• Lisbon, Portugal, is the most popular travel destination for millennials, according to travel-planning site müvTravel.
• Millennials love Lisbon for its architecture and neighborhoods that charm by day and buzz at night.
• Located on the coast, Lisbon is also in proximity to beaches and resort towns for a day trip.
• Visit BusinessInsider.com for more stories.

Millennials spend more on travel than any other age group.

And the place currently sparking the most wanderlust? Lisbon, Portugal.

It's the most popular travel destination for millennials, according to travel-planning site müvTravel, which created its Top 30 Millennial Travel Destinations for 2019 list by analyzing the most popular bucket-list destinations of müvTravel's millennial users. According to the site, millennials are most interested in places that offer "memorable and original moments," as well as "activities that focus on sustainable and personalized local experiences."

Lisbon's charm can be chalked up to its traditional architecture and cobblestone streets, but it also has a buzzing nightlife. Millennials have said they love the city for its close proximity to nearby destinations, like the resort town of Sintra and several beaches, which make for the ultimate day trips.

Business Insider spoke to two millennials who have visited Portugal's capital city over the past few years to get a sense of how they spent their time there.

Below, see what it's like to visit Lisbon as a millennial.

Are you a millennial with insider travel tips about a burgeoning, international hotspot to share? Email this reporter at hhoffower@businessinsider.com

SEE ALSO: Seltzer is officially 'the drink of the summer.' Anyone who's surprised hasn't been paying attention to what millennials like.

DON'T MISS: Meet the average American millennial, who has an $8,000 net worth, is delaying life milestones because of student loan debt, and still relies on their parents for money

Lisbon is on the western coast of Portugal; the city borders the Tagus River to the south. According to a 2010 census, the city is home to 545,000 residents — and a New York Times article from 2018 put the city's annual tourist count at a whopping 4.5 million annual visitors. There are two windows of time that are considered the best time to visit the city: March to May, and September to October.

Source: Google Maps, World Population Review, The New York Times, US News and World Report

First stop after landing at Lisbon International Airport, which is a 20-minute drive from the city center: Going on a Sandeman tour, according to 27-year-old Nicole Berrio, who visited Lisbon three years ago. Sandemans offers free tours across 20 cities worldwide.

Source: Google Maps, New Europe Tours

"They're a great way to get your lay of the land on your first day in a new city," she told Business Insider. "If you get a cool guide, ask them for recommendations on local hotspots."

But one of the best ways to get around Lisbon is by aimlessly wandering the streets, which 26-year-old Caroline Josey did on her visit.

"My favorite aspect of Lisbon was getting lost and miraculously falling into these truly majestic sites or cozy restaurants," Josey told Business Insider.

According to Josey, Alfama is a must-see neighborhood. "Tram 28 takes you through the old streets that are the only part of Lisbon preserved from the 1755 Earthquake," she said.

Alfama was previously all of Lisbon, and as the city grew, it became the heart of the city, according to Time Out. It's also home to some amazing street art.

Source: Time Out, Metro UK

Another must-see, according to Berrio, is the LX Factory, an abandoned industrial site that has been turned into a creative, cultural, and gastronomic area.

Berrio also suggests paying a visit to "the best aquarium ever" — the Lisbon Oceanarium.

There's also the São Jorge Castle, Josey said. It's one of the most iconic symbols in Lisbon.

Source: Lisbon

Blogger Lauren recommended checking out miradouros, or viewpoints for panoramic views of the city, such as Miradouro de Sao Pedro de or Portas do Sol. Many of the sites have kiosks for drinks, she wrote.

Source: Cosmic Breakfast

For shopping delights, pick up a book at Ler Devagar, a paper mill that's been turned into a bookstore.

Source: Yelp

Lisbon comes to life after the sun goes down, according to Josey. "Locals flood the allies either going on an evening run or sipping some sparkling sangria along the Tagus River," she said.

Catch the sunset and a drink or two at PARK, a rooftop bar atop a parking garage in the district of Bairro Alto.

