• The special counsel Robert Mueller is zeroing in on a series of conversations between former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and former Russian intelligence operative Konstantin Kilimnik that took place between August 2016 and March 2018.
• It's unclear what the conversations specifically focused on because much of the information in the court filing is redacted.
• But both Manafort and Kilimnik have previously acknowledged that they met in person on August 2, 2016.
• Manafort said he and Kilimnik discussed the Trump campaign and the recent hack of the Democratic National Committee during the meeting on August 2, 2016.
• Kilimnik said they did not discuss the campaign but talked about "current news" and "unpaid bills."
• Shortly after the August meeting, a private jet linked to the Russian-Ukrainian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, whom Manafort was indebted to, arrived in the US for less than 24 hours.

The special counsel Robert Mueller's office submitted an extensive 31-page court filing late Tuesday that offers an unprecedented window into the alleged lies that Paul Manafort, the former chairman of President Donald Trump's campaign, told prosecutors after pleading guilty in the Russia investigation last year.

Much of Tuesday's court filing is redacted, as is an accompanying document containing approximately 70 exhibits.

But prosecutors did reveal some intriguing details about Manafort's dealings with investigators and the grand jury that could offer hints about where the Russia probe is headed.

For one, they reaffirmed that Manafort testified to the grand jury about his communications with the former Russian intelligence operative Konstantin Kilimnik. According to the filing, prosecutors are interested in conversations Manafort and Kilimnik had about a certain topic from August 2, 2016 until March 2018. Much of the information about their interactions about this topic was redacted in the filing.

Several of their discussions were in person, prosecutors said.

Manafort has previously acknowledged that he met with Kilimnik in May and August of 2016.

Three days before the August meeting with Manafort, Kilimnik wrote in an email to the Trump campaign chairman that he had "met today with the guy who gave you your biggest black caviar jar several years ago," a reference to the Russian-Ukrainian oligarch Oleg Deripaska and loans that he had given to Manafort.

"We spent about 5 hours talking about his story, and I have several important messages from him to you," Kilimnik wrote, adding, "I need about two hours because it is a long caviar story to tell."

Manafort is known to have offered Deripaska "private briefings" about the Trump campaign beginning in April 2016 and continuing until at least July. Former intelligence officials told INSIDER the offer appeared to be part of an effort by Manafort to resolve a longstanding financial dispute with Deripaska.

Manafort said he and Kilimnik discussed the Trump campaign and the recent hack of the Democratic National Committee during the meeting on August 2, 2016. Kilimnik, meanwhile, said they did not discuss the campaign but talked about "current news" and "unpaid bills."

Shortly after the August 2 meeting, a jet linked to Deripaska arrived in the US and landed in Newark, New Jersey. It was in the US for less than 24 hours.

Read more:Manafort's lawyers made a formatting error in a new court filing and accidentally revealed a slew of bombshells about his alleged lies to Mueller

In addition to misleading investigators about his meetings with Kilimnik, Manafort is also accused of lying about sharing confidential Trump campaign polling data with the former Russian intelligence operative, and discussing a Russia-Ukraine "peace plan" with him.

Mueller's work with the grand jury in the FBI's inquiry into Russian election interference is typically shrouded in mystery. But the public has slowly learned the details of Manafort's cooperation with prosecutors since November, when Mueller first accused Manafort of lying to investigators in violation of his plea deal.

In December, the special counsel said in a court filing that Manafort told "discernible lies" about multiple topics, including his interactions with Kilimnik; a $125,000 payment made to a firm related to a debt Manafort had incurred; his communications with Trump administration officials; and information relevant to another Justice Department investigation.

Earlier this month, Manafort's lawyers made a formatting error in a court filing and accidentally unsealed even more information about those alleged lies, which they said were told unintentionally.

This week, Mueller revealed that Kilimnik, in particular, is central to several threads in the Russia investigation, which is examining whether the Trump campaign colluded with Moscow to tilt the race in his favor, and whether Trump sought to obstruct justice when he fired FBI director James Comey in 2017.

The New York Times reported last weekend that Comey's firing also prompted the bureau to launch a separate counterintelligence investigation into whether Trump is a witting or unwitting agent of the Russian government.

SEE ALSO: Manafort's lawyers made a formatting error in a new court filing and accidentally revealed a slew of bombshells about his alleged lies to Mueller

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NOW WATCH: MSNBC host Chris Hayes thinks President Trump's stance on China is 'not at all crazy'

• Having a second child means parents are on duty at almost all times, no longer able to step in for one another when one parent needs a break.
• Assuming everything you learned about infant care will come right back to you when a second child is born means setting yourself up for a collision with reality; you need to prepare yourself before the baby arrives.
• Here are five mistakes I made before our second child was born and some insight to help you avoid doing the same.

No two human beings are exactly alike. As I learned, this fact makes itself evident almost immediately after a baby is born. While my wife and I had more than four years of parenting experience under our belts when our baby daughter arrived, we had absolutely no experience raising this specific young lady. As I would soon learn, not all of what worked for one child would work with another.

I'd also learn how dramatically different life is with two kids as opposed to one. I thought that the profundity of the shift from being childless to being parents would far surpass the change from being parents with one kid to two.

As it turned out, it only slightly surpassed it. Raising kids who are four years apart in age means dealing with two people who both need you for all sorts of reasons, but those reasons have little common ground, so our kids constantly pull us in different directions. And the laundry, cooking, grocery shopping, and that thing called work? That stuff still needs doing, too.

If I could go back a year from today, a couple months before our daughter was born, I'd do myself a favor and read on, because these are five mistakes I made before my second child was born.

SEE ALSO: The 6 smartest things I did before I had my first child

1. I thought I'd remember all the baby prep

In an odd way, I felt more prepared for the birth of my first child than my second. Before our son Ben was born, I read several books on pregnancy, birth, and early infancy, we attended Lamaze classes and a parenting seminar, we listened to podcasts and watched videos, and we asked questions of doctors, friends, family, and occasionally fellow grocery shoppers.

During the second pregnancy, I brushed up on things but I didn't read nearly as deeply, didn't go to classes, and generally didn't spend nearly as much time studying up on pregnancy, birth, or newborn care. As we went to the hospital for baby Scarlett's delivery, I felt distinctly less confident than I had with her brother four years earlier; I simply didn't prepare enough. Fortunately, it all came back quickly, though.

2. I didn't fully consider what the new family budget would look like ahead of time

Adding a kid to the family adds a lot of expenses; that much we already knew having done it once before. But as our son was four by the time his sister came along, we had long adjusted to the expenses associated with his clothing, food, art supplies and toys, summer camp, and tuition.

Along with the large but one-time costs of the birth itself, having a baby adds in all sorts of costs, from diapers, wipes, and creams to clothing regularly outgrown and replaced and, soon enough, to food. While all reasonably predictable, I didn't take the time to think through our family's new projected monthly expenses and make sure we were still within a good budget.

3. I thought the baby-proofing process would be the same

Now in preschool, our son Ben is as energetic and active as any kid his age. But as a baby, he was much less physical than many children and he seldom put himself in risky situations. He rarely if ever crawled onto things from which he could fall off and didn't tend to grab for objects on shelves or tables. He didn't try to play with cords or outlets and he almost never put non-food items in his mouth.

Scarlett, on the other hand, was born with a mandate to crawl up (or down) the stairs, she tries to get on top of every piece of furniture, and everything smaller than a shoebox goes straight for her mouth. Safely parenting her means a level of attention in the moment and foresight in how we baby proof a room that is nothing like we experienced the first time, and it simply never occurred to me how different this entirely individual child would be.

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• The Weight Guru Bluetooth smart scale connects to your phone and apps like Fitbit, Google Fit, Apple Health, and more to sync your data and streamline fitness goal tracking.
• The scale measures weight, BMI, body fat, lean mass, water weight, and bone mass.
• It's a best-seller on Amazon and comparatively inexpensive at $50.
• I've been using it for the last few weeks, and I've been impressed by its accuracy and usability and relieved by its simplicity.

Either out of oversight or a conscious campaign by my mother, we never had a scale in my house growing up. And aside from yearly checkups, I never knew how much I weighed. So when I moved into my first adult apartment, I didn't think about buying one.

But as I got more interested in fitness — and wanting to see my progression in something as tangible as BMI — and realized how practical knowing what my weight is for things like reading sizing charts online and filling out forms to renew my license, I decided it was finally time to get one.

I started by narrowing down my Bluetooth scale options, because I knew I wouldn't take the time every day to weigh in, pop that data into a spreadsheet of my own design, and then try to match that up with the data in my Fitbit app. I wanted simplicity and to satisfy my own curiosity, so I knew I'd be best served by a scale that auto-synced. If it became a pain, I would nix it.

With cost, accuracy, positive reviews, and easy usability in mind, Amazon's best-selling Weight Guru's Bluetooth smart scale came out on top.

It has straightforward Bluetooth pairing (much faster and easier than I expected), syncs all my "weigh-in" details with my Fitbit app (as well as Google Fit, Apple Health, and more popular fitness apps), and aside from weight, it also tracks BMI, body fat, lean mass, water weight, and bone mass. At only $50, it's a high-performing scale at a midrange price (consider that Fitbit's Aria 2 Wi-Fi scale comes in at $130 and doesn't measure bone mass or hydration level). It has over 4,000 reviews, a 4.4 rating, and comes with a 5-year warranty. During my usage, it has provided accurate, consistent readings without unexplained fluctuations, and been easy to interpret.

