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. For even more deals and savings across the web, check out our coupons page.

1. Save up to 50% on sale styles at Adidas

Adidas always has an impressive selection of new arrivals as far as sneakers and footwear go, but its sale section is also filled with great styles, too. Right now you can save up to 50% on sale styles, just in time for sneaker season. The sale includes popular styles like the Ultra Boost, Stan Smith, I-5923, Sobakov, and much more. For more deals and coupons on Adidas, check out our coupons page.

Shop the Adidas sale section now.

2. Save $50 on the Echo Show and get a free Philips Smart Bulb

Featuring a vibrant 10-inch screen and premium stereo sound, the all-new Echo Show is the ultimate smart device. You can use it to stream your favorite shows on Hulu, video chat with loved ones, and check on baby monitors and security systems. With the power of Alexa, you can check the weather, get the news, and control smart home devices like the Philips Hue Smart Bulb that you'll receive for free. 

Echo Show Second Generation, $179.99 (Originally $229.99) [You save $50]

3. Save up to $300 on a Bear Mattress and get a free pillow

This Presidents' Day, online mattress startup Bear is offering its largest discount ever. Now through February 19, you can save $150 on any purchase of $500 or more by using the promo code "PRES150" or get $300 off any purchase of $1,200 or more by using the promo code "PRES300" at checkout. 

Shop the Bear Mattress sale now. 

4. Save 25% sitewide at Peeps and Company

Conversation hearts, Valentine's Day's most popular candy, might not be available this year, but Peeps is here to fill that void. With everything from heart-shaped lollipops to creme-filled marshmallow treats, the brand has lots of sweets for you and your Valentine. Now through February 14, you can save 25% on everything by using the promo code "GIFT" at checkout. 

Shop the Peeps Valentine's Day sale now.

5. Save 10% on smartphone cases and accessories at OtterBox

Besides insurance, a great case is the best way to protect your smartphone, and OtterBox has some of the most durable options on the market. Right now, you can save 10% on cases and accessories like screen protectors, power banks, and USB cables. With a selection of products for almost every smartphone brand, we're pretty sure you won't have a problem finding a durable case for your phone.

Shop the OtterBox sale now.

6. Save up to $245 on essential wardrobe bundles at Olivers Apparel

Founded after a successful 2013 Kickstarter, Olivers Apparel specializes in performance clothing that's sporty enough for workouts, yet comfortable and stylish enough for casual days. Now through February 13, the brand is selling mystery boxes filled with a variety of styles for 50% off. Although you can't pick exactly what's inside, you'll receive a bunch of great pieces in your size.

Olivers Apparel Small Mystery Box, $130 (valued at $260) [You save $130]

Olivers Apparel Large Mystery Box, $225 (valued at $470) [You save $245]

 7. Save up to 35% on top appliance deals at Best Buy

Today, Best Buy is kicking off its Presidents' Day sale with great deals on home and kitchen appliances. Now until February 27, you can save up to 35% on washers, dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers, and smaller kitchen appliances. You can also get free delivery (valued at $69.99) on purchases over $399. Check out more coupons and deals at Best Buy here.

Shop the Best Buy sale now. 

8. Save up to 40% Backcountry-branded gear and apparel

While Backcountry sells gear and apparel from most of the top outdoor companies, the brand also has its own line of products. Right now, you can save up to 40% on Backcountry gear and apparel. The sale includes down jackets, fleeces, vests, hats, tents, and much more. If you're interested in great deals beyond Backcountry-branded products, you can also save up to 50% on other brands.

Shop the Backcountry sale now. 

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• A penthouse is traditionally known as the top-floor unit of a luxury residential building.
• But the definition of a penthouse is changing, Steve Gold, a luxury real estate broker and star of "Million Dollar Listing New York" told Business Insider.
• Now, "penthouse" is usually more of a marketing term that refers to a unit with a different layout from others in the building, ample outdoor space, and great views — but it's not necessarily on the top floor.
• The evolving terminology can sometimes help real estate agents sell apartments for higher prices, but it can be confusing for buyers.

When most people think of a penthouse, it's the top-floor unit of a luxurious residential building that typically comes to mind.

But in 2019, the definition of a penthouse has become murkier. In New York City in particular, prospective buyers must navigate terms such as "triplex penthouse" and "sky loft" and figure out why a unit called a "penthouse" might actually have four or five floors above it. 

"Along with the development boom that we just had, the term penthouse has evolved a little bit from the traditional sense of the top-floor apartment — which is the penthouse — to more of a marketing term in general to help achieve sometimes higher sales figures and a distinction from other units in the building," Steve Gold, a luxury real estate agent at Corcoran and star of Bravo's "Million Dollar Listing New York," told Business Insider.

In the past, a penthouse was exclusively defined as the top-floor unit, according to Gold.

"Now, industry-wide at least among brokers, a penthouse is defined as anywhere in the building where the building begins to 'set back' — in other words, when the building begins to have terraces," Gold said. "So if you have a building that has the shape of a wedding cake, you have many 'penthouse apartments' there, which is great if you're a developer and you have five penthouses versus only one to sell."

According to Jason Haber, an agent at Warburg Realty in Manhattan, "the days of the penthouse being the top floor are long gone."

These days, the term can be applied to a unit if it has a different layout, higher ceilings, or other amenities that differentiate it from other units in the building, he said.

The downside of this changing terminology is that it can bewilder potential buyers.

"I guess it makes it confusing for consumers ... because what is a penthouse?" Gold said.

At 432 Park Avenue, New York City's tallest residential building, floors 91 through 96 are all referred to as penthouses because they have different layouts than the rest of the building and some are full floors, Business Insider previously reported.

The top-floor unit at The NOMA at 50 W. 30th St., one of Gold's listings at Corcoran, is called "Penthouse 2," even though it's the uppermost unit. The three-bedroom residence, which includes a 413-square-foot terrace, is asking $6.3 million.

"It's designated as Penthouse 2 in the offering plan so I'm marketing it as such, but it is the true penthouse because it's the top one," Gold said. 

The unit below, Penthouse 1, although not the "true" penthouse, also has direct elevator access and ample outdoor space, but also more square footage overall and a different layout, according to Corcoran. It will soon be listed by Corcoran.

And at One West 67th Street on the Upper West Side, Gold is selling a "triplex penthouse."

"It's a combination of what was one of the original penthouses in the building combined with a massive duplex below," he said.

The highest unit is not always the best unit

Some might feel a bit misled by a unit dubbed "penthouse" that's not on the top floor, but sometimes the best unit in a building isn't actually the highest unit, according to Gold.

"Contrary to popular belief, sometimes the top penthouse isn't the best penthouse in the building," Gold said. "There could be ones in the building with larger terraces or more unobstructed views, depending on the property. It's really a case by case scenario."

And in certain cases, Gold said, real estate agents might choose to ditch the penthouse moniker altogether. 

"I have a listing at 234 E. 23rd Street where it is the first setback in the building and theoretically a penthouse, but we decided to market it as a 'sky loft,' you know, something to differentiate it," Gold said.

They ended up renting it for close to $50,000 per month and now it's for sale for $10.9 million.

The penthouse surplus in NYC

Regardless of what they're called, in New York City, the traditional luxury penthouse apartment seems to be losing some of its former allure— largely because there are so many of them.

"Like any commodity, when the market is saturated with them, their value declines," Jason Haber, an agent at Warburg Realty in Manhattan, told Business Insider in 2018. "If under every rock you found a diamond, diamonds would decline in value. That's what is happening right now."

Many of these penthouses sit on the market for months and are eventually sold at heavily discounted prices, which has prompted some real estate companies to split these massive penthouses into multiple smaller, cheaper units to get them off the market.

The New York Times reported last year that some developers are even opting to turn top-floor penthouse units into shared amenity spaces rather than sell them as singular pricey units, betting on the overall value the shared space would add to the building.

But Gold says penthouses are still as attractive as ever to buyers.

