• These luxury cruise cabins are among some of the fanciest in the world. 
• Fitted with furnishings by high-profile designers, private spas, sweeping decks offering stunning ocean views, and on-demand butler services, these suites are truly fit for a king.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

What's better than living like royalty, with a private butler and the finest home amenities on Earth?

Having it all on board the finest cruise ships in the world, of course!

Read more: A new luxury cruise will take guests around the world to 6 continents in 117 days — here's a look inside the ship, where suites cost up to $165,999 per person

If you're looking to roam the seven seas in style, look no further than these elegant cruise ships. Two-story duplexes, sweeping decks, and expansive floor plans make these rooms perfect for a celebrity or wealthy cruise-goer.

Here are seven of the most expensive luxury cruise cabins in the world.

SEE ALSO: 10 of the best cruises to take if you're retired

First up: The Duplex Suite on the MSC Meraviglia. The two-level, four-person suite features a master bedroom on one level and a double sofa bed on the other.

Guests can sun-bathe or enjoy a whirlpool bath on the private balcony. And inside, guests can take advantage of two walk-in wardrobes and bathrooms with both a bathtub and shower.

Next, you need to check out The Haven Deluxe Owner's Suite. You can find this 1,500-square-foot suite aboard Norwegian Joy, a Norwegian Cruise Line ship.

The suite features two bedrooms, two balconies, two marble bathrooms, a living and dining area, and a wet bar. There are plenty of places to sleep in the suite — between a king bed, a double sofa bed and a double Murphy bed, it can accommodate up to six guests.

Some of the amenities include a bottle of champagne on embarkation day, plush robes and towels, and Bulgari toiletries.

Let's move along to this duplex dream. The Royal Caribbean ship Symphony of the Seas is home to this Royal Loft Suite. The 1,744-square-foot, two-deck suite features two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and sleeps up to six guests. It also includes a private, 843-square-foot balcony.

The Royal Loft Suite seats eight in its impressive dining room. The living room features a grand piano and ceiling-to-floor windows with sprawling ocean views.

You're going to want to check out this next luxury cruise cabin. Oceania Cruises' Owner's Suite is perfect for anyone in search of an uber-luxurious cruising experience. The suite has an area of more than 2,000 square feet and spans the entire beam of the ship, making this the perfect luxury room for large groups.

The suite includes a large living room, king-size bedroom, two walk-in closets, indoor and outdoor whirlpool spas, and a dramatic entry foyer complete with a music room. All furnishings inside the Owner's Suite were designed by Ralph Lauren, making the suite feel more like a New York City penthouse than a cruise cabin.

To truly make you feel like royalty, all suites onboard Oceania Cruises come with a private butler service that includes in-suite dining, shoe shining, laundry services, and personalized touches like evening canapés.

Next up, a suite offered by Regent Seven Seas Cruises. You can find the Regent Suite aboard the Seven Seas Explorer, though you'll pay a pretty penny to stay in this luxury cabin. The cabin itself includes two large bedrooms, two private balconies, a heated mini pool spa, a spacious living area, and a private solarium. This suite accommodates up to six guests.

A custom Steinway grand Maroque piano by Dakota Jackson can be found in the expansive living area of the suite. Lush furnishings and plenty of natural sunlight make this luxury cabin perfect for entertaining or relaxing with friends and family.

The Regent Suite also features an in-suite spa with a sauna, steam room, and jetted tub — perfect for relaxing after a long day exploring the ship's destinations. By booking this luxury suite, you also have access to unlimited laundry and dry cleaning, a personal butler, and a bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne upon your arrival.

If you really want to set sail in style, the Balmoral Suite aboard Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2 may fit the bill. This classic suite features comfortable and stylish furnishings throughout its duplex layout. The Queen Mary 2 is the largest ocean liner in the world and was named by Queen Elizabeth II in 2004.

The Queen Mary 2's duplex suites range from 1,471 to 2,249 square feet, allowing for an extremely comfortable stay on this historic ship.

As the largest suite available on a Celebrity Cruises ship, the Celebrity Edge's Iconic Suite stands out as the height of luxury at sea. The suite spans a whopping 1,892 square feet and includes two lavish bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a butler's pantry, and premium dining and beverage packages.

Floor-to-ceiling windows offer stunning views of the water, while a full dining room and spacious living area make this luxury cabin perfect for large groups and entertaining. If you're not already convinced that this cabin is the height of at-sea luxury, a private butler service will attend to your every need onboard this high-end cruise line.

A sweeping deck offers panoramic views of the ocean. Guests can also lounge on the outdoor sun bed, enjoy the outdoor spa bath, and take in the stunning scenery from the provided deck chairs.

• • Read more:
  • NYC has a penthouse problem, LA has a mansion problem, and Miami has a condo problem
  • A cruise ship worker reveals what it's really like to work on a cruise ship
  • Disappointing photos show what cruise ships look like in real life
  • Cruise-ship workers reveal how much money they really make

• If you want a bigger iPhone screen, you could buy a newer model — or, you could learn how to mirror your iPhone's screen on a Mac computer.
• Using a Mac's QuickTime player, you can easily mirror your iPhone screen on your Mac.
• You can also use the third-party app Reflector to optimize iPhone content that is set up for AirPlay to be played on your computer.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

One of the iPhone's greatest assets is its connectivity. Built into Apple products are several ways to easily share what you're viewing or working on from your iPhone to a Mac or iPad. 

This can be useful if you want to put a photo album or display an app on your computer, and works really well with video content accessed via your iPhone's apps. 

If you want to use your Instagram mobile app on somebody else's Mac, for example, you can plug your iPhone in and project your Instagram directly on the computer.

Because connectivity within the Apple family has been a priority nearly from the beginning of the company's existence, you can mirror your phone to your computer easily using just QuickTime and your iPhone's default operating system. 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone XS (From $729 at Apple)

MacBook (From $1,299 at Apple)

How to mirror your iPhone to a Mac using QuickTime

1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac using your Lightning to USB cable.

2. Open Quicktime on your Mac.

3. Click on File in the menu bar at the top of the screen.

4. Scroll down to "New Movie Recording."

5. Next to the red record button (bottom middle), click on the down arrow. You should see your iPhone named in this list. If it's not there, try disconnecting and reconnecting your iPhone.

6. Tap your iPhone.

7. Your phone is fully mirrored on your computer, in the exact shape of your iPhone screen. 

If you press the red record button, you can also record a video of your iPhone's screen.

There is another way to broadcast iPhone content on your Mac: Connecting your phone to Reflector 3, a third-party app for your Mac. 

While using QuickTime as a mirror will give an exact replica of your iPhone — shape and all, including all apps and gestures you make on the phone — Reflector will optimize content streamed through your iPhone to be displayed on your Mac. It's limited only to content that allows for AirPlay, however, and so it will not reflect your phone in its entirety. 

If you want to watch, say, a content-provider app on your laptop, or you want to broadcast a Keynote presentation, this is when Reflector comes in handy.

Note, however, that Reflector is only free for a week — after that, you'll have to pay $15 to keep using it on your Mac. And during your free trial, there will be a watermark on the screen whenever you mirror.

How to mirror your iPhone to a Mac using Reflector

1. Download Reflector 3 on your Mac.

2. Open the Reflector program on your Mac.

3. Open content on your iPhone which allows for AirPlay — in this example, I used the NFL app.

4. Hit the AirPlay symbol (it's a computer screen with a solid triangle at the bottom).

5. It will ask you what you want to AirPlay to; tap on the name of your Mac.

6. Your iPhone will ask for an AirPlay Code.

7. An AirPlay code will show on your Mac.

8. Type in the AirPlay code on your iPhone.

9. Your iPhone content will now show up on your Reflector program on your Mac.

Reflector also has versions available on PC.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to connect your iPhone to a TV in two different ways

• How to connect an iPad to your TV in two different ways

• How to record a phone call on your iPhone using third-party apps

• How to record the screen on your iPad

SEE ALSO: The best lightning cables you can buy for your iPhone

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Facebook's scandals weren't enough for people to stop using it. Here's how the company has held up through data hacks, lawsuits, and massive security threats.

• The best stand mixers make baking bread, cakes, cookies, pies, and more an enjoyable endeavor. You can also buy accessories for making sausage, ice cream, and pasta.
• Due to its durable construction, iconic design, and strong motor, the KitchenAid Artisan Tilt-Head Stand Mixer with Pouring Shield is our top pick.
• Don't miss out on the best deals of Amazon Prime Day 2019. See our master list of the best deals here.

Homemade baked goods bring families together. The smell of bread, cake, or cookies baking often punctuates our fondest childhood memories. And, the companion of any good baking project is a high-quality stand mixer. Stand mixers make quick work of the hardest dough kneading tasks while also offering an array of secondary uses that inspire the chef in all of us.

The main considerations when buying a mixer are your budget, how much space you have on your countertop, and what you want to do with your unit. The mixers on our list range from $40 to $300, and you generally get what you pay for. 

Also, if you plan on making bread on a daily basis, you will need a more durable mixer. If you are interested in making pasta, sausage, ice cream, or using your mixer for other non-standard uses, make sure you choose a model that offers an array of accessories.

We scoured the reviews and ratings of the top experts and users to see which stand mixers have consistent performance, do what they say they can do, and provide the best bang for your buck. Read on to discover which of our top picks is right for you.

Here are the best stand mixers you can buy:

• Best stand mixer overall: KitchenAid Artisan Tilt-Head Stand Mixer with Pouring Shield 
• Best stand mixer for beginners: KitchenAid K45SSOB 4.5-Quart Classic Series Stand Mixer
• Best stand mixer for moderate use: Hamilton Beach Eclectrics 63227 All-Metal Stand Mixer
• Best stand mixer for bread: KitchenAid Professional 5 Plus Series Stand Mixers
• Best budget stand mixer: Sunbeam FPSBHS0302 250-Watt 5-Speed Stand Mixer

Updated on 07/08/2019 by Les Shu: Updated prices, links, and formatting.

Keep scrolling to read more about our top picks.

SEE ALSO: The best KitchenAid mixers you can buy

The best stand mixer overall

The KitchenAid Artisan Tilt-Head Stand Mixer with Pouring Shield is designed to take on just about any project from mixing honey to kneading bread dough.

If you are an experienced home baker, you will appreciate the KitchenAid Artisan mixer. You can mix the dough for nine-dozen cookies or four loaves of bread in one batch with the 5-quart stainless steel bowl. You are certain to find an Artisan mixer in a color that matches your kitchen since there are more than 50 options available on Amazon, including Empire Red, Ice, Bordeaux, and Pistachio. (Note: Price varies by color.)

The Artisan comes with a one-piece pouring shield, six-wire whip, coated dough hook, and a coated flat beater. Also, with KitchenAid's 59-point planetary mixing action, there are 59 touch-points for every rotation the wire whip, beater, or dough hook makes around the bowl. This ensures fast and thorough mixing.

Most of the industry experts agree that the Artisan has impressive power. Foodal ranked the KSM150 as its top mixer and liked that it came with all of the attachments you need to get started. Thanks to its ability to knead bread dough, its solid motor, and the robust, stylish design, the Good Housekeeping Institute gave this model a 93 on a scale of 100. Lastly, the color selection, versatility, and motor led Top Ten Reviews to award the KSM150 best mixer honors. However, the site disliked that it didn't have advanced features, such as a timer or overload protection.

Some 90% of the reviews of the KitchenAid Artisan mixer on Amazon are for 4 or 5 stars. Buyers noted that this rugged mixer can handle heavy-duty mixing without waddling along your counter. Buyers did complain that there were too many colors to pick from, and it's hard to distinguish the tens shades of blue available on Amazon from just the pictures. Also, the polish used for the mixing bowls may need to be removed using Bar Keepers Friend, salt and lemon, or baking soda. Otherwise, you may end up with a gray residue on your dough.

Pros: Lots of colors to pick from, pouring shield, durable 325-watt motor

Cons: Lacks advanced features

Buy the KitchenAid KSM150PSER Artisan Tilt-Head Stand Mixer with Pouring Shield on Amazon for $273.95

The best stand mixer for beginners

Since it can handle basic mixing tasks and has an inexpensive price tag, the KitchenAid 4.5-Quart Classic Series Stand Mixer is a smart choice for novice bakers.

KitchenAid does not make cheap mixers. However, the KitchenAid K45SS Classic Series mixer is an affordable alternative. It comes with a wire whip, 4.5-quart bowl, a coated flat beater, a 250-watt motor, and a coated dough hook. There is also a multi-purpose attachment hub that takes fifteen optional attachments for making ice cream, grinding, rolling dough, and much more. You can also attach a food processor that will slice and dice fruits, vegetables, and cheeses. The accessories are sold separately and are compatible with any KitchenAid mixer.

The K45SS is one of the quietest mixers on the market due to its smaller motor. A knob on the side of the appliance lets you shift between the ten speeds. If you are mixing flour or other dry ingredients, they may go flying if you do not have a pouring shield. This model does not come with one and does not do slow start mixing. 

