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17 grown-up Disney gifts any dad will love to get for Father's Day

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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.

Disney store

There are dads and then there are Disney dads.

You know the type — the ones who'd rather be at Disneyland than anywhere else, the kind of man who can do a spot-on Mickey Mouse impression, the guy who would be thrilled to watch Fantasia for the 50th time. Being a Disney mom myself, I know the type well — they are my people.

When you're one of these unapologetic Disney fans, there's nothing you'd like to receive more than a gift that pays homage to your obsession.

Fresh from a visit to the happiest place on earth, here's a collection of 17 pixie-dusted gifts to bestow upon that Disney dad for Father's Day:

Disney Park tickets

Gift Disneyland or Disney World park tickets, prices vary

Odds are that your dad has taken you to a Disney park at some point, so now's the time to give back. Pick up a pair of tickets for the two of you to enjoy, or get your whole family together for a big trip — complete with matching T-shirts



A fun Tiki Room shirt

Gift the Enchanted Tiki Room Silk Shirt for Men by Tommy Bahama, $150

Dads will proudly don the Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room button down shirt for a festive and fun alternative to a boring old T-shirt. Bonus points if he actually wears it while going to the Enchanted Tiki Room.



A Mickey Mouse-printed tie

Gift a Disneyland Tie, $44.99

Sure, a tie might be a little expected, but when it's covered with the same wallpaper from the Haunted Mansion and Enchanted Tiki Room, or printed with Monorail cars and cute little Mickey heads, the gift is far from boring.



A set of classic Mickey cufflinks

Gift a pair of Mickey Mouse cufflinks, $65.95

While cufflinks also fall under the category of classic Father's Day gifts, the quirkiness of this Mickey Mouse pair makes them irresistible. The set comes in a stylish box which makes them easy to gift right away too.



A book devoted to everyone's favorite mouse

Gift the "Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse, The Ultimate History," $137 

This large coffee table book — clocking in at 496 pages and weighing more than 13 pounds — is a must for any Mickey devotee. It covers our favorite mouse's humble beginnings and follows along as he becomes one of the most recognizable faces on the planet.



A model Main Street Station kit

Gift a Metal Earth Main Street Station, $21.99 

If your dad enjoys tinkering and building, pick up the Disneyland Main Street Station Metal Earth 3D Model Kit. There are also other options such as the Haunted Mansion and Cinderella's Castle if you'd like to get him more than one.



A retro sweatshirt

Gift a Frontierland Sweatshirt for Men by Junk Food, $54.99 

The vintage style of this Junk Food sweatshirt paying tribute to Magic Kingdom's Frontierland is perfect for those dads who have fond memories of Thunder Mountain and Tom Sawyer's Island.



A Tower of Terror robe

Gift a Hollywood Tower Hotel Plush Robe for Men, $74.95

If Dad loves the thrill of Hollywood's Tower of Terror, then this soft robe will be a Father's Day hit. This plush robe features the Hollywood Tower Hotel logo and crest embroidered in golden threading.

 



A classic Mickey Mouse watch

Gift a Mickey Mouse Vintage Watch for Adults, $49.95

The Mickey Mouse watch is a total classic, and it's a timepiece that will never go out of style.  



Or a more modern style

Gift a Mickey Mouse Icon Eco-Drive Watch for Adults by Citizen, $325

This quirky yet contemporary watch isn't just attractive, it's high tech too. The Citizen Eco-Drive technology will convert light sources  — both natural and artificial — into usable energy to keep the watch running and on time.



A picnic tote

Gift a Mickey Beverage and Cheese Tote, $99.95 

This might look like an everyday backpack, but it is so much more. The handy picnic tote has the capacity to hold three 750 mL bottles of vino and includes a Mickey cheeseboard, cheese knife, and bottle opener.



A printed phone case

Gift a Disneyland Resort OtterBox iPhone Case, $59.99

Whether he's making an important work call or jumping on the phone to chat with the grandkids, this Disneyland OtterBox iPhone case will remind him of his home away from home. Not only does it feature iconic places in the park, but it also boasts OtterBox's certified Drop+ protection.



A Mickey Mouse robe

 Gift a Mickey Mouse Robe for Adults by Barefoot Dreams, $158.95

Barefoot Dreams makes an incredibly soft and plush robe that your dad won't ever want to take off. 



A slim credit card holder

Gift a Coach Mickey Mouse Credit Card Case, $64.95

Part of the Coach x Disney collection, this adorable case holds six credit cards and features Coach's legendary luxe leather printed with everyone's favorite mouse.



A Mickey-adorned record player

Gift a Mickey Mouse Runwell Turntable by Shinola, $2199

If your dad loves vinyl, surprise him with the Mickey Mouse Runwell Turntable by Shinola, part of the Shinola x Disney Mickey Classics Collection. This state-of-the-art record player features a built-in phono preamplifier and subtle Mickey touches. 



A coffee table book that goes into the history of the happiest place on earth

Gift "Walt Disney's Disneyland," $47 

Let Dad visit Disneyland without leaving the couch with the photo heavy "Walt Disney's Disneyland." It covers the history and importance of the happiest place on earth.

And if he really wants to take a deep dive into Disneyland history, pre-order the "Marc Davis in His Own Words: Imagineering the Disney Theme Parks" by Pixar's Pete Docter and Imagineer Christopher Merritt ($92).



A LEGO set of a true Disney classic

Gift LEGO Mickey Mouse Steamboat Willie Set, $89.99

If the dad in your life likes LEGOs (and really, what Dad doesn't?), then you should seriously consider the LEGO Mickey Mouse Steamboat Willie Set. The set pays homage to the 1928 Mickey Mouse short "Steamboat Willie" in honor of Mickey's 90th anniversary.




'How much does Amazon Prime cost?': A breakdown of Amazon's membership plans, and whether they're worth it

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amazon prime packages

  • An Amazon Prime membership can help you save money on deliveries.
  • The costs of membership depends on how you pay (annually or monthly), as well as whether or not you're a student.
  • You'll have to consider your ordering habits, as well as the pros and cons of membership to determine whether Prime is worth the cost.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Amazon Prime is Amazon's membership program, which allows users to access things like free two-day (or even two-hour) shipping on eligible items. If you haven't hopped on the bandwagon yet, there's a lot to consider.

One major factor that will impact your decision is the cost of signing up.

Here's a breakdown of what it costs to get a Prime membership, what each membership covers, and other costs to consider before making your decision.

How much an Amazon Prime membership costs

It depends on who you are and how you choose to pay.

As of May 2018, most people will pay either $119 per year for an annual Amazon Prime membership, or $12.99 per month. Paying month-to-month will cost you about $37 more than the annual option over a year.

Students can get a Prime membership for $59 a year, or $6.49 per month (about $19 higher than the annual option).

There is also a discounted membership available to EBT and Medicaid cardholders. That costs $5.99 a month, and it's available to each user for up to four years. (That membership comes to about $72 per year.)

You could also opt to subscribe solely to Prime Video for $8.99 per month, which would limit your access to any memberships perks outside of the Prime Video library.

Amazon Prime

What an Amazon Prime membership covers

If you opt to get Amazon Prime, here are just some of the benefits you'll have access to through your account:

  • Free two-day delivery on Prime-eligible items (and yes, there are many of those — more than 100 million items, according to Amazon).
  • Free one-day shipping, same-day, and two-hour delivery on select items.
  • "Amazon Day," which lets you make orders and then specify the day everything you've ordered that week will be delivered.
  • Free release-date delivery on select items, like video games and music.
  • Discounted, expedited delivery
  • "Amazon Prime Day" deals.
  • Free streaming of Prime-eligible (as well as Amazon original) movies, TV shows,  and Audible Channels.

Additional costs to consider with Amazon Prime

Prime may give you access to free, fast shipping on many items, but it doesn't cover everything. That goes for other freebies, too. For example, you will likely run across items that do not have free shipping, or movies that aren't included with your Prime account.

For those who are willing to make a few concessions, there are ways to maximize your savings. This might mean opting to buy only Prime products (you'll see the Prime icon next to eligible items).

Amazon Prime Boxes

Is Prime worth the cost?

If you're the type of person who frequently shops online, and can afford the annual membership, the Prime membership may be a good way to save money.

The convenience factor is also quite high, since delivery can be as quick as two-hours from ordering. And, assuming you take advantage of the various perks, it makes for a solid service. (But keep in mind that Amazon does offer free shipping without Prime, as long as your order is $25 or more.)

If you aren't planning to spend more than the membership cost on deliveries in the next year, however, it probably doesn't make sense to spring for the annual membership. A monthly membership (or the free 30-day trial) might be a good option, if, for example, you knew you were going to be making a lot of orders in the next few weeks.

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We tried the $95 designer swimsuits that you're going to see at beaches everywhere this summer — here's what we thought

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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.

green plunge suit

  • New swimsuit brand Summersalt sets itself apart from other swimwear companies with its under-$100 designer suits that are stylish, comfortable, and durable. 
  • It believes there's "life beyond the lounge chair," which is why its premium recycled fabrics have a UPF of 50+ to protect against many hours under the sun, have four times the compression of an average suit, and are five times stronger, too. 
  • We tried two different suits from the brand and were big fans of their style, support, and affordability at just $95 per bikini set or one-piece

In the months leading up to summer, I'm always filled with many different emotions as I shop for swimsuits. There's a lot of excitement and anticipation for the fun, carefree times ahead, but equal parts trepidation and frustration because shopping for swimsuits is just so unnecessarily tricky.

Most of the time, you can choose between a trendy suit that you have to adjust a few hundred times throughout the afternoon but you put up with because at least you look cute, and a comfortable but unflattering or plain style. Or, you're lusting after an especially stylish one, but upon turning the tag around to check the price, you decide, perhaps not.

That's why when new swimsuit brand Summersalt launched in May 2017, women breathed a sigh of relief and felt tempted to do a somersault of celebration themselves. This online company, founded by swimwear and direct-to-consumer veterans Lori Coulter and Reshma Chattaram Chamberlin, makes one-pieces and bikinis that look and feel good, using quality materials that don't translate into exorbitant prices.

All the one-pieces and bikini sets cost $95 and run the gamut from jewel-toned, color-blocked statement pieces to classic lifeguard suits. You have a good variety to choose from, yet all the styles and color options still feel thoughtful and curated instead of the result of a massive creative brain dump. What brings all the suits together are clean lines and familiar silhouettes made unique with just the right twist. 

power suit

In her guide to the best women's swimsuits you can buy, Insider Picks contributor Lulu Chang hit the nail on the head when she said, "Getting a bikini body is easy — just put your body in a bikini. To that end, be sure that the suit that you've chosen is one that makes you feel confident and comfortable." 

With their comfortable, durable fit and beautiful, sleek designs, Summersalt's suits succeed in meeting this requirement. The 1.5 million body measurements the company took from 10,000 women probably have something to do with the spot-on fit. It also employs a patented "TrueMeasure" process, which uses 3D body scanning, mass customization, and computer-aided design to make its suits and direct its supply chain. 

navy sidestroke

Swimsuits are for lounging, but they're also for splashing in the water, swimming out into the waves, diving into the sand to return the volleyball, and a host of other summer beach activities. Summersalt suits can keep up with all your physical activities and the sweat, oils, chlorine, sunscreen, and debris that come with it. As long as you're out in the sun, they offer UPF protection of 50+, which means they'll block more than 98% of UV rays (just as SPF is used to measure sunscreen effectiveness, UPF is a measure of sun-protective fabric effectiveness). 

They also stand up to the perils of harsh, chlorinated water. Having swam in my city league and high school swim teams, I've gone through my fair share of swimsuits that lost their shape and compression after hours of continuous use, so I'm all too familiar with the feeling of a loose, wrinkly suit. Summersalt's have four times the compression of the average swimsuit, and still retain their shape and compression after more than 100 hours of use in chlorinated water. 

Furthermore, the suits are made from premium recycled materials, making them more technical, softer, and more durable than traditional fabrics.

In addition to the usual filters of size and suit type, Summersalt makes it easy to find your desired fit by categorizing pieces by "Great Boob Support" and "More Butt Coverage." Whatever your specific preference, it wants to make sure you feel secure. 

Three women on the Insider Picks team tried suits from Summersalt and came to an overwhelming consensus about their great fit and style. Here's what we thought. 

sidestroke in white

The Sidestroke in White Sand, $95

Sally Kaplan, Insider Picks editor: 

My main consideration when buying a swimsuit is whether or not it has enough support to handle my chest. I have a DD cup size, so it can be a pretty significant challenge. In a bold move, I tried the one-shoulder Sidestroke suit in White Sand — which was risky for two obvious reasons. I have to say, I'm incredibly happy with how supportive the suit ended up being. There was no issue with lopsidedness or sagging, and the diagonal seaming on the front was super flattering. 

Since it's still not quite warm enough in the city for a trip to the beach or pool, I wore my bathing suit in the shower to see how opaque or translucent the white would be when wet. I plan to wear this one to my engagement party (which is a family pool party), so I needed to make sure there was no risk of my partner's aunts and uncles seeing something they shouldn't. Once it was drenched, the suit held up really well. There's an extra lining over the chest for added assurance that no one will be able to see through, and the backside was totally fine.

