• We've known for years that high blood pressure can be lowered with exercise and a healthy diet.
• Researchers now have evidence that suggests exercise can be as effective at lowering high blood pressure as pills.
• As a person's blood pressure goes up, the benefits of exercise appear to get even more significant.
• But more rigorous head-to-head comparisons of drugs and exercise are needed to know for sure. 

Once again, scientists are finding fresh evidence that exercise is basically a wonder drug. 

Research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine on Tuesday suggests that exercise may be just as effective as drugs at lowering high blood pressure.

The review analyzed nearly 400 different studies on drugs and exercise, and focused on patients with top-line (systolic) blood pressure cuff readings of 140 or higher. The results suggested that it doesn't matter much what kind of exercise you perform; as long as you're moving, your doing good things for your heart.

"I wouldn’t necessarily say that one form of exercise seems to be the winner," lead study author Huseyin Naci, a public health expert from the London School of Economics, said on a BMJ podcast. 

'Comparing like with like'

For the study, Naci and his co-authors compared two sets of people. The first was a subset of people from some 197 exercise trials who already had high blood pressure. The second included patients from 194 other studies who were taking prescription blood pressure drugs.

"When we did this type of an analysis, comparing like with like, then we found exercise interventions to appear as effective as drug interventions in lowering systolic blood pressure," he said.

Systolic blood pressure is the top-line read on a cuff; it measures the amount of pressure that's in your blood vessels when your heart beats. Ideally, the number should stay below 120, since extra stress on the arteries can lead to a heart attack, stroke, or heart failure. But it can be tough to see physical signs of pressure building up in a person's blood vessels until it's too late.

Unfortunately, nearly half of US adults are above that 120 mark, leaving them at risk of succumbing to this so-called "silent killer."

Read More: Nearly half of all Americans have high blood pressure — here are 6 things you can do to reduce your risk

The benefits of exercise extend beyond the heart

Doctors have been suggesting for decades that the most straightforward (and cheapest) way to reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure is to stay active.

It makes sense intuitively that more movement leads to better heart health: When you're more active, the heart doesn't have to work as hard to pump blood around your body. But this study was the first to directly compare how blood pressure-lowering prescription drugs measure up to exercise. Previous trials have found that drugs may be better at lowering blood pressure than exercise alone, but they weren't comparing apples to apples.

"A lot of the exercise trials are actually including people who are healthy and who do not have high blood pressure to begin with," Naci said.

His results suggested that a range of physical activities — including jogging, lifting weights, walking, swimming, and high-intensity interval training — all "consistently seem to be effective in lowering systolic blood pressure," Naci said. 

The minimum physical activity standards set by the US government are two and a half hours of activity per week. That can even include chores at home like vacuuming or shoveling snow, as well as walking. But roughly 8 in 10 adults don't meet this minimum.

The new study results may serve as motivation for some people to get moving, but the study authors are still urging a cautious approach to their new findings. 

"We don't think that, on the basis of our study, patients should stop taking their anti-hypertensive medications without a very thorough, careful discussion with their physicians," Naci said.

That being said, there are plenty of other good reasons to work out more. People who do can improve their mood, boost their memory, help their immune system stay strong, and pick up a bouquet of other health benefits, too. 

If you're worried you may not be quite as fit as you should, there is a quick check you can perform right now: climb four flights of stairs without stopping. A recent study, which included more than 12,000 patients with known or suspected heart disease, found that if participants could climb four flights quickly without stopping, they were less likely to die from all sorts of causes, including heart disease and cancer.

So start taking those stairs. It could literally help save your life.

SEE ALSO: 9 things you can do right now to reduce your risk of high blood pressure

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: What happens to your body when you start exercising regularly

• 2019 could be the year of the first treatment for kids with peanut allergies.
• Two companies could compete for a market of around $3 billion — though one, DBV Technologies, just hit a major roadblock
• The treatments aren't a cure, but do reduce the risk of a dangerous allergic reaction to peanuts.
• Some parents say they prefer one product over the other, but it has a key drawback.

Josh Mandelbaum, 13, has a secret.

For five years, a small circular sticker on his back, around the size of a quarter, has contained the very thing that the New Jersey teen is allergic to: peanuts.  

The patch is part of a growing trend that aims to use triggers like peanuts to help those with allergies. The aim is to desensitize them and act like a kind of guard rail against accidental exposure. 

You might soon be able to get a prescription for these treatments as early as next year. Both the patch and another first-of-its-kind peanut allergy pill have the potential to be blockbuster medications.

The maker of the patch, DBV Technologies, had a major setback on Wednesday, however, when it announced that it had voluntarily withdrawn its drug application from US regulators based on their feedback. The stock was set to tumble 60% in premarket trade on Thursday, while shares of rival Aimmune were set to rise 13%.

About 15 million people in the U.S. have food allergies to things like milk, eggs and wheat. Peanut allergies are the most common food allergy among kids, and have been on the rise over the last decade. The market for the treatments is huge, and eventually could reach around $3 billion in total sales, according to Stifel analyst Derek Archila. 

Doctors currently have little to offer patients besides advising them to avoid what they’re allergic to and always carry an EpiPen or product like it to rescue them if they have a life-threatening allergic reaction. Moreover, those with peanut allergies are less likely to outgrow it than other food allergies, and it’s hard to predict how severe an allergic reaction might be.

A treatment, not a cure

The new approach has worked for Josh, his mother, Lianne Mandelbaum, who is also a food allergy advocate, told Business Insider. Josh first tried out the product, DBV’s Viaskin Peanut, as part of a clinical trial years ago.

In the beginning, as part of a “food challenge” used in the trial, Josh had an allergic reaction after eating the equivalent of a fraction of a peanut, Lianne Mandelbaum said. Two-and-a-half years later, it took much more, about one and a half peanuts, to spur a reaction.

While that may sound like a tiny change, it's made a huge difference in how Josh lives his life. He can now confidently go to school and sit in a cafeteria that serves peanut butter, for instance, his mother said.

The patch isn’t a cure: Josh continues to avoid peanut products, for example, and has to be careful about accepting food that could be unsafe. But it's been empowering, she said, and given them peace of mind. 

"I just don’t want him to die from eating the wrong cookies," she said. "We live in a human society. Humans make errors. That’s why you want a safety gap."

Mandelbaum was so pleased with the results that she fought to let Josh keep using the patch after the trial ended, through an expanded access program. The only side effects he’s seen have been itchy red welts, which have eased over time.

Josh would wear it for the rest of his life if he has to, she told Business Insider.

How it all came together

People with allergies are usually advised to keep away from what they’re allergic to.

But controlled exposure, called immunotherapy, has also been part of allergists’ arsenal of tools for many years now, including through allergy shots for pollen, mold, dust and more.

Physicians in private practice have also tried this with peanuts and other food allergies. In what’s called “oral immunotherapy treatment,” patients eat small amounts of peanut or another allergen, which increases over time.

Though these have had success, they aren’t approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and may not be covered by health insurance. And, like other immunotherapy approaches, they have risks, including the chance of an allergic reaction.

The search for a more standardized approach eventually led to the creation of Aimmune, which is developing AR101, a capsule of peanut protein that is mixed into food.

When the company was first started, the big question was “how do you take a food, which is inherently variable and highly unpredictable, and make it into a medicine?” Dr. Daniel Adelman, Aimmune’s chief medical officer, explained.

The company has done that by focusing on peanut protein, which is where the allergens in the nut are, and using that to re-educate the immune system, he said.

Seeking FDA approval

Dosing of AR101 starts at a very low level, or half a milligram of peanut protein, and then increases over about six months to 300 milligrams, or roughly the equivalent of one peanut kernel. Patients then continue on at that level as a maintenance dose.

AR101 and products like it could potentially reduce a life-threatening allergic reaction to a milder one, giving patients, their loved ones and their doctors an added layer of safety, Dr. Purvi Parikh, clinical assistant professor at NYU Langone and a board-certified allergist, told Business Insider.

If they are found to be safe and effective, they could dramatically change patients’ quality of life, Parikh said, reducing an untold amount of anxiety and stress for them and their families.

Aimmune aims to file with the FDA this month for approval to treat patients ages 4 to 17; a decision could arrive by early fall of 2019.

DBV had previously projected an FDA decision next year for use in patients ages 4 to 11. However, according to DBV, the FDA said it hadn't submitted "sufficient detail regarding data on manufacturing procedures and quality controls." The company believes it should be able to submit that information without more lengthy clinical trials, and plans to resubmit the new drug application "as quickly as possible," it said in a press release.