Since it syncs with other apps, the scale will store your data and wait to sync until the app is opened nearby. The integration makes it much more feasible to have all your health data live in one cohesive spot, which in turn makes it easier to decipher and thereby easier to stick to your fitness goals. If you notice you've changed a habit (like setting a higher step count goal on your Fitbit or starting to meal prep) and start seeing the desired change in your overall health, it's easier to track and adjust for the best results in the shortest time. In other words, the Bluetooth smart scale helps you help yourself work smarter rather than just harder.

The Weight Guru app itself is well designed and allows you to set a goal and track it with helpful data and infographics, but it's still a tad rudimentary. This didn't matter much to me because I continued to use my Fitbit app primarily. 

The Weight Guru Bluetooth Smart scale has a larger and nicer display than competitors, and the experience is more goal-oriented. The Weight Guru scale keeps track of how close you are to a weight-loss goal, produces progress graphs, and keeps a running count of how often you've weighed in. If you're goal-oriented in your fitness, this might be especially helpful. To me, it was helpful for reminding me to use it. Instead of just satisfying curiosity or providing basic knowledge, it helped me set a goal, which actually got me into a more regular gym routine.

The scale also allows up to 8 people to use it as their primary scale. Unlike most Bluetooth scales, it establishes a 1:1 connection with each user, so you will only ever see your own results. 

The Weight Guru Bluetooth smart scale stood out to me because of its high reviews, easy usage, and low cost. You can find smart scales for less, or much more, but this midrange price seemed like a great deal when paired with so much positive feedback. Especially as someone who didn't want to invest much time in their scale, I appreciated that the Weight Guru Bluetooth smart scale made my life easier without requiring much thought or input from me. Aa a bonus, you'll feel good about your purchase knowing a portion of the proceeds will go to Love146 to work toward ending child trafficking and care for survivors.

If you're looking for an easy-to-use smart scale that multiple people can use, syncs with major fitness apps, and helps you set and achieve goals, then I highly recommend checking out Weight Guru's Bluetooth smart scale to see if it's right for you. 

Buy the Weight Guru Bluetooth Smart Body Scale on Amazon for $49.99

SEE ALSO: 7 unexpected fitness tools that really work

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• House Speaker Nancy Pelosi requested that President Donald Trump delay the State of the Union address until after the government shutdown concludes, whenever that may be, citing security concerns.
• But the Department of Homeland Security said that the agency will be ready to provide security for the address on January.
• The State of the Union is a chance for Trump to try and win over the American populace.
• But according to an INSIDER poll, the platform may not be that useful for Trump.
• Most Americans that are still undecided on the shutdown fight do not regularly watch the State of the Union.
• Therefore Trump's speech would likely not reach the desired audience of persuadable Americans.

President Donald Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are fighting over the exact timing of the president's State of the Union address because of the government shutdown, but it may not make a difference either way.

Pelosi requested that Trump delay the State of the Union, scheduled for delivery to a joint session of Congress on January 29, due to security concerns during the record-breaking, ongoing government shutdown.

"Sadly, given the security concerns and unless government re-opens this week, I suggest that we work together to determine another suitable date after government has re-opened for this address or for you to consider delivering your State of the Union address in writing to the Congress on January 29th," Pelosi wrote in a letter to Trump on Wednesday.

Pushing the speech back until after the shutdown would deprive the president of a prime-time spot during which Trump could make his case for a border wall and blast Democrats for allowing the government to remain closed. Given that dynamic, the Department of Homeland Security issued a statement saying the agency would be ready to provide security for the event.

Read more:Nancy Pelosi suggests Trump either postpone his State of the Union address until after the government shutdown ends, or submit it in writing»

While it is unclear if the request will actually result in the speech's delay, there's little chance the change will make much difference.

According to an INSIDER poll, most Americans that are still undecided about Trump's border wall and the shutdown are unlikely to watch the State of the Union anyway. So there is little chance that the platform itself will aid the president in changing the minds of many Americans.

We conducted a SurveyMonkey Audience poll on a national sample from January 15-16. We had 1,095 respondents for a margin of error of about +/-3.11%. 

We asked respondents who they blamed most for the shutdown, and whether they typically watch the State of the Union address. Overall, 54% blamed the president, 17% percent blamed House Democrats, 16% did not know, 9% blamed Senate Democrats, and 5% blamed either Senate Republicans or House Republicans.

While these numbers have been changing — and no single poll should be construed as the definitive view of who the nation holds responsible — we can use those preferences to figure out if a State of the Union address would actually reach the desired audience of persuadable and undecided Americans.

It's pretty clear it would not.

While the third-most common response among people who took the poll was that they didn't know who to blame, that category of respondent was the least likely to be a regular State of the Union viewer.

Nearly half, or 48 percent, never watched the address, and a total 69% watched it rarely or never. Of the 16 percent who don't have an opinion, only one out of 10 watch the State of the Union "usually" or "always." It's simply not an effective medium to reach out to the voters who may be persuaded to come to the president's point of view.

As it stands, the government is in the 26th day of the partial shutdown and given the political dynamics of the situation, neither side seems ready to back off their position.

As the political fight continues, more and more Americans are starting to feel the burn from the shutdown. What exactly will break the logjam remains to be seen, but it's unlikely to be any speech delivered by Trump.

Overall, 24% identified as very or somewhat conservative, 29% as very or somewhat liberal, with the rest as slightly conservative or liberal, neither conservative nor liberal, or they'd rather not say.

SurveyMonkey Audience polls from a national sample balanced by census data of age and gender. Respondents are incentivized to complete surveys through charitable contributions. Generally speaking, digital polling tends to skew toward people with access to the internet. SurveyMonkey Audience doesn't try to weight its sample based on race or income. Total 1,095 respondents, a margin of error plus or minus 3.11 percentage points with a 95% confidence level.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: MSNBC host Chris Hayes thinks President Trump's stance on China is 'not at all crazy'

• The US housing market is finally starting to cool off, but competition among buyers is still fierce in some cities.
• Those in the best position to buy a home typically have mortgage financing in place, a credit score above 680, and a down payment above 15%.
• But many markets, like San Francisco and San Jose, have an oversaturation of these buyers, leading to heightened competition.

It may get easier for some Americans to buy a home this year as prices finally level off, but several markets are still competitive.

In a recent report, LendingTree identified the most competitive markets for buyers right now based on 2018 mortgage loan data. LendingTree looked at 1.5 million mortgage requests for new home purchases and then ranked the 50 largest metros based on three criteria:

1. The share of buyers who shop for a mortgage before they find the house they want. It's more appealing to sellers when a buyer is pre-approved for financing well before making an offer.
2. The average down payment as a percentage of the purchase price. A high down payment can help buyers qualify for an even larger mortgage amount or a lower interest rate on the loan.
3. The percentage of buyers who have a credit score above 680. Someone with a prime credit score has more financing options available to them.

The cities where the most buyers have financing in place, a down payment above 15% of the purchase price, and a prime credit score were ranked by LendingTree as the most competitive.

Below, check out the 15 most competitive places to buy a home in the US right now:

SEE ALSO: Middle-class Chinese people are buying property in the US as a 'safe harbor' for their money

DON'T MISS: The top 10 cities for buying a house in 2019, where jobs are plentiful, construction is booming, and young people are moving in

15. New York, New York

Average down payment: 17%

Buyers with prime credit: 58%

Buyers pre-shopping for a mortgage: 55%

14. San Antonio, Texas

Average down payment: 14%

Buyers with prime credit: 55%

Buyers pre-shopping for a mortgage: 63%

13. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Average down payment: 14%

Buyers with prime credit: 52%

Buyers pre-shopping for a mortgage: 63%

• President Donald Trump grew up in Queens, New York City.
• His family lived in a 23-room home in Jamaica Estates, a secluded, upper-middle-class community in Queens.
• I took a tour to see what the neighborhood was like, and it was immediately clear why Trump has called the area an "oasis."
• It was peaceful and secluded, filled with stately homes and quiet leafy streets. 

President Donald Trump grew up in New York City, on the outskirts of Queens.

Jamaica Estates, where he lived until age 13, is an affluent community, filled with stately homes and wide, tree-lined streets. 

"Different parts of Queens were rough; this was an oasis," Trump told the New York Times in 2015. He said Jamaica Estates "was safe — it was very family oriented."

I walked around the neighborhood and visited the two houses where the Trump family lived, and I immediately saw why he called it an oasis.

Here's what it was like.

SEE ALSO: 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

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

President Donald Trump spent his childhood until age 13 in Jamaica Estates, a wealthy community in Queens on the outskirts of New York City, at least a 45 minute drive from Midtown Manhattan.

Source: The New York Times

The neighborhood was partially built by the president's father, Fred Trump.

Source: The New York Times

I decided to visit the neighborhood to see what it was like. The train ride from my office in lower Manhattan took about an hour and 10 minutes. I got off at the Hillside Av/179 St. stop in Jamaica, Queens, at the end of the F train line.

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.

• Cole Haan recently released the Women's All-Day Trainer ($150), an office-to-gym sneaker with the company's famous ZERØGRAND technology and flexible Stitchlite knit.
• I put it to the test over the course of a week — at work and in nightly workouts. 
• All in all, they're a great option for either activity. They're stylish enough for casual wear, but the characteristics that make them great in the gym (lightweight, breathable, supportive) also make them ideal for all-day shoes.
• My main advice is to size a half-size down if you buy a pair.

Back in 2014, Cole Haan announced ZERØGRAND — a technology that, once paired with its proprietary Stitchlite knit, would then usher in success after success after success for the brand. In common parlance, ZERØGRAND makes your shoes feel impossibly cushiony and lightweight, with all the perks of a souped-up shoe and the feel of a low-maintenance woven runner. To date, we call the brand's dress shoes with the technology the most comfortable pair we've ever worn. 

