• A millionaire couple is tearing through a New York City street to build a $100 million mansion with a 60-foot pool, The New York Times reported.
• Neighbors have been forced to wear earplugs and $400 noise-canceling headphones in their own apartments to deal with the constant noise that's persisted for the past year.
• One resident partially blames the renovations for her new $5,000 hearing aids.
• Another woman said she had to give tranquilizers to her miniature poodle to calm him down amid the racket.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more.

On a previously quiet residential block in New York City, a millionaire couple has spent months renovating a $100 million brownstone and digging a pool in its basement, The New York Times reported.

The house in question, which will include a 10- by 60-foot marble-clad basement pool, belongs to a 64-year-old Frenchman named Pierre Bastid, who according to the Times, "made a fortune in energy, and recently dabbled in Alpine hotels, restaurants and pharmaceuticals," and his wife, a Haitian-American jazz singer named Malou Beauvoir.

The couple knocked down the majority of two brownstones to start work on a mansion that may cost as much as $100 million, according to the Times. It will include "an underground theater and a recording studio, a Jacuzzi and a sauna, free-floating elliptical stairs (whatever that might be) and a wall of sculpture depicting trees, animals and birds of the jungle."

While constant construction is an unfortunate fact of life in New York City, the noise, vibrations, and dust from the millionaire couple's project have wreaked havoc on the neighborhood for the past year, the Times reported, with some neighbors forced to wear earplugs or noise-canceling headphones in their own homes and others to move away. 

Read more: I spent a day on NYC's Billionaires' Row. Here's your ultimate guide to one of the city's glitziest streets, which borders Central Park and is home to the most expensive apartment ever sold in the US.

"'Noise' isn't strong enough," one resident said of the renovations. "'Mindless hell and chaos' would be better."

Deborah Brown, who's lived on the block since 1969, told the Times she partially blames the loud construction for her new $5,000 hearing aids. She now wears her $400 Bose Noise Blockers headphones while at home in her apartment.

Others have gone so far as to move out of their homes.

Thirty-six-year-old Gabrielle Fink, whose family has a history of pulmonary problems, told the Times the ongoing renovations prompted her to spend $5,000 she couldn't really afford to move after eight years in her building because "her nerves were frazzled."

And it's not just the human residents who are affected. One neighbor said she's had to give her miniature poodle Trazodone, a tranquilizer, to calm down the pup amid the racket. 

For some, the construction has become a symbol for New York City's ultra-wealthy trampling on everyone else.

Read more: 2 men who studied millionaires for over 20 years developed a formula that classifies Americans in 3 different categories of wealth

"This is about how the whims of a plutocrat can upend the lives of an entire city block, challenging the culture and the well-being of the people who live there," David Margolick, who lives a block away, wrote in the Times. "It's about coming to terms with everyday existence in New York, where the rich run rampant and the rest of us have to deal with it."

In a statement obtained by the Times, Beauvoir said she and Bastid "deeply regret the inconvenience caused to the neighborhood, despite our efforts to limit it from the onset. Unfortunately, we have all experienced the disagreeable aspects of construction and the unpredictability of the process."

Business Insider reached out to Beauvoir for comment but did not hear back by the time of publication.

SEE ALSO: A British millionaire has been ordered by a French court to demolish his $64 million mansion in the south of France, which includes 18 suites and 2 helicopter pads

DON'T MISS: An $88 million mansion in NYC with a panic room and a Versailles-inspired dining room has gotten a $26 million price chop over 6 years — take a look inside

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• Casper is arguably the most popular mattress startup of many. 
• Its most popular mattress, dubbed simply The Casper, has more than 40,000 reviews between those posted on Google, Amazon, and its own site, and still has a 4.8/5 rating. On a typical day, the queen-size Casper mattress is $995.
• Right now through Monday, April 8, you can save get 10% off any order with a mattress when you apply the code "WELLSLEPT" at checkout.
• Look out for additional deals and savings on Insider Coupons.

If you've been paying attention to subway ads or watching any TV in the last few years, you've probably noticed that a lot of online mattress startups have popped up. They've taken out the middlemen and added costs of showrooms and as a result, offer an often superior mattress for less money and less hassle than you'd find in a brick-and-mortar store. 

Of the many startups out there, Casper might be king.

The brand has become synonymous with successful online startups and has expanded from its first mattress sale in 2014 to begin selling sheets, pillows, and even dog beds. It also doesn't hurt that every mattress comes with a 100-night money-back guarantee and a 10-year warranty, which is pretty much par for the course in the industry.

In other words, Casper is a grown-up cult-favorite, and the company owes a lot of that success to a really great mattress, the convenience of no-hassle home delivery, and pretty awesome prices. 

On a regular day, you can get the company's best-seller, The Casper, from $595 for a twin size, and the streamlined Essential mattress from as low as $350. The upgraded high-end mattress, The Wave, comes in at $1,250 to start.

Right now through the weekend, though, you'll find additional savings. You can get 10% off any order with a mattress when you apply the code "WELLSLEPT" at checkout. So, for example, if you add a queen-size Casper Wave Mattress ($2,250) to your cart, you'll save $250 on your purchase.

If you've been meaning to get a new mattress — or bedding of any kind — now is a great time to act. Casper's prices are already low to remain competitive, and sales don't happen often. 

Get 10% off any Casper order with a mattress with the promo code "WELLSLEPT"

If you're interested in learning more before committing to a Casper mattress, our buying guides can help you out: 

• The best mattresses you can buy
• The best mattresses for side sleepers
• The best mattresses for back pain
• The best foam mattresses
• The best air mattresses
• The best mattress toppers
• The best mattress protectors

SEE ALSO: The best mattresses you can buy

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• While not generally serious, styes — the medical term is hordeolum — are painful and unsightly.
• You can speed up the healing process, as well as reduce the pain, with simple at-home treatments.
• Those prone to frequent styes might benefit from regular cleaning with an eyelid scrub, such as Ocusoft Lid Scrub Wipes.  

Your eyelids are lined with tiny oil ducts that produce sebum, as well as eyelashes sprouting from hair follicles. Occasionally, oil, dead skin cells, or most often, bacteria, clog an eyelid oil duct or follicle. The result is a stye, which is basically an eyelid pimple.

Styes can crop up on upper or lower eyelids, and while most are on the outer edge, there are styes — called internal hordeolums — that develop on the inner surface of the eyelid, as well.

Early symptoms generally include tenderness, slight swelling, and redness in the affected area. As inflammation increases, the stye tends to grow into a larger lump, often with a yellowish center. Your entire eyelid might swell, and the redness can be very pronounced.

Along with pain, it's common to experience grittiness or a sensation of "something in the eye," excessive tearing, crustiness or stickiness along the affected eyelid margin, sensitivity to light, and discomfort when blinking. It is not normal for a stye to cause vision changes, such as blurriness.

While styes, left to their own devices, tend to heal on their own within a week or so, you can speed the process up and reduce the pain with simple at-home treatments. However, if the stye persists beyond a week, is extremely painful, interferes with your vision, or the swelling and redness spread beyond your eyelid, it's time for a visit to your eye doctor or general care practitioner.

Here's how to treat a stye:

1. Don't use contact lenses or makeup while you have a stye. You don't want to transfer the bacteria — most commonly, it's Staphylococcus aureus, which is the bug behind many skin infections, as well as more serious internal infections — into your eyeshadow or onto your contacts.
2. Wash your hands thoroughly before and after touching the stye, and keep your hands away as much as possible. Resist the temptation to squeeze or "pop" the stye, as this is an easy way to spread the infection into other nearby follicles or oil glands.
3. Apply a warm washcloth to your eyelid several times per day, holding it in place for five to 10 minutes each time. The washcloth should be warm enough to encourage the stye to open up and drain, but not hot enough to burn your skin. The warmth will also help relieve the pain.
4. After applying heat, very gently massage the stye to encourage it to open and drain the pus. Do not squeeze or pick at the sore, though.
5. Wash your eyelids each morning with a gentle cleanser specifically made for the eye area. We like Ocusoft Lid Scrub Wipes, which help remove the sticky or gritty debris along your lids caused by the stye. If you are prone to recurrent styes, it's a good idea to incorporate the wipes into your daily grooming routine.
6. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as ibuprofen or naproxen, if desired, to help reduce swelling and pain.
7. Avoid sharing your bath towel with family members while you — or they — have a stye, as the staph bacteria easily travels from person to person in this way.
8. Prevent a reoccurrence of the stye by always washing hands before touching the eye area or applying makeup. Remove all makeup before going to bed, and never share your eye makeup — that's an easy way to transmit staph bacteria. If despite your precautions, you continue to develop styes, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic ointment as a preventative.

Buy a box of 30 Ocusoft Lid Scrub Wipes on Amazon for $9.97

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• Bar soaps for the face and body have come a long way from the overly drying rectangles of your youth.
• These days, they boast sophisticated formulations for every skin type.
• Our favorite is the iconic Dove Beauty Bar, a gentle classic that’s safe to use from head to toe.