And just to tip the scale a little more, the suits are made from recycled materials and they're affordable — so you'll be doing both your wallet and the environment a favor.

Connie Chen, Insider Picks reporter: 

The Sidestroke is one of Summersalt's most popular styles, and now I can see why. I love the one-shoulder look, and I possibly love the back cut-out even more. Whether you go for one of the solid, neutral color options or bright color-blocked options, the suit is flattering because the eye follows the line of the diagonal stripes, which parallel the one-shoulder strap and complement your curves. Worth noting after many a memory of struggling to wriggle in and out of a wet swimsuit, it was easy to put on and take off and very comfortable. 

Like Sally, I was hesitant about the color. I usually stray away from white swimsuits because they don't always provide reliable coverage. However, I didn't feel self-conscious at all because the fabric was thick enough. White is a bold choice, but you can trust it's the right choice once you see how cute yet secure this style is. 

causeway

The Causeway in Sea Urchin, $95

Lulu Chang, Insider Picks contributor: 

I'm particularly fond of the Causeway, one of Summersalt's many iconic one-piece suits. Its mesh detailing is just flirty enough to keep things interesting, while still offering enough coverage if you want to play things a bit coy. The criss-cross straps are fully adjustable, and the suit comes with built-in soft cups and shelf bra so you'll be fully supported all day long.

The high leg I found to be quite flattering, even on a shorter frame, but it's not so high that you'll be pulling the suit down all day. The fabric is, in fact, very soft and very durable — I certainly wasn't afraid to throw it in the wash after a day at the beach.

Whether you're looking for a sporty bikini or sexy plunge one-piece, Summersalt's designer swimsuits won't disappoint — and they won't break the bank, either. 

Shop all swimsuits for $95 at Summersalt here

SEE ALSO: This affordable swimsuit company fits their designs on their employees instead of fit models — 5 of us tried them and they fit each of us incredibly well

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Depression is on the rise among millennials, but 20% of them aren't seeking treatment — and it's likely because they can't afford it

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millennial stressed

Major depression is on the rise among millennials — but one in five of them don't seek treatment, according to research released by the Blue Cross.

According to a recent report analyzing data from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Index, major depression diagnoses are rising at a faster rate for millennials and teens compared to any other age group.

Since 2013, millennials have seen a 47% increase in major depression diagnoses. The overall rate increased from 3% to 4.4% among 18 to 34 year olds.

These findings were underscored by an additional Blue Cross Blue Shield report on millennial health. It analyzed the data of 55 million commerically insured American millennials, there defined as aged 21 to 36 in 2017. It found that major depression had the highest prevalence rate, or the likelihood of a person having a disease, among health conditions affecting millennials.

The most prominent symptom of major depression is "a severe and persistent low mood, profound sadness, or a sense of despair," according to Harvard Medical School.  

Blue Cross also found that millennials are less healthy than Gen Xers were at their age, and that they're likely to be less healthy than Gen Xers when they're older.

In total, two million commercially insured Americans diagnosed with major depression aren't seeking treatment.

Read more: Depression among Gen Z is skyrocketing — a troubling mental-health trend that could affect the rest of their lives

Pricey healthcare and burnout are making millennials unhealthy

Millennials' adverse health and their reluctance to get help may be related to rising healthcare costs and increasing levels of burnout.

Healthcare is one of four key costs plaguing millennials. In 1960, the average annual health-insurance cost per person was $146 — in 2016, it hit $10,345. When adjusted for inflation, that's a nine-fold increase. Costs are expected to increase to $14,944 in 2023.

In fact, more millennials than baby boomers have declined medical or dental treatment because it was too costly, according to an INSIDER and Morning Consult survey.

Meanwhile, cases of burnout have been increasing at an alarming rate over recent years, reported Business Insider's Ivan De Luce. The World Health Organization recently classified burnout as a "syndrome," medically legitimizing the condition for the first time.

It's a growing problem in today's workplace because of trends like rising workloads, limited staff and resources, and long hours — particularly for millennials, who consider themselves the "burnout generation."

SEE ALSO: 2019 is the final class of millennial college graduates. Next stop: The Great American Affordability Crisis.

DON'T MISS: 7 ways life is more expensive today for American millennials than previous generations

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How to 'track changes' and make comments in Google Docs using the collaborative 'Suggesting' tool

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google docs laptop

Whether you are a writer in desperate need of an editor's guidance, or just need a friend to look over a cover letter, the "Suggesting" feature on Google Docs might be just what you need.

"Suggesting" is similar to Microsoft Word's "Track Changes," but it works in real time for a more seamless process of collaboration.

All you need is a Google account with access to Google Docs, and a prospective editor or collaborator with the same.

How to 'track changes' on Google Docs using the 'Suggesting' feature

1. Open Google Docs.

2. Find a document that you have editing or commenting permission on.

3. On the top menu bar to the far right, you will see a pencil icon. Click on it.

Google1

4. In the drop-down menu, select "Suggesting."

5. The icon will change to green when you are in "Suggesting" mode.

6. While using the Google Docs "Suggesting" feature, all edited text will appear in green and pop-ups will appear in the margins listing every suggestion you make.

7. You can accept the changes by clicking on the check mark, or reject the suggestion by clicking the "x" icon.

Google3

How to add and edit a comment on Google Docs

1. To make a comment on Google Docs while using the "Suggesting" function, highlight the text you wish to make a comment on. An icon that looks like a plus sign in a message bubble will appear to the right. Click it to leave a comment.

Google5

2. You can also use the shortcut "Command+Option+M" or right-click and select "Comment" from the menu that appears. Once you've written a comment, press the blue "Comment" button and the text will be highlighted in yellow, alongside your comment in the right margin.

3. To edit your comment, click the three vertical dots on the top right. This will take you to the "More Options" menu where you can edit, delete, or link to the comment.

Google6

How to reply to a comment in Google Docs

1. To reply to a comment, click the comment you wish to reply to.

2. Enter the reply in the text box and hit "Reply." You can also get rid of the comment by clicking "Resolve."

Google7

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

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How to alphabetize paragraphs or lists in Google Docs, using a free and simple add-on

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google

  • Alphabetizing a Google Docs file can help you make large quantities of information quick and easy to browse.
  • You can alphabetize the paragraphs of a Google doc using a free add-on called "Sorted Paragraphs." Once installed, the process takes about four seconds.
  • Automatically alphabetizing the content in a Google doc can throw off the formatting, so use the feature with caution when a document's layout is important.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Whether you're creating a list of prospective wedding guests, you're sharing notes with a classmate or colleague, or you just prefer to have your writing in alphabetical order, Google Docs makes it easy to organize the paragraphs in a document into alphabetical order.

That is, a Google doc makes it easy to do this once you have installed an add-on called "Sorted Paragraphs."

The "Sorted Paragraphs" add-on repositions paragraphs into alphabetical order based on the first letter of the first sentence of each paragraph, and it can stack the sorted paragraphs either from A to Z or from Z to A

How to install the 'Sorted Paragraphs' add-on in Google docs

1. Log into your Google account and open the doc you want to alphabetize.

2. Click the words "Add-ons" in the taskbar at the top of the screen.

3. Click "Get Add-ons..."

Screen Shot 2019 05 30 at 2.01.19 PM

4. In the popup window, search for "Sorted Paragraphs" using the search bar at the top right.

5. "Sorted Paragraphs" by Filipe Werneck should be the first result. Click the button that says "+ FREE" in the top-right corner.

Screen Shot 2019 05 30 at 2.02.22 PM

6. Choose the Google account to which you want to add it.

7. Confirm your selection by allowing Sorted Paragraphs permission to be installed onto your Google account.

How to use 'Sorted Paragraphs' to alphabetize a Google doc

Now you're ready to alphabetize the paragraphs in a Google doc, be they 300 words long or just a person's name.

1. Highlight the paragraphs to be sorted.

2. Click "Add-ons."

3. Click "Sorted Paragraphs" from the dropdown menu, then select "Sort A to Z" or "Sort Z to A."

Screen Shot 2019 05 30 at 2.05.57 PM

And that's it! Your doc will be alphabetized. Just note that spacing between the paragraphs might get messed up, so be ready to hit the enter key a few times to get things spaced out again.

Screen Shot 2019 05 30 at 2.06.20 PM

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

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How $100,000 custom pool tables are made for celebrities like Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift

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  • Blatt Billiards has been building pool tables for nearly 100 years.
  • The family-run company's custom tables can cost between $20,000 and $100,000 and its clients include Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, and Tommy Hilfiger.
  • The tables come to life in a 50,000-square-foot workshop in Wood-Ridge, New Jersey.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. 

Following is a transcript of the video.

Narrator: Welcome to Blatt Billiards. This family-run company has been building and restoring pool tables for nearly a hundred years. It was founded in New York City in 1923 and has since built a reputation for its hand-carved and constructed bespoke tables, which can cost between $20,000 and $100,000 per table. These high-end, custom-made tables are a favorite among celebrities like Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, and Tommy Hilfiger.

Jeff Roeder: In our family, we don't have summers and winter breaks. We have, "Let's come to work, and let's learn how to build pool tables and how to manufacturer."

Narrator: Here's how Blatt builds its iconic pool tables from the bottom up. It all starts with a sketch. Clients will come to the New York City showroom and sit down with a Blatt employee to choose all the details of their table from inlays and carvings to leg shape and felt color. You can customize just about anything you want. The team will then take the client's vision and figure out how to bring it to life. Each of the custom tables is built in Wood-Ridge, New Jersey, in a 50,000-square-foot workshop.

First up, the wood. Blatt sources its lumber primarily from North America but with exotic woods coming in from around the world. Panels for the frame of the table are cut, and then a veneer is laid on top.

Roeder: A veneer is a thin sheet of wood. It's a log that's sliced at a 1/32, and this is gonna be the finished layer of wood on the table. So what we do is we book match. So as you can see, you have the same grains here running, so when the pieces come together, I can flip them, and then you get a book-matched veneer.

Narrator: If the client wants an intricate design on their table, the sketch comes to Pedro. Pedro does all the carvings and inlays by hand and one at a time for Blatt. He etches elaborate patterns and pieces together thin layers of wood to make the inlays.

On the other side of the shop, legs, joints, and connecting pieces are carved, then the pieces are sanded and painted. Next, it's finally time to put the pieces together. Once the table is assembled, woodworkers can build in the subway system. That's the tracks inside the table that carry the balls to a catch box on one end. Ever wonder how the system separates the cue ball from the others?

Roeder: There's a magnet inside the pool table and a lead ball inside the cue ball. So when the ball goes in the subway system, the cue ball goes in. There's a magnet there in the subway track. The cue ball is attracted to the magnet, wraps around the surface of the magnet, and drops into a different subway track versus the rest of the balls.

Narrator: Once the subway's in place, they can put the cross-pieces in and slate on top. The slate is that flat surface that will be covered with felt and become the playing field. It's also what makes the table so heavy. Some Blatt tables can weigh up to 2,000 pounds.

Roeder: Some clients actually add reinforcing steel to their floors to prevent sagging in the floors from the weight of the table. Remember, a billiards table has to be totally flat, so if the floor doesn't settle properly, the balls could lean left, could lean right. You know, sometimes we do it for customer request. You know, a little light side pocket. You know, there's a lot of things we can do.

Narrator: Over on the other side of the factory, felt is cut to the perfect measurements of the table. Buyers can choose from around 30 different felts in a rainbow of colors. The last stop is the finishing room where all the details come together. Here, wood pieces are treated with a hand-rubbed finish. Felt is stapled onto the rubber bumper rails, and pockets are sewn and branded by hand.

Roeder: Once that's going on, we have our pockets. Pockets come in raw leather. We stain the leather. We sew the leather. We fit the pockets to the table. Each table is individual, so all the pockets, the finishings, it's all matched to this specific table. There's no one color fits all. It's, each table is an individual piece and a true artistic piece.

Narrator: Once the table is all assembled, they take it all apart again. That's because it's packed and shipped in pieces. Blatt has road teams across the US certified to set up tables at customers' houses. A setup can take up to six hours.

Roeder: So these tables are going to celebrities, sports stars. They're going to sheiks in Dubai. They're going to kings and queens in London.

Narrator: Blatt's list of high-profile clients is seemingly endless. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Mariska Hargitay. Denzel Washington. Scarlett Johansson. Tom Hanks. Alex Rodriguez. Bobby Flay. Dustin Hoffman. And Paul Sorvino.

Each table takes anywhere from six months to a year to build depending on the intricacies of the design. Blatt is able to hand build about 300 custom tables a year. The company's most expensive masterpiece on hand: A $100,000 table covered in hand carvings that took about a year to make. But the 50 artisans and woodworkers at Blatt don't just build custom tables, they also restore old ones. Three thousand antique tables are stored at the factory in New Jersey.

Roeder: These tables, a lot of them haven't moved in a hundred years, so sometimes you find old cigarette packs in them. Kids used to stuff matchbox cars. You really never know. They have a history to themselves, and if the tables could speak, the stories would be endless.

Narrator: Giving new life to these tables is a tradition that dates back to Blatt's founding. Blatt Billiards opened up in New York City in 1923. This was the height of the Roaring Twenties. Smoky pool halls were at their heyday with an estimated 2,000 of them across New York City.

