst Corporation, which owns several newspapers, nearly 300 magazines, TV and radio stations, and stakes in cable TV channels.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

A French perfume brand makes $20 million, diamond-encrusted bottles and flies clients around the world in a private jet to collect ingredients for one-of-a-kind scents

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morreale perfume

  • A bottle of perfume encrusted with rubies, diamonds, and gold will cost you up to $20 million.
  • It's part of a fragrance line from French luxury brand Morreale Paris with bottles that start at $1.5 million and can cost up to $20 million depending on customization of the bottle.
  • Each bottle takes more than 35 people up to a year to make and it's marketed for "royals and the .0001%."

 

A French luxury brand is betting that the world's wealthiest people will pay a lot for a fancy bottle of perfume.

A bottle of fragrance from Morreale Paris' "Le Monde sur Mesure" line comes encrusted with diamonds, rubies, and gold, and it costs between $1.5 million and $20 million. Each scent and bottle is customized for the individual client.

"Our clientèle is mostly composed of wealthy art and jewel collectors as well as fragrance enthusiasts," the brand's creative director, Maxime Rançon, told Business Insider. "'Le Monde Sur Mesure' is not only a fragrance, it is a jewel, a story, a precious piece of art. Our clients ... come to us for the House Morreale to create a unique and precious piece of art bespoke that only very few people on this planet can [have] access to." 

morreale perfume

Rançon said they've sold one $1.5-million-bottle so far — with gold "armor" and encrusted diamonds — to a family located in the Middle East who wishes to remain anonymous, and they're in conversation with another potential buyer.

Each bottle takes more than 35 people up to a year to make, Rançon said, and the scent is unique to each client. The client can either choose from an exclusive creation by Morreale — which would only be used once — or they can work with Morreale to create a scent completely from scratch. 

Rançon explained that "every bottle design is different depending on the client, every bottle comes with a different piece of jewelry, a different armor, different stones, etc… which makes each piece truly unique on the outside and on the inside." 

Society Group, a real estate PR firm that sells multimillion-dollar homes with Hollywood trailers and Instagram parties, will exhibit the fragrance at luxury properties in Los Angeles starting in January, at "private events for millionaires and billionaires," a representative for the company told Business Insider.

But before an interested buyer can get a bottle of this exclusive perfume, they must fill out an online application form

"The questionnaire means that we want to know our clients, who they are and what is their impact on our world," Rançon said. And, he noted, 25% of the proceeds from each perfume sale go to charity.

Those who buy a bottle of the multimillion-dollar fragrance are invited to fly around the world with the company during the process of selecting ingredients and creating the unique bottle — in Morreale's private jet.

"The process of creation is a journey of the body and the spirit around the world searching for the rarest natural treasures of this planet," Rançon said. "... The experience is an awakening: Now that you've seen the world, you can own it. You deserve it. Welcome home."

SEE ALSO: 5 restaurants in NYC earned the highest Michelin rating for 2019 — and 2 of them have topped the list every year since the ranking started

DON'T MISS: The president of a company that designs private plane interiors says ultra-wealthy clients no longer want their private jets to look like private jets

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: You've probably been cooking your turkey all wrong — here's how to do it in 90 minutes flat

Science says people decide these 11 things within seconds of meeting you

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woman boss work

  • People develop first impressions of you even before you open your mouth.
  • Research demonstrates that your appearance changes how trustworthy, promiscuous, and powerful people think you are.
  • You can change some people's first impressions of you by changing your behavior and how you present yourself. 

A lot of first impressions come from things we can't control at all — our natural scent, how "baby-like" our faces are, and whether or not we need to wear glasses or are bald.

For instance, men who have feminine facial features, like thinner eyebrows and a pointier chin, are more likely to seem trustworthy.

There's not much folks who want to give off a good first impression can do about their facial structure, but they can change their body language by enacting small changes like smiling more, making more eye contact, and nodding. 

Keep reading below to find out what other judgements people make about you within seconds of meeting you:

SEE ALSO: The 23 best icebreakers to use at a party where you don't know anyone

If you're high-status

A Dutch study found that people wearing name-brand clothes — Lacoste and Tommy Hilfiger, to be precise — were seen as higher status than folks wearing non-designer clothes. 

"Perceptions did not differ on any of the other dimensions that might affect the outcome of social interactions," the authors wrote. "There were no differences in perceived attractiveness, kindness, and trustworthiness." 

Just status.



If you're trustworthy

People decide on your trustworthiness in a tenth of a second. 

Princeton researchers found this out by giving one group of university students 100 milliseconds to rate the attractiveness, competence, likeability, aggressiveness, and trustworthiness of actors' faces.

Members of another group were able to take as long as they wanted. Their judgments were the same for most of the traits as the folks who had only a tenth of a second. 

Much of that judgement is based on things you can't really change. For instance, research suggests that more feminine, baby-like, and happy faces are perceived to be more trustworthy.

You can alter your body language to boost others' trust in you. As Business Insider previously reported, try smiling more, leaning forward, looking people in the eye, and mimicking the other person's body language. 



Your sexual orientation

People can read a man's sexual orientation in a twentieth of a second — the minimum amount of time it takes to consciously recognize a face. 

"The rapid and accurate perception of male sexual orientation may be just another symptom of a fast and efficient cognitive mechanism for perceiving the characteristics of others," wrote study authors Nicholas O. Rule and Nalini Ambady.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

You can transfer your Capital One miles to 14 airline frequent flyer programs as of today

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The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network.

cap one venture

  • Starting today, Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card holders can transfer their miles to 14 different airline partners.
  • Capital One announced the transfer feature last month, but did not share an effective start date.
  • Capital One also announced two additional airline partners, in addition to the 12 announced last month.
  • For a limited time, new applicants can earn 75,000 miles when they open a new Venture card and spend $5,000 in the first three months.
  • The Capital One Venture has rapidly ascended to be one of the most valuable rewards cards of 2018.

Starting today, Capital One Venture and Capital One Spark Miles for Business cardholders can transfer miles from their cards to 14 airline frequent flyer programs.

Capital One announced last month the upcoming ability to transfer miles, with an effective start date sometime in December and a tentative list of 12 airline partners. The new feature is now live. 

There are a few different kinds of credit card rewards, but generally, the most valuable kind is transferable points. That means that you can transfer the points you earn from everyday spending to certain partners — generally, airline frequent flyer programs. Transferability generally offers the most flexibility, allowing you a few different redemption options, and giving points a higher potential value.

Until now, the only way to redeem Capital One Venture miles was to apply them as a statement credit against specific purchases that were classified as travel, with each mile being worth 1¢.

In addition, Capital One announced two new airline transfer partners — on top of the 12 announced last month.

The new partners, Emirates and Singapore Airlines, are available for mileage transfers at a 2:1 ratio, meaning two Capital One miles equals one airline mile for those two. The previous 12 partners are available at a more generous 2:1.5 ratio.