Bar soap is so underrated. I get it, I really do. One of the first things you learn when you get into skin care is that gentle is usually better, and gentle doesn’t automatically make you think of the foaming rectangle you washed with in middle school.

But there are so many impressive bar soaps out there, many of which are available at the drugstore. As with anything you put on your dermis, paying attention to your individual needs is important. If you’re sensitive or dry, you’ll want an ultra-nourishing formula that won’t drain your skin of moisture.

You can use bar soap on your face, but proceed with caution. I recommend picking up face-specific formulas packed with gentle, nourishing ingredients that will benefit your individual skin type.

There are also multitasking bars that can be used all over the body. If you choose one of these, make sure it’s hydrating and non-stripping.

Here are the best bar soaps you can buy in 2019:

• Best bar soap overall: Dove Beauty Bar
• Best bar soap for sensitive skin: Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar
• Best face bar soap: Meow Meow Tweet Pink Rose Clay Facial Soap
• Best detoxifying bar soap: Erno Laszlo Sea Mud Deep Cleansing Bar
• Best bar soap for all-over: Dr. Bronner’s Organic Castile Bar Soap

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

The best bar soap overall

Why you’ll love it: The Dove Beauty Bar is an enduring classic, a bar soap that’s not really a “soap” but will cleanse and hydrate your skin nonetheless.

If you haven’t tried the Dove Beauty Bar have you ever even washed your body? It seems like there’s one of these in just about every bathroom across America. And for good reason — it’s legitimately really good.

The Dove Beauty Bar is a soap unlike any other soap. It’s gentle enough to use all over the body (yep, that includes the face) thanks to cleansing agents that are less harsh than traditional soap. The iconic Dove White Beauty Bar version is formulated with ¼ moisturizer to beef up the hydration quotient.

There are several Dove Beauty Bars on the market and you can take a little quiz on the brand’s website to figure out which one is best for you. The original is unscented, paraben-free, and dermatologist-recommended. It should be suitable for most skin types, but if you’re super reactive, there’s a Sensitive Skin option.

An Allure Best of Beauty winner due to the use of the “[mild] cleanser, sodium lauroyl isethionate, to whisk away grime without stripping skin,” this product is expert-approved. It’s also been featured by Total Beauty, Gear Patrol, and Real Simple and has a nearly perfect 5 star rating based on 1,551 Target reviews.

Pros: ¼ moisturizer, gentle, can be used on face, body, and hands, different variations

Cons: None

Buy the Dove Beauty Bar (4-pack) on Target for $7.19

The best bar soap for sensitive skin

Why you’ll love it: Need something extra gentle? The Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar uses “5 nourishing ingredients” to cleanse without drying out or irritating skin.

Do you suffer from scaly skin in the winter (or, like, always)? The Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar is made with you in mind. Another “soap-free,” soap, this one is suitable for eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis-sufferers.

If your skin burns at the mere thought of added fragrance or fancy ingredients, this is the bare-minimum cleanser you need to have in your bathroom. It boasts “nourishing ingredients to gently cleanse skin without over drying.” These include glycerin to soften and sodium cocoyl isethionate to cleanse.

Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar is an Amazon’s Choice pick with a 4.5 rating based on 939 reviews and has been featured by Allure, which calls it “a godsend for dry, itchy skin” as well as Gear Patrol, Bustle, and Real Simple.

“Best for everything. I don't get acne often. Usually around that time of the month. Haven't had any since I use only this on my face for cleansing and it's the best soap for sensitive skin. Sooo soft and moisturizing. This is hands down the best soap ever. If you have eczema or psoriasis, or just dry or sensitive skin this is the best,” writes one shopper.

Pros: Works for sensitive skin, eczema, psoriasis, very gentle

Cons: Strong scent, pricier than Dove

Buy Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar (3-pack) on Amazon for $8.45

The best detoxifying bar soap

Why you’ll love it: The Erno Laszlo Sea Mud Deep Cleansing Bar uses high-end ingredients to unclog pores.

Acne-prone skin types or those with perpetually clogged pores will love the Erno Laszlo Sea Mud Deep Cleansing Bar. Stocked with detoxifying Dead Sea mud and charcoal, the bar is formulated to “draw out impurities and visibly reduce pore size.”

With a price tag of $38, this is definitely on the high-end side. That said, it comes highly rated, so if you struggle with congested skin and want to invest, it could be a great option.

Sephora shoppers rate it 4.7 out of 5 stars, based on 72 reviews. The bar has also been featured by Allure, Gear Patrol, and Stylecaster, whose reviewer describes it as “[almost] a magnet for makeup, impurities and dirt.”

“This is a perfect second cleanse soap. Takes away everything but doesn't leave skin feeling stripped (and this from a 60 year old woman)! I know it's expensive, but it lasts forever. Comes in a nice plastic container, too,” says one Sephora reviewer.

Pros: Gentle but detoxifying, suitable for acne-prone skin, comes with plastic container

Cons: Very expensive

Buy the Erno Laszlo Sea Mud Deep Cleansing Bar on Sephora for $38

Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

• Clothing stains are a fact of life, but with proper treatment, few stains have to be a permanent part of your wardrobe.
• The faster you treat a stain, the more easily you can remove it, but even older stains can be lifted with the right tools and techniques.
• If you only remember one thing from this article, let it be this: Never run a garment through the dryer until the stain has been removed.
• We recommend you have the following items on hand to fight stains: Shout Wipes, Tide to Go, white vinegar, white toothpaste, Colorx 2 Laundry Stain Remover, and Dawn dish soap.

Despite being a relatively well-coordinated adult human being who is generally good about proper napkin use and is as handy as anyone with common dining utensils, I have a preternatural ability to end up with a food stains on my thighs. I also, inexplicably, almost always get a spot or two of oil right in the center of my shirt when I'm cooking on the stovetop, something I do many times each week.

Also, my wife and I have a preschooler and a baby, so my own issues aside, we deal with a lot of stains in this household. While an annoyance, to be sure, I've come to learn that clothing stains mean the need for a bit of tactical cleaning, not the need to relegate those pants to the yard work apparel category or that shirt to nights in only status. Almost every clothing stain can be removed, whether caused by wine, pasta sauce, grass, coffee, mustard, and more.

By the way, carrying around a stain spot treatment product, like Shout Wipes or a Tide to Go stain pen is probably your single best weapon in the fight against stains.

The three keys to proper stain mitigation

If you want to breathe new, clean life into a stained garment, there are three pieces of protocol by which you have to abide.

1. Move fast: The longer a stain sits, the more it sets. Old stains can be removed, but it sure makes the process harder. The second after a stain occurs, you should be working to mitigate it.
2. Don't scrub: Rubbing at a stain just works it deeper into the fabric, making its removal more difficult and potentially impossible. Moisten and dab, and then get onto using the supplies techniques covered below.
3. Beware the dryer: Don't ever ... ever put a stained garment through the dryer. The heat all but ensures permanence. If you have already spot cleaned and/or laundered the sock, turtleneck, sweater vest, or other piece of clothing yet you still see the stain, it's time for another round of cleaning! Line dry or lay flat to dry until you're sure the stain cleaning worked.

You can also check out our guides to the best laundry detergentsand stain removersfor more great cleaning product recommendations.

Read on in the slides below to learn how to clean stains on clothes and fabric and which tools you need to do it:

How to clean grass stains

Minor grass strains will probably just wash out, but should you want to be sure you save those pants (or shirt, if things got more dramatic outside today), there are two great ways to do so.

First, you can use vinegar. Just make sure to use white vinegar— balsamic will make things so much worse.

1. Soak the stained portion of the garment (usually the knee) in undiluted vinegar for at least a half hour.
2. Launder as usual, but, of course, don't use the dryer!
3. If stains persist, let the garment to air dry, then try again with vinegar, or use our next approach.

Buy a 64oz Bottle of White House White Distilled Vinegar on Amazon for $10.44 or $10.99

Clean grass stains with toothpaste. Just make sure it's a white paste.

1. Spread a thin layer of white toothpaste over the stain
2. Soak a toothbrush in clean water, and then gently scrub at the stains. Yes, this does contradict the earlier admonition not to scrub. It's the only time I'll do so, but the fact is, that stain is already worked deep into the cloth.
3. Launder as usual.

Buy a two-pack of Arm & Hammer Advance White Extreme Whitening Toothpaste on Amazon for $5.49

How to clean beverage stains

Believe it or not, the treatment for most beverages stains is the same, whether you're dealing with coffee, cola, or the dreaded red wine.

1. Soak the stained area in cool water for a half hour. If you can't do that, continually moisten with an ice cube or a dampened cloth or napkin
2. Treat the stain with a product like Shout or apply a thin layer of liquid laundry detergent directly to it
3. Launder as usual, and then check to see if the stain is gone

Read our guides to the best laundry detergents and stain removers here.

