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.

• Rugs are a great home decor investment, but they're difficult to maintain. More often than not, you've probably eschewed cleaning yours because it takes too much time and effort. 
• Ruggable's polyester chenille rugs ($59.30+) are affordable, attractive, and thanks to a two-piece system that separates the rug cover from a non-slip pad, easy to clean. 
• I put together and washed a Ruggable rug in my own apartment, and the process went seamlessly. 
• The company's patented "Cling Effect Technology" kept the pieces together at all times, the rug didn't slide around on my floor, and I didn't have to follow any fancy, special instructions when machine-washing and drying it. 

Rugs are an essential part of home decor, providing the foundation upon which your furniture and other decor sit. However, they're a huge pain to clean: you need to bring them outside and use a host of different tools and cleaners, or possibly spend a lot of money letting a professional take care of them. You start to wonder whether their aesthetic appeal is worth the inconvenience of care and maintenance. 

Before you decide to put off cleaning your rug for yet another week, you might want to take a look at the rugs from the company Ruggable. Ruggable makes machine-washable, two-piece rug and non-slip pad systems that are easy to assemble and easy to maintain. After trying a Ruggable rug in my own apartment, I found that enjoying a stylish rug in my home can actually be simple, not to mention affordable. 

Here's how the rug system works: 

First, decide on the style and size of your rug cover. You can choose from a variety of patterns and colors, from earthy and intricate designs to modern, geometric prints. 

Available sizes are:

• 3'x 5'
• 2.5'x 7'
• 5'x 7'
• 8'x 10'  

The rug covers are made up of three layers, a 100% woven polyester chenille top surface, a 100% polyurethane internal waterproof barrier in the middle, and a 100% polyester knit bottom surface. 

The 1/8-inch thick rug cover will come with a rug pad. This nonslip pad is also 1/8-inch thick and features Ruggable's patented "Cling Effect Technology," which is what keeps the rug cover and rug pad stuck together. 

Once you unroll the cover and pad, which arrive together in a box, line them up on top of each other and attach the pieces. The rug cover's underside will stick to the rug pad's top surface, which has a texture and stickiness similar to Velcro. After the two pieces are attached, they won't fall apart if you shake it out, and you'll have to manually pull the layers apart.  

Carefully lining up the edges might take a little time the first time you do it, but overall it's not too tricky. The complete process from taking the rug out of the box to assembling it fully took me all of 10 minutes. 

The real test came when it was time to wash it after a couple weeks of regular foot traffic from my roommates and our cat. I removed the cover from the pad and threw the cover in the washing machine on the cold water setting, then dried it in the dryer on low heat (medium also works well, but don't use high heat).

It was as easy and quick as washing a regular load of laundry, and the cover came out looking as good as new. Then, I just reattached it to the rug pad and the rug was ready to use again. 

The rug pad is not machine-washable and should be spot treated. However, since the top of it rarely comes in contact with anything other than the rug cover, any time spent spot treating will likely be minimal. 

The rugs are not extremely thick, but provide enough cushion-y comfort without blocking door openings, and they're easier to move and transport since you can fold up the rug cover. 

A 5'x 7' rug set averages $130, which is on par with other affordable rugs you might find on Wayfair, but the clear differences are the unique two-piece system and machine-washable quality. 

Ruggable's rugs are designed for people who lead understandably busy and messy lives. Most of us don't live in the pristine settings captured by design magazines, but the convenience and style of a Ruggable rug got me one step closer to that dream.

Shop all Ruggable rugs starting at $59.30 at Amazon here

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• An Arizona teenager and his mother tried for more than a week to persuade Apple to fix its FaceTime bug — which allows users in a group chat to secretly hear what someone is saying before the person answers the call — to no avail, according to a Wall Street Journal report published Tuesday.
• The 14-year-old apparently discovered the vulnerability on January 20 while setting up a "Fortnite" gaming session with his friends.
• After posting on social media and calling and faxing the company, the woman finally spoke to an Apple support representative last Tuesday, The Journal reported.
• She emailed a description of the issue and a YouTube video replicating the bug to Apple's security team last Friday, but the FaceTime group-chat feature was not disabled until Monday after word spread widely on social media.

An Arizona teenager and his mother tried for more than a week to persuade Apple to fix its FaceTime bug to no avail, according to a Wall Street Journal report published Tuesday.

Michele Thompson told The Journal that her 14-year-old son, Grant, discovered the vulnerability — which allows FaceTime users in a group chat to secretly hear what someone is saying before the person answers the call — on January 20 while setting up a "Fortnite" gaming session with his friends.

That day, Thompson started posting on Twitter and Facebook to try to alert the company and warn others about the bug.

Thompson then sent faxes and called Apple directly, yielding a call last Tuesday from an Apple support representative, who told her the best avenue to voice her concerns would be filing a formal bug report with the company, The Journal reported. So Thompson registered as a developer and submitted the problem to Apple's Bug Reporter program.

Apple's security team responded to Thompson on Wednesday, and on Friday she provided evidence of the issue, including a description and a YouTube video of her son replicating the bug, according to The Journal.

But the FaceTime group-chat feature remained live over the weekend and was not disabled until Monday, after word of the privacy vulnerability spread widely on social media.

Read more: Apple has disabled group FaceTime calls after it was humiliated on Data Privacy Day by a bug that lets people listen in on you

When Business Insider asked Apple why the concerns were not addressed earlier, it declined to provide information beyond a statement saying it "identified a fix that will be released in a software update later this week."

Apple has often touted itself as the leader in privacy among Silicon Valley giants, making thinly veiled digs at rivals like Facebook and, most recently, paying for a billboard at the CES conference in Las Vegas this month to spread its privacy-first message.

Ironically, the FaceTime bug went viral on Data Privacy Day, on which Apple CEO Tim Cook called for "action and reform" in privacy issues.

Thompson told The Journal she hoped her son might receive some form of reward in line with Apple's bug-bounty program. She said in a Facebook post on Sunday seeking to alert Apple to the bug that he would like "an iPhone X, a MacBook and a new pair of AirPods for his trouble."

Whether Apple grants his wish remains to be seen.

• Read more about the FaceTime privacy bug:
• Apple has disabled group FaceTime calls after it was humiliated on Data Privacy Day by a bug that lets people listen in on you
• How to turn off the FaceTime video-calling feature
• Apple's FaceTime has a major bug that lets others listen in on you before you answer the call

Got a tip? Contact this reporter via Signal at +1 (209) 730-3387, email nbastone@businessinsider.com, or direct message on Twitter @nickbastone.

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NOW WATCH: Jeff Bezos is worth over $100 billion — here's how the world's richest man makes and spends his money

• LuLaRoe founder DeAnne Stidham kicked off her 60th birthday with a masquerade-themed party at Mission Inn and Spa in Riverside, California.
• Partygoers wielded oversized cardboard caricatures of Stidham's smiling face.
• The event at the historic landmark came about as LuLaRoe faces a number of lawsuits.

LuLaRoe founder DeAnne Stidham marked her 60th birthday with a masquerade soiree at a historic hotel, even as her multilevel-marketing company fends off multiple lawsuits.

The masquerade-themed event took place at Mission Inn Hotel and Spa in Riverside, California, on Saturday evening, according to multiple Instagram posts reviewed by Business Insider. Guests included loved ones and LuLaRoe retailers.

Stidham launched the multilevel-marketing retail empire with her husband, Mark Stidham, in 2015. Recently, the company was slapped with lawsuits from its former clothing supplier and the state of Washington.

The Mission Inn Hotel and Spa, a Mission Revival Style landmark, has hosted US presidents, Hollywood stars, and luminaries, including Amelia Earhart, Helen Keller, and Albert Einstein, over the decades. According to the award-winning inn's website, rooms start at $199 a night.

A private party for about 40 guests on a Saturday evening starts at $5,000 at the Mission Inn Hotel and Spa. The same event with 100 guests starts at $10,000, but the price might vary depending on food and beverage choices, audiovisual services, and decor options.

It's unclear how many guests attended Stidham's event. LuLaRoe did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment. Business Insider reviewed Instagram posts from the event to glean a number of details of what occurred at Stidham's birthday bash.

Social-media posts depict a flock of revelers congregating in the inn's courtyard, with their faces disguised by feathered and bejeweled masks. Some held oversized caricatures of Stidham's smiling face. Above the crowd, acrobats twisted on strands of blue silk. 

Stidham posed for a few selfies with guests, sporting a shawl dripping in gold beads, a loopy silver mask, and matching facial art, according to photos reviewed by Business Insider.

Other partygoers documented the night by modeling before the on-site chapel altar — gilded with 18-karat gold leaf — or in the courtyard, beside a small statue of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of merchants. These guests posted the results of their photo shoots on Instagram.

Business Insider reviewed one guest's picture of a deep-pink cake, bedecked with a carnival mask of its own and a sparkling topper that read "Sixty." 

Read more: LuLaRoe's founders have been linked to 31 LLCs set up during the last 3 years — and a lawsuit alleges they're attempting to shield assets like a Gulfstream jet, a ranch in Wyoming, and a world-record-breaking supercar named Ruthie

Stidham was also regaled with an approximately seven-minute dance routine performed by her children and their spouses, according to a video viewed by Business Insider. The group busted a move to the musical stylings of the Carpenters, Elton John, Abba, Cyndi Lauper, Gloria Estefan, La Bouche, Basia, Ace of Base, Montell Jordan, Pharrell Williams, and Lee Greenwood. 

Stidham even got up to join her family when 50 Cent's "In Da Club" came on.