Source: Yelp

Berrio recommends eating at one of Michelin-starred chef José Avillez's three restaurants: Belcanto, Barrio do Avillez, or Beco. "Make friends with the waiters at Belcanto for a private kitchen tour and to garner a secret entry into Beco," she said.

Afterward, get cocktails at Double, "a great cocktail bar," according to Berrio. She recommends getting the Tales of Thailand.

In her blog, Lauren suggested spending a night out bar-hopping in Bairro Alto or on Pink Street.

Source: Cosmic Breakfast

For places to stay, there are plenty of options. Lauren raved about We Love F. Tourists, a Lisbon hostel. Its central location was great for walking everywhere, she wrote.

Source: Cosmic Breakfast, Hostelworld

For a hotel experience, there's also Pestana CR7 Lisboa, a modern hotel with speedy Wi-Fi geared towards millennials.

Source: Time Out, Pestana CR7

You'll also want to make time for a beach day. Situated along the coast, Lisbon is close to several beaches, from Praia do Ouro (Beach of Gold) to Carcavelos Beach.

Source: The Culture Trip

Both Josey and Berrio recommend taking a day trip to Sintra, a resort town directly northwest of Lisbon in Portugal's Sintra Mountains.

Sintra is about a 30-minute drive from Lisbon.

Source: Google Maps

"Sintra is constantly a solid 10 degrees cooler [than Lisbon] amid lush vegetation and misting clouds that continuously roll into the town," Josey said. "This makes you feel like you’ve entered a fairytale and a town that’s truly magical."

Sintra is known for the Pena Palace — a "modge-podge" of various Moorish, Roman, and Medieval architectural influences "that looks like it brought Disneyland to Europe," Josey said.

But that isn't Sintra's only fortress. Berrio also recommends checking out the Castle of the Moors.

But no trip to Portugal is complete without picking up a Pasteis de Nata from a local pastry shop, a Portuguese custard tart dusted with cinnamon.

Source: Trip Advisor

• Eating in New York City can be extremely expensive, both for locals and tourists.
• However, New Yorkers know of quite a few places to get delicious food for a great deal.
• Whether you're in the mood for steaming-hot ramen, sushi, or an incredible slice of pizza, here are the best cheap eats you'll find in New York City.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The great thing about New York — the thing that makes it the best food town in the world — is that the same people who'll spend $900 for a meal at Masa will also stand in a snaking line for an $8 chicken sandwich.

Our hunger for the exotic, the daring, and the artery-busting is so great that it's spawned a whole new landscape of cheap eats.

Joining the ranks of the $1 slice and the pastrami sandwich are crave-worthy bites like matzo meal-crusted fried chicken and sustainably caught Maine lobster rolls. Then, there's always the iconic New York City food trucks and carts, which offer up some of the tastiest, cheapest food in the city.

Read more: Here's what a typical workday is like for a Halal Guys cart vendor

Keep scrolling for our list of the 15 cheap eats that New Yorkers crave, from the perfect square slice to a taco that'll make you drool all over your keyboard.

April Walloga contributed to a previous version of this article.

SEE ALSO: New York City wants you to know how sanitary your favorite hot dog stand is

Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken

At this fast-casual chicken joint, the Bromberg brothers — of Blue Ribbon Sushi fame — sell their famed matzo meal-crusted fried bird alongside eight different chicken sandwiches and sides like cheesy bacon fries and hush puppies. The chicken is dusted with spices and can be topped with three different honeys, hot sauce, or barbecue sauce.

What to order: A two-piece with fries and cole slaw costs either $10.75 (white meat) or $11.95 (dark meat).

Click here for more on Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken >>

The Halal Guys

People say the secret recipe white sauce that Halal Guys douses its gyros and combo platters with is akin to crack cocaine. Judging by the lines outside their many food carts, it's a fair comparison. The carts recently expanded to restaurants, one on the Upper West Side and one in the East Village.

The combination of the tangy white sauce, crispy meats, yellow basmati rice, and cool lettuce and tomato is the OG halal answer to a Chipotle bowl.

What to order: A small combo platter with chicken and gyro meat, yellow rice, lettuce, tomato, pita, and your choice of white sauce, tahini, and/or hot sauce is $6.99.