How to clean bloodstains

First, consider whether or not the blood at hand is a criminal matter. If it is, work on your alibi or call the cops, depending on where you stand in the situation. Then...

1. Soak the stained portion of the garment in white vinegar for 15 minutes. If you don't have vinegar, use club soda. If you don't have that, use water, just make sure it's cold.
2. Launder the garment, and do so on its own if the stain was large.
3. If the stain persists, you will need to wash the piece again with color safe bleach.

Buy a 66oz Bottle of Clorox 2 Laundry Stain Remover and Color Booster on Amazon for $9.98

• The Toyota RAV4 is all-new for 2019 with new styling, fresh interior, and an impressive suite of standard safety tech. 
• The RAV4 is the best-selling compact crossover SUV in the US, ahead of rivals like the Honda CR-V, the Nissan Rogue, the Chevrolet Equinox, the Ford Escape, the Subaru Forester, and the Mazda CX-5.
• Business Insider recently had a chance to spend a week with a 2019 Toyota RAV4 prototype in Limited trim.
• The base 2019 Toyota RAV4 LE with front-wheel drive starts at $25,500, while the top-spec Limited trim starts at $33,500. With options and fees, our 2019 Toyota RAV4 Limited carried an as-tested price of $38,565.

The Toyota RAV4 is the best-selling SUV in America. More than 427,000 RAV4s rolled out of US showrooms in 2018, behind only the Ford F-Series, Chevrolet Silverado, and RAM 1500 pickup trucks. 

The original RAV4 made its US debut back in 1996 and over next two decades became a dominant force in the compact crossover SUV segment that now accounts for roughly one out of every five vehicles sold in America. 

In the marketplace, the RAV4 is a direct rival to the Honda CR-V, the Nissan Rogue, the Subaru Forester, the Mazda CX-5, the Chevrolet Equinox, and the Ford Escape.

For 2019, Toyota has introduced a new fifth-generation version of the RAV4. 

Business Insider recently had a chance to spend a week with a 2019 Toyota RAV4 prototype in Limited trim.

"The new Toyota RAV4 delivers a capable, high-tech, and easy-to-live-with compact crossover in a handsomely styled package," we said in our review.

Read more: We drove a $39,000 Toyota RAV4 to see if the best-selling SUV in America is worth the money. Here's the verdict.

However, we also expressed our displeasure with the Toyota's harsh drivetrain.

"The 2.5-liter engine is one of the most coarse-sounding four-cylinder engines I've encountered in a long time," we said. "Under hard acceleration, the engine buzzes and strains like a poorly executed 20-year-old tuner Honda Civic."

The base 2019 Toyota RAV4 LE starts at $25,500, while the mid-grade XLE, XLE Premium, and Adventure models start at $27,300, $29,500, and $32,900. The top-grade Limited trim starts at $33,500.

Hybrid variants of the RAV4 start at $27,700 for the LE and run all the way up to the Limited trim, starting at $35,700.

All-wheel drive is available as a $1,400 option on all trims except the Adventure and Hybrid variants, in which it comes standard.

With options and fees, our 2019 Toyota RAV4 Limited carried an as-tested price of $38,565.

Here's a closer look at its coolest features: 

SEE ALSO: We drove a $34,000 Hyundai Tucson that will take on Honda, Toyota, and Subaru. Here are its coolest features.

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1. Fresh styling: The RAV4's new sheet metal is handsome and modern, delivering suburban civility with a subtle evocation of 4Runner/Land Cruiser ruggedness.

2. New platform: The new RAV4 is built on Toyota's new TNGA-K global midsize platform shared with the Camry sedan. According to Toyota, the new platform is lighter and is designed to deliver a more confident driving experience. Previous RAV4s were built on compact platforms shared with the Corolla and the Prius.

3. Interior quality: RAV4's interior is also new and consider us impressed. Material quality was outstanding, and everything felt well put together.

• Generation Z appears to be generally supportive of plastic straw bans.
• Business Insider surveyed over 1,800 Americans between the age of 13 and 21 to find out what they think of restaurants adopting sustainability practices like ditching plastic straws.
• Nearly 75% of respondents were either neutral on the issue or thought that it was important for businesses to ban plastic straws.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

SEE ALSO: These are the restaurant chains that Gen Z eats at most, according to a survey of more than 1,800 young Americans

DON'T MISS: Instagram has avoided Facebook's trust problem, beating its parent as app of choice for Generation Z

SEE ALSO: Teens say they cringe when brands use these 11 outdated slang words — here's what Gen Z is saying instead

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NOW WATCH: Why plastic straws suck

• Over the last year, we have traveled the world for Business Insider, visiting nearly 20 countries and climates.
• Since we each brought only a carry-on suitcase and a backpack, we had packed it strategically with only the most essential items.
• We found that packing for a long trip was easy so long as you pack items that serve multiple purposes, only bring things you know you will use, organize clothes into packing cubes, and keep all your important documents and technology in one place.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

• More tips from Business Insider's international correspondent:
• I switched to Android after more than a decade with the iPhone, and I'm not going back. Here's why.
• I use the same trick in any city I visit to make sure I find amazing food
• Couchsurfing has a hidden feature that helped me have the wildest night in Tokyo partying until sunrise
• I found out the hard way that one of the best strategies to save money on flights can end up costing you big time
• The single best piece of advice I can give you for any trip you take
• I've traveled to more than 30 countries, and here are the dumbest mistakes I made on the road that I'll never make again

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Traveling is awesome. Packing, on the other hand, is not so fun. 
• I'm not a neat person, so packing has always been a struggle for me.
• After traveling a lot in the last year, I finally landed on a few products that help me pack efficiently and stay organized throughout my trip.
• A good suitcase, packing cubes, and a travel dopp kit are three simple essentials that help me pack efficiently and stay organized while traveling.

When it comes to organization, I’m a work in progress. Anyone who knows me would probably balk at the idea of me writing this article. But, that is the exact reason why I'm writing it. When you're not naturally neat, you have to rely on tools and tricks to stay organized. And there are a lot of tools and tricks out there — I've tried my fair share.  

There's one particular area of organizing that I always dread: packing. Not only do you have to fit everything you need for a given amount of time into the confines of your suitcase, but you have to anticipate what extras you might need during your travels. Nice clothing can get wrinkled (at best) or ruined (at worst) from hours stuffed in a bag.

But, if you love to travel, you have to tolerate packing. It won't be the most fun part of your adventure, but if you have the right tools, the process can be a little easier.

Over the years, I've discovered a few game-changing products that actually make packing a little easier. These products streamline the packing process and ultimately keep my things in order, whether I'm taking a weekend away or going on a two-month backpacking trip. 

Here are three products to help pack your suitcase and stay organized while you travel:

Start with a great suitcase

Before you can begin packing, you need a suitcase. These days there are so many luggage companies to shop at and each one has a huge variety of bags to offer. No one suitcase is right for everyone, so consider what factors are most important to you — like the duration of your trip, what kind of items you're packing, how frequently you travel, and your budget.

If you want a suitcase that can help you stay organized, go for one that has multiple compartments to store different types of items. For example, the Away Carry-On has two compartments: one that's designed to hold your clothes and the other that's made to fit shoes, toiletries, and other hard objects.

I also like the Roam Jaunt XL, because it's a simple carry-on suitcase that you can customize down to just about every detail.

Of course, picking a suitcase is a matter of preference, so check out our guides to help you find the luggage that's right for you:

Pack your clothing in packing cubes

To maximize your packing space and stay organized on the go, you need packing cubes. I can't believe I used to travel without them. They're such a simple product, but they making packing so much easier. 

I love these expandable packing cubes from REI for a few reasons. There are three sizes, all of which can be expanded to hold even more with the side zipper. Each cube has a top handle so it can easily be picked up and moved around. The see-through mesh pocket on top holds a card where you can list the contents of each pack, so you know what's inside before you even open it.

The nylon material is lightweight, but durable, and most importantly water repellent — so your clothes will be protected from any unwanted toiletry explosions.

These packing cubes will not only keep everything neat and easy to find in your bag, but they help keep everything compact, which ultimately gives you more space. To get the most out of each cube, I've found that rolling rather than folding your clothing is the best method. Roll each piece tightly, and you'll likely have room for more clothing than each cube suggests.

If you don't have a set of packing cubes yet, here are some of our favorite options:

• 3 sets of packing cubes that make it easy to fit more and stay organized on trips
• The best packing cubes you can buy

Pack toiletries and other small essentials in a versatile dopp kit

All of your clothing is rolled up, placed in packing cubes, and ready to go. Now, it's toiletry time. 

I honestly find packing toiletries to be even more of a nuisance than packing clothing. Toiletries are heavy, bulky, and the irregular shapes can make them hard to pack. You can pack a few pouches worth of toiletries and scatter them throughout your luggage, but I find that one big dopp kit works best.

There are many options out there, but I prefer something like this compact Reisenthel organizer. It isn't the coolest-looking option around, but it's affordable, waterproof, and can fit a whole bathroom counter's worth of products inside. It has compartments made to fit specific toiletry bottle sizes, like body wash, toothpaste, and razors.