"Oh my gosh," Stidham said at the conclusion of the performance, according to a video reviewed by Business Insider. "I can't believe it. Whose fault was this?"

The celebration wasn't confined to the Mission Inn Hotel and Spa, however.

On Instagram, LuLaRoe retailers also posted photos of themselves wearing red — Stidham's favorite color — marked with the hashtags #llrbirthdaysquad and #llrsquadlife in honor of the founder.

"On Sunday we wear red to honor the queen of LuLaRoe," read one post, which Stidham subsequently shared on her Instagram story.

The founder also got in on the trend, filming an Instagram Live video in her office on Sunday. The workspace had been decorated in pink, white, and gold balloons and streamers.

"I guess that's what we have to do, we have to celebrate the day," she said, according to a video reviewed by Business Insider. "Look at this. I'm not kidding you these guys, they put a lot of work into this. Thank you, thank you, thank you to all my amazing people here at the office."

On January 28, the company posted a birthday message to its founder on Instagram: "Each and everyday you strive to make everyone feel loved and appreciated."

The birthday celebration came days after Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a lawsuit against LuLaRoe, alleging that the company is an illegal "pyramid scheme." LuLaRoe's longtime manufacturer, Providence Industries, is also suing the company for $63 million in damages, alleging the company consistently failed to pay its debts. LuLaRoe has denied the claims in the lawsuit.

The lawsuit from Providence Industries also alleged that LuLaRoe, the Stidhams, and their associates have created a web of shell companies in order to protect their high-value assets, including a Wyoming ranch worth more than $7 million, luxury Koenigsegg cars, and a Gulfstream jet.

Business Insider spoke with multiple former LuLaRoe retailers who have said they've been waiting months to receive thousands of dollars in refunds from the company.

• Read more about LuLaRoe:
• Washington Attorney General accuses LuLaRoe of operating an illegal 'pyramid scheme' in new lawsuit
• LuLaRoe supplier files new demand for immediate seizure of $34 million and alleges the company is quietly liquidating goods
• LuLaRoe founder says the company is 'starting over' amid seller exodus and looming $63 million legal battle

SEE ALSO: LuLaRoe founder says the company is 'starting over' amid seller exodus and looming $63 million legal battle

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 5 hotels for people who need to unwind

• Boat International recently released the list of winners from this year's Design & Innovation Awards.
• The annual competition awards prizes in both aesthetic and technical categories for yachts of different sizes.
• This year's awards included 14 prize-winning yachts from various designers.
• The motor yacht Elandess took home the most awards, with a grand total of four.

Superyacht magazine Boat International recently announced the winners of the 2019 Boat International Design & Innovation Awards. The awards ceremony celebrates advancements in yacht design and often unveils the newest boats designed by skilled architects.

This year's competition included a total of 61 nominated yachts. In addition to recognizing boat categories, the ceremony honored two individuals: Yihharn Liu for Young Designer of the Year and Ron Holland for the Lifetime Achievement Award. Holland's many designs include the world's first hybrid sailing yacht, called the Ethereal.

Read more: The world's most expensive superyachts come with helipads, movie theaters, and swimming pools — take a look

Alongside its honorary guests, the awards highlighted one new category called The Game Changer. Other awards included the usual prizes for exterior styling, interior design, naval architecture, and ecological innovation.

Keep reading to see the complete list of award winners from 2019. We listed each winning vessel, along with its length and number of guests.

SEE ALSO: I spent 3 years writing about yachts, and owning one takes way more money than you think

NOW READ: 9 outrageous yachts appearing at the Monaco Yacht Show owned by some of the world's richest billionaires

Best Exterior Styling, Motor Yachts Below 39m

Winner: Riva 110' Dolcevita

Length of vessel: 33.53 meters

No. of Guests: Not specified

Best Exterior Styling, Motor Yachts 40m to 59m

Winner: Irisha

Length of vessel: 51 meters

No. of Guests: 10

Best Exterior Styling, Motor Yachts 60m and Above

Winner: Elandess

Length of vessel: 74.5 meters

No. of Guests: 14

• The government shutdown ended Friday after President Donald Trump gave in to Democrats' demands to reopen the government.
• Trump did not secure any funding for the long-promised border wall as part of the agreement.
• According to an INSIDER poll, a plurality of Americans believe House Speaker Nancy Pelosi won the shutdown.
• Just under 40% of people surveyed said they believed Pelosi handled the shutdown more effectively while 23% thought Trump handled the negotiations more effectively.

The longest government shutdown on record is over and, based on a new poll, one side of the fight in Washington seems to have come out on top.

On Friday, President Donald Trump agreed to support a bill to reopen the government for three weeks. The bill did not include any money for his long-promised wall along the US-Mexico border despite the president's repeated statements that any bill to open the government must include wall funding.

In fact, the bill was nearly identical to Democrats’ original demands: reopen the government and then we can discuss money for border security.

Many political analysts and pundits— including conservative commentators— chalked Trump's decision up as a win for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democrats, and a good portion of surveyed Americans agree with that assessment.

According to a new INSIDER poll, 39% of surveyed Americans believed that Pelosi "handled the negotiation more effectively," while just 23% gave the distinction to Trump. 38% of respondents said neither handled it better or they didn't know who handled it better.

Excluding those who chose neither or didn't know, 85% of respondents who identified as moderately or very conservative thought Trump won the shutdown, with 15% choosing Pelosi. Pelosi's base was even more supportive with 94% of moderate or very liberal respondents saying the speaker was more effective, versus just 6% choosing Trump.

Among middle-of-the-road voters — those who said they were slightly liberal, slightly conservative, or neither — 44% said they weren't sure who won. But of those who made a selection between Trump and Pelosi, 66% thought Pelosi handed the shutdown better while just 34% thought it was Trump.

The poll may not be as much of a surprise given that multiple INSIDER polls found that a majority of Americans blamed Trump for the shutdown, another INSIDER poll found few surveyed Americans who favored spending $5.7 billion on Trump's wall, and the president's popularity declined during the government closure.

Read more:Trump's strategy for the government shutdown is a mess and most Americans aren't on board»

So it appears the previous shutdown didn't help Trump politically, but that doesn't seem to be stopping the president from threatening another one. On Sunday, the president warned that another shutdown after the new February 15 deadline is "certainly an option."

Overall, 22% of respondents identified as very or moderately conservative, 26% identified as very or moderately liberal, with 39% as neither or slightly.

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 1,233 respondents, a margin of error plus or minus 2.95 percentage points with a 95% confidence level.

SEE ALSO: Most Americans would rather spend the $5 billion Trump is demanding for the border wall on infrastructure, education, or healthcare

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 get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

• Tons of people swear by Apple AirPods, but with a $160 price tag, I'm not quite a believer.
• I tried Anker's half-price alternative, the Soundcore Liberty Air, and, although I've only used the AirPods for a few hours to test them out, I can confidently say I think these less expensive headphones are a better value.
• Soundcore Liberty Air headphones might not be as fancy as AirPods, but they get the job done well. They feature Bluetooth connectivity, 20 hours of battery life, and touch controls for pausing and playing music, answering and ending calls, and activating Siri.

When the Apple AirPods were first released, public opinion was pretty divisive. Some people thought they were the best smartphone accessory since the charger itself, while others thought they were funny-looking, useless, and overpriced. I personally was part of the latter camp.

More than two years later, my opinion on true wireless headphones has mostly changed — the look of two little pieces of plastic floating in people's ears isn't so bad, and with headphone jacks being a thing of the past, they actually are useful. But my biggest gripe with AirPods still exists: the price.

At $160, Apple AirPods are downright expensive. That paired with the horror stories I've heard of people having to buy second and third pairs after one slipping out of their ears to never be seen again has kept me from buying a pair for myself. In an attempt to keep up with technology without spending so much money, I went with Anker's alternative that costs half the price: the Soundcore Liberty Air.

With a much more affordable price tag of $79.99, the Soundcore Liberty Air headphones have many of the same attributes that make the Apple AirPods great. They feature Bluetooth connectivity, a pocket-size case for up to 20 hours of battery life, and touch controls for pausing, playing, and skipping music; answering and ending calls; and using a voice assistant such as Siri.

I've been using Soundcore Liberty Air headphones for a couple of weeks now, and they've been a wonderful extension of my smartphone. In my opinion, they're a great value in true wireless headphones because of the price point, quality, and all-around functionality.

Read more:The best truly wireless earbuds you can buy

For me, the setup-pairing process is the first indication if I'll like a tech product, and the Soundcore Liberty Air proved to be hassle-free. Granted, they won't automatically pair to your iPhone like AirPods, but they're super easy to set up nonetheless. Just take them out of the charging case, go into your device's Bluetooth settings, and select "Soundcore Liberty Air." Once they were paired, I didn't have any issues with connectivity, device unpairing, or no audio from one or both headphones. However, you can turn the left headphone off if you'd like to use one headphone (the right side is the master headphone).

One small but very notable difference that I like about the Soundcore Liberty Air headphones is that they're available in both black and white. I personally went with the black pair and think they're a bit more subtle than white earbuds. If you want AirPods, you're stuck with only white.

Unlike AirPods that seemingly use magic to stay in your ears, the Soundcore Liberty Air headphones use an ergonomic design and assorted ear tips for a secure fit. I found the medium-sized tips (which come on the headphones out of the box) to be a good fit for me, but if you need a better fit, you'll find extra small, small, and large tips included in the box. These gave me the confidence to work out with losing them, where sweating and lots of motion would probably cause AirPods to fall out.