"At the end of the day, we still have a limited number of penthouses in a building and most of those are prime real estate in the upper floors with outdoor space," he said. "... Really, for me, penthouse is synonymous with luxury, with outdoor space, and the top floor. But it's not always the case and there's always exceptions to the rule."

SEE ALSO: A SoHo triplex penthouse got a $5.5 million price chop, but it could still break the record for the most expensive apartment ever sold in downtown NYC

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Earth's north magnetic pole is on the move — here's what will happen when our poles flip

• Instagram is banning all graphic images of self-harm.
• It follows the social network being blamed for the suicide of British teenager, Molly Russell.
• Instagram boss Adam Mosseri said "we are not where we need to be on self-harm and suicide."
• Banning graphic content is one of four steps he laid out to make the platform safer.

Instagram's new boss has promised to ban all graphic images of self-harm after the social network was blamed for the suicide of a British teenager.

Adam Mosseri has been in London this week as reports about the death of Molly Russell have dominated the headlines after her father, Ian, said Instagram "helped kill my daughter."

Molly Russell was 14 when she took her own life in 2017. Following her death, her family found she'd been following numerous Instagram accounts featuring images of self-harm and suicide. The story was uncovered by the BBC.

In a blog post, Mosseri said "we are not where we need to be on self-harm and suicide" and made four pledges to help make Instagram a safer place for users. They are:

1. Ban all graphic images of self-harm, such as cutting.
2. Non-graphic images, such as healed scars, will be removed from search, hashtags, and the explore tab. They won't be removed altogether because Instagram does not want to "stigmatize or isolate people who may be in distress and posting self-harm related content as a cry for help."
3. More resources will be dedicated to getting help for people posting and searching for self-harm related content.
4. Instagram will consult experts on further steps, such as potentially blurring any non-graphic self-harm related content with a sensitivity screen.

"During the comprehensive reviews, the experts, including the Centre for Mental Health and Save.org reaffirmed that creating safe spaces for young people to talk about their experiences — including self-harm — online, is essential. They advised that sharing this type of content often helps people connect with support and resources that can save lives," Mosseri said.

Read more: Instagram's boss says it's not doing enough to catch self-harm images before they are discovered by users

"However, collectively it was advised that graphic images of self-harm — even when it is someone admitting their struggles — has the potential to unintentionally promote self-harm. Which is why we are no longer allowing graphic images of self-harm."

During his time in London, Mosseri met key members of the British government: Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright and Matt Hancock, the health secretary. Both have promised to get tougher on social media giants, with Hancock suggesting that companies could be banned for not removing harmful content. The UK government will set out its position on internet regulation in an internet safety white paper next month.

For UK-based readers: If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, or has had thoughts of harming themselves or taking their own life, you can contact The Samaritans 24/7 on 116 123.

If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or has had thoughts of harming themselves or taking their own life, get help. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) provides 24/7, free, confidential support for people in distress, as well as best practices for professionals and resources to aid in prevention and crisis situations.

SEE ALSO: A former Facebook moderator says she had to review 8,000 posts a day and it made her numb to child porn

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: I quit texting for a week and it was harder than I expected

• The best way to drink Cognac is no longer from the traditional "balloon" glass.
• According to a Cognac expert and tour guide at the Hennessy distillery in France, the best glass is actually a "tulip" glass because it allows the aroma to get to your nose.
• Experts used to suggest balloon-shaped glasses because it was thought that the warmth from the drinker's hand enhanced the taste of Cognac, but now they say it can dull the complex aromas of the spirit.
• If you're drinking Cognac on the rocks, however, you should use a tumbler glass.

The best way to drink Cognac is no longer from the traditional balloon-shaped glass, but rather a tulip-shaped glass, according to a Cognac expert I talked to at the Hennessy distillery in France. 

On a recent trip to France, I made a 24-hour stop in Cognac, a small town about a five-hour drive from Paris that's famous for being the birthplace of the spirit. Hennessy, one of the major Cognac houses, was founded in 1765 and offers guided tours and tastings at its headquarters on the banks of the Charente River. It was on one of these tours that I met Gwendoline Poirier, a Cognac expert and tour guide at Hennessy, who walked us through how Cognac is made and the best way to drink it. 

With a tulip glass, "you can really enjoy the color thanks to the shape and for the aroma to get to your nose," Poirier told me as we tasted different types of Cognac.

Cognac, which is made from grapes, is one of the oldest spirits in the world. The only thing that differentiates it from Brandy is that Cognac must be made in the Cognac region of France, as Business Insider's Alison Millington previously reported.

With the traditional balloon glass, "the goal was to heat your Cognac," Poirier said. "Today, it's not something we are advising anymore because generally when you're heating your Cognac, you will feel the alcohol more and the aromas less."

Read more: This is the difference between Cognac and brandy, and 6 other things you didn't know about the grape-based drink

But you shouldn't feel limited to only drinking Cognac neat.

"You can taste it neat, on the rocks, in long drinks, and cocktails," Poirier said. 

In fact, Cognac producers such as Hennessy are encouraging people to drink the spirit in cocktails to make it seem more trendy and accessible, she said. Poirier noted that if you're drinking Cognac with ice, the best glass to use is a tumbler.

SEE ALSO: A wine expert says you shouldn't drink Champagne from a traditional flute — here's the glass you should use instead

SEE ALSO: This is the difference between Cognac and brandy, and 6 other things you didn't know about the grape-based drink

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: There are serious health reasons why you shouldn't eat your boogers

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.

No matter the occasion, jewelry makes a great gift. Whether it's a luxury necklace that she'll save for once-in-a-lifetime events or a simple pair of hoops she'll add into her everyday rotation, great jewelry has a place in every woman's wardrobe, and is always a welcomed present. 

If you're looking for a Valentine's Day gift for a special lady in your life, jewelry is a no-brainer. If you're not sure exactly what kind of jewelry to get her, don't worry — we've got you covered. We looked all over the internet to find an assortment of pieces that'll show off her style, spunk, and unique personality. Plus, we covered a huge price range — so you can be sure you'll find something in your budget. 

Keep reading for 15 Valentine's Day jewelry gifts she'll love:

Missoma Mini Star Moon Charm Hoops

Mini Star Moon Charm Hoops, available at Missoma, $84

Mismatched jewelry is all the rage these days. Help her stay on trend with this set of simple gold hoops, one adorned with a moon charm and the other with a star. 

Missoma Love Amulet Necklace

Love Amulet Necklace, available at Missoma, $162

Worn alone or layered with other gold chains, this necklace is a perfect expression of your love. The 18-karat gold vermeil amulet hangs on a trendy, long bobble chain. Take a closer look and see the love amulet is engraved with a heart and holds a small pink zircon stone. Symbolizing love, passion, and friendship, this makes for a unique piece for Valentine's Day.

Mejuri Twist Hoops

Solid Gold Twist Hoops, available at Mejuri, $135

Every woman needs a great pair of gold hoops. This pair from Mejuri is a fresh twist on the classic — literally. Made with 14-karat solid yellow gold, these hoops have a twisted look that's unique, but still subtle enough for her to wear every day. 

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 team at men's shaving startup Harry's has launched a new women's brand, Flamingo.
• Like Harry's, Flamingo sells simple, affordable, and effective shaving products, including a $9 razor and $16 shave set. It also sells waxing products, acknowledging another hair removal method that many women use instead of or in addition to shaving. 
• We tried and loved its shaving tools, which were optimized for the body's natural curves and contours. They gave us a smooth, soft shave. 

In 2013, direct-to-consumer startup Harry's entered the men's shaving aisle with a set of simple products: sharp, durable razors and soothing skin care, all sold at a fair price. Seems like an obvious combination of qualities since many men shave every day of every week of every year, but Harry's was the first new brand to fully deliver  on strong, long-lasting, and financially sustainable shaving tools. 

Many women seek the same things out of their shaving tools, and they liked the way Harry's approached this personal care chore so much that since the company's launch, more than a million women have used and enjoyed Harry's products. 