The dopp kit can be packed and zipped into a compact bag, but it also includes a small hanger that makes it easy to hang up so you can see all of your products when you get to your destination. For just $11, this is a very useful, not to mention budget-friendly, way to keep your toiletries organized.

If you'd like something a little more stylish, or just want to see a wider array of options, you can find our favorite toiletry bag options below:

• Strokes usually happen when a person's brain can't get the oxygen it needs. They can also be prompted by sudden bleeding in the brain.
• When the brain can't get oxygenated blood, brain cells die or suffer damage, and the parts of the body those brain cells control can go haywire.
• This can result in paralysis, numbness, weakness, dementia, difficulty communicating, or trouble seeing. Strokes can be fatal. 
• There's a lot people can do to reduce their risk of having a stroke: Moving around, eating fresh foods, and breathing clean air are some of the best strategies.

When our brains can't get the oxygen they need, strokes can happen.

Strokes are a result of damage to brain cells. Most commonly, that's prompted by a lack of oxygenated blood flow — an event called an ischemic stroke. Bleeding in the brain can also cause a different kind of brain attack called a hemorrhagic stroke.

This sudden brain change can be fatal: Strokes are the fifth leading cause of death in the US. More than 142,000 Americans died from strokes in 2016. This means that on average, someone dies from a stroke every four minutes in the US.

A person having a stroke might show some outward signs, such as slurring their speech or having trouble speaking or seeing. A couple other tell-tale indicators can be if half of a person's face droops when they try to smile or they're unable to raise both of their arms and keep them at the same level. 

But according to the National Stroke Association, 80% of strokes are preventable. That means there's a lot you can do to reduce your risk. What's more, the steps people can take to avoid strokes are some of the best ways to keep your body and brain healthy as you age overall.

Here are 11 straightforward things that science has linked to a higher risk of a debilitating or deadly stroke.

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

High blood pressure is the main culprit.

When pressure builds up in a person's blood vessels, the extra stress on their arteries can make it challenging for the brain to get the oxygen-rich blood it needs. Over time, this can lead to a stroke.

Fortunately, there's a lot you can do to lower your blood pressure, like exercising regularly, eating healthy food, and breathing clean air.

Heavy drinking increases blood pressure, making strokes more likely.

A major study published in The Lancet this week showed that the more we drink, the higher our blood pressure and risk of stroke. The researchers analyzed health data from 500,000 Chinese men and over 10 years, and found that people who drank less had lower blood pressure and a reduced risk of stroke. Overall, the researchers found that the risk of having a stroke increases by 35% for every four alcoholic drinks consumed per day.

The National Stroke Association recommends "no more than two drinks a day for men, and one drink a day for women."

Smokers double their risk of a stroke.

The chemicals in tobacco can cause people's arteries to narrow and can also damage the lining of their artery walls, prompting a spike in blood pressure.

When a smoker inhales, the action triggers an immediate blood-pressure spike, and smokers can develop long-lasting problems in their blood vessels over time.

"Smoking increases clot formation, thickens blood, and increases the amount of plaque buildup in the arteries," according to the National Stroke Association.

• Golden Goose sneakers, which cost around $500, are the latest trend among USC fraternities and sororities, reported Jennifer Medina for The New York Times.
• They're a prime of example of the wealth gap at USC, where the upper-class and lower-class walk the same campus, according to Medina.
• Golden Goose sneakers are just another example of how the young and the affluent are redefining the sneaker as a status symbol.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Turn up at a college frat party, and you just might find students in $500 Golden Goose sneakers.

It's the latest trend among USC students in fraternities and sororities, where "some of the most overt signs of wealth" exist at the college, reported Jennifer Medina for The New York Times.

These sneakers typically cost around $500, according to Medina, but range from $445 to $1,700— a high price for a college student, especially considering that many share the burden of carrying the $1.5 trillion national student loan debt. Their three-figure price tag is a sign of a much larger wealth divide that runs rampant on USC's campus.

"The divide between rich and poor students could hardly be more vivid than it is at USC, where the children of celebrities and real estate moguls study alongside the children of nannies and dishwashers," Medina wrote. "The campus remains a place of pervasive wealth, where celebrity, money, and status are still a part of daily life."

She added: "Students of all backgrounds said they often silently worried that they were being judged by their peers — either for having too much or not enough."

According to USC's website, yearly tuition is $55,320. USC has recently come into the spotlight amid the recent college admissions scandal, in which 33 parents were accused of paying a collective $25 million dollars to fabricate their children's credentials during the college admissions process in hopes of getting them accepted to elite schools.

Read more: From Converse to Air Jordans, sneakers have been a status symbol for decades — but millennials are redefining what that means in 3 major ways

The popularity of Golden Goose is part of sneakers' evolving status 

Golden Goose sneakers don't just highlight the income gap on the college campus because of their price point — their appearance further enhances the divide.

Some of the high-end Italian brand's sneakers have a grunge aesthetic — they come pre-distressed. Golden Goose's $530 Beige Scotch sneakers — calf-suede shoes with dirty-looking soles and taped trim at the toes — elicited accusations that the company was "mocking poverty," reported Andy McDonald of HuffPost.

Golden Goose has recently been spotted on a host of celebrities, from Taylor Swift to Selena Gomez, according to Courtney Thompson of Bravo. But they've been a status symbol for more than a decade — according to The Cut's Emilia Petrarca, the pre-distressed Golden Goose started the "ugly-fashion" trend that the wealthy have been favoring as of late.

"Ten years ago, when the Golden Goose Superstar was first released, 'ugly' was different; today, it's a badge of honor," Petrarca wrote.

Unlike critics, she says their "power lies in its disguise or mocking of luxury." By appearing worn-in, they don't come off as too precious like the clean, minimalist sneakers of other high-end brands like Lanvin or Common Projects, the latter of which "indulges in the idea that luxury can be quotidian," she said.

Lanvin and Common Projects, which are commonly priced in the $400 range, are popular among Silicon Valley tech CEOs to signify power in the workplace, according to Business Insider's Avery Hartmans. Meanwhile, $900 Balenciaga Triple S sneakers— another shoe deemed "ugly" — are taking over the fashion world. It's all part of how millennials are redefining sneakers as a status symbol.

SEE ALSO: Wealthy parents are paying up to $1.5 million for consultants to help get their kids into college — and there are ways to do it that are completely legal

DON'T MISS: Wealthy New Yorkers are dropping $375 an hour on prep courses to get their kids into $50,000 'Baby Ivy' kindergartens in an effort to eventually get them into top colleges

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Hungryroot sends fresh, healthy foods to your door that match your preferences and can be made in under 10 minutes. 
• I loved the service because meals were nutritious, tasted good enough to eat even if they weren't, and took me far less time to make than other meal delivery services.
• Shipments come weekly and are available in small ($69, recommended for one person), medium ($99 for two people), and large ($129, made for families). You can pause, hold, or cancel at any time. 
• You can set your nutritional preferences (nut-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, vegan, or none of the above) as well as how much and what type of foods you want to get delivered.

When it comes right down to it, my biggest hurdle to healthy eating is convenience.

I love neither grocery shopping nor cooking, and I don't want to spend my limited free time deep diving into (often contentious) online nutritional resources to construct balanced meals each week.

But, I do want to eat healthy foods that are good for me. So when I heard about Hungryroot through a colleague, I was intrigued.

Hungryroot is a meal subscription service that sends healthy, nearly-ready meals to your door, with ingredients and sauces that you just heat and mix together. Each serving costs about $8 to $12 when you do the math, and they take fewer than 10 minutes to prepare.

The foods are plant-centric, made from clean ingredients, and they're free from artificial ingredients, including preservatives, trans fats, or refined sugars. The meals are packed with nutrients, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats like olive oil, coconut oil, cashews, almonds, and avocados. Together, healthy fats and complex carbs like sweet potatoes, cauliflower, quinoa, beans, and oats keep you energized and satisfied without the pitfalls of "bad" fats and carbs, which can raise your cholesterol and spike your blood sugar.

Generally, I'm willing to spend a bit more than I would on the ingredients for the convenience. Hungryroot is more expensive than buying these ingredients in bulk, but you could make the argument that anyone buying single-person groceries may find that it's not altogether that much more expensive. 

What I personally appreciate about Hungryroot is that it aims to make truly healthy foods convenient and inexpensive, since affordability and convenience are what make people (myself included) settle for unhealthy options packed with trans fats, sodium, and preservatives.

How it works

Sign up, note your dietary preferences, and pick the plan that makes the most sense for you.

Shipments come weekly and are available in the following sizes:

• Small ($69, recommended for one person)
• Medium ($99 for two people)
• Large ($129, made for families)

Shipping is free, and you can pause, hold, or cancel at any time. 

Once you select your plan and make an account, you can view the meals your shipment will include. You can customize the box and delivery dates from the "Deliveries" page while logged into your account. 