In terms of sound quality, the Soundcore Liberty Air headphones are extremely solid for in-ear wireless buds, but compared to over-ear headphones, they're nothing to write home about. If you're looking for spectacular studio-quality sound, these aren't the headphones for you. But if you want a pair that sound pretty good, you'll likely be happy with these. 

The call quality is also very good. There have been times where I was testing headphones and the poor audio quality was immediately obvious to the other person, but that wasn't the case here.

The touch-sensitive controls add a lot of usability to the Soundcore Liberty Air headphones, but they're not the easiest to control at first. Since they're not as tactile as the volume rocker on your phone or as visual as a pause-play button on your screen, it takes some getting used to. After spending a few days with the headphones, the tap controls felt very natural to use.

Overall, there's nothing I can complain about when it comes to the Soundcore Liberty Air headphones — especially at this price point. Whether you're an iPhone user looking for a cheaper alternative to AirPods, or you're a diehard Android fan who would never do something as blasphemous as pair your smartphone to Apple headphones, these are the true wireless headphones you want to buy.

Maybe it'll take an improved version or a drastic price drop to make me a believer of the Apple AirPods, but for right now, I'll be sticking with my Soundcore Liberty Air headphones.

Shop Soundcore Liberty Air Headphones for $79.99 on Amazon here

Shop Soundcore Liberty Air Headphones for $79.99 on Best Buy here

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

• Portable keyboards make it much easier to work productively on your phone or tablet. 
• The Logitech Keys-To-Go (from $48.38) is a rechargeable, wireless Bluetooth keyboard that lets you start typing away in under a minute. 
• It's ultra-light and thin, comfortable to type on, easy to clean, and surprisingly quiet. It also comes with a stand for your devices.

With a phone or tablet in hand, you can get work done any time and anywhere. During the few hours you're held captive on your flight, you're free to edit your essay, draft an important email, or work on the last-minute presentation you were just assigned. 

The only drawback of this situation is the small screen and typing surface. For short writing tasks, these limitations aren't fully realized, but if you want to get significant work done, you'll wish you had a keyboard. Instead of packing a bulky, heavy laptop, it's better to bring along a wireless keyboard. They usually cost under $100 and are a light, portable substitute for a real keyboard. 

Logitech's Keys-To-Go is a wireless Bluetooth keyboard that should be on every business traveler or busy student's carry-on because of its comfortable feel, light and thin build, and reliable connection. We confirmed these benefits while testing the Keys-To-Go ourselves. 

Specs of the Keys-To-Go

With other essentials also fighting for a coveted position in your backpack or carry-on, it's important to consider the size and weight of your tech accessories. In that respect, the Keys-To-Go is a no-brainer to bring along. It measures 9.5" x 5.4" and is only 0.24" thick, so you can slip it easily into a backpack or purse compartment. Meanwhile, it weighs a little over 6 oz., a nearly-negligible amount. 

While there are other wireless keyboards on the market that are smaller, their keyboard formatting usually suffers as a result of the focus on size. The Keys-To-Go features a full keyboard with keys that aren't squished together, so your fingers rest and type naturally and comfortably. You'll find all the standard keys and functions, including playback and sound controls, and it even has arrow keys, meaning you won't have to shift your typing behavior every time you want to use this keyboard. 

There are two versions, one for iOS and one for Android/Windows. Make sure you get the one that matches up with your device so you'll get full use out of the keyboard's distinct functions.

The keyboard is available in four colors, a standard black as well as gray, blue, and pink. For the practical personality, black or gray will do just fine, while aesthetics-minded shoppers will appreciate the blue and pink options. 

Setting up the Keys-To-Go 

Setting up the Keys-To-Go takes less than a minute. Simply hold down the Bluetooth key on the keyboard until it starts blinking and searching for nearby devices, then connect your phone or tablet. I had no problem with connecting the devices and could start typing right away. If you've had any experience with Bluetooth wireless accessories, then this set up will be second nature to you. 

What the Keys-T0-Go is like to use and how it's different from other models

A common complaint about keyboards — most keyboards, not just wireless ones — is that they're click-y and loud. In an office environment where everyone else is also typing away, you might not notice this, but in a library or red-eye flight, every key press can be an annoying disturbance. To save your fellow seatmates from listening to your frantic typing, the Keys-To-Go has soft, cushioned keys that still give you the tactile satisfaction of typing, but without the noise. They're not 100% silent, but are noticeably less disruptive than a traditional keyboard. 

The lack of deep, inset keys is also good news for anyone who snacks while working or is prone to messiness. Crumbs won't get stuck between the keys, and it's easy to wipe down the entire surface with just a few swipes. The keyboard isn't water-proof, but it is water-repellent and won't fizzle out after an accidental spill. 

It comes with an attachable stand to rest your phone or tablet, which is a nice add-on to have if you don't have a phone case with a stand. The stand inserts tightly into the keyboard and holds your device securely the whole time. 

As you use your keyboard, you'll be able to keep track of its battery life via the battery life indicator in the upper corner. A single charge (through a USB charging cable) lasts three months, assuming you're using it for about two hours a day. While this design does mean you have yet another tech accessory to charge, the strong battery life saves you from having to dig out the charging cable too often, and the rechargeable aspect is both more sustainable and less bulky than using batteries. 

Potential concerns 

One potentially inconvenient feature of the Keys-To-Go is that the attachable stand may not accommodate your device if you have a case on it. I have a fairly thin case on my phone, and it was able to fit in the stand while in portrait orientation, but it couldn't while in landscape orientation. You'll either have to take your case off each time, or forego the included stand and find another way to prop your device up. 

The bottom line

It's not always necessary to bring your laptop along for the ride. In those situations, the Logitech Keys-To-Go is a near-perfect companion to your phone or tablet if you need to type anything up. It's impressively thin and light, so it won't take up much space in your bag, and typing on it is both quiet and comfortable. Because it connects via Bluetooth and is rechargeable, setting up and maintaining this useful accessory is a breeze.

Shop the Logitech Keys-To-Go wireless keyboard here:

iOS version (Black), from $48.38, available at Amazon and Best Buy

iOS version (all colors), $69.99, available at Logitech

Android/Windows version (Black/Blue), from $40.99, available at Amazon and Best Buy

Join the conversation about this story »

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.

As someone who is not particularly neat on their own, organization does not come naturally to me. That being said, I still crave a space that is tidy so my place looks nice and I know where everything is. In my quest for tidiness, I have purchased many items meant to keep my space more organized and make my life more efficient. 

An organized space not only looks great, but it alleviates stress and can make a small space appear larger. There are so many products out there to help you keep your home neat, so you just have to find what methods work best for you and your space. Organizational tools can do wonders for your home, but you shouldn't have to spend a fortune to stay neat. That's why we compiled this list of affordable, easy organizational solutions.

Shop 50 organizational essentials all under $50:

SEE ALSO: I slept under a 15-pound weighted blanket for a week — and it was the best sleep I've had in ages

A simple shelving display to help arrange your spices

FunDisplay Kitchen Shelving Rack, $16.99, available at Wayfair

This step style kitchen shelving rack elevates your spice collection, so you can actually see what you own. It can be left on the countertop, but also fits well in most cabinets. If you don't have many spices, this piece works well for holding vitamins and medicine as well.

A sleek way to store and show off your pencils and pens

HBlife Acrylic Pencil and Pen Holder, $9.99, available at Amazon

A pile of writing utensils on your desk is not only impractical, but messy. Keep your pens and pencils corralled with this acrylic container. It's clear, so you know what you're getting before you grab it and it goes with just about anything.

A mop and broom holder that keeps your useful tools accessible

Onmier Mop & Broom Holder, $11.59, available at Amazon

Don't let bulky cleaning tools like mops and brooms make a mess in your space. This simple organizer can hold five larger tools and has six hooks to hang smaller cleaning supplies. The whole organizer can be easily mounted to the wall.

• Using data from the US Census Bureau, we found the town in every state with the highest median age.
• Many of the towns are communities targeted toward older adults and retirees.

The American Community Survey is an annual survey run by the Census Bureau to allow the government, corporate and academic researchers, and anyone who is curious about demographics to better understand the US population. Among many other subjects, the ACS asks the age of each member of a given household.

Using the ACS estimates from 2013 to 2017 for places with at least a 1,000-person population, excluding college campuses and military bases, Business Insider made the above map showing the town in each state with the highest median age.

Read more: The economy of every state and DC, ranked from worst to best

Many of the towns with high median ages are retirement communities and other locales targeted at older adults, like Leisure World, Maryland.

Here's a table showing each of the towns, along with their median age in years:

• Read more about demographics and economics in the US:
• The minimum wage is set to increase in 21 states and DC in 2019 — here's what it will be in every state
• The most and least expensive places to live in America
• The most disproportionately high-paying job in every state
• Here's how many people in each state were born outside the US

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Your Christmas tree could be a big fire hazard — take these steps to stay safe

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• High-quality pizza pans heat evenly to produce excellent crust, are easy to clean, and make pulling your pizza in and out of the oven a breeze.
• The Lodge Pro-Logic Cast Iron Pizza Pan is our top pick because it's made of durable cast iron that heats evenly, is nonstick, and cleans up effortlessly.

Few things in this life are more beautiful than a homemade pizza fresh out of the oven. Still, there's the breath-holding moment as you cut into the pie hoping to feel and hear the telltale crunch that lets you know the crust is done just right. The best way to ensure that the crust and toppings reach perfection at the same time is to use a top-quality pizza pan.

Pizza pans are generally made of cast iron, aluminum, stainless steel, or a combination of aluminum and steel. Cast iron pans are heavier and add a deeper, richer flavor to the crust. But, you need to be careful that you season the surface of the pan and avoid cleaning it with detergent. Stainless steel pans are durable and inexpensive, but they tend to burn pizzas easily. Aluminum is durable, simple to clean, and heats evenly. Lastly, aluminized steel combines the benefits of aluminum and steel to cook pizza evenly and produce a crispy crust.