Founder Sam Blatt started Blatt billiards to repair tables in these halls. During the Depression when no one could afford new tables, Blatt survived by flipping the cloth on the tables for a few cents. Right after World War II, Jeff's grandfather Eric Roeder started at Blatt sweeping floors. He learned the trade and eventually took over the company, passing it to his sons and soon to his grandsons, Jeff and Brian. Jeff runs the factory in Jersey, and Brian takes care of the showroom in midtown, New York City.

Brian Roeder: There's definitely a sense of responsibility. You want to maintain the traditions and the quality in the craft without taking any shortcuts. You wanna bring in new ideas, but you don't want the new ideas to take away what we've established so far as a family and as a company. So there's a fine line where old school meets new school, and we try and balance that out pretty well as a team.

Narrator: Jeff and Brian are carrying on Blatt's legacy, prioritizing the same handcrafted techniques that have defined the company for nearly a century, but the team of grandsons also hopes to steward Blatt into a new era. They've introduced carbon-fiber tables, marble tables, and convertible pool-to-dining-room tables. They also plan to set up an online store.

Roeder: We go to sleep thinking about pool tables. We dream about pool tables, and we go to work working on pool tables. That's the essence of the family business.

Join the conversation about this story »

I collect pricey antique rugs, but when it comes to finding well-priced area rugs for my apartment, here's where I shop

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bedroom

  • I consider myself to be mildly obsessed with rugs. I collect antique ones, but I prefer to layer them over more modern, neutral ones to help ground my space.
  • RugsUSA is my go-to place for affordable rugs that aren't vintage. However, the site is huge, and can be a little difficult to navigate.
  • Below, I'll walk you through my tips for sorting through the RugsUSA website, and show you how I styled some of its rugs in my own apartment.

I love rugs. I love them enough that my partner is probably considering getting the phrase "No more rugs!" tattooed on her face. I keep buying them anyway.

We moved into a new apartment in February, which gave me a perfect opportunity to acquire more rugs (oops, but not really) — and to switch them from room to room one hundred times before I got it right.

Pretty much all of the antique rugs in our apartment have come from small hole-in-the-wall shops in Brooklyn, but all the base layers have come from RugsUSA, a purveyor of what seems like one million styles, sizes, and shapes of rugs.

I'm more inclined to spend serious money on a unique antique rug than a brand-new one, so I turn to RugsUSA for the more affordable (sometimes downright cheap) base layers that help to ground a room. Of course, you can also find bold and eclectic styles there, but I personally lean toward simplicity when ordering online.

I recently got two rugs for our new apartment from RugsUSA; the Chunky Loop Maui area rug in off-white for our bedroom, and the Monochrome Texture Dunescape rug for our office (which only has one size currently in stock). Both are textured, neutral rugs that make great base layers in any room, and neither one was priced over $350; the cheaper of the two was under $200 — pretty good for a roughly 8-by-10-foot size if you ask me. Not to mention that they both look way more expensive than they really are.

IMG_3699

How to efficiently sift through the tens of thousands of options

The overall shopping experience of sorting through styles at RugsUSA is made a lot less overwhelming by all of its clever filters. You can select everything from shape to size to color to material to patterns, and can even filter by best-selling rugs, ones with videos, and plenty of other features. Since there are tens of thousands of options on the site, you'll do well to apply as many filters as you can.

I found that searching terms like "textured white rugs" and "woven white rugs" yielded relevant results, and then I used additional filters from there to narrow down my choice. Just don't let the enormous number of rugs paralyze you! It's easy to get overwhelmed, but the more distinct a vision you have for your space, the easier it'll be to pinpoint the right rug for you. The surprisingly large numbers of customer reviews also help.

Even if you don't know exactly what you like, the site has really nicely staged lifestyle photos that let you see the rugs in an actual home setting, so you can envision what it'll look like in your space a little better.

bedroom rugs

How have the rugs I've tried held up?

As far as the rugs I chose go, I have some advice. If you have a pet who likes to chew things or a robot vacuum, a rug with chunky fringe probably isn't your best bet. I should have considered this when ordering since I have both of those things, but I just loved the look of the Chunky Loop Maui rug so much that I risked it. And while it does, in fact, look great in our bedroom, it also traps a lot of dust underneath since the weave is loose enough for small particles to fall through. It's also worth noting that the fringe has unraveled a bit because of the vacuum.

If you're willing to put in a little extra time to clean under the rug every once in a while, I think the Chunky Loop Maui rug is worth it simply for how gorgeous it is. It comes in a variety of colors and sizes, and it's the perfect base layer for enclosed rooms like bedrooms or large spaces like dining rooms that could use an area rug to ground the space.

Home office

As for the rug we put in our office, it has held up beautifully over time. It gets a ton of traffic since we have to walk through that room to get to the balcony, and it still looks brand new. There's only one size left of this particular rug, but I would recommend looking for other rugs specifically made by RugsUSA (over the third-party brands it carries) that are made with wool. I have a feeling that it's the durability of the materials that has kept it looking so nice all this time.

The bottom line

If you want to know whether or not RugsUSA is a solid place to shop for nice rugs that don't look cheap, the answer is that yes, it is. The rugs are great quality for the price, the sales are plentiful (never pay full price!), and the options are endless.

However, it's understandable that you may be skeptical of the quality when the site offers approximately one million styles. If that's the case for you, know this: I'm exceptionally snobby about rugs (thanks, Dad), and I feel confident that this is where I'll continue buying my non-antique rugs for as long as my partner doesn't kill me. As long as you go in with a general vision for the type of rug you want, you'll have an easy time sifting through options.

Cream Monochrome Texture Dunescape Area Rug, $191.39 (originally $319)

Chunky Loop Maui Area Rug, from $43.79

Shop all styles from RugsUSA

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The founder of Safeway Insurance is selling his $12 million condo in America's richest zip code, a private island off the coast of Miami. Take a look inside the 6-bedroom villa.

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fisher island florida

The founder of Safeway Insurance, William Parrillo, and his wife Carol are selling their $11.995 million condo on Fisher Island, a private island for millionaires in Florida, Business Insider learned from Douglas Elliman.

Fisher Island, a 216-acre island off the coast of Miami, is the country's richest zip code, with an average income of $2.2 million, according to Bloomberg. To be a member of the Fisher Island Club, residents must pay a $250,000 entry fee for equity membership, which allows access to the island's amenities that include a private marina, golf course, spa, and private beaches with sand imported from the Bahamas.

Read more: I got access to the richest zip code in the US, an island off Miami where the average income is $2.2 million, the beaches have sand imported from the Bahamas, and the preferred mode of transportation is golf carts. Here's what it looks like.

The Parrillos' six-bedroom condo has 6,618 square feet of living space. According to Douglas Elliman, which is selling the property, the ground-floor villa has the feel of a single-family home and is one of only a few exclusive residences that come with a private infinity pool.

Parrillo is the president and chairman of Safeway Insurance, the largest privately held, family-owned insurance company in the US.

Robert Conway of Douglas Elliman holds the listing for Parrillo's Fisher Island home.

Take an exclusive look inside the $11.995 million luxury condo, which hits the market on Wednesday.

SEE ALSO: I got access to the richest zip code in the US, an island off Miami where the average income is $2.2 million, the beaches have sand imported from the Bahamas, and the preferred mode of transportation is golf carts. Here's what it looks like.

DON'T MISS: Miami's 'Billionaire Bunker' is a high-security island that has a 13-person police force for its 42 residents. A real-estate agent got me past the guardhouse — here's what the exclusive community looks like.

The founder of Safeway Insurance, William Parrillo, and his wife Carol are selling their $11.995 million condo on Fisher Island, the country's richest zip code.

Source: Douglas Elliman, Business Insider



Fisher Island is a 216-acre members-only island off the coast of Miami, where the average income is $2.2 million. Residents must pay a $250,000 initial fee and $22,256 in annual dues — and that's on top of purchasing a multimillion-dollar condo.

Source: Business Insider



The $11.995 million condo boasts a grand entryway.

Source: Douglas Elliman



The interiors of the home are by Steven G., a Miami-based luxury interior designer.

Source: Douglas Elliman, Steven G.



One of the home's living areas includes a fireplace and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the water.

Source: Douglas Elliman



There's an expansive chef's kitchen ...

Source: Douglas Elliman



... and a formal dining room that seats at least 10 people.

Source: Douglas Elliman



A room that could be a private library or home office opens up to the home's private terrace.

Source: Douglas Elliman



The condo has six bedrooms ...

Source: Douglas Elliman



... and 7.5 bathrooms.

Source: Douglas Elliman



Some of the bedrooms have entrances to the terrace.

Source: Douglas Elliman



The home's 2,000-square-foot private terrace overlooks the bay and offers views of the Miami skyline.

Source: Douglas Elliman



The condo is one of just a few select residences that have a private infinity pool.

Source: Douglas Elliman



Fisher Island residents have access to luxurious amenities including two private marinas and private beaches with sand imported from the Bahamas ...

Source: Business Insider



... as well as a beach club, eight restaurants, and a spa and wellness center.

Source: Business Insider



There's a thriving population of radioactive animals that have taken over the abandoned Chernobyl exclusion zone, even though the area is toxic for humans

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Chernobyl wildlife

SEE ALSO: A photographer visited the abandoned towns around Chernobyl more than 20 times over the past 25 years, and the captivating photos show just how suddenly time stopped in its tracks after the disaster

DON'T MISS: Photos show what daily life is really like inside Chernobyl's exclusion zone, one of the most polluted areas in the world

The nuclear explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in 1986 sent plumes of radioactive contaminants across parts of Europe.

Source: Business Insider



As a result, about 350,000 people in the exclusion area were forced to leave their homes, most of them forever.

Source: Business Insider



The areas surrounding the plant are now considered to be some of the most polluted areas on the planet. A 1,000-square-mile Chernobyl Exclusion Zone is now the officially designated exclusion zone in Ukraine ...

Source: visitchernobyl.com , BBC, USA Today



... which adjoins the exclusion zone in neighboring Belarus, known as the Palieski State Radioecological Reserve. Though the explosion took place in Ukraine, much of the radiation from the Chernobyl disaster was blown north to Belarus.

Source: The Guardian



The Chernobyl exclusion zone is still considered an unsafe region for humans due to the high levels of radiation. It's technically considered illegal to live there, though there are some who do.

Read more: Photos show what daily life is really like inside Chernobyl's exclusion zone, one of the most polluted areas in the world



Other than the small population of local residents that have returned, the empty area has been mostly abandoned ever since ...

Read more: A photographer visited the abandoned towns around Chernobyl more than 20 times over the past 25 years, and the captivating photos show just how suddenly time stopped in its tracks after the disaster



... with the exception of the descendants of abandoned animals and a somewhat newly developed wildlife population.

Source: Business Insider



When people were evacuated from Chernobyl in 1986, many left their pets behind thinking that they would soon return. After they were unable to return, Soviet Army soldiers were sent to kill the pets that had been left behind.

Source: SPCA International, Clean Futures Fund



But some of the pets survived, and now hundreds of their descendants live in the exclusion zone.

Source: SPCA International, Clean Futures Fund

 



The Clean Futures Fund (CFF), which has been visiting Chernobyl to spay, neuter, and vaccinate stray dogs, estimates that there are more than 600 stray dogs throughout the exclusion zone. SPCA International (SPCAI) estimates that it has provided care fore more than 800 dogs and cats living there.

Source: SPCA International, Clean Futures Fund



While there are many of these stray animals in the exclusion zone, SPCAI and CFF report that most of them struggle to survive there. They rely on the care and scraps of power plant workers and occasional visitors, and few live to be more than six years old.

Source: SPCA International, Clean Futures Fund



The organizations are working together to continue caring for these animals, and in 2018, they adopted out 15 puppies that didn't pose a radiation risk to humans.

Source: SPCA International, Clean Futures Fund



Stray pets aren't the only animals proliferating in the exclusion zone. Scientists say it's possible that the number of wild animals in the area is now higher than it was 33 years ago.

Source: Business Insider



Today, you can find elk, deer, wolves, bison, foxes, and dozens of other species roaming the area.

Source: Business Insider



The European brown bear — an animal that hadn't been seen in the region in over a century — has also been documented living in the zone.

Source: Telegraph



And you can even find the endangered Przewalski's horse, a rare wild horse species, roaming the area.

Source: BBC



Scientists purposefully released them in the area in the 1990s as part of a conservation program. They travel in herds and seem to have adapted well to the environment, according to the University of Salford's Mike Wood.

Source: BBC



But there is debate about exactly why the contaminated zone has proven to be a beneficial environment for animals.

Source: Business Insider, National Geographic



And there's also debate about exactly how much the wildlife population is "thriving" inside the zone compared to populations outside of it.

Source: Business Insider, National Geographic



Scientists are trying to understand just how much wildlife inside the exclusion zone is benefiting from the lack of human interference and how much it is suffering from the contamination in the zone.

Source: Reuters



The lingering radiation is unhealthy for wildlife, but some scientists say the effects of human activity — like hunting, farming, and forestry — are worse on the animals.

Source: Live Science, National Geographic



Some researchers think that wildlife has come to the area because it has been almost completely untouched by humans, which has allowed certain species to thrive.