All changes made to your subscription must be submitted before 3 p.m. EST the Wednesday before your next box is shipped. 

Since it's all fresh food, you may get an email prior to shipment that one meal has been altered due to stock (not enough high-quality cauliflower one week, for instance).

What Hungryroot is like in person

Shipping was fast and my box arrived as scheduled. I was happy to find the shipping boxes are made of 100% recycled paper and are 100% recyclable. Ice packs are filled with a non-toxic gel, and thermal liners are made of 100% recyclable poly film and post-industrial/pre-consumer 100% recycled cotton. Check Hungryroot's FAQ section for how to recycle ice packs and liners. 

I was surprised by how much I liked what Hungryroot sent. I let the company auto-generate the first shipment without any dietary restrictions marked, and my Small Box (six-eight meals for the week) included the following:

1. Asian Salad Mix
2. Butternut Squash Noodles
3. Spinach Garlic Chicken Sausage
4. Kale Pesto
5. Red Lentil Fusilli 
6. Braised Lemongrass Tofu Nuggets
7. Garlic Parm
8. Hot Smoked Roasted Salmon
9. Garlicky Herb Chickpea Duo
10. Coconut Curry
11. Cultured Coconut Cream
12. Oatmeal Spice Cookie Dough
13. Black Bean Brownie Batter

The meals were delicious, easy to make, and the entrees filled me up.

I’m not a vegan or a vegetarian and I balance an interest in taste over an interest in strictly healthy food, but I enjoyed the meals. It didn’t feel like I was eating “healthy” in the sense that I was making compromises. And while I do eat meat, I enjoyed the tofu. If you really wanted to, though, you could easily substitute and make the recipe with your own choice of meat.

I typically wind up eating more than one serving for other meal plans that I’ve tried, but Hungryroot delivered enough ingredients and variety so I ended up making most entrees last for dinner and for lunch. Having said that, the ingredients initially seemed small and few when unpacking.

I also ended up with leftover sauce from each container, and I organized some meals for the following week around getting rid of the Hungryroot leftovers sans preservatives.

The standouts were the delicious entrees of Butternut Squash Tofu Curry, Salmon Pesto Lentil Pasta, and Spinach Garlic Chicken Sausage, as well as the ridiculously tasty black bean brownie batter (ok to eat as is or after baking). 

True to promise, each meal took under 10 minutes to make — and that’s probably the only reason I finished the fresh food before it went bad and ate healthy meals all week. I don’t like cooking, and my schedule usually allows only 30 minutes to cook and eat. For me, Hungryroot succeeded in making it possible to eat healthy in a convenient, fast, and pretty affordable way.

Who should get it

If you like the sound of healthy, tasty food you can make in under 10 minutes, you’re probably going to like Hungryroot. It’s more expensive than buying the ingredients yourself, but I probably wouldn’t do the research and grocery shopping if left to my own devices. If you want convenience and consistency, this is a good tool. You can also learn more about nutrition on the site should you choose to. 

If you don’t have a reliable way to pick up packages day-of, you may want to steer clear. The food is fresh and doesn’t include preservatives, so it likely won’t keep for longer than a day or so.

If you’d prefer to be more involved in cooking the meals rather than mixing ingredients together, you’ll be better suited to a Blue Apron, Sun Basket, Hello Fresh or another meal kit delivery service. If you just need help with constructing healthy meal plans, you should check out PlateJoy.

Another thing to consider is that the snacks are not meal replacements, so it’s not necessarily fair to say each part of the box is worth its respective $8 to $12 equally. But, if the other pros are worth it to you, then it may even out.

All in all, Hungryroot is a great option for anyone looking to eat healthier. In my experience, meals were delicious, filling, and simple to make.

Sign up for Hungryroot here and see how the process works below:

Make an account with an email. Then, answer easy questions to personalize your shipment.

Check if you have any dietary restrictions or preferences.

If you don't have any, the food will still be plant-centric (made mostly from fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and whole grains), made from clean ingredients (no artificial ingredients, including preservatives, modified food starches, or trans fats and refined sugars), and nutrient-dense (healthy fats, complex carbs, fiber, vitamins, phytonutrients, etc.). 

You won't find any MSG, GMO corn or soy, or hydrogenated fats and partially hydrogenated oil. 

Favorite any meals you'd like to see included in future boxes.

Hungryroot will generate a box for you, but you can customize what's ultimately sent. Just make sure any changes are submitted before 3 p.m. EST the Wednesday before your next box is shipped. 

Pick the right meal plan for your lifestyle (or fridge size).

• In San Francisco, trash pickers are going through the garbage of billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg, The New York Times reports.
• The trash pickers then sell the items they find to make a living.
• Recent discoveries include a coffee machine, designer jeans, and Nike sneakers.
• It highlights the severe inequality in San Francisco, which is the worst in the US.

San Francisco trash pickers rummage through their billionaire neighbors' garbage and sell the discarded treasures they find, The New York Times revealed in a story published Sunday.

One man The Times profiled — Jake Orta, a 56-year-old military veteran — lives in government subsidized housing near Mark Zuckerberg's roughly $10 million home. Orta has uncovered a hair dryer, a vacuum cleaner, and a coffee machine (all still in working condition) in the Facebook CEO's trash, and an iPad in someone else's.

Orta sells what he finds, with a goal of earning about $30 to $40 a day, according to The Times.

Read more: San Francisco is so expensive that households making over $100,000 a year qualify for low-income housing

The Times notes that trash picking is illegal in California, as the contents of garbage bins on the sidewalk are property of the trash collection company — but the law is seldom enforced.

The trash-picking trend illustrates the growing gap between San Francisco's wealthiest and poorest residents. An analysis of 2017 US Census data by Bloomberg found that the chasm between the top and bottom 20% is widest in San Francisco ($339,900).

Other trash-pickers have made similar discoveries: The blogger Financial Panther published a post about making over $1,000 selling items he found in a single dumpster in the garage of a luxury apartment building. Those items included a coffee table, bar stools, and clothes with the tags still on.

For some people, though, discovering the treasures in other people's trash is more of a hobby than a way to make a living. The New York Post reported on a woman in her 60s who owns more than $8 million worth of New York City property — and goes around collecting the items in garbage cans for fun.

As for Orta, he told The Times, "It just amazes me what people throw away." That night, he'd turned up a pair of designer jeans, Nike running sneakers, and a bicycle pump. "You never know what you will find," he said.

See the full story from The Times »

SEE ALSO: It takes a $300,000 salary to be middle class in cities like San Francisco and NYC, and a financial expert gives the 'sad' breakdown of why

Join the conversation about this story »

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• A whiter, brighter smile will give you more self-confidence and may even affect the way people interact with you. 
• Teeth whitening can be achieved relatively quickly using techniques performed by dental professionals or more gradually by using DIY treatments. 
• Along with teeth whitening products, taking steps to prevent tooth stains from forming in the first place is a good way to keep your smile glowing. 
• We recommend the AuraGlow Teeth Whitening Kit, the Active Wow Charcoal Toothpaste, and a great whitening toothpaste to remove stains as well as stainless steel straws, which can help prevent staining.

The science is in: A bright white smile makes a human being more attractive to fellow members of the species. White teeth suggest good health and in the subconscious mind indicate youth, which, in turn, correlates to fertility. And with that whiter smile that others find so attractive comes an increase in self-confidence that will spread to all areas of your life, from the professional world to friendships to romance.

But what is the best way to get whiter teeth? There's no one answer to that question because everyone's circumstances are different. Choosing the best tooth whitening approach for you depends on myriad factors, including your budget, the time you can allocate to teeth whitening, and of course the severity of the stains or yellowing currently afflicting your teeth.

Here are five ways to whiten your teeth and prevent staining in the first place:

Get a professional to whiten your teeth

For the most efficient and, arguably, the most effective teeth whitening, you need to go to a professional. But you will pay between an average of $500 to $1,500 for professional teeth whitening, the former for bleaching, the latter for laser whitening.

A professional teeth bleaching session will usually take two to three hours, and costs range as low as $400 to around $650 depending on the dentist. Laser teeth whitening — which actually still depends on bleaching agents to do the work, the laser merely speeds up and enhances the process — adds almost a thousand dollars. But it's faster and for many people, the results last longer.

The biggest benefit of professional teeth whitening is the speed at which it works. Most patients will leave the practice with visibly whiter teeth. But a professional teeth whitening is hardly permanent. Within a matter of months, the results will fade.

So after you shell out a hefty dose of cash for a same day bright smile, spend a bit more for products that can help you maintain that whiter smile at home.

Use a teeth whitening kit at home

An at-home teeth whitening kit that uses trays and an LED light can produce impressive results if used regularly. These kits come with a number of doses of a concentrated whitening gel that you dispense onto a tray. The tray has a bright LED light connected to it that will help activate the solution (often a carbamide peroxide gel) during the half-hour treatment session.