Still, those within the company knew it could create products better catered towards women's needs — and no, the answer was not to make the razor handle pink. New out of Harry's, Inc. is a women's shaving brand called Flamingo, which is guided by the same vision (and even uses the same factory) that has made Harry's a hit among men.  

Read more: I shaved my 4-day beard with a Harry's razor to see if it's worth buying — now I get why they're so hyped up

Why you should trust Flamingo:

Flamingo is led by two Harry's veterans who have been with the company since its start: Allie Melnick (brand strategy and VP of new growth), and Brittania Boey (SVP of research, development, and design). This expertise has allowed Flamingo to hit the ground running with a focused, thoughtful product line and distinctive brand look. 

For shaving, it currently sells a razor ($9), blade cartridges (four for $9), foaming shave gel ($5), and body lotion ($9) a la carte. The shave set ($16) throws the razor, smaller versions of the shave gel and body lotion, an extra blade cartridge, and a shower hook into a reusable, travel-friendly pouch. 

All of its razor blades are manufactured in the same Harry's factory in Germany, so you can expect ultra-sharp, high quality blades. However, design features like a hydrating aloe vera strip, rounded edges, and a flexible hinge that allows you to smoothly bring the razor along contours and curves make it different from the men's razors. Since most women shave in the shower, the razor handle has an ergonomic, textured rubber grip that won't slip out of your hands. If you're already subscribed to Harry's, you can actually use its blade cartridges on your Flamingo razor handle. 

Read more: I tried the buzzy new Billie razor for women — and now I actually look forward to shaving my legs

What it's like to shave with Flamingo:

The razor handles come in different colors, Taro and Rose Gold, Mint and Gold, and Pomelo and Silver, which give them some personality, but this is certainly not Flamingo's main selling point. I don't care what my razor looks like as long it gets the job done and does it well every single time, and my experience with Flamingo involved just that. 

I have a pretty matter-of-fact attitude towards shaving. It's annoying and time-consuming, but I've been doing it long enough to quietly nod and accept my fate every time I need to break my razor out. Admittedly, it was exciting to try a new razor, and unlike with my past razors, the excitement didn't die down with each subsequent use, because my Flamingo razor continued to do a pain-free, efficient job through multiple shaving sessions.

I loved using it with the rich and thick foaming shave gel that stayed on my skin instead of sliding right off and left it feeling very smooth. Insider Picks reporters Mara Leighton and Remi Rosmarin agreed, calling the cream "luxe." It contains aloe vera and conditioning emollients, plus it's dermatologist-tested and free from parabens, sulfates, and mineral oil. A nice detail I appreciated about the container construction itself is that it won't leave rust rings in your shower or tub. 

I don't shave that consistently, which means that when I do, there's usually a lot of hair to get through. My Flamingo razor felt gentle enough on my skin that at times I wondered if it was actually doing anything, before I pulled it away and confirmed it was doing a lot. While I still can't say the process of shaving is enjoyable, using Flamingo's tools made it more enjoyable than usual. I finished shaving in half the time and with cleaner, smoother results than with other razors. 

Other reasons to let Flamingo handle your hair care: 

To address another common hair removal method among women, Flamingo also sells $10 face wax and body wax kits, which contain wax strips and post-wax cloths. The face wax kit includes an additional calming serum. At the time of this writing, we weren't able to test the wax products since our hair wasn't long enough, but we plan on writing about the experience when we can. This decision to offer hair removal products other than razors was smart on the brand's part and opens up its customer base to women who exclusively wax or switch between shaving and waxing. 

Shaving isn't fun, and it never will be, but Flamingo's easy-to-use and affordable tools get us one step closer to a seamless shave. Supported by the Harry's name, it shares commonalities in blade technology and overall mission, while gearing itself towards women's specific shaving needs. Unlike Harry's (and its close competitor Billie), it doesn't sell subscription plans, so you have the freedom to restock shaving and waxing products whenever you need them. 

Shop the Shave Set for $16 at Flamingo here

Shop all shaving products at Flamingo here

Join the conversation about this story »

• Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez published an outline of her "Green New Deal" on Thursday, an ambitious plan to turn the US carbon-neutral in 10 years. One element of her proposal is the use of high-speed rail in the US.
• China has the largest high-speed railway in the world, with 15,500 miles of track and most major cities covered by the network.
• In May, I took China's fastest "G" train from Beijing to the northwestern city of Xi'an, which cuts an 11-hour journey — roughly the distance between New York and Chicago — to 4.5 hours.
• I found the experience delightful, with relatively cheap tickets, painless security, comfortable seats, air-conditioned cabins, and plenty of legroom.
• It left me thinking about how far behind US infrastructure has become, when most comparable journeys still require expensive and tiring air travel.

On Thursday, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez published an outline of her Green New Deal, an ambitious plan to tackle climate change and turn the US carbon-neutral in 10 years. One element of her proposal is overhauling the public transportation systems to limit pollution, including the use of high-speed rail in the US. 

To get an idea of what high-speed rail can mean for a country, we may want to look to China.

Traveling to China can often feel like visiting the future. The cities stretch out for what seems like forever, while new skyscrapers, bridges, and futuristically designed landmarks spring up every year.

Nowhere is this feeling more apparent than when you encounter China's high-speed railway network. At 15,500 miles, the country's "bullet train" is the world's largest.

And it's getting larger.

The China Railway Corp., the country's government-owned train operator, is getting close to finishing the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, a high-speed rail line spanning more than 80 miles. And the country's plan is to create an extended network that covers 24,000 miles and connects all cities with a population greater than 500,000.

Currently, there are over 100 cities in China with a population greater than 1 million, a figure projected to grow to 221 cities by 2025.

The practical result of this is that you can pretty much travel in anywhere in China via high-speed rail. It's usually comparable in speed to air travel (once you factor in security lines and check-in) and far more convenient, as I found on a trip to China.

In May, I had made plans to travel from Beijing to Xi'an, the capital of northwestern Shaanxi province and the imperial capital of China for centuries.

The distance between the two cities is around 746 miles, making it slightly more than two hours by plane, 11 hours by car, and anywhere between 11.5 hours and 17.5 hours on a regular train.

On China's top-of-the-line "bullet train," the journey takes 4.5 hours.

If I wanted to travel a comparable distance in the US by train — at 712 miles, New York to Chicago is the closest — it would take 22 hours, with a transfer in Washington, DC. And that's with traveling on Amtrak's Acela Express, currently the fastest train in the US with a speed up to 214 km/h (150 mph).

Traveling on one of China's fastest bullet trains is an entirely different experience:

SEE ALSO: China's 'bullet train' network is the largest in the world — and it's about to get even bigger

I arrived at Beijing West Railway station a little over an hour before my train at 2:00 p.m. Built in 1996 and expanded in 2000, the railway station is the second largest in Asia, serving up to 400,000 people a day. It was very busy when I arrived.

China's railway network served nearly 3 billion passenger rides in 2016, a figure that has increased by about 10% each year. It's little surprise. The nationwide system covers 15,500 miles, a figure made more impressive when you consider the first line was built in 2008 for the Beijing Olympics.

China's first high-speed rail line was a single 70-mile demonstration line built specifically for the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

The country has set aside $550 billion in its current five-year plan (2016-2020) for expanding China's railway system, with an emphasis on high-speed rail.

The massive development plan hasn't all gone smoothly. The country's top economic planning agency found that many cities and provinces were building far too expensive and ostentatious train stations far from city centers in an effort to get in on the development extravaganza, Beijing-based media company Caixin reported earlier this month.

One railway expert told Caixin that local governments have been developing the stations far from city centers in the hopes that the facilities, which they want to link with the high-speed rail, can boost development and real-estate prices.

I had bought my rail ticket on CTrip, China's top e-travel agency. But for some reason, you still have to pick up your ticket in person if you are a foreigner, which requires navigating to the ticket lines and finding the one counter designated for English speakers. If there's one aspect of the high-speed rail system that could be improved, it's ditching hard tickets for e-tickets. But, knowing China's obsessive adoption of mobile phones and QR codes, I'm sure it won't be long.