But DBV also provided no new timeline, Stifel's Archila noted, and the lack of detail provided "makes this a hard story to invest in," he said, predicting a one-year delay, at minimum.

Observers are also wondering which company could end up leading the space. A group of doctors previously polled by Stifel's Archila slightly favored DBV’s product, he said, though the analyst also noted that there has been controversy over DBV’s clinical trial data.

Some parents of children with allergies told Business Insider that DBV’s patch seemed safer to them, because it doesn’t require actually eating an allergen. The company also touts this as a potential benefit on its website, saying that its approach “offers a potentially strong safety profile because of how it works via the skin.”

Read more:An experimental treatment for peanut allergies just succeeded in a key trial

Tamara Hubbard, a licensed counselor whose nine-year-old son is taking part in an ongoing trial for the patch, called the product “life-changing.” She was initially drawn to it over other options because the process was slower and avoided gastrointestinal side effects, Hubbard said.

A giant question mark

On the other hand, those on the patch likely won’t know exactly how much allergen they can tolerate, because — absent completing a “food challenge” — they wouldn’t be eating it.

Which product a family chooses will likely thus depend on their own preferences, Hubbard, who specializes in food allergy counseling, among other things, said.

Aimmune’s Adelman also emphasized the latter perspective in an interview with Business Insider.

“I think that the biggest danger to a child who is peanut allergic is going out into the world and thinking they are protected if they’re not,” he said.

Pricing — another giant question mark hovering overhead — could also be an important factor. The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review, a nonprofit that evaluates drug prices and, is still reviewing the products and plans to release reports on them in the first half of next year. 

The companies haven't said how much the drugs will cost.

Parents, meanwhile, said that they hope everyone who wants these products can get them.

“Everybody who has food allergies deserves to have access to lifesaving treatment,” food allergy advocate Mandelbaum said. “It should be available to everybody.”

(This story was first published on Dec. 9, and was updated on Dec. 20.)

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: A Harvard psychologist reveals the secret to curbing your appetite

• Some companies offer senior discounts that stretch the definition of "senior citizen."
• Here, we tracked down five ways you can earn senior discounts in your 50s.

When you blow out your birthday candles to enter a fifth decade of life, you're also opening the door to many new discount opportunities.

Senior citizens, or in many cases, people at least 50 or older, can save a decent bundle of money annually on everything from haircuts to new tires. But it's easy to miss out on opportunities if you haven't researched them or asked about them in-store.

That's why Steve Mitchener developed Sciddy— an app that notifies users when they're near a store or restaurant that offers a senior discount.

"Sometimes people say to themselves, 'Big deal, it's a 10 percent discount,'" Mitchener told The New York Times last year. But according to Mitchener, the discounts can add up.

The father of six and grandfather of seven said he first saw the power of senior discounts while looking for restaurants that offered free kids meals, according to the Times profile. Though he wasn't considering retiring for a number of years, Mitchener realized at that time that he fell into the "over-50 and eligible for a discount" crowd.

And he's obviously not alone. That's why many grocery stores, clothing brands, and even craft stores offer discounts that can mean up to and beyond 20% off a purchase for eligible customers in their 50s.

Here are five ways you can earn a senior discount at specific stores if you're 50 or older:

SEE ALSO: 10 'As Seen On TV' cooking products that actually work

1. At craft stores

Michaels, an art supply store, offers 10% off purchases for anyone 55 or older on a daily basis.

Meanwhile, fabric and craft store Joann, offers 20% off to those 55 or older, but only on the store's "discount days." The company announces discount days periodically on the fabric store's website.

Both stores apply discounts when customers present a state-issued photo ID at checkout.  

2. At clothing and department stores

A number of clothing stores offer discounts to young "seniors." The discount clothing store Ross, for instance, offers 10% off to shoppers 55 and older on Tuesdays, according to First Quarter Finance.

On the first Tuesday of each month, the department store Belk offers 15 to 20% off (depending on the item) to shoppers who are 55 or older, according to the store's website. The company also offers the same discount to teachers and service members.

3. At thrift stores

Salvation Army thrift stores can offer a substantial senior discount, but it ranges based on location. According to CBS, anyone 55 and over is eligible, and the store's discounts can be anything from 15 to 50% off. Those interested can check with their specific location for details.

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

Shopping for grandparents can be daunting. They probably have most of the basics down pat, and if you ask for ideas you'll likely get a genuine "nothing, sweetheart."

But these are the people who sat through your band recitals even though they were unbearably boring. They weathered your tantrums and sticky fingers on their furniture, and they probably slipped you candy even when someone else said no. So, what can you do for them?

Below are 27 gifts that you can feel good about gifting. They’re thoughtful, useful, sweet, and bound to be extremely appreciated by grandmas and grandpas.

Most of these items are available with expedited shipping, and some should arrive within a few days' time, so don't stress too hard about your last-minute shopping — just remember that the sooner you order, the better your chances of a timely arrival.

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

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

Fresh coffee beans from all over the world delivered to their door

Atlas Coffee Subscription or Gift Set, available at Atlas Coffee Club, from $55

Atlas Coffee sends them fresh beans from across the globe to their door. They’ll learn about its flavor profile, tasting notes, suggested brewing methods, a little history lesson in its origins — and each comes in a bag with festive packaging. If they've been coffee buffs for a while — or just love having a morning cup — they'll appreciate both the thought and opportunity to learn something new. 

A Jo Malone diffuser that smells amazing and looks good in a home

Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin Scent Diffuser, available at Nordstrom, $98

A diffuser is like the modern take on potpourri, and Jo Malone makes some incredibly good scents. They’ll recognize the brand, like the smell, and the clean, minimalist glass container means they won’t only bring this out when they know you’re coming over.

A DNA test that lets them delve into family history

Ancestry DNA Genetic Test, available at Ancestry, $59 (originally $99)

Your grandparents are the origins and default architects of much of your life, and AncestryDNA gives them — and you — the chance to explore and appreciate that history. They’ll be able to see their heritage and genetic breakdown (aka 50% Irish, 30% Italian, and so on) and can build family trees complete with historical documents and censuses already on the site. If they’re interested in history, they’ll love this.

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

• Toaster ovens serve as a miniature version of the traditional oven and they offer an array of functions, including broiling, roasting, toasting, and convection cooking.
• The Cuisinart Chef’s Convection Toaster Oven is the best toaster oven you can buy because it's easy to use, heats quickly, bakes evenly, and comes with all the accessories you need, including a pizza stone.

Living in environmentally-conscious times, it may feel like a waste heating up a full-size oven just to make a small meal. And, if you have a small kitchen, a traditional oven may not be an option. This is where toaster ovens can help you save on space and utility bills.

Even if you have a large kitchen, a toaster oven is useful for the heavy-cooking holidays, such as Thanksgiving when you need to cook and warm several dishes at different temperatures at the same time.

There are almost as many heating options available as there are brands. When buying a toaster oven, you also want to consider how much space you will have. Most models will fit between your counter and the bottom of your cabinets. If space is at a premium in your dwelling, be sure to pay special attention to the dimensions of the toaster ovens you are interested in.

We examined the ratings and reviews of hundreds of top users and experts to see which toaster ovens offer the best value for your money, do what they say they can do, and perform consistently. Read on to learn all about our top picks.

Here are the best toaster ovens you can buy:

• Best toaster oven overall: Cuisinart Chef’s Convection Toaster Oven
• Best small toaster oven: Breville Mini Smart Oven
• Best convection toaster oven: Calphalon Quartz Heat Countertop Oven
• Best budget toaster oven: Oster Digital Convection Toaster Oven
• Best infrared toaster oven: Panasonic Flash Xpress Toaster Oven
• Best toaster oven for broiling: Breville Compact Smart Oven

Updated on 12/20/2018 by Kylie Joyner: Added the Calphalon Quartz Heat Countertop Oven after testing. Updated prices and formatting.

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

The best toaster oven overall

Why you'll love it: The Cuisinart Chef's Convection Toaster Oven bakes evenly, is easy to use, and comes with all the pans you need to get baking.

Cuisinart’s Chef’s Convection Toaster Oven is the best toaster oven we've tested. Not only is it easy to use, it also bakes evenly, has plenty of settings, and comes with helpful accessories like a pizza stone, two baking racks, and two baking pans.

With its 0.95-cubic-foot capacity, the oven can hold a 13-inch pizza, a 9-by-13-inch baking pan, a whole chicken, and nine slices of bread. Even though it holds a lot, the toaster oven itself isn't terribly huge. It measures 21 by 17 by 11 inches in size, plus, it looks good in any kitchen, thanks to its brushed stainless steel finish.