A good at-home teeth whitening kit like the AuraGlow will cost about $50. That's a lot less than a session at a dental professionals office, to be sure, but to get truly appreciable results, you need to do a whitening session daily for a nearly three weeks.

The AuraGlow kit comes with enough gel for 20 treatments, so that's 20 days in a row spending a half hour with a big plastic tray clamped between your teeth.

Buy the AuraGlow Teeth Whitening Kit on Amazon for $48.50 (originally $59.99)

Check out our full guide to the best teeth whitening kits

Use teeth whitening charcoal powder

Sure, it seems counterintuitive to whiten your teeth with a black powder, but for many people, activated charcoal powder works wonders. When gently brushed onto teeth, activated charcoal powder will bind with much of the plaque coating the teeth, making it remove more easily when the powder is brushed away. As plaque is often yellowish in color, its removal will do much to brighten your smile.

However, charcoal powder won't actually remove stains on the enamel itself. Clearing away plaque is great for oral health and should be a part of your teeth whitening strategy, but it's not a substitute for other techniques, and it's certainly not a stand in for brushing with other toothpaste.

We recommend you try the Active Wow Teeth Whitening Charcoal Powder— tens of thousands of other people already stand by the stuff.

Buy a jar of Active Wow Teeth Whitening Charcoal Powder on Amazon for $19.89

Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

• Nothing completes your boardroom-ready look quite like the right pair of power heels or flats.
• Perhaps the most important element of your work wardrobe is your shoes, which is why we've rounded up some of the best places to find office-appropriate footwear.
• We like Everlane's dress shoe selection the best, but Madewell, M. Gemi, J. Crew, and Rothy's all have great options.

It is simply the case that one can never own too many pairs of shoes, and when it comes to work-appropriate shoes, the "correct" number of pairs is practically infinite. Of course, finding a pair of flats or so-called modest heels that are both attractive and acceptable to the corporate powers that be can be a bit of a challenge. But with some help from our favorite office-ready shoe purveyors, you may want to keep your shoes close and your credit card closer.

When picking a great pair of work shoes, you'll want to keep a few things in mind. First and foremost, are they comfortable? If you're already feeling pinched at work, the last thing you need is to have shoes that are literally pinching your feet as well. After all, it's difficult to feel empowered when you're constantly bending over to adjust your strap or massage your heel.

You'll also want to keep heel heights in mind. While I prefer to live about four inches above my natural height, I would also prefer to sleep and pet cats for a living. Alas, in order to be part of the professional world, it seems that society has dictated that I live in heels of a more moderate one-to-two-inch height. Also important to consider is the width of your heel. As impressive as your ability to teeter totter around on a one-inch circumference may be, that's probably not something that you can (or should) put on a resume or to the test in your office. Luckily, you don't need to be in stilettos to pull off a killer look.

Furthermore, you may want to consider your preferred work shoe color. While black, nude, and the occasional navy shoe are common suspects, it's also well worth adding a pop of color to your wardrobe with some more creative hues. Don't shy away from white, either — sure, they'll show dirt a bit more easily, but let's be honest, in your sterile office environment, you're not really at risk of getting things particularly dirty.

Regardless of which of our favorite office-appropriate shoe purveyors you decide to shop in, we're sure that you'll have a decidedly professional (and fashion-forward) experience.

Here are the best places to buy women's dress shoes online:

• Best dress shoes for women overall: Everlane
• Best work-to-weekend shoes for women: Madewell
• Best work-appropriate boots for women: M. Gemi
• Best dress shoes for women who like variety: J. Crew
• Best sustainable dress shoes for women: Rothy's 

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

The best dress shoes for women overall

Why you'll love it: Everlane's classic collection of shoes are ethically sourced, responsibly made, and will keep you moving throughout the day.

When it comes to the professional woman's wardrobe, few brands are better represented than Everlane. It's hard to believe that it's been less than a decade since the company was founded, but in its nine years of existence, Everlane has proven that cutting out the middleman and employing responsible sourcing and manufacturing practices are both great for business, and better still for fashion. And that's certainly no exception when it comes to the brand's beautiful collection of shoes.

What I love best about Everlane's collection is its rather manageable size. Sure, there are still more than enough options from which to choose, but you won't spend hours upon hours scrolling through seemingly endless variations of what ultimately looks like the exact same shoe. Rather, in keeping with the brand's broader ethos, the shoe collection is straightforward and elegant, offering elevated basics at reasonable prices.

If you're looking for a simple yet chic flat, look no further than the Day Glove, one of Everlane's perennial best sellers. Available in a wide range of colors, this ballet flat is incredibly comfortable and looks fantastic paired with a pair of slacks or just about anything else. As it turns out, wearing a heel is not a prerequisite for looking put together, and the Day Glove proves just that.

Taking the Day Glove up a notch is the Day Heel, which incorporates a two-inch block heel with the same beautiful design and fit as its flat sibling. I love its back pull tab, side vents, and cushioned insole, all of which make this heel easy to put on and easy to keep on. Plus, this shoe comes in a wide range of colors that span the classic suspects like black, rose, and bone as well as the bolder options like bright red, bronze, and other metallic offerings.

I'm also in love with the Editor Heel, a sleek kitten heel that looks effortlessly sharp with its miniature stiletto. While it runs a bit big, the soft, Italian leather material may just convince you that this is the last pair of heels you'll ever need.

None of Everlane's heels go above two inches, which makes them extremely comfortable and wearable all the livelong day, and most styles come in both leather and suede versions to fit your personal aesthetic.

Pros: Incredibly comfortable, ethically made, manageable selection of styles

Cons: If you're looking for a higher heel, Everlane may not deliver   

Shop Everlane's shoe collection here

Read our full reviews of the Day Glove and Day Loafer

The best work-to-weekend dress shoes for women

Why you'll love them: Madewell shoes are perfect both in and out of the office, won't break the bank, and are definitely comfortable.

I was a Madewell fangirl before I joined the workforce, and now, I'm a Madewell fan-professional. Not only does the retailer offer a fantastic selection of work appropriate clothing, like cardigans, dresses, and trousers, but it also has one of the chicest and accessible shoe collections I've found for the younger demographic.

With great options for both the summer and the winter, Madewell's shoes are, as you might imagine, well made, and reasonably priced, with most coming in at less than $130.

What I particularly appreciate about Madewell is its ability to turn classic shoes into fresh, modern offerings. Take, for example, the all-important loafer. While Madewell certainly offers this staple pair in your usual black leather, there are also a few updated options. My personal favorite is the Crackle Metallic version, which is just bright enough to catch your eye, but not so aggressive that you'll feel the need to hide your feet any time a senior partner comes around.

If you're looking for a great pair of mules, Madewell certainly has you covered. These shoes come in a wide range of heels, prints, and colors, which means you can dress up or dress down your professional wardrobe however you see fit. I also love the solid craftsmanship of these shoes. The pair I own has more than withstood the tests of time, weather, and situation.

Pros: Modern takes on classic styles, inexpensive, wide selection of colors and prints, available in stores and online  

Cons: The dressiest of office environments may not be well-served by Madewell shoes   

Shop Madewell's shoe collection here

The best work-appropriate boots for women

Why you'll love it: If I could only wear one type of shoe for the rest of my life, it would be a pair of boots, and they would probably come from M. Gemi.

You may not think you're fancy enough to buy Italian-made shoes, but M. Gemi is here to prove you wrong. The direct-to-consumer brand is best known for its beautiful loafers and flats, but as it turns out, the high-quality footwear company also makes some of the most beautiful ankle boots that you've ever seen. If you've ever questioned whether or not boots are work appropriate, M. Gemi is answering with a resounding "yes."

Made in artisan Italian workshops with almost unbelievably soft leather or suede, the Corsa ankle boot is not only insanely comfortable, but extremely versatile as well. The beautiful silhouette has a fitted shaft and sleek sole, and looks fantastic paired with a sharp pair of cigarette pants or a dress.

While it takes some time to break in a pair of boots or any pair of work shoes, this simply isn't the case with M. Gemi. Its products are ready to wear right out of the box, and I've literally never gotten a blister from its shoes, even after very long work days. Plus, with the just-over-two-inch heel height, you won't feel as though you're at risk of falling and breaking your neck when you're running from meeting to meeting.

If you're not into the boots look, you could also check out the famous Stellato Sacchetto. The company's constant best seller, this pointed flat has a soft suede upper, a tiny heel, and an effortless sophistication. The shoe quite literally wraps your foot in comfortable leather, and comes in a range of surprising colors that rotate out by season.

As it stands, I love the sage color, but M. Gemi is always coming up with new earth tones that never go out of style.