Tip: Instead of using CTrip's website, book your rail ticket on the company's mobile Trip app. In November last year, CTrip acquired US online travel agency Trip.com and rebranded Trip as their global brand app.

It's far more user-friendly than the CTrip website (Chinese tech still has a lot to learn about UX).

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.

Valentine's Day is a wonderful, albeit commercial, holiday for anyone who enjoys exchanging gifts with their loved ones. And as someone who gets a special satisfaction from picking out the perfect gifts for everyone in her life, whether they're her coworkers, in-laws, dad, or boyfriend, I'm very lucky it's essentially my job to help other people do just that. In my head I have a seemingly endless Rolodex of recommendations for special occasions, like engagement parties and baby showers, and holidays like Christmas and the previously mentioned one coming up soon on February 14.

If you need some inspiration for what to get for him this Valentine's Day (whether he's your boyfriend, husband, fiancé, or otherwise), the Insider Picks team has you covered with some truly excellent gift ideas. Though you can never go wrong with a new leather wallet or Patagonia fleece, we've also included some more unique gifts, like a custom Xbox controller and a cookbook focusing on late-night munchies. 

Check out all 68 gifts for him, and happy shopping! 

DON'T MISS: 25 creative and unexpected gifts for 'Star Wars' fans of all ages

A classic leather wallet

Bellroy Slim Sleeve Wallet, available at Bellroy and Amazon, $79

A wallet doesn't have to be a boring gift when it's from Bellroy. The gorgeous Slim Sleeve fits everything he needs in a slim, efficient profile. We love it so much we named it the best men's wallet in our buying guide.

A flask that'll keep his coffee hot

Hydro Flask 20 oz. Coffee Flask, available at Hydro Flask and REI, $28

This insulated coffee flask keeps hot drinks hot (and we mean hot) for up to 12 hours, and cold drinks cold for up to 24 hours. 

A stylish and comfortable pair of sneakers

Allbirds Wool Runners, available at Allbirds, $95

Popular shoe startup Allbirds came out with a new high-top sneaker this month, dubbed the Tree Toppers, but for the uninitiated (and honestly really anyone), the classic Wool Runners make an excellent gift. 

• London has recently seen about 40 million visitors per year.
• The capital is well known for its many famous attractions, including the historic Buckingham Palace and Elizabeth Tower.
• Popular sites also include newer observation decks such as the London Eye and The Shard.
• During prime tourist seasons, these attractions can be extremely crowded, which makes for long wait times and obstructed views.

London: home to red phone booths, Big Ben, and, of course, Queen Elizabeth.

The capital of the United Kingdom remains one of Europe's top tourist destinations. The city is rich in literary history, having been home to writers ranging from William Shakespeare to T.S. Eliot, and is also full of art in museums such as the National Gallery, the British Museum, and the TATE Modern.

Along with its royal family, London is known for its gorgeous parks. However, much like other capital cities, London's top attractions are often crowded by tourists during peak visiting times.

Read more: 34 under-the-radar things everyone should do on a weekend in London, according to Londoners

Since 2017, the iconic Elizabeth Tower — more commonly nicknamed “Big Ben” — has been under construction and will remain scaffolded until 2020. While these repairs are necessary to preserve the landmark’s architectural beauty, unprepared tourists may be disappointed upon arrival.

Regardless of the repairs, hordes of tourists will still flock to see Big Ben along with other attractions. To avoid these crowds, it is best to visit during colder months, when fewer people are apt to visit.

SEE ALSO: 9 of the world's best bars are in London

NOW READ: 31 incredible hotels everyone should stay at in their lifetime, ranked by price

One of the largest cities in Europe, London is a popular urban destination for travelers.

Source: World Atlas

It is known for its easy-to-use and efficient public transportation ...

Source: CNN Travel

... iconic red phone booths ...

Source: BBC News

• The European Sauna Marathon takes place during one of the coldest winter afternoons every year in Estonia.
• Teams of four compete for the grand prize: their own hot tub.
• The "SaunaMaraton" is not so much a sporting event as it is a chance to eat, drink, and chat in the midst of the  dark, cold days of winter.
• There's also a growing pile of evidence that suggests the exposure to steamy hot saunas and frigid cold plunges is good for health.

Surviving cold, harsh winter temperatures is a marathon, not a sprint. 

That's certainly true in Estonia, where every winter people from around the world gather for the annual European Sauna Marathon in Otepää.

The goal is to make some of the coldest days of the year a little brighter.

February is the coldest month of the year in the tiny Northern European country on the Baltic Sea. Temperatures during the competition consistently hover below freezing, at around -6 Celsius (in the 20s Fahrenheit.) This year was no exception. On February 2, thermometers in the tiny town of less than 4,000 people topped out around -1 Celsius (30 F).

The Sauna Marathon is not a true 26.2-mile marathon; the only real running competitors do here is to and from the saunas.

Instead, it's a chance to bond with others who've braved the cold, often wearing little more than a robe. 

"Many people think saunas are just hot rooms, but to Estonians they are so much more," marathon participant Adam Rang told Business Insider on Twitter. 

It turns out that saunas may also provide some measurable health benefits, which, coupled with diet and exercise, could be considered a "third pillar" of physical fitness. 

Here's a feel for what the race is really like, minus the chilly Estonian air.

SEE ALSO: In the midst of the polar vortex, 52 people completed this 135-mile ultramarathon in northern Minnesota — biking, skiing, and running through the coldest corner of America

People have been taking saunas for centuries in Estonia. In 2014, UNESCO even put the traditional Estonian smoke sauna on its list of practices of "intangible cultural heritage of humanity."

Source:UNESCO

The Estonian sauna tradition dates back to at least the 13th century, but the "Saunamaraton" has only been around for 10 years.

To enter the competition, participants have to gather up a team of four people, and pay the entrance fee of 70 Euros.

The majority of the competitors are Estonian, but others hail from as far away as Mexico, New Zealand, and Japan.

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.

• Decorating and organizing a small space can be difficult because you have to be more calculated with your decisions.
• When I first moved into my small NYC bedroom, I was stumped on how to fit everything in the room, keep it organized, and hopefully make it look nice, too.
• I spent a lot of time researching products to make my space efficient, practical, and feel like my own. It took me a while, but here are the five products that transformed my small bedroom. 

If you scrolled through my search history from the past few months, you'd find an abundance of queries like "space-saving hacks," "small bedroom hacks," and "how to make a small bedroom look bigger."

When I first moved into my apartment, it became pretty apparent that I'd have to get creative with my space. In college and my younger years living with my parents, I was never particularly neat — I had gotten good at hiding my messes in plain sight, pushing piles of clothes and other miscellaneous items to the corner of my room to be dealt with at a later time. In a small bedroom though, organization becomes a necessity and the only way to keep your room from feeling like a glorified closet. In order to be neat, I knew I'd need the right tools.

After spending far too much time searching for the perfect products to make my small space feel neater, bigger, and truly homey, I think I've finally done it. I'm sharing the tools I used to transform my small space so that hopefully you can get your space in order a little faster than I did.

Keep reading for five products that have transformed my small space:

An over-the-door hook rack

Heavy Duty Over-the-Door Hook Rack, available at Bed Bath & Beyond, $14.99

With very limited closet space, my bulky jackets, towels, and robe didn't seem to deserve hangers. My puffy winter parka takes up the same amount of space as multiple shirts, and I wasn't willing to get rid of clothes just to make space for a jacket come winter, so I got this heavy duty hook rack instead. You simply slide it over your door — it's cushioned so it doesn't scratch the wood — and it adds tons of hanging opportunity to an area that would otherwise be dead space.

It has four hooks, but each hook is made up of two prongs and a circular top, so you really have twelve hooks worth of space to hang things on. I like to use this for products that need to be accessible — my bathrobe, towel, and sometimes a jacket or two. Many hook racks of this kind make it difficult to fully shut your door, but with this model that's no problem — the over the door hooks are very flat, so they don't affect your door at all. At $15, this item is a no-brainer to me — it adds a ton of space-saving value at a low cost. 