The previous 12 airline partners, all of which convert at the 2:1.5 ratio, are:

  • Aeromexico
  • Air Canada Aeroplan
  • Air France/KLM
  • Alitalia
  • Avianca
  • Cathay Pacific
  • Etihad
  • EVA
  • Finnair
  • Hainan
  • Qantas
  • Qatar

The reason that transferable points are more valuable is because booking frequent flyer "award tickets" is different than buying reservations outright — you can read more about how it works here. In most cases, the cash price and the miles price of a ticket aren't linked, so in a scenario where a ticket's cash price is high, but its award price is low, you can get more value from your credit card points by transferring them to the relevant frequent flyer program and booking the flight as an award ticket. The alternative — paying with your card and using points to "erase" the purchase — would mean you spend many more credit card points in that scenario.

Cardholders will continue to have the option of using miles to erase travel purchases, and every other feature about the card will remain unchanged. Those with the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card — a no-annual-fee, but slower-earning sibling to the Venture— will also be able to transfer points to airline frequent flyer partners, as will those with the Capital One Spark Miles for Business and the Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business credit cards.

While the Capital One Venture has long been a solid rewards credit card — at least, for a card that earned fixed-value rewards points — the ability to transfer miles to airline partners elevates it to one of the more competitive cards available.

Read more: 11 lucrative credit card deals you can get when opening a new card in December — including a 200,000-mile bonus

Adding to the card's value: the ability to earn a tremendous 10x miles on every dollar spent on hotel bookings when you book and pay through Hotels.com/Venture. Given the 2:1.5 transfer ratio for most airlines, that means earning up to 7.5 airline miles per dollar spent on hotels with the original airlines. Hotels.com also operates its own loyalty program that offers a free night after 10 paid nights.

Given the airline transfer ability, combined with the earning rate of 10x miles on hotels through the Venture portal, and 2x miles on everything else, along with other benefits added by Capital One this year, the Capital One Venture has rapidly ascended to be one of the most potentially valuable rewards credit cards of 2018 — even if the partner airlines aren't quite as useful as Chase's.

To top off the announcement, Capital One is offering a 50% higher sign-up bonus for new applicants, but only for a limited time — an end date hasn't been announced.

The current bonus is 75,000 miles when you spend $5,000 on the card in the first three months — up from 50,000 miles. That's worth $750 of travel when used to erase travel purchases, or potentially more when transferred to airline miles — you'd get 56,250 airline miles at the 2:1.5 ratio.

There's an additional limited-time offer of up to an incredible 200,000 miles on the Spark Miles for Business card— 50,000 miles after your business spends $5,000 in the first three months, and an additional 150,000 miles after spending $50,000 in the first six months. Those 200,000 Capital One miles would transfer to 150,000 airline miles.

These bonuses may not be around for long, so this is the time to apply for the cards, especially if you can use holiday shopping and travel to help meet the minimum spending requirement. The Capital One Venture has a $95 annual fee, but it's waived the first year. The Spark Miles has the same annual fee.

Click here to learn more about the Capital One Venture from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy.

SEE ALSO: The AmEx Platinum is available to active duty servicemembers at no annual fee — but even with the fee, the credit card is a great value

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Here's what the most expensive house for sale in every US state looks like

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Arizona

  • The typical US home costs about $280,000 in 2018, but compared to some houses on the market today, that number looks tiny. 
  • Business Insider created a list of the most expensive house for sale in every US state with some help from Trulia.
  • From a $3.5 million secluded woodland home in Iowa to a $175 million estate in the Hamptons in New York, here are the most expensive houses on the market right now.

The median US home price is about $280,000, according to Zillow, but some lavish homes currently on the market cost much more than that — millions and millions more, in some cases.

Trulia helped Business Insider put together a list of the most expensive homes currently for sale in every state and Washington, DC.

Here's a look at all 51 houses, ranked in ascending order of price:

SEE ALSO: This $45 million San Francisco home could shatter the city's real-estate record — take a look inside the gorgeous complex

DON'T MISS: An $82 million penthouse apartment in NYC's tallest residential building offers 360-degree views of Central Park and the city — but nobody wants to buy it

Iowa: $3.5 million

City: Elkhart

Size: 10,666 sq. ft.

Bedrooms/bathrooms: 5 beds/9 baths



North Dakota: $3.65 million

City: Williston

Size: 6,755 sq. ft.

Bedrooms/bathrooms: 5 beds/5 baths



Nebraska: $3.75 million

City: Elkhorn

Size: 10,572 sq. ft.

Bedrooms/bathrooms: 4 beds/10 baths



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The best LED string lights you can buy

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The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

Best LED string lights

  • LED string lights aren't just for holiday decorations anymore — They can liven up your decor any time of the year.

  • The LED string lights from GE are our top pick because they are long-lasting, energy-safe, and stylish. They’re also available in a variety of lengths and colors.

A strand of classic white string lights can upgrade just about any space, be it your dorm room or backyard gazebo. All you need is a working outlet or pack of batteries in order to light up the dark corners of your home.

In addition to giving off that good old nostalgic glow, LED string lights are longer lasting, safer, and more eco-friendly than classic incandescent string lights. It’s true LED string lights are usually a bit more expensive up front, but since they last for thousands of hours and use very little energy, they are a more cost-effective option overall.

Whether you’re looking for classic white, Christmas colors, indoor, outdoor, solar, or vintage bistro lights, we have a pick for you. We took longevity, cost, sturdiness, design appeal, and other features into consideration to come up with a guide to the best LED string lights on the market.

Here are the best LED string lights you can buy:

Read on in the slides below to check out our top picks.

The best LED string lights overall

Why you'll love them: These LED string lights from GE produce an old-fashioned glow without consuming a ton of energy.

General Electric has been around for more than 125 years, and the company is still leading the electric lighting game in many ways. These LED string lights are energy efficient and should last up to 10 years. They also produce less heat than traditional bulbs, so there’s far less of a fire concern.

GE’s Colorite LED string lights come in strands with 50 or 100 bulbs, in Christmas colors, and in classic white. Reviewers have plenty to say about their warm glow. Some LED lights can look too white or even a bit blue, instead of that warm, almost golden glow you get with traditional incandescents. However, that's not the case here. As one reviewer wrote on Amazon, “They aren't stark white, and they aren't weirdly yellow.”

Expert reviewers also love these lights. The GE LED string lights have made it onto Wirecutter’s best-of list for five years in a row, making them a tried and true choice for string lights.

The bulbs come only in a mini-size, but don’t let that deter you from trying them, even if you want to replicate the traditional string light look, because less is more in the world of LED lights. This version of string lights only comes on a green wire, which might be undesirable if you want to use them on a white wall. However, the green wire is obviously great for using with Christmas trees.

These lights are labeled for both indoor and outdoor use, but a few reviewers on Amazon mentioned that the lights died sooner than expected when used outside. 