Source: Live Science



Because hunting isn't a common practice within the zone, large mammals are more likely to live and thrive in this area than smaller mammals, according to some scientists.

Source: Live Science, National Geographic



Bison, in particular, are thought to benefit from the reduced human population.

Source: National Geographic, Business Insider



But there are still ongoing studies to find out if radiation has a negative effect on animals to the point where it would harm or kill them.

Source: National Geographic



Populations of animals live across different areas within the zones, where levels of contamination vary.

Source: BBC



So scientists are also studying how radiation exposure levels change in animals as they travel throughout the different areas within the zone.

Source: Telegraph and BBC



Studies have shown that smaller animals, like birds and rodents, have exhibited poor health effects, like tumors and cataracts, which are common side effects of radiation exposure.

Source: National Geographic



Smaller animals exposed to radiation have also exhibited abnormal growth developments.

Source: National Geographic



Studies have shown that some insects living in highly radioactive areas also have shorter lifespans and are more susceptible to parasites.

Source: Business Insider



And higher levels of albinism and genetic alterations have been found in birds living in areas with higher contamination levels.

Source: Business Insider



But there is still a vast bird population, with some 200 bird species living in the exclusion zone.

Source: Business Insider



So even though studies have shown that radiation negatively affects some individual creatures, some scientists say that the overall population densities are unaffected.

Source: Business Insider



According to German Orizaola, a zoology researcher who has studied the effects of radiation on tree frogs in Chernobyl, this could mean that animals have a higher resistance to radiation than we previously believed.

Source: Business Insider



It's possible that some animals are adapting to the radiation they are exposed to.

Source: Business Insider



Researchers are studying the kinds of mutations that radiation exposure is causing in certain species.

Source: National Geographic



For example, one group of researchers working with Orizaola found that frogs within the exclusion zone are darker in color than frogs inhabiting areas outside of it.

Source: Business Insider



Studies in certain animals, like barn swallows and voles, suggest that the mutations may even be passed down to the next generation.

Source: National Geographic and International Journal of Science



Mutations among the large wolf populations within the zone are also being explored.

Source: National Geographic



Wolves are one of the most prominent species residing within the exclusion zone.

Source: National Geographic



Scientists have found that the population of wolves is seven times greater in the Belarussian part of the Chernobyl zone than in comparable, uncontaminated reserves.

Source: Reuters, National Geographic



Jim Beasley, a wildlife ecologist at the University of Georgia in the US, told National Geographic in 2016 that the wolves in the Chernobyl exclusion zone may outnumber the wolf population at Yellowstone National Park.

Source: National Geographic



Scientists tracked one of these wolves from the Chernobyl exclusion zone all the way to Russia, which Beasley told National Geographic in 2018 isn't surprising, since many young male wolves will make long treks in search of mates.

Source: Independent and National Geographic



But the findings of the wolf's journey posed the question of whether or not potential mutations in its species could actually be spread to other wolf populations outside of Chernobyl.

Source: National Geographic



But seeing as how the wolf was physically capable to make that 250-mile journey, and that mutational effects are usually harmful, Anders Moller, a scientist at the University of Paris-Sud, told National Geographic that that's unlikely.

Source: National Geographic



Though Tim Mousseau, a biologist at the University of South Carolina, told National Geographic in 2018 that the spread of mutations from Chernobyl wolves is "certainly plausible" since smaller animals have been found to have that potential.

Source: National Geographic

This is an updated version of an article originally written by Courtney Verrill.



The race to $1 billion — how startups Glossier, Casper, Rent the Runway, and Away became retail unicorns

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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.

Retail unicorns 4x3

  • In the business world, a "unicorn" is a startup with a valuation of at least $1 billion. This year, four popular online retail startups — Casper, Rent the Runway, Glossier, Away— officially became unicorns. 
  • Though their journeys to unicorn-dom differ vastly, they share similarities that contributed to their success.
  • They've raised and used VC funding carefully and strategically; realized the importance of thoughtful, personalized design; identified opportunities for disruption through a diverse set of sources; and devised engaging ways to keep their customers invested. 
  • The year's only half over, but if these four startups are any indication, there's much to look forward to for the future of the retail industry. 

It's the year for unicorn spottings.

In the first half of 2019, four major retail startups — Casper, Rent the Runway, Glossier, and Away— have become "unicorns," a company with a valuation of at least $1 billion. The exclusive unicorn club, according to CB Insights, comprises just over 350 members worldwide, from fintech companies like Stripe and Robinhood to delivery services like DoorDash and Instacart. 

Part of their high valuations includes the venture capital (VC) funding they've raised in order to grow their businesses. Sridhar Tayur, professor of operations management at CMU's Tepper School of Business, underlines the importance of VC: "Beyond capital, they bring experience and networks, which helps in recruiting key executive talent, market messaging, competitive positioning, and strategic partnering with established insiders in an industry." 

There's no universal formula to acquiring or using VC funding successfully, but any aspiring entrepreneur could take some notes from these retail unicorns that can seem to do no wrong. 

retail unicorns 4

This particular wave of funding and valuation success is exciting because the startups represent a variety of industries (home, fashion, beauty, and travel), signaling the broad potential of the future of retail. 

At a glance, here's what they do:

  • Casper: Sells sleep-related products, including foam mattresses, bedding, and bed frames 
  • Rent the Runway: Rents out designer clothing pieces, which can be rented individually or on an unlimited basis through a monthly membership
  • Glossier: Sells beauty and makeup products
  • Away: Sells travel-related products, including suitcases, bags, and interior organizers 

These startups manage to make basic products — a mattress, a suitcase — demand greater attention than something far glitzier or more convenient to obtain. Cassie Young, the chief commercial officer at marketing automation company Sailthru, points out that to stand out from under the looming shadow of Amazon is a difficult and impressive feat.

Every year, Sailthru's Retail Personalization Index ranks retail brands based on how well they personalize the customer experience. Companies at the top of the list prioritize what makes their brand unique, what makes their buyer unique, and what they can do that is unique compared to Amazon.

Young says, "If you look at the retail brands that have achieved unicorn status, they are very deep in a particular category, which allows for effective differentiation vis-a-vis the Amazon platform." 

Away's suitcases, for example, are instantly recognizable in a lineup of luggage. Its core collection of colors are stylish, but the company also regularly offers trendy, limited-edition colors and personalization options, which range from luxe leather stickers to hand-painted, engraved, or embroidered monogramming. 

retail unicorns

Beyond personalized, aesthetically pleasing designs, Away is appealing to millennial sensibilities by incorporating features like a built-in battery pack to accompany their tech-fueled lives, and making its suitcases part of a larger story about travel.

Its spin-off travel magazine, "Here," has nearly 50,000 Instagram followers and shares picturesque locales around the world and journal-like entries that dive deeper into each destination. Implicit to the enjoyment of these travels is the knowledge that an Away suitcase helped get the traveler there. 

As a result, Away's growth is soaring relative to its category. According to data provided by Rakuten Intelligence, sales are up 96% year over year, and the brand has spread itself more evenly across age demographics than its competitors. 

Also notable: three of the four startups were founded by women.

In 2018, only 2.3% of all capital invested in venture-backed startups in the US went to companies founded solely by women. While efforts by female-founded venture capital firms are contributing to progress, the VC gender gap is still clear and wide. 

Megan Bent, founder and managing partner of Harbinger Ventures, which works exclusively with early-stage female or mixed-gender-founded companies in the consumer sector, says that "Having female representation within CPG company leadership can be a significant advantage. Neither men nor women are necessarily better at innovating, but more diverse teams will inherently identify more diverse opportunities for disruption." 

And the opportunities for disruption are truly ripe.

retail unicorns 7

Bain Capital Ventures has participated IN every single funding round for Rent the Runway, including its seed round and most recent capital raise that brought the company to unicorn status. Partner Scott Friend says the firm began discussing the idea of the "sharing economy" and penchant for renting a decade ago, an interest that coincided nicely with a meeting with Rent the Runway founders Jennifer Hyman and Jenny Fleiss. He believes "this new behavior of having a 'closet in the cloud'" is still in its "early innings" and has massive potential. 

Rent the Runway's consistent raising of capital over the years has been funneled aggressively towards inventory growth. The careful selection, purchase, and processing of fashion-forward designer pieces is integral to serving the company's rapidly increasing member base, who are always looking for new styles to introduce to their closet.

It's also being used to expand into more product categories (it recently launched a kids' line and announced a partnership with West Elm), open a second distribution warehouse, and open a new store in San Francisco. 

The art of customer engagement and community-building isn't lost on these companies. They've all figured out that the fans provide the hype. 

These four startups are talented at managing and maintaining relationships with their customers, who end up being better marketing tools than any internal strategy.

Social media makes it easy for brands to interact directly with customers, who often use the platform to discuss new products they'd like to see and rave about their experiences (or air any grievances). When they feel like they have a stake and influence in the operations of a brand they love, they're more likely to feel valued as a customer and make repeat purchases. 

It's also where they proudly show others how they styled their latest Rent the Runway pieces, incorporated a Glossier product into their daily makeup routine, spent a blissful weekend morning in on their Casper mattress, or packed their Away carry-on in preparation for a tropical vacation.

What is essentially free advertising confirms the quality of the products while feeling more authentic than a paid placement. By encouraging this type of behavior, and continuing to make quality products to prompt it in the first place, the unicorn startups can ensure growth that's not only quick, but also — more importantly —  sustainable. 

retail unicorns 6

So, with such a strong start to 2019, what can we expect in the retail VC landscape for the remainder of the year? 

Bain Capital Ventures partner Scott Friend says that investors are increasingly interested in how products are distributed and experienced before purchase. He says investors are "realizing that the most disruptively interesting opportunities in commerce are less about new brands, per se, and more about new forms of distribution — concepts that are replacing traditional brick-and-mortar retail shopping with a better, faster, higher, ROI value for the consumer." 

"I also expect we'll see more investment in exciting new experiential retail concepts, leveraging virtual and augmented reality to create experiences for consumers that are physical, social, and associated with commerce." 

We're already seeing hints of these practices being implemented. Casper, Away, Rent the Runway, and Glossier all have a limited number of retail shops nationwide where customers can discover and shop in real life.

Compared to that of traditional brick-and-mortars, the design of the shops tends to be less aggressive about selling and more intent on introducing the brand to new potential customers. Aside from its Sleep Shop retail concepts, Casper has even opened a nap room called The Dreamery, which offers a 45-minute moment of respite for weary travelers and office workers. 

These 2019 retail unicorns are showing no sign of stopping as they reinvent online shopping. Learn more about their beginnings and stories, below. 

Rent the Runway

Rent designer clothing from Rent the Runway here

Founded: In November 2009 by Jennifer Hyman and Jenny Fleiss

Valuation: $1 billion (reached March 2019) 

The story: Own a house, own a car, own the clothes in your closet. The long-standing American paradigm prides ownership above all else, but Rent the Runway is flipping the script and proving that renting can be preferable to buying. You may have heard of it as the place where you go to find a nice dress for prom, a wedding, or other formal event. Increasingly, however, it's becoming known for its membership model, which lets you rent out unlimited styles every month and encourages fashion discoveries and risks, without the burden of ownership. 

The best products to buy:

Learn more about Rent the Runway: 



Away

Shop suitcases at Away here

Founded: In February 2015 by Steph Korey and Jen Rubio

Valuation: $1.4 billion (reached May 2019) 

The story: Of the four startups, Away is the fastest to reach unicorn status. Travel isn't a difficult thing to get excited about — everyone is always looking at their next vacation or planning a new itinerary — but the actual products, like suitcases and packing cubes, tend not to incite the same reaction. Away understands that if the suitcase is thoughtfully designed, made from durable materials, and looks beautiful, you'll be as happy to pack your suitcase as you are to explore a cool destination. 

The best products to buy:

Learn more about Away: 



Casper

Shop mattresses and bedding at Casper here

Founded: In November 2013 by Constantin Eis, Gabriel Flateman, Jeff Chapin, Neil Parikh, Philip Krim, T. Luke Sherwin

Valuation: $1.1 billion (reached March 2019) 

The story: One of the earliest bed-in-a-box startups, Casper is obsessed with sleep and getting you to stay in bed all morning long. Its original, award-winning mattress is its core business and probably always will be, but its expansion into pillows, bedding, bed frames, and small accessories like a sleep light and night stand shows it really wants to take over your entire bedroom. Famous athletes, musicians, and actors are all investors in this buzzy, universally loved company. 

The best products to buy:

Learn more about Casper: 



Glossier

Shop beauty and makeup at Glossier here

Founded: In October 2014 by Emily Weiss 

Valuation: $1.2 billion (reached March 2019) 

The story: From editorial skin-care and beauty site Into the Gloss emerged Glossier, the shop that calls itself a "people-powered beauty ecosystem." It practically invented the obsession with glowy, dewy skin, and many of its products focus on bringing out your best natural features. Such messages of "less is more" are aligning well with the minimalist living trends of today and are surprisingly effective at attracting lines out the door at Glossier's stores and pop-ups. 

The best products to buy:

Learn more about Glossier:



Apple iPhones and iPads are still missing a feature that's critical for parents and workers. And it's even more baffling now that it's available on Apple TV. (AAPL)

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Apple CEO Tim Cook delivers the keynote address during the 2019 Apple Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) at the San Jose Convention Center on June 03, 2019 in San Jose, California.