Mix It Bake It was one of the many sites that rated the K45SS highly for its price and ability to handle moderate mixing tasks. However, it did lose points because it has trouble with large batches of bread dough and other tougher jobs. This concern was also brought up by Mixer Reviews, which cautioned against buying this model for regular bread making. The reviewers did like that this KitchenAid Classic Series mixer had a small footprint on the counter. And, the quality design and dependability of the motor were factors in Ratingle giving the K45SS a positive review.

The Classic Series mixer has more than 1,600 positive reviews on Amazon. Buyers found the stylish design complemented an array of kitchen decors, and they liked the mixer's versatility. Verified buyers complained about the K45SS having the same gray residue problems as the KSM150. Also, you may want to purchase a bowl with a handle since the bowl that this unit comes with does not have one.

Pros: Tilt-up mixer head, ten speed settings

Cons: Only has a 250-watt motor

Buy  the KitchenAid Classic K45SSWH 250-Watt 4-1/2-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer on Amazon for $199.99

The best stand mixer for moderate use

Compared to the heavy-hitting KitchenAid mixers, the Hamilton Beach Electrics All-Metal Stand Mixer holds its own for lighter tasks at an affordable price.

As the name suggests, the Hamilton Beach Electrics All-Metal Stand Mixer is made out of die-cast metal. It comes with a dough hook, two-piece pouring shield, wire whisk, flat beater, recipes, and a helpful user manual. The motor is 400 watts with twelve speed settings. This is a tilt-head mixer that measures 9 by 14 by 14 inches when the head is down. When you put the head up, it is about 18-inches high, which should still fit under the cabinets in most American homes.

Not only does the pouring shield keep ingredients from mucking up your kitchen, the shield, attachments, and bowl are all dishwasher safe for easy cleanup. One of the advanced features is high-performance electronics that keep the power constant at every speed.

Foodal gave the Hamilton Beach Electrics mixer a positive review, noting it is more affordable than the competing units of equal power and size and that it provided reliable time-saving performance. However, it proved to be too light for regular bread making. Mix It Bake It echoed Foodal's observations about the affordable pricing point and concerns about daily bread making. The site also added that Hamilton Beach backs up its Electrics mixers with a three-year replacement warranty, compared to the one-year warranty offered by KitchenAid.

Around 87% of the reviewers on Amazon gave the mixer a rating of 4 stars or higher. Despite what the experts say, the buyers on Amazon were adamant that the Electrics is good for bread dough. They recommend following the tips in the user manual, such as never kneading dough at a speed higher than 2. Buyers liked that this mixer could automatically adjust to the thickness of what you are mixing.

Pros: Three-year warranty, good value, 12 speed settings

Cons: May have trouble with tough jobs, like making bread

Buy the Hamilton Beach Electrics 63227 All-Metal Stand Mixer on Amazon for $199.99 and up (price varies by color)

The best stand mixer for bread

The KitchenAid Professional 5 Plus Series Stand Mixer is the most powerful mixer on our list with a 450-watt motor, which makes it an excellent option for heavy-duty baking tasks.

The KitchenAid Professional 5 Plus comes with a stainless steel mixing bowl that fits 5 quarts of dough and features a handle. The ten-speed motor has overload protection and slow-start mixing. Installing the attachments is simple using the flip-up hinged hub cover. The bowl stays secure with the easy-lift lever. A wire whip, flat beater, and a spiral dough hook all come with the unit. And, it is available on Amazon in thirteen colors, such as Cobalt Blue, Metallic Chrome, Onyx Black, and Empire Red (price varies by color, and some colors are available only through third-party sellers on Amazon).

I own and regularly use the original Professional 5. It has served me well for the last 15 years, and you will find even older variants in use. The 5 Plus is a step up from my model with advanced features and a stronger motor (450 watts vs. 350 watts). Even with the smaller motor, the Professional 5 has held up as I use it to make two loaves of bread per week. Mixing pie ingredients, cookie dough, and other easier jobs are a piece of cake (pun intended). The Professional 5 Plus is an improvement on an already terrific and durable product.

Ratingle put this model near the top of its list of stand mixers. Though the reviewers found the appliance to be rather loud, they liked the flexibility the 450-watt motor and ten speed controls afforded. Cooking Upgrades gave the unit 4.5 stars because of the overload reset and the large capacity.

Nearly a thousand reviewers on Amazon gave the Professional 5 Plus mixer 4 or 5 stars. Buyers remarked that it can fit under most cabinets since it is 16.5 inches in height and it takes up little space on your counter. Buyers also found it had the power to take on just about any baking project.

Pros: 67-point mixing, most powerful mixer on our list, several advanced features

Cons: Loud and heavy

Buy the KitchenAid Professional 5 Plus Series Stand Mixer on Amazon for $399 (price and availability varies by color)

The best budget stand mixer

If you are a casual baker who has always wanted a stand mixer but don't have hundreds of dollars to spend, the Sunbeam 250-Watt 5-Speed Stand Mixer is for you.

The Sunbeam stand mixer is a small wonder. It is a two-in-one hand mixer and stand mixer. You simply detach the head from the base for lighter tasks, such as mashing potatoes. This model features a 250-watt motor with five speed settings.

It comes with a three-quart stainless steel bowl and chrome dough hooks and beaters. At 12 by 8 by 13 inches, it is easy to store and does not take up much space on your counter. The unit is made of plastic and may not be right for bread dough and other tougher tasks. For the price, you should also have realistic expectations when it comes to long-term durability.

Mix It Bake It recommends the Sunbeam mixer for people who are willing to do manual mixing, don't have much storage or counter space, are on a budget, are patient with controls and buttons, and who do not want one of the heavier stand mixers (this unit only weighs 7 pounds). They suggest busy bakers who like to work with tough bread doughs buy a heavier duty machine. 

On Amazon, 79% of the reviewers gave the Sunbeam 4 or 5 stars. The buyers seem almost guilty for having chosen this affordable mixer over the KitchenAid behemoths. Yet, they note that this unit works great for casual baking and for tasks that require long-duration mixing, like whipped cream and meringues. One user complained that their mixer broke down after making their second batch of bread dough, but they used the medium setting for this task. Most manufacturers suggest you use the low setting for kneading dough.

Pros: Light, inexpensive, two mixers in one

Cons: Emits an odor, few accessories

Buy the Sunbeam FPSBHS0302 250-Watt 5-Speed Stand Mixer on Walmart for $29.99

• Fitness trackers are a fun and practical way to keep yourself accountable and motivated, and help improve your physical active. Fitbit is one of the most reputable names in fitness trackers and wearables. 
• Last year, Amazon Prime members saved $60 on the popular Fitbit Alta HR, snagging it for just $89.95 (usually $149.95).
• We're expecting similar Prime Day deals on popular Fitbit models this year on Amazon and at other retailers having competing sales, like Target and Walmart. 
• This year, Prime Day will be live for 48 hours, starting at 12 a.m. PT on July 15 and ending at 11:59 p.m. PT on July 16. Don't miss out on the best deals of Amazon Prime Day 2019. See our master list of the best deals here.

Thanks to its wide array of fitness trackers that cater to people of all fitness levels, Fitbit has become one of the most well-known names in the world of wearables.

Whether you're a serious runner who wants to track your mileage or are just looking to improve your health and set fitness goals for yourself, you can find a Fitbit that has all the features you need. Plus, with wearables ranging from about $60 to $250, there's an option for nearly every budget.

If you want a slim design with solid tracking abilities and a heart rate monitor, the Fitbit Inspire HR is a great choice. If you want to splurge, go for the Fitbit Ionic— it boasts all of the same basic tracking features as the cheaper Fitbits, but is souped up with GPS tracking and plenty of advanced fitness and smartwatch features. 

This year, we think Amazon Prime Day (July 15-16) will bring some great Fitbit deals — at Amazon, yes, but also at other retailers having competing sales (like Target and Walmart). We can't be sure what deals we'll actually see until they go live, but we've predicted what we think we'll see, below. Bookmark this page and keep checking in until Prime Day — we'll update this page whenever we get any new deal information. 

Prime Day 2019 Fitbit deal predictions

On Prime Day last year, the Fitbit Alta HR was one of the most popular purchases among our readers. The Alta HR is also an "Amazon's Choice" product with over 3,500 positive reviews. Last Prime Day, members saw savings of $60 on the Alta HR. We think this popular Fitbit has a good chance of seeing serious savings again this year.

We also think we may see lower prices on some of the more expensive Fitbits, like the $250 Fitbit Ionic Watch. A high-tech fitness tracker and smartwatch, it can be used it to track runs, swims, and bike rides, check the weather, make phone calls, find directions, or even to make payments. With such a broad range of features, it makes sense why the price is so high, but Prime Day seems like a good time to make the Ionic a little more affordable.

Whether you want to give one as a gift or treat yourself to one for some summer workout motivation, Prime Day will probably be a great time to grab a Fitbit at a good price.

Join the conversation about this story »

• The former financier Jeffrey Epstein was arrested in New Jersey on July 6 on sex-trafficking charges.
• Epstein's wealth reportedly comes from his privately held wealth-management firm, with a portion of it made by handling the $6.7 billion fortune of L Brands CEO Les Wexner, according to Bloomberg.
• Epstein, who according to Forbes estimates is not a billionaire, has run his business from the US Virgin Islands since at least 1996.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Jeffrey Epstein, who as a financier hobnobbed with Donald Trump, the Clintons, and Hollywood celebrities, was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of sex trafficking minors. 

According to charges filed on July 8, the 66-year-old former financier is accused of using his fortune to pay underage women to give him massages that became increasingly sexual in nature.

Little is known about where Epstein's fortune comes from. Epstein rose to prominence as the money manager of L Brands CEO Les Wexner, Vanity Fair reported in a lengthy profile in 2011. Unlike other well-known financiers, Epstein kept the client list and investments of his US Virgin Islands-based firm — in addition to his own personal net worth — confidential. 

Read more: Jeffrey Epstein has reportedly been arrested and charged with sex trafficking of minors 

Keep reading to learn how Epstein reportedly made his fortune.

SEE ALSO: Meet Bernard and Lisa Selz, the wealthy New York City couple who has donated millions to the anti-vax movement

DON'T MISS: What George Soros' life is really like: How the former hedge-fund manager built his $8.3 billion fortune, purchased a sprawling network of New York homes, and became the topic of international conspiracy theories

Jeffrey Epstein got his start in finance at Bear Stearns.

Epstein's first job in finance was working as an options trader at Bear Stearns, according to NBC News. He'd previously been a teacher at the Dalton School, an exclusive Manhattan college preparatory school.

Epstein reached the level of limited partner at Bear Stearns before he left the company to launch his own firm in 1981, Vanity Fair reported.

Epstein's firm was originally called J. Epstein & Co. before being renamed Financial Trust Co.

Read more: Meet Jeffrey Epstein, the financier reportedly arrested on suspicion of sex trafficking who's rubbed elbows with Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, and Kevin Spacey

Epstein said his fortune came from the fees he charged his billionaire clients, according to Vanity Fair.

Epstein refused to reveal his client list to Vanity Fair, other than saying that they all have assets in excess of $1 billion. That type of secrecy is unusual among top financiers, the magazine reported.

"I was the only person crazy enough, or arrogant enough, or misplaced enough, to make my limit a billion dollars or more," Epstein has said on multiple occasions, according to Vanity Fair's reports. Epstein said he invests his client's fortunes into currency markets.

Epstein does have one well-known former client: Les Wexner, the CEO of L Brands.

Wexner was not only Epstein's sole confirmed client but also a close friend, according to Vanity Fair. According to the outlet, Epstein had an active role in L Brands, which owns Bath & Body Works, Express, and Victoria's Secret. Vanity Fair reported that Wexner even asked Epstein to fire L Brands employees.

Epstein denies rumors that he owes his firm's success to Wexner, however. "I had really rich clients before," Vanity Fair reported.

Wexner later fired Epstein. "Mr. Wexner severed ties with Mr. Epstein more than a decade ago," an L Brands spokesperson told Forbes. Wexner has a net worth of $6.7 billion, according to Bloomberg.

Epstein has also been paid to help clients recover money stolen by fraudulent brokers and lawyers, a review of 1989 court documents by Vanity Fair found.

That aspect of Epstein's business took up 80% of his time, he said in a deposition. Epstein referred to himself as a "bounty hunter," according to Vanity Fair.

Epstein has been sued on various occasions.

The US attorney's office sued Epstein in 1998, alleging he illegally subleased the former home of the deputy consul general of Iran and charged the new tenant $5,000 more a month in rent than the State Department charged him for the residence. However, a review of court documents by Vanity Fair found the US attorney's office lost the case.

Epstein was also sued by Citibank in 2003 over allegations he defaulted on loans he took out to fund investments, according to Vanity Fair.

Epstein resides in a townhouse in New York City's Upper East Side. Bloomberg has valued it at $77 million.

Wexner used a trust to buy the residence (which is believed to be the largest private residence in Manhattan) for $13.2 million in 1989, Vanity Fair reported. Epstein moved in after Wexner and his wife, Abigail Koppel, moved to Ohio in 1996. Wexner's trust transferred ownership of the house to Epstein in 2011 for $0, Bloomberg reported.