A custom nightstand

White Melamine Tops, available at The Container Store, from $9.80

White Elfa Mesh Drawers, available at The Container Store, from $12.60

White Elfa Drawer Frames, available at The Container Store, from $25.20

One of the items I struggled most to find was a nightstand. I wanted something that looked nice, but actually had a decent amount of storage. Ultimately, I decided to create one of these Elfa drawers at The Container Store, and it was a great decision. While not the cutest beside table on the market, the plain white color goes with everything and the amount of storage I gained is unbeatable. 

One of my favorite things about this product is that it can be customized to fit your organization and space needs. You pick a frame based on how tall you'd like your drawers to be, then choose what size drawers you'd like, and top it all off with a surface of your choice. I opted for all white, as it matched my room best, though there are also silver options. For my drawers, I choose four different sizes, so I could neatly store lots of different items. In the smaller drawers I have paper goods and little things I use every day, while the larger drawers hold bigger items like tech and extra toiletries. This was one of the more expensive products I bought, but it's versatility and utility made it truly worth the price. 

Cotton storage bins

Grey Laguna Cotton Fabric Storage Bins, available at The Container Store, from $6.99

I'm lucky to have a good amount of shelving in my room, but keeping shelves looking tidy without constantly having to fold everything is difficult. These fabric storage bins have saved me from that issue. I keep them on my shelves and use them to store cold weather accessories like scarves and hats as well as socks and underwear.

Since they're made of fabric, they have some give, so you don't have to worry about them breaking from being stuffed to the brim. They do a great job of keeping my items concealed, and more importantly, all in one place. The heathered gray cotton also looks great and adds a nice aesthetic to any shelving unit. 

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.

• Firstleaf is a wine subscription service that launched in early 2016 and is one of many other clubs that help you enjoy wine in a more convenient, accessible, and affordable way. 
• Its introductory box of three wines is only $15 and sets the wheels in motion for the service to learn more about your tastes and preferences as they evolve. 
• The wines all come from award-winning winemakers and vineyards, but you have the final say about which ones are considered true award winners in your book through Firstleaf's rating and review system. 

Based on the number of wine clubs and subscription services that have started in the past few years, the jig is clearly up: people like wine, but most of us also don't know what we're talking about or what we're actually sipping. It's easier when someone just tells us what's good.

A new entrant to the field of encouraging your enthusiasm for wine is Firstleaf, an algorithm-based wine subscription service that learns more about your tastes and preferences as you try different wines and curates a personalized experience for you over time. 

As with most personalized services, you start off by taking a short online quiz, which asks about your white vs. red vs. rosé vs. sparkling preferences, what region you prefer your wine to come from, and how much wine you drink per month. 

Firstleaf then gives you an introductory offer of three wines for only $15, plus tax and $4.95 shipping, as a way to welcome you to the club. It also serves as a kind of diagnostic test (that's infinitely more fun than the SAT one you took in high school) for the rest of your Firstleaf experience. 

I opted for a mix of red and white, and received my first box safely at my door. The full-sized bottles were securely packed in a cardboard crate and each came with its own informational card explaining the origins of the wine and region, tasting notes, and food pairings. All this information can also be found online when you log in to your account and click on your past orders. 

My first box consisted of a Chardonnay from Paso Robles, a Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina, and a Zinfandel from Sonoma County. All were international wine competition winners. Despite their prestige, I didn't love them all, which was completely fine and not unexpected. These first bottles were only $5 each and I would have the opportunity to rate the picks and explain my specific thoughts. 

Once you log back into your account, you can give each wine a "Thumbs Up" (I'd drink this wine again and Firstleaf will send more like it), a "Thumbs Down" (not for me), or leave the thumb icons blank if you have no opinion and don't feel strongly either way. There is a section below each wine where you can write additional comments and notes for Firstleaf or just for personal reference. You can also reorder six bottles of the wine you did love for only $79, plus tax and $9.95 shipping. 

After this initial box, every future shipment will consist of six wines (for $79, plus tax and $9.95 shipping) and be delivered automatically every two months. However, you can choose any other delivery date or cancel your subscription at any time. 

By design, Firstleaf works better the more you use it. The more wines you rate, the more closely its system can match future shipments to your taste and adjust picks if your tastes evolve from the initial quiz. 

Using Firstleaf isn't only about convenience, education, or personalization, though these are all strong reasons why you should try it. With each bottle coming out to about $13, it's also simply a much more affordable way to enjoy quality wines from top vineyards around the world. 

Take Firstleaf's wine quiz and redeem your introductory offer of 3 wines for $15 (plus tax and shipping) here

Join the conversation about this story »

• While Amazon does not directly accept PayPal payments, there are workarounds that allow you to use your PayPal account to buy things from Amazon.
• The process of using a PayPal balance to shop with Amazon is at least a two-step process and may require a few days of patience, so plan ahead.
• Here's how you can use PayPal through gift cards and cards by PayPal to shop from Amazon, despite the lack of a formal agreement between the payment services brand and the retailer. 

Amazon's business model is a success for three primary reasons.

First and foremost, the company has amazingly low prices on all sorts of products. Second, they ship their products so quickly that it is often more efficient to order an item online than to wait for a chunk of free time in which to go to a brick-and-mortar store. And third, they make the entire process, from shopping to checkout, very easy.

Objectively, it would make perfect sense for Amazon, the juggernaut online retailer, to partner with PayPal, one of the globe's leading online payment processing companies.But Amazon does not accept PayPal payments — not directly, at least — for a couple of reasons.

Why doesn't Amazon accept PayPal directly?

There are two major reasons that Amazon does not work with PayPal. First, historically PayPal was a part of eBay, one of Amazon's direct competitors. From 2002 into 2015, PayPal and eBay were linked together. PayPal has since split into an independent brand, but their partnership with eBay remains strong.

Second, PayPal is a direct competitor to Amazon's own payment service, the rather bluntly named Amazon Pay. Just as with PayPal, Amazon Pay is accepted by numerous third party retailers, letting you use Amazon payment methods beyond the immediate orbit of Amazon itself.

How can you use PayPal to pay for Amazon?

You can't pay for Amazon purchases with PayPal directly, but there are two simple ways to work around the impasse. Both involve indirect use of PayPal but ultimately lead to your PayPal account covering Amazon sales.

Buy Amazon gift cards with PayPal

One of the easiest ways to use PayPal to buy from Amazon is to purchase Amazon gift cards with your PayPal account. You can buy an Amazon gift card from a site like eGifter.com using a PayPal balance and then use that gift card to shop normally on Amazon.

Just be sure you verify any site from which you are buying a gift card is safe and secure.

Use a PayPal Cash Card or Business Debit MasterCard 

If you plan to regularly use your PayPal balance to shop from Amazon, then getting a PayPal Cash Card (or a PayPal Business Debit Mastercard, if you have a PayPal business account) will allow you to use the card in the regular checkout process as you buy things from Amazon.

Getting a PayPal card is a simple process and well worth the effort if you don't want your cash to languish in your PayPal account while it could be used to buy just about anything.

• Read more:
• How to start selling items on Amazon — a step-by-step guide
• The best ways to contact Amazon for help when you have a problem with your account
• PayPal's Venmo is showing 'no signs of slowing' after getting ditched by eBay
• 25 last-minute Valentine’s Day gifts that are Amazon Prime-eligible

SEE ALSO: 17 subscription boxes you can order on Amazon — from healthy snacks to editor-approved beauty products

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Apple forever changed the biggest tech event of the year by not showing up

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.

• Whether you're looking to keep cool or stay warm, high-quality bedding will facilitate a great night's sleep while providing comfort and support at every turn.
• I like Bedsure bedding because the Bamboo Bed Sheets are silky smooth, the Bio-Zero Memory Foam Pillows contour to my head and neck, and the Sherpa Blanket keeps me warm during cold winter nights.
• Though Bedsure bedding is slightly more expensive than your average Amazon find (currently, prices are $24.99 for a throw blanket to $64.99 for a queen sheet set), the quality far exceeds what you'd expect for its price point.