Two of the pans in our guide are perforated, which is to say they have holes in the bottom. The holes allow heat to hit the crust directly during baking, which causes the crust to get crispier. The pizza also cooks more quickly with perforated pans. If crispy crust and fast cooking times sound appealing, consider a perforated pan.

The hue of the pan also affects the cooking time. Darker pans tend to absorb the oven's heat better, and this helps your pizza cook faster, but this is not always a good thing. When you have deep dish, stuffed, or other thicker pizzas, you don't want the crust to cook too quickly, or else, it could burn before the toppings are cooked all the way through. In this instance, a lighter-colored pan would be preferable.

In this guide, we are specifically focusing on pizza pans. Previously, we covered pizza stones, which are excellent for pizza baking but tend to cost more. We thought pans and stones deserved separate guides. However, our top pick, the Lodge Cast Iron Pizza Pan, straddles the hazy line between the two so we chose to include it on both lists.

While researching the best pizza pans, we read through hundreds of buyer and expert ratings and reviews of dozens of models. Our guide features pans that have a track record of performance, durability, and ease of use.

Here are the best pizza pans you can buy:

• Best pizza pan overall: Lodge Pro-Logic Cast Iron Pizza Pan
• Best deep-dish pizza pan: Chicago Metallic Professional Non-Stick Deep-Dish Pizza Pan
• Best mini pizza pan: Calphalon Nonstick Bakeware 7-inch Mini Pizza Pan
• Best pizza pan for maneuverability: Baker's Secret Signature Pizza Pan
• Best affordable pizza pan: AirBake Nonstick Pizza Pan by T-fal

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

The best pizza pan overall

Why you'll love it: The Lodge Pro-Logic Cast Iron Pizza Pan is designed to bake evenly so you can count on delicious, crunchy crusts.

The Lodge Pro-Logic Cast Iron Pizza Pan is ideal for creating crispy crusts. Although the pan is hefty at about 11 pounds, it features large, side-loop handles that make it easy to maneuver. The interior baking area has a diameter of about 14 inches so you can cook large pizzas.

Since cast iron is best after years of seasoning, put the soap away when it's time to clean the pan. Instead, once it cools down, just wash with water and dry it thoroughly. Lodge backs the quality of this pan with a lifetime limited warranty.

Serious Eats recommends the Lodge Cast Iron Pizza Pan because the crust it produces is as good as it gets. After preheating the oven at 550 degrees Fahrenheit for an hour, the pan cooked a pizza in eight minutes in their tests. The reviewer liked the light charring in some parts of the crust and the superb crunchiness. However, she notes that the pan isn't completely flat, which can lead to pizzas over 14 inches running into the surrounding lip. Stones and Pizza, Wide Open Eats, and All Listings also recommend this pan.

There are more than 1,600 five-star reviews of the Lodge Cast Iron Pizza Pan on Amazon. The most helpful reviewer recommends the pan because it has a wide array of uses, comes pre-seasoned, makes the best pizza, doesn't stain, heats evenly, and cleans up effortlessly. He does note that the weight of the pan may be a bit much for some.

Another buyer used the pan for making dosas, which turned out restaurant-quality. Yet, it did take some work for her to get the cast iron seasoned to her liking.

Pros: Easy to clean, nonstick, heats evenly, durable, lifetime limited warranty

Cons: Expensive for a pizza pan, doesn't work well with a baking peel

Buy the Lodge Pro-Logic Cast Iron Pizza Pan on Amazon for $39.97

The best deep-dish pizza pan

Why you'll love it: If you like your homemade pizzas to have plenty of toppings and sauce, the high edges of the Chicago Metallic Non-Stick Deep-Dish Pizza Pan will serve you well.

The Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza Pan is unique because it has a wire rod-reinforced edge that is more than an inch deep. This makes it useful for the deep dish and stuffed pizzas. Additionally, the pan has a diameter of about 14 inches so you can bake rather large pies.

The pan is made of heavy-duty aluminized steel and is oven-safe up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. The nonstick surface is silicone, which can scratch if you use sharp utensils. Therefore, we recommend removing the pizza from the pan before cutting it.

Village Bakery recommends the Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza Panbecause the reviewer found the nonstick surface did an excellent job of releasing the crust, and the pan felt sturdy. However, he didn’t like that you had to avoid using sharp metal objects on the pan or risk scratching the coating. 10 Best Products, Jane’s Kitchen Miracles, and Did You Know Homes also recommend this model.

About 95% of the Amazon reviews of the Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza Pan are positive. Buyers report excellent results using the pan for a variety of pizza styles, including St. Louis thin crust, deep dish, and stuffed pizza. There are also several comments about the dark metal absorbing heat well and producing a crunchier crust.

One reviewer cautions against heating the pan above 480 degrees Fahrenheit because the silicone starts to lose its nonstick properties at this temperature.

Pros: Works well for a variety of pizza styles, great nonstick coating, durable, dishwasher safe

Cons: Can’t use a pizza cutter on the pan, only oven safe to 450 degrees Fahrenheit

Buy the Chicago Metallic 16124 Professional Non-Stick Deep-Dish Pizza Pan on Amazon for $18.99

Buy the Chicago Metallic Professional Non-Stick Perforated Pizza Crisper on Amazon for $14.55

The best mini pizza pan

Why you'll love it: The Calphalon Nonstick Bakeware 7-inch Mini Pizza Pan is a versatile nonstick pan that easily releases your food and cleans up easily.

Aside from its small size, the Calphalon 7-inch Mini Pizza Panis unique because the bottom is perforated to allow for maximum airflow and a crispy crust. Heat is distributed evenly thanks to the heavy-gauge steel core, and the interlocking nonstick layers allow you to just slide your pizza off the pan when done.

Calphalon recommends only using wooden, coated, or nylon utensils to make sure the nonstick surface performs optimally. They back the quality of this product with a full lifetime warranty.

There are few firsthand expert reviews of the Calphalon Mini Pizza Pan. There are several sites that recommend this model, though. Among them is Ama Top 10, which found that the pan performs well, is durable, distributes heat well, and the non-stick cooking surface made clean-up effortless. The only complaint the reviewer had was that due to their shape, the pans actually produce smaller pizzas than the "7-inch" in their name suggests.

Approximately 83% of the Amazon buyers who reviewed the Calphalon Mini Pizza Pan gave it five stars. Jamie, the most helpful reviewer, purchased the pans to use with her preschool-aged grandchildren. She found the nonstick properties were impressive, even without spraying first. Yet, she would have liked it if there was a lip or handles to grab the pans by.

Other buyers find the pans are sized well for use in toaster ovens and air fryers and can be used to make an array of foods, including croissants, toast, veggie tots, and more.

Pros: Impressive non-stick properties, full lifetime warranty, works well in a variety of smaller appliances

Cons: Hard to remove from the oven, produces pizzas that are actually smaller than 7 inches

Buy the Calphalon Nonstick Bakeware 7-inch Mini Pizza Pan (Set of 4) on Amazon for $19.99 (originally $29.99)

In November alone, Americans received an estimated 5.1 billion scam calls from automated machines — more than any month on record, according to YouMail's robocall index.

That number was about 2.9 billion in the beginning of 2018, and the spike didn't come out of nowhere.  Consumer advocates worry the number will only continue to increase, now that the FCC has removed an Obama-era definition of auto-dialers that the agency thought was too broad.

In 2018, Americans were hit with 26.3 billion robocalls — a whopping 46% increase compared to 2017, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Federal agencies are taking action, holding robocallers accountable and searching for new ways to regulate as robocallers continue to become more sophisticated with their tactics. FCC chairman Ajit Pai sent a letter in November to more than a dozen phone providers demanding they adopt "a robust call authentication system to combat illegal caller ID spoofing." Pai warned that the FCC "will take action" if it doesn't see any progress in creating such a system by 2019.

Policies are in the works to address "neighborhood spoofing," which is the extremely effective tactic used by robocallers to make calls look like they're coming from recipients' own area code so they're more willing to answer. So far, no policy has been successful in preventing those. 

Even when consumers don't fall for the scam and share personal information, being inundated with robocalls can be a liability: there's no way to know whether the unknown number dialing you is a time-wasting scam, or a real-life emergency. So while lawmakers and regulators work to figure out the best way to subside the number of outgoing scam calls, agencies and companies have come up with solutions to block the ones that get through. 

It's nearly impossible to be 100% robocall-free, but here are some tactics you can adopt to limit your number of robocalls:

Add your name to the FTC's "Do not call" registry, and report the calls you get anyway.

Registration for the service began in 2003 and sign-ups don't expire, yet the FTC reported receiving 4. 5 million complaints in 2017, at "an average of more than 375,000 robocall complaints per month," compared to 2013's 2.18 million.

It it isn't completely effective, but the people who signed up probably get fewer calls than they would have if they hadn't. 

Use your phone's Do Not Disturb mode so that you only get calls from people in your contact list.

This way you don't have to see the calls come through or have to ignore them. Keep in mind this strategy won't work for any professional hoping to hear from new clients or those who receive regular calls from unknown numbers are part of their job, but it's a great option if you have a separate, non-work phone.

If you don't want to block all new numbers, block them as they come by going into the callers' contact information in your phone.

This is especially helpful if there are a few numbers you get calls from frequently. If you choose the route of answering unknown numbers instead of waiting for a voicemail, keep a couple of things in mind: 

Don't engage by speaking OR by pressing a number even to be taken off a list, according to the FTC: "Doing so will probably lead to more unwanted calls. Instead, hang up and file a complaint with the FTC." 