The Chef's Toaster Oven has 15 cooking functions, including several helpful pre-sets for foods you'll make a lot like toast, pizza, and sandwiches. It also has a speed convection setting for when you want to get cooking really fast. The 1800 watt oven heats up very quickly and Cuisinart's Exact Heat sensor ensures that the temperature is accurate.

We never had to wait very long for it to reach baking temperatures of 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and it toasts bread perfectly in a matter of minutes. We used the toaster oven to bake pain aux raisin, cuernitos, homemade pizza, and cinnamon rolls. We also warmed up French onion soup, broiled fish, and cooked meals in it for a month to really put it through the test, and it passed with flying colors.

The interior light makes it easy to see what's going on inside behind the big glass door, so you can monitor the progress of your toast, pizza, croissants, or what have you. We found the light particularly helpful when we were still learning the oven's settings.

The baking rack automatically slides out when you open the door, making it easy to pull out your hot baked goods. The interior was easy to clean, too, because of the pull-out crumb tray. All these little features add up to make a great toaster oven that's easy to use. 

We're not the only ones that recommend the Chef's Convection Toaster Oven. The Wirecutter recommends this oven as the best large toaster oven. Good Housekeeping Institute tested an older model of this oven and gave it high marks. Techlicious also gave an older version of this oven a great review.

Buyers on Bed Bath & Beyond as well as Amazon rate it highly, and it's won an Amazon's Choice Award. There have been some reports of the door failing over time, some say the labels rub off the buttons, and others complain that it gets hot to the touch.

However, Cuisinart does warn that the sides will heat up and you should remove any meltable objects from the top and sides before you begin baking. The oven comes with a three-year warranty, too, so if you do run into any problems, contact Cuisinart for a replacement. — Malarie Gokey

Pros: Comes with pizza stone and pans, easy to use, bakes evenly, lots of settings

Cons: A bit pricey takes up counter space

Buy the Cuisinart Chef's Convection Toaster Oven on Amazon for $183.34

Buy the Cuisinart Chef's Convection Toaster Oven at Bed Bath & Beyond for $259.99

The best small toaster oven

Why you'll love it: The Breville BOV450XL Mini Smart Oven with Element IQ has the power of a traditional oven with faster pre-heat times and a smaller footprint in your kitchen.

The main feature that sets the Breville Mini Smart Oven apart is its use of Element IQ variable power distribution. It works like this: Food is cooked more quickly and evenly using the power of four individual quartz heating elements. This distributes heat throughout the appliance where it is needed. The oven adjusts the wattage of the heating elements up to 1,800 watts for flexible cooking based on the heating menu options you choose. The pre-set menu options include toast, bake, broil, roast, cookies, reheat, pizza, and bagel.

With dimensions of 16 by 13 by 9 inches, the Breville Mini Smart Oven is the smallest toaster oven Breville makes, and it can fit four slices of toast or an 11-inch pizza inside. Among the many features that make the unit easy to clean are the removable pull-out crumb tray. You should change it often to ensure the device doesn’t malfunction, as most toaster ovens are designed to stop functioning when crumbs build up to an unsafe level.

Expert reviews of the Breville Mini Smart Oven were almost all positive. Compact Appliance rated it highly for its basic functions as well as the sleek, stainless steel design. The reviewer found the “Smart” term in the name of the device to be a bit misleading because there is no special Wi-Fi functionality. Amy Says Cook performed an in-depth review and found this toaster oven preheats quickly and allows for total cooking control. Time 4 Toast, which exclusively reviews toaster ovens, recommended this model despite the high price because of the Element IQ technology.

The Breville Mini Smart Oven has more than 1,200 five-star reviews on Amazon. Buyers report that this toaster oven is durable and performs just as well if not better than traditional ovens. The biggest complaints are that the buzzer is extremely loud and that the handle to the oven door sticks out too far.

Pros: Durable, easy to clean broad array of cooking functions

Cons: No convection feature, loud

Buy the Breville BOV450XL Mini Smart Oven with Element IQ on Amazon for $149.95

The best convection toaster oven

Why you'll love it: The Calphalon Quartz Heat Countertop Oven heats quickly and evenly, has an easy-to-read screen, and comes with a nice range of accessories.

Whether you live in a small space that doesn’t allow for a traditional oven, or you’re in need of a countertop oven that can help you handle the frenzy of holiday cooking, the Calphalon Quartz Heat Countertop oven is an option well worth considering. This oven features a quartz heating element that allows for more even heating and cooking.

I put this countertop oven to the test to see if it lived up to the promise of fast, precise cooking. During the Thanksgiving holiday, I put it through the paces, and I was pleased with the results. It preheated quickly, and everything we cooked — including a corn casserole and roasted cherry tomatoes — came out perfectly.

The best part is that we had another oven to use for cooking sides while our main oven was busy cooking the turkey for dinner. If you enjoy entertaining, or simply need additional oven space, a countertop oven is a great thing to have in your arsenal of kitchen appliances.

I would also recommend this for those who have a smaller living space or kitchen that may not support a full-sized oven. It can handle all the jobs a traditional oven can, plus it doubles as a toaster. Along with the toast function, ten other cooking functions are available: Bagel, Pizza, Bake, Broil, Roast, Defrost, Reheat, Warm, Cookies, and Dehydrate. It also has a turbo convection setting to crisp up food.

Its larger capacity allows it to cook larger dishes than smaller toaster ovens, but you’ll want to measure your countertop space to ensure a good fit. We had no issue fitting this onto our countertop, and while we likely won’t leave it out all the time, it does blend in well with the rest of our appliances thanks to the sleek, dark stainless steel design.

In addition to having a wide range of cooking functions and a bright, easy to read LCD screen, this countertop oven features a light so you can easily check on your culinary masterpiece — or your piece of toast. Either way, it’s another useful feature to help ensure the cooking process goes smoothly.

I also liked that the oven comes with all the accessories you need to get started, including a wire rack, a baking sheet, a 12-inch pizza pan, and a dehydrator rack. The oven itself is easy to use thanks to the clearly labeled knobs and LCD screen that shows you the temperature setting, cooking function, and time if you choose to use the timer.

I’m not the only one who had great results using the Calphalon Quartz Heat Countertop Oven. This appliance has received highly rated reviews on Amazon and is considered an Amazon’s Choice product. Some reviewers do complain about the high price, and others wish the power cord was a bit longer. Overall though, most love how quickly it heats, how well it cooks, and the multiple settings available. — Kylie Joyner

Pros: Preheats quickly, features quartz element for even heating, easy to read LCD display, 11 different cooking functions, comes with cooking accessories

Cons: On the expensive side, short power cord

Buy the Calphalon Quartz Heat Countertop Oven on Amazon for $199.99 (originally $249.99)

• Justin McConney served as the social-media director for the Trump Organization from 2011 to 2017. 
• He used to draft and send out tweets for Trump before teaching him how to do it himself.
• McConney suggested that Trump should lighten up on the platform and have "more of a sense of humor about himself."

President Donald Trump's former social-media director said his first reaction to learning Trump could tweet on his own was "oh, no," comparing it to velociraptors learning to open doors in "Jurassic Park."

Justin McConney opened up about teaching Trump to tweet in an interview with Politico published on Thursday.

He served as the social-media director for the Trump Organization from 2011 to 2017 and originally drafted and sent all of Trump's tweets until he learned the president could do it himself.

"The moment I found out Trump could tweet himself was comparable to the moment in 'Jurassic Park' when Dr. Grant realized that velociraptors could open doors," McConney told Politico in an interview. "I was like, 'Oh, no.'"

Trump's first tweet was simple, with him thanking actress Sherri Shepherd for her comments about him on "The View" in 2013.

McConney, who was 24 when he first got Trump to start using Twitter, told Politico that he wanted to develop Trump's brand on Twitter and other social-media platforms.

"I wanted the Donald Trump who is on Howard Stern, commenting on anything and everything," he said.

Read more:40 photos that tell the story of Trump and his administration in 2018

He said initially, Trump had him print out Twitter mentions, and he would write his responses in Sharpie before handing the messages to McConney to type up and send out.

When he was on "The Apprentice," Trump would phone in his tweets to McConney, even dictating the punctuation.

Despite not knowing much about the new technology, Trump "knew PR and he knew news cycles very well," McConney said.

Once he could tweet on his own, Trump started to weigh in on a number of topics and even feuded with Rosie O’Donnell and former Yankee Alex Rodriguez.