Prior to Bedsure contacting me to test out their bedding, I was only familiar with their popular Sherpa Throw Blanket, which earned a place in our Best Throw Blanket guide. However, the company has roots going back 40 years and is a subsidiary of Wuxi, a China-based textile company. As it turns out, Bedsure has regional offices throughout the world.

More importantly, Bedsure offers a complete line of premium bedding and home solutions, including mattress pads, duvets, comforters, towels, bathrobes, and more. I had the opportunity to try their bamboo sheets, new "Bio-Zero" memory foam pillows, and their popular Sherpa blanket. Below are my experiences.

Style:

Bedsure offers its bedding in a variety of styles to match your bed and décor. The sheet set is available in six styles. Four of these are 100% bamboo viscose in grey, olive green, pure white, and teal. The other two are long staple cotton in grey and white. Each is also available in twin, twin XL, full, queen, and king. The pillowcases are also true to size, so the cases that come with the king-sized set fit king-sized pillows. For reference, I tried the bamboo viscose grey in a king.

The Sherpa Blanket is available in 17 colors, including navy blue, grey, red, and purple, and there are four sizes: throw, twin, queen, and king. I tested the navy blue in king size.

Tthe Bio-Zero Memory Foam Pillows come in three distinct shapes. The contour pillow has two ridges with a valley between and is designed to give proper spinal alignment to back and side sleepers. The cooling pillow is shaped like a traditional pillow and is infused with cooling gel to keep you from overheating. The "cashew" pillow is shaped like, you guessed it, a cashew or kidney bean, and is designed to help the arms and shoulders relax while protecting the backs and necks of back and stomach sleepers. I tested the cooling and cashew pillows.

Set-up process:

I was impressed with the fancy white box that the Bamboo Bed Sheets came in. In a matter of minutes, I had the fitted sheet, flat sheet, and two pillowcases on my bed. The only change I would make to the fitted sheet is adding an indicator that lets buyers know which side goes at the head and which goes at the foot of the bed.

There was really nothing to unboxing the blanket and putting it on my bed aside from the fact that I don't like making my bed.

The pillows puffed up to their full size pretty soon after I removed them from their packaging. However, I did need to air them out for a little bit, but this is common with memory foam products. Once they were ready, both pillows fit into their cases easily. This was a relief since I was concerned that the cashew pillow would not fit due to its odd shape.

What makes the bedding stand out:

The Bamboo Bed Sheets are the most comfortable sheets I've ever slept on. As a hot sleeper, I like that they are nice and cool when I first hop into bed. And, as a side sleeper, I like to adjust from side to side over the course of the night. The fitted and flat sheets make this movement effortless. They almost feel like satin.

Many pillowcases have an opening on the end for inserting and removing pillows. The problem with this is that the pillow can weasel its way out over the course of the night. The Bedsure pillowcases do not follow this trend. The pillowcase opening is actually offset on the back of the case so pillows hit the pocket on the end rather than escaping. I've found this design is quite effective.

I use the blanket on top of the flat sheet with the Sherpa side down. We keep our house at a cool 55 degrees Fahrenheit at night, and I never feel the need for extra blankets. The Sherpa blanket does an excellent job of keeping me warm but not too hot. The fleece side is soft to the touch and feels good to lay on top of when reading or watching TV.

Lastly, in my time using the pillows, not once did I wake up with a sore neck or a headache despite sleeping on my side and stomach. The Bio-Zero foam breathes well and provides medium firmness support – my head doesn't sink too much but it also isn't like I'm sleeping on a rock. I like the cashew pillow more because it does a better job of allowing excellent circulation as I sleep with my arm under the pillow. Neither pillow traps heat.

Cons to consider:

The pillows' memory foam odor took longer than normal to dissipate. I aired the pillows out in a well-ventilated room, and after four days, the scent was at a level that I could live with. I contacted Bedsure about this, and they let me know that the smell is toxin-free and isn't harmful. They added that the pillows do not have any chemical additives.

The most annoying part about the sheet set is that the corners of the fitted sheet would slide off our 11-inch thick mattress due to their silky smoothness. I loved these sheets so much that I was willing to look for solutions. So, I shelled out $8 for Dericeedic Sheet Strap Suspenders, and they work great. The fitted sheet has not popped free since I started using the suspenders.

My biggest complaint about the Sherpa blanket is that my cats also love it. Consequently, my orange cat will spend hours "making biscuits" on it as if possessed. This has led to micro tears all over the blanket. Functionally, it works fine, and it's only noticeable if you look closely. However, I can't help but wonder how long the blanket will be able to handle this treatment.

A problem that all of the Bedsure bedding has is that there's no warranty. As with just about all products sold on Amazon, your purchase is backed by a 30-day money-back return policy, but 30-days is not very long for items that should last you for years. Bedsure does state that they provide lifetime customer service.

The bottom line:

Pros: The sheets are the most comfortable and silky-smooth I've ever used, the blanket is soft and warm, the pillows are breathable and supportive.

Cons: There's no warranty, the fitted sheet doesn't stay on without assistance, pillows come with an initial odor, and my cats are slowly destroying my blanket.

Overall, I would recommend giving Bedsure bedding a shot. The bamboo viscose sheets are the star of the show and provide luxurious comfort. The Sherpa blanket lives up to its 4.7-star customer rating on Amazon with its balance of warmth and softness. And, their new line of Bio-Zero Memory Foam Pillows offered excellent comfort and support. If you're looking for a good night's sleep, this bedding should deliver.

Buy the Bedsure Bamboo Bed Sheet Set on Amazon starting at $39.99

Buy the Bedsure Bio-Zero Hydrophilic Memory Foam Pillow on Amazon starting at $29.99

Buy the Bedsure Sherpa Blanket on Amazon starting at $24.99

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.

• Fresh, homemade ice cream has a richness and smoothness that is impossible to find with a store-bought option.
• Making your own ice cream is actually quite easy when you have a good ice cream maker or a stand mixer.
• We recommend using the KitchenAid Stand Mixer with its Ice Cream Maker Attachment or the Cusinart Ice Cream Machine pictured above for best results.
• Here is how to make ice cream from scratch with a variety of devices.

Let's be honest: Professional chefs make better food than you. Sure, your omelets may come out of the pan reliably intact, your grandma's pasta sauce recipe may be a crowd pleaser, and you might bake a mean batch of cookies, but the food you get from a fine restaurant tastes objectively better, right? It's no shame. They cook all day long, so they should be good at it.

Ah but there are always exceptions, and one of them is particularly sweet: Ice cream is one of those rare foodstuffs that really is better when made at home. Whether bought from the grocery store in a tub or scooped by your local ice cream shop employee, store-bought ice cream tends to be dense and often flecked with bits of ice. Homemade ice cream has a texture that's rich, smooth, and creamy all at once.

Also, with a bit of experimentation, you can control the exact taste of the ice cream you make yourself, perfecting the intensity of the basics like vanilla or chocolate or coming up with your own crazy new flavors.

While there is lots of culinary hardware out there that can help you make homemade ice cream, you can also whip up a batch using kitchen gadgets and tools you likely already have at home.

We'll discuss several ways to make ice cream from scratch, all of which will lead to a truly delectable dessert. First, here's a basic ice cream recipe that will work well in most ice cream makers and that you can add to, alter, and dress up however you'd like.

How to make ice cream at home with a simple recipe:

• 2 1/4 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, cocoa powder, strawberry jam, rum, or other flavor

Now let's get into how to make ice cream with a stand mixer or ice cream maker.

How to make ice cream with a stand mixer

If you have a stand mixer and a freezer, you can make homemade ice cream. If you don't have a stand mixer, you should get one. They're great for all sorts of stuff.

We have a KitchenAid Classic Series Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, and it works great even after more than 13 years! This easiest of homemade ice creams won't be as smooth as stuff fresh from the ice cream maker, but it will be delicious. Use the recipe we mentioned in the introduction.