Recently, the company put the signature combination to use in a gym-to-office sneaker: The Women's ZERØGRAND All-Day Trainer with Stitchlite, retailing for $150. It's a natural fit — the ZERØGRAND technology provides the sort of bounce and weightlessness that makes for a good exercise shoe, with breathable, flexible knit upper. Currently, the sneakers come in five colors: white (pictured above), blue, gray, pink, and black.

For the last week, I've been wearing the All-Day Trainer to the gym and office — and I've been impressed.

In person, the All-Day Trainer looks like your average cool minimalist sneaker with some bonus points for an inventive but not over-the-top outsole. The real added perk, though, is that the cushioning makes them feel like a pair of guilty-pleasure orthopedic shoes.

The ZERØGRAND technology makes them feel like trick shoes — they're lightweight enough to mislead your brain when you first pull them on. EVA foam is cushiony without being bulky, and third-generation ZERØGRAND motion technology provides a wider forefoot base for noticeably better stability and balance. Inside, there's heel padding and a TPU chassis for extra support, stability, and comfort. The Stitchlite knit is, in all, breathable and responsive.

In the office all day or at the gym, the All-Day Trainers ($150) are among my most comfortable performance shoes. The wider forefoot translates to feeling more stable and confident, and the lightweight, bouncy tech and knit upper meant I never felt overheated or dragged down. While some would be wary to use trainers on a run, I took the All-Days on a few six-mile runs and was happy with the support, weightlessness, and bounce. It's worth noting, though, that the sneakers have bungee laces — meaning you'll have to work a little harder to tighten them. 

Bad exercise shoes make your workout worse. Okay ones don't get in the way. Good ones — and I count the All-Day Trainer among them — improve your experience. 

In terms of price, $150 is comparatively pretty standard for a good go-anywhere performance shoe. 

For the best fit, you should order a half size down. I ordered my typical 9 and, as a few other reviewers noted, an 8.5 would have been a better choice. It'll vary with the socks you wear, and even in thin gym socks I never slipped out, but there's more wiggle room than there should be. 

I also needed to pair the All-Day Trainers with taller socks than the sneakers themselves to avoid a blister near my Achilles tendon during runs. This was likely exasperated by not having the correct size, and it's a common complaint for knit sneakers that I'm fine to compromise on for greater breathability.

While great at the gym, the All-Day Trainers are also, true to their claims, great for everyday life. The emphasis on versatility is another distinctly Cole Haan power move; The company is one of few who have successfully fused polish and comfort, and made it look effortless. Exhibit A: Cole Haan 3.ZERØGRAND (without sale, styles start at $270 for the Fuse Oxfords). The All-Days are a sharp, comfortable shoe that can handle your day, no matter what it entails. 

Overall, Cole Haan has created another easy success using the proprietary Superlite knit and ZERØGRAND tech. The All-Day Trainers are bouncy, breathable, lightweight, and comfortable to wear all day. And they're stylish enough to get away with it. 

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• The government shutdown is now in its 26th day, well surpassing the record for the longest of the modern era.
• This is the 21st time the federal government has had a funding lapse since the modern budgeting process began.
• Most of those times, the shutdown has been short and not involved employees being sent home, but that has changed in recent years.

President Donald Trump and Democratic leaders have yet to come to an agreement to reopen the government, pushing the government into a historic 26th day.

No shutdown ever lasted past the 21st day, with the 1995-1996 as the previous standard bearer. But the current, drawn out shutdown fight has eclipsed the record and shows no signs of ending.

The trouble started just before Christmas when Trump's sudden reversal on a bipartisan funding extension forced a sizeable portion — but not all — of the government into a partial shutdown.

Read more:Here's what the government shutdown means for federal agencies and employees»

This is 21st time since the modern budget process began with the Budget Act of 1974 that the federal government has entered a shutdown or had a funding lapse.

On average, the 20 previous shutdowns lasted eight days, though they have been longer in recent decades. The six shutdowns since 1990 have lasted nine days on average. And removing the short, nine-hour funding lapse caused by Sen. Rand Paul in February, recent shutdowns have averaged 11 days.

Most of these shutdowns weren't severe, with 11 of the 20 lasting five days or fewer, and seven lasting three days or fewer.

By making it passed the 25th day on Tuesday, Trump also surpassed Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton for second-most days with a funding lapse during one presidency. Trump gets 26 for the current shutdown, three for the January 2018 shutdown, and — despite the short nature — one for the February 2018 lapse, bringing the total to 29 days during which the government did not have funding. Reagan and Clinton were tied for second with 28.

Read more:The effects of the shutdown are only going to get exponentially worse as the fight drags on»

The current shutdown also bears some major differences from the past because federal employees aren't working. Around 380,000 federal employees are now on furlough, meaning they do not report to work or get paid. In 11 of the previous shutdowns, employees were not placed on furlough.

Sending employees home has become more frequent in recent shutdowns, with furloughs occurring during five of the last six funding lapses (the only exception being the short Rand Paul lapse).

Another newer wrinkle is the fact that this is just the second shutdown during which employees were placed on furlough while one party controlled both chambers of Congress and the White House, which was the case for the beginning of the shutdown. The other instance was the three-day shutdown in January 2018.

Additionally, with the changeover to the 116th Congress, which has a Democrat-controlled House, this is the first shutdown in which control of a chamber of Congress changed parties during the funding lapse.

The current shutdown also means the president has set some historic firsts as well.

Trump is the only president to furlough employees while his party controlled both chambers of Congress, the only one to achieve that dubious feat multiple times, and is second in total shutdowns for a president whose party controls chambers of Congress. Jimmy Carter presided over five shutdowns while Democrats controlled both the House and Senate, none of which resulted in furloughs.

The latest shutdown also moved Trump into third place with three total funding lapses during his presidency, behind Carter's five and Ronald Reagan's eight.

2018 also became just the second year of the modern era to have three funding lapses, tying 1977's record.

Here's a breakdown of all the previous shutdowns:

SEE ALSO: From airport lines to food inspections, here are all the ways the government shutdown is impacting the lives of average Americans

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: MSNBC host Chris Hayes thinks President Trump's stance on China is 'not at all crazy'

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• When you open a new personal Southwest credit card, you can earn the best-ever sign-up bonus offered for the cards: 30,000 points and an unlimited Companion Pass, which is valid for travel through 2019.
• The Companion Pass lets you book a free ticket for a companion whenever you travel — all you'll have to pay is taxes and fees (which are typically as low as $5.60 each way).
• The offer applies to all three of Southwest's personal cards, but it ends in a few short weeks on February 11.
• Our pick for the best Southwest card to open is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card; however, read on to see which is best for you. 

Southwest and Chase announced Thursday that, for a limited time, people who apply for any of their co-branded credit cards will be able to earn Southwest's coveted Companion Pass as a sign-up bonus.

The new sign-up bonus is effectively the best deal ever offered on any of Southwest's credit cards. In addition to the Companion Pass, which will be valid through 2019, new cardholders can also earn 30,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points. 

To earn the sign-up bonus, new cardholders must spend $4,000 on the card within the first three months of opening it. The bonus is available only until February 11.

The surprise promotion — coming just one day after a previous limited-time offer ended — represents what can arguably be described as the best-ever sign-up bonus offered by Southwest and Chase.

The Southwest Companion pass is often seen as the "holy grail" of travel for points-and-miles aficionados and self-described "travel hackers." When you earn the Companion Pass, you can select a designated friend or family member to travel with you for free, as long as the pass is valid.

Normally to earn the Companion Pass, one has to earn 110,000 qualifying points with Southwest within a calendar year. The pass will then be valid for the remainder of that calendar year, as well as the entirety of the following one.

Typically, you may be able to earn some of those qualifying points by opening a credit card and earning the normal sign-up bonus, but as Chase has added restrictions on who is eligible — for instance, you can't just open two consumer cards at once, earn the bonuses, and use those points to qualify — it's become harder to earn unless you're a very frequent business traveler.

The ability to earn the Companion Pass purely as a sign-up bonus makes it significantly easier to acquire. Should new applicants hit the minimum spend requirement quickly, signing up for one credit card can equal 11 months of buy-one-get-one flights. Coupled with competitive fares on Southwest, the pass can be used for everything from longer vacations to easy, affordable weekends away. While taxes and fees are still charged on Companion tickets, these start at $5.60 for domestic flights, and rarely exceed $20 to $25.

In order to receive the bonus, you can't currently hold a personal Southwest credit card, and you can't have earned a sign-up bonus from a Southwest card in the past 24 months. If you currently hold a card, but earned the bonus from it longer than 24 months ago (or never earned the bonus), you may be able to close that, wait a week or so, and apply for a new card.

Southwest and Chase offer three personal credit cards. The Southwest Priority Card is the best option for most people because, even though it has the highest annual fee of the three cards at $149, it offers annual credits and anniversary bonus points that are together worth at least $150, meaning the card pays for itself.

However, if you're dead set against an annual fee in the three-digit range, the other cards are compelling options — especially with the Companion Pass as a sign-up bonus.

Read on to learn more about the three personal Southwest cards.

Keep in mind that we're focusing on the rewards and perks that make these cards great options, not things like interest rates and late fees, which can far outweigh the value of any rewards.

When you're working to earn credit card rewards, it's important to practice financial discipline, like paying your balances off in full each month, making payments on time, and not spending more than you can afford to pay back. Basically, treat your credit card like a debit card.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus credit card

The Rapid Rewards Plus is the base level of the three Southwest cards. However, just because it's a bit less featured than its bigger siblings doesn't mean it's a bad option.

The card earns 2 times points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases, and one point per dollar on everything else. You'll also get 3,000 bonus points each year on your card-membership anniversary.

That's essentially the gist of this card — there's not too much to it. There are, however, a couple of things worth noting.