Prosecutors are in the process of seizing the house, which they allege is the scene of some of the crimes Epstein is accused of, according to Bloomberg.

While the exact size of Epstein's fortune is unclear, Forbes estimates it is less than $1 billion.

Epstein has never appeared on Forbes' ranking on the world's billionaires because of a lack of evidence on the size of his fortune, the magazine reported. The reported source of Epstein's wealth continues to be his hedge fund, which has released no public records. 

Most of Epstein's wealth is held in the US Virgin Islands.

Financial Trust Co. is incorporated in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, according to Forbes. Spencer Kuvin, the attorney who represented three of Epstein's accusers in the 2011 sexual-assault case in Florida told Forbes that despite their efforts, those court proceedings did not reveal the size of Epstein's fortune. Epstein's lawyers said only that his net worth had "nine figures."

"In the litigation itself we were never able to get him to produce verified financial information," Kuvin told Forbes. " The 'nine figures' came by negotiation. It kept going up and up and up. They started at zero — they wouldn't tell us at all."

• I had to attend a black-tie wedding this June, so I decided to rent my tuxedo through The Black Tux. Prices start at $95 with free delivery and returns, and you can go through the whole rental process online, or head to one of the showrooms or select Nordstrom stores across the country. 
• Your order is delivered 14 days before your event, and you'll have 48 hours after receiving the order to try on the outfit and notify customer service of any issues.
• The brand also provides a garment bag to travel with your outfit easier, as well as all the materials to ship everything back after you wear it. 
• My rental included a three-piece tux, shoes, and all the accessories for around $200, and I'd recommend it to anyone who needs an outfit for a formal occasion. 

As an avid podcast listener, I've been inundated with advertisements for The Black Tux for a few years. People like The Ringer's Bill Simmons to Earwolf's Paul Scheer have all raved about how easy it makes the tuxedo rental process, helping customers find an outfit without having to deal with the awkward poking and prodding of a tailor.

I attended a black-tie wedding this June, and the podcast ads worked — I finally had a chance to try out The Black Tux.

While prices are in the same range as standard brick-and-mortar rental stores with base prices starting at $95, the convenience of completing the entire process online was especially intriguing. Plus, it had a curated collection of outfits that alleviated the normal stresses of shopping for formalwear.  

There's an option to go through the quiz and ordering process online or at any of the 25+ showrooms at standalone shops or at Nordstrom stores across the country or you can do a mix of both, which is what I did.

Read more: 9 places to shop for formal menswear — from custom tuxedos to monogrammed socks

The in-store experience

I visited The Black Tux's NYC showroom to take the quiz and get a better sense of my size, but I did all the actual ordering on the brand's website. 

At the showroom, I went through the usual series of questions about my measurements and style preferences, and the website suggested sizes for the different parts of the tux. There are some weirdly specific questions like neck size and arm length, which I was unable to answer. 

The questionnaire results were mostly right, but there were a few sizing discrepancies once I tried on pieces. The prescribed jacket size was slightly larger than my actual size, so Channa, the associate at the store, picked out a few different options for me to try on as well.

While being in a store for a proper fitting with an associate is helpful, the issue could've been solved if I'd taken measurements before completing the questionnaire so I could've filled it out more accurately. That being said, the brand offers $15 credit for alterations if there are minor fixes without having to send the whole package back — as long as you don't get rid of any of the garment's fabric.

Also, if there are slight adjustments that you need to make to your order before it arrives, you can call customer service and it'll most likely be able to take care of your issue.

I was just attending a black-tie wedding and needed to take care of my own outfit, but if you're a groom, you can set up a group order for your groomsmen and choose what you want them to wear. This way, a rogue groomsman won't show up to your wedding in a multicolored Austin Powers-esque monstrosity.

The in-store fitting experience

The Black Tux fitting experience was incredibly easy and helpful.

I normally get very nervous about purchasing and picking out outfits for formal events without guidance from my girlfriend or parents, but the associate who assisted me was very helpful.

She let me try on all the styles I'd wanted, and beyond just blindly handing out compliments, Channa actually helped me make decisions about which styles to scrap, which to keep, and which ones to mix and match based on my personal style. It ultimately made me feel more confident wearing the tux.

She also gave me advice on things I had no idea about, like collar extenders and shirt stays, without making me feel like the complete novice I actually am. Additionally, she helped me realize I needed to shorten the length of my pant legs and shirt sleeves, and quickly added those notes into my profile. 

In the end, I ended up going with a three-piece tux with a vest, shirt, pants, and all the accessories for around $200.

If you really have no idea about what you want for your tuxedo or the right sizes, visiting the store is probably the best option to achieve your desired look and fit. I walked out of the showroom feeling confident that I would look great for the wedding I was attending.

Read more: This startup is the easiest way I've found to rent a tuxedo for any event

The home try-on

The box arrived a full 17 days before the wedding. According to the brand, you can expect to receive your outfit 14 days before your event, so this was a nice surprise. 

When I opened the box, everything was in its own labeled package, fit perfectly, and felt high quality. However, there was a slight shipping mishap — I had ordered a wing-tip collar shirt, but the shirt I received had a standard collar.

While I personally didn't mind sticking with the standard collar, I reached out to the brand to see how it would handle the issue, and it ensured me that it would overnight the wing-tip collar shirt and I could send the standard one back in the pre-labeled package. 

Wearing the tux

I flew from New York to Ann Arbor, Michigan for the wedding, and it was easy to fold the provided garment bag in half and stow it at the bottom of my Eagle Creek duffel. When the tux, vest, shirt, and pants emerged from my bag hours later, they were wrinkle-free.

At the wedding, I felt very confident in my entire outfit and received many compliments from my extremely-biased mom and girlfriend. I also got some compliments from a couple of less-biased buddies about the tuxedo.  

It was a particularly hot evening in Ann Arbor, but my tux fit well so I wasn't too constrained or drenched in sweat by the end of the party — that wasn't for lack of busting several moves on the dance floor either. The shoes weren't especially comfortable (many dress shoes aren't), but I emerged from the party without any blisters or noticeable soreness. 

Returning the tux

I got an email the day after the event with detailed instructions regarding how to return the package.

In the original package with the outfit, the brand provides a return shipping label and packing tape. Everything fit inside the box easily, and thankfully, The Black Tux asks that you don't include your socks in the return package —which is nice knowing that you aren't wearing someone else's sweaty socks to your event.  

All I had to do was bring the box to a FedEx dropoff point, but if there isn't one near you, you can schedule for a FedEx pickup. You have to return the package within three days following your event, though a call to customer care should do the trick if you need more time.

The bottom line

Ultimately, The Black Tux made figuring out my outfit supremely easy. The associates I worked with were knowledgeable and helpful, and made me feel confident renting — and wearing — a tux.

I liked that I was able to complete the whole process online, and being able to return the package to my closest FedEx dropoff point was a huge bonus. I had friends who had to make more of an effort to return their tuxes to the physical store they rented from — and within a shorter window of time too. 

My entire outfit — which included a tux jacket, vest, shirt, bowtie, cufflinks, pants, socks, a pocket square, and shoes — was around $200, including tax and a $5 damage waiver fee. This is pretty reasonable for so many high-quality pieces.

If you have a preferred tux or suit style and know your measurements, the online-only route should serve your needs perfectly. But if you're looking for more guidance or are unsure of what sizes may fit you best, I'd recommend going into a store and working with an associate to find the look that works for you. Either way, I'd recommend The Black Tux for your next formal event.

Visit The Black Tux to rent a tuxedo or suit starting at $95

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• There are plenty of great blenders out there, but most of them will run you a good amount of money.
• I've had the Magic Bullet Blender (usually $40, currently $29.99) for over 10 years, and I swear by it.
• While it's not the most powerful blender out there, this budget buy is a great pick for anyone who's trying to save some space and money.
• Right now, you can save 25% and get the Magic Bullet Blender for just $29.99 as an Amazon Prime Day early-access deal.

Growing up, I indulged in the simple pleasure of TV breakfasts, which meant eating sugary cereal on the couch and watching infomercials. To clarify, I didn't only watch infomercials, but as any '90s kid knows, the good stuff usually didn't come on until 8 a.m. So, in the wee hours of the morning, before I could watch "30 Minute Meals" with Rachael Ray or "Even Stevens" (I had eclectic taste as a child) I learned about all of the latest and greatest gadgets like Moon Shoes and the Treadclimber by Bowflex.

There was one device that always piqued my interest: the Magic Bullet blender. In the infomercial, the two hosts operated the blender with ease — in minutes they had churned raw almonds into a creamy nut butter, transformed chunks of tomatoes and avocados into delicious guacamole, and precisely grated blocks of Parmesan into the perfect pasta topping. Was it, dare I say, magic?  

Whatever it was, I was hooked. I wanted this blender. No, I neededthis blender. The problem was I didn't have any money of my own to buy it. So, I waited. And, when a $50 gift card to Walmart fell in my lap at age 12, well, you know what I bought. 

Fast forward to 2019 and here I am patting my young self on the back for being oh-so wise, because I still own and use my Magic Bullet blender. 

To be frank, this is by no means the best blender out there. But, that doesn't mean you should stop reading. I think there's a blender out there for everyone — one that fits your specific cooking needs, style and budget preferences. If you're looking for something that doesn't take up much counter space, is very affordable, and gets the job done — the Magic Bullet is a solid option. 

What you get:

I have the most basic Magic Bullet bundle, which includes 11 pieces (most of which happen to be dishwasher-safe). For $29.99, you get the power base, one cross blade, three different sized cups, two comfort lip rings, two resealable lids, one to-go lid, and an additional recipe book. You can also buy bundles that come with more pieces, or choose to purchase upgrade kits if you realize you need more cups or blades. 

Eleven pieces might seem like a lot for one blender, but I've found that the multiple pieces are one of the blender's biggest assets. Rather than one large cup and power base, the Magic Bullet gives you a few smaller ones. This makes prepping a breeze. If you want to make almond butter, for example, you can fill the small cup with all the ingredients you need, twist on the blade and blend. Then, once it's done, just screw on one of the resealable lids and store the cup in the fridge. The same goes for bringing smoothies on the go. Instead of having to transfer everything from the blender to a travel mug, you just twist on a to-go lid and your set. This makes the cleaning process a breeze, as there are significantly less dishes to deal with. It also saves lots of time since the cups function have multiple functions. 

One downside of this system is that the cups are small. I find them to be perfect for single-serving smoothies, which is usually what I use them for. But, if you're trying to make a batch of smoothies for a family, a larger blender may be better for you.

How it works:

As I mentioned above, the Magic Bullet is definitely not the most powerful blender out there. If you're used to using a high-tech workhorse like a VitaMix, you may be underwhelmed, because when it comes to technology, it's usually safe to say that you get what you pay for. It would be unfair to judge this $40 blender (currently $29.99) against a $430 one. If you're cognizant of that, and if you're just looking for a gadget that can do simple things like blend and puree, the Magic Bullet is more than enough.

To use the blender, all you have to do is pop it into the base and push it down with a little pressure to get it started. It really is that simple. After some trail and error of my own, I now make sure to add some liquid to smoothies to help the blades crush all of the frozen fruit. More expensive blenders have tamper tools to help you get all of the ingredients close to the blades, but the Magic Bullet doesn't. Instead, you can take the cup off the base and shake it up to redistribute ingredients and get a more even blend.

What's impressed me most about how this blender works though is how long it's lasted. I've had it for over ten years and it's still working just fine. Considering that's longer than I've had any laptop, phone, or other tech gadget, I'm shocked that this still works and think that speaks to the quality of the product.

Bottom line:

For $40 ($29.99 currently), the Magic Bullet is a great buy. It's an average blender with some above-average specs. The cup system makes taking food on the go easier than ever. The dishwasher-safe attachments make cleaning a breeze, and the small size makes storing the base and attachments simple, taking up barely any space on your counter or in the cupboard. One day, I'd like to think that I'll invest in a nice blender like a VitaMix on my own, but until the time comes, I'll be sticking with my trusty Magic Bullet. 

The Magic Bullet has already been released as an Amazon Prime Day early access deal. You can get it on sale for $29.99, down from $40.

Buy the Magic Bullet Blender for $29.99 on Amazon or $39.99 on Bed Bath & Beyond.

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• Simple, inexpensive, high-quality, and personal. Few jewelry stores offer these qualities in their wedding ring offerings and shopping experiences, but they're what many couples want, and what ultimately makes online company Holden stand out. 
• You can customize every aspect of your wedding ring on its site, and spend less than $200 for the final product to be produced and shipped to you.
• Finding the perfect ring shouldn't be as stressful as it is, which is why the founders created an easy-to-use online design studio and offer free sizing, shipping, and 14-day returns. 

It's all too easy to question how much you even want a wedding ring anymore after you've wearily walked into your sixth jewelry store of the day and confirmed that once again, it contains hovering salespeople, an overwhelming number of options, and price tags that make you think, "really?"

You shouldn't give up just yet because a new online startup called Holden, which sells high-quality customizable wedding rings starting at just $179, could be putting an end to this unnecessarily stressful search. 