  • Apple's latest version of iOS and its new iPadOS still lack a key feature — support for multiple user profiles.
  • The company announced on Monday that it's bringing the feature to Apple TV— but not to iPhones and iPads.
  • This reporter has for years called on Apple to support the feature in those devices.
  • The lack of support doesn't seem to have anything to do with the capabilities of the iPhone and iPad or their underlying software, which makes the absence of the feature all the more bewildering.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

I have to say, I felt like Apple was trolling me Monday.

I know that's irrational, but still.

Among the many new products and features company officials announced at the iPhone maker's developer conference in San Jose, one stood out to me: support for multiple profiles in tvOS, the operating system that underlies its Apple TV digital media streamer.

Read this: Here's everything Apple just announced at WWDC, its biggest event of the year

You see, literallyforyears, in numerouspublishedpieces, I have called out Apple for not including this very feature and called on the company to add it. But not to Apple TV. Instead, I've been pleading with the company to add it to the iPhone and iPad.

So you can understand how flummoxed and frustrated I might be when Apple did finally announce the feature, only not for the devices I'd like to see it on.

I'm not unhappy to have multiple profile support on my Apple TV. Netflix's support of the feature has definitely come in handy. Nowadays, when I launch the streaming media app, I'm less likely to see recommendations for the kid shows my daughter watches or the older comedy series my son likes. I can see how having Apple TV itself support the feature would allow Apple to offer a similarly personalized interface or recommendations.

But I haven't been clamoring for multiple user support for my Apple TV, and I don't known many people who have. The device functions well enough without it.

Parents and businesses need the feature

By contrast, support for multiple users on iPhones and iPad would be a godsend to parents everywhere, not to mention small businesses and other organizations that might want to share the devices.

In my household, our computers, tablets, and sometimes even our phones are shared. My daughter often uses my or my wife's phone to take photos. We all use the iPads to watch videos or make FaceTime calls. My kids use the same Mac I often use for my job to do their schoolwork or chat with their friends.

Such sharing is not a problem on our Macs. Each of us has our own user account. When we log in, we can see our own emails and text messages. We each have our own collection of files on our desktops and bookmarks in our web browser. And we each can see our own collections of photos and music.

But that isn't the case on our iPhones and iPads. Each of those devices is linked to one and only one Apple account.

What that means is that if I hand my phone over to my daughter to use as a camera or to check the weather, I have to think about what else on it she might have access to, because she doesn't have her own account on it. It also means I generally don't use our iPads as work devices; the lack of support for multiple accounts means that anyone who unlocks an iPad would have access to my work email and services.

Apple representatives didn't respond to an email seeking comment, so I'm in the dark about the company's thinking.

iPhones and iPads are clearly capable of supporting it

But it's just bewildering why, at this late a date, Apple still doesn't support multiple login profiles in iOS, the operating system that undergirds the iPhone, or the newly announced iPadOS, which it derived from iOS. (I know, it's also irritating that the iPad still doesn't really support mouse or touchpad input, but there is a new workaround for that, and the screen has long served as a substitute, albeit a poor one.)

Windows PhoneThe lack of multiple user support is particularly baffling, because company representatives have spent the last several years touting the iPad in particular as a productivity tool and a next-generation personal computer. But support for multiple profiles is a pretty basic productivity feature found on all traditional PCs. It's something that Windows computers and Apple's own Macs have had built in since long before the first iPad launched in 2010.

Apple's omission of the feature clearly has nothing to do with the technical capabilities of the iPad or the iPhone or of iOS or iPad OS. Android tablets, which often have processors that are roughly comparable with those in iPads, have supported the feature since at least 2012, and Android phones since 2015. Microsoft's now-defunct Windows Phone software supported a version of the feature, allowing users to set up a "kid's corner" on their devices that didn't have access to the information stored in the main account.

The introduction of multiple accounts in tvOS makes the absence of the feature on iPads and iPhones even more difficult to understand. The operating system is based on iOS, after all. What's more, the next version of tvOS, which will include the feature, will run on Apple TV HD. That device has Apple A8 chip in it, which is now nearly five years old. The latest iPhones and iPads have A12 chips in them, which have several times the processing power of the A8.

Apple has already developed the technology needed for the feature

And Apple already has the technology in place both on the devices and in its cloud servers to support multiple users on the gadgets. The Face ID facial-recognition and Touch ID fingerprint detection systems on its phones and tablets are perfectly capable of recognizing and distinguishing between different faces and fingers. Meanwhile, Apple's devices are already configured in many cases to save or backup their data, setting, and apps to iCloud, the company's cloud computing service. In effect, when users login to their devices with Face ID or Touch ID, they are also logging into their iCloud accounts. 

Apple TV 4th generationOne would think it wouldn't be that difficult for Apple to use these parts to allow multiple users to share one device, linking their Face ID or Touch ID logins to the apps and data they've stored in iCloud.

And, in fact, Apple already has already developed just this kind of a system. The company offers it to educational institutions, allowing multiple students to share a single iPad. They each log in with their own individual passwords, and they each have their own data stored separately on the devices.

But to date, Apple hasn't seen fit to offer this service or something similar for iPads that are used in homes or offices, rather than in classrooms. For some reason, while the company now thinks the feature is appropriate for Apple TVs, it still doesn't think it is for its phones and tablets.

I know I shouldn't take that fact personally. I know Apple wasn't really trying to goad me.

But it sure feels like it was.

Got a tip about Apple or the tech industry? Contact this reporter via email at twolverton@businessinsider.com, message him on Twitter @troywolv, or send him a secure message through Signal at 415.515.5594. You can also contact Business Insider securely via SecureDrop.

SEE ALSO: Here are the 3 missing features that keep Apple's new iPad Pro from really replacing a laptop

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This London handbag company has recycled 175 tons of fire hoses into fashion accessories

11 genuinely useful Father's Day gifts for busy dads, according to a dad with little free time

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Snake River Farms, gifts for dad

  • A gift that a dad just doesn't have the free time to use can end up being a bigger source of frustration than pleasure, so think carefully when buying Father's Day gifts this year.
  • Practical gifts that make a dad's life easier and more efficient are always welcome, especially if they are an upgrade to a product he already uses.
  • Father's Day gifts that are consumable are always welcome, as dads need to eat, so they might as well have some treats on hand.

I recently got a GoSun Go Portable Solar Cooker, a camping stove that cooks food using nothing more than sunlight, and at first I was thrilled. What a cool product, right? A totally eco-friendly stove I could use to bake food and boil water there at my campsite — no gas, wood, charcoal, or anything else required. Then I started looking at the calendar trying to figure out the next free weekend where my son and I could go camping. Long story short, we don't have a place to fit in a couple nights out in the woods until late summer. And I'm writing these words in late May.

When you're looking for the perfect Father's Day gift this year, keep in mind that the dad in question may not have time to enjoy most gifts, thoughtful as they might be.

So instead of giving a golf club that's going to collect dust in the garage or a book that's probably going to serve primarily as a paperweight, look for a dad gift the guy can actually enjoy despite having about five minutes of free time in his day, what with the job, kids, yard work, travel, and the rest of it.

Great Father's Day gifts for busy dads are those products that replace something he's already using, like a new pair of pants or a high-quality tumbler, or that are treats he'll enjoy without having to carve out extra time in the day, like some gourmet snacks.

And ... if you're looking for a great Father's Day gift for me, keep it simple: I'll gladly accept a bunch of Hi-Chew candies and/or a bottle of gin. Or some socks. Seriously, I know it sounds boring, but great socks are genuinely a great Father's Day gift.

SEE ALSO: All of Insider Picks' Father's Day gift ideas, in one place

A Harry & David gift box

Gift the Father's Day Gift Box from Harry & David for $74.99 (shipping not included)

Browse other Father's Day gifts from Harry & David here

If you know of a dad whom won't enjoy receiving a box packed with savory sausage, sharp cheddar cheese, fresh pears and apples, crackers, cookies, mixed nuts, and more, then no problem; you just send this Father's Day Gift Box from Harry & David on to me instead.

A snack-filled gift box might not seem like the most personal Father's Day gift ever, but in fact it really is a thoughtful option. Nothing in the gift will end up sitting on a shelf collecting dust, enjoying it doesn't require any extra time or effort, and the selection is varied enough so that at least many, if not all, of the foods included will appeal to the dad in question.



Crazy comfortable and flexible jeans

Gift a pair of DU/ER Performance Denim Jeans from DU/ER for $129-$199 (prices vary by style)

I wear jeans just about every day of my life, and whenever they are clean, my DU/ERs are the go-to pair. DU/ER pants look like regular jeans, but they are as stretchy and flexible as workout pants, and they're amazingly lightweight. I wear them whether sitting at my desk, running errands, or on a long walk with the wife and kids, and I've even kept them on while mowing the lawn or cleaning out gutters.

A pair of pants that's ready for travel, yard work, dinner out, or sitting in the office all day is worth its weight in gold, but fortunately you'll only have to pay about $130 for DU/ER Performance Denim.



A grill he can use indoors that doesn't get messy or smoky

Gift a Bella Smokeless Electric Grill from Amazon for $49.99

I love grilling, but sometimes the extra 10 or 15 minutes it takes to take the cover off the grill, clean the grates, and pre-heat the thing just aren't worth the effort. Thus my love for our plucky little Bella Smokeless Electric Grill. It uses an electric heating element that warms up fast and, as the name suggests, doesn't produce smoke, but does still produce those satisfying grill lines and more than enough heat to cook steaks, sausages, kebabs, and anything else you would throw on the barbecue outside.

When the cooking is over, you can lift off the copper-coated grate for easy cleaning with a bit of soap and water and dump out the drip tray that collected fats, oils, and other stuff you'd rather have separated from your food.



A shirt that can't get stained or wet

Gift the Ably Apparel Lanai Linen Shirt from Amazon or Ably Apparel for $115

The first time I put an Ably Apparel shirt to the test, I was skeptical at best. The company claims that the Filium-activated coating applied to the linen fibers of its shirts make them all but impervious to water and stains, so naturally I opened the sink tap to full blast and stuck my shirt right into the water. As it turns out, they weren't lying.

Water literally bounces off the fabric, flowing away like the stuff was made from slick plastic. Yet it feels just like any other mid-weight garment out there. As Ably makes polos, T-shirts, button downs, and more, you'll definitely find an option the dad on your Father's Day list will love. And he'll love getting through meal times, finger-paint sessions, and other messy undertakings with a shirt that looks pristine.



A multi-tool that can pretty much do it all

Gift a Gerber Center-Drive Multi-Tool from Amazon for $85

Dads are supposed to be able to fix everything, but without the right tools, how can they fix anything? While a 64-piece socket set or a table saw might not be the most practical gifts for dad, a great multi-tool is a must-have whether he's a die-hard DIY guy or a rank amateur still set on tightening that loose table leg. The Gerber Center-Drive Multi-Tool has a blade, pliers, and other tools, the most notable of which is a center-axis screwdriver that allows for ergonomic rotation.

The tool comes with 12 different bits for the screwdriver, so it can help you with all sorts of building and repair projects. While a bit bulky for a pocket, the overall quality of the Center-Drive makes up for its size and makes it worth keeping close at hand.



A jogging stroller that combines parenting with exercise

Gift a Chicco TRE Jogging Stroller from Amazon for $379.99

Before I had kids, I would go for an afternoon run all five days of the workweek and often on weekends, too. Now, I'm lucky if I get in three jogs weekly. My run is always the first thing on the chopping block when time starts getting too tight, what with school pickups and dropoffs, this or that doctor, gym class, or other appointment, and so on.

With our Chicco TRE Jogging stroller, however, I can log a few miles out there with my daughter enjoying the ride and my wife getting at least a few minutes of child-free time. The stroller has huge pneumatic tires that absorb the impact created by uneven surfaces and a bicycle-style hand brake that allows for deceleration, which is handy when I'm approaching an intersection or heading down hill.

 



Mail-order gourmet meat

Gift all sorts of gourmet meats from Snake River Farms

Yes, giving a dad the Father's Day gift of fancy meat he can grill up is a bit of a cliché, but it's also pretty much a slam dunk, unless said dad is a vegetarian. Snake River Farms offers superlative cuts of beef and pork, including Wagyu steaks, baby-back ribs, bacon, and so much more.

The company's meats are a bit more expensive than those you might get from a competitor like Omaha Steaks, but Snake River Farms meats are consistently excellent. I know because I've ordered foods from them myself several times. And don't worry, you can get a perfectly good gift for under $100.



A digital picture frame that plays videos and music

Gift a Nixplay Seed Wave from Amazon for $249.99

About a decade ago, my brother and I both gave our dad a digital picture frame for Father's Day. I don't mean jointly; I mean we each gave him a frame pre-loaded with a bunch of pictures. Turns out he loved the idea and was perfectly happy to have two, both of which have been on display on a counter ever since. But while the frames we gave him back then use now outdated SD cards, you can give the gift of a frame fit for the modern era: the Nixplay Seed Wave.

This frame features 10 gigs of storage space, it has built-in Bluetooth speakers that play audio during videos, and you can upload videos or pictures right from your phone. It even turns off when it senses there's no one in the room, saving power and being more eco-friendly.