Pros: Truly quality craftsmanship, beautiful and comfortable material, warm inviting earth tones, unique look

Cons: M. Gemi shoes do come at a premium, but they're worth it

Shop M. Gemi's women's shoe collection here

Read our reviews of the Stellato Sacchetto Flat and the Corsca Ankle Boot

Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

• Boiled eggs are the centerpiece in a number of delicious dishes, including everything from egg-salad sandwiches and deviled eggs to boiled eggs in soups and salads.
• Although you don’t need to attend culinary school to learn how to boil eggs, it does take some basic kitchen smarts, as well as some sort of container in which to do the boiling.
• And that’s where the fun starts, because thanks to modern technology, you are no longer limited to a basic saucepan on top of the stove to turn out a perfectly boiled egg.
• Whether you prefer to go old-school with a saucepan and an egg timer, use an electric egg boiler, or pop your eggs into the microwave, here’s how to do it right.

I'm a big fan of egg-salad sandwiches — I mix plenty of mayonnaise, a splash of spicy brown mustard, a dash of paprika, and a little bit of curry powder into my blend, and then spread it thickly between two slices of potato bread before topping it with a couple of lettuce leaves, slicing it in half, and enjoying my tasty lunch.

Because I love egg salad so much, I hard-boil plenty of eggs. My hubby likes to take them to work as a snack, and my son enjoys one post-workout. Needless to say, we eat a lot of eggs each week in our household, including those that get whipped up for Sunday bacon-and-eggbreakfasts.

That’s why I’m here to teach you the best way to turn out perfectly boiled eggs every time, whether you prefer them slightly soft or very firm. It’s not rocket science; it mostly comes down to timing, along with a few basic tools.

Here are the tools you need to boil eggs perfectly:

• Best saucepan: Farberware Classic Stainless Steel 4-Quart Saucepot with Lid
• Best egg timer: Norpro Egg Perfect Egg Timer
• Best slotted spoon: OXO Good Grips Brushed Stainless Steel Spoon
• Best electric egg cooker: Dash Rapid Egg Cooker
• Best egg cooker for the microwave: Home-X Microwave Chicken Egg Boiler

Learn how to boil an egg three different ways with the right tools in the slides below:

How to boil eggs on top of the stove

Here’s the traditional way to boil eggs, and my preferred method:

1. Start with a saucepan or pot that is large enough to hold all of your eggs in a single layer; you don’t want to stack eggs on top of each other. Put your desired number of eggs into the pot. Need a new saucepan? The Farberware Classic Stainless Steel 4-Quart Saucepot with Lid wins rave reviews on Amazon.
2. Cover the eggs with cold water. Don’t skimp. You need enough water to cover all of the eggs to a depth of one inch.
3. Set the pot over medium-high heat, and let it come to a full boil.
4. This is the crucial part: turn the flame off within a minute or two of the water reaching full boil, move the pot off the heat, and cover the pot with its lid. Letting the eggs boil too long is what turns the yolk that unappealing, grayish-green color.

Now set the timer, because when it comes to the perfect level of hardness (or softness) of your boiled eggs, minutes count. You can also pop this nifty egg timer into the boiling water when you start your eggs to get the right hardness. The timer looks like a red egg, and as it heats up, it'll start changing color to purple from the edges inward. There are three hashmarks on the time: soft, medium, and hard.

As a general rule, let the eggs sit in the hot water in the covered pot for:

• Two to four minutes for soft-boiled eggs with a runny yolk and semi-firm white
• Five to six minutes for medium-boiled eggs with a yolk the texture of custard
• Seven to eight minutes for hard-boiled eggs with a bit of creaminess left in the yolk
• Nine to 10 minutes for hard-boiled eggs with firm yolks

Once they're done cooking, follow these steps:

1. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the eggs out of the hot water, and into a bowl filled with ice water. While not a guarantee, this generally makes it much easier to peel the eggs, which can be a very frustrating endeavor otherwise. Let the eggs rest in the ice water until they are completely cool to the touch.
2. Unless you are saving the eggs for later, in which case you can store them in the fridge for up to one week, it’s best to peel the eggs right out of the ice bath. Rap one end of the egg against the counter or another hard surface to crack it, and then roll it a bit on the counter to further shatter the shell. Now hold the egg under running water to peel it, starting at the cracked end. The running water usually makes it much easier to fully remove the shell, although again, some eggs are simply more stubborn than others.
3. Enjoy your healthful snack!

Buy the Farberware Classic Stainless Steel 4-Quart Saucepot with Lid on Amazon for $26.99

Buy the Norpro Egg Perfect Egg Timer on Amazon for $6.15 to $10.38

Buy the Wrenwane Digital Kitchen Timer on Amazon for $8.97

Buy the OXO Good Grips Brushed Stainless Steel Spoon on Amazon for $9.99

How to boil eggs in an electric egg boiler

If you really like to make a lot of hard or soft-boiled eggs, and don’t want to be bothered with careful timing, it’s worth investing in an electric egg boiler. Our favorite, the Dash Rapid Egg Cooker, lets you cook up to six eggs at a time, and you can also use it to poach eggs or make a small omelet.

1. Use the included measuring cup to pour water into the base of the electric boiler. The water level determines the firmness of the boiled eggs, as well as the number of minutes until the timer goes off.
2. Carefully puncture the larger tip of each egg with the pin at the bottom of the measuring cup. This reduces the chance of an egg explosion, and also makes the eggs easier to peel once boiled.
3. Set your eggs in the boiling tray, and insert the tray into the appliance. The Dash Rapid Egg Cooker also includes trays for poaching eggs and making omelets, greatly increasing its versatility.
4. Turn the device on. It will time your eggs based on the amount of water, and switch itself off when they are done. Generally, that will be around ten minutes for six hard-boiled eggs.
5. Remove the eggs from the boiler, and cool them in ice water before peeling, if desired.   
6. Enjoy!

Buy the Dash Rapid Egg Cooker on Amazon for $16.99

How to boil eggs in the microwave

No stovetop? No problem! You can boil eggs in your microwave, as long as you have the appropriate holder — simply boiling the eggs in an open bowl is likely to lead to exploded eggs.

We love the adorable Home-X Microwave Chicken Egg Boiler, which looks like a cute little white hen.

1. Fill the base of the microwave egg boiler with water up to the line.
2. Set up to four eggs in the holder.
3. Cover the boiler with its top.
4. Stick the device in your microwave, and turn it on. While you might need to experiment to find the perfect timing, it’s typically around six minutes for soft-boiled, and nine minutes for hard-boiled eggs.
5. When the microwave goes off, remove the eggs from the egg boiler — be careful, because it will be hot — and cool them down in ice water before peeling and enjoying.

Buy the Home-X Microwave Chicken Egg Boiler on Sears for $20.51

President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that Kirstjen Nielsen is leaving her position as Homeland Security Secretary. Nielsen tweeted shortly after that she handed in her resignation to the president on Sunday afternoon and "thanked him for the opportunity to serve in his administration."

Though Nielsen didn't explicitly give reason for her departure in her resignation letter, she said it was the "right time for me to step aside." 

As Homeland Security chief, Nielsen became the face of the Trump administration's controversial "zero tolerance" immigration policy, making her a divisive figure in the process.

Nielsen was criticized after claiming the policy was not the catalyst for the separation of migrant families at the US-Mexico border, especially after she then defended the detainment of migrant children who'd been taken from their parents or guardians.

Nielsen assured the public these children were being well taken care of, but protesters still targeted her over the Trump administration's immigration policies and calls were made for her resignation.

On Friday, the government said in a court filing that it could take up to two years to identify the potentially thousands of children separated from their families at the border. 

Here's a look at Nielsen's history and how she rose to become Homeland security chief and the poster-child of the zero-tolerance policy:

SEE ALSO: A growing number of lawmakers are calling on Kirstjen Nielsen to resign

DON'T MISS: Immigration lawyers warn Trump's executive order still gives the government plenty of wiggle room to keep separating parents from their children

Kirstjen Nielsen was born on May 14, 1972 in Colorado. But she grew up in Florida, where she ran cross-country, played soccer, and was student body president.

Source: UVA Law

Nielsen's parents, Phyllis Michele Nielsen and James McHenry Nielsen, were both Army doctors. Her mother passed away in 2011, but her father is still alive and attended her swearing-in as Department of Homeland Security secretary.

Source: Heavy.com

Nielsen thought she might want to become a diplomat and attended Georgetown University's school of foreign service and studied abroad in Japan. She then worked for Sen. Connie Mack of Florida for two years before heading to law school at the University of Virginia.

Source: UVA Law

Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

• When winter turns to spring, just like we naturally adjust our wardrobes to adapt to the new temperatures, our skin-care routines could use a reboot to help our skin adjust to the new climate . 
• To transition your skin-care routine from winter to spring, swap out heavy products for more lightweight options that provide the same skin-soothing ingredients, without adding extra oil and grease.
• Keep reading for 25 great serums, cleansers, moisturizers, exfoliants, and sunscreens that are perfect for warmer weather.

April showers bring May flowers — and warmer temperatures, higher UV levels, and humidity. You've probably already swapped your parka for a jean jacket and traded in your wool sweaters for cotton tees to deal with the change in climate. But just like your wardrobe, your skin deserves an update, too.