Holden is not the first company, nor the first foray into jewelry for co-founders Simon Zhang and Andrew Lim. After graduating from Dartmouth, they founded MUJO, an online fashion jewelry brand, and met countless couples who couldn't find wedding bands they liked. Once they felt the frustration themselves while helping Lim's brother shop for a ring, it became clear that something needed to change.

By offering affordable, one-of-a-kind rings on a convenient online platform, Holden is a response to the expensive and overwhelming ordeal that wedding ring shopping has unfortunately become. 

Couples who are interested in its rings can start with the Ring Size Kit, which the company will send free of charge. Then, you can choose from eight different ring profiles and start designing your rings in the Holden Design Studio. The following features are all customizable:

• Metal: Silver Palladium, Yellow Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, or Platinum
• Karat: 14-karat or 18-karat
• Width: 1.5mm, 3mm, 4.5mm, or 6mm
• Finish: Matte or Mirror
• Optional Engraving: Up to 20 characters 

Read more: Online startup Vrai & Oro is challenging the traditional jewelry industry with conflict-free diamonds and custom engagement rings

The Domed, Square, and Triangle profiles are the most popular shapes, while the 14-karat Yellow and White Gold are the most popular metals, but don't feel pressured to follow the crowd — if you have alternative designs in mind, you can contact Holden directly to make your dream wedding ring a reality.  

It takes up to two weeks to produce the ring, which is crafted to order in New York City. The design is 3D printed, cast into conflict-free and recycled precious metals, and hand-polished before making its way to your doorstep. 

Traditional custom rings are usually pricey because of how time-intensive the design and production processes are, but Holden bypasses these hurdles by making the customer the designer and using efficient 3D printing technology. Free shipping and 14-day returns, complimentary resizing for life, and a limited lifetime warranty policy are other features that differentiate Holden from the typical jewelry shop. 

Lim says revenue has doubled month over month since the company launched in April 2018, and it's on track to generate annualized revenue in the millions by the end of 2018. As direct-to-consumer jewelry startups make their way into the mainstream, we don't see this growth slowing down any time soon. 

Design a wedding ring ($179+) at Holden here

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• The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express has unveiled three new incredibly luxurious suites.
• The iconic train's new Grand Suites come with free-flowing champagne and a 24-hour steward.
• They've been named Vienna, Prague, and Budapest in homage to three of the cities the train visits.
• It's not cheap though — a classic one-night journey in a Grand Suite starts from £6,200 ($7,700) per person.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express has unveiled three new incredibly lavish suites.

Already considered the pinnacle of luxury, the new suites will provide passengers with the ultimate in train travel decadence.

The new Grand Suites will be part of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express from 2020, according to Belmond.

They're named Vienna, Prague, and Budapest, after three of the iconic cities the train visits every year, and join three existing suites, Venice, Istanbul, and Paris (which together were named World's Best Suite for 2019 in the Ahead awards.)

Read more:What it's like to travel on the Belmond British Pullman, the luxurious sister train to the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express which has welcomed royals and celebrities for decades

Needless to say, staying in one of the new suites is a far cry from the sweaty, squished commutes most of us associate with train travel.

Each Grand Suite features underfloor heating and comes with free-flowing champagne and a personal steward who'll be at your beck and call 24/7 — you'll need someone to keep your glass topped up, after all.

Naturally, the suites have been decorated in the lavish 1920's style for which the Orient Express was so famous, with the aim of paying "tribute to the romance and glamour of Europe and the golden era of rail travel," according to Gary Franklin, Vice President of Trains & Cruises at Belmond.

They feature marble en-suite bathrooms with showers, double beds, a private living area, bathrobes, hand-embroidered cushions, and plenty of silk, gold and mahogany.

However, each suite has also been designed with small accents to pay homage to the particular city after which it's named. The Prague suite, for example, features rich golds and maroons, to evoke the city's theatrical feel.

Meanwhile Vienna's imperial nature will be reflected in its suite through ornate and classical gold and emerald hues, and the Budapest suite has taken inspiration from both the Gothic and Ottoman architecture of the city.

To complete the luxurious experience, guests will be given private transfers to and from the train.

The VIP lifestyle doesn't come cheap though — a classic one-night journey in a Grand Suite starts from £6,200 ($7,700) per person.

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NOW WATCH: Mount Everest is not the hardest mountain to climb — here's what makes K2 so much worse

• I've tried a lot of face masks in my life — from dirt-cheap impulse purchases to $80 award-winning at-home facials  — and nothing has worked as well for clarity as this giant $10 tub of the Aztec Secret Clay Mask.
• It has nearly 16,000 reviews on Amazon, and after seeing it all over the internet and having a colleague call it her "most recommended product," I gave it a shot.
• It basically acts like a vacuum for your pores in the 5-20 minutes it's on. 
• Like many Amazon reviews state, my best results came from mixing the mask with Apple Cider Vinegar.

There are a few things that the majority of people who know me would be able to recite off-the-cuff that I love. That list would include the Scribd reading app, comfort and convenience in general (twill flannel-like sheets, fluffy robes, and non-spilling wine glasses), and, lastly, face masks.

For the last few years, face masks have been a pivotal part of 'relaxing' for me. Long day? Throw on a face mask! Horrible commute? Face mask. It became the creature comfort version of Penicillin for every daily ill.

While I've tried everything from the Allure Best of Beauty 2017 $80 TLC Babyface Facial to whatever was under $6 in the TJ Maxx pile, the changes in clarity specifically were always minimal or too fleeting to warrant much shouting from the rooftops or jazz hands in the streets. Sheet masks and hydration masks always moisturized wonderfully, but clay masks remained entertainingly garish and lavish (so, more mentally helpful) rather than actually noticeably improving the clarity, texture, and tone of my skin. 

That is, until I tried the $10 Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay Mask that has almost 16,000 reviews on Amazon and a 4.4-star rating. Even though I've been obsessed with face masks for years, this is the only one that I would go so far as to claim has actually markedly (and for the long-term) improved my skin. After a few weeks of using it once a week, my temperamental combination skin is smoother, clearer, and more even overall. 

The Aztec Clay Mask basically acts like a vacuum for your pores in the 5-20 minutes it's on. The 100% natural calcium bentonite clay draws out all the impurities deep in your skin for what has been called 'the world's most powerful facial'. I can't say it's "the world's most" anything, but it is the first thing I have ever used that wasn't prescribed by a dermatologist and actually works. In fact, it's the first topical treatment I've ever used (prescribed or not) that has actually worked. 

Like all of my best purchases, I found it through a recommendation. A couple weeks ago, I asked the Business Insider staff to send me the best things they had ever bought on Amazon for under $25 and I bought this mask after seeing a colleague mention it as her "most recommended product." Apparently, it had been hiding in plain sight. Once I had heard of it, I couldn't stop seeing it everywhere: in articles, videos, Youtube testimonials with over 1 million views, and even the Sephora beauty blog, which is typically filled with luxe options from of-the-moment brands. But, all in all, the Aztec Clay Mask is worth the eerie, cult-favorite hype. 

Now, instead of putting on any face mask to have a fun night drinking wine with girlfriends, I apply this religiously once a week to sit with my facial muscles rendered immobile for about 10-20 minutes. In other words, it's the first mask I've used for the purpose of what it does to my skin, rather than how it makes me feel. I actually had a moment of paranoia where I considered buying another tub (which is giant even for $11) in advance in case the sellers catch onto the craze and raise prices.

However, you should be careful to only use the Aztec Clay Mask for the recommended 5-10 minutes if you have delicate skin, and be prepared to feel the mask become scaly and tight on your face. I actually have to drink out of a straw when this stuff is on. It's powerful, so you'll see some redness after you take it off, but that has always dissipated within 10-15 minutes or so for me, despite having the sort of sensitive, pale skin that makes yoga teachers worried they aren't giving the class enough water breaks. 

Thanks to its massive popularity, you can grab it from basically any retailer, but it's a few dollars cheaper on the organic food site Thrive Market ($6.59 versus $10+ elsewhere as of now — though you'll need a membership to access it).

All in all, I can say from experience that this cheap wunderkind clay mask is absolutely worth a try if you'd like to see clearer and smoother skin immediately. Skin care is a touchy thing, and even with nearly 16,000 reviews you can't know for sure that it will work for you, but it is so far the only thing that has ever really made a difference in the clarity and appearance of my skin — and it seems I'm not alone in feeling that way. 

*Update: After many suggestions from Amazon reviews and a reader writing in, I tried the Aztec Mask mixed with Apple Cider Vinegar. It worked markedly better than before even. You may find the smell unpleasant, but it is worth it for the soft skin, even texture, and improved tone — and absolutely at $11.

Buy the Aztec Secret Clay Mask on Amazon, $9.99

Buy the Aztec Secret Clay Mask on Thrive Market, $6.59 

Buy Apple Cider Vinegar on Amazon, $9.48

DON'T MISS: I'm using this unexpected pantry item to wash my face — and my skin has never looked better

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• I've worn bras for over a decade, but True&Co's True Body collection has the only seamless bra I've tried that actually supports and lifts cup sizes of C-DDD without wires. 
• They have a variety of styles in their True Body collection, but their V Neck Racerback, $58 is my favorite and ultimate weekday warrior.
• The True Body collection sold out seven times after debut, and every bra falls within the range of $44 - $64. The True Body Lift Bras are now available in sizes up to 42DDD/F. 
• Shop True&Co best-sellers directly, or take a detailed Fit Test here, which uses fit data from nearly 6 million women to make their designs smarter and recommendations more precise. 

Like most people who regularly navigate Facebook, I've grown a bit suspicious of all the ads chasing me.

Don't get me wrong, I've found really great buys that way — Mahabis slippers, Daily Harvest smoothies, Mott & Bow skinny jeans, and Oliberte leather boots come to mind — but there are at least a few companies hiding in that mix who might have a big social media following, but ultimately underdeliver on their promises of comfort, quality, or fit.

True&Co, a brand I found on Facebook, piqued my interest with a wireless bra that was touted as the only one that actually offered support to larger cup sizes. In my experience, though, bras that promise to get rid of wires and still magically provide lift have just been telling all the girls wearing a C or larger only what they wanted to hear. But this collection is different, and it stays true to the big promises. 

After testing it out, the V Neck Racerback, $58, part of the True Body collection, is now my favorite bra that I own. It has quickly become my weekday warrior thanks to its impressive, buttery soft comfort and seamless, clean-lined look. And even though there aren't any wires involved, the V Neck somehow still provides support and lift — though, understandably, still not as much as a traditional bra with some intense wire scaffolding.

The bonded technology means no elastic or bulky, line-disrupting seams; the wire-free channel lends support like underwire without the wire; the "super lift fabric" (a 195g tightly knit blend) provides the noticeable lift and support that usually justifies discomfort in other bras; and the molded cups prevent you from slipping out and getting the dreaded "underboob" that almost uniformly plagues these seamless, "comfort"-first bras. In other words, this bra is not what you think it is. Or, at least, it most certainly was not for me. Even for a DD cup size, this bra still delivered on its rather lofty (pun-intended) claims.

The point is, if you're looking for a bra that is so comfortable you can forget you have it on, is completely seamless under even close fitting tops, and provides more natural lift than your sports bra for at least a DD, then I'd wager you'll love the True Body V Neck Racerback — and likely any of the other True Body bras, which mostly differ based on the orientation of the straps and a U or V neck cut. An important thing to note, though, is that these bras are much thinner than one with padding, and for that second-skin fit, you won't have much coverage. 

With prices between $33 and $64, you're likely to find something that will flatter your shape, meet your lifestyle needs, and fit your budget. Plus, the True Body Lift Bras are now available in sizes up to 42DDD/F. 

I want everyone to love their underwear as much as I've loved the V Neck Racerback, and to be as comfortable in it as I've found the True Body collection to be, but I also know that undergarments are subject to more levels of scrutiny and personal preference than most clothing. It does help when being so adamant about recommending them, though, when you consider that their debut collection sold out seven times on its own. 

You can shop the beloved True Body collection directly on the site, but you'll likely want to take their "Top 3" fit test to get instant answers about which sizes and styles you should be buying. They take into account your preferred style, fit, and your own survey answers about things like body proportions, bra fit complaints, and favorite brands (so their recommendations could fluctuate based on the style you're eyeing).

Plus, they're using the fit data of 6 million women to help you decide what to buy and to improve the fit of their products. However, if you decide to skip it, you can also find a helpful and easy-to-read conversion key at the bottom of each bra's individual page. 

In my case, I'm really glad I took the fit quiz; on my own, I'm positive I would have bought the wrong size. 

If you're less interested in the True Body collection, the company also carries lingerie and underwear, as well as many Calvin & Klein bras and underwear options since the 130+-year-old underwear giant's owner, PVH, recently acquired the five-year-old True&Co (a break from form which suggests magic really is happening here).

I can't say every piece in the True Body collection will be a perfect match for everyone, but I feel confident telling people that the best wireless bra, in my opinion, is True & Co's V Neck Racerback.

If you're looking for support, lift, and love the sound of something buttery soft and seamless, you're likely going to love one of True&Co's True Body bras.