A fitness-tracking watch that helps Dad make the most of his runs

Gift a Runtopia S1 Smart GPS Sport Watch from Amazon for $79.99

If a dad only has a few spare minutes a day for exercise, he better make the most of those minutes. Help a father stay fit with the Runtopia S1 Smart GPS Sport Watch. It features GPS and a compass, so Dad will always know where he is, and it tracks heart rate, calories burned, steps taken, and other metrics that help a guy (or girl, for that matter) optimize his training.

The watch syncs with smartphones and will alert you to calls and alarms, and it can hold a charge for more than three weeks if you leave the GPS switched off. At $80, it's an affordable Father's Day gift, too.



A smart hose timer that lets him control the watering from anywhere

Gift an Orbit B-Hyve Smart Hose Timer from Amazon for $66.95

One of the hardest things about planning a trip out of town is worrying about the home left sitting unoccupied. Whenever we travel as a family, my wife and I have to figure out whether or not to stop the mail, if the cats will have enough food or need to be checked on, and if the yard is going to be ok or needs to be watered by a family member or neighbor. Thankfully, I can now check that last item off the to-do list, because we got an Orbit B-Hyve Smart Hose Timer.

This timer connects to a standard outdoor faucet and can be pre-programmed to turn on the flow when you want. Better yet, it connects to your home Wi-Fi and can be accessed from anywhere. So I can be on vacation a continent away, check the weather at home, and then turn off the flow because of inbound rain. The B-Hyve also tracks how much water flows through it, so I can tell how much water our yard and garden are consuming and adjust as needed.



An oil Dad can use on his face, body, and hair

Gift a bottle of Everyday Oil from Amazon for $45.60

As much as I hate to admit it, age is catching up with me in a few ways, one of them being wrinkles starting to show up on my face. Another being hair that's drier than it used to be. Also there are the occasional backaches and random grunts when I lift something heavy. While the grunting is probably under my control and the backaches a fact of life, at least I can fight back against the wrinkles and dryness with one product: Everyday Oil.

I used to use several different products on my face and hair, but now I just slather a layer of this stuff over my skin and work it right into my hair and scalp. My skin is better moisturized than ever, and my morning ablutions are more efficient, too. Which good, what with the whole no free time thing.



In a major reversal, California says coffee 'does not pose a significant cancer risk' and may even help protect against some cancers

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coffee roasting acrylamide cancer

California coffee lovers, go ahead: keep on sipping.

The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) officially ruled on Monday that coffee isn't connected to cancer in any meaningful way, despite what you may have heard. That means California coffee shops won't be required to post a warning about any carcinogenic chemicals. 

"After reviewing more than a thousand studies, we concluded that coffee consumption does not pose a significant cancer risk," Sam Delson, a spokesman for the OEHHA, told Business Insider.

Last year, a California judge ruled that coffee sellers in California had to post cancer warnings wherever they serve the brew, largely due to the presence of a chemical called acrylamide, which forms when food items (like coffee beans) are roasted. 

"We found coffee is a complex mixture of numerous chemicals that includes both known carcinogens but also some anti-carcinogens that protect against cancer, including antioxidants," Delson said. 

That is largely the same conclusion that the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reached in 2016. That agency determined that there's not enough evidence to make any kind of conclusion about a link between coffee and cancer. In fact, the IARC said some data suggests coffee may lower your risk of developing certain kinds of cancer, like uterine and liver cancers. What's more, the agency said coffee is "unlikely" to cause breast, prostate, or pancreas cancers.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took a similar stance last year, and said that a cancer warning for coffee drinkers "would be more likely to mislead consumers than to inform them." 

Coffee is a complex drink rich in antioxidants 

The chemical that caused such a stir about a potential link between coffee and cancer — acrylamide — is produced any time ingredients are cooked at high heats (fried, baked, or roasted). That means acrylamide is also  present in small doses in foods like french fries, baguettes, cookies, chips, and char-grilled items like marshmallows or sausages.

Acrylamide by itself is a known carcinogen. But the dose in coffee, which is tiny to the point of insignificance, doesn't appear to be risky for people to drink. Plus, it's paired with myriad other chemicals and nutrients in the brew.

Lots of evidence suggests drinking coffee can help people live long, caffeinated lives. One study followed half a million people in the UK for 10 years, and found that coffee drinkers there both lived longer and lowered their risk of early death by significant margins compared to people who didn't consume coffee. Even coffee fiends who drank eight or more cups a day lowered their risk of death by about 14% compared to non-drinkers.

Similar large-scale studies linking coffee to longer lives have been repeated across the US and Europe. Coffee is the number one source of antioxidants in American diets (even though fruits and vegetables would provide a better cancer-fighting punch). Those antioxidants are known to help protect our bodies against the DNA damage that results in cancer.   

coffee drinking

What's more, some past research on coffee drinkers' health outcomes didn't take into account the fact that many coffee drinkers were also smokers. (Smoking is responsible for more than 80% of all lung cancer cases, and lung cancer is the top cancer killer for both men and women.)

The benefits of drinking coffee

More recently, researchers have discovered that coffee drinkers may derive serious health benefits from the habit. These benefits include:

However, even some researchers who have found evidence of coffee's benefits for heart health caution that some people who have been diagnosed with cancerous tumors may want to limit their intake. That's because drinking coffee can make blood vessels larger, and thus feed more oxygen to tumors. Additionally, people who drink a lot of coffee more than six cups a day — can quicken their heartbeats (not to mention having a higher chance of feeling jittery and anxious).

Still, the evidence we have to date overwhelmingly supports the idea that drinking coffee is good for one's health. So if you like drinking a lot, there's no reason to change your ways.

If anything, this week's California reversal can be seen as another reminder that the ways cancer works inside the body are complex and not yet fully understood. 

Delson said there's still a chance that California may reverse course once again and require that businesses warn people about a link between coffee and cancer, since the OEHHA's decisions are never final. But given the data thus far, he considers that is "highly unlikely."

"This is a unique situation because we're dealing with a complex mixture of hundreds of chemicals," he said. "You know, nothing is 100% risk-free, but ... I'm a cancer survivor myself, and happy to drink coffee."

SEE ALSO: There's even more evidence that coffee is good for your heart — and 4 cups a day might be the ideal amount

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: What happens to your body when you drink too much coffee

24 personalized Father’s Day gifts that aren’t cheesy or overdone

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fathers day personalized gifts 9

  • Every dad wants to receive a gift that seems entirely personalized to him. Personalization is more thoughtful and makes the gift more unique. 
  • Customizable and personalized gift options tend to be cheesy or overdone, but we found 24 Father's Day gifts that are a little out of the ordinary. 
  • If you're looking for more gift ideas for dad, we have many more Father's Day gift guides for 2019 for you to browse. 

When you want to show Dad that you put some extra time and thought into Father's Day this year, a personalized gift is the way to go. However, there are all too many personalized gifts that are cheesy, overdone, and look cheap.

Instead of letting you settle for those, we found some customizable and personalized Father's Day gifts that are actually interesting, unique, and well made. From a monogrammed suitcase that will turn heads on his flight to vinyl records, wine, and clothing that all fit his exact tastes and preferences, these gifts can only belong to your dad. 

For more great gift ideas for Dad, check out these Father's Day gift guides:

SEE ALSO: All of Insider Picks' Father's Day gift ideas, in one place

A Hydro Flask bottle

Gift a Hydro Flask custom bottle, from $34

A lot of people own Hydro Flasks, but this is one that will never get lost in the mix because you can choose the size (from 12 oz. to 64 oz.), mouth type, lid type and color, and bottle color. Exclusive to the custom Hydro Flask is a silicone boot that prevents awful clinking noises and provides additional grip on slippery surfaces. 



A pair of summer espadrilles

Gift a pair of Soludos custom smoking slippers, $95

Add artwork like fruits and animals, text, and a crest to these comfortable and lightweight shoes, which are perfect for vacation strolling and wandering. 



A convenient meal plan geared toward active lifestyles

Gift a Kettlebell Kitchen gift card, from $30

Dads are among the busiest people in our lives and their packed schedules can mean sacrificing healthy-eating habits. Goal-oriented meal-planning service Kettlebell Kitchen takes the guesswork and prep out of eating well, and creates personalized plans based on his needs and preferences.



A personalized body care set that uses his favorite scents

Gift a Mad Optimist body-care set, from $30

The Mad Optimist is a startup that makes all-natural, fully personalized body-care products — from your preferred scents and ingredients to custom labels. The line includes soaps, balms, and bath soaks, and you can combine up to four different scents. 



Bose noise-cancelling headphones

Gift a pair of Bose custom QuietComfort 35-II headphones, $399.95

We've all sat next to someone on the plane sporting these famous noise-cancelling headphones, which have built-in Google Assistant, Alexa, and Bose AR. They also boast 20 hours of battery life and volume-optimized EQ. The only thing that could make them better? Full customization. Bose uses premium, automative-grade paint to cover each piece of the headphones with vibrant color. 

 



An action-packed comic book

Gift the Mega Dad Personalized Comic Book, $35

We always knew Dad was a superhero, but here's definitive proof. This fun comic book incorporates your own name into the story and takes you and your dad on a series of adventures. 



A leather travel-document holder

Gift the Leatherology Travel Document Holder, from $120 (+10 monogram)

This handsome leather accessory keeps his most important documents organized and makes moving through the airport a breeze. It has nine credit card slots with a thumb-slide ID window; ticket, passport, and baggage claim pockets; an exterior boarding pass pocket; and three receipt pockets. 

Choose your leather color from a selection of classic and bright options, then monogram the front with up to four characters. 

 



A suit that fits really well

Gift an Indochino gift card, from $50

Indochino's custom suits are much more affordable than traditional services. They make every man look and feel more confident because every aspect of the suit, from the lining color to the number of buttons, is tailored to his exact measurements and preferences. 



Three hand-picked vinyl records every month

Gift a VNYL membership, from $35/month

VNYL's music curators will choose three records for him based on his music tastes and "vibe" he's feeling that month. It's a fun, affordable, and convenient way to grow his vinyl collection. 



A personalized travel itinerary

Gift a Journy gift card, from $50

A vacation where he doesn't have to stress about where to eat, play, and stay sounds like a dream come true. The expert travel concierges at Journy will help him plan the perfect trip for only $25 a day, so he can focus on relaxing and having fun. 



A curated box of wine delivered to his door

Gift a Winc gift card, from $60

It can be difficult gifting wine when you're not exactly sure of the recipient's tastes and preferences. A Winc gift card puts your dad in control. He'll take a short quiz to assess his tastes, then Winc will send him a personalized selection of full bottle wines he'll enjoy. 



A hand-painted monogrammed suitcase

Gift a monogrammed Away Carry-On, $275

Personalize this smart suitcase with a three-letter monogram that's hand-painted by a lettering artist at Away's NYC studio. Away's suitcases, available in a variety of colors, are already eye-catching enough, but this special touch will make them even more so. 



A map poster of a special place

Gift a Grafomap custom map poster, $49

His favorite place in the world might be his hometown, college town, vacation spot, or wherever his family is. With its unique color themes, customizable labels, and variety of sizes and finishes, Grafomap can capture any location in a thoughtful, personal way.



An engraved beer bottle insulator

Gift an engraved BottleKeeper, $49.99

The neoprene-lined stainless steel bottle keeps his beer colder for longer, so he'll never have to deal with flat, warm beer during barbecues and outdoor gatherings again. With a personalized bottle of his own, he won't mix up his drinks with anyone else's. Engrave it with text or a monogram and choose from a variety of fonts. 



A clothing subscription

Gift a Menlo Club membership, from $153

Whether your dad hates shopping for himself or wants an easy wardrobe refresh, a clothing subscription service like Menlo Club can help him out. The $60 monthly styling fee goes towards a selection of shirts, pants, jackets, shorts, shoes, and accessories that will fit his personal style. He only pays for whatever he wants to keep and can cancel the membership at any time. 



A photo calendar

Gift the Artifact Uprising Brass Easel and Calendar, from $55

Artifact Uprising always manages to make even the simplest photo gifts look sophisticated. The solid brass easel holds up a calendar design of your choice on premium-quality paper. Choosing just 12 photos for this tabletop display may prove to be difficult. 



Copper drink coasters

Gift the Pottery Barn Copper Drink Coasters (Set of 4), $34.50 ($10 monogram)

These sleek coasters are a beautiful drink companion, made even more stylish with the addition of a monogram. They're made from copper and stainless steel and include the brass-colored stand. 

 



A photo pillow

Gift the Canvaspop Custom Photo Pillow, $39

Liven up a piece of ordinary home decor with a family or pet photo. The process of customizing the pillow is quick and easy, but the results will bring laughter and happiness for years to come. 



Cufflinks containing sand from his favorite beach

Gift the Custom Beach Cufflinks, $150-$175

These cufflinks are sure to please the outdoorsy dad who always has sun and sand on his mind. Jewelrymaker Holly Daniels Christensen has sand from beaches all around the world, or if you don't see your desired spot on the list, you can even send in your own sand for an extra $25. 