Train yourself to answer questions by repeating them instead of saying "yes," because that can be used as a vocal signature to make unauthorized credit card charges. For example, the answer to "Can you hear me?" should be "I can hear you," instead of "Yes."

• One of the most expensive homes to ever land on the market in the US sold in November 2018.
• Playa Vista Isle, formerly Le Palais Royal, is in Hillsboro Beach, Florida, on the ritzy "Millionaire's Mile" between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway.
• Property records show it sold for $42.5 million at auction, over $100 million less than its asking price of $159 million.
• According to a press release from Concierge Auctions, it still set a record as the most expensive US home ever sold at auction.

Imagine waking up in a 30,000-square-foot French-inspired chateau on the calm Atlantic shores of Florida.

For the new owners of Playa Vista Isle, that's more of a reality than a dream.

Once the most expensive home in the country, Playa Vista Isle, in Hillsboro Beach sold in November 2018 after a bidding war amongst 11 buyers. According to property records, it sold for $42.5 million, more than $100 million less than its asking price of $159 million. Still, the sale price reportedly broke a record as the highest a US home has sold for at auction.

Property records also show the buyer is Oppornova LLC, a Delaware-based company affiliated with Andrew Mack, co-founder of tea company Teavana, which was acquired by Starbucks in 2012.

The mansion has 11 bedrooms, 22 bathrooms, and $3 million worth of 22-karat gold leafing. It was modeled after the Palace of Versailles and is essentially the mega-mansion of your French royalty dreams.

Take a look around the home and its expansive property.

SEE ALSO: 50 photos show how obsessed the wealthy are with underground mansions

Welcome to Playa Vista Isle.

The 5-acre property sits in South Florida along the ritzy Hillsboro Beach's "Millionaire's Mile," named so for its air of wealth and exclusivity.

Source: Sun Sentinel, Playa Vista Isle

The estate is shouldered by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Intracoastal Waterway on the other. It comes with private boating docks ...

Source: Playa Vista Isle

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.

• Packable daypacks allow you to bring a backpack on trips without having to lug an extra piece of luggage.
• The best packable daypack we tested was the Matador Freerain 24 thanks to its useful exterior pockets, comfy straps, and waterproof construction.

Packable daypacks have become as indispensable in our carry on baggage as a cellphone charger and a toothbrush. Thanks to their ability to pack down into pocket-sized packages and expand out to carry enough gear for a hike or a day of sightseeing, they make a great addition to any globetrotter's carry on.

We tested backpacks over a period of weeks, using them to carry groceries and go on day hikes. We felt it was important to check that all the bags we tested could be repacked in their stuff sacks with ease and could stand up to day to day abuse, so we packed and unpacked each bag several times. We also made sure to test the bags when full, so that we could ascertain if the smaller straps that tend to be included on packable daypacks would be uncomfortable with heavy loads.

After weeks of hauling heavy loads, we decided that the Matador Freerain 24 was our favorite packable daypack. The comfortable shoulder and sternum straps, easy access side pockets, and waterproof construction make it a great go-anywhere, do-anything backpack that just happens to pack down into a fist-sized stuff sack.

Here are the best packable daypacks you can buy:

• Best packable daypack overall: Matador Freerain 24
• Best packable daypack for value: Osprey Ultralight
• Best packable daypack for packing light: Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Travel Day Pack
• Best packable daypack for hiking: Lowe Alpine Fuse 20
• Best packable daypack for people and the planet: Cotopaxi Batac 16

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

The best packable daypack overall

Why you'll love it: The Freerain 24 2.0 delivers a lot of performance in a tiny package, and thanks to a roll-top closure, this comfy adjustable pack is totally waterproof.

We'd all love to only travel on sunny days, but sometimes the best laid plans can fail. We're big believers on not letting a little drizzle get between you and a great adventure, and it seems that the folks at Matador agree with us.

The brand's rugged 24-liter capacity Freerain pack offers a waterproof main compartment for rain, breathable straps for hot days and enough storage for all the other waterproof gear you might need on a day hike. The new 2.0 version of the pack takes an existing favorite and adds on compression and sternum straps to allow you to carry more gear in more comfort.

The Freerain 24 2.0 weighs just 187 grams (or 5.5 ounces) and packs down into a 5-by-3-by-2.5-inch package, but in use, it feels like a serious performance pack. The main compartment closes with a roll top, allowing it to keep the rain out and your gear dry. There's also an additional front compartment that closes with a reliable YKK zipper. This compartment is not waterproof but the huge opening makes a great place to stow maps or snacks on dry days.

When you're carrying the bag, you'll love the new sternum strap which many of the other bags we tested lack. This strap, combined with the new compression straps will allow you to carry weight with your whole back, not just two pressure points on your shoulders.

The Freerain includes two exterior water bottle pockets and an exterior zippered pocket which really provided all the easy access items that I can think of wanting on a day hike. The muted color options make the Freerain a fairly neutral choice that shouldn't be too divisive but might not offer such high visibility on nighttime bike share rides if this is a concern.

My one real drawback was the separate stuff sack, which I was worried about losing when the pack was in use, but I did find that it made a great holder for my phone and keys, keeping them from jangling around in the bottom of my pack. I found that, in use, the Freerain felt great with loads up to 20 pounds thanks to the sternum strap and wide, soft breathable shoulder straps. This meant that I could easily carry enough gear for a whole day on the trail or in town and take full advantage of its generous 24-liter capacity.

A satisfied Amazon shopper felt that the bag was "everything I wanted it to be and more" and felt that, compared to a drawstring backpack, "It holds substantially more, is more comfortable, is water resistant, and ultimately takes up little to no room when packed up."

The Wirecutter concluded that "the Freerain24 is still a great option for backpackers and other people for whom packability is more important than packing abilities." I loved the Freerain and would pack it on any trip where we thought it likely that we'd be carrying heavier loads or taking longer hikes.

Pros: Waterproof, high storage capacity, feels great with larger loads

Cons: No sleeves or organization features, relatively expensive

Buy the Matador Freerain 24 Backpack at Moosejaw for $64.95

The best packable daypack for value

Why you'll love it: Osprey's Ultralight offers plenty of pockets for organizing your gear, a comfy harness, and two access zippers, it also packs down into a carrying case that is part of the pack.

There is nothing worse than leaving your hotel or hostel only to realize that you've lost a stuff sack for something. You know you have to go, but there's that nagging regret hat you'll never be able to find quite the right size sack to stow your gear in again. Maybe someone at Osprey experienced that and decided to build a storage pocket into the ultralight pack.

The storage pocket is not the only pocket on the Ultralight, there's also a stretchy mesh side pocket for carrying a water bottle and two other exterior pockets for stowing gear you want to be able to get to on the fly.

The top compartment offers storage for keys and a cellphone, including a well thought out key fob to stop your keys making an annoying sound in the bottom of your pack. The straps are mesh and feel comfortable even with the bag loaded to its 18-liter capacity.

This bag doesn't pack down quite as small as others, but Amazon reviewers felt that this was justified by its fuller set of features. Other Amazon purchasers were impressed with the incredibly lightweight (just under 100 grams of 3.5 ounces). Some Amazon reviewers felt they missed a sternum strap, but with such a light bag this can be excused as it is not designed for huge loads.

Expert testers felt that the Ultralight was "the perfect way to add a day pack to your travel gear without the extra space or weight you would normally expect."

On a short trip to Europe, I really appreciated the water bottle pocket, which allowed us to have a drink handy as we dashed between museums and shops. The bright color options were also really nice in low light conditions and when riding bikeshare bikes on busy roads. On a short hike, the bag was plenty big enough for a couple of rain shells, I wanted a packable daypack for we need a packable daypack for and it performed perfectly.

Pros: Super lightweight, exterior pockets, stuff sack that can't be lost

Cons: Smaller capacity than some bags on test, could do with a sternum strap for heavy loads

Buy the Osprey Ultralight Stuff Pack on Amazon for $35.00 to $42.85

The best packable daypack for packing light

Why you'll love it: The Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Travel Day Pack delivers the performance of a daypack in a package little bigger than a chicken egg.

One of the advantages of a packable daypack is that you shouldn’t have to think that much about taking it with you. If a backpack is small enough it should be an obvious addition to your roll-aboard luggage. This Sea to Summit pack takes that packability to the next level, it’s so small you could almost use it as a keyring!

Despite being half the weight of Sea to Summit's previously well-reviewed daypack, the Ultra-Sil Nano still delivers on performance. In testing, I found that this tiny packed size meant that I could have the bag with me more often.

On bike rides I could put it in my pocket and grab some groceries on the way home, on a weekend trip to see family, I put it in my raincoat when we went into town and was able to carry coats for my wife and I once the weather improved.

Backpacker magazine loved the Ultra-Sil Nano and found that it performed well with loads up to 20 pounds.  

It’s not just the 1-ounce weight and the fact that this bag packs to the size of a chicken egg that impressed us, we also love the bright color options for the Nano, these should help with visibility if you are walking and cycling at night. We did find the narrow unpadded straps a little uncomfortable with loads in excess of 20 pounds, and the single pocket design sometimes made keeping things organized a challenge, but we can’t ask too much of a bag that weighs less than a pair of socks.

The previous version of the Ultra-Sil was loved by reviewers on Amazon who liked its "ultra durable and compressible" build and rugged ripstop nylon construction. REI purchasers were impressed with the bag, with one buyer using it for a 19-mile hike up Mount Olympus.