Take the True & Co "Top 3" fit test for recommendations on your perfect three bras

Shop the True & Co True Body collection 

Shop the True Body Lift V Neck Racerback Bra, $58

SEE ALSO: These photos and early reviews show why Everlane's brand-new underwear line is going to be a smash success

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• Luke Holden is the CEO of Luke's Lobster, a seafood restaurant chain with 39 locations in several US cities including New York, Miami, Washington D.C., and Boston, as well as in Japan and Taiwan.
• Before he started his seafood empire in 2009, Holden worked on Wall Street as an investment banker for just under three years. 
• The 35-year-old CEO lives in South Portland, Maine, wakes up at 5:00 a.m. every day for a high-intensity workout, spends his days in small group and one-on-one meetings with his team, and gets more than 250 emails each day.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

After just under three years working on Wall Street, Luke Holden cofounded Luke's Lobster in New York City in 2009 — and in 10 years, the seafood restaurant has expanded to 39 locations across the US and in Japan and Taiwan.

The 35-year-old seafood CEO lives in South Portland, Maine, with his wife and one-year-old daughter.

He travels two to three days per week for work, but when he's home in Maine, Holden spends his days between the Seafood Company, where live lobster comes in from the coast of Maine, Nova Scotia, and Quebec, and the new flagship restaurant in Portland. 

Here's a look at a typical day for Holden, from his 5:00 a.m. workout to meetings with his team, managing fisherman relationships, and ending the day with his family, lobster rolls, and Netflix. 

SEE ALSO: A day in the life of a NYC Upper West Side mom who works from home and raises two kids in one of America's most expensive cities

DON'T MISS: A day in the life of a Google director, who gets up at 5:30 a.m., attends up to 12 meetings a day, and has a 'no screens' rule with her family

Luke Holden is the CEO and cofounder of Luke's Lobster, a seafood restaurant with 39 locations across the US and in Japan and Taiwan.

Holden, a Maine native, cofounded Luke's Lobster in 2009 with his father, Jeff, a lobster processor, and Ben Conniff.

Luke's Lobster operates in cities including New York, Miami, San Francisco, Washington D.C., and Boston.

Holden is typically traveling for work two or three days out of the week. But when he's at home in South Portland, Maine, he wakes up at 5:00 a.m. to fit in a workout. "Now that I have a daughter (and another kid on the way) I start my day even earlier," Holden told Business Insider.

"Every good early morning includes exercise and I do my best to stay disciplined around this," he said. "Ordinarily I go to a small gym 10 minutes from my house, on the way to our Seafood Company. I love high intensity, high repetition weight lifting circuits. I am typically most clear-minded and least susceptible to stress when I can combine cardio and weight training."

At about 6:30 a.m., Holden eats breakfast, either at home or sometimes at Becky's Diner, which is on the way to the Seafood Company.

"I do my best to grab breakfast with others," Holden said. "Sometimes to catch up, and sometimes to make new introductions."

Holden's drive to work is about 30 minutes.

In the car, he video chats with his wife, Laisee, and his daughter, Poppy.

Holden usually arrives at the Seafood Company in Saco, Maine, by about 7:30 a.m.

Holden and his partners opened Luke's Lobster's own seafood processing facility, the Seafood Company, in 2012 to keep up with demand.

"This is where we bring in live lobster that we buy from lobstermen at our partner docks up and down the coast of Maine and, in Canadian season, Nova Scotia and Quebec," Holden said.

"We cook the lobster as quickly as possible when it's at its absolute best, with a process we've developed over generations to achieve the closest thing to scientific perfection with every bite," he said.

Holden usually starts the day catching up on emails and other work at his computer.

"With a team spread out all over the country we rely on email and routine weekly meetings to make sure every part of the business is aligned and working towards the same goals," he said.

The rest of Holden's morning is occupied by small group and one-on-one meetings with his team in Saco and throughout Maine. They discuss topics that include managing fisherman relationships, maintaining and improving their facilities, food quality, company culture, and recruiting.

"The teammates I work most directly with are overseeing finances, people, operations, marketing, sales, purchasing, and system development so truly, every day is a little different," Holden said.

At 1:00 p.m., Holden drives up to the new flagship restaurant in Portland Pier. "This has been an ambitious project for us," he said.

First, they rebuilt a dilapidated pier with new pilings, decking, floats for lobstermen, power, and running water, "all to make this a grade A spot for lobstermen to fish from," Holden said.

Then they reopened the buy station where they purchase all their lobster and hold lobsters in recirculating tanks until the truck loads them up to go to Saco. The resulting two-story, two bar, full-kitchen station is "much bigger than our typical urban operations," Holden said.

After he arrives at the Portland Pier location, Holden checks in with Denny, the wharf manager, to "take the pulse of the fishermen" and check on operations at the buy station. Then he meets with the 100-person team in the restaurant to see how the chef and general manager are dealing with the large volume of guests they've had in the early days of opening.

"These guys are super skilled and experienced and it's fun working alongside them," Holden said. "Of course, I also make sure to do some 'quality control' on the food."

After checking in with the team, Holden finds a quiet place in the restaurant or a nearby coffee shop to take some phone calls.

"I sit on the board of several great organizations, from the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative to the Island Institute and I'm often checking in or joining board calls for groups outside the scope of my own team," Holden said. "Or I'm checking in on an industry relationship, be it a buyer of ours, a co-packer helping us box up our retail product or one of our awesome suppliers like Green Bee Craft Beverages in Brunswick, Maine or Hurricane's Soup in Greene, Maine."

Then Holden gets back to emails. He receives about 250 emails per day and sends around 50, he says.

At about 6:30 p.m., Holden heads home to spend some time with his wife and daughter.

"More play time and bath time and trying to squeeze out the last of her energy so we all get a good night of sleep!" Holden said. "Poppy is a little over a year old now and she's growing and learning new things every day so it's always amazing to watch her and interact with her as she matures. "

By 7:30 p.m., Holden finally has some alone time with his wife, Laisee, while they prepare dinner. He often brings home the DIY lobster roll kits they sell at Luke's Lobster locations, which are called "shacks."

"Unsurprisingly we eat a lot of lobster rolls, but it's not the best to get the fully made roll when I leave work and then let it sit there for two hours until Poppy's in bed," Holden said.

The DIY kit includes all the ingredients and only requires toasting the bun and putting the roll together.

"It still only takes five minutes and there are no conflicting feelings about enjoying play time while your dinner wastes away on the counter," he said.

When they're not eating the DIY kits, the Holdens always have frozen stock of the retail lobster meat and lobster tail kits as a dinner option.

"My wife's favorite meal is lobster mac and cheese," Holden said. "Spoiler alert, I use Annie's Mac and Cheese."

By 8:30 p.m., Holden is watching Netflix in bed.

• YnM's weighted blanket ($49.90 - $199) is a best seller on Amazon with nearly 2,000 5-star reviews.
• Weighted blankets create the illusion of being "grounded" or hugged – similar to swaddling babies or putting "thunder jackets" on animals – and decrease stress and anxiety while improving sleep and potentially overall health.
• I've been sleeping under the 15-pound, 60" x 80" weighted YnM blanket ($59.90) for a few weeks, and it has helped me fall asleep faster, wake up less frequently throughout the night, and feel more rested during the day. 
• The YnM blanket is among the cheapest options, big enough to be used as an adult blanket (or shared by a couple), has segments so the weighted beads stay evenly distributed, and fits inside a duvet cover.

Before I tried one, the simplicity of a weighted blanket – literally, a blanket with weights in it – seemed disproportionate to the miracle it promised to perform: natural calm, dissipated stress and anxiety, and deeper, more restful sleep.

But there's a bit more to it than just fabric and a heavy filler.

Weighted blankets work through deep pressure touch simulation therapy (or DPTS) – a simple but effective aspect of our biology that we've been employing for years: swaddling babies, placing "thunder jackets" on dogs, and using weighted blankets for therapeutic treatment of sensory disorders, anxiety, depression, autism, insomnia, and more. While light touches can alert the nervous system, deep pressure (such as a good massage or tight and heavy blanket) has a relaxing, calming effect on the body. 

More specifically for sleep, deep pressure relaxes the nervous system and encourages serotonin and dopamine production, which makes you happier. Then, serotonin converts to melatonin, and that makes you sleepy. The tangential feelings of calm, safety, relief, and comfort only aid in your body's natural processes.

There are studies that actually demonstrate how grounding the human body during sleep measurably reduces or eliminates pain and stress. This is why weighted blankets aren't the gimmick their simplicity – and zeitgeist enthusiasm – may suggest to the uninitiated.

For the last couple of weeks, I've been sleeping under the 15-pound, 60" x 80" weighted YnM blanket ($59.90), which is a little over 10% of my body weight (the preferred method of calculating which weight to purchase). It's a best seller, has nearly 2,000 5-star reviews, and comes in 10 colors and 12 sizes – a greater breadth of options than I've typically found. The real draw is that YnM's version is relatively inexpensive, made from breathable cotton, has segments that prevent the weighted beads from dispersing unevenly, and comes in sizes large enough to span your bed as a normal blanket rather than only personal-sized. 

I'll get into the nitty gritty below, but I didn't know how much of an improvement there was to make in my sleep until I started using weighted blankets. I admittedly love comfort more than the average person, but I'd call them one of few products that bring me closest to the high bar of genuine "joy" Marie Kondo famously uses as a selective litmus test for possessions you should keep or throw out. When used for relaxation, I feel cozy, and when used at night I fall asleep faster, sleep deeper, and feel more refreshed the next day. When I'm traveling, I miss it. I've recommended it to friends who suffer from insomnia and heard similarly enthusiastic feedback.

My only complaint with weighted blankets is that they can work too well. My sleep is deeper and more satisfying, but that can be accompanied by a groggier morning. Instead of feeling fully awake when my alarm goes off, getting adjusted to the day can be more difficult. Having said that, this is a con I'm fine living with for better sleep and more stable energy. You could potentially mitigate this with an alarm that tracks your sleep and wakes you when you're closest to consciousness, but my indiscriminate Echo alarm can be abrupt.

The YnM blanket specifically is a good version of the weighted blanket. Along with the material, segmentation, and size and color options, you can also cover it with your own choice of removable duvet cover (not included) since the functional fabric may not mix with a fashion-forward decor. It's thin and compact enough to be unobtrusive if you choose to keep it underneath a larger comforter, and has what the company calls a "unique seven-layer system" that's designed to comfortably surround your body and form to your shape. Additionally, YnM supposedly uses more beads and less fiberfill for better overall temperature control. I haven't cut it into pieces and assessed the ratio myself, but it has been a more breathable weighted blanket than I expected.

All in all, YnM's weighted blanket is a great option; it's breathable, versatile, uniformly weighted, and comes on the less expensive end of the weighted blanket spectrum. It has markedly improved the quality of my sleep, and it's something that has made me genuinely excited to climb into bed after a long day. If you want better sleep or a new natural tool to combat anxiety or stress, I highly recommend you give it a shot. 

YnM Weighted Blanket, available in 12 sizes and 10 colors, $49.90-$199

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• Smart light bulbs bring your home into the 21st century, allowing you to control your lights straight from your phone or with your voice.
• After much testing, it's clear that the Philips Hue light bulbs are still the best ones you can buy because they are reliable, consistent, easy to use, and work remotely.
• Amazon Prime Day is back on July 15-16. We expect to see Prime Day deals on Philips Hue devices and potentially other smart lighting-related product. Shop the best Prime Day 2019 deals across tech, home, kitchen, and more. The Insider Picks team will be updating this list frequently.

If you're looking to smarten up your home, there are two things you can buy to get started. The first is a smart speaker with a smart assistant, like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. The second is a set of smart light bulbs. These two are the easiest and most affordable entryways into building a smart home, and a gateway to future smart devices like smart plugs, security cameras and sensors, door locks, etc. 

When it comes to smart light bulbs, there are lots of different options available, with the most recognized ones being the Philips Hue bulbs. But before you settle on any particular brand, there are a number of things you should think about beforehand, especially if you plan on outfitting your entire home. Here's a quick rundown of things to consider:

• Color or white: Smart light bulbs generally come in two flavors — color bulbs or white bulbs. White bulbs, as you might assume, really only turn on and off like your standard light bulb, while color bulbs can change colors. Of course, white bulbs are also generally cheaper than color bulbs because they are less technically complex to create. The nice thing about either is they're dimmable.
• Connectivity: Most smart bulbs "talk" to a central hub (using a technology called Zigbee), which is then connected to a home's network via Wi-Fi (wireless) or Ethernet (wired). But some smart bulbs use other routes: The C by GE bulbs work through Bluetooth, for example. So, what are the pros and cons?
  
  Wi-Fi connectivity means that you can control your bulbs anywhere you have an internet connection, so you can turn them on or off remotely with your phone even if you're miles away. But as mentioned, you'll need a separate hub, and each brand will require its own dedicated hub. Bluetooth bulbs can only connect to a phone within a certain range (approximately up to 33 feet), but the trade-off is that Bluetooth bulbs don't require a hub and use less energy. Hub-based bulbs can work independently or as a collective and can be controlled by multiple users, while a Bluetooth bulb can only talk to one phone at a time.
• Smart home compatibility: Looking to integrate the bulbs with smart home platforms like Google Home, Amazon Alexa, or Apple HomeKit? You might want to check that your bulbs are compatible before you buy them. That way, you can control your bulbs with your voice, and your bulbs can interact with other smart devices in your home.