1. Use your stand mixer on high to whip the cream until stiff peaks begin to appear.
2. Stop mixer and add all remaining ingredients, then blend on slow setting.
3. Place in freezer safe container and freeze for at least six hours.

You can also pick up the KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker Attachment if you want to make this sweet treat more regularly.

For more information about the attachment, you can read our guide to the best KitchenAid attachments.

Buy the KitchenAid Classic Series Tilt-Head Stand Mixer on Amazon for $189.99 (originally $199.99)

Buy the KitchenAid KICA0WH Ice Cream Maker Attachment on Amazon for $59.99 (originally $99.99)

How to make ice cream with an ice cream maker

OK, here's where things get laughably easy. 

To start with, this time you'll mix all the ingredients from our recipe above — and any other flavors you want — together into a saucepan and heat the blend just until a bit of foam begins to appear.

Then cut the heat, transfer the mixture to a large bowl, and refrigerate it until thoroughly cold or for about two hours.

Now, transfer that mixture into an ice cream maker and uh ... well, just turn it on.

Note that with many ice cream makers, you will have to freeze a removable insert for several hours prior to use. Others don't require pre-freezing, but do require lots of ice and rock salt.

For a low-cost, reliable ice cream maker that requires a bit of hands on work getting it set up as well as some ice and rock salt, I recommend the Nostalgia 4-Quart Electric Ice Cream Maker.

For a super easy, hands-off operation, try the two-quart Cuisinart ICE-30R Pure Indulgence Frozen Yogurt and Ice Cream Maker, and if you think you're going to become an ice cream, fro yo, and sorbet gourmet, go with the top-of-the-line Breville BCI600XL Smart Scoop Ice Cream Maker.

Alternatively, to make a very small batch of ice cream in about three minutes, consider the Chef'n Sweet Spot Instant Ice Cream Maker. You can read our full guide to the best ice cream makers to learn more about all of these machines.

Buy the Nostalgia 4-Quart Electric Ice Cream Maker on Amazon for $22.43

Buy the Cuisinart ICE-30R Pure Indulgence Frozen Yogurt and Ice Cream Maker on Amazon for $66.21 to $81.44

Buy the Breville BCI600XL Smart Scoop Ice Cream Maker on Amazon for $354.83

Buy the Chef'n Sweet Spot Instant Ice Cream Maker on Amazon for $42.33 (originally $49.99)

How to make frozen treats that are healthier than ice cream

Ice cream is delicious and all, but the fat content and the calories are a definite drawback. If you and the family want to enjoy sweet frozen treats every night without guilt, consider using frozen fruit, and chiefly the banana, instead.

When processed through Yonanas' magical device, fruits that were good and ripe when frozen are whipped into a dessert that tastes like and has a mouthfeel similar to ice cream, but is made from fruit alone.

You can read our full guide to the best frozen dessert makers for more great options, and a full review of why we love this machine.

Buy the Yonanas 902 Classic Healthy Dessert Fruit Soft Serve Maker on Amazon for $39.99 (originally $49.95)

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.

• I've been working out with Sport2People's Exercise Loop Bands ($29.99), which promise to deliver as much as seven the resistance of a typical band. 
• The bands are designed for leg exercises and come in three sizes to cater to different workout intensities. 
• I liked them in hip, glutes, and thigh exercises because they offered greater intensity, and I loved the non-slip material, but I'd recommend a set of traditional resistance bands if you're looking for an option that caters more to full-body workouts.
• Find the Insider Picks buying guide to the best resistance bands you can buy here.

Resistance bands are to workouts what the humble screwdriver is to home improvement: understated and unbeatably handy. They add resistance to your movements without dead weight, and the tension makes muscles contract and strengthen over time. In other words, they make workouts more efficient without adding much risk. The more you pull, the greater the tension and the tougher the exercise. 

Recently, Sport2People— a brand on Amazon that makes popular resistance bands and a patented running belt— sent a set of resistance bands for Insider Picks to test out.

The Sport2People Exercise Loop Bands ($29.99 for a three-piece set) are designed to deliver up to seven times more resistance than traditional resistance bands. They're built specifically for glutes, hips, and leg exercises, and they're made with a non-slip layer to keep the bands from rolling, snapping, or stretching out. For added customization, they come in three sizes: the large is 17 inches and under-100 pounds of resistance, the medium is 14 inches and has 100-200 pounds of resistance, and the small is 12 inches and has over 200 pounds of resistance. 

Why people love resistance bands:

Resistance bands are a great exercise tool for a lot of reasons, but everything comes back to their convenience. They're cheap, versatile, and accessible. Both an amateur and professional can use them for a great workout, meaning there's no real learning curve or opportunity to "outgrow" them in the future. You can work out at home since they require very little space to use, which means you can skip a gym membership and still torch calories. 

I also find that they're easier on my body, and this is a general sentiment I think a lot of people share. The motions are inherently more natural than lifting, and the exercises don't require the dead weight of kettlebells and other weights that can contribute to a higher risk of injury.

My experience using the new Sport2People Exercise Loop Band:

The biggest perks to the Sport2People Exercise Loop Bands are the material and intensity. The no-slip construction doesn't dig into or irritate the skin, and it prevents the bands from twisting and rolling down. Simply put, they're comfortable.

In terms of intensity, they made my leg workouts much harder — I could do fewer reps, and felt sorer the next day than average. Using the smallest band on my upper thighs felt similar to the pressure created by a comfortable setting on the thigh abductor machine in a gym. As I and other team members noticed while testing, it was an especially powerful addition to squats, lunges, hip thrusts, and bridge exercises. I even used the middle and smallest band (most intensity) under my desk during the workday. (The largest band with the lowest intensity was too wide). 

Some cons to consider are that, while the varying lengths for different intensities is a good idea in theory, you may not want to switch out bands every time you move to a new exercise. I also found the bands too wide for me to do lateral band walks (basically crab-walking) effectively and needed either the medium or smallest band for hip bridge pulses. However, the trade-off is that they do offer much more intense resistance in the exercises they work for — and $17 isn't a huge investment if you're considering picking up these and a traditional pack for ankle and arm exercises. 

If you're here looking for a resistance tool that can target multiple parts of the body easily, you'd be better served by a multi-pack of stretchy resistance bands (this set is our first overall pick in our Insider Picks Buying Guide). These are specifically made to target your legs. If you're looking for something to maximize hip, glute, and thigh workouts with up to 200 pounds of push-back, then you may really like them. 

The bottom line:

The Sport2People Exercise Loop Bands are a solid tool for getting more bang for your buck out of resistance bands in leg workouts. If you want to maximize your glute, thigh, and hip workouts, you should consider them. The non-slip material is also a big bonus. However, they are only made for leg workouts, and they won't be as versatile as regular resistance bands. If you only want to buy one pair, and you want a full body workout, you should opt for a multi-pack of stretchy resistance bands instead. 

Sport2People Exercise Loop Band, available on Amazon in three sizes, from $16.99

Sport2People Exercise Loop Band Set, 3-Piece, available on Amazon, $29.99

Join the conversation about this story »

•  Four Seasons Resort Hualalai is one of four Four Seasons hotels on the Hawaiian Islands.
• The hotel was recently ranked No. 1 on U.S. News & World Report's annual list of top hotels in the United States.
• Alongside its seven swimming pools and luxury oceanfront villas, the resort is also home to an impressive art collection.

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai in Hawaii is officially the best hotel in America.

That's according to U.S. News & World Report's recently published annual list of top places to stay, which includes premiere hotels in the United States, Europe, and the Caribbean.

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai is often recognized as a top hotel; it has appeared on Elite Traveler's list of top hotels in the world and Condé Nast's Gold List.

Read more: 24 American hotels every luxury traveler should visit in 2019

The seaside hotel features spectacular ocean view rooms and seven pools, including one filled with tropical fish for snorkeling lessons. In addition, the on-site cultural center offers ukulele lessons and is home to an extensive collection of native history and art.