Now, Trump uses the app to tweet an astounding number of times a day. He tweets about his border wall, the "fake news" media, the special counsel Robert Mueller's "Witch Hunt," and his views on other political leaders. The tweets often begin early in the morning, and, pundits have noticed, are often tied to whatever's being covered on Fox News.

McConney suggested that Trump should lighten up on the platform.

"[He] should go back to having more of a sense of humor about himself," McConney said.

• Read more the Trump administration:
• Trump is abruptly threatening to veto the spending bill and force a government shutdown over the border wall
• Trump's Syria pullout saved the US from 'forever war' — but people are obsessed with a Russia conspiracy
• Trump's attorney general pick once sent an unsolicited memo to the Justice Department calling Mueller's obstruction probe 'legally insupportable'
• Republicans are furious over Trump's decision to withdraw troops from Syria

SEE ALSO: The newest Obamacare enrollment numbers prove the health law is 'far from dead' despite repeated attacks from Trump and the GOP

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Anthony Scaramucci claims Trump isn't a nationalist: 'He likes saying that because it irks these intellectual elitists'

SEE ALSO: 25 creative and unexpected gifts for 'Star Wars' fans of all ages

DON'T MISS: 75 unique gift ideas from startups that are worth having on your radar

A hook system more reliable than the MTA

Umbra Subway Wall Hook, $30, available at Amazon

Part art piece and part functional organizer, the subway-inspired wall hook reminds them of the joys (and terrors) of riding public transportation. 

A programmable R2-D2

A garden aquarium that wastes no resources

Back to the Roots Water Garden, $73.99, available at Amazon

The two-in-one ecosystem is self-sustaining: the fish waste fertilizes the micro greens on top while the plants clean the fish's water. It requires less work and the greens should be ready in 10 days, plus it simply looks cool on their countertop. 

• The housing market in San Francisco is so expensive that it's commonly referred to as being in a crisis.
• Restaurant workers are fleeing the city's unmanageable costs, The Guardian reported, and it's changing the way the industry is serving customers.
• Some restaurants are having customers order at a counter instead of being waited on at a table and are simplifying their menus to decrease the size of their waitstaff.
• The problem isn't unique to the Bay Area: Restaurants in cities like New York City and Washington have encountered similar staffing issues.

Michelin recently released its 2019 San Francisco Guide— and awarded the city more stars than it's ever had before, including eight restaurants with the coveted three-star status.

But there's a grimmer reality behind these numbers: Many restaurants in the city can no longer attract or maintain enough talent to keep operations running as they have been.

Largely, that's because the San Francisco housing market is so expensive that it's driving people out in droves. In fact, as Business Insider's Melia Robinson reported, the city is so expensive — the median home sale price is $1.6 million— that 60% of tech workers say they can't afford homes.

The news bodes even worse for many workers in the service industry. Despite a citywide wage hike implemented on July 1, 2018, that raised the minimum wage to $15 an hour, rent continues to be unaffordable for many. And it means that restaurants, bars, and coffee shops, once common sources of employment for people in the Bay Area, are struggling to hire enough staff to keep operations running.

As The Guardian reported, the effect this is having on the restaurant industry is twofold: Restaurants are either closing down, or they are changing how they serve their customers.

Read more: I've lived in the Bay Area for 30 years, and I'm convinced that tech companies have ruined it

In an effort to stay open despite staffing shortages, restaurants that previously may have had extensive menus and waiters tending to each table are taking measures to cut back on the size of the staff that both prepares and serves the food.

Instead of traditional service, The Guardian's Erin McCormick wrote, some restaurants "are having the customers do the work by standing in line to place their orders and picking up their own drinks. Meanwhile, new 'fine casual' establishments are serving scaled-down menus that can be easily prepared by fewer cooks."

Looking beyond the Bay Area

While San Francisco is notorious for its rising prices, the problem extends beyond the Bay Area.

High rent in New York City has had a similar effect on the restaurant industry, The Guardian reported. And Washington, as The New York Times reported in April, is also experiencing staff shortages — but the problem there is that the expanding restaurant scene is simply outpacing the area's ability to staff these establishments.

"The demand for highly skilled help is especially acute in Washington, where a boom in restaurants run by creative chefs is outstripping the region's labor force," The Times wrote.

Ultimately, the shortage of restaurant staff creates a problem in which repercussions are felt by both the staff and by the diners.

For guests, it means at the very least an altered dining experience with less human interaction from the waitstaff. At worst, as the Michelin Guide wrote, it manifests as "lackluster service and food or fewer opportunities to dine."

And for management looking to fill out staff at these establishments, it means that hiring is an increasingly pressing challenge. As Business Insider's Kate Taylor reported, "Analysts are also calling a lack of employees one of the biggest problems in the restaurant industry today."

Are you an industry professional who's been affected by staffing shortages or has a story to share? Email the author at lbatarags@businessinsider.com.

SEE ALSO: Silicon Valley is so expensive that people who make $400,000 think they're middle-class — here's what the middle class actually is in the 25 largest US cities

READ MORE: A Michelin-starred chef says restaurants should stop serving avocados because they're 'the blood diamonds of Mexico'

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Only in San Francisco — inside the 232-square-foot micro apartment that sold for nearly $425,000

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

• If you're looking for a bed on a budget, the AmazonBasics Memory Foam Mattress provides plush comfort and an impressive level of quality at an unbeatable price. It starts at $130 for the 8-inch Twin size.
• The construction of the mattress allows for breathability, and neither I nor my partner had any issues with sleeping too hot.
• The mattress is backed by a one-year limited warranty, and is available in Twin, Full, Queen, King, and California King sizes.

With the wide range of products Amazon offers, it's not much of a surprise that the company decided to produce its own private line of products under the label AmazonBasics.

In keeping up with the competition of the online mattress market, Amazon added an AmazonBasics mattress to their product lineup, which also includes bed frames and sheets. This memory foam mattress is a remarkably affordable offering in the sea of online mattresses currently available. The 10-inch king-size mattress comes in at just under $300. The price alone makes this a mattress worth considering.

While the price is nearly unbeatable, I put the AmazonBasics Mattress to the test to see if the quality and the comfort make it a worthwhile purchase. I slept on the queen-sized 10-inch mattress, but depths of 8 inches and 12 inches are also available, and sizes range from twin to California king.

As with so many of the products featured on Amazon, you won't be without options.

First impressions

I came home to find the AmazonBasics propped on my back porch. While the cardboard exterior was a little worse for wear, the rest of the mattress was perfectly encased and vacuum sealed in a compact roll, resulting in a narrow box that easily fit through the door and up the stairs. There is no white glove delivery service available here, but at this price point I wouldn't expect that type of service. I would highly recommend two people to carry the box just to be safe, but my boyfriend did manage to get this up the stairs on his own — so if you're feeling particularly strong and can't snag a friend, or have a stubborn significant other who insists they don't need help — one can get the job done.

As with most out-of-the-box mattresses, set up was easy. The mattress unrolled from the outer plastic wrapping onto our frame, and I used a pair of scissors to carefully cut through the vacuum-sealed wrapping. It immediately started to expand. Up to 72 hours are recommended for the mattress to come to its full size. I would say it took about a full 24 hours for the mattress to fully take its shape.

There was some odor from the off gassing, and while unpleasant at first, the smell dissipated within 48 hours and hasn't lingered since.

Construction

The AmazonBasics Mattress is made of CertiPUR-US memory foam, and comprises three different layers for support and comfort. The top layer is the softest, providing a nice cushion that conforms to the body. While this mattress isn't without support, those looking for the feeling of resting on top of the mattress won't find that here — this is a softer mattress with more give than some of the firmer options out there. While this mattress does conform to the body more, it's still breathable thanks to the holes in the second layer of foam, and the wave-like shape of the third layer.

All these layers fit together to form a mattress that provides a decent amount of support coupled with plush comfort. The mattress cover that surrounds these layers is removable, but spot cleaning is recommended. I personally haven't tried washing the cover myself, and the tag advises against it. However, I didn't find this to be an issue with the use of a fitted sheet.

Comfort

Overall, I found this mattress to be both comfortable and durable.

From a support standpoint, I personally would have preferred a firmer feel, but this makes sense for me as I tend to sleep mostly on my stomach. If you're looking for a firmer mattress, but don't want to sacrifice affordability, I would recommend giving the Allswell Hybrid Mattress a try. On the other hand, my boyfriend is a back sleeper and experienced no discomfort or back issues during testing. This would also be an ideal mattress for side sleepers, as the plush memory foam cushions the common pressure points of the shoulders and hips, and helps keep everything in alignment.