We tested several smart light bulbs to find the best ones you can buy. We picked bulbs at various price points and included some that don't need a hub. The lights that have hubs do work better and more consistently. The hub also enables you to control your lights remotely, so we think it's worth the price if you're really serious about building a smart home.

You can also check out our guide to the best normal light bulbs if you're not convinced that smart bulbs are for you. Read on to learn all about our top picks for the best smart light bulbs. 

Here are the best smart light bulbs you can buy:

• Best smart light bulbs overall: Philips Hue Starter Kit
• Best smart light bulbs without a hub: LIFX bulb
• Best Bluetooth smart light bulbs: C by GE bulbs
• Best decorative smart lights: Nanoleaf Aurora Starter Kit
• Best portable smart light: Philips Hue Go
• Best Zigbee smart light bulbs: Cree smart bulbs

Updated on 07/09/2019 by Les Shu: Updated prices, links, and formatting.

Keep scrolling to read more about our top picks.

SEE ALSO: The best light bulbs you can buy

The best smart light bulbs overall

The Philips Hue light bulbs are easy to use and set up, and they are the most reliable bulbs we've tested.

Philips is arguably the most famous smart light bulb manufacturer, and for good reason. In our testing, not only were the Philips Hue light bulbs extremely easy to set up, but they were also easy to use and very consistent.

Perhaps the best thing about the Philips Hue bulbs is their versatility. You could go for the color-changing bulbs, which are a little more expensive, but there's also the option for the simple white bulbs, which are much cheaper and could offer a better option for those looking to set up their entire home. No matter which set you buy, all Hue bulbs are dimmable and can be controlled remotely with the Hue app.

The light bulbs themselves output 800 lumens, which is more than enough for most small to medium-sized rooms, and while larger rooms could benefit from multiple bulbs, that's also true of your standard 60W light bulbs that your home may already be using. On top of that, they're relatively small, unlike bulbs from the likes of LIFX, so they'll be able to fit into most places that your average light bulbs fit.

There are a few downsides to using Philips Hue bulbs, including the fact that you'll have to use the Hue Bridge (Zigbee) hub and that they're more expensive to own than Bluetooth bulbs when you factor in the price of the hub (the white bulbs are the most affordable, costing around $15 each). Also, the Hue Bridge hub will not support other brands' bulbs, even if they use Zigbee, but some Zigbee-certified hubs will support Hue bulbs. Of course, the upside to that is reliability and the ability to remotely control your lights, so it is well worth it.

You can also control the bulbs with your voice if you have Google Home, Apple HomeKit, or Amazon Alexa. It's extremely convenient when you don't want to go get your phone or your hands are busy. You can also control the lights using the respective apps for the aforementioned platforms.

We weren't the only ones who liked the Philips Hue smart bulbs — both CNET and Trusted Reviews rated them highly. Experts and buyers alike agree that these bulbs are the best ones you can buy. Having purchased and tested various smart bulbs, Guides Editor Les Shu eventually settled on Philips Hue for his home, citing the easy set-up and operation with both HomeKit and Alexa.

Note: In 2019, Philips introduced new bulbs that support both Bluetooth and Zigbee, which means you can use them with or without a Hue Bridge hub. A two-pack of new white bulbs costs $29.99 (equivalent to standard Hue white bulbs) and a two-pack of new color bulbs costs $89.99. The white-bulb set is priced in-line with the C by GE Bluetooth set we mention in this list, but since we haven't tested the new Hue bulbs yet, for now, our pick for Bluetooth bulbs remain the C by GE. Based on our experience with Hue bulbs, we think these will perform just as well, but now with the option of using Bluetooth.

Pros: Reliable, versatile, easy to use, easy to set up, consistent, voice control, dimmable

Cons: Require Hue Bridge hub, a little pricey

Buy the Philips Hue White Starter Pack on Amazon for $69.73

The best smart light bulbs without a hub

LIFX's bulbs are easy to use and offer a ton of customization in the awesome app, but best of all, they work without a hub.

Interested in setting up your home with smart lighting but don't necessarily want to deal with a hub and the cost associated with one? LIFX' bulbs are probably your best bet.

LIFX has been around for a while now, and the company makes some excellent bulbs that can be set up completely hub-free. Simply screw the bulb in and follow the instructions in the app. The app is pretty easy to use, and it allows you to control bulbs individually or in groups to set scenes, schedule the lights to turn on and off, and even turn on effects like a strobe light for parties.

There are also a few different bulbs available, including the standard A19 bulb and the BR30 model, so you should be able to find the right bulb for most situations.

There are a few downsides to these bulbs. For starters, they're somewhat large, and because there's so much tech packed into each individual bulb, the cost for a bulb is a little higher than Philips' Hue, though these LIFX bulbs don't require a hub. We also found in our testing that at times the app could be a little buggy and not recognize when bulbs were on, though that was rare.

Budget alternative: We like the LIFX bulbs because they support Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit platforms. If you don't need HomeKit support, we recommend the Kasa smart light bulbs from TP-Link. We've had great success with Kasa bulbs, which work similarly to LIFX bulbs — no hub needed. A dimmable white bulb costs $19.99 while a multicolor variant costs $24.99, making these great affordable options. A dimmable soft white bulb and tunable white bulb (adjustable from soft white to bright white) are also available.

Pros: Excellent app, very bright, easy to set up, no hub required

Cons: Somewhat large, can sometimes have trouble connecting

Buy the LIFX smart bulb on Amazon for $44.99 (originally $59.99)

The best Bluetooth smart light bulbs

The C by GE Bluetooth smart bulbs are easy to set up and use in the app, and they cost far less than Wi-Fi bulbs.

Looking for a bulb that connects through Bluetooth? GE has the solution for you: the C by GE light bulbs. This starter pack comes with two bulbs, called C-Life and C-Sleep, and each is designed for different uses. The C-Life is for everyday use, and the C-Sleep is for use in the bedroom.

What's the difference between the bulbs? C-Life is really only a white color (if white can be a color), while C-Sleep offers three different settings: a cold light, to energize you in the morning, a normal white light, and a warm light to promote sleep at night.

Because the bulbs connect through Bluetooth and don't require Wi-Fi, they're pretty small and also relatively cheap, because you don't need to factor in a hub — great for homeowners who are just stepping into the smart lighting world and aren't yet ready to commit to a full lighting system. This two-pack is also less expensive than our hub-less Wi-Fi options, the LIFX and TP-Link Kasa bulbs.

The trade-off is that you have to be within Bluetooth range — 10 meters or 33 feet — to use the bulbs, so forget about using them while you're out of the house or even at the other end of the home. That can be a real problem for some users, especially those who want to really turn their home into a smart home. You may also run into connectivity issues.

Still, that doesn't mean you shouldn't go for these bulbs. The app is quite easy to use — although perhaps not as easy as Philips and LIFX — and the C By GE bulbs represent a great introduction to smart lighting.

Note: The C by GE Life and Sleep bulbs now support Google Assistant, no hub necessary. With a device like a Google Home Mini, you can control the bulbs with your voice or remotely. If you're looking to expand the C by GE bulbs' capabilities, connect them to the C-Reach smart bridge, which adds support for Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit, as well as away-from-home control.

Pros: Cheap, easy to connect, app works pretty well

Cons: Only connect through Bluetooth, limited color options

Buy the C by GE starter pack on Amazon for $24.95

The best decorative smart lights

The Nanoleaf Aurora smart lighting system is a work of art that you can customize to suit your desires.

Looking for some smart lighting that bucks the trend of standard screw-in light bulbs? The Nanoleaf Aurora lighting system not only serves as a great way to bring some light into your home, but it can be configured to suit your home's color scheme and set up in shapes to really accent the room.

The Aurora lights are flat triangles, and you essentially connect a series of them together to create fun shapes on your wall or any other surface. It's available in a starter kit with nine lights, as well as an expansion pack with three more lights. Simply attach the lights to the wall, boot up the app, and go through setup. Then, you can set each light to a different color, all to the same color, or set effects. You can even control them with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple HomeKit.

Of course, as cool as these lights are, they may not be as practical as standard smart light bulbs, and they won't necessarily fit in every home as standard light bulbs will. In our testing, we found that the app could also only connect with the lights when on the same network, which might be a problem for some. Still, those things don't make these lights any less cool when they're mounted on the wall.

In our testing, the Nanoleaf Aurora lights were extremely easy to use, and while it often took a few seconds to connect, once they were connected, the app was a pleasure to use.CNET and TechHive both gave the lights 4 out of 5 stars.

Pros: Unique, great decorations, easy to use

Cons: Requires a home network, not as practical as standard light bulbs

The best portable smart light

The Philips Hue Go offers all the advantages of a standard Philips light, but it also adds portability, too.

This is the second Philips light to show up on this list, but for good reason. Philips' Hue lighting system is arguably the best smart lighting system out there, but if you go for Philips you don't have to stick with stuck-in-place lights. Philips also offers the Hue Go light, which is a light you can take with you around the house, rather than keeping it in one spot.

The light itself plugs in through a standard power outlet, but it also has a built-in battery that can power the lamp for up to three hours, so if you want to unplug it and take it to the living room for a few hours, you can do so. That battery life isn't long, and you'll probably want to recharge it after each use, but if you're good at charging things up, you shouldn't have too much of an issue.

Like other Hue products, the Hue Go is easily set up in the app, where you can tweak things like colors, brightness, and so on.

It's important to note that this light isn't necessarily meant to be taken on a camping trip. It still connects through Wi-Fi via the Hue Bridge hub, so it's really aimed at being an in-home light — one that can quickly and easily be taken anywhere in the home.

Pros: Portable, easy to use, not overly expensive

Cons: Requires home network

Buy the Philips Hue Go portable light on Amazon for $67.74

The best Zigbee smart light bulbs

The Cree smart bulbs connect to your smart home hub through Zigbee, and the best thing about that is that they're inexpensive.

Cree's smart light bulbs are not as well-known as the likes of Philips or LIFX, but its bulbs have a lot to offer. Why? Well, the bulbs connect through Zigbee — so if you have a compatible smart hub, you could set up your home with these smart bulbs at a fraction of the cost.

The reason the bulbs are so inexpensive is that they don't need Wi-Fi radios built into them, and the technology they do need is much more basic. So long as you have a Zigbee hub like the ones from Wink, WeMo, and Samsung's SmartThings, the bulbs will connect to it and you'll be able to control the bulbs from your phone.

Note that not all Zigbee hubs are compatible. The Philips Hue Bridge is a Zigbee-compliant product but it only supports Philips Hue bulbs.

The Cree bulbs are also dimmable, which is great for those of you who want to set different scenes and lighting profiles. The companion app is relatively simple, and if you already have a Zigbee-friendly hub, these bulbs are a very cost-effective alternative to our top pick, the Philips Hue.

Pros: Inexpensive, work with SmartThings and Wink, Zigbee compatible, affordable

Cons: White only, needs hub

Buy the Cree smart bulbs on Amazon for $11.97

• When you buy a backpack or jacket from these seven outdoor gear and apparel brands, you're also supporting programs that clean up the planet, improve access to the outdoors, and improve the environment. 
• They each have their own models. United by Blue, for example, removes one pound of trash from the world's waterways for every product sold.
• Meanwhile, REI donates to more than 400 non-profit organizations and gathers volunteers to impact local outdoor spaces. Read on for more brands.

Corporate responsibility is woven into the business models of many retail companies today. Often times, their programs and initiatives have a direct relation to their business. For example, Leesa donates mattresses to those in need and school supply brands donate backpacks and snacks to children who otherwise lack access. 

The theme holds true for outdoor gear and apparel companies, too. Of all the different types of retailers, it makes sense that outdoor companies are among the most socially and environmentally conscious, because their products directly encourage interactions with our earth.

If you're someone who's shopping for hiking clothes, camping gear, and outdoor sports supplies, you probably enjoy being outside, and so you care about preserving and maintaining the planet — both for your own enjoyment and the enjoyment of future generations.

By shopping at the following seven outdoor retailers, you can help give back to the environment. They donate time, money, and resources to clean up our planet; increase educational opportunities about and access to outdoor exploration; support environment-related legislation, and host volunteer events. 

Shop these 7 brands that are helping you enjoy the outdoors through more than just their products. 

Columbia

Shop Columbia outdoor gear and apparel here: Columbia | Amazon | REI | Macy's

Once a hat distributor in the 1930s, the Oregon-based company is now a shopping destination for outdoor clothing and gear, best known for its jackets and boots. Columbia provides annual product and cash donations to a variety of conservation-focused non-profits such as The Conservation Alliance, The Ocean Foundation, and the National Park Foundation. Through these partnerships, Columbia has helped build filtration towers in areas of Vietnam without access to clean water and improved access to outdoor education for children. 