There are four Four Seasons hotels in Hawaii: Hualalai, Oahu, Maui, and Lanai. At every location, guests can choose from multiple types of villas, suites, and ocean view rooms individual guest rooms.

In the Hualalai location, luxury residencies are also available nearby the resort rooms. Last year, Forbes reported that billionaires were making the move to the property, which is co-owned by Michael Dell and Robert Walton.

Keep reading for an inside look at America's top-ranked hotel.

SEE ALSO: Southwest Airlines is officially testing flights to Hawaii, so you're one step closer to cheap tickets

SEE ALSO: An adults-only island in the Maldives with 15 overwater villas is the best new luxury hotel to visit in 2019 — here's a look inside

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai is located on the Island of Hawai'i, the largest of the eight islands. The resort sits on the Kona-Kohala Coast ...

Source: Google Maps

... and the grounds are located on the historic Kaʻūpūlehu land, once the site of an ancient fishing village.

Source: Google Maps

The resort includes a stretch of private beach and a golf course.

Source: Four Seasons Resort Hualalai

• Taking a screenshot on an iPad allows you to capture the material on the display screen in a photo.
• You'll need to locate the power button and the home button in order to take a screenshot.
• If you have a 2018 iPad Pro, you'll have to use the power button and the volume up button, because the device does not have a home button.
• Your screenshots will automatically be saved to your Photos app.

I tend to have a love-hate relationship with screenshots. On the one hand, it makes things so easy that it's become an integral part of my record-keeping process. When I schedule my credit card payment or a bank transfer, I take a screenshot that I can refer back to.

The flip side, however, is that if I'm taking a screenshot on my laptop, they save directly to my desktop, which can leave my desktop feeling extra-cluttered.

That's why I love to take screenshots on an iPad. When you take a screenshot on your iPad, it saves the photo directly to your camera roll, instead of the main iPad interface. So whether you're taking a screenshot of a recent ETF purchase in your brokerage account, or you're capturing your three-year-old nephew's precious face over Skype, all your screenshots are saved in one convenient place.

Now, it's just a matter of actually taking the screenshots. Here's what you need to find on your iPad in order to effectively take a screenshot:

1. The home button. You'll find the home button below the illuminated iPad display screen. It's in the middle of the bottom panel of your iPad.
2. The power button. The power button will be along the perimeter of your iPad, as opposed to on the iPad display screen. You'll find a raised, oval button on the top right of your iPad. That's your power button!
3. If you have a 2018 iPad Pro, the volume buttons. Because there is no power button on the 2018 iPad Pro, you'll use the button that raises the volume.

How to take a screenshot on an iPad

Once you've located the buttons, it's time to actually take your screenshot. Here's a step-by-step guide:

1. Locate the page you want to screen shot, and bring it up on your iPad such that you have all the info you want to capture in the display.

2. Hover one finger over the power button and another finger over the home button. If you have a 2018 iPad pro, you should instead hover one finger over the power button and another over the volume up button.

3. Simultaneously click the power button and the home button. (Or simultaneously click the power button and the volume up button for a 2018 iPad pro.)

4. If the screenshot is done correctly, your iPad display will flash briefly and you will hear a soft camera shutter sound effect (unless your iPad is silenced).

5. Find your screenshot in your Photos app.

Keeping your screenshots organized

Remember that once you've taken a screenshot and found it in your Photos app under "screenshots" and your "camera roll," but you can alo put your screenshots into various albums to better organize your iPad.

To do so, you have to create albums within your photos app. First, go to the photos app on your iPad. Then select the albums tab which will be along the bottom of the photos app. Once you are in the albums section, press the plus sign in the top left corner to create a new album.

And voila, now you can create an album just for screenshots of your nephew or your bank transaction receipts.

• Read more:
• How to delete apps on your iPad (and save their data)
• The best iPad cases you can buy
• This guy found a way to use Apple's Mac software on an iPad — and it works surprisingly well

SEE ALSO: The best tablets you can buy

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Jennifer Lawrence recently became engaged to boyfriend Cooke Maroney, but her engagement ring probably cost more than the $6,324 average Americans spend on engagement rings.
• With Valentine's Day ahead, we took a look at the average engagement ring price by state, which ranges from $2,793 to $9,809, according to diamond retailer Ritani.
• People in California spend the most on engagement rings, while those in Mississippi spend the least.

Engagement season typically runs from Thanksgiving through Valentine's Day, and with the latter holiday just around the corner, proposals are about to reach their peak.

Just consider Jennifer Lawrence, who recently became engaged to Cooke Maroney. While there haven't been many photos yet revealed of her engagement ring, it probably cost more than the average $6,324 Americans spend on an engagement ring. 

That's according to online diamond retailerRitani, which specializes in engagement rings. They took an even deeper dive into the statistics to find the average price paid for an engagement ring across the US in 2018. The range is wide — engagement rings in Missouri often sold for $2,793 on average, but those bought in California were nearly worth five figures.

But many factors go into pricing a diamond engagement ring. Diamonds are graded and priced based on the "four Cs," which are cut, carat, color, and clarity. Each of those can affect the price. A 1-carat round-shaped diamond with an "ideal" cut grade, for example, can range from about $2,000 up to $12,857 at Ritani depending on its grade for clarity and color.

Below we've ranked the average amount of money spent on an engagement ring in each state, from lowest to highest.

SEE ALSO: From a $10,000 celebration at a country club to a 6-figure ceremony in Central Park, here's what 7 real couples spent on their weddings

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51. Missouri: $2,793

50. South Dakota: $3,178

49. Iowa: $3,400

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• I'm never willing to spend more than five minutes on breakfast, which means I spend a little too much at corner stores on bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches.
• I got the Hamilton Beach Breakfast Sandwich Maker ($24.99) on Amazon because it makes breakfast sandwiches at home in under five minutes and has over 3,000 five-star reviews.
• It looks gimmicky, but it's surprisingly convenient.
• Below I'll walk you through what it's like to use one, but you can also shop it directly here. 

For the last couple of decades, I have not been a “breakfast” person. Even when I was, breakfast was never permitted to be more time-consuming than adding milk to cereal.

The loophole, though, is getting a cheap device to do the handiwork while you sit back and reap all the benefits.

If you’re into the morning celery juice trend, that may mean a juicer. If you’re more likely to spend $20 every week buying overpriced egg and cheese sandwiches from the corner store, that may mean the Hamilton Beach Breakfast Sandwich Maker ($24.99). 

I went with the latter. Mostly because it’s tiny, easy to clean and operate, and makes a breakfast sandwich in under five minutes. It also doesn't hurt that it has over 3,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, even though it sort of looks like a TV infomercial gimmick or something a genius eight-year-old would brainstorm.

In exchange for $25, I now know what’s in my food, save money on buying my own fresh ingredients, and factor in fewer stops on my way into work in the mornings. It hasn’t completely converted me into a “breakfast person," but it does mean I save money, time, and eat better when I do opt for one. It’s also a major bonus that it doesn’t take up tons of real estate in my shoe-box kitchen. And if you’re cooking for two, there are dual models ($39.99) (which are basically just two of these machines sandwiched together).

Here's how you use the Hamilton Beach Breakfast Sandwich Maker in real life:

Take the ingredients out and plug in the device.

When the light is red, it hasn't heated up yet. Once the green light flicks on, you can start adding your ingredients. All the parts are hot, so be careful with where you touch.

Once the light turns green, add the first layer of bread and cheese.

Once the light turns green, add the bottom of your sandwich (English Muffins work well because they're exactly the right size) and cheese. Then flip the next level of the machine down so you can add your egg and the top muffin. 

If you're going to add pre-cooked meat or veggies, drop it on top of the cheese here.

Add the egg and top piece of bread to the next layer.

On the next level, you'll pour in your egg. If you're not going to whisk it, you should plan to pour the egg in and break the yoke. Directly on top of the egg, add the top muffin. Some warning bells may go off when placing bread on top of raw egg, but the breakfast sandwich maker cooks it through completely. 

Set a timer for four-five minutes (depending on preference). I went with four and a half.