As mentioned above, the construction of the mattress allows for breathability, and neither one of us had any issues with sleeping too hot.

As a light sleeper, I also appreciated how this mattress performs with motion transference. When my partner rolled over at night, it had a minimal effect on my side of the bed. However, I did notice that because my boyfriend and I are on different spectrums weight wise, I did tend to slide more toward the middle of the mattress during the night. More edge support would likely have helped with this. Overall though, this wasn't a deal breaker, especially considering the deal you get at such an affordable price point.

Final thoughts

Whether you don't have the means to drop a large sum of money on a mattress, or you're looking for affordable options for spaces like a guest room, I would definitely recommend the AmazonBasics Mattress.

Comfort and quality aren't sacrificed here.

Sleep Sherpa says, "The biggest benefit of this mattress is the price. If you know you like the feel of memory foam, and want a mattress a little on the softer side, this would be a great choice." Amazon reviewers like Neil also praise the affordability. He says, "[I] haven't slept this well in a while, and given the cost it's well worth it."

The AmazonBasics Mattress is backed by a one-year limited warranty, and is available in Twin, Full, Queen, King, and California King sizes.

Buy the AmazonBasics Memory Foam Mattress starting at $130 for the 8-inch Twin size here.

SEE ALSO: I tried a $240 Roomba alternative that automatically vacuums and mops floors — here's what using it was like

DON'T MISS: I've slept on several different 'beds-in-a-box' — and this luxury hybrid mattress is by far the most comfortable

Join the conversation about this story »

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

There's no one who can make you feel better after a bad day or whip up a gooey grilled cheese and tomato sandwich quite like your mom (or grandma, or aunt). She's always there for you, and without ever expecting a reward in return.

So when the holidays come around, there's no better way to return the favor and make her feel special than with a thoughtfully picked gift.

If you aren't sure what to get her this Christmas, you've found the right guide. I've put together a list of 50 gifts all moms will love — even yours — from delicate pearl hoop earrings and beautiful marble-face watches to retro-inspired kitchen gadgets and gorgeous monogrammed clothes and accessories. As a professional product reviewer and as someone who's given her own mom many of the gifts included in this list over the years, I can safely say that your mom will adore them all.

Most of these items are available with expedited shipping, and some should arrive within a few days' time, so don't stress too hard about your last-minute shopping — just remember that the sooner you order, the better your chances of a timely arrival.

• 55 creative and unexpected gifts for her that are all under $50
• 50 thoughtful gifts for mom that won't cost you more than $50
• 28 unique gifts that new moms will undoubtedly appreciate
• 44 thoughtful gifts to give your wife this holiday season
• 20 tech gifts for women that she'll love
• 30 beauty gifts from Nordstrom that come with free shipping
• 16 feminist gifts that give back to empower women and children around the world
• 19 beautiful and affordable fine jewelry gifts she'll love — all under $500

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

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

DON'T MISS: This candle startup has created a beautiful gifting and unboxing experience — here's why we're buying them up

A fancy candle set

Otherland Candles The Threesome, $89, available at Otherland

Candles make any home smell great, and this fancy candle set from Otherland will look gorgeous in any room in her house. The set includes three coconut and soy wax blend candles in beautiful glass vessels. Each candle burns for 55 hours — that's a lot of time that your mom can spend enjoying this gift.

The Amazon Echo

Amazon Echo, $69.99, available at Amazon

There's an ever-so-slight learning curve in figuring out what Amazon's Alexa can and can't do, but once that's passed, the Echo can forecast the weather, read an audiobook, order a pizza, tell jokes, or any number of things moms should find charming. 

Soft, crisp sheets and bedding

Brooklinen Queen Classic Hardcore Sheet Bundle, $187.50, available at Brooklinen

Brooklinen Queen Luxe Hardcore Sheet Bundle, $213, available at Brooklinen

Brooklinen's luxe sheets are the ones I always recommend to friends, family, and Insider Picks readers who email me for their affordable price, sophisticated look, and unbelievable comfort.

The company's Hardcore Sheet Bundles have everything she needs to completely makeover her bed — and stay nice and cozy all year long. It includes a flat sheet, a fitted sheet, a duvet cover, and four pillowcases. Brooklinen also sells comforters, pillows, candles, and blankets. 

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

Many of us grew up on and continue to be enraptured by fantasy worlds. Inhabited by memorable characters and rife with action around every corner, they may have been born on the screen, but they certainly haven't stayed there — just look at all the apparel, games, and even full-fledged conventions and theme parks that they've inspired. 

ThinkGeek believes there's no shame in embracing your chosen geekdom, whether you prefer to escape to faraway galaxies or imagine the unexplored possibilities of Earth.

It's the perfect place to find a gift for anyone who appreciates cult favorites across TV, movies, books, video games, and other geeky interests. The cool and unique gifts from ThinkGeek are inspired by popular franchises like "Game of Thrones," "Harry Potter," "Star Wars," "Star Trek,", Marvel, Pokemon, Super Mario, and many, many more. 

If you know your recipient loves a specific series or world, you can shop the category directly. The following are our favorite gift picks across a variety of our favorite shows, films, and video games, from ThinkGeek. 

Most of these items are available with expedited shipping, and some should arrive within a few days' time, so don't stress too hard about your last-minute shopping — just remember that the sooner you order, the better your chances of a timely arrival.

Shop all gifts from ThinkGeek here

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

A cute BB-8 car charger that also moves and makes sounds

Star Wars BB-8 USB Car Charger, $29.99, available at ThinkGeek

A "Twin Peaks"-inspired pie plate that you should fill with a handmade cherry pie

Twin Peaks Ceramic Pie Plate, $24.99, available at ThinkGeek

Embroidered patches to remind them of their inner kid

• I flew home for the holidays, from the Bay Area to Los Angeles, on a boutique but affordable airline called JetSuiteX.
• There was no wait, minimal security, and a cozy lounge offering free drinks, snacks, and WiFi — perks that helped soothe the anxiety I normally have before a flight.
• Here's how the private company manages to charge less for a superior flying experience.

It was around the time my cab driver asked whether I'd given him the right address that I realized I was either about to have a unique flight experience or end up completely lost. A few minutes later, as we pulled up to what looked like a small hotel, I saw the sign that should have reassured me.

There, on a small white banner perched atop two stakes in the ground, was the name "JetSuiteX."

This was how my experience with a boutique but affordable airline began.

My trip from the Bay Area to Los Angeles on a chartered semiprivate plane with JetSuiteX cost a fraction of a traditional flight and convinced me I'd never suffer through a giant airport for the journey again. There was no wait, minimal security protocols, and a comfortable lounge with free snacks, drinks, and WiFi.

There was, however, one drawback, which I'll describe later.

Here's how JetSuiteX manages to charge less for a superior flying experience.

SEE ALSO: A fresh crop of promising drugs is poised to change the way depression is treated for the first time in decades. Here are the ones to watch in 2019.

With no ticket and no boarding pass for my flight to Burbank, California, on the chartered semiprivate airline JetSuiteX, I wondered whether I'd made a huge mistake.

But as I pulled my luggage out of the car, I spotted another sign emblazoned with "JetSuiteX," and what looked like a few other customers — mostly people with small dogs — scattered around the tiny entrance.

When I walked into the terminal — a few minutes' drive from the Oakland International Airport — a JetSuiteX rug helped assure me that I was in the right place.

As someone who deals with a fair amount of preflight anxiety, I hoped my JetSuiteX experience would be different.

Some of my normal triggers — the things that tip me from antsy to on-edge — include large crowds, long wait times, and invasive security checks. JetSuiteX claimed to have none of that.

There was no wait for my flight. A cheery customer-service agent greeted me and asked for an ID. She used that to print my boarding pass.

She then swabbed my hands and luggage with cloth designed to check for traces of explosives — part of the standard protocol for Transportation Security Administration agents at major airports.

Only there were no TSA agents, and that was the only security I'd encounter.

JetSuiteX says on its website that its security measures "exceed" the TSA's requirements.

"Every customer is matched against the TSA watchlist like any other commercial airline," it says, adding that regulators for the TSA, Federal Aviation Administration, and Department of Transportation "have approved all JetSuiteX security measures."

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

Cult-favorite basics brand Everlane has steadily been taking over as our number one shopping destination for all things sleek, pragmatic, and minimal. 