Pros: Long-lasting, energy smart lights with an old-fashioned glow

Cons: Better for inside rather than outside, comes on green string

Buy a two-pack of GE Energy Smart Colorite 100-Light LED Multicolor or White Miniature Lights on Amazon for $15.65



The best outdoor LED string lights

Why you'll love them: These Edison LED Outdoor String Lights provide vintage ambiance while being energy-efficient and sturdy.

These classy Edison bulbs may look like they’re from the 19th century, but their efficiency is very modern indeed. You can bask under the glow of these stylish bistro lights for up to 10 years, all while saving on your power bill.

Reviewers on Amazon mention that these lights really have that antique warm-white light that you want from bistro lights, and not the harsh light some people associate with older LED lights.

These Fule string lights are meant for use outside, so you don’t need to worry about exposure to the elements, since they’re waterproof. Plus, the bulbs are made out of plastic, not glass, so they look vintage, but won’t shatter if something happens to them. If, for some reason, they do stop working, the lights come with a 24-month warranty.

While more than 80% of reviewers on Amazon gave these Fule string lights five-out-of-five stars, some did mention that not all lights worked immediately out of the box. A few buyers had to unplug the string and tighten the socket-to-bulb connection by hand, which fixed the issue. However, the vast majority of reviewers still love the results, and rate these lovely ambiance boosting lights highly.

Pros: Vintage glow with long-lasting, energy-smart quality

Cons: $40 per strand isn’t cheap, but will help you save on energy costs over time

Buy a 48-foot strand of Fule LED Outdoor String Lights with Edison Bulbs on Amazon for $39.99



The best indoor LED string lights

Why you'll love them: Koopower's LED lights turn on and off with the press of a button and they can be programmed, so you never have to unplug your lights again.

I love these delicate, warm lights from Koopower, because they’re so adjustable and come with tons of features that you won’t always see with traditional incandescent lights.

A programmable timer means you don’t have to worry about turning your lights off before you go to bed or plugging them back in the next day. If you want the lights to turn on right when it gets dark, all you have to do is set it and forget it.

Because the lights come with a remote control, you don’t need to crouch down and crawl behind your Christmas tree or climb on a ladder up to your rafters when you want to change the lights' settings.

Around 87% of Amazon reviewers give these Koopower lights a four or five-star rating. Buyers love that these lights are dimmable, so you can adjust for a bright white or gentle yellow glow. The lights also use a low-voltage plug for safety and have eight different settings: The lights can stay steadily on, blink, fade, wave, flash, twinkle, and more. 

One of the only drawbacks to this set is that you need the remote control to turn them on and off. If you lose it, the only way to turn them off is to unplug them.

Pros: Adjustable, remote-control, and low-voltage lights give users tons of energy-smart options

Cons: They’re only operable via the remote control

Buy a 69-foot strand of Koopower indoor LED string lights on Amazon for $24.59



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21 cool gift ideas from 'Shark Tank' that you can find on Amazon

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The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

shark tank tipsy elves gift

One of our favorite shows to spot new products and enjoy some entertaining celebrity judge banter is "Shark Tank," which is soon returning for its tenth season.

As we've seen over the years, some pitches do extremely well, while others aren't so lucky — but the fact remains that the show brings forward new and innovative ideas most of us have never considered.

That's why the products from the show tend to make especially good gifts. They're far from generic and they usually solve a common problem or annoyance. Conveniently, most are also available on Amazon.

If your recipient loves watching "Shark Tank," they'll recognize these 21 awesome gift options.  

Looking for more gift ideas? Check out all of Insider Picks' holiday gift guides for 2018 here.

A fun outdoor game

Spikeball 3 Ball Kit, $59.99, available at Amazon

On a beautiful sunny day at any park in the city, you'll probably see at least one group playing this fun and active game. With rules similar to volleyball, it's easy to learn — so the whole family can get involved. The company even holds nationwide tournaments if your recipient gets really good at the game. 



A balance bike

KaZAM No Pedal Balance Bike, $64.95, available at Amazon

Featuring a patented footrest design that helps young kids find their center of gravity, this bike builds the confidence needed to transition to riding a proper bike. The ergonomic, adjustable handles and seat will get kids comfortable and ready to ride right away. The bike weighs only eight pounds and the puncture-free tires never need air. 



A Wi-Fi-compatible sous vide

Nomiku Wi-Fi 1100 Watt Sous Vide, $199.99, available at Amazon

Pair the sous vide immersion circulator with a quality piece of steak and your home cook is equipped to make a delicious dinner to remember. The sous vide can be controlled from their phone and produces precise results without fail. 



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HelloFresh has introduced a dinner meal kit for the holidays — we tried it and it's delicious

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  • The holiday dinner drag doesn't have to be a drag if HelloFresh is in the picture.
  • For the first time ever this year, the meal kit company is offering not one, but two meal options for the holidays: Turkey plus an appetizer and sides, or beef tenderloin plus an appetizer and sides.
  • I had an A+ experience with both the beef and the cornucopia of sides, and if you're looking for an easy way to take care of dinner for a huge crowd, HelloFresh can help.

The holidays are a time to make merry, and as it turns out, to make enormous meals for enormous families. If the idea of the fast-approaching holiday season is causing more heart palpitations than heart-warming feelings, fret not — HelloFresh is here to help.

This year, the meal kit company is offering its first-ever Holiday Box for home cooks looking to reduce their stress levels by just a hair over the course of the next few weeks. Best of all, you aren't confined to just one holiday offering. In much the same way that there is plenty of, we'll call it variety, in your family, there's some variety in HelloFresh's seasonal offerings as well.

Home cooks can choose between a Turkey and Sides Box for $159, which feeds 8 to 10 people, or the Beef Tenderloin and Sides Box (which I had the pleasure of trying) for $129, which purports to feed 6 to 8 people, but in my experience, probably feeds at least 10.

Ah, beef tenderloin. Easy to make, somewhat easy to mess up, but with HelloFresh, easy to please a large party. Like all HelloFresh boxes, the requisite ingredients for your holiday box will arrive well-packaged and on ice, with the proteins toward the bottom (and boy, are there a lot of proteins in this box) and the fresh vegetables and such near the top. Be warned — with such an extensive amount of ingredients, this is a hefty box.

Upon unwrapping your box full of delectable goodies, you'll find several servings of beef tenderloin in the form of two large filets (which you'll then subdivide as you see fit), which you'll then glaze with a rather delightful cherry balsamic sauce, as well as everything you need to pull together a veritable cornucopia of side dishes. Both the turkey and the beef come with a variety of supporting cast members, some of which I found to be particularly useful as appetizers, and others that worked well alongside the main meal.

beef

For starters, there's the Rosemary Brie Crostini, which was shockingly easy to throw together, and easy to replicate as well (you won't have to tell all your salivating dinner guests that you got this recipe out of a box). Then, there's the RoastedBrussels Sprouts, made all the more delicious with the addition of candied bacon. Also included are Truffle Mashed Potatoes, made truffle-y with a wonderful little vial of truffle oil (which I saved for future use as well) and, as one might imagine, an alarming amount of herbed butter. And finally, there are Roasted Stemmed Carrots, which are as aesthetically pleasing as they are delicious. There's something decidedly satisfying about a pop of bright orange on the table in the midst of various shades of beige and brown.