Despite its incredible minimalism, the Nano remains a robust, reliable and comfortable pack and one that you’ll never think twice about bringing long.

Pros: Incredibly small and light, high visibility colors, robust and durable

Cons: Can be uncomfortable with heavy loads

Buy the Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Travel Day Pack at REI for $34.95

• Buc-ee's is a convenience-store chain with a cult following across Texas. It recently opened its first location outside of Texas, in Baldwin County, Alabama. 
• The chain serves as a supersized highway pit stop complete with "world famous" bathrooms, branded T-shirts, a beef-jerky bar, a wide-ranging home-decor section, and freshly made fudge.
• We visited Texas to see whether Buc-ee's could live up to the hype — and we were shocked by what we found. 

If you're on a road trip traveling through Texas, Buc-ee's looms large as a highway oasis — and not just because of the endless signs along the road telling travelers how many miles until the nearest location appears on the horizon.

Much like Pennsylvanians worship at the altar of Wawa, hungry road trippers across the Lone Star State have their prayers answered at the gas-station chain Buc-ee's.

Need gas? Buc-ee's apparently has it for cheap. Food? Chefs say their breakfast tacos are some of the best. Clothing? Per sources, Buc-ee's T-shirts — featuring its iconic beaver mascot — are a trademark of a cool Texas teen.

Despite Texans' obsession, most of the world has never even heard of Buc-ee's. The chain, founded in 1982, has about 40 locations. It recently opened its first location outside of Texas, in Baldwin County, Alabama, and has plans to open several stores in Florida. 

We visited Buc-ee's to see whether it lived up to the hype. What we found was like nothing we'd seen before.

SEE ALSO: We visited convenience-store rivals Wawa and Sheetz to see which does it better — and the winner is clear

We rolled into the Buc-ee's parking lot well aware of the promise that "everything is bigger in Texas." But even the state's self-aggrandizing did not prepare us for what was waiting inside.

Walking into Buc-ee's was like wandering into a mix of a Walmart, a barbecue-centric deli, and the Texas tourism bureau, plus a dash of the Cracker Barrel general store.

The snack aisles carry the classic road-trip rations, like trail mix, dried fruit, and candy — but on a scale unseen anywhere else in the country.

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.

• Handbag startup Dagne Dover has made a name for itself as the go-to work bag brand for professionals.
• Their 365 collection offers a wide range of styles, all made with neoprene, that nail the day-to-night transition and work well for all sorts of uses.
• The Ryan and Weston Laptop Bags (both $135 for medium, $155 for large) are the newest additions, so we tried them to see how they stack up to the rest of the rest of the collection.
• Safe to say, we were all impressed by these sleek but seriously versatile laptop bags that balance fashion and function all in one. 

I wish I could carry my favorite leather tote bag to work — but frankly, it's impractical. Though the style is classic, the thin straps are too weak to carry the weight of my day's worth of supplies and the wide-open interior leaves much to be desired in terms of organization. It's a dilemma commuters and professionals alike know all too well — struggling to find a bag that strikes the balance between comfort and practicality, with a look that still exudes an air of professionalism.

While I'm not planning on giving up my favorite leather tote anytime soon, I will be retiring it to weekend duty in favor of something a little more practical.

Luckily, I didn't have to search far to find a perfect, work-appropriate bag. My team has already sung the praises of Dagne Dover, a brand that makes intelligently designed bags for professional women, and men, who value both fashion and function. The brand already has a running list of commuter-friendly bags, including a carry-all gym bag, a professional leather tote, and a work-appropriate backpack, among others.

Sleek materials, aesthetically pleasing designs, and smart features are the signature of the Dagne Dover 365 collection, including its two newest additions — the Ryan and Weston Laptop Bags.

Both the Ryan and Weston are made with neoprene (the same material used to make wet suits for scuba diving), and come in a range of rich neutral colors. The combination of the distinct-looking fabric with a style that resembles a briefcase creates an appealing aesthetic that passes in both formal and casual environments, truly embodying the purpose of the 365 collection. While the unique style is what might draw customers to these laptop bags at first, it is the superior organization and additional specs that will keep them coming back to Dagne Dover.

Given their names, one of the most prominent features of the Ryan and the Weston is the interior laptop sleeve, but there is so much more.

There's the exterior pocket that's perfect for keeping your phone or wallet almost concealed, but at arm's reach when you need it on the subway. Then there's the interior card slots, the key leash, and the mesh pockets that provide a spot for just about every little thing you'll need throughout the day. Plus, each bag is water resistant so you know your precious tech will be safe (remember, scuba gear!)

Both bags have a regular handle, as well as a crossbody strap, so you can carry it whatever way you find most comfortable. While most features are the same between the models, the most noticeable difference is that the Ryan has an exterior zipper pocket, while the Weston has a slimmer, flat exterior. Both bags come in medium and large sizes. The medium's laptop sleeve is 13.25" inches wide, while the large's is 14.5" inches wide, so they can accommodate a range of laptop sizes. 

Three of our team members got to test Dagne Dover's new laptop bags. While some of us were already fans of the brand, some of us (like myself) had never tried anything from Dagne Dover before, but it's safe to say, regardless of our prior experience, we were all impressed.

Keep reading to check out our experiences with the Ryan and Weston bags:

Connie Chen, Insider Picks reporter: 

I wish the Dagne Dover Ryan Laptop Bag had existed while I was in college, because it would've actually held up to all the heavy study materials and the laptop I carried around campus. I liked that I could carry it multiple ways — in one hand, over the shoulder, cross-body, or over my luggage handle — and it felt sturdy and comfortable all the while. Since it features so many well-organized compartments for notebooks, smaller tech, and even my keys, it's the only bag I need to carry if I want to bring some work home or to a cafe.

Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter:

Dagne Dover's laptop bag, like much of its offerings, is smarter, leaner, and better looking than most other options. It's spacious enough for my laptop, planner, headphones, keys, and other essentials, but compact enough to be forgettable even in a crowded subway car.

The neoprene is lightweight but sturdy, and being able to carry it like a crossbody or purse is essential. My favorite features are the key leash, lean build, and almost hidden exterior pocket for easy access to my phone or wallet. My only complaint is that I found the medium size's laptop sleeve to be a little snug for the MacBook I use for work, but that's ultimately not a big deal.

Remi Rosmarin, Insider Picks intern:

I was super excited to test the large Weston Laptop Bag after hearing such great things about Dagne Dover from my coworkers. While I'm more partial to the style of backpacks and totes, this bag won me over. I was worried that, as an intern, I might look silly carrying what looks like a briefcase. In all honesty, carrying this on the subway and into the office gave me an air of confidence that only such a professional-looking bag could provide. Still, I was able to bring it to the gym without worrying that a wet locker room floor would ruin it (thanks, neoprene!)

Most importantly, this bag feels like it was designed with every one of my commuter frustrations in mind. The key leash, smartphone-sized back pocket, and multiple organizational slots keep my bag organized, making it easy to find everything and eliminating all that wasted time rummaging through a stuffed, messy bag.

Shop the Ryan Laptop Bag at Dagne Dover, $135 for a Medium or $155 for a Large.

Shop the Weston Laptop Bag at Dagne Dover, $135 for a Medium or $155 for a Large.

SEE ALSO: This $80 smartwatch has a longer battery life than the Apple Watch or Fitbit and many of the same features — here's what it's like

DON'T MISS: 22 work-appropriate yet thoughtful gifts for your boss — all under $50

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Join the conversation about this story »

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.

• Sandoval Interior Aromatics creates hand-blended home sprays with natural essential oils, woods, and resins for home fragrances that make your space smell fresh — without any harmful chemicals.
• The company's focus is on energy and intention. Each fragrance is blended with aromatherapy in mind (the Peace formula uses palo santo and sandalwood to create an aura of calm, while Love acts as an aphrodisiac with ylang ylang and patchouli), and every bottle includes a rose quartz crystal.
• This practical-meets-mystical approach makes Sandoval's interior aromatics a little more special than your average home fragrance spray.

My husband and I are complete opposites — so when we moved in together, finding decor and home goods that we agreed on was a challenge. He's a former Marine and loves all things efficient, utilitarian, and no-nonsense; I'm more mystical-minded, with a penchant for crystals and incense. We managed to make our conflicting sensibilities work together in every area of the home but one: cleaning sprays and air fresheners.

I experimented with making my own essential oil blends to freshen up the house after reading about some of the harmful chemicals that are packed into traditional home cleaning products. But seeing as I'm not a professional perfumer, my DIY attempts, uh, didn't exactly smell great— and my husband didn't let me forget it. He stocked our cleaning cabinet with the usual grocery store suspects instead, and that was that... until I snuck Sandoval Interior Aromatic sprays into our collection.

I had heard about the Sandoval brand via Goop, Gwyneth Paltrow's online mecca for all things good-for-you, so I knew the formulations would meet my clean and natural standards. And once I laid eyes on the packaging, I knew my husband would be just as drawn to the products. The bottles are sturdy and minimal, well-designed in simple black and white graphics, and void of the "boho-chic" detailing that tends to define most natural products. The scents, blended from natural essential oils, woods, and resins, seemed to be made for us. Free from both the cloying florals of my personal essential oil experiments and that chemical-y smell of traditional cleaners, Sandoval's home fragrances— with soothing names like Peace, Love, and Spirit — became our new go-tos.

And that's how I got my logical, right-brained husband hooked on aura-cleansing crystal sprays.