The brand excels at creating timeless styles with a touch of modern flair, and always keeps practicality top of mind when putting out new designs. There's a reason we write about them so much, and it has everything to do with the fact that their clothing, shoes, backpacks, and travel essentials are truly some of the best out there. 

Another major incentive is the value. As a direct-to-consumer company, Everlane is able to produce everything in ethical factories with benefits and living wages for workers, all while keeping their costs down and passing on savings to the rest of us. 

So whether you're already a die-hard fan who wants to know what other loyal shoppers are buying or you're relatively new to the brand and want a few recommendations, we've put together a list of Everlane picks that our team loves and wears in their daily lives. 

Check out all the men's and women's Everlane pieces we swear by below:

The Modern Loafer Mule (women's)

Modern Loafer Mule, available in six colors, $155

I have two pairs of these mules — one in white and one in black (though they come in tons of colors, including new suede options). They serve the same purpose and have a similar aesthetic as their traditional loafers, but with no blistering on the heel — which is a major consideration for someone who walks as much as I do. These took a little bit of time to break in before they felt truly comfortable and walkable, but at this point they are probably my most-worn shoes. I pair them with everything from denim and a T-shirt to silky slip dresses to plaid pants and oversized button-downs. They're super versatile, sleek, and cute!  — Sally Kaplan, Insider Picks editor

The Cashmere Crew (women's)

Cashmere Crew, available in nine colors, $100

I tried to avoid buying this sweater even though I knew I'd love it because I don't typically spend $100 on anything, but the price is just too good. I'm glad I took the plunge because I love it. I wish I had it in every color, but the classic black one I chose is definitely the most versatile color choice. It's soft, luxurious, and warm for cold winter days. — Malarie Gokey, Insider Picks guides editor

Everlane's $100 Cashmere Crew, without much conscious involvement, became my cold weather uniform last year — a reliable choice for everything from weekend apple picking outings to groggy Monday mornings. It's unobtrusive, chameleon-level versatile, and both looks and feels good effortlessly. I've had more fun buying statement pieces, but rarely have I ever gotten so much wear per dollar. — Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter

Read our full review of the Cashmere Crew here.

The Day Market Tote (women's)

Day Market Tote, available in six colors, $165

Last summer, I got my hands on the cognac tote popularized by bride-of-the-moment Meghan Markle and it has rarely left my side since. You can tell, too. While it was stiffer when I first got it, the leather has weathered beautifully into a soft material that has obviously received a lot of love through multiple uses. The handle length is just right and the bag is surprisingly sturdy. In addition to essentials like my wallet, sunglasses, and a light cardigan, I lug around a large 40-oz. water bottle in it and it doesn't break a sweat.

The simple, elegant design makes it a versatile and polished choice, whether you're going to work or heading out for drinks. I'm personally a big fan of the rosy, warm color options, like Blush and Light Taupe. — Connie Chen, Insider Picks reporter

• Starting with Bill O'Reilly in the early 2000s, many figures on the American political right have argued that there is an ongoing war on Christmas.

• Observers have questioned the reality of such a conflict, given the holiday's prominent place in US culture.

• But throughout history, governments and societies — including certain Christian sects — have tried to do away with the festivities.

Every December, Americans take part in a time-honored tradition: letting slip the dogs of the war on Christmas.

Some folks assert that there's a concerted effort in American society to secularize or erase Christmas, while others call this belief ludicrous. Writing in Politico, Daniel Danvir estimates the most recent iteration of the clash began in 2004, with ousted Fox News personality Bill O'Reilly firing the opening salvo. Since then, "...the War Over Christmas has become tarted up, 24-houred and Twitterized — even as it has grown drearily routine, an annual pageant in which culture warriors line the trenches," Danvir wrote.

The results? "Xmas" has gotten a bad rep in some circles. US President Donald Trump has shouted about bringing back "Merry Christmas" at rallies, while First Daughter Ivanka Trump stoked controversy by wishing people "Happy Holidays" on Twitter. The Yuletide tension between the First Family notwithstanding, this fearsome fight mostly occurs between pundits — Business Insider's Mark Abadi reports most people don't give two sugar plums about your choice of season's greetings.

But that doesn't mean there haven't been so-called wars on Christmas in the past — sometimes waged by Christians themselves.

Here's a look at historic instances during which Christmas was banned or twisted beyond recognition:

SEE ALSO: What the biggest 'War on Christmas' controversy gets wrong about history

DON'T MISS: Fake news is nothing new — here’s how it killed my ancestor over 300 years ago

A group of radical Christians outlawed Christmas — and sparked riots — in 17th century England

People weren't happy when England's Puritan Parliament banned outright Christmas in 1647.

The Puritans had just seized the country from King Charles I. The sect's central quest was to purge the Church of England of all Catholic influences. They viewed Christmas as a mess of a holiday, full of vice and lacking in scriptural basis.

To signal their disdain, the blog History Extra reports Puritans in London would open up shop, show up to Parliament, and shut down their churches on Christmas Day. They even blasted Yuletide delicacies like mince pies as "idolatry in crust," according to Gerry Bowler's "Christmas in the Crosshairs."

But a lot of their fellow subjects didn't agree. In fact, according to "The Oxford Handbook of Early Modern English Literature and Religion," riots broke out in London, Ipswich, and Norwich and other cities. The pro-Christmas residents of Canterbury even took control of their city in defiance of the Puritan leadership.

Christmas only returned to England in an official capacity when Charles II restored the monarchy in 1660.

Many early American colonists hated Christmas, too

The puritanical anti-Christmas vibe wasn't contained to England. It seeped over to the American colonies, too — especially New England. The pilgrims of Thanksgiving fame shunned the holiday in 1620 and did not observe it. Nor did the Puritans who arrived in later years. In fact, much to the dismay of the non-Puritans living in New England, observance of the holiday was banned in Boston until 1659.

Even the early days of the United States, the holiday wasn't a terribly big deal. In urban areas, Christmas was oftentimes marred by violence — often against African Americans and Catholic immigrants — and vice.

The Christmas spirit as we know it today only began to take hold in the mid-1800s. In 1870, President U.S. Grant declared Christmas Day a national holiday, TIME reported.

French revolutionaries rebranded Christmas cakes and renamed the holiday 'Dog Day'

The decadent aristocrats weren't the only ones in the French revolution's crosshairs. The increasingly anti-clerical movement also ultimately went after two unusual enemies of the revolution — Christmas and cake.

According to "Christmas in the Crosshairs," Christmas was renamed "dog day" to mock the holiday, as the government shut down Catholic churches, drowned priests, and established a national, atheistic substitute: the Cult of Reason.

The revolution even went after bakers who dubbed holiday cakes "galette des rois" — or king cakes — after the three magi. Those were rebranded "liberty cakes" or "equality cakes," while mothers who bore sons were permitted to celebrate "the Festival of Birth" around Christmastime.

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

Being a New Yorker means a lot of things to a lot of different people — over eight million if you want to get technical. One thing most New Yorkers have in common though, is that they love their city. This holiday season, show your favorite New Yorker you love them, too, with one of these gifts just for them. From local food favorites to accessories for their commute, we covered lots of bases. Plus, since most of these gifts are from the city itself, you can be sure your city-dweller will receive them in time for Christmas. If they're from New York but live elsewhere, you may want to opt for a shipping upgrade.

Most of these items are available with expedited shipping, and some should arrive within a few days' time, so don't stress too hard about your last-minute shopping — just remember that the sooner you order, the better your chances of a timely arrival.

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

A bag of beans from their favorite local brewery

Coffee Gift Subscription, from $24, available at Blue Bottle

Like just about any other city, New York is blessed with an abundance of coffee shops. We love Blue Bottle — and if you know another New Yorker who does, too, they'll love the brand's coffee subscription. Choose from a three-month, 12-month, or custom subscription and the coffee lover in your life will receive a new bag of unique, whole bean coffee every other week. Blue Bottle is always changing the blends for their deliveries and each one comes with an origin story and flavor profile for those who want to dive a little deeper into their morning brew. 

Earbuds that make their commute more bearable

Bose SoundSport Wireless Headphones, $119.99, available at Best Buy

The New York City Subway is nothing to write home about — in fact, it's rather a necessary evil that brings all kinds of New Yorkers together with the shared frustration of delays, broken air conditioners, and overcrowded platforms. Whether their commute is long or short, a solid pair of wireless headphones will make the trip that much better. 