Heat and humidity increase oil production, which means your skin care may require an adjustment. The moisturizer you relied on to combat winter dryness likely too heavy this time of year. And, while a moisturizer with SPF 15 was enough to protect your skin from winter's UV rays, you probably need something a little stronger now that the sun is out. 

The point is, while we may be more than ready to run right into sunny spring, our skin needs a little more time to adapt. Picking products that target these new, seasonal concerns can help our skin transition more seamlessly.

Luxury beauty retailer Bluemercury outlined the tips and tricks you should know to update your skin-care routine for spring. Using its guidance as our inspiration, we rounded up a selection of products across all price-points that'll help your skin adjust to the slew of picnics, beach outings, and sunny days to come.

Keep reading for 25 products to swap into your skin-care routine for spring.

Cleanser

The swap: Cold weather calls for creamy cleansers that boost dry skin with added moisture. With temperatures rising, our skin doesn't need quite as much help in that department — it naturally produces more oil on its own. Instead of using a thick, hydrating cleanser, opt for something more lightweight like a gel formula. An oil-removing cleanser can also help control excess sebum for a less oily complexion all-around. These options will still give your skin a deep clean and keep it hydrated without adding excess oil in these already oil-inducing months. 

The products:

• If you're on the go: M-61 Perfect Cleansing Cloths, $24
• If you're on a budget: Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Facial Cleanser, $7.11
• If you're in on the trend:Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser, $18
• If you're going green: Korres Wild Rose Foaming Cleanser, $28
• If you're feeling dull:Tatcha The Deep Cleanse, $38

Moisturizer

The swap: In the winter, our skin drinks up the hydration from thick moisturizers and face creams. In the spring and summer, our skin naturally produces more oil and retains moisture better than in the colder months. Still, you should definitely use a moisturizer. There's a common misconception that oily skin doesn't need moisturizer, as it will just add grease and shine. In reality, if you don't moisturize at all, your skin will probably produce even more oil to compensate for lack of hydration. The solution? A lightweight moisturizer that absorbs quickly and delivers skin-soothing and plumping ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid, and marine algae to give you that summer glow.

The products:

• If you're looking to splurge: La Mer The Moisturizing Cool Gel Cream, $175
• If you're a frequent flyer: Caudalie Vinosource Mattifying Moisturizer, $39
• If you're on a budget:The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors, $11.60
• If you're going green: Boscia Cactus Water Moisturizer, $38
• If you're looking for simplicity:Neutrogena Oil-Free Facial Moisturizer, $8.62

Serum

The swap: Serums make a great addition to your skin-care routine in the winter — they penetrate deeply into the skin, packing a nutrient-rich punch with just a few drops. You don't have to give up serums come spring- or summertime, but you should consider opting for a more lightweight formula. Oil-based serums are great for locking in moisture in the winter, but with higher temperatures and humidity, we need to let our skin breathe. Swap out your winter serum for one that's water-based instead. You'll get all of the same benefits of the ingredients, but without the added weight — which can lead to greasy skin and breakouts. 

The products:

• If you're looking to splurge: Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum, $300
• If you're on a budget: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5, $6.80
• If you're acne-prone: Mario Badescu Anti-Acne Serum, $20
• If you're going green: Edible Beauty No. 3 Exotic Goddess Ageless Serum, $57
• If you're feeling dull:Glossier Super Glow, $28

Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider, Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

• The Lo & Sons Edgemont Convertible Backpack Tote ($128) switches between backpack and tote in under a minute with a few quick strap adjustments. 
• In either form, it holds and organizes an impressive amount of stuff, but remains comfortable to carry and feels lighter than expected.  
• The multi-use, multi-look bag is a perfect example of functional and stylish versatility, making it a great go-to accessory for both traveling and everyday life. 

The convertible bag is truly a beautiful invention. Created for the value- and space-conscious multi-tasker, convertible bags make you feel like you've gotten away with something — for the price of one bag, you get two (or even three or four) once you do some quick strap reconfiguration. 

The latest bag I'm obsessed with is one such miracle of thoughtful and versatile design, the Lo & Sons Edgemont Convertible Backpack Tote ($128). 

I've been carrying this travel backpack as a work bag for the last couple weeks, and it has performed impressively in every way, from durability and organizational design to aesthetic style. 

The bag, available in three colors (black, navy, and navy camo), is constructed with a water-resistant polyester fabric that's made from recycled plastic bottles. It measures 13 x 5 x 14.5 inches and weighs just over two pounds. It has a nice sturdy, structured look to it, and it's not too flashy. 

Inside, however, is where a lot of the magic hides. 

The Edgemont Backpack Tote can fit a ton of stuff, and it has the smartly designed compartments to keep it all organized. There's a dedicated 13-inch laptop compartment, water bottle and umbrella holders, two smaller sleeves where I slide my wallet and Kindle, and easy-access stash pockets on the sides for things like passports, IDs, and subway passes.  

And that's just everything surrounding the main compartment. In the spacious main compartment, I usually pack all my gym gear, including shoes, plus a toiletry bag or maybe a few products (e.g. skin-care, tech accessories) I need to test for the week. 

Once everything is packed away, I zip the bag up at the top and go on my way. Surprisingly, the bag isn't as heavy as you think it'd be. The different handles, particularly the padded backpack straps, are comfortable, and the straight back prevents heavier weights from ruining your posture. 

You can carry all your stuff two different ways with the bag functioning as either a backpack or tote — and converting between the two takes less than a minute. 

The backpack straps have clips that attach to loops at the bottom of the backpack (which hide away into their own pockets when not in use). If you want to use the bag as a tote, just un-clip the straps and fold them into the back compartment. They bulge a tiny bit, but I barely noticed them, and neither will anyone else. 

When using the bag as a backpack, the top straps act like any standard backpack top handle. In tote mode, they're the main straps you can carry in your hand or over your shoulder. They're very sturdy and also comfortable to hold.

Depending on how heavy it is, where I'm walking or standing (e.g. crowded vs. empty space), or simply what my body is feeling that day, I can easily switch between the two modes. Even though it's just a matter of reconfiguring the straps, the backpack and tote feel like two distinct bags. In fact, I recently had a friend compliment it twice — once when I wore it as a backpack, and once when I wore it as a tote — thinking they were different. 

The little things also add up to make this a great convertible bag to carry for work or travel. 

I loved the presence and position of the stash pockets on each side of the bag. In the stash pocket closest to the front of my body, I stored the three things I needed the fastest access to: my Metrocard, office ID badge, and key lanyard. Instead of being that bothersome person clogging up the flow of traffic as she digs furiously through her bag, I whisked through doors more smoothly than ever before. 

The pattern of the bag was another small detail that happily surprised me. The bag comes in neutral, can't-go-wrong black and navy options, but I opted for the navy camo, and it was more subtle than I expected. Camo can come off juvenile when not executed well, but Lo & Sons created a stylish take that you only realize is camo upon closer inspection. 

In case you can't tell, I'm very happy with the Edgemont Convertible Backpack Tote from Lo & Sons. The company successfully made a sleek, durable, and comfortable convertible bag worthy of the office, gym, travels, and everyday adventures. 

Shop the Edgemont Convertible Backpack Tote for $128 in 3 colors at Lo & Sons here

Shop all bags at Lo & Sons here

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• The most expensive home in Napa Valley is a $22.5 million modern luxury farmhouse.
• Set on about three acres in California's prime wine country, the estate includes a main residence, a guest house, and a three-car garage.
• Outside is an expansive lawn, a grill and al fresco dining area, a pool, and ancient oak and olive trees.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The most expensive home in Napa Valley is a contemporary luxury farmhouse surrounded by vineyards, asking $22.5 million.

The current owners are J. Gary Shansby, the founder of a Mexican tequila brand, and his wife, OJ, according to Sotheby's International Realty.

The house, which includes a pool and guest house, is surrounded by vineyards, including the Rudd Oakville Estate, Plump Jack, Gargiulo, Groth, B Cellars, Silver Oak, and Opus One, Robert Mondavi, and Screaming Eagle.

Ginger Martin of Sotheby's International Realty holds the listing.

Here's a look at the Northern California property.

SEE ALSO: A Mega Millions lottery winner is selling his California mountain estate for $26 million — and the massive property comes with a buffalo ranch, steakhouse, and saloon

DON'T MISS: 50 Cent's Connecticut mansion, once listed for $18.5 million, has finally sold at an 84% discount after 12 years. Here's what the 52-room house looks like.

California businessman J. Gary Shansby and his wife, OJ, are selling a contemporary, luxury farmhouse in Oakville, California, for $22.5 million.

Source: Sotheby's International Realty

That makes the three-bedroom house the most expensive home for sale in Napa Valley.

Source: Sotheby's International Realty

Oakville is a small community in the heart of wine country, about 60 miles north of San Francisco. Surrounding vineyards include the Rudd Oakville Estate, Plump Jack, Gargiulo, Groth, B Cellars, Silver Oak, and Opus One, Robert Mondavi, and Screaming Eagle.

Source: Sotheby's, Google Maps