Let me explain: Sandoval does not stand on scent alone (although the brand totally could). Each Interior Aromatic Spray is blended with essential oils that are hand-picked for their healing properties, infused with intention, and accented with a rose quartz crystal for extra good vibes. With every spritz, you're not only refreshing your space, you're also "creating intimate, sensory experiences," Michael Carbaugh,the founder of Sandoval, tells Business Insider.

"I think it's important to be considerate and conscious of what we surround ourselves with in our homes and our spaces," he says. "Sandoval products are crafted with natural essential oils, woods, and herbs to create scents that are rooted in both fragrance and experience." And at the heart of the Sandoval experience are the healing properties of each particular aromatic blend.

"After researching loads of oils in the beginning of the development of the collection, I grouped oils based on their properties" — some essential oils promote calm, others stimulate creative energy — "then played with creating balanced blends that had strong properties and also smelled great," Carbaugh explains. This "energy first, scent second" approach has resulted in a lineup of aromatics that cleanse your space and your aura; including Peace ("made with palo santo, sandalwood and frankincense — all of which are great oils for relaxing, focusing, calming, and centering") and Love ("ylang ylang, jasmine, vetiver, and patchouli have great stimulating and aphrodisiac properties," Carbaugh told us).

Every bottle comes complete with a rose quartz crystal inside, which has been cleansed and charged under the moon. "Rose quartz is an all-purpose love crystal, and I wanted to spread the love!" Carbaugh says. There's a practical element, as well: The crystal serves to shake up the oils, blending them together before you spritz.

Users can carry Sandoval's signature mystical-meets-sensible approach into their homes, as well.

On a practical level, the brand's Peace and Love aromatics kill odor-causing bacteria while leaving behind a fresh scent. "Spray in the air in any room, or spray bedding, sofas, drapes, rugs, and dog beds to refresh," Carbaugh advises. The founder also uses the sprays to freshen cashmere sweaters and silk scarves in between dry cleaning, and even suggests keeping a small bottle in your gym bag to tackle workout clothes and yoga mats.

While my husband is busy spritzing our curtains and freshening the dog bed, I'll be using Sandoval's crystal-infused energy to call peace into our home — and, ultimately, that mix is exactly what Carbaugh intended. As he says, "I want you to use these natural, practical methods to help you create your best life."

Buy the Sandoval Love Interior Aromatic Spray for $45 on Amazon

Buy the Sandoval Peace Interior Aromatic Spray for $45 on Amazon

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• Which popular coffee brands offer the biggest bang for your buck?
• Signs.com recently conducted a survey to find out the price per ounce of different popular coffee brands.
• Walmart, Kroger, and Maxwell House offer the lowest prices per ounce.

Bargain hunters seeking the absolute best deal on coffee, look no further.

Signs.com recently ran a survey of 514 shoppers to find out the most popular coffee brands and subsequently determined the price per ounce of each selection.

Read more: The top 25 grocery chains with the most loyal shoppers in America

Signs.com also determined where each brand's pricing fell compared to the average price of a cup of coffee in the US, which is $5.42.

Check out where your go-to java brand falls in the rankings:

SEE ALSO: Costco, Trader Joe's, Kroger, and the 8 other stores with generic brands that customers trust the most

DON'T MISS: The CEO of Kroger, America's largest supermarket chain, explains why the company's merger with the country's 6th-favorite grocer puts them in the perfect position to take on Amazon and Whole Foods

SEE ALSO: How Doug McMillon went from a high schooler working at Walmart for $6.50 an hour to a millionaire CEO running one of the world's most powerful companies

9. Publix

Price: $8.29

Weight: 12 oz.

Price per ounce: $0.69

Price per 20 oz: $13.82

8. Dunkin' Donuts

Price: $8.99

Weight: 16 oz.

Price per ounce: $0.56

Price per 20 oz: $11.24

7. Starbucks

Price: $11.16

Weight: 20 oz.

Price per ounce: $0.56

Price per 20 oz: $11.16

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.

• The search for quality wireless sports earbuds ends here, with the Jaybird Tarah Pro headphones ($159.99). 
• The headphones have great sound quality that's also customizable, they won't fall out of your ears even during your most intense workouts, and they boast a 14-hour battery life. 
• Once you do manage to deplete this impressive battery, it recharges fully in just two hours, so you can get back to an enjoyable and comfortable listening experience. 

Through my morning commute, work day, gym workout, and night commute, you can find me listening to music or podcasts. I usually switch off between wired earbuds (fast to simply plug in and go, doesn't need to be charged) and wireless earbuds (for exercising and commuting, so I don't get tangled up in a death trap of bag straps and scarves and cords). 

I'd prefer to listen exclusively with wireless earbuds, but the main problem for someone who is constantly listening to music is that they run out of battery too quickly — hence, why I end up switching over to wired earbuds.

My habit of blowing through my earbuds' battery life is why the introduction of the Jaybird Tarah Pro wireless sport headphones ($159.99) to my life has been a major game-changer. With a 14-hour battery life and fast recharging period, they're more reliable than any wireless sports earbuds I've ever tried.

The impressive battery isn't the only reason why you'll rarely see me without these in my ears. Comfort, sound quality, and sound customizability also play a role in developing my love for these earbuds. You can learn more about all these features below. 

Design, fit, and comfort of the Jaybird Tarah Pros 

The earbuds are light, weighing just 20 grams, and can be worn two ways: over or under your ears. They come with three sizes of ear gels so you can test each pair to see which fit best. These squishy ear gels nestle comfortably and securely in your ear, refusing to budge as you run or do other high-intensity activities. Without the distraction of earbuds that keep slipping or falling out, you can concentrate completely on your workout. 

They come in three colors: Black/Flash, Titanium/Glacier, and Mineral Blue/Jade. Also included is a shirt clip, speed cinch to adjust the length, and a carry pouch. When the headphones aren't in use, you can stick the magnetic backs of the buds together, which also happens to pause your music. You can't lose them when they're conveniently looped around your neck. 

Whether you're an indoor or outdoor athlete or commuter, the Tarah Pros are safe to wear because they're IPX7 weather- and sweat-proof, able to withstand immersion in water up to one meter for up to 30 minutes. If you're caught in the rain, your run won't be ruined by faulty earbuds. 

Listening with the Jaybird Tarah Pros 

To set up and use the earbuds, you'll need to download the Jaybird app. The app will keep track of your battery life and is also where you can adjust the audio EQ (the bass and treble frequencies). Then, connect via Bluetooth and they're ready to use. Every time you hold down the power button on the earbuds, they'll connect automatically to your device. 

The earbuds have a strong, well-balanced sound quality at the default setting, and it's even better that you can adjust it to your exact liking. The app includes presets, but you can also experiment with the EQ yourself to find a sound that best suits your different genres. 

Personally, I love cranking the bass up, so I created an appropriate preset that brought out the bass of all my favorite songs. The app is also useful because you can connect your Spotify account and listen to songs directly from the app. 

It's easy to control your music: click the power button once to pause/play and the up or down button for volume. To skip or go back to a song, just hold down the up or down buttons. Once you familiarize yourself with these controls, it becomes second nature to reach up automatically to stop your music or shuffle to the right song for your final mile. 

At just my phone's half-volume, I felt fully immersed in the music. While I heard my music loud and clear, no one around me could — the earbuds don't leak any sound. There's also a built-in mic, which is nothing to write home about, but the sound and clarity is perfectly fine for making or taking calls.

Battery life and recharging your Jaybird Tarah Pros

A 14-hour battery life sounds almost too good to be true, but the Jaybird Tarah Pros really did live up to this claim. While listening at half-volume, which was loud but not ear-splitting, I kept a close eye on the battery progress. After six continuous hours of listening, the battery dropped down to 65%. Around the 14-hour mark, I started getting notifications to recharge the earbuds. 

Luckily, you won't have to go too long without them because they recharge fully in just two hours, and if you only want a quick boost, a five-minute charge gives you two hours of playtime. 

In the 12 hours of a day where I'm out and about, I usually need to pause and recharge my wireless earbuds once, but the Tarah Pros let me go the whole 12 hours, and then some, with entertainment always in my ears. I've never had a good work or workout flow cut short by dead earbuds, and the app helpfully keeps me updated on when I should break for a quick recharge. 

Comparing the Jaybird Tarah Pros

If you're looking for wireless sport earbuds with good sound quality, you've likely considered popular options like the Bose SoundSport ($149), the Powerbeats3 ($199.95), or another one of Jaybird's models, the X4 ($127.50). They have battery lives of six, 12, and eight hours, respectively, so the Tarah Pros clearly top them in this regard. If battery life is a main priority, the Tarah Pros are a clear, moderately priced winner. 

The Powerbeats3 are probably the most competitive alternative to the Tarah Pros: on top of having most of the same qualities, they're compatible with Siri, and can connect simultaneously to multiple Apple devices. However, they are $200, and reviewers have been disappointed that the quality hasn't matched up to this high price. At $160, the Tarah Pros aren't cheap either, but they do have a strong nylon cord and the advantages of customizable EQ and two more hours of battery life. 

Potential drawbacks

The main inconvenience of these earbuds is that you have to use Jaybird's proprietary charger. I wish it used a universal USB charger since I have many of those lying around both the office and home, letting me charge my earbuds whenever, but I assume the proprietary charger is also what helps the earbuds charge so quickly. I can live with this drawback as long as the rest of the earbuds continue performing as well as they do. 

The bottom line 

The 14-hour battery life of these wireless earbuds is a huge benefit for anyone who listens to entertainment constantly and hates getting stuck in the middle of a workout without it. The fact that they feel comfortably secure and deliver strong, consistent, and customizable sound through all 14 hours means I won't be taking these earbuds off unless I absolutely have to. 