If you opt for the Turkey box, you'll be greeted by two additional sides upon the opening of your holiday box — there's the Warm Cranberry Apple Compote, obviously crucial for any turkey dinner; and Turkey Jus, which is less of a side and more of a byproduct of your turkey-roasting process.

turkey

Regardless of which box you choose, one of my favorite aspects of the offering isn't in the food itself, but in the thoughtful non-edible extras that come with the meal kit. Of course, there's the recipe booklet, which contains all the instructions you need in order to complete a show-stopping dinner, but the way in which the recipe booklet is assembled is worth noting. Rather than being delivered to you as a bound book, these recipes instead come as little tear-away cards, which means that they're easy to keep and tuck away with your existing box of recipes. Plus, the cards come with tips and tricks that will make preparing a feast relatively fail-proof.

But my favorite part of the kit just might be the HelloFresh place cards. If you're looking for an easy way to elevate your holiday dinner, this may just be the easiest way to go — tell your guests exactly where they ought to go with these cute little name plates that are as functional as they are festive. Rather than having the same people sit next to the same people dinner after dinner, you can use these placards to mix things up a bit. And as a gift, you can send your guests home with the HelloFresh coupons that come on the back of each place card.

If you're interested in ordering a Holiday Box from HelloFresh, you'll need to place your order by December 16. No current HelloFresh subscription is required.

SEE ALSO: All of Insider Picks' holiday gift guides, in one place

DON'T MISS: 20 indulgent food gifts to give someone with a sweet tooth

Join the conversation about this story »

Save up to 50% on sale styles at Cole Haan— and more of today's best deals from around the web

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Since you don't have all day to scour the web for noteworthy sales and discounts, we rounded up the best bargains for you to shop in one convenient place.

Cole Haan

1. Save up to 50% on select sale styles at Cole Haan

Cole Haan just added a bunch of new markdowns to its sale section and there's a pair of shoes for everyone. Whether you're shopping for comfortable winter hikers, dress shoes, or sneakers, you'll find them here. Discounts up to 50% on select styles are taken off automatically, so there's no need for a promo code.

Shop the Cole Haan sale now.

Indochino

2. Save up to 60% on custom suits at Indochino

A good suit should be tailored to your body, never just purchased off a rack. Indochino is leading the way in made-to-order custom suits online. Right now, the brand is having a huge sale with up to 60% off everything. Use the promo code "BEST" at checkout to save. If you're getting dressed up for New Year's Eve or shopping for suits to wear in the office, this is a great deal you shouldn't pass up.

Shop the Indochino sale now.

OtterBox

3. Save 25% sitewide at OtterBox

Today, you can automatically save 25% sitewide at OtterBox. In addition to the brand's durable cases, the sale also includes screen protectors, chargers, power banks, headphones, outdoor accessories, and more.

Shop the OtterBox sale now.

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4. Save $150 on the Apple iPad Mini 4 at Best Buy

As the holiday season quickly approaches, Best Buy is having 20 Days of Doorbusters with sales on great items every day. Today, one of the best deals you can get is on the Apple iPad Mini 4. Originally priced at $399.99, you can get it for $249.99 right now.

Apple iPad Mini 4 128GB, $249.99 (Originally $399.99) [You save $150]

Adidas

5. Save 30% sitewide at Adidas

While certain high-performance and classic sneakers typically never hit the clearance section, Adidas is offering sitewide savings for a limited time during its exclusive friends and family sale. You can save 30% on your entire purchase at Adidas by using the promo code "ADIFAM" at checkout. The sale ends today, so don't wait to shop.

Shop the Adidas Friends and Family sale now.

J.Crew

6. Save 50% on your order at J.Crew

This week, J.Crew is preparing for the holidays with five days of surprise sales and for day one, you can save 50% on your entire order. Simply use the promo code "MONDAY" to take advantage of the offer. There will be more great sales to follow, but this particularly great deal ends tonight at midnight.

Shop the J.Crew sale now.

 

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7. Save $69.99 on an Echo Dot and Ring Video Doorbell 2 Bundle on Amazon

When paired together, the Amazon Echo Dot and Ring Video Doorbell 2 are the perfect combination for making your smart home safe and secure. The Dot lights up to let you know someone's at your door and enables two-way audio so you can communicate with them. When you're not at home, you can stream the video feed from your Ring doorbell on your phone, tablet, or computer. The two devices can be had as a bundle for $169 — a $69.99 savings.

Echo Dot and Ring Video Doorbell 2 Bundle, $169 (Originally $238.99) [You save $69.99]

AHAlife

8. Save 20% on all orders of $100 or more at AHAlife

Unlike traditional department stores, AHAlife is home to products from some of the most unique designers and artisans. The site features a wide array of beautiful items that make for truly special gifts, from kitchen accessories to jewelry. Use the promo code "GIFT20" at checkout to save 20% when you spend $100 or more and receive free shipping.

Shop all items at AHALife now.

BEAR mattress

9. Save up to $200 on a Bear Hybrid Mattress

As one of our favorite mattress startups, Bear revolutionized the way we sleep by creating a mattress that supports every body type and sleeping style. Today, you can save $100 on orders over $500 with promo code "HOL100" or save $200 on orders over $1,200 with promo code "HOL200" at checkout. Plus, you can save 20% on select accessories, like sheets, pillows, and mattress protectors.

Shop the Bear Hybrid Mattress in Queen, King, and California King sizes now.

Join the conversation about this story »

Some apps can track your phone's location more than 14,000 times a day — here's how to turn that off if you own an iPhone or Android

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google maps iphone gps

  • Some smartphone apps could be collecting data on your location more than 14,000 times a day, according to a new report in The New York Times.
  • This location data is sometimes anonymized and sold to companies for purposes like targeted advertising, but it is often so exact that The Times was able to use it to track down someone.
  • There's an easy way to limit — or completely turn off — your apps' access to your location data.

Some smartphone apps can receive data on a user's precise location more than 14,000 times a day, The New York Times found in a new investigation.

Though each tracked phone is identified by a unique ID rather than a person's name or phone number, the millions of location points collected by the apps are "accurate to within a few yards" and can reveal a person's daily movements "in startling detail," The Times said.

Using a database that tracks the location data of more than 1 million phones in the New York area, The Times was able to identify a person whose location was being relayed to companies via her smartphone app.

The Times reported:

"At least 75 companies receive anonymous, precise location data from apps whose users enable location services to get local news and weather or other information, The Times found. Several of those businesses claim to track up to 200 million mobile devices in the United States — about half those in use last year ...

"But those with access to the raw data — including employees or clients — could still identify a person without consent. They could follow someone they knew, by pinpointing a phone that regularly spent time at that person's home address. Or, working in reverse, they could attach a name to an anonymous dot, by seeing where the device spent nights and using public records to figure out who lived there."