Click here for more on The Halal Guys >>

Los Tacos No. 1

New York City is a wasteland for cheap, good Mexican food. And even though it's standing room only and in the tourist-laden Chelsea Market, New Yorkers are willing to take the bad with the great to get their fix at Los Tacos No. 1.

Run by three friends from Mexico and California, the taco stand uses made-to-order corn tortillas and your choice of grilled chicken, steak, nopales cactus, or spit-roasted pork. People rave about the quesadilla, which looks like a regular taco and has a layer of sizzling cheese that's been crisped on the flat top.

What to order: The marinated pork quesadilla with cilantro, pico de gallo, guacamole, and pineapple is $4.75.

Click here for more on Los Tacos No. 1 >>

Fuku

David Chang's Fuku is doing for the fried-chicken sandwich what Danny Meyer's Shake Shack has done for the burger. The East Village chicken shop debuted to snaking lines and six-sandwich-per-person maximum order caps this summer. Somewhat inspired by Chang's love of Chick-fil-A, the sandwich consists of a giant fried chicken thigh; a steamed, buttered potato roll; and pickles.

What to order: The chicken sandwich is $8, but at lunchtime, you can get a combo with the sandwich and fries for $12.

Click here for more on Fuku >>

Lam Zhou Handmade Noodle

No cheap-eats list is complete without dumplings. While the actual best dumplings in New York are at White Bear in Flushing, Queens, Lam Zhou is the next best thing for Manhattanites.

The juicy pork and chive filling is among the best you'll find in Chinatown, and the wrappers are thin and delicate, not thick and gummy. Hot chili oil brings it all together.

What to order: An order of 11 pork and chive dumplings is $3.

Click here for more on Lam Zhou Handmade Noodle >>

Xi'an Famous Foods

Once a solitary Flushing favorite, Xi'an Famous Foods exploded into Manhattan after appearing on a 2008 episode of Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservations" travel show. With six locations in New York and the original Queens outpost, the father-son restaurant chain deals exclusively in the spicy, lip-numbing cuisine of Xi'an.

The city in China's Shaanxi province is famous for its hand-stretched noodles and Muslim-influenced cuisine — think cumin-spiced lamb noodles and burgers.

What to order: Spicy cumin lamb hand-ripped noodles ($7.81 to $11.21) or stewed pork hand-ripped noodles ($6.89 to $10.15). The stewed pork burger ($3.81 to $4.68 ) is also pretty delicious.

Click here for more on Xi'an Famous Foods >>

Luke's Lobster

New Yorkers have been going nuts for Luke's Lobster since 2009, when it opened its first seafood roll shack in the East Village. Now they've gone national, with 17 locations and a popular food truck.

The menu is simple: lobster rolls, shrimp rolls, crab rolls, chowders, and chips and sodas. The sustainably caught seafood is fresh from Maine, the rolls are buttered and not overly bready, and the mayo is swiped on judiciously. A drizzle of lemon butter and a dash of celery salt adds decadence.

What to order: Most people get the $17 lobster roll, but the $9 shrimp roll — which uses sweet Maine shrimp that tastes like mini lobsters — is as good or better.

Click here for more on Luke's Lobster >>

Prince Street Pizza

Forget the New York slice vs. Chicago deep-dish debate — the Sicilian square beats them both. And Prince Street Pizza has one of the best, most beautiful square slices in the city. The crust is just the right thickness, the tomato sauce is fruity and slightly sweet, and the pepperoni crisps up into irresistible little cups.

What to order: The Spicy Spring Street Square — with fra diavolo sauce, spicy pepperoni, and mozzarella — is $3.95. 

Click here for more on Prince Street Pizza >>

Shake Shack

With locations around the country, the once niche Shake Shack has gone mainstream, but New Yorkers still crave it with regularity. Its potato roll, flat top-seared Pat LaFrieda beef, and Shack Sauce are the benchmark to which all other burger fixings are compared. The Shack also has one of the best veggie options — a fried portobello mushroom stuffed with cheese — of any burger chain.

What to order: A double Shack Burger is $8.69 and an order of cheese fries is $4.09.