A shaving kit

Gift an engraved Harry's Winston Set, $40

Harry's German-engineered shave cartridges combined with a sleek polished chrome finish handle (which is engravable) will make dad's shaving routine feel luxurious. Choose between a foaming gel that lathers into a rich foam or a smooth shave cream. 



Golf ball markers

Gift the AdirondackIron Golf Ball Markers, $30

These blacksmith hand-forged golf ball markers come with their own carry bag and are truly one-of-a-kind. His golf game becomes instantly elevated with the markers, which are stamped with antique blacksmithing tools. 



A gift box that combines all his favorite accessories, treats, and grooming products

Gift a Boxfox custom gift box, price varies

While Boxfox does offer pre-curated gift collections, the best part of the service is the ability to make your own. Coming from brands like Herbivore Botanicals, Voluspa, and Corkcicle, the products are actually high quality, so he can enjoy a thoughtful gift that doesn't look hastily thrown together.



A pair of Nike sneakers

Gift a pair of Nike sneakers, from $95

Whether he runs occasionally to clear his mind or is the family's resident marathoner, he'll love a pair of shoes to truly call his own. More than 70 styles, including casual walking shoes, soccer cleats, and basketball shoes, can be designed from outsole to laces.



A chef's knife

Gift the Made In Engraved Chef's Knife, $109

This well-balanced, ultra-sharp knife has his name written all over it. Made In makes a variety of high-quality cookware for affordable prices, so be sure to also check out its stainless clad and carbon steel pans. For a personalized option, however, get this chef-approved knife. 




Cuyana's $150 crossbody bag has been my go-to for the last 2 years — and it's held up incredibly well

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Cuyana mini tassel bag

  • After years of searching, I found the perfect crossbody bag. It's from a direct-to-consumer startup based in San Francisco called Cuyana. 
  • The $150 Mini Tassel Bag comes in four colors and is just the right size to hold my phone, wallet, keys, sunglasses, and the other odds and ends I carry with me for weekends and nights out. It always comes with me when I travel too. 
  • It's been my go-to crossbody bag for two years and has held up amazingly well. 
  • Cuyana also makes roomy work totes, overnight travel bags, convertible backpacks, and passport cases. The Insider Picks reporters and editors have yet to be disappointed by one of the company's designs. 

I have to admit that I get a little annoyed when online reviews describe bags or shoes are "life-changing." Most of these items — probably about 95% — are not. 

Take the Mini Tassel Bag from Cuyana, for example. It is not changing lives with its simple, rectangular silhouette, adjustable crossbody strap, and pebbled-leather construction. Nor is it with its easy-access exterior pocket for your phone. It's adding style, comfort, and convenience to my everyday life, sure, but I could very easily live without it.

It's just that I'd prefer not to.

And since it's reasonably priced at $150, I don't have to.    

Cuyana mini tassel bag

I got the Mini Tassel Bag two years ago. I was looking for a simple, well-made, and logo-free bag to replace a plain-black Michael Kors crossbody I'd had since college, and this one checked all the boxes.

Even after two years of consistent use, it's held up amazingly well and shows little signs of wear and tear to the naked eye. The pebbled-leather exterior has softened over time, but the bag has maintained its shape (for the record, I know I should, but I don't stuff my bags with tissue paper when I'm not using them). As for the interior, there's some glitter (don't ask) that I have not been able to fully eradicate from the lining of my bag, but it certainly lends it some character. 

In the first image of the bag , you'll notice the interior also has a zippered compartment (the perfect size for storing a compact mirror and lipstick) and these convenient leather side panels on both ends. The panels make sure all of your stuff stays inside your bag even if you've fully unzipped it to locate your ChapStick. I love this feature since I never have to worry about opening my bag and accidentally spilling the contents of it onto a dirty subway train's floor. 

The Mini Tassel Bag comes in black, blush, caramel, or red pebbled leather that's been carefully crafted in Turkey, and a large tassel is attached to the zipper for the perfect, elevated accent. You can even add a gold monogram for an extra $15. 

Cuyana makes many other long-lasting essentials the women on the Insider Picks team love, like silk tops,leather work bags, and bodysuits. When shopping with the company, you're even be able to get rid of clothes you don't want (while supporting charity) through its Lean Closet program.

Buy the Cuyana Mini Tassel Bag in black, blush, caramel, or red pebbled leather for $150

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Wealthy people waste money on a certain type of purchase more than anyone else, says the founder of a popular personal-finance website

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chelsea fagan the financial diet

  • Wealthy people "waste money" on buying things to improve themselves, according to the personal-finance website The Financial Diet.
  • There's a difference between spending to enrich your current life and aspiring to live a different life, said Chelsea Fagan, the site's cofounder.
  • It comes down to intention: Buying a status symbol like a Rolex doesn't inherently make you any different, but investing in a suit for a job interview can lead to career progression, and thus, improve your life.
  • Visit BusinessInsider.com for more stories.

Can money help you reinvent yourself?

Some people think so — but, according to a recent tweet by the personal-finance site The Financial Diet, there's a right way to do it and a wrong way.

"The thing about spending money to become a new person — fancy clothes, a nice car, the right bars — is that you're still you, just with less money," the site originally tweeted. "The day you realize that you can't buy your way to being someone else is the day you'll start spending only on what truly matters."

A follow-up tweet read: "There is a difference between setting yourself up with the right things to achieve what you want and buying things with the interest of improving yourself intrinsically, which never works. And wealthy people waste money on this more than anyone."

 

Essentially, it can be hard to tell if your motivations to spend are based on enriching the life you're living or aspiring to a different life altogether, Chelsea Fagan, a cofounder of The Financial Diet, told Business Insider.

"Most advertising (and so much of social media) is centered around a premise that a specific purchase, experience, social status, etc. will be the thing that 'changes' you, but it's important to remember that you will always be yourself, and that anything you can buy will ultimately just become part of the general fabric of your life," she said.

Read more: 'Being rich' is an empty goal, says the founder of a popular finance website — and too many people are completely missing the point of building wealth

Something like a fancy new shirt, purchased just for status or show, will eventually become one shirt among many frequently overlooked in your closet, Fagan said. However, spending money on a nice suit for a job interview can ultimately help you feel confident and make a good impression, get a job offer, and lead to career progression — something that can improve your life in the long run.

"By reducing the expectation of what can come from any one purchase ... we can gain clarity about which purchases truly bring us value in our real, everyday lives, and can look at purchases more for their utility than for how outwardly impressive they might be," Fagan said.

SEE ALSO: There's a key difference between wealth and status, and it comes down to who you're showing your money off for

DON'T MISS: Rich people keep buying things that aren't actually functional to show off their wealth

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

I drove a $64,000 BMW Z4 to see if this high-end roadster is worth the hefty price tag — here's the verdict

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BMW Z4

  • I sampled BMW's revived roadster, a 2019 Z4 sDrive30i that has been outfitted with a bunch of M-Sport performance extras.
  • The BMW Z4 has always been a very sporty two-door, and the new model is no exception.
  • I did like the car in the 30i trim, with its 255-horsepower four-cylinder engine. But even that is a lot of oomph for a roadster.
  • BMW builds the Z4 so well that you're getting your money's worth, but you could spend tens of thousands of dollars less and get an equally fun set of wheels.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The world needs roadsters. That's my belief, anyway. And fortunately, there are several automakers who share my view.

BMW has been in the modern roadster game since the 1990s, but its lineup briefly lacked a two-seat drop-top since the 2016 model year. That gap was filled in 2018 when an all-new Z4 was revealed (it's a collaboration with Toyota, which sells the car as a Supra).

I'm old enough to remember the arrival of the stylish Z3 back when Bill Clinton was president; that car was meant to rival the Mazda Miata by being a burlier, more sporty front-engine, rear-wheel drive two-seater with a ragtop. The Z3's lineage lives on in the new Z4, which is yet again matching up against the Miata. And yet again bringing more horsepower to the open-air party.

I generally don't like a whole lot of HPs in a roadster, which I think of as a car meant to zip around winding roads at 40mph. The Z4 is a helluva lot more car than that. It intends to eat winding roads for breakfast.

How did I feel about getting behind the wheel of that menacing proposition? I felt pretty good — BMW let me borrow a Z4 sDrive30i that had been outfitted with a whole mess of M-Sport high-performance extras. This was the roadster turned up to 11.

It was also — Gulp! — a $64,000 car. That's rich for a roadster.

Too rich? Read on to find out.

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The 2019 BMW Z4 sDrive30i arrived at our suburban New Jersey test center wearing a fetching "San Francisco Red Metallic" paint job. The as-tested price was $64,000, with thousands of dollars in extras adding to the $50,000 MSRP.



The Z-Series roadsters date to the late 1980s for the Bavarian automaker, but the model that really defined the two-seater for BMW was the original Z3 of 1996.



A major — and welcome — change for the sixth-generation Z-Series was the replacement of the retractable hardtop with a soft-top.



Yes, this eliminates the Z4's chances to do double-duty as a coupé, but honestly I prefer a proper ragtop on a roadster.



Plus, I just think the soft top looks right.



It also retracts very quickly, activated by a switch between the seats. The top stows in about five seconds — and takes up essentially no space in the trunk.



There's a removable windscreen between the protective roll bars.



The BMW Z4 is sharp and aggressive, a far cry from the retro Z3 of the mid-1990s, with its throwback, almost steampunk allure ...



... see what I mean?



While I rather like the overall shape of the Z4, with that long hood and scrunched rear, the headlights are a bit much.



They're larger and complicated.



And on my tester, they were LEDs. I can't argue with them at night, but I'd prefer something more low-key.



The BMW kidney grille is a presence up front. but it's blacked out and stretched, so it sort of loses its kidney-ness.



The Bavarian-flag badge hasn't changed, however.



The side vents evoke that beloved Z3 of the Clinton years.



My Z4 came with a few BMW M-Sport high-performance goodies, including M-Sport brakes, part of a $2,450 "Track Handling" package. The 19-inch wheels were an extra $600.



The Z4's rear is something of an optical illusion. In profile, it's out-of-proportion with the front, even with the decklid spoiler adding a flourish. Viewed directly, it's svelte, well-designed, and a credit to the car.



The tail lights, also LEDs, are better than the headlights.



But I don't care for the scoop coming off the fender flanks.



Somehow, that simple black-blue-white propeller (it isn't, but whatever, still looks like one) redeems everything.



The seat-back roll bars are a valuable safety feature, in the unlikely event that the Z4 encounters physics that overcome its low center of gravity.



Time to take a peek beneath the hood.



The 2.0-liter, twin-turbo four-cylinder in our sDrive30i trim level makes 255 horsepower and an impressive 295 pound-feet of torque. That grunt from the small motor had us fooled that we might be driving the 3.0-liter inline six that's also in the lineup. It makes 382 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The 0-60 mph time in the sDrive30i is about five seconds, and that's plenty quick for this type of car. Fuel economy is appealing: 25 mpg city/32 highway/28 combined.



If you've ever owned a roadster, you know that truck space is hard to come by.



But the Z4's is surprisingly generous. Roughly 10 cubic feet.



Now let's slip inside.



Two seats — good! The interior is black and "Ivory White Vernasca Leather." I have to say, with the Frisco Red exterior and this creamy interior, we're getting far afield of old-school roadster simplicity.



The seats are derived from competition designs and are an M-Sport special. They're superb, but I wouldn't call them forgiving.



Storage is extremely limited in the cabin.



But the back wall between the cabin and trunk is an ideal place to locate some speakers for the excellent Harman Kardon surround-sound system, part of a $2,500 "Executive Package."



If you're the driver, you can set the heated seat nice and low and engage in some terrifically spirited motoring.



The instrument cluster is all digital and quasi-analog. It evokes the familiar BMW cluster of yore, but updates them to display speed and tachometric data on opposing curves.



The leather-wrapped, multi-function wheel has one of the few M-Sport shout-outs.



The eight-speed transmission sends power to the rear wheels through an M-Sport differential. The joystick is standard-issue bimmer these days, but a bit more techno than what I'd like in a roadster (what I'd like is a six-speed stick). There are also paddles behind the steering wheel, for kinda sorta manual shifting. Buttons enable selection of the drive modes: three Sport modes, Comfort, Eco, and Adaptive. The last one learns your driving style and adjusts accordingly.



The 10.25-inch infotainment screen runs BMW's much-improved iDrive system, with Apple CarPlay as a backup option. Navigation with this setup is excellent.



There's a one-year SiriusXM satellite radio subscription. Bluetooth pairing is straightforward, as there are USB and AUX ports for device connection.



iDrive also includes a suite of apps.



So what's the verdict?

The BMW z4 sDrive30i is a smashing set of wheels, especially with the addition of the various M-Sport features. Acceleration is gutsy, and the balance of the car, while not perfect, is pretty close. With robust horsepower and lots of torque on tap, you'll be tempted to subdue corners rather than finesse them.

If you do, the taut suspension, grabby tires, wonderful brakes, and crisp steering, along with the quick-shifting eight-speed, should fill you with confidence. Straight-line velocity is also nothing to scoff at. This Z4 has a bit of the drag racer hiding under the hood, even with the four banger (the six-cylinder can make that run in a hair under four seconds).

The engine isn't a burbling or backfiring menace, but it can get its soundtrack on, if it's in Sport Plus and you're pushing it in manual mode.