Apps will often ask smartphone users to enable location-tracking services for better functionality, like those that provide GPS navigation, weather information, or food recommendations. But The Times said the privacy policies that many people accept without thinking twice were often "incomplete or misleading," adding that companies could use these permissions to sell your location data.

"These companies sell, use or analyze the data to cater to advertisers, retail outlets and even hedge funds seeking insights into consumer behavior," the Times story said.

Read more:Google is tracking your movements whether you like it or not, new investigation finds

But the good news is you do have some control. You can adjust the settings for individual apps to stop them from tracking your location, though turning off location services for some apps may limit their capabilities or render them unworkable.

The easiest way to turn off location tracking for each app is through your device's privacy settings — here's how to do that:

If you have an iOS device, location-tracking settings can be found in Settings under "Privacy."



Next, select "Location Services" ...



... where you'll find the location-data permissions for every app on your device.



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The best dolly carts and hand trucks you can buy

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best dolly carts

  • A good dolly cart helps you move loads weighing hundreds of pounds without back spasms or excessive swearing.

  • The Milwaukee 47109 Flow Back Dolly Cart is the best one you can buy thanks to the classic simplicity of its form and function and its lifetime durability of construction.

Just a few days ago, I fulfilled what, for some reason, had become a lifelong dream of mine: I bought a deep freezer. Soon, my garage will boast 5.2 cubic feet of ice cold storage in a handsome white cube, and the freezer under our fridge will be free of clutter, stocked only with choice items like ice cream, waffles, and additional ice cream. And ice.

Singlehandedly getting the freezer off the Home Depot flatbed and into my car wasn't much fun, but it only took about a minute all told. Moving this cumbersome appliance up the driveway and into the garage, however? That was going to require some help. With my wife watching the kids and no neighbors in sight, I turned to my trusty hand truck.

Thanks to the a few simple machines (namely the wheel and the lever, not to mention the inclined plane if we're factoring in the slope of the property, I guess), the deep freezer's journey from my vehicle to its garage resting place was pleasantly easy. Organizing the garage to accommodate the new appliance? That was less pleasant.

Call them hand trucks, dolly carts, box carts, or any other name, these plucky contraptions are minor miracle workers. A hand truck lets an individual transport many times more weight than he or she would otherwise be able, and with certain specialized options, a load can even be moved upstairs, over rough terrain, or over long distances. I use a hand truck around my home at least once or twice a month, and in previous periods of life, I used them weekly in offices or daily when working on TV sets.

Whether your job calls for moving hundreds of boxes a week or your move calls for moving all your furniture, appliances, and stuff in one weekend, a good hand truck is a great thing to have on hand. Save yourself from the backache and get the work done faster with the latest versions of this centuries-old type of hardware.

Here are the best dolly carts you can buy:

Read on in the slides below to check out our top picks.

The best dolly cart overall

Why you'll love it: Milwaukee 47109 Flow Back Hand Truck arrives fully assembled and ready to roll, and thanks to its simple, sturdy design, it will remain in service for decades, if not for life.

There's nothing fancy about the Milwaukee 47109 Flow Back Hand Truck. But guess what? Hand trucks are not supposed to be fancy, they're supposed to be functional. And this hearty hand truck is certainly that.

It's rated for a 600-pound load with a safe stacking height up to 42 inches, so you can load a number of boxes or a larger, heavier appliance onto this tubular steel beast and start to roll.

The Flow Back's 14 inches by 8 inches toe plate is ample enough for easy balancing but not so large as to take up extra space while you're storing or transporting the hand truck, while its 8-inch tires are made of a solid rubber that never needs air and can easily handle the rough terrain of parking lots, sidewalks, and even a bit of off road hauling.

With dozens of reviews posted on Amazon, the Milwaukee 47109 Flow Back Hand Truck has an excellent 4.6-star average rating. One shopper notes its "American made excellent craftsmanship," while another calls it "perfect for heavy duty hauling." The product testers from Ezvid appreciated the fact that a Milwaukee hand truck "arrives fully assembled" and ready for work.

And I can tell you from personal experience that this type of tall, sturdy hand truck is hard to beat for all basic load bearing needs and is exceptional for stacked boxes.

Pros: Built to last, large weight capacity, corrosion-resistant finish

Cons: Emits chemical odor when new

Buy the Milwaukee 47109 Flow Back Hand Truck on Amazon for $66



The best collapsible dolly cart

Why you'll love it: The Magna Cart Personal Hand Truck folds down small enough to fit in the trunk of any car or into a small closet, but it can move 150 pounds around with ease.

When fully opened and extended, the Magna Cart Personal Hand Truck features a 39-inch handle and a wide 15-inch base. It allows you to easily transport loads weighing up to 15 pounds.

It's ideal for the person moving into an apartment or dorm room or for use in smaller offices, but not so much because of its size and capacity when deployed for use, but rather thanks to its dimensions when collapsed. With the base plate folded up and the wheels tucked in, the Magna Cart Personal Hand Truck is only 2.5 inches deep can easily tuck away under a bed, on a shelf, in a closet, or in the trunk of your car.

Another thing that's compact about this hand truck is the price. At less than $40, it's a highly affordable piece of equipment and a justifiable expense even if you'll only use it for one move or for setting up a new office. However, do note that its 150-pound weight capacity is also pretty small, especially compared to other units on our list, so don't try to move a fridge with this thing. 

The Magna Cart Personal Hand Truck has 3,000-plus reviews posted on Amazon and enjoys a solid 4.5-star rating. A plethora of customers love its abilities as a "car seat carrier for traveling," with many more praising it for being "light and collapsible" yet "handy and tough," as one buyer said in a review that speaks for many.

A write up from IdeaHacks said it "stores easily at home when not in use" and fits in most "vehicle's trunks." Finally, let's not overlook the clever wordplay of the name, surely inspired by the charter signed by King John back in 1215.

Pros: Compact when folded, low price point, easy to use

Cons: Modest weight capacity

Buy the Magna Cart Personal Hand Truck on Amazon for $36 (originally $50)



The best high-capacity dolly cart

Why you'll love it: If you need to move a fridge, washing machine, or a safe, then the Harper Trucks 800 Pound Appliance Truck is ready to serve.

Any way you look at it, this is one serious hand truck. And yes, that starts with the hefty $200 price tag, but if you're moving appliances or furniture that weighs many hundreds of pounds (and may cost thousands of dollars) it's worth the investment.

The Harper Trucks 800 Pound Appliance Truck stands 60 inches tall, allowing for plenty of contact area with the load being moved and making best use of the physics of the fulcrum and lever. Its extra wide 24-inch base plate helps spread the weight as you roll, while a pair of ingenious belt stair crawlers — picture tank tracks, basically — set above the wheels help you ease up or down stairs or curbs.