It has a $69 annual fee that isn't waived the first year. Of course, the sign-up bonus — the Companion Pass for 2019 and 30,000 points — goes a long way toward making up for that, while the anniversary points help each year after.

All in all, while the Plus card has the lowest annual fee, it doesn't offer a ton of value after the first year. If you want to earn Southwest points on your credit card, but absolutely want to pay the lowest possible annual fee, then this card is probably the best option. However, if you're ok with paying a higher annual fee, knowing that you'll get more value from the card than you'll pay for that fee, you're better off considering one of the other two.

Click here to learn more about the Southwest Plus card from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier credit card

The Premier card is similar to the Plus, with a few enhancements.

The sign-up bonus is the same, but it offers 6,000 anniversary points each year instead of 3,000.

It also offers the ability to earn tier-qualifying points, which count toward the elite "A-list" status. You'll earn 1,500 tier points each time you spend $10,000 within a calendar year, up to $100,000 (or 15,000 tier points) per year.

Otherwise, the biggest appeal of the Premier over the Plus is that it doesn't have foreign-transaction fees — if you use your Plus abroad, you'll be charged an extra 3% on every purchase.

The Premier's annual fee is $99, compared with the $69 fee on the Plus, but the extra anniversary points should generally cover that increase.

Click here to learn more about the Southwest Premier card from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority credit card

Generally, though, the Priority is the best option if you're a Southwest flyer.

That's because, even though it has the highest fee at $149, it offers at least $150 in value each year, effectively cancelling out the fee.

The Priority offers 7,500 bonus anniversary points each year, as well as an annual $75 Southwest travel credit, which can be applied to purchases like flights. Assuming that Southwest points are worth $0.01 each — although you can usually get more value than that — that means that you're getting $150 of value each year just from these two benefits, which cancels out the annual fee.

The card also has a few other benefits, including up to four Upgraded Boarding certificates each year, meaning you can board earlier and choose your seat. You'll also get 20% back on in-flight purchases, and the same ability to earn tier-qualifying points as the Premier card.

Ultimately, as long as you're willing to front the money for the annual fee, the Priority card pays for itself.

However, if you're absolutely set against the higher fee, the Plus and the Priority can be good options as well.

Click here to learn more about the Southwest Priority card from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy.

SEE ALSO: The best credit card rewards, bonuses, and perks of 2019

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 6 airline industry secrets that will help you fly like a pro this holiday season

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.

• Sharpening your dull knives: You know you need to do it and that it'll make a big difference when you're prepping ingredients to cook, but you, like many other home cooks, keep putting it off. 
• Knifey is a knife sharpening and exchange subscription service that takes care of this confusing, time-consuming, or expensive household chore for you. 
• From $5.99 to $18.99 a month, you can enjoy the durability and sharpness of professional-grade knives without dealing with the upkeep. 

A dull knife is the bane of every home cook's existence.

Less-than-sharp knives cause a lot of frustration, yet if you looked in your drawer right now, you'd probably find more than a couple knives in desperate need of sharpening. 

When Cully Wiginton, the founder of a new knife sharpening and exchange subscription service called Knifey, dug into why people were holding onto their underperforming kitchen tools, he learned that most home sharpening solutions didn't stack up to the skills of a sharpening expert, and it's inconvenient to drop off knives with said specialist. Plus — and I suspect this is the case for many home cooks — it's easy to keep putting off the chore of sharpening your knives in favor of the other errands on your long list of to-dos. 

Sharpening a knife isn't necessarily hard, but taking the time to do it and doing a quality job is. Wiginton says, "I wanted to find a way to make it incredibly easy to always have a sharp set of knives, and to have a professional-level set of knives without having to pay hundreds of dollars upfront. The Knifey service solves both of these problems." 

Read more: The best knife sets you can buy

With Knifey, you'll always have the sharpest knives at your disposal. The service sends a fresh set of knives at a frequency you choose, then you send back your old ones in the same box. This design means you're not left knife-less as you wait for your knives to be sharpened, and with monthly payments, you don't have to pay hundreds of dollars upfront for a knife set. It's also commitment-free — you can cancel your subscription at any time. 

Read more: 6 direct-to-consumer kitchen startups that are changing the way we shop for cookware and knives

Not only does Knifey improve your knife quality, and relatedly, your cooking skills, it also helps underprivileged students gain a kitchen education. In partnership with an organization that helps students obtain jobs in the culinary arts, it provides knife sets to the top graduating students in each class. 

Read on to learn more about how Knifey works and what to expect from this innovative service. You can visit its website to get started and receive your first set of knives.

First, you have a couple decisions to make. Which knife set you want, and how often do you want your knives to be sharpened?

There are three different knife sets to choose from and they contain only the knives you'd use regularly in the kitchen:

1. Single Chef Knife: the classic, 8-inch, all-around knife
2. Essential 3 Knife Set: chef knife, serrated knife, and paring knife
3. Deluxe 5 Knife Set: chef knife, serrated knife, paring knife, Santoku knife, and utility knife 

The sharpening frequency you choose depends on how often you cook and use your knives. You can get a new set once, twice, or three times a year. 

You'll pay anywhere from $5.99 to $18.99 a month for the service.

These plans include sharpening and shipping costs. Since you're not permanently keeping the same set of knives, it also serves as a "rental" fee. 

Choose a knife sharpening plan, starting at $5.99/month, at Knifey here

Knifey sent me its 5 Knife Deluxe Set, which arrived safely and securely packed.

The knives are made from German, high-carbon steel, translating to high durability, razor sharpness, and resistance to corrosion. Cutting smoothly through ripe tomatoes and hard squashes alike, they proved to be sharp and tough enough for the whole range of prepping tasks. 

They're not extremely heavy, but still have a not unsubstantial weight to them and are comfortable to grip.

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.

• A $170 hairbrush might seem like an absurd expense, but it's one I firmly think is worth it.
• I've had a Mason Pearson Hairbrush ($170) for over ten years and its unique combination of boar bristles, nylon spikes, and a rubber cushion make it the best hairbrush I've ever used.
• Still, I understand why others might not be willing to spend that much, which is why I'm sharing my other favorite, a $10 Wet Brush.

Whether you know it or not, you probably have a hill you would die on — an unconventional opinion you hold so strongly you will stand by it no matter what. Maybe yours is that Raisin Bran is the best cereal of all time. Or that iPhones are overrated and Androids are the way to go. Or that sliced bread wasn't even that cool of an invention. Here at Insider Picks, we discuss our hills often — expensive products we will always splurge on, underrated products we think need some more recognition, things everyone else loves but we can't stand. I didn't think I had a hill, but in a pensive moment, I found mine — I think the $170 Mason Pearson hairbrush is totally worth the price. 

Call me crazy, but I will stand by this statement. Not only is this the best hairbrush I've ever used, but it's the only hairbrush I've consistently used for over ten years. Yes, this hairbrush has been with me for almost half of my life.

Why I'll die on the hill of my $170 hair brush:

Mason Pearson started making hairbrushes by hand in London in 1885, and today, the brushes are made using the same techniques and patents, with most of the work still being done by hand. The materials are all noticeably high quality, which I can confidently state given that my brush has lasted for 10 years so far.

What really makes this brush so special, though, is what it does for your hair. If you're prone to frizz, you know that brushing dry hair can be a nightmare, usually making your hair even frizzier than when you started. Mason Pearson brushes do no such thing. They actually work to make your hair smoother and shinier. The Junior Mixture Brush uses a combination of nylon and boar bristles that are super gentle, but strong enough to detangle wavy hair. The boar bristles distribute your hair's natural oils from root to tip, so you're left with glossy locks all around rather than concentrated, greasy roots. It's also gentle on my scalp and my strands — I don't have to painfully tug through knots to detangle, pulling out pieces of my already thin hair along the way. 

For my thin, semi-curly hair, this is the absolute best brush — no doubt about it. But, I realize $170 is a steep price to pay, and although this is my hill, it probably is not everyone's. That's why I'm also here to tell you about my favorite budget option, the Wet Brush.

Why this $10 Wet Brush is also worth mentioning:

So, a Wet Brush is not an exact dupe of the Mason Pearson since it doesn't have the same bristle structure, but it is the best budget hairbrush I've found. While the Mason Pearson brush works best on dry hair, the Wet Brush (as the name suggests) is made specifically for wet. 

The Wet Brush uses only nylon bristles, but like the Mason Pearson, they manage to detangle even the most difficult knots with ease, while still being gentle on your hair. This is thanks to Wet Brush's proprietary IntelliFlex technology.

Brushing your hair right when you hop out of the shower is pretty common, but what most people don't know is that your hair is most fragile when wet. So, tugging and pulling through tangled hair can be detrimental, creating breakage and split ends. The Wet Brush gently loosens knots so you don't damage your hair while you brush. It can certainly be used on dry hair, too, but this is the one I use when my hair is wet, and the Mason Pearson brush is reserved strictly for my dry locks.

I've been truly pleased at how my hair dries when I use my Wet Brush— it's wavy and full. Since my fine hair breaks easily, it's important to me that I use tools that work with my hair, not against it. Whether or not your hair is as fine as mine, it could probably still benefit from a hair brush that won't tug at it much after the shower, and that'll work just fine for dry hair as well.

The Bottom Line:

I'm not wavering. I still think the Mason Pearson brush is the best one around — it's my hill. It's the only brush I've found that keeps my thin, light-colored hair — which gets both really greasy and really frizzy — looking presentable even when I don't have time to wash it. Now it's an essential part of my daily routine that I can't live without.

If you think it's worth the splurge, I highly recommend it. Of course, that's totally up to you and your locks. If you do need a great hairbrush that won't set you back a pretty penny though, a Wet Brush is the best budget option and at only $10, it's a no-brainer for just about every hair type.