A cookbook from a famed city bakery

“All About Cake” by Christina Tosi, $23.79, available at Amazon

Everyday, Milk Bar conjures up lines out the door. Trust me, I live next to one. But it's for good reason — Christina Tosi has thought up the most delicious, decadent treats that you've never heard of before, like a cereal milk ice soft serve sprinkled with corn flakes. Now, aspiring bakers can try their hand at her creative concoctions with this cookbook.

• Lottery players everywhere dream of hitting a multimillion-dollar jackpot with a winning ticket.
• But there's a dark side to coming into a windfall of sudden wealth if you're not careful.
• Here's what it's really like to win the lottery.

Becoming substantially wealthier thanks to a tiny piece of paper would make your life so much better, right?

In fact, recent research has suggested that lottery winners are more satisfied with life than those who lost the lottery and that this happiness is lasting, Business Insider previously reported.

But winning a lottery jackpot can also have some unwanted side effects.

Here's what it's really like to win the lottery.

Lottery players everywhere dream of hitting the jackpot:  in fact, the idea of striking it rich is enticing enough for the average American to spend $207 a year on lottery tickets.

In reality, though, your chance of winning is pretty slim— you have a better chance of getting struck by lightning than you do of winning a Mega Millions or Powerball contest.

But eventually, someone — or some people — will win.

If the winning numbers are listed on your ticket, your next step is to turn it into the local lottery commission.

Winning is understandably a life-changing moment that can cause stress or excitement, which can lead to rash decisions. But there are a bunch of precautions to take before you even turn in your ticket.

Robert Pagliarini, a financial adviser, told Business Insider that taking "a very deep breath" should be the first thing you do if you win a large jackpot, followed by hiring an attorney, a tax specialist, and a financial adviser. "This financial dream team can help you make smart financial decisions and help you plan for the future," Pagliarini said.

For example, they can help you decide whether you want to receive payouts over a certain number of years, or collect the prize up front as a lump sum, which is considerably lower than the official jackpot amount.

Another thing to remember is that the jackpot's dollar amount and what you will actually pocket are two very different numbers, because lottery prize money is taxed — the IRS will collect 24% of it. For example, if you scored a $900 million Mega Millions jackpot, you'd have to give $216 million to Uncle Sam.

Andrew Jackson Whittaker in West Virginia won a $315 million lottery in 2002, but he actually walked away with $114 million after taxes.

And even when you do win in a draw, sometimes others do as well — meaning you have to split the prize. In September, 40 lottery players in New Zealand won a jackpot of 1 million New Zealand dollars (about $655,000). But since they were forced to split it 40 ways, each received only 25,000 New Zealand dollars (about $16,500).

Other winners have landed themselves in hot water for not splitting the jackpot with colleagues or friends who contributed to the winning ticket purchase.

A former construction worker, Americo Lopes, cashed in a $38.5 million lottery ticket in New Jersey without telling his coworkers who had pitched in to buy it. They took him to court, where Lopes was ordered to share the prize money.

Many lottery winners experience what Pagliarini calls "the honeymoon stage of sudden wealth." He wrote in Forbes that winning such a large sum of money is an unsustainable high, and that winners should not let the prize money dictate how their lives change.

Avoiding feeling lost "involves exploring what they want their new lives to look like and creating a strategy that uses the money to help them achieve this," Pagliarini said.

Another thing lottery winners should be aware of is people taking advantage of them. Lottery winners have to be prepared for mooching friends who want to benefit from their newfound wealth.

Sandra Hayes of Missouri split a $224 million Powerball prize with 11 people, but she soon found that certain acquaintances were more interested in her assets than her friendship. She said that when she dined out with her friends, they would belatedly announce that they didn't have enough money to foot the bill.

"These are people who you've loved deep down, and they're turning into vampires trying to suck the life out of me," Hayes told The Associated Press.

Stacey Lowry of Oregon dealt with a similar issue. She won $5 million but moved to a different town after her entire neighborhood turned against her, she said. People she trusted began asking for money or gifts, which she refused, and started bashing her name, she said. "The town went crazy," Lowry's friend Melany Collins told TLC. "Lots of rumors."

Your winning might also bring out the worst in family members too.

When Denise Rossi won a $1.3 million jackpot in 1996 she abruptly decided to divorce her husband without telling him about the prize money in order to keep it all to herself. Her plot backfired three years later, though, when a court ordered her to transfer every penny of her winnings to her ex-husband.

One Pennsylvania man, William Post, won $16.2 million in 1988, and was pursued by a hit man hired by his brother who hoped to inherit a share of the winnings.

When people know you have that much money, you're also in greater danger of being robbed.

Whittaker, the West Virginia lottery winner, was sitting in his car one day when he was robbed of $545,000, he said.

Winners also have an increased risk of bankruptcy.

With such a vast amount of credit available to them, winners sometimes opt to make purchases using credit rather than use cash and overspend.

Coming into a substantial amount of money can also mean being thrust into the spotlight — some states require you to publicly announce your winnings.

It's likely you might never enjoy anonymity again — which is partly why Pagliarini suggests hiring a financial team to help with the flood of media attention.

And in addition to media attention, you might be bombarded with money requests from investors and scammers.

Whittaker spent at least $3 million fighting lawsuits, his attorney said. Whittaker told ABC News in 2007 that more than 400 legal claims had been made against him since he won the lottery five years earlier.

And some winners lose big time after hitting the jackpot, even faring worse than they did before.

One winner in Canada, Sharon Tirabassi, spent most of her $10 million jackpot on extravagant homes, cars, designer clothes, parties, vacations, and handouts to family and friends. Within a decade, she was riding the bus again to her part-time job and renting a house.

A Texas man, Billy Bob Harrell Jr., won a $31 million jackpot in 1997. He spent it on things like vacations, homes, and cars, but he also obliged too many money requests.He eventually squandered all his money.

Another winner, Michael Carroll, won a $15 million British jackpot in 2002, but lost it all within five years.

These things might have been prevented had winners taken better financial precautions.

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If there's any time to treat your loved one to a beautiful and long-lasting piece of fine jewelry, it's the holidays. True fine jewelry made with materials like pure or 14-karat gold (not just gold vermeil, which is gold plated over sterling silver) costs a lot precisely because of its material composition and careful craftsmanship, so it's wise to budget accordingly. 

Don't stress too much, though. You don't have to spend more than $500 for a durable and pretty bracelet, necklace, pair of earrings, or ring this holiday season. She'll want to wear any of the following pieces every day of the new year. 

Most of these items are available with expedited shipping, and some should arrive within a few days' time, so don't stress too hard about your last-minute shopping — just remember that the sooner you order, the better your chances of a timely arrival.

These 25 thoughtfully designed pieces of fine jewelry are sure to impress her — and they all cost $500 or less. 

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

Mini Gold Letter Charm Pendant

AUrate Mini Gold Letter Charm Pendant, $300, available at AUrate

Available in 18k rose, white, and yellow gold 

You can't go wrong with a subtle personal letter charm necklace. It's wearable at two lengths — collarbone and chest. 

Duo Ring

Mejuri Duo Ring, $299, available at Mejuri

One smooth and one twisted, the complementary rings in this two-in-one piece are forever linked together. 

Charming Hoops

Ariel Gordon Charming Hoops, $192.50, available at Ariel Gordon

These playful hoops, also available in star, heart, smiley face, and rainbow styles, really live up to their name. 

• I have donated my hair to charity four times.
• The first two times I chose Locks of Love, the third time I chose Pantene Beautiful Lengths, and the fourth time I chose Children with Hair Loss.
• Here's what you need to know about donating your hair, including how long it has to be and whether it can be colored.

The scissors snip together slowly making that unmistakable crunching sound, and 10 inches of hair that I spent two years growing are now gone.

But the strands didn't just fall to the ground to get swept up and thrown away.

Instead, my hair is now on its way to Children with Hair Loss, a nonprofit based out of Michigan that gives wigs to children and young adults in the US who have medical hair loss.

I have donated my hair to charity four times now.

In my experience, donating your hair is a much more personal gift than sending a check. You're sending a piece of yourself to a kid or adult who has a disease that's caused them to lose their hair.

The last time around, I still had some major questions about the process.

Where does my hair go once it's cut off my head? Who gets the wigs? Who makes the wigs? Where do they make them? How many people can it help? Which organization is best?

Before I made that final cut, I found the answers. Here's what I learned.

Which organization should I choose?

The first two times I donated my hair, I sent it to Locks of Love. But hearing they sell wigs to make a profit gave me pause.

Locks of Love doesn't charge kids for the wigs — but they do sometimes sell the hair if it's too short or grey. Once I dug into why, though, it made sense.