But, of course, the ultimate metric with hand trucks is the weight capacity, and here the Harper Trucks 800 Pound Appliance Truck shines. It can handle loads as heavy as 800 pounds, so few appliances, pieces of furniture, or other items you'll ever have cause to move are beyond its capabilities.

Just make sure you make use of the built-in belt and belt tightener to secure the load to the hand truck, because even the best hand truck in the world can't help you if its cargo falls off of it.

Amazon shoppers have given this beast of a piece of hardware a commendable 4.5-star overall rating. A reviewer called Jonathan said the Harper Trucks 800 Pound Appliance Truck "can be used with just about anything that's heavy or big," while another gentleman said he "would recommend to anyone looking for quality that lasts."

A few buyers did complain about the shallow base plate, saying that the hand truck was only suitable to the "specialized use" of moving oversized, solid objects, but when it comes to those, it excels.

Pros: Amazing weight capacity, built-in securing belt, stair crawlers help on stairs or curbs

Cons: Quite expensive

Buy the Harper Trucks 800 Pound Appliance Truck on Amazon for $200



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27 stunning photos of the neighborhood that puts on the best Christmas-light displays in America

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Dyker Heights Christmas Lights 8

  • The neighborhood of Dyker Heights in Brooklyn, New York, puts on a Christmas light display every year.
  • It has become a tourist attraction, with guided tours and buses.

 

The suburban Brooklyn neighborhood of Dyker Heights is a quiet and friendly area year-round – that is, until the holidays start.

That's when the neighborhood is flooded with thousands of Christmas-light peepers anxious to see the area's famed displays. Countless homes in the neighborhood take part, putting up dazzling and awe-inspiring feats of festivity, and likely producing similarly awe-inspiring electric bills.

In 2015, I took a trip to Dyker Heights to see the hyped "Dyker Lights" for myself. Keep scrolling to see some lights that would make Clark Griswold die from envy.

SEE ALSO: Inside New York City's most festive bar, where they spend more than $60,000 a year getting ready for Christmas

Dyker Heights is a good half-hour drive from downtown Manhattan, and about an hour away on the subway. Luckily, there are Dyker Lights tour buses that will take you there hassle-free — for a price.



You can see most of the best displays between 11th and 13th avenues around 81st through 86th streets.



Some of the homes put up stately, elegant arrangements.



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50 thoughtful gifts for mom that won't cost you more than $50

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book of the month, $44.99+

She's your confidante, rock, mentor, and built-in best friend. She's been there through it all and this holiday season she deserves something really special. Yet, mom can be one of the hardest people to shop for on your list. After all, what do you give someone who literally gave you life?

The good news is that the perfect gift for your mom is out there, and it doesn't have to be expensive to make her smile. When it comes to gifts for mom, whether you want to go with something big or small, thoughtfulness is key. That's why we scoured the web and collected 50 really special gifts that show your mom you care, all under $50.

Pick a gift that embraces nostalgia, her favorite hobbies, or some quality time with you — whatever you give, mom will love it. 

Looking for more gift ideas? Check out all of Insider Picks' holiday gift guides for 2018 here.

SEE ALSO: 31 clever stocking stuffers they’ll actually use — all under $10

DON'T MISS: 55 creative and unexpected gifts for her that are all under $50

A bath caddy with room for everything she might need

Royal Craft Wood Luxury Bathtub Caddy, $39.99, available at Amazon

The only thing that could make a bath more relaxing than some luxurious bubbles is this bathtub caddy. It can hold a device so she can watch her favorite show, a glass full of her favorite drink, and even a candle she can light for ambiance. 



A Blue Apron meal kit for convenient, healthy meals

Blue Apron Meal Kit, two-person plan starting at $47.95, available at Blue Apron

Whether she loves to cook or is looking to improve her skills, she'll appreciate the convenience of this meal kit. Each meal kit comes with pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes for seriously delicious home cooked meals that can be made on busy weeknights. 



An air plant that shows your appreciation

You Are My Rock Air Plant, starting at $26, available at Etsy

She's your rock, so let her know. This air plant, which comes in a pretty rose quartz planter, will make a cute piece of decor — and the packaging box will remind her how important she is to you. 



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6 things you probably didn't know about the Supreme Court class photo

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supreme court 2018

  • Whenever a new judge enters the Supreme Court, the justices gather for a class photo.
  • For decades, the shot has taken place in the east conference room of the court, with the justices dressed in their traditional black robes.
  • Today, news photographers only have 120 seconds to capture the moment.
  • Justice Clarence Thomas makes it hard to get a good shot because he jokes with the justices sitting next to him.

In November, the Supreme Court justices gathered to take a new group photo after Justice Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed to the court.

It's a class photo steeped in decades of tradition, down to the red velvet-draped room where the picture is taken and the way the winning photo is selected.

The Chief Justice is seated in the middle, with his four longest-serving colleagues on either side, while the four junior justices are relegated to the back.

But there are other facts about the photo that many will find surprising, which The New York Times revealed in a report on Monday. Here are six things you might not know about the Supreme Court class photo.

SEE ALSO: Supreme Court refuses to take up states' case to defund Planned Parenthood

DON'T MISS: Trump asks Supreme Court to consider transgender military ban

1. The Supreme Court generally gathers to take a class photo whenever someone new enters their ranks — but that's not a hard-and-fast rule.

In 2003, the justices decided to take a new photo because they had served together nine years without any changes to the court. A photo from that session is seen above.

Source: The New York Times



2. Until recently, the justices would vote on which photo they would release as their official group shot.

Last year, that changed slightly thanks to advances in digital photography.

For the 2017 photo, as seen above, each justice was able to choose which photo they looked best in, and each of those shots was edited into the final photo.

In reality, the shot is actually a composite, instead of a photo, but it's impossible to tell.

Source: The New York Times



3. News photographers only have 2 minutes to take a photo of the justices together.

After a Supreme Court photographer takes the official picture, news photographers are let into the east conference room to take photos as well.

For decades, news photographers were given just 3 minutes to take their pictures. Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist thought this was too long and cut the time down to 2 minutes.

During November's photo, the Supreme Court's public information officer used a stopwatch to count off the 120 seconds that photographers were allowed to take their pictures.

You can hear her calling the time in this video »

Source: The New York Times



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3 reasons TSA Precheck isn't worth your money

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tsa precheck

  • TSA Precheck was designed to speed up and simplify the security process for passengers who undergo a background check and pay an $85 fee for five years of coverage.
  • The TSA has said most Precheck passengers wait less than five minutes in security lines, but a survey of multiple domestic airports found the average wait time to be about only 10 minutes long for non-Precheck travelers.
  • For $15 more, the TSA's Global Entry program provides the same benefits as the Precheck program plus expedited processing back into the United States after international travel.

The TSA doesn't rank near the top of many popularity lists these days, with the agency's airport-security process universally bemoaned by passengers weary of taking off shoes, dumping out liquids, submitting to pat-downs, and generally forfeiting time and dignity just to get onto a flight.