Click here for more on Shake Shack >>

Sam's Falafel

Next time you stop by the Financial District, wander on over to this hidden gem of a food cart. Sam's Falafel cart is located in Zuccotti Park and serves up cheap — and delicious — eats. Make sure you've got cash on you as this food cart doesn't take any other forms of payment. 

Grab a couple of extra napkins, too — these massive sandwiches are stuffed to the brim with creamy, rich hummus. 

What to order: A falafel sandwich, complete with lettuce, tomato, and lots of hummus in a warm, fresh pita, costs a mere $5. A combo platter costs $6, and can easily be split between two people. Both can be made either spicy or not. Water and soda are just $1 as well. 

Click here for more on Sam's Falafel cart >>

Arepa Factory

If you're looking for seriously delicious Venezuelan food in New York City, look no further than Arepa Factory. They have two locations, one in the East Village and one in Columbus Circle. Opt to build your own arepa, bowl, or cachapa, or choose one of their many menu options. 

They use only the best ingredients and even offer homemade lemonades to complement your rich meal. Dreamt up by award-winning chef, Rafael I. De Garate, you're not going to want to skip this delicious food spot. 

What to order: The Pabellon arepa comes with shredded beef, black beans, sweet plantains, and guayanes cheese and costs $9.95. 

Click here for more on Arepa Factory >>

Bánh Mì Place

Banh Mi sandwiches are definitely a secret way to eat on the cheap in New York City. These huge baguettes can be stuffed to the brim with traditional paté, grilled pork, chicken, and even vegetarian options. Options can be found all over the city, but one hidden gem is Banh Mi Place by Prospect Park in Brooklyn. Their spicy sandwiches offer the perfect balance of heat, and the crispy baguettes make this humble sandwich taste practically gourmet. 

What to order: A classic sandwich ($6.75) and a bubble tea ($3.95). 

Click here for more on Banh Mi Place >>

Milk N' Honey NYC

Finding a genuinely good, cheap bagel in New York City can be harder than you think. With so many options, it can be difficult to tell whether you're really finding a good bagel for an even better price. One place that is hugely underrated is Milk N' Honey in the Financial District or Midtown. This kosher establishment has all the fixings for bagels, plus sandwiches, salads, and more.

What to order: An everything bagel with lox spread, tomato, and capers is $6.25.

Click here for more on Milk N' Honey NYC >>

Beyond Sushi

Love sushi, but don't want to pay specialty sushi prices? Are you vegetarian, vegan, or willing to just try something a little different? Break out the chopsticks and head over to Beyond Sushi. They have locations all over the city and offer vegetarian and vegan "sushi" rolls, dumplings, and more. You'll be surprised by the low prices, and feel a little better eating this healthier version of your favorite sushi rolls. 

What to order: The Spicy Mang roll is $7.95 and is made with black rice, avocado, mango, and English cucumber topped with veggie slaw and a toasted cayenne sauce. 

Click here for more on Beyond Sushi >>

Udon West

There's no shortage of ramen places in New York City, and some are cheaper than others. If you want a delicious, gourmet bowl of ramen for a super cheap price, check out Udon West on St. Marks Street in the East Village. This cash-only hole-in-the-wall is beloved by the locals and offers cheap, traditional hot noodles and more. 

Slurp up a warm bowl of delicious broth, complete with all the fixings of traditional Japanese ramen. 

What to order: The fried chicken kara-age hot noodles ($8.50) or the simmered beef niku hot noodles ($8.95). Make it a set for $10 and choose from a selection of appetizers. 

Click for more on Udon West >>

• Read more:
• I've been traveling the world for 6 months and I use the same trick in any city I visit to make sure I find amazing food
• After a $500 meal at the world's most luxurious hotel, I stumbled across a $1 fish restaurant on the Moroccan coast — and I'd pick the cheaper one every time
• 7 sneaky ways fast-food restaurants get you to spend more money
• We tried the top-rated cheap restaurants in New York City — and the winner was obvious

• Breo Box is a seasonal subscription box full of interesting and actually useful products.
• Four times a year, you'll receive a handmade wooden box filled with five to eight items in the categories of fitness, tech, and lifestyle essentials.
• A single Breo Box costs $159, but the price lowers to about $137 if you commit to an annual subscription. The contents of each box seem to average around a $250 value.
• I got to try the summer 2019 Breo Box and was ultimately impressed with the quality of the five products included. If you like trying out new products, Breo Box actually provides a great value.