Shop the Mason Pearson Junior Mixture Nylon & Boar Bristle Hair Brush, available at Nordstrom, $170

Shop the Wet Brush Original Detangler, available at Amazon, $9

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• Kyle Prall, from Austin, Texas, has been indicted for allegedly spending campaign contributions reportedly meant to support then-presidential candidates Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, and Sen. Bernie Sanders on things like massages and nightclub "entertainers."
• In 2015, Prall began soliciting contributions through political committees with names like "Feel Bern," "Trump Victory," and "HC4President."
• The political committees claimed the funds would be spent in ways to support the candidates — including transporting voters to the polls, training costs for volunteers, and direct contributions to the candidates themselves.
• Prall allegedly used the funds on personal indulgences from hotel room service to international flights.

A Texas man who allegedly devised a scheme to collect over $500,000 in campaign contributions for then-presidential candidates Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, and Sen. Bernie Sanders funneled the funds to his personal bank accounts according to court filings released by the US District Court of Western Texas on Tuesday.

In 2015, Kyle Prall allegedly began soliciting contributions through political committees with names like "Feel Bern," "Trump Victory," and "HC4President." The political committees claimed that the funds would be spent in ways that supported the candidates — including costs to transport voters to the polls, training costs for volunteers at phone banks, and direct contributions to the candidates themselves.

Prall allegedly used the funds to pay for his salary and used debit cards registered by the political committees' bank accounts to pay for numerous personal expenses, including:

• $1,167: Two-night stay at a hotel in Miami Beach, Florida
• $3,101: Food, bottle service, and hookah at a Miami nightclub
• $1,470: Nightclub dances "performed by entertainers"
• $1,073: Three-night stay at Texas resort
• $728: Room service, mini-bar charges, deep-tissue massage, and pet cleaning fees at the Texas resort
• $952: Flights in Florida for Prall and his girlfriend
• $812: Flight to Belize in Central America

Through online advertisements on social-networking websites and search engines, Prall intentionally made an effort to "make them appear legitimate" in order to deceive donors, the Justice Department said.

The websites, such as "www.feelbern.org" and "hcforpresident.org" now appear to be defunct.

"We are volunteers helping [Bernie Sanders] win the US Presidential election and usher in a new government for the people by helping raise awareness with voters," Prall's website said.

"The donations will be used primarily to charter buses for transportation to voting polls ... This money will go directly to chartering buses and paying for fuel to transport voters ...," the website pledged.

Over $300,000 was raised in the alleged campaign for Sanders between December 2015 and July 2016. Less than $4,000 went toward "political causes," none of which were used for transportation costs, according to the Justice Department.

The political committee that purportedly supported Clinton raised over $73,000, less than $1,100 of which went toward its stated causes.

"Trump Victory," which was later renamed to "Make America Great," raised over $165,000. The committee claimed it would channel the contributions "directly" to Trump and supportive organizations, but made no such donations.

Prall never intended for the funds to support the candidates, and instead, funneled it through sham limited-liability companies for "purely personal" expenses, according to the Justice Department. At the end of the election, most of the bank accounts were then closed.

Political committees are regulated by the Federal Election Commission, whose duties include overseeing campaign donations and expenditures that are over $200. Around 38 campaign finance analysts each review anywhere between 200-400 committees each year.

SEE ALSO: This graph shows 90% of political donations from Google workers went to the Democrats

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NOW WATCH: MSNBC host Chris Hayes thinks President Trump's stance on China is 'not at all crazy'

• "Becoming" has been no. 1 on Amazon's best-seller list virtually since its release and has stayed there longer than any other book since 2012's "Fifty Shades of Grey."
• Only released in November, the book is already among the "hottest titles of the decade," according to Amazon and CNN.

It seems you can cast aside the old publishing mantra "sex sells," because according to Amazon "Becoming" is better.

The memoir by former First Lady Michelle Obama "Becoming" has already assumed its mantle among the "hottest titles of the decade," according to CNN Business.

And its only been on the market for 65 days. 

In fact,the former first lady's tome was the "most sold on Amazon across all formats for 47 consecutive days," according to Amazon Charts. One would have to wind back the clock to 2012, when "Fifty Shades of Grey" held Amazon's no. 1 position, to find a similar streak.

"Becoming," released on November 13 to great excitement (and the holiday-season sales), explores Obama's childhood in Chicago, racism in public life, her early marriage struggles with husband and former President Barack Obama, and her experiences after becoming the country's first black first lady.

According to what Amazon told CNN, "Becoming" "consistently held the no. 1 spot on its weekly Most Sold and Most Read nonfiction lists since the book was released." The memoir also holds the all-time record for weeks in the top spot for a memoir by a political or public figure, according to data the company provided to CNN Business.

And considering the avalanche of political memoirs, tell-alls, and autobiographical encyclopedias describing public life within the current US administration, Obama's achievement is all the more notable. No Trump-related books topped Obama's record.

According to Amazon, Obama momentarily lost the top spot on day 47, but returned a few hours afterwards. As of publishing, Obama was on the top of the Amazon Best Sellers list, with Marie Kondō and Rachel Hollis close behind.

Penguin Random House, which reportedly paid $65 million to acquire the rights to both of the the Obama's memoirs, said "Becoming" sold more than 1.4 million copies in its first week and has since ranked no. 1 on the New York Times' nonfiction best seller list, for combined print and e-books, for nine straight weeks.

SEE ALSO: Michelle Obama's new memoir was one of Amazon's best-selling items on Cyber Monday. Here are 25 things we learned from 'Becoming.'

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NOW WATCH: MSNBC host Chris Hayes thinks President Trump's stance on China is 'not at all crazy'

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.

• Thursday Boot Company, a startup we've praised for its affordable, yet high-quality footwear, is now making leather jackets for men.
• The collection of jackets includes three styles —Motorcycle, Varsity, and Flight— all of which are priced between $349 and $489.
• After testing them for ourselves and comparing them to other leather jackets, we found Thursday's leather jackets to be one of the best values you can find for under $500.

There are certain wardrobe essentials that a man should only have to buy once in his lifetime, and a genuine leather jacket is at the top of the list. If you pick the right one, it'll never go out of style, and it'll only get better with age.

But realistically, buying a quality leather jacket can become a substantial financial investment — one that most guys aren't ready to make (myself included). Most worthwhile options cost around $700 or more, which, for a while, meant that my only chance of getting a premium yet affordable leather jacket would be in a thrift store. That was, until I found out one of my favorite shoe startups was making really nice leather jackets without the retail markup.

Thursday Boot Company, a footwear company we've praised for making boots as good as pairs twice as expensive, recently launched a collection of leather jackets for men. The evolution of the brand's product lineup proves that Thursday is becoming a menswear brand with staying power, and not just a trendy startup, here today and gone tomorrow. 

Coming in three styles — Motorcycle, Varsity, and Flight— Thursday jackets use the same premium leathers found on the brand's footwear and accessories, and are priced between $349 and $489.

Thursday sent over two Motorcycle Jackets for us to try out — one in black full-grain leather and the other in natural Chromexel Horween leather — and, in my opinion, they're more impressive than the brand's shoes.

I say that because generally, well-made dress shoes are a lot easier to come by, especially if you wait for the right sale. Very seldom will you find a genuine leather jacket of this quality at an under-$500 price.

I gravitated toward the black version for its timeless design. Thursday executed the look flawlessly by including all of the elements of a classic motorcycle jacket (lapels, angled pockets, buttons, a waist belt, and a fair amount of zippers) without making it look like a tacky version that should've stayed in the 1970s. The decision to use gunmetal hardware over a brighter silver gives the jacket a bit of sophistication.

The material Thursday used on this jacket is very substantial. If you're of the belief that a $200 fast-fashion leather jacket would be a better buy because there's no real difference, this jacket will completely prove you wrong. It's made with the type of leather that takes time to break in and soften, making for a garment that could very well outlive you.

The first time I wore the jacket, my dad recognized it as a new piece and began to ask questions about it. After giving him a rundown on Thursday Boot Company as a brand and the specifics on the jacket, he went into his closet to fish out a custom leather jacket that he paid a lot of money for more than 20 years ago during his days as a motorcycle rider to compare. Surprisingly, Thursday's Moto Jacket was just as thick as his, even though it's not specifically designed for the same purpose. We're not experts on motorcycle safety, but my dad said he'd feel safe wearing a Thursday jacket if he were to ride again. I'll be sticking to four wheels, so that's not something I can test out — but having the chance to compare my jacket to his much more expensive one said a lot about its quality.

According to a currency inflation calculator, the $700 my dad spent on his leather jacket in 1996 is equivalent to $1,121.24 in today's dollars. With that perspective in mind, paying $489 for a Thursday leather jacket is a lot easier to justify. Thursday knows its jackets are extremely fairly priced and they have every reason to boast about it. In the description for the Natural Chromexel Horween leather Moto Jacket, Thursday says, "Try to find another Chromexcel Jacket under $500... we'll wait." Well, I tried and came up with absolutely nothing. The closest thing I could find was about $200 more. 