While this blue-shirted wing of the Department of Homeland Security performs a critical service that helps protect domestic and foreign travelers alike, the laborious screening process is hardly a model of efficiency. For this reason, more than 7 million travelers have signed up for the TSA Precheck program.

The Precheck program is meant to save travelers time and minimize hassle, allowing them to skip steps such as removing shoes and light jackets, pulling liquids and laptops out from their bags, and even providing a much shorter security line. All you need to do to join the TSA Precheck program is complete a form, pay an $85 fee, submit to a background check, go to an in-person meeting, and give your fingerprints.

But, is TSA Precheck worth it? Not really. Here's why:

1. At most airports in the United States, Precheck will not save you a significant amount of time

In conducting some research for this article, I checked the average wait time at several times of day at about a dozen US airports, including international airports in Honolulu; Austin, Texas; and Newark, New Jersey, as well as a number of domestic airports, like those in Burbank, California, and Providence, Rhode Island.

While the TSA states that most Precheck customers will spend five minutes or less waiting in the security line, my informal survey found that in the average US airport, the average wait in a security line is about only 10 minutes. Unless you travel with great frequency (or have poor time-management skills and are perennially running late) the time saved is likely to be almost negligible.

2. The Global Entry program affords more benefits than Precheck for only $15 more

The $85 Precheck program may help slightly expedite your airport-security process and will likely remove some of the more invasive elements of the screening, but it does nothing for you when you travel internationally.

Precheck members returning from overseas go through the same lines and screenings as everyone else. Global Entry members, on the other hand, can enjoy an expedited return back into the US and also receive all the benefits of Precheck while flying domestically. And the program costs only $15 more than Precheck.

Read more: TSA Precheck isn't worth your money — and there's a better alternative few people consider

3. TSA Precheck doesn't necessarily shield you from additional screening

Just because you joined the TSA Precheck program doesn't mean your airport-security process will never be nightmarish again. Even Precheck memberscan still be pulled out of line for random heightened screening, which may include swabs used to detect explosive residue, a total unpacking of your bags, and more.

If you thought signing up for the Precheck program was your ticket out of those more involved enhanced-screening processes, you thought wrong; you're still at the mercy of the DHS.

SEE ALSO: How to easily find a savings account that will earn you more money

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Craig Jackson of Barrett-Jackson Auction Company has one of the world's most expensive private garages — take a look inside

I visited a tiny NYC nightclub that has a $150 cocktail and was designed to look like a water tower, and it didn't take long to see why it's a hotspot for models and influencers

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water tower bar

  • I visited The Water Tower in Brooklyn, New York, a brand-new rooftop lounge and nightclub designed to look like a water tower.
  • Cocktails start at $20 — and one special white truffle-infused beverage costs $150, while a grilled-cheese sandwich will run you $70.
  • Although the views were stunning, and the space was beautiful, I don't see myself ever going there again because of the high prices.

One of New York City's newest bars is perched on top of a Brooklyn hotel and designed to look like one of the many industrial-looking water towers that dot the borough's rooftops.

The Water Tower, which opened in November 2018, is super-exclusive: It's reservation-only and seats only 45 people. Cocktails at the club, which is open from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. and features a rotating set of international DJs, start at $20 — and one specialty drink, infused with white truffles, will cost you $150. 

The food menu includes items such as a $70 white-truffle grilled cheese, an $80 seafood platter, and caviar service ranging from $95 to $525. 

Berton Rodov, the club's creative director, said they aim to cultivate a specific vibe at The Water Tower.

"We have a fun, diverse crowd," he told me when I went to check out the club one afternoon. "Honestly, we try to curate the experience here, being that it's a small space, and it's the most luxurious extension of this brand."

But, he added, that's "not saying you have to be rich to come in." He said the crowd tends to be, "cool kids, models, people just here to have fun," and they "try to look out for locals, too."

After visiting the club one early December afternoon, I can't say I was entirely convinced that their target audience isn't just rich people.

Here's what The Water Tower looks like inside.

SEE ALSO: I visited New York's new Playboy Club, where Playboy Bunnies serve drinks in their iconic costumes and members pay up to $100,000 a year — and it wasn't at all what I expected

DON'T MISS: 5 restaurants in NYC earned the highest Michelin rating for 2019 — and 2 of them have topped the list every year since the ranking started

The Water Tower is perched on the rooftop of Brooklyn's Williamsburg Hotel, which already includes an outdoor bar and a pool.



It was built as an "homage" to the iconic water towers that dot many Brooklyn rooftops.



Rooms at the Williamsburg Hotel start at around $200 per night, according to its website.

Source: The Williamsburg Hotel



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Green Monday is the next best day for deals after Black Friday and Cyber Monday — here are the best sales happening now

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Black Friday and Cyber Monday are usually considered to be the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season — and the two best days of the year to save money on gifts.

Fortunately, December also has a shopping holiday in case you missed out on those savings, and it's the next best thing to the post-Thanksgiving Day sales. Today, on Green Monday, you can save big on all of the items you need for the holiday season. 

While it may not be as widely known and popular as  Black Friday and Cyber Monday, many big-name retailers like Target, Walmart, Macy's, and Best Buy are having huge sales with sitewide savings for Green Monday, which has historically been considered the best day for deals in December.

Whether you've yet to start your holiday shopping, need to pick up some last minute gifts, or simply want to save or great items for yourself, there are tons of great stores with sales here. To help you shop with ease, we rounded up more than 35 of the best deals on clothing, shoes, accessories, tech, home goods, and more. 

To potentially save more on Green Monday, you can visit Business Insider Coupons to find up-to-date promo codes for a range of online stores.

Adidas:

  • Save 30% on sneakers and apparel using the promo code "ADIFAM" at checkout. Shop adidas.com.

Amazon: 

  • Save big on electronics during day 9 of Amazon's 12 Days of Deals. Shop amazon.com.

Backcountry:

  • Save 2o% on one full-priced camp or climb item with the promo code "TAKE20CC" at checkout. Shop backcountry.com.

B&H Photo and Video:

  • Save big on cameras, camera accessories, laptops, computer software, TVs, tablets, and more. Shop bhphotovideo.com.

Best Buy:

  • Save big on laptops, tablets, TVs, gaming consoles, smart watches, and other tech items. Shop bestbuy.com.

Clarks: 

  • Save an extra 25% on over 500 footwear styles by using the promo code "FNF25" at checkout. Shop clarksusa.com.

Dagne Dover:

  • Save 20% on gifts of luxury with the promo code "LUXURY20" at checkout. Shop dagnedover.com.

Dell:

  • Save up to $760 on PCs and up to 40% on electronics. Shop dell.com.

Dockers:

  • Save 40% on everything and get free shipping with the promo code “GREENDAY” at checkout. Shop dockers.com.

eBay:

  • Save big on top brands like Apple, Google, Oakley, Dyson, LG, Keurig, and more with new deals launching every hour. Shop ebay.com.