Cotopaxi

Shop outdoor gear and apparel at Cotopaxi here

Host of the adventurous city scavenger hunt Questival, maker of one of our favorite carry-on bags, certified B Corp that leaves no stone unturned in fighting poverty around the world — that's relative newcomer Cotopaxi in a nutshell.

The company hones in on three pillars that are important for creating a sustainable path out of poverty — health, education, livelihoods — and selects high-impact organizations to collaborate with accordingly. On its website, you'll find clear Impact Reports that delineate how your Cotopaxi purchase helps someone in need. 

REI

Shop outdoor gear and apparel at REI here

Love trying different outdoor brands? REI plays host to all the top outdoor gear and clothing companies, as well as its own REI Co-op brand. Its unique co-op model means that more than 70% of its annual profits are given back to the outdoor community, in the form of dividends to more than 18 million members and investments in outdoors-related non-profits. Some more impressive numbers to chew on: In 2018, it invested $8.4 million in 431 non-profit partners and rallied 150,000 volunteers to impact more than 5,000 outdoor spaces nationwide. 

Hydro Flask

Shop Hydro Flask bottles and other hydration accessories here: Hydro Flask | Amazon | REI

Hydro Flask specializes in insulated drinkware and coolers that are as useful on hikes and camping trips as in the office or home. Its Parks For All initiative specifically supports non-profits that build, maintain, restore, and provide better access to parks. In 2019, it has provided grants to organizations that empower members of underrepresented communities to pursue outdoor recreation, ensure drinkable and swimmable water in Miami, restore park trails in Pittsburgh while providing workforce development opportunities, and more. 

United by Blue

Shop outdoor gear and apparel at United by Blue here

Patagonia

Shop Patagonia outdoor gear and apparel here: Patagonia | Amazon | Nordstrom | REI

An all-around quality clothing and gear manufacturer, Patagonia is also one of the most active and vocal brands in the retail world today — not just among outdoor companies. The activist company donates 1% of sales to support environmental organizations around the world and focuses on providing funding at the grassroots level. It's also pushing shoppers to become more politically involved themselves, providing resources and event information about cause-based groups near you. 

The North Face

Shop The North Face outdoor gear and apparel here: Amazon | REI | Macy's

The North Face has dozens of partners participating in its Explore Fund, a program that revolves around the main themes of "Enabling Exploration" and "Loving Wild Places." Cool initiatives include "Walls Are Meant For Climbing," which helps build free, public climbing boulders, and "Protect Our Winters," which connects high school students with athletes to learn about climate change. It also recently created a filmmakers grant for women filmmakers to show their perspectives and experiences of outdoor exploration. 

• Serena Williams says she was "cut deeply" by the controversy that surrounded her US Open loss against Naomi Osaka last year.
• In a raw essay penned for Harper's Bazaar, Williams says she started seeing a therapist after the match in which she was given three code violations.
• "I felt defeated and disrespected by a sport that I love," she wrote.
• She also shared the message she sent to Osaka after the final, in which she said she was proud of her and "truly sorry."
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Serena Williams has finally opened up about how she was "cut deeply" by the controversy that surrounded her US Open loss against Naomi Osaka last year.

Williams was given three code violations during her straight-sets loss to Naomi Osaka last September in what could have otherwise been her 24th Grand Slam win.

As Business Insider's Alan Dawson reported at the time, the first violation was for coaching, which Williams argued against. Williams was later given a violation for smashing her racket, costing her a point. Her third violation, for calling the umpire Carlos Ramos a "thief," cost her a game.

Before being fined $17,000 she repeatedly demanded an apology from Ramos, arguing that male players weren't punished for similar, or worse, actions. "Because I'm a woman, you're going to take this away from me?" she said.

In a raw essay penned for Harper's Bazaar on July 9, Williams has now said of the events: "I felt defeated and disrespected by a sport that I love — one that I had dedicated my life to and that my family truly changed, not because we were welcomed, but because we wouldn't stop winning."

Read more:An Australian newspaper printed a cartoon showing Serena Williams as an angry baby

Even once she returned home to Florida after the tournament, she said: "Every night, as I would try to go to sleep, unresolved questions ran through my mind in a never-ending loop: How can you take a game away from me in the final of a Grand Slam? Really, how can you take a game away from anyone at any stage of any tournament?

"I turn over, exhausted from lack of sleep, thoughts still spinning in my head. Why can't I express my frustrations like everyone else? If I were a man, would I be in this situation? What makes me so different? Is it because I'm a woman?"

Williams added that she was "hurt — cut deeply" by what happened.

"I tried to compare it to other setbacks I'd had in my life and career, and for some reason I couldn't shake the feeling that this was about so much more than just me," she wrote.

"Not only was a game taken from me but a defining, triumphant moment was taken from another player, something she should remember as one of the happiest memories in her long and successful career. My heart broke. I started to think again, 'What could I have done better? Was I wrong to stand up? Why is it that when women get passionate, they're labeled emotional, crazy, and irrational, but when men do they're seen as passionate and strong?'"

Read more:Serena Williams posted on Instagram at the same time as she was playing at Wimbledon, and people are confused

She went on: "So often, in situations similar to mine, when men fight back against the referees, they're met with a smile or even a laugh from the umpire, as if they're sharing an inside joke. I'm not asking to avoid being penalized. I am asking to be treated the same way as everyone else. Sadly, that's simply not the world we currently live in."

Williams said that after she "couldn't find peace" as days went on, she started seeing a therapist.

"I was searching for answers, and although I felt like I was making progress, I still wasn't ready to pick up a racket.

"Finally I realized that there was only one way for me to move forward. It was time for me to apologize to the person who deserved it the most. I started to type, slowly at first, then faster as if the words were flowing out of me."

She said she wrote a message to Naomi Osaka, telling her she was proud of her and "truly sorry."

She told Osaka: "I thought I was doing the right thing in sticking up for myself. But I had no idea the media would pit us against each other. I would love the chance to live that moment over again.

"I am, was, and will always be happy for you and supportive of you. I would never, ever want the light to shine away from another female, specifically another black female athlete. I can't wait for your future, and believe me I will always be watching as a big fan! I wish you only success today and in the future."

Read more:Serena Williams shared the text she sent Naomi Osaka apologizing after their controversial US Open final

She said that when Osaka replied, "tears rolled down my face."

"People can misunderstand anger for strength because they can't differentiate between the two," Osaka apparently told her. "No one has stood up for themselves the way you have and you need to continue trailblazing."

Of the exchange, Williams said: "It was in this moment that I realized the real reason the US Open was so hard for me to get over: It wasn't because of the backlash I faced but rather because of what had happened to the young woman who deserved so much more in her special moment. I had felt that it was my fault and that I should have kept my mouth closed. But now, seeing her text putting everything in perspective, I realized she was right."

Read more:The newspaper that published the 'angry baby' Serena Williams cartoon ran a hit piece saying she is 'no feminist hero' — here's why they're dead wrong

She went on to say that the incident "exemplified how thousands of women in every area of the workforce are treated every day."

"We are not allowed to have emotions, we are not allowed to be passionate. We are told to sit down and be quiet, which frankly is just not something I'm okay with. It's shameful that our society penalizes women just for being themselves."

She added that it was "a long time" before she picked up a racket again as "there is only so much one person can take."

"In short, it's never been easy," she said. "But then I think of the next girl who is going to come along who looks like me, and I hope, 'Maybe, just maybe, my voice will help her.'"

She said that her own daughter was ultimately the reason she "picked up a racket again."

"Love breathes life and newfound perspective into people," she wrote. "It's not about quitting when someone presents a challenge; it's about getting up when you are down, dusting yourself off and asking, 'Is that the best you got?'"

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• Amazon Prime is $119 for an annual membership or $12.99 per month, though there are special discounts for students and EBT and Medicaid holders.
• Even for $119, Amazon Prime is still ultimately a great deal if you plan to use its features, whether sparingly or frequently.
• In 2018, JPMorgan estimated that an Amazon Prime membership is actually worth $785 annually.
• Prime members also get access to Amazon Prime Day 2019 deals, which are running from July 15-16. If you're considering starting a free 30-day trial of Prime, now is a particularly good time to do it. 

Asking the question "How much would you pay for Amazon Prime?" is kind of like asking how much would you pay to keep using Google. It's so fundamentally entrenched in our daily lives (more than 100 million people have access to Amazon Prime benefits in the US alone) that it has reached a ubiquitous status.  We are used to near-instant gratification, and, for many of us, it's hard to put a price on that convenience.

But that price did, unfortunately, rise in 2018. Amazon Prime memberships went up from $99 to $119 — an increase of 20%.

If you pay month to month, an Amazon Prime membership is $12.99 per month, and a Prime Student membership is $6.49 per month. For EBT and Medicaid holders, additional discounts bring the cost down to $5.99 per month. Overall, paying month to month for the average user will cost you about $37 more than the annual option over a year. 

For the $119 annual fee, Prime members get a ton of benefits (which definitely range in usefulness): free two-day shipping, free same-day shipping, and free two-hour delivery on eligible items (of which there are many), exclusive rewards and discounts, Prime Video, Prime Music, online photo storage, music and books, and about 20 other perks.

As a Prime member, you also get access to Prime Day discounts on everything from new TVs to Instant Pots to Amazon Echo devices. Prime Day 2019 is being hosted July 15-16 in a 48-hour event, so if you're considering it, now is one of the most impactful times to take advantage of the 30-day free trial offered.

But, all in all, is Amazon Prime worth it, even at $119?

In short, yes. 

Granted, you may not use every feature included in your annual membership. If you're a student and/or have access to a university email and save 50% on the yearly fee with Prime Student or you share your Amazon Prime and most benefits with family members via Amazon Household, your dollar stretches even further. But even if none of that applies to you, it's still generally a great investment. Especially since JPMorgan has estimated that your Amazon Prime membership is actually worth $785 annually.

Ultimately, most of us will pay a bit more for the perks we've come to rely upon without much grumbling. But, if you want a breakdown of the ways you're saving and potentially reassess the cost, check out our breakdown below. If you're unsure and haven't made the leap yet, check out a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime before deciding it's worth committing to. 

Here's a breakdown of why Amazon Prime is still a great value, even at $119 per year:

DON'T MISS: Amazon Prime Day will be a full 48 hours this year, running from July 15 to 16 — here's a quick rundown of what deals to expect and how to prepare

SEE ALSO: Amazon Prime Day 2019: Every deals article we’ve written so far

Shipping costs.

The annual price of $119 includes free two-day shipping on over 100 million items. Without Prime, you'll get free regular shipping if your order is over $25, but no two-day perk. This could promote over-shopping (adding more to cart so as to meet the threshold).

Two-day shipping (give or take a couple of bucks) typically costs about $10. If, as a Prime member, you place 11 orders of under $25 over the course of a year on Amazon (say, you need paper towels but not much else), the membership pays for itself. 

And while expedited shipping is an abnormal cost for most of us, it's a pricey one. However, Prime's free same-day shipping on over a million items in 8,000 cities when you spend over $35 can save you money, time, and convenience. 

On average, Amazon Prime members spend $1,400 US dollars on the platform every year. Non-Prime users spend a little less than half that ($600), but they may be picking up the tab elsewhere, like in the cost of gas to shop in-store, the higher price of items from big-box retailers, and shipping from other stores. 

Video streaming services.

One of the suspected reasons for the increase in annual fee last year was due to the amount of money Amazon planned to pour into its digital content, which is one of the best perks of the Prime membership. It's currently on pace to spend $7 billion on video and music content in 2019.

Prime Video lets you stream from a large library of movies and TV shows for free, including Prime Originals content, and rent the latest releases for low prices. Prime members can also subscribe to over 100 channels (and only pay for the channels they want, which is great for saving money without losing convenience), including HBO, Showtime, and CBS All Access. 

Plus, it's probably only going to get better as streaming competition intensifies.

Unlimited photo storage and sharing, as well as 5 GB for videos and files.

Prime Photos lets you save and share unlimited full-resolution photos across desktop, mobile, and tablet, as well as share unlimited photo storage with up to five people. If you're paying a few bucks every month to increase your iCloud storage just to make room for the photos on your phone, you can cut out that cost and use your membership to a fuller extent.

You'll also get five GB for videos and files. And Prime Photos comes pre-installed on Amazon devices, so you can also view your photos from your Fire TV and Echo Show. 

Sharing Prime benefits across an entire household at no additional cost.

If you're using it as a family, Amazon Household is one of the easiest ways to see the return on your Prime membership investment. Two adults and up to four teens and four child profiles may link in a 'Household,' allowing everyone in the family to enjoy Prime benefits (free shipping, Prime Video, Prime Photos and share content like ebooks, audiobooks, games, and apps) without paying extra. This alone makes Prime a good deal if you or your family members use any of the features even sparingly. 

Another benefit of linking accounts is that adults can approve orders before they're placed (for teens) and set parental controls on digital content (for kids). 

Prime exclusive rewards and discounts, like Prime Day deals, Lightning Deals, and a rewards credit card that gives you 5% cash back.

Your Prime membership also makes you eligible for lots of exclusive deals, which are the metaphorical cherry on top of the rest mentioned.