"Shorter hair will be separated from the ponytails and sold to offset the manufacturing costs. Although the shorter hair cannot be used in the hairpieces, it greatly helps to reduce costs," the organization says on its website.

Another FAQ answer reads: "We can accept donations of gray hair. Because we only provide hairpieces to children, we cannot use this hair in a hairpiece but will sell it to offset our manufacturing costs."

The third time I donated my hair, I chose Pantene Beautiful Lengths, an organization that partnered with the American Cancer Society to distribute free wigs to cancer patients.

But P&G spokeswoman Bilal Lakhani told me the program was shutting down at the end of 2018, after giving tens of thousands of wigs to patients over its 12-year existence.

"Over the last several years, synthetic hair technology has vastly improved, giving synthetic hair wigs more of a 'real-hair feel', making them lighter, cooler to wear, and easier to style," she said in a statement.

She continued: "Due to these advancements, patients have told the ACS that synthetic wigs are now their preferred wig choice. This change in patient needs has resulted in decreased demand for real-hair, and the time has come for us to wind down the Beautiful Lengths program."

So this time around, I asked the ACS to recommend other organizations to donate to. Here's a breakdown of five hair donation nonprofits:

Deciding which organization to donate your hair to is a personal choice. I went with Children with Hair Loss this time because I had 10 inches of hair, I wanted to help kids nationally, and I liked that they don't charge anyone for wigs.

Read more: I saw brain cancer erase someone I love — and it shows why healthcare coverage is so crucial

Where does the hair go?

Once you send your hair in, generally speaking, the organizations process it and send it to a wig manufacturer.

A Pantene spokesperson told Business Insider in 2016 that once Beautiful Lengths has enough hair donations at its collection location, they would send a shipment to Hair U Wear, one of the largest wig manufacturers in the world.

Hair U Wear made the wigs at its factory in Indonesia and then shipped them back to Pantene, which gave the well-traveled hair to the American Cancer Society to distribute at its wig banks across the US.

Hair We Share has a ponytail tracking program where you can donate $125 to find out where your hair ends up. If the recipient is willing, you could even get a photo of them wearing the wig made from your hair.

Who gets the wigs?

In 2016, Jessica Melore, 34, described losing her hair as "an outward manifestation of being sick." It was a constant reminder that her body was fighting cancer — in the drain when she took a shower, on her pillow when she woke up.

After finishing chemotherapy for her third bout with cancer, she said getting a wig was an important boost for her wellbeing, making her feel like herself again.

"It's a little bit of sadness like, 'Oh there it goes, I'm on my way to being bald,'" Melore told Business Insider in 2016. "But you have that reassurance that the wig is there and you feel good about it."

Before she lost her hair, Melore donated it and got a wig from the American Cancer Society all in the same day. She broadcast the experience on Facebook Live:

Patti Allen, the senior director of mission delivery for the ACS of New York and New Jersey, told Business Insider in 2016 that while they have styles for both sexes, mostly women come in for wigs.

Each ACS wig bank across the country has a salon where cancer patients can come pick out a wig and have it individually tailored by a professional stylist just like Melore did.

"It's not one size fits all. My hair is not like somebody else's hair. We really try to make the patient feel as comfortable as possible," Allen said. "It's hard enough that they're going through treatment that has altered their lifestyle. The wig is the least thing that we can do to try to make them feel a little bit better about what they're going through."

How can I donate?

Each organization has slightly different donation requirements, which you can find on their websites, or in the graphic above.

Hair We Share and Children with Hair Loss both accept colored or grey but not highlighted hair over 8 inches.

Locks of Love and Pink Heart Funds both take hair colored or grey but not over-processed or bleached hair over 10 inches.

Wigs for Kids will take grey, but not dyed, hair that is at least 12 inches long.

You can stretch curly hair out to reach the minimum length, but the shortest layers have to meet that number or they probably won't be used.

Make sure you put the hair in multiple ponytails or rubber bands before you cut it so it stays together when you send it in. It actually takes about 10 to 12 ponytails to make one wig.

If you watch the first Facebook Live video embedded in this story, you can see how my stylist segmented the hair before he cut it.

The hair has to be completely dry before you send it, too, so it doesn't get moldy. They have to throw hair away if it is.

Ask your hair salon if they will give you a discount or even cut your hair for free if you're donating it. Wigs for Kids has a search function on their website to find a salon that works with them.

How can I get a wig?

While many of the 650,000 cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy every year in the US are able to grow their hair back after they complete treatment, alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that can cause permanent hair loss.

Over 6.8 million Americans have alopecia or will get it at some point in their lives, according to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, and it often begins in childhood.

If you have cancer, alopecia, or another medical affliction that has caused you to lose your hair, reach out to the organizations to see if you can get a wig. Only some of them offer wigs for adults, so keep that in mind if you need one and are over 18 or 21.

And if you're donating, no matter which organization you choose, your hair can help someone who no longer has theirs.

"I had been familiar with the American Cancer Society through their fundraising activities and the research that they do," Melore said. "But [it was comforting] to know that there was this whole other side that is dedicated to supporting you and making you feel like yourself, which is I think part of the whole experience, too, because it ties in with your whole sense of wellbeing. This is such a wonderful service."

This story was originally published in January 2016, when the author donated her hair for the third time. It has been updated with new information.

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If you're shopping for last-minute gifts for the home cook or baker this holiday season, Williams-Sonoma has you covered with free Christmas Eve delivery on thousands of items for orders placed before 7 p.m. EST on December 20. 

There's no minimum amount you have to spend to get free standard shipping. Orders over $49 are eligible for free fast shipping if you use promo code "Ships4Free" at checkout.

We combed through William Sonoma's holiday deals and 25 that will make thoughtful gifts for everyone on your list. From waffle makers, to Le Creuset Dutch ovens, to Christmas-themed dinnerware to bring some extra cheer, you'll find it, and more, below.

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

DON'T MISS: All of Insider Picks' holiday gift guides, in one place

SEE ALSO: 78 thoughtful and cool last-minute gifts you can still get on Amazon — all under $100

Le Creuset Signature Cast-Iron Round Dutch Oven (2 3/4 Qt.)

$129.95 (originally $240) [You save $90.05]

All-Clad d5 Stainless-Steel Saucepan

Olivewood Box Grater

$29.99 (originally $39.95) [You save $9.05]

• LondonGatwick Airport remains closed on Thursday more than 24 hours after being shut down due to the presence of drones over its runway.
• The airport has advised passengers to check with the airlines before traveling to the airport.
• EasyJet, one of the largest operators at the airport, has canceled all of its Thursday Gatwick flights. 

London Gatwick Airport remains closed on Thursday more than 24 hours after being shut down due to the presence of drones over its runway. Gatwick, the second busiest airport in the UK and handles more than 45 million passengers every year, was shut down around 9 p.m. Wednesday evening after a pair of drones were spotted.

Unfortunately for the affected passengers, flight activities are not likely to resume on Thursday. 

In fact, an airport spokesperson told Business Insider that passengers are advised to stay home this evening and to check with the airline in the morning before traveling to the airport. 

In its latest statement, Gatwick Airport said,

"All flights to and from Gatwick are suspended. If you are due to fly later today or are meeting someone from a flight, please do not travel to the airport without checking the status of your flight with your airline first. 

Gatwick Airport’s runway remains unavailable because of continued drone sightings and some airlines have canceled all flights. There is significant disruption at Gatwick today as a result of what appears to be a deliberate attempt to disrupt flights, and we anticipate disruption to continue into tomorrow.

We are extremely disappointed that passengers are being affected by this especially at such an important time of year. We are working with our airlines to put plans in place to recover our operations once given the go-ahead to re-open our runway. We are prioritizing the welfare of those at the airport by deploying staff into our terminals to look after people as best we can."

Read more: The second busiest airport in the UK was shut down due to drones flying over the runway and stranded passengers probably won't get any compensation.

EasyJet, one of the airport's largest tenants, has canceled all of its Gatwick flights on Thursday.

"We are making every effort to get people to their destination at this important time of the year, but following reports of drones flying over Gatwick Airport, the runway remains closed and all flights are currently suspended," the airline said in a statement Thursday evening. "At this stage, there is no indication of when the airport might re-open and as a result, we have canceled all flights due to operate to or from London Gatwick today."

The EasyJet also announced that they will reimburse any "reasonable expenses" incurred by passengers who make their own alternate travel arrangements. 

SEE ALSO: Major British airport forced to shut down for at more than 24 hours by someone flying drones over the runway

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