Ragtops have long been knocked by enthusiasts for inadequate stiffness (chopping the roof off with do that), but in my experience, the Z4 was plenty firm — at times too much so, according to my passengers. A retractable hardtop would appease the purists somewhat, but I preferred the quick-collapse soft-top.

That's the good stuff. Now the bad. The Z4's natural rivals have always been the Porsche Boxster and the Mazda Miata. With the Boxster, you can spend about what the Z4 costs — or much, much more. From my point of view, the driving dynamics are far different, as the Boxster is a mid-engine sports car, while the Z4 has its motor up front where it belongs.

The Miata, meanwhile, is a relative bargain at $25-$30,000, but its no-turbo four makes just 181 horsepower.

(And for what it's worth, the BMW Z4 shares its underpinnings with the new Toyota Supra — the automakers partnered on development. The Supra is also priced in the Z4's ballpark.)

Anyone who has followed my car reviewing knows that I'm a Miata nut — and a former Miata owner (I had a first-gen car). To me, a roadster should be a low-powered sports car that's all about peppy top-down motoring, not ripping up asphalt.

In that sense, the Z4 is too much machine. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy it; I did indeed. But it's a muscle roadster, and all I sampled was the four-cylinder; the six is definitely a big boy and candidly I'd struggle to get into all the horsepower on public roads.

So if I were buying, and all the Miatas had already been bought, I'd take the Z4 30i. With 255 horsepower, this car is about at the limit of what I'm seeking in a snappy little ragtop. It's also a very well-crafted set of wheels. BMW doesn't disappoint with this package.

Obviously, not the most versatile car in the world, but there are times when versatility is the enemy. And for those times, the BMW Z4 is your chariot.

AND DON'T LEAVE JUST YET BECAUSE ...



The BMW Z4 was the last car that departing Business Insider Transportation Correspondent Ben Zhang drove. (He liked it!)

Since 2014, Ben and I have worked together as closely as I ever have with anyone in journalism. Now he's moving on, to try his hand at corporate communications in the auto industry.

The five years I drove hundred of cars with Ben have been among the most rewarding of my entire, three-decade career. We agreed and disagreed, discussed and debated, and along the way we created Business Insider's annual Car of the Year Award, now headed into its sixth edition for 2019.

Ben knows more about cars (and airplanes) than anyone I've ever met, and I've met a lot of people who know a lot about cars. He put his knowledge to good use, helping Business Insider to greatly expand its coverage of the transportation world.

He also got behind the wheel of Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Porsches and a host of other posh and exotic machines. That kind of experience can warp minds, but Ben was always the model of a professional enthusiast. If you were on the lookout for an admirable example of the car-writer calling, Ben was (and is) most assuredly it.

Almost every Saturday or Sunday, we'd meet in my driveway to compare notes on our test car (and sometimes cars) for that week. I love few things more than to talk about cars in my driveway, so I came to look forward to these sessions, and over the years Ben became almost a member of my family.

I'm proud of the man, who took a risk when he came to Business Insider with the idea that he might have a few things to say about automobiles and airplanes. A good car guy is hard to find. But Ben is one on the best.

Good luck in the new gig, my friend! They might not yet know how lucky they are to have you.



Meal prepping saves me so much time and money — here are 6 tools that'll turn you into a pro

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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.

meal prep gadgets

So you're ready to jump on the meal prep bandwagon.

I salute you — meal prepping is a terrific way to save money and time in the kitchen while also reducing food waste, time spent figuring out what to eat for lunch, and the nightly annoyance of delayed takeout orders.

While it may take a few weeks to get your routine down, the right cooking gadgets can help set you up for success. The six tools below will help speed up your veggie chopping, bake multiple meals at once, and keep all your food fresh while shaving time off your prep and keeping you motivated for weeks (heck, months) to come.

SEE ALSO: 9 cheap solutions for people who want to waste less and wean themselves off single-use items

A baking sheet

Buy TeamFar Baking Sheets (set of 2) for $19.99 on Amazon

This versatile staple is great for roasting veggies, cooking proteins, making entire one-pan meals, baking desserts, and so much more. You could throw a melange of vegetables on this bad boy like Brussels sprouts, carrots, and potatoes, roast them all at once, and then divide them up for a week's worth of lunches.



A food processor

Buy the Hamilton Beach Snap Food Processor for $49.99 on Amazon

Consider this item your sous chef. It can chop, shred, julienne, and slice batches of vegetables without any hiccups. It can mix the right ingredients into smooth nut butters, soups, sauces, and dips easily. It can shred cheese and make bread crumbs in second. Basically, it does everything you need — and quickly. Seriously, you could spend half an hour at your kitchen counter chopping mushrooms or carrots for the week, or you could have this food processor do it in seconds.



A Crock-Pot

Buy the 8-quart Crock-Pot Slow Cooker for $59.99 on Amazon

Crock-Pot meals mean you'll to be in the kitchen for as little time as possible. If you’re looking for a way to make big batches of soups and stews, tender servings of pulled pork or chicken, or the creamiest mac and cheese ever, the Crock-Pot slow cooker is your ticket. This one has a programmable function so you can set the cook time accordingly. There are truly countless dishes you can make with this kitchen wonder and once you get the hang of it, you won’t believe you'd ever lived without it.



An Instant Pot

Buy the 6-quart Instant Pot Pressure Cooker for $69.99 on Amazon

Okay, so you probably don't need a Crock Pot and an Instant Pot; it really depends on your life and cooking style. While the slow cooker allows you to set your meal and forget it (you can press a button in the morning and have dinner hot and ready by the time you're home), the Instant Pot works faster because it's a pressure cooker and is just as versatile. The gadget has somewhat of a cult following and can be used to make large batches of yogurt, oatmeal, rice, and chili, as well as roast whole chickens and a small family's worth of veggies. If you want to shave time off your meal prep routine, the Instant Pot is definitely the way to go.

 



Some packable containers

Buy the WORTHBUY Insulated 3-Tier Lunch Box Set for $28.99 on Amazon

Once you've cooked your meals, you'll need to divide them up into containers that are durable and easy to transport. This neat set of steel containers is an unexpected choice compared to traditional Tupperware containers, but it's super helpful for meal preppers. It comes as a stack of two or three so you can separate foods that might get soggy; each container's bottom serves as the lid for the one on top and there's a lid with a carrying handle for easy portability. The set also comes with an insulated, leak-resistant lunch box that's perfect for keeping food warm or cold.  



Something to carry your food in

Buy the Srise Insulated Lunch Box for $12.88 on Amazon

If you already have your own meal prep containers (or a ton of takeout containers you kept from your previous life), an insulated lunch box is great for easy transport without worrying about leakage or your food getting cold. You could totally go the nostalgic route with a print of your favorite superhero, or prove yourself a true adult with this handsome, leak-proof tote that comes in a bunch of cool colors.



4 drinks you consume every day that might raise your risk of cancer

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drinking

It's easy to feel like no matter what we do or where we go, cancer is all around us. In the US, nearly one in 20 people has had canceror has it now, according to the American Cancer Society

Some cancers are unavoidable and determined by genetics. But some behaviors we can control also influence our cancer risk. Breathing dirty air (whether from cigarette smoke or air pollution), eating (or not eating) certain foods, and being around certain products and chemicals every day can each contribute to how, when, and if people get cancer.  

Even your choices about what you drink every day can have some influence on your cancer risk.

Here are some of the drinks that science suggests are leading to more cancer cases. 

SEE ALSO: There's even more evidence that drinking lots of soda and sugar-filled coffee could lead to an early death

We have a lot of evidence that drinking alcohol contributes to more cancer cases.

Call it liquor, alcohol, or booze, but this substance's scientific name is ethyl alcohol. It's a chemical typically made from fermenting sugars (such as those from grapes) or starches (such as potatoes or rice) with yeast. 

Part of the reason alcohol is dangerous is that it irritates tissues, making it easier for carcinogens (cancer-causing compounds) to sneak in and cause DNA damage in the body.

Scientists have shown time and time again that drinking alcohol can contribute to several different kinds of cancer in humans. The dose is important, too — the more you drink, the greater your risk of developing different kinds of cancers, including head, neck, throat, liver, breast, and colon. 

A worldwide study of drinkers in 195 countries published in 2018 found that no matter where people live, heavier drinkers are more likely to develop cancer, and they're also more likely to die from cancer and many other causes.



Plenty of people live to a ripe old age while drinking alcohol regularly. But that doesn't mean the behavior is risk-free.

In England, 92-year-old Queen Elizabeth II reportedly enjoys wine with her lunch and sips champagne before bed on a regular basis. Across the Atlantic in Pennsylvania, 101-year-old Andrew Slavonic says downing a can of Coors Light every afternoon has been his golden ticket to living past 100. 

There is some evidence that a moderate amount of booze (say, one drink per day) can help protect against some health conditions, notably heart disease and diabetes. But there are underlying genetic differences that make some people more likely to develop deadly diseases.  

In France, where people drink an average of 2.7 glasses of alcohol a day, alcohol kills roughly 49,000 people every year. Health officials in the wine-loving country are now encouraging French people to drink less.

Alcohol is alcohol, and it's not great for our bodies in big doses, whether it's a big glass of Côtes du Rhône, a snifter filled with cognac, or a couple bottles of Corona.



Sugar-filled drinks can also be dangerous. Sugar is linked to more cancer cases, and there's even some evidence it can help tumors grow faster and more aggressively.

A recent 34-year study of more than 118,000 men and women across the USsuggested that people who drink more sugar-sweetened beverages are more likely to die from all sorts of things, including breast and colon cancers. 

 



It's an especially bad idea to drink sugar because liquid sweets are absorbed and digested very quickly in the body.

When we drink sugar from beverages such as juice or soda, fructose rushes into the liver, unabated by key nutrients, such as fiber, that slow down digestion and help us feel full and satiated.

"You just end up consuming more calories per day, and it leads to weight gain over time," Vasanti Malik, a research scientist from the Department of Nutrition in the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health recently told Business Insider

That weight gain can prompt obesity-related cancers, including breast and colon cancers.

It's especially troubling when you consider that cancer also loves to use sugar as fuel. More research on this phenomenon in humans is still needed, but lab studies in mice and yeast both suggest that sugar can essentially feed cancerous tumors, stimulating them to grow quickly and aggressively.



Hot beverages that are served at near-boiling temperatures can also up a person's risk of developing cancer in the tube that moves food and drinks from our mouths to our stomachs.

Scientists have discovered that people who drink super-steamy mate, which is traditionally served searing hot in chillier areas of Argentina, have higher rates of esophageal cancer. Drinking alcohol and smoking can compound that risk.

The risks aren't unique to South America.

In one recent study, people in northeastern Iran who drink two cups of very hot tea every day likewise nearly doubled their risk of developing esophageal cancer when compared with Iranians who waited for their brew to chill.



Fortunately, scientists have discovered the esophageal-cancer risk from hot beverages is relatively small. In the Iranian study, it amounted to about 17 extra cases per 100,000 people. It is also fairly easy to avoid drinking things that are too hot to handle.

Be kind to your tongue and to your esophagus, and simply wait a few minutes before you enjoy your cup of tea, coffee, or mate. 



Some people also worry about the cancer risks associated with drinking coffee.

For decades, researchers have been investigating whether a link exists between coffee drinking and cancer risk, but they have have come up short on hard evidence due to confounding factors like cigarette smoking, which definitely increases cancer risk.

 



During the process of roasting coffee, the beans release a chemical called acrylamide that has been linked to cancer.

Acrylamide cannot be removed from coffee before it's consumed.

Acrylamide is known to be dangerous when it's consumed in large doses (it's one of the toxic chemicals that smokers inhale), but there's no evidence that the tiny dose found in coffee — even a lifetime's worth — is harmful for our bodies.

 



There's compelling evidence that coffee is more likely to lower your risk of developing cancer than to raise it.

In 2016, the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) determined that there's not enough evidence to make any kind of conclusion about a link between coffee and cancer. In fact, the IARC said some data suggests coffee may lower your risk of developing certain kinds of cancer like uterine and liver cancers. What's more, the agency said coffee is "unlikely" to cause breast, prostate, or pancreas cancers.

Regulators in the US agree. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said last year that a cancer warning for coffee drinkers "would be more likely to mislead consumers than to inform them." And in a major reversal, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) recently ruled that the chemicals in coffee "do not pose a significant risk of cancer." 

"We're dealing with a complex mixture of hundreds of chemicals," Sam Delson, a spokesman for the OEHHA, told Business Insider shortly after the California coffee warnings were nixed. He pointed out that while one chemical found in coffee is a known carcinogen, other chemicals and antioxidants in the brew can "ameliorate, mitigate, or negate the carcinogenic effects."

"I'm a cancer survivor myself, and happy to drink coffee," Delson added. 



Coffee has also been linked to many other health benefits, especially when it comes to aging hearts.

Coffee is the one drink on this list that's arguably safe to drink as much as you like. 

A team of German researchers who recently studied how caffeine influences the way cells in blood vessels perform even suggested that about four cups of coffee a day might be the perfect amount to maintain a healthy, youthful heart.

It's clear from the research to date that sugar and alcohol are by far more dangerous. So brew on, caffeine lovers.



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