Subscription boxes have become so ubiquitous — I pass by plenty on my building's doorstep each day. 

Love trying new coffee? Wines? Stylish clothes? Perfume? Steaks and sausages? For every passion and need, there's a subscription box to match — but that doesn't mean they've lost their novelty entirely. Subscriptions are still a fun way to discover cool, innovative brands, try out new products, and make life easier by having things you love sent to your door on a regular basis.

Unlike most subscription boxes, relative newcomer Breo Box doesn't cater to one specific purpose, but rather just makes it its mission to help subscribers discover cool stuff. Breo Box is a seasonal subscription box filled with five to eight useful, unique, interesting products curated for the season. Spanning categories of tech, fitness, lifestyle, and home goods, the products are packed into a durable wood box and sent to your door every three months. We received the summer 2019 box and it's a good value if you like all the products inside. Plus, it makes a great gift. 

Breo Box subscription options and pricing

You can choose from either a seasonal or annual subscription of Breo Box. Both deliver the same box at the same time (every three months), but with an annual subscription you'll save money in the long run. A seasonal subscription is paid out four times a year, with each payment ranging between $139-$159 (some boxes are more expensive than others). An annual subscription costs $549, and is paid out once a year, bringing each month to just $137.25. The value of each box seems to average around $250.

You can cancel anytime, or just skip a box if you don't want to receive one for any given season. 

The boxes ship once a season, during the second week of March, June, September, and December, respectively. If you want to purchase a box just once, whether to try the service for yourself or gift to a friend, Breo Box makes it easy to do that too, for a flat rate of $159. 

Summer 2019 Breo Box

I got to try the summer 2019 Breo Box, which was sent to me by the brand. Inside the box, there's a card listing the products included, and how much they would have cost if you chose to buy them individually. The contents amounted to $253 retail.

The box contained five items: an Ehko Waterproof Camera, Dodow Sleep Aid Device, OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker, BlenderBottle Stainless Steel Shaker, and That! Inventions Li'l Dipper (basically a heated mini ice cream scooper that can get through your rock-hard pint of Ben & Jerry's). For Breo Box, five products is on the lower end of the spectrum, but it still felt like a lot, especially considering all of the products are full-sized.

For me, many of the products in the box weren't ones that I would use in my everyday life. That said, there were some I enjoyed using and probably wouldn't have discovered without Breo Box. Here are the two standouts:

1. The cold brew maker

The OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker ($50) looks like a complicated contraption, but it's surprisingly easy to use and clean. And, it made 32 ounces of cold brew concentrate — enough for me to make it through the week. I did some digging and found that this one in particular had already made it onto our list of the best cold brew coffee makers for its ease of use, relatively small size (perfect for countertops), and the included carafe, which lets you seamlessly store your concentrate in the fridge to keep it fresh. 

2. The sleep aid device

The Dodow Sleep Aid Device ($60) was one of my favorite products in the box, mostly for the fact that it's so unique, but also because I probably never would have come across it on my own. Dodow is a French company with a fresh take on sleep aids. The one I got is a small device that uses a light system to help lull you to sleep. Tap the Dodow lightly and it will project a pulsing light onto the ceiling. The projected light will expand and retract over the course of either eight or 20 minutes (whatever you choose). As it expands, you inhale, and as it retracts, you exhale. After the set time, Dodow turns itself off, and you should be sound asleep.

This was an odd concept to me, but after looking into it further, it's not too complicated. By synching your breathing with Dodow's pulsing light, you bring your breathing rate down significantly, ultimately slowing down your metabolism and helping you relax. If your mind is racing with ideas and thoughts before bed, focusing on this light is a simple way to slow everything down and help you fall asleep quickly. 