The most impactful is access to Prime Day deals, but you also get exclusive access to the following:

Early access to Lightning Deals: Prime members get an extra 30 minutes to shop lightning deals (which typically last only for a few hours) before they're officially open. Just look for the "Prime Early Access" label as you shop the page. 

Discounts or rewards for choosing no-rush shipping at checkout:If you can wait a few extra days for your order to arrive, you can either earn rewards on future purchases or receive discounts immediately. Rewards are automatically added to your account once your free No-Rush order ships and they are automatically applied to qualifying orders as well. 

A rewards credit card with no annual fee or foreign transaction fees:Get 5% back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market, 2% back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores, and 1% back on all other purchases. You'll also get a $70 Amazon.com gift card instantly upon approval, and you can redeem your points on Amazon as well as for cash back, gift cards, and travel.

Added discounts and exclusive options in Prime Pantry: You can do a free 30-day trial, but Prime members can tack on $4.99 per month for access to thousands of household essentials, many of which are not available elsewhere on Amazon. Pantry-exclusive coupons save you even more money on these items. Find a review here.

The option to try clothes on at home before actually buying them.

Prime Wardrobe lets you try on and purchase new styles at home. Choose three or more items across their many lines and try them on at home before deciding what to keep and pay for. You have seven days to choose, and you can just check out online once you've decided. From there, return your unwanted items for free using the resealable box and prepaid shipping label. 

If you don't frequently shop online this might not save you much money through your membership. But if you've ever gotten burned by a short return window and a busy schedule, the try-before-you-buy is a great feature to save money in the long term. 

Access to books, magazines, and comics.

Prime members get access to Prime Reading which means they can choose up to 10 titles at a time from more than 1,000 options as a perk of membership, and Amazon First Reads gives you access to one free Kindle book every month. For Prime Day, Prime members can get two kindle books for free in July.

And if you have kids and find yourself spending a lot on kids' books, movies, TV shows, or educational apps and games put-together, Prime members can pay $2.99 per month for a single child or $6.99 for a family of four kids for FreeTime Unlimited, which gives members unlimited access to thousands of options. Start a trial here before committing. 

Parents can set controls like time limits and content filters, and personalize the experiences of each child profile. It's available on Fire Tablets (books, videos, apps), Echo (audio), Kindle eReaders (books), and Android phones and tablets (books, videos). 

Free Prime Music streaming and discounted Amazon Music Unlimited.

Prime Music is a benefit of your Prime Membership that features a growing selection of 2 million songs which you can listen to ad-free and on-demand. If you want to expand your options, Amazon Music Unlimited ($7.99 per month) has a larger library of tens of millions of songs and lets you download them for offline listening on any device. Depending on your own preference, Amazon Music Unlimited might be a better deal than popular choices like Spotify Premium ($9.99 per month). You can find a trial here to determine which one is better ultimately for you.

Right now, you can also get four months of Amazon Music Unlimited for $0.99 as an early Prime Day deal. 

Save 50% on Prime with access to a university.edu email or as a qualifying customer with an EBT or Medicaid card.

If you have access to a .edu email and haven't yet become a member with it, you can get a six-month trial of Prime Student at no-cost and then pay 50% less than other Prime users ($6.49 per month) after the trial ends for four years or until your indicated graduation date — whichever comes first.

Prime is also discounted ($5.99 per month) for qualifying customers with an EBT or Medicaid card. 

Free standard shipping and returns on Shopbop, East Dane, and Woot!.

Your shipping benefits are key, and they extend beyond Amazon.com. You can get free two-day shipping by signing into your Amazon account while shopping at Shopbop,East Dane, and the flash deals at Woot! as well.

Exclusive discounts on unlocked phones.

If you want an unlocked phone (and the greater freedom afforded by not being tied to one phone carrier), Amazon reserves low prices for LG, Moto, and Nokia phones for Prime members. 

Twitch Prime live video streaming and viewing.

Twitch is primarily used to watch video gameplay. Prime members get free two-hour delivery, a free Twitch channel subscription (starting at $4.99 per month otherwise), pre-order price guarantee, a Prime-exclusive chat badge, and release date delivery. 

Free Audible Channels audiobooks and podcasts.

Similar to the free books in Prime Reading, this Audible benefitunlocks free full-length audiobooks exclusive to Prime members as well as playlists handcrafted for every interest and Audible-produced news, humor, and crime podcasts.

Right now, Prime members can take advantage of an early Prime Day deal that's giving away three months of membership for just $4.95 per month (originally $14.99). You can also save $30 when you sign up for an annual Audible membership (now $119) and get an Echo Dot for $0.99.

Time.

Perhaps the biggest (and most valued) thing you will save with Prime is time. With free two-hour delivery on household items with Prime Now, free same-day shipping on over a million items, and consistent two-day shipping on everything else, you'll save time commuting, browsing, price-matching, and waiting in lines. 

And if you find yourself waiting in lines for new video game releases, you'll save even more with free release-date delivery on new video games, books, music, and movies if you can wait until 7 p.m. day-of for delivery.

In select cities, you can even enable Amazon Key in-home delivery, so you don't even need to be home to bring your packages indoors. It's a secure in-home delivery on millions of eligible items. It's possible with the Amazon Key Home Kit ($219.99), which can also be used normally to schedule home access for guests, friends, and family. Eligible shoppers can also get packages delivered to their garage or car when it's parked at a publicly accessible area.

• If you plan on getting a new iPhone and don't want to lose your text conversations, knowing how to back up your text messages on an iPhone is key.
• You can back up your iPhone's text messages to iCloud for reliable storage, and you can access them any time from almost any Apple device.
• Syncing your iPhone messages with your Mac computer also ensures you won't lose future texts, and allows you to view or write texts right from your Mac.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

In most cases, a lost text message isn't any more than a brief annoyance. But lost texts can potentially have much graver consequences. A lost text exchange could mean losing an important piece of information or an irreplaceable picture. 

Whether you want to make sure not to lose information you need preserved, or if you just want to keep a chat going smoothly once you get a new iPhone, it's a good idea to back up your text messages from time to time. 

And there are two easy ways to do it.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone XS (From $999 at Apple)

MacBook (From $1,299 at Apple)

How to back up iPhone text messages with iCloud

You can back up all sorts of data to iCloud, from pictures to contacts to messages, and once on the cloud, that data is safely stored and can be accessed any time.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

2. Tap your name/image at the top of the screen.

3. On the next window, tap the iCloud tab.

4. Scroll down to Messages and toggle it on so the switch shows green.

Your texts will now be backed up to iCloud. Just make sure you have sufficient cloud space, and consider buying more if need be — it's cheap and worth it.

If you need info on how to buy more space, see our article, "How to buy more iCloud storage for your iPhone, and what you'll pay for each plan."

How to back up text messages by syncing an iPhone with a Mac 

You can sync your iPhone and Macbook to both send and receive text messages from your phone number. This will ensure the messages won't be lost even if your phone is, as your Mac will keep a catalog of the messages you've sent and received after syncing. 

1. On your Mac, hit the Launchpad app from the dock, then click the Messages app.

2. On the top left of the screen, click the word Messages, then select "Preferences…" from the dropdown menu.

3. Click the words iMessages with the '@' logo (it might read "Accounts" on older Macs).

4. If not already there, enter the email and phone number associated with the Apple ID connected to your iPhone (you will need to sign in first).

5. Now open your phone's Settings app and scroll down to Messages.

6. In the Messages window, tap the Text Message Forwarding tab and select the Mac to which you will allow forwarding.

For more information on using iMessage with a Mac computer, see our article, "How to set up and use iMessage on a Mac computer, and sync it with your iPhone or iPad using iCloud."

SEE ALSO: The best iPhone cases for every model

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• If you want to use your Mac computer with a much larger screen, you can connect your Mac to a TV with a cable — or wirelessly, if you have a smart TV. 
• Televisions can be used as second (or even third) monitor for a Mac, to help with your work, or with gaming.
• Connecting a Mac to a TV also allows you to enjoy movies, shows, and other media on a much larger scale.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

These days, as more and more people are watching their movies and TV shows via a streaming service, the line between computer and television is growing ever more blurred. But even if you're watching a show via Netflix, chances are your big flat screen TV is going to offer a better viewing experience than the computer you use to go online.

Connecting a Mac to a television allows you access to the world wide web on a much larger screen. Using a TV with a Mac can also give you a second monitor, making work or gaming more productive and enjoyable. And in many cases, you can even connect two external monitors or TVs at once. 

To check your Mac's compatibility with external video hardware, click the Apple logo at the top left of the screen, then hit "About this Mac." In the popup, hit "Support," then click "Specifications" on the next window. A webpage will open that has info about your Mac's external video capabilities; just scroll down until you see "Video Support" and read the info below it.

Note, however, that TVs don't always make great second monitors, as dedicated computer monitors, which are designed to be viewed up close, usually have much better resolution than a TV.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

MacBook (From $1,299 at Apple)

Apple TV 4K (For $169.99 at Best Buy)

How to connect a Mac to a TV with a cable

If you have an older Macbook with a Thunderbolt or HDMI output, you can hardwire your Mac to most recent TVs — just note you may need a cable that converts to HDMI if using the Thunderbolt port.

Connect the computer's output to a video input on the TV, then on your Mac, hit the Apple logo, then "System Preferences," then click "Displays." On the next window, make sure "Default for display" is selected, as this will almost always be the best choice.

Most HDTVs can also play audio from a Mac via HDMI cable, so next click the Apple logo, "System Preferences," then hit "Sound" and select the connected TV. (Older computers and/or TVs may require connecting the two devices via the Mac's headset jack to an audio input using a second cable.)

How to wirelessly connect a Mac to a smart TV

Newer Macs and Apple TVs make screen mirroring amazingly easy. Just turn on the TV and Apple TV, then on the Mac, go through the Apple logo, then "System Preferences," then click "Displays" and select the TV from the "AirPlay Display" taskbar.

To mirror a Mac to other smart TVs without Apple TV, you will need to get a mirroring app designed to work with that TV brand. For Samsung TVs, get the Samsung SmartThing app from the App Store. For a Sony TV, get the AirBeamTV app. A quick Google search can help you find the right app for mirroring your Mac to just about any smart TV.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to connect your iPhone to a TV in two different ways

• How to connect an iPad to your TV in two different ways

• How to set up and use iMessage on a Mac computer, and sync it with your iPhone or iPad using iCloud

• 'Why is my Mac so slow?': 6 ways to speed up your Mac computer when its performance is lagging

SEE ALSO: The best Bluetooth speakers you can buy for your Mac

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• When you add a business to Google, you can immediately help your business bring in new customers and new streams of revenue. 
• Once you've signed up for a Google "My Business" account, it should be easy to add a Google listing for your business.
• However, verification can take a couple weeks, since it often requires Google to send you a postcard via snail mail.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

If you have a business with a physical address, adding that business to Google (and thereby making it searchable via Google Maps) is a great way to allow customers to find your workplace, to be able to make a connection with them, and to grow a successful business. 

It also gives your business an air of legitimacy — what business isn't searchable on Google Maps these days, right?

So if you have a new business, whether it's your first or your fifteenth, it's important to make sure it's accessible through Google. 

Here's everything you need to know to get your business added to Google, and how to claim ownership so you can control the business page:

How to add a business to Google

If you already have a Google My Business account, here are the steps you'll have to take to add your new business:

1. Go to Google's My Business site and make sure you're logged in (or follow the prompts to sign up for an account).

2. Enter your business' name and address into the search bar and select "Add your business" (assuming it isn't already listed, in which case you'll need to claim it as yours).

3. Choose whether your want your business' location to appear on Google Maps. If you're adding a restaurant, being on Google Maps is incredibly useful! But if you're just adding a small business run out of your house, keeping that location private might be a good idea.

4. Add the requested information, like business category. If you aren't sure what category your business falls under, try typing a related keyword into the box and see what comes up. And remember that you'll be able to add additional categories later on.

5. Verify your business. Here are all the ways that you can verify your identity to Google:

• By mail.Google will send a physical postcard that includes a verification pin, which you'll then use to verify online.
• By phone. Google will call you, and provide a verification code over the phone. This is only available for certain businesses.
• By email. Google will send you the code over email. Again, this is only available for certain businesses.
• Bulk verification.If your business has over 10 locations, you'll have to submit an extra form to have them all verified at once. To do this, when you click "Get verified," click "Chain" afterwards and enter all your info. Google will then take up to a week to process the request.
• If you have a Google Search Console account, and your business' website is verified through Search Console, you can verify your account instantly. Some business categories aren't allowed to do this.

6. Set up your Google My Business page to complete the process.

If you don't already have a My Business account, you can add your business and create an account at the same time.

The steps are essentially the same as listed above, except you'll need to click "Create Account" on the My Business homepage, and each question (like business name, or address) is separated out into individual pages. 

But again, filling those out should be quick and easy, while verification may require a bit of patience.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to write a Google review, and become a 'Local Guide' for your area

• How to respond to Google reviews of your business on desktop or mobile

• How to delete an outdated Google review, or dispute a spammy review of your business

• How to make a brochure on Google Docs for your company or cause

SEE ALSO: The best budget laptops you can buy for your business

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