The Natural Chromexel Horween leather jacket is noticeably thicker and slightly heavier than the black full-grain leather. Here's what my colleague had to say about his experience wearing it:

This is not your mother’s Moto jacket. Unless she’s a biker, of course. Thick, stiff, Natural Horween leather, Rubi zippers, gunmetal hardware, and an attached leather belt make this a real biker jacket that could probably handle a generous thrashing (I haven’t, nor do I intend to put it to that test). With three-ounce leather, this is an extremely heavy jacket. It’s also obnoxiously stiff at first. Wearing it around the office to try to break it in little by little, I felt like Ralphie’s little brother in “A Christmas Story.” Winter in New York is a chilly time to be heading out in leather (even if it’s thick leather) and I haven’t worn it enough to break it in yet, but it’s started to loosen up and I have good faith that this jacket will, in all likelihood, outlast my skin and bones. At under $500, this jacket is a steal, and a worthy addition to any collection. — Insider Picks guides reporter, Owen Burke

If the Motorcycle jackets we've tried aren't exactly your style, Thursday also makes a $349 wool-blend varsity jacket with leather sleeves (pictured above) and a $489 leather flight jacket with a removable shearling collar. The Flight Jacket has proved to be a popular choice, so you'll have to join the waitlist to grab one from the next batch produced.

When you're ready to add a leather jacket that's timeless in design, built to last for life, and priced fairly to your wardrobe, your search can begin and end with Thursday.

Shop all Thursday Boot Company Leather Jackets here.

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• Groceries are one of the largest and most consistent expenses for most families, but they're also one of the expenses where you can most easily reduce your costs.
• By paying careful attention to the foods your family regularly eats, you can determine the best places to shop and the quantities you actually need.
• Here are the groceries we frequently buy from Whole Foods, Stop & Shop, Trader Joe's, and Costco to ensure we enjoy healthy and delicious meals without spending too much cash.

My family eats at home a lot — as in almost every meal. Don't get me wrong, I love dining out, but with a preschooler and a baby, going to a restaurant can be more effort than it's worth. Also, eating out adds up fast.

We seldom order in, and for three reasons: First, I love cooking; second, by preparing our own food, we ensure it's as nutritious as possible; and third, there's that cost thing again.

Because my four-person family eats home-cooked meals so often, food is one of the household's major expenses. Staying within a reasonable food budget without sacrificing food quality or diversity takes planning and consideration, but it's a manageable process if you're willing to spend mindfully for your kitchen when in the grocery store.

What's one of the best ways to save money on your family's food budget? Minimize food waste. Another is to buy foods that are in season and do without those marked up because of transportation costs. Buying in bulk whenever it makes sense is also wise. 

But the best way I've found to save is to shop around for items at different stores. Here are the four stores we frequent near our home in Port Washington, New York, and the list of items we buy from each, for an average monthly total of $946. 

SEE ALSO: I lost more than 120 pounds in a year — here are 7 of the subtler ways it has changed my life

Whole Foods — weekly: $120

We shop at Whole Foods weekly because we get the bulk of our fresh produce there. It tends to cost more, but it's consistently of superior quality. We also shop here for meats, eggs, and for a few specialty items.

Here's approximately how much we spend each week on each food we buy from Whole Foods, all of which is organic when available:

Broccoli - $1.49/lb.
Carrots - $1.99
Apples - $1.99
Bananas - $1.99
Berries (varied by season) - $6.99
Cucumbers - $1.98
Boxed salad - $3.49
Bell peppers - $3.99
Kale - $3.49
Eggs - $7.99
Milk - $3.49
Almond milk - $4.49
Ground beef - $7.99
Smoked turkey - $9.99
Deli cheese - $11.99
Bread - $7.99
Cereal - $9.99
Baby food pouches - $16.99
Coffee - $11.99

Stop & Shop — weekly: $41

Stop & Shop has a smaller selection of organic options than Whole Foods, but it does offer some organic foods at better prices. And for many of the foods we eat that aren't organic, its prices tend to be much better.

Onions - $2.99
Potatoes - $1.99
Rice - $3.99
Seltzer water - $5.99
Canned soup - $7.99
Beans - $10.99
Kids Clif Bars - $3.99
Orange juice - $2.99

Trader Joe's — monthly: $120 to $145

Trader Joe's has amazing prices on all sorts of products, but I usually find its produce lacking, and other stores have similar meat prices. For dry goods and frozen foods, though, it's hard to beat.

Crackers - $10 to $20
Tortilla chips - $15
Salsa - $15 to $20
Frozen vegetable blends - $15
Frozen fruit - $10 to $15
Frozen rice blends - $15
Frozen potatoes - $10
Pasta - $15 to $20
Tofu - $15

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.

• Little luxuries and small indulgences that make you feel great are one of the best ways to treat yourself.
• Beloved bedding startup Brooklinen just released an ultra-cozy bathrobe, which, at $98 is a bit of a splurge, but it's a little luxury I can stand behind.
• The Super-Plush Robe is super soft, absorbent, and warm, making it just as useful for shower time as for lounging around on a Sunday morning. 

After a long day, there's nothing better than coming home, kicking your feet up, and getting away from it all. But living in a crowded city like New York and coming home to a first-floor walk-up with unpredictable heat pipes isn't always the picture-perfect vision of relaxation. That's why I've come to appreciate my little luxuries — small splurges that make me feel great and indulgent every time I use them. 

A nice aromatic candle, some fun face masks, and cozy slippers that keep your feet toasty are the kinds of things I crave for those "treat yourself" moments — and now I'm adding a super cozy bathrobe to that list. Specifically, Brooklinen's new Super-Plush Robe. 

Brooklinen has already made its name as a beloved bedding startup, and the brand's recent venture into towel territory was met with just as much praise. One of our reporters was impressed by how luxurious they felt for towels that are relatively inexpensive. And it makes sense; Brooklinen is known for providing a great value by delivering high-quality products at relatively affordable prices. With all of the hype around the brand, both from my coworkers and beyond, I had some big expectations for this robe. Within moments of putting this thing on, it was clear that whatever my expectations were, this robe would exceed them.

When they say Super-Plush, they mean it. This robe is so luxuriously soft, like the kind you would expect to find at a fancy spa — except you can actually wear it from the comfort of your own couch. It's thick without being too heavy, so it keeps you nice and warm when you hop out of the shower, but it doesn't smother you with heat. That's because this robe isn't made with a thick fleece, but rather 100% long-staple Turkish Cotton, a premium material that's equally soft and absorbent. Before the robe even gets to you, Brooklinen washes it with enzymes that act as softening agents so you get that just-washed, soft feeling immediately. 

I already had a robe before getting this one. It was a terry cloth, fleece-lined thing that I loved wearing to lounge around, but when I tried to use it in place of a towel I was unimpressed. It barely helped me dry off and I was left with a robe that would stay damp for hours. That's not a problem with this Brooklinen robe at all. As I mentioned before, it's absorbent. If you want to get technical, it has 380 GSM (grams per square meter), which refers to the towel's density. The more dense, the more absorbent, and in this case 380 GSM is pretty substantial.

If you're not one for technicalities and would prefer a more personal anecdote, I've been using this robe in place of my usual towels and it does an exceptional job. Not only does the robe absorb water faster than my usual towels, but it dries super fast, so you can count on it keeping you toasty and warm — not chilly and wet.

Another important thing to note is that this robe is Oeko-Tex certified, which means it's been tested and is made without harmful chemicals or production processes. If you're going to be wrapping your body in something, it's nice to know it's totally safe.

It's clear that Brooklinen paid attention to all the tiniest details when designing this piece. There are just three unisex sizes to choose from — XS/S, M/L, XL/XXL — as well as only three neutral colors. I opted for an XS/S in Smoke, a light gray-ish blue color, which fits just right. There's a sturdy waist tie which helps adjust the robe's fit, whether you want it looser or tighter at any given moment. The sleeves are cuffed at the edges, though you can uncuff or cuff them even higher if you find the sleeves to be too long or too short. There's a piped collar which you can really bundle up in for some extra warmth.  You'll also find two pockets on the sides, which are deep enough to actually hold something like a phone — but work just as well as a place to keep your hands when they're chilly. 

The Super-Plush Robe is Brooklinen's first wearable item, and it did not disappoint. I've been wearing it a lot — after a shower, lounging around after work... I've even fallen asleep wrapped up in it. It really is that cozy. While $100 might seem like a lot for an item you can't even wear outside of the house, when compared to robes of similar quality from similar brands like Coyuchi and Snowe, Brooklinen offers an average, if not more affordable price.

I didn't think I needed a new bathrobe, but now this is a little luxury I don't want to go without. Cuddle up in one of these and I have an inkling you'll feel the same way. 

Shop the Brooklinen Super-Plush Robe, $98, here

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• When explorer Colin O'Brady was 22 years old, a fire severely burned his legs and feet.
• Doctors said he might never walk normally again, but 18 months later, O'Brady won the amateur division of the Chicago Triathlon.
• At 33, O'Brady just became the first person to successfully cross Antarctica alone without help from a resupply or a kite. 
• O'Brady talks about his traumatic burn as a major turning point, and he says it led him to "really understand the power of the mind."

Colin O'Brady knew it in his bones: he was an athlete, a guy who loved to move. 

In high school in Portland, Oregon, O'Brady exercised his athletic abilities in the swimming pool and on the soccer field. He was an MVP, lettered seven times, and took his soccer team to the state championship. He was recruited to swim at Yale, and went on to spend a semester in college climbing mountains "among other outdoor activities," as his college athlete bio reads.

At the time, he never imagined that one day, this physical strength would be ripped from him, his muscle power burned away. 

"I kind of took for granted being athletic," O'Brady told Business Insider, "whether that was competing in sports, or just being able to move my body." 

But when he was 22, a traumatic accident during a trip to Thailand forced O'Brady's body to stop. It happened one night on a darkened beach of Ko Tao, in the light of one of the flaming jump ropes known to dot "full moon" parties on Thai islands.

"Fire dancing is fairly common on the beaches there," O'Brady recounted. 

Never one to pass up an athletic challenge, he decided to jump into the flames. How hard could the jump rope trick be for such a fit, athletic guy?

O'Brady approached the rope, wearing shorts and no shoes, his lower legs and feet bare and exposed. 