Buy the Jaybird Tarah Pro wireless sport headphones for $159.99 at Best Buy here

Join the conversation about this story »

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

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

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Shark ION ROBOT 750 Vacuum, $234.64 (Originally $379.99)[You save $145.35]

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Ralph Lauren is currently clearing out winter inventory with a huge sale including everything from collectible pieces from the Downhill Skier collection to basic cold-weather staples. From now until February 19, you can automatically save an extra 40% on sale styles at checkout. Although the sale does run for quite some time, you'll want to shop now as many of the styles are available in extremely limited sizes and quantities.

Shop the Ralph Lauren winter sale now. 

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With the processing power and usability of a laptop, the Microsoft Surface Pro is a tablet you'll want to use for more than streaming videos or surfing the internet.  The device features a 12.3-inch HD display, a built-in keyboard, and 128GB of storage for all of your pictures, video, documents, and apps. The Surface Pro is originally priced at $959, but as a Best Buy deal of the day, you can save $310.

Microsoft Surface Pro 12.3-inch 128GB, $649 (Originally $959) [You save $310]

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Designer clothes are undoubtedly expensive, but retailer Mr. Porter is having a massive sale with up to 80% off. For a limited time, you can save on high-end brands like Prada, Vetements, Givenchy, Saint Laurent, and much more. If you're looking to add a few stand out pieces to your wardrobe without spending thousands of dollars, this is the perfect opportunity to do it.

Shop the Mr. Porter sale now. 

5. Save up to 42% on select HDTVs in time for Super Bowl LIII on Amazon

Super Bowl LII is going down in just four days, which means you're running out of time to have a new TV delivered before for the big game. Luckily Amazon is having a sale with up to 42% off TVs from Samsung, Sony, LG, and TCL that are eligible for scheduled delivery. That way, you'll know exactly when your TV is coming and have time to set it up for viewing.

Shop all TV deals on Amazon now.

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If you're in need of some nicer quality clothing but don't want to pay full price, Club Monaco is where you'll want to shop. Now through February 2, you can save an extra 40% on already-reduced sale styles. After the discount, you'll save up to 65%. With styles for men and women, the sale includes outerwear, wool sweaters, dresses, jeans, accessories,  shoes, and more. 

Shop the Club Monaco sale now. 

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Unlike other department stores that sell products from big brands, AHAlife stocks items crafted by designers and artisans.  Its curated selection of products makes it a great place to shop for unique gifts, accessories, and home goods. Right now, the brand is having a winter clearance sale where you can automatically save up to 40% on select items. You can also save an extra 20% on everything else by using the promo code "VDAY20" at checkout. 

Shop the AHAlife sale now. 

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Shop all factory second cast iron skillets at Field Company here.

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Shop the Bear Mattress winter sale now. 

Join the conversation about this story »

• Several days after the longest government shutdown in US history ended, Congress and President Donald Trump appear no closer to reaching a deal on his demand for border-wall funding.
• But Trump and his administration have been indicating that if Democrats refuse to give Trump the $5.7 billion he has requested, Trump could declare a national emergency to secure the funds.
• A national emergency means Trump would instantly gain a slew of special powers he could use to get the funds he needs.
• Such an action would almost certainly trigger challenges from Congress and the courts, but it's unclear how the battles would play out.

President Donald Trump and his staff have been threatening in recent days to declare a national emergency if congressional Democrats continue to deny him the $5.7 billion he has demanded for his border wall.

A partial government shutdown, sparked by a dispute between Trump and congressional Democrats over the wall, reached 35 days last week, becoming the longest government shutdown in US history. Though Trump eventually caved and signed a bill to temporarily fund and reopen the government, it will expire on February 15 and trigger another shutdown if Trump and Congress don't strike another budget deal.

Trump has spent much of the last month raging about a "crisis" he said has erupted at the US-Mexico border, propelled by of illegal immigration, drugs, and violent crime, which must be solved by constructing a physical barrier.

Critics, meanwhile, have argued that there is no crisis — or at least none that a wall can solve. Border apprehensions are at their lowest point in decades, drugs mainly enter the US through legal ports of entry, and studies show that unauthorized immigrants commit fewer crimes than native-born Americans.

Testifying before Congress about the top threats to the US on Tuesday, Trump's top intelligence chiefs made no mention of the US-Mexico border.

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

Nevertheless, Trump has been locked in a stalemate with Democrats over the wall that shows no signs of stopping, making it increasingly likely that Trump will declare a national emergency to bypass Congress for the wall funding.

The White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders even threatened at a news briefing on Monday that Trump would declare the emergency if Democrats don't make a deal.

"What I do know is: If they don't come back with a deal, that means Democrats get virtually nothing that will force him to have to take executive action," she said. "There is a process in which the president wants to exhaust all options, primarily doing what we feel is the best one, which is a legislative fix. But if Congress doesn’t do their job, then the president will be forced to make up for all of their shortcomings."

Here's what you need to know.

What is a 'national emergency'?

A national emergency is something that the president declares to grant him special powers under the National Emergencies Act of 1976. Trump is hoping to use those special powers to allocate funding for the border wall.

There are 136 statutes governing which special powers the president can use, according to The Brennan Center for Justice, and it's unclear at this point which ones the Trump administration has in mind.

It's not uncommon for presidents to declare national emergencies. One of the most well-known examples is the national emergency that former President George W. Bush declared after 9/11, which is still in effect and has been renewed by the sitting president each year.

Can Trump do this?

Experts are divided over whether it's legal for Trump to use a national-emergency declaration for a wall.

But he faces relatively few restrictions on declaring a national emergency. According to The Brennan Center, 96 of the 136 statutory authorities available to presidents during national emergencies need only their signature, and just 13 require Congress to also declare an emergency.

Twelve of the authorities have a small restriction, such as requiring agency officials to certify that the measures are necessary, and the remaining 15 authorities require that the emergencies relate to particular subjects.

Yale Law School professor Bruce Ackerman wrote in a New York Times op-ed that there's no way Trump could use emergency powers to build the wall — at least if he opts to use funds from the military budget and use military personnel to build it.

Though there is some precedent for presidents' use of the military to enforce domestic law — primarily former President George W. Bush's authorization of the military to respond to Hurricane Katrina — that exception has since been repealed.

"Is President Trump aware of this express repudiation of the power which he is threatening to invoke?" Ackerman wrote.

Yet other experts said it might be easier for Trump to use national-emergency powers than most think. Elizabeth Goitein of The Brennan Center wrote in The Atlantic that some of those 136 provisions available to Trump under the National Emergencies Act of 1976 appear "dangerously suited to a leader bent on amassing or retaining power."

"We are in uncharted political territory," Goitein wrote.

How would the Trump administration use these special powers?

News reports in recent weeks have indicated that the Trump administration reviewed at least two options for how to best use emergency powers to secure the wall funding.

The White House has reportedly already asked the Army Corps of Engineers to review whether funds can be diverted from certain civil-works projects in order to pay for the wall. NBC News reported that one of these projects could include reconstruction in Puerto Rico, which experienced heavy damage from Hurricane Maria in 2017.

The Trump administration reportedly also examined whether the Department of Homeland Security can request the funds from the Pentagon — an idea that former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis backed before his resignation in December, according to The Wall Street Journal.

What could happen next?

If Trump declares a national emergency, it's widely expected that he'll face major battles on two fronts: Congress and the courts.

Lawmakers from both parties have already expressed dismay over Trump's potential use of emergency powers. Some Republicans fear it sets a precedent that could later be used by a Democratic president to pursue liberal policies, while Democrats have called it a misuse of executive power.

One Democratic lawmaker, New York Rep. Grace Meng, even introduced legislation in the House in early January to preemptively block Trump from invoking a national emergency.

"We must send a clear message to the President that creating this type of manufactured emergency for the sole purpose of securing an unrealistic campaign promise is unacceptable," Meng said in a statement.

But a legislative challenge to Trump's national-emergency powers could also hit roadblocks, thanks to a 1983 Supreme Court case that blocked Congress from using simple-majority votes to overrule a president's emergency declaration.

The National Emergencies Act of 1976 was then amended to require that both arms of Congress pass two-thirds-majority votes to override a presidential veto.

Since some Republican lawmakers, such as South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, have already expressed support for Trump's use of a national emergency to build the wall, it may be unlikely that Congress puts up an effective fight.

"If White House and Congress fail to reach a deal then President [Trump] must act through emergency powers to build wall/barrier," Graham tweeted on January 28.

But Trump is certain to also face multiple legal challenges, which could meet an unpredictable fate. The Supreme Court has been reluctant to question some of Trump's executive powers — even deferring to him on the controversial travel ban he implemented.

Though plaintiffs in any lawsuits against Trump will likely try to question his administration's assertion that a national-security "crisis" is occurring along the southern border, the Supreme Court justices may well defer to his judgment on the issue, as they did with the travel ban.

"If any court would actually let itself review whether this is a national emergency, he would be in big trouble," Goitein told The Times. "I think it would be an abuse of power to declare an emergency where none exists. The problem is that Congress has enabled that abuse of power by putting virtually no limits on the president's ability to declare an emergency."

• Read more:
• Trump said he knows a border wall will work because wheels work, and the Secret Service uses 'really expensive' cars with wheels
• As the government shutdown over Trump's border wall rages, a journey along the entire 1,933-mile US-Mexico border shows the monumental task of securing it
• A lot of Republicans are worried about the dangerous precedent Trump could set with a national emergency declaration for the border wall
• The government shutdown is in a record-tying 21st day and the fight between Trump and Democrats is only getting uglier. Here's everything you missed.

Join the conversation about this story »

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