Eye Buy Direct:

Foot Locker:

  • Save 20% when you spend $99 or more by using the promo code "TAKE20" at checkout. Shop footlocker.com

Fossil:

  • Save 25% sitewide using the promo code "HOLIDAY25" at checkout. Shop fossil.com.

J.Crew:

  • Save 50% on your order with the promo code "MONDAY" at checkout on December 10 only. Shop jcrew.com.

Jet:

  • Save big on top tech brands like Google, Roku, and Samsung. Shop jet.com.

Jomashop:

L.L.Bean: 

  • Now through December 11, save 25% on your order with the promo code "GIFT25" and get a free $10 gift card to use on a future purchase before December 24. Shop llbean.com.

Levi's: 

  • Save 40% sitewide by using the promo code "GREEN40" at checkout. Shop levis.com.

Linjer:

  • Save up to 25% on men's and women's watches. Shop linjer.co.

Macy's:

  • Save 30% clothes, shoes, jewelry, tech, home goods, and more by using the promo code "FRIENDS" at checkout on December 10. Shop macys.com.

MeUndies:

  • Now through December 15, save 20% on Mystery and Bold packs. Shop meundies.com.

Microsoft:

  • Save up to $300 on laptops, tablets, consoles, games and more. Shop microsoft.com.

Mizzen+Main:

Need Supply:

  • Save $25 on orders $250 or more, $100 on $500 or more, or $200 on $800 or more and get free shipping. Shop needsupply.com.

New Balance:

Office Depot:

  • Save up to 50% on laptops, smart home devices, office supplies and more. Shop officedepot.com.

OtterBox:

Ralph Lauren: 

  • Save an extra 40% on select styles by using the promo code "EXTRA40" at checkout. Shop ralphlauren.com.

REI:

  • Save up to 40% on outdoor gear and apparel on December 10 only. Shop rei.com.

Richer Pooer:

Udemy:

  • Now through December 12, enroll in thousands of online courses for only $10.99. Shop udemy.com.

Target:

  • Save 30% on home goods, toys, kids' clothing, men's and women's boots, activewear, and more. Shop target.com.

Timberland:

  • Save 25% sitewide with the promo code "SURPRISE25" at checkout on December 10 only. Shop timberland.com.

Timex:

  • Save 20% sitewide and get free shipping with the promo code “JOLLY20” at checkout. Shop timex.com.

Tommy John:

United By Blue:

  • Save 30% on all bags by using the promo code "BRANDNEWBAG" at checkout. Shop unitedbyblue.com.

Walmart:

  • Save big on toys, TVs, laptops, tablets, home goods, kitchen appliances, grooming products, and much more. Shop walmart.com.

Looking for gift ideas? Check out all of Insider Picks' holiday gift guides for 2018 here.

Join the conversation about this story »

50 awesome gifts from Nordstrom — from $10 coasters to a $695 smartwatch

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If you asked us why we love shopping at Nordstrom, we wouldn't even know where to begin.

Maybe it's the curated selection of top brands across clothing, home, and beauty, or the unique limited-time collaborations with celebrities, influencers, and top designers. Perhaps we really enjoy the great customer service, on top of perks like free shipping all year round, in-store tailoring, and its free rewards program

For these numerous reasons, we look to Nordstrom when it's time to shop for holiday gifts. It only carries the best brands, so it's hard to mess up while shopping here, but if we had to narrow down the selection to only 50, these are the gifts we would choose. 

Shop all gifts at Nordstrom here.

Looking for more gift ideas? Check out all of Insider Picks' holiday gift guides for 2018 here.

SEE ALSO: All of Insider Picks' holiday gift guides, in one place

DON'T MISS: 64 cool and unique gifts for her — for every budget

A pair of Bluetooth earmuffs

Ugg Genuine Shearling Bluetooth Earmuffs, $95, available at Nordstrom

They don't have to sacrifice warmth or music thanks to these stylish, fuzzy Bluetooth earmuffs. They're made from leather and soft genuine shearling. 



A stylish, modern record player

Crosley Radio Cruiser Deluxe Turntable, $69.95, available at Nordstrom

Though it has a classic look, the turntable is also Bluetooth-compatible, bridging the gap for the tech-savvy who also happen to love a solid vinyl record. 



A leather phone case with card slots

Madewell Card Slot Leather iPhone X/Xs Case, $26.60, available at Nordstrom

They don't have to choose between protection and aesthetic in their phone case. The leather develops a patina over time, plus the tight card slots are very useful for cards and IDs.  



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

L.L.Bean is having a 25% off sitewide sale that includes Bean Boots — these are the best pairs to buy

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The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

L.L.Bean

  • Now through December 11, you can save 25% sitewide at L.L.Bean by using the promo code "GIFT25" at checkout.
  • For Green Monday, you'll also receive a free $10 gift card to use on a future order of $50 or more by December 24.
  • While apparel and gear are included in the promotion, the best items on sale right now are the iconic Bean Boots.
  • As an item that typically sells out before the height of winter, you can get your Bean Boots now at a lower price.

Winter will be here before you know it. When it comes to footwear, you should already have a nice pair of fall boots, so now is the time to shift your focus to a pair of winter boots.

The iconic L.L.Bean Boots are known for selling out every year well before the height of winter, and right now they're on sale for 25% off — along with the rest of L.L.Bean's apparel and gear.

Created in 1912 by avid fisherman and hunter Leon Leonwood Bean to keep feet warm and dry, the boots were handmade in Maine and single-handedly launched the company to success.

To this day, the L.L.Bean Boot is made in Maine by expert craftspeople, never by a machine, using the same design and manufacturing processes. With immense popularity, the demand for Bean Boots always far exceeds what the factory can produce by hand. 

While the classic 8-inch boot is still available, there are many new options for men, women, and kids. Whether you're going for a higher 10-inch boot, a warm insulated boot, a stylish moccasin, or a unique color, you can find it here.

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Now through December 11, L.L.Bean is having an amazing sitewide sale that puts Bean Boots at the lowest price they've been since Black Friday last year. You can save 25% by simply using the promo code "GIFT25" at checkout. On top of the discount, you'll also receive a free $10 gift card to use on a future purchase of $50 or more by December 24. 

Don't wait until there's snow on the ground to order your Bean Boots. With how quickly orders pile up, you might not get a chance to wear them until next winter.

Shop all items at L.L.Bean now and save.

Check out the best L.L.Bean Boots for men, women, and kids below:

Men's L.L.Bean Original 8-Inch Boot

L.L.Bean Original 8-Inch Boot, $101.25 (Originally $135) [You save $33.75]

 



Men's L.L.Bean Shearling-Lined 10-Inch Boot

L.L.Bean Shearling-Lined 10-Inch Boot, $172.50 (Originally $230) [You save $57.50]



Men's L.L.Bean Limited-Edition Luxe Padded Collar 8-Inch Boot

L.L.Bean Limited-Edition Luxe Padded Collar 8-Inch Boot, $116.25 (Originally $155) [You save $38.75]



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