In an instant, his body caught fire.

"I jumped this rope, and it unfortunately wrapped around my legs, the bottom of my body, lit me on fire," O'Brady said.

In flames, he quickly ran through the dark sand toward the ocean.

"But not before about 25% of my body was severely burned," he said.

Had O'Brady spent longer outside the water, the burns could have been much worse. Fortunately, within about 10 seconds, his body was in the waves.

"I was actually on fire to my neck, but I was wearing a t-shirt and shorts," he said.  

The clothes quickly melted and burned, but they helped save the upper portions of his body from the fire. Meanwhile, the crippling flames dug in to his bare legs and his feet. 

O'Brady's doctors suggested he'd never be the same

"The doctors told me, 'look, you'll probably never walk again normally,'" O'Brady said.

That news shook the young man to his core. 

"In that moment my entire identity shifted," O'Brady said. "Who am I if I can't move my body, if I can't train?" 

His mother quickly flew to Thailand and stayed there with O'Brady for months as he recovered. She encouraged him to think and feel out his recovery for himself.

"Don't listen to those doctors — what do you want to do when you get out of here?" O'Brady remembers his mom saying. 

Apparently, they were the right words, because O'Brady knew what he wanted to do. 

"I want to race a triathlon," he remembers saying. "I want to be active." 

O'Brady started setting incremental goals for his recovery with a triathlon in mind. Eventually, he got up and started walking, then running, biking, and swimming.

Eighteen months after the fire, in 2009, the 24-year-old competed in the Olympic-length Chicago Triathlon and won the amateur race. He crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 1 minute, and 58 seconds after swimming, biking, and running over 31 miles across the windy city.

His victory was a shock.

"Surprising the heck out of myself," as O'Brady put it. 

Building resilience 

O'Brady knows he isn't alone in his ability to move forward in the face of adversity. Child-development experts have discovered that human resilience isn’t something innate or special to certain individuals, either —  the skill can build over time as kids and young adults develop coping skills.

"What happens early may matter most, but it is never too late to build resilience," researchers at Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child wrote in a 2015 brief. 

Other research on the science of resilience has found that stable, supportive relationships that provide love and reassurance (like a mom at your bedside) can help people bounce back. 

After the Chicago Triathlon, O'Brady went on to become the world record holder for the fastest trek up the world's Seven Summits — the highest peaks on all the continents. (That was in 2016, but he's since been dethroned by other hikers.) Last year, O'Brady once again shattered a record for fastest climbs, this time summiting the highest peaks in all 50 states in the US in a mind-bending 21 days, 9 hours, and 54 minutes.

"Here we are, 11 years later, these expeditions," O'Brady said, recalling the fateful Thai fire. "That was a huge turning point in my life, not only my athletic career, but also to really understand the power of the mind, and the power of what I believe we all have inside of us." 

Finally last year, on December 26, 2018, after a grueling 32-and-a-half-hour "ultramarathon," he became the first person to cross Antarctica solo and unassisted. 

"It was a really deep mental journey" O'Brady said. "That allowed me to confront some deep challenging fears and anxiety" and tap into "really amazing inner strength."

He believes everyone has this strength if they can tap into the power of a clear, focused, and determined mind. 

"We really can achieve so much more on the other side of setbacks," O'Brady said. 

• Read more about O'Brady's expedition:
• We tried the 1,250-calorie survival bar that powered Colin O'Brady's record-shattering 932-mile solo journey across Antarctica
• The 33-year-old American who just became the first person to cross Antarctica alone says 2 simple mantras were crucial to his success
• An American explorer just became the first person to cross Antarctica alone and unaided, finishing with an 'ultramarathon': Photos show his spectacular 932-mile journey
• A 33-year-old American just became the first person to cross Antarctica alone and unaided. He survived on oatmeal, freeze-dried meals, and energy bars.

SEE ALSO: A fitness guru who goes by 'Iceman' says exposure to extreme temperatures is a lifesaving third pillar of physical health

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How to build a fire — with or without matches

• The ongoing government shutdown has had a "devastating impact" on the immigration system, resulting in more than 42,000 court hearings being cancelled over the last four weeks.
• Federal judges say these canceled hearings will take years to reschedule. America's asylum system is already backlogged by more than 800,000 cases.
• If the shutdown continues through the end of January, more than 100,000 cases will have to be rescheduled, according to Syracuse University's Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse.

The government shutdown — sparked by a dispute over border-wall funding — reached its 27th day on Thursday, leaving a massive and rapidly growing backlog in the court system that determines whether immigrants can stay in the United States or face deportation.

An estimated 380,000 federal employees are furloughed, meaning they are barred from going to work and are not receiving paychecks during the shutdown. The furloughed employees include hundreds of immigration judges across the country who are permitted to hear cases only for immigrants held in detention centers, which the government deems most urgent.

As of January 11, 42,726 immigration hearings had been canceled because of the shutdown, according to Syracuse University's Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC).

TRAC's data show that the shutdown has effectively added tens of thousands of cases back onto a court backlog of more than 800,000 cases that are already open. Since those hearings are scheduled years in advance, many of the immigrants who were due for appearances within the last four weeks won't see a judge for years to come.

That's a major problem for an already overburdened asylum system that grows more strained each day, Judge Dana Leigh Marks told PBS NewsHour last week.

Read more: The shutdown over Trump's border wall has also shut down a major program employers use to check immigrants are in the US legally

Judges such as Marks already have dockets filled with up to 4,000 pending cases. If the shutdown continues through the end of January, more than 100,000 cases will have to be rescheduled, according to TRAC.

"It's been a devastating impact to have our immigration courts shut down," Marks said. "Many of the cases that are being canceled for the shutdown have been on my docket already for two or three or four years, and now I have no time in the foreseeable future to reset them. It could be another three or four years before those people can expect hearings on their cases."

The likelihood of a drawn-out shutdown appears high as President Donald Trump and Democratic leaders have not gotten anywhere close to a deal to reopen the government. The president has threatened to keep the government closed for "months or even years."

Immigration judges have said that despite Trump's desire to resolve what he sees as a border "crisis," the government shutdown has thrown the asylum system into chaos, likely dooming some immigrants' hopes of receiving asylum and delaying others' deportations.

"It's quite ironic to shut down the immigration courts because of the differences on immigration," Ashley Tabaddor, president of the National Association of Immigration Judges, told NPR.

The shutdown kicked off in December after Trump suddenly reversed course and refused to sign any government-funding legislation that did not include $5 billion for a wall along the US-Mexico border.

Since then, Trump has repeatedly been unwilling to back down from his demand for wall funding, while Democrats repeatedly refused to acquiesce. The president even went so far as to threaten to declare a national emergency to gain access to the funds, bypassing Congress, but backed down from those threats recently.

Immigration courts are just one of the many services being disrupted by the shutdown. Airport security, food inspections, and US economic growth have all been affected by the lapse in federal funding.

• Read more:
• THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BORDER CRISIS: Experts say there is no security crisis, but there is a simple way to fix immigration — and it's not a wall
• The government shutdown is in day 25 and has set the record for the longest shutdown in history
• From airport lines to food inspections, here are all the ways the government shutdown is impacting the lives of average Americans
• The government shutdown could cause a disaster for the US economy if Trump follows through on his threat to continue the fight for 'months'

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: MSNBC host Chris Hayes thinks President Trump's stance on China is 'not at all crazy'

• The government shutdown is now in day 27.
• 800,000 federal workers are going without pay and 380,000 have been furloughed, meaning they are on forced unpaid leave.
• 10,454 federal employees claimed unemployment insurance for the week ending January 5, according to the Department of Labor.
• The number of initial jobless claims from federal employees rose 5,694 from the week before and is up from 1,148 during the same week a year before.

The government shutdown is leaving many federal workers in a bind, and those employees are starting to turn to unemployment insurance to cover the pay gap.

The shutdown, which entered its 27th day Thursday, has left roughly 800,000 federal workers without pay. Many of those workers received their first $0 paycheck last Friday. Around 420,000 workers are on the job but receiving no pay, while another 380,000 are furloughed, meaning they are locked out of work.

Given the financial stress on these employees — workers affected by the shutdown owe more than $400 million in mortgage and rent payments this month — many are starting to turn to government unemployment insurance to help bridge the gap until the shutdown ends.

Read more:Federal workers affected by the government shutdown have more than $400 million in mortgage and rent payments due this month, and it could cause chaos for the US housing market»

According to the Labor Department, 10,454 federal civilian employees filed a new unemployment insurance claim during the week ending January, an increase of 5,694 from the week before. 

Typically claims among federal workers is low. As a comparison, only 1,148 federal employees made jobless claims during the same week in 2018.

Federal workers that are deemed essential — those who are working but not being paid — are not allowed to claim unemployment, according to guidance from the Labor Department. But those on furlough can get coverage in some cases.

The increase comes as more and more federal workers are struggling with the shutdown's financial effects. Some federal employees have set up GoFundMe fundraising pages to help cover their expenses, and others have started to ration medicine to make it through the closure.

Read more:From airport lines to food inspections, here are all the ways the government shutdown is impacting the lives of average Americans»

President Donald Trump kicked off the shutdown in December after refusing to support a short-term funding bill that did not provide money for his long-promised wall along the US-Mexico border. The president has so far not backed down from his demands, despite Democrats pushback, but did sign a bill that would provide furloughed employees with back pay once the government reopens.

Employees that are on the job will automatically receive back pay when the shutdown ends.

SEE ALSO: The warnings are getting starker: Trump's government shutdown is becoming catastrophic for the economy

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: MSNBC host Chris Hayes thinks President Trump's stance on China is 'not at all crazy'

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

• When selecting a blender for your kitchen, you’re going to want one that’s powerful enough to do whatever job you need, whether it’s creating a simple smoothie or crushing ice.
• The Calphalon Auto-Speed Blender is the best one you can buy with its powerful motor, decent price tag, and easy-to-use preset blending functions.

A blender seems like a simple kitchen tool, and for the most part, it is. Blenders give you a variety of settings to help you achieve the consistency you need for a particular recipe.

Even if you don’t use it specifically for cooking, a blender is handy to have in your kitchen. When you want to make kale smoothies or homemade vanilla milkshakes, a blender is a must-have tool. (My blender much prefers vanilla to kale, but that’s just me.)

Although blenders all seem to perform the same task, there are a few different kinds of blenders and each version offers unique features. We’ll help you figure out which type of blender will give you the performance you want. The most common types of blenders include conventional, multi-purpose, immersion, and personal.

A conventional blender is the most common type for use in your kitchen at home. This type of blender can perform a variety of functions from making soup to blending smoothies. Multi-function blenders are more high-end ones like those you'd find in a restaurant. Finally, there's the personal blender, which is a small blender that makes single servings and may run from a battery for portability. Hand blenders, also called immersion blenders, are a popular alternative to the blenders most people are familiar with, and we have a full guide that you can check out here.

In this guide, we highlight a mix of conventional, multi-function, and personal blenders. When choosing a blender, you should also note that blenders vary in the power they provide, the quality of the components, and the variety of functions available. Think about how you want to use the blender, and you’ll have better success in picking one to meet your needs.

The motor is the most important part of any blender, and the higher the wattage, the better the performance. Always get a blender with a motor that's more than 500 watts. If you want to make frozen drinks, you may need one with 1,000 watts of power.

You'll also want to look at the type of blades on each blender. Some blenders have blades made for solid objects like ice, while others make use of a chopping type of blade. Stainless steel blades are best. The size and material of the blender jar are also key factors, as is the tightness of the lid.

Here are our picks for the best blenders you can buy:

• Best blender overall: Calphalon Auto-Speed Blender
• Best blender for $100: Ninja Professional Blender BL660
• Best commercial-grade blender: Vitamix 750
• Best blender for less than $80: KitchenAid 5-Speed Blender

Updated on 01/17/2019 by Kylie Joyner: Added a new top pick to replace an older out-of-stock blender. Updated prices and formatting.

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

SEE ALSO: The best immersion blenders you can buy

The best blender overall

Why you'll love it: True to its name, the Calphalon Auto-Speed Blender automatically senses the correct speed for the ingredients you’re blending and can be used for smoothies, dips, and milkshakes.

The Calphalon Auto-Speed Blender has four preset functions, 10 adjustable speeds, and a 1,100-watt motor that automatically senses the thickness of your ingredients. It applies the power necessary so all the manual guess-work is taken out of blending, making it convenient to use and resulting in a great final product whether you’re making a smoothie or a salsa.

Having tested this blender myself, I can personally attest to how well it works. Call me a creature of habit, but my morning smoothie is an almost daily ritual — one that’s been going on for close to eight years now — so a high-quality blender I can count on is a must.

I put the Calphalon Auto-Speed through its paces, and it’s held up well to daily use, resulting in thick, silky smoothies. I can tell you firsthand how unpleasant it is to encounter an unexpected spinach leaf or chunk of banana in a poorly blended smoothie, but that hasn’t happened once since I’ve started using this blender.

The Calphalon Auto-Speed can do much more than make smoothies, which makes it a great multi-purpose tool to have on your kitchen counter. The pulse feature allows for food prep and chopping — and results in a great salsa. There are also four preset functions for dips, milkshakes, frozen drinks, and smoothies as well as adjustable speeds for more hands-on control.

I especially like the addition of the reverse pulse button which helps pull the ingredients further down into the blade if necessary to prevent any jams and resulting in a smooth blend. The 6-point stainless steel blades are both durable and easy to clean thanks to the way they’re angled.

Each part of the blender that attaches to the base is also dishwasher safe for further convenience. I’ve cleaned each of these parts in our own dishwasher multiple times with no issue.

With such a powerful motor, this blender is much quieter than I expected. It’s by no means silent, but it’s much less deafening than others I’ve used in the past, making it a little less grating to listen to in the morning if you’re a breakfast smoothie fanatic like myself.

When blending, you can either use the 2-Liter pitcher for larger quantities, or the convenient 25-ounce Blend-N-Go Jar for single serving sized smoothies and drinks. While I liked using the Blend-N-Go Jar for smaller serving sizes, I did find the drinking lid that comes with it slightly awkward to use. It prevented any spills, but the attached cap sometimes was more of a nuisance than anything else.

For this reason, I often used one of my own containers for drinking, but still liked to use the Blend-N-Go jar when blending smoothies and drinks for the simple fact that it meant a smaller container to clean.

As far as quality and ease of use go, I was not disappointed. The lids to both the pitcher and the jar seal tightly, and I had no issues with any splatter or leaking while blending. The blade attachment fits easily onto the base, and removes just as easily when you’re finished blending.

While this blender is on the expensive side, if it’s a tool you know you’ll be using often, it’s a worthwhile investment that you’ll be able to rely on for durability, great results, and ease of use. Presets and speeds are controlled by a dial on the front that’s clearly labeled, and you can start, pause, pulse and reverse pulse at the push of a button.

The easy to read digital interface is also a nice touch, showing you how long you’ve been blending, or counting down to the finish if you choose to use one of the preset functions.

The Calphalon Auto-Speed blender is highly rated on Amazon, and as a result, is labeled as an “Amazon’s Choice” product. Reviewers call this an “awesome blender” loving how it looks on their countertop, it’s auto-sensor that results in perfect smoothies and shakes, and the high-end features that put it “at the head of the blender pack.”  — Kylie Joyner

Pros: 1,100-watt motor that automatically senses ingredients and adjusts for best results, four preset functions, 10 adjustable speeds, easy to clean, features durable stainless steel blades, comes with a Bend-N-Go jar for added convenience

Cons: On the expensive side, lid that goes with smoothie cup is slightly awkward to use

Buy the Calphalon Auto-Speed 2-Liter Blender on Amazon for $159.00 (originally $199.99)

The best blender for $120

Why you'll love it: The affordable Ninja Professional Blender delivers plenty of power to crush ice and blend a variety of ingredients to create perfect smoothies every time.

If you’re looking to create great-tasting smoothies at home, you’ll want a blender with plenty of power to ensure the ingredients are well mixed and delivered at the desired texture. The Ninja Professional Blender has the features needed to pulverize ice and create the highest quality smoothies possible.

It boats 1,100 watts of power with three speeds, a pulse setting, and a single-serve function. Ninja also includes two 16-ounce to-go cups so you can take your breakfast smoothie with you. The blender's 72-ounce pitcher is a good size and it has a form-fitting lid and a nice big handle.

The Ninja blender does a great job with all kinds of blending needs, including crushing and pureeing for smoothies, according to the Healthy But Smart review. It's the perfect versatile blender for people who don't want to spend $300 on our top pick but still need a powerful blender.

In its review, Easy Healthy Smoothie says this blender makes perfect smoothies and it's very affordable, considering the power it offers. One Amazon reviewer agreed, explaining that even though the blender is limited to 1,100 watts of power, it still performs as well as more expensive blenders.

Another Amazon customer says you’ll save twice with the Ninja BL660 because it's affordable and you won't have to pay for smoothies anymore.

As for downsides, the Kitchen Gear Pro says the Ninja blender is difficult to take apart and clean, in large part because of the sharpness of the blades. The lid also has some crevasses that are tough to clean properly. But otherwise, this is a great blender for $100.

Pros: Perfect option for creating smoothies at home, blender sold at a good price point, offers many different kinds of blending options, works to crush ice, blends many kinds of foods successfully

Cons: Unit’s lid can be difficult to clean, blades are sharp when you take blender apart for cleaning

Buy the Ninja Professional Blender BL660 on Amazon for $99.92

The best professional-style blender

Why you'll love it: The Vitamix Professional series 750 offers everything you need in a blender, but its proven longevity makes it worth the price.

We know $600 is a lot to spend on a blender, or anything, really. But if you want the most consistent consistency, and you use your blender on a daily basis, it's easily justified. When you go to a smoothie shop, you're probably paying well over $5 per drink, and if you do so even two or three times a week, that adds up (I'm a writer, so I'll let you do your own math).

The Vitamix 750 is a professional-grade blender built to last the better part of a decade, and Vitamix's 7-year warranty is enough to attest to that. Sure, you may have some 20-year-old anvil of a thing living on your counter that still works, more or less, but I'll bet your smoothies turn out to be laden with large, neglected chunks of your chosen fruits. I'll also bet it's not the prettiest thing in your kitchen, either.

Do you need to spend so much on a blender? No, but if you're willing to spend even $200, you might find that blender cutting out on you within a couple of years, no matter how shiny and stainless-steel-clad it may be.

For those that use their blender only every so often but still demand perfection, the Vitamix 5200 is of comparable quality, just with a less technical interface and no automatic drive for setting your blender to smoothie mode and walking away. But on the other hand, if you're running a smoothie shop or a cafe or B&B with a juicer, it's hard to ignore reasons for the automatic feature.

Around the web, Forbes and New York Magazine stand by the Vitamix 750. Meanwhile, nearly 300 Amazon reviewers give it a solid 4.6/5-star rating. — Owen Burke

Pros: Consistent, powerful motor, strong blades stay sharp, 7-year warranty

Cons: Price tag

Buy the Vitamix 750 on Amazon for $598.99

Buy the Vitamix 5200 on Amazon for $361.99 (originally $449)