The rest of the box

While I really enjoyed those two products, I didn't have much use for the other three. The Ehko waterproof camera was a solid piece of tech and a good alternative to a pricey GoPro, but I didn't have an immediate use for it. Same goes for the BlenderBottle and the heated ice cream scooper.

But, it's worth considering that any of the products inside the box would make great individual gifts, so even if you don't love everything, you may still get a relatively good value from it.

Bottom line

Breo Box is a cool concept and a service that will definitely benefit certain types of people. If you love discovering new products or being exposed to new brands, you'll probably love the boxes. If you're looking for a cool gift for someone who already seems to have everything, this is an easy but still creative option. 

The downfall is sometimes you may not love all the products or want to use them at all. If you can reconcile that idea with the price, you'll likely find Breo Box to be a fun, creative service that'll bring unique and interesting finds to your doorstep. 

Sign up for a Breo Box subscription, $159 per season

Join the conversation about this story »

• The Uber app makes it easy to contact your Uber driver once you've been paired up and are waiting for your ride.
• You can send a text message to your driver within the Uber app on both iPhone or Android, or call them by phone, also through the app.
• Uber also offers several ways for you to connect with the company, if you have issues about a specific trip that is already completed — for example, if you're trying to request a refund.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

So you're standing on the wrong side of the street when your Uber pulls up, but the driver doesn't see you. Just tap a few icons in the Uber app and give them a call.

Contacting your Uber driver is remarkably easy whether you're using the app on an iPhone or Android.

Once you've been paired with a ride and are waiting for the vehicle to show up, decide whether you would prefer to send a text message, or call the driver directly, which is often the best choice when you need to talk to them quickly.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone Xs (From $999.99 at Best Buy)

Google Pixel 3 (From $399.99 at Best Buy)

How to contact your Uber driver

To send a written message, type it into the bar reading, "Any pickup notes?"

If you want to call your driver, just tap the phone icon at the bottom left corner of the screen, and then confirm you want to place the call.

If you need to get back in touch with an Uber driver after a trip has been completed — maybe you left your bag in the car, for example — Uber puts up a few walls between you and the driver. But you can easily pass those to hopefully rectify any issue, either directly with the driver or through Uber itself.

How to contact your Uber driver or Uber after a ride

1. Open the app and tap the three parallel lines in the top-left corner.

2. Tap "Your Trips," then make sure the menu is set to "Past."

3. Scroll down to find the trip in question and tap on it.

4. Scroll down and select the topic that best mirrors your issue, like "I lost an item."

From there, you will have an array of options, which in some cases will include direct contact with the driver. In other cases, Uber will ask you to submit info to them directly.

You submit your phone number, and then it's on the driver to contact you. Note that there is a $15 fee for having a driver contact you.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to check your Uber passenger rating, and improve it if it's low

• How to contact Uber support as a rider or driver, in 4 different ways

• How to cancel an Uber ride, whether you've just ordered it or scheduled it in advance

• How to sign up for an Uber account on iPhone or Android

SEE ALSO: The best iPhone for every type of person and budget

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 5 things wrong with Apple's lightning cable

• Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) topped the 2019 rankings of selective business school admission rates, with an admission rate of only 6.1%.
• Below, six successful applicants discuss what worked for getting in the door and what didn't.
• For starters, be sure to tell a unified, coherent, and compelling story throughout your application — and don't focus on trying to be what you think the admissions committee wants.
• The school's assistant dean of MBA admissions says that her team specifically looks for people who've taken initiative, engaged others in their efforts, and helped others grow.
• Click here for more BI Prime stories.

A 2019 ranking of business school admission rates showed Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) at the top of the list of most selective schools. Yes, it's even harder to get into Stanford's elite business program than Harvard's, Yale's, Columbia's, or Wharton's.

"It is very competitive and the bar to stand out is even higher," said Benjamin Fernandes, Stanford GSB alum and founder and CEO of NALA. "Every year, more and more people apply, and the school is always looking for the best class to bring in."

"To me, the biggest challenge was that it was just daunting, with such a low acceptance rate and so many qualified applicants," said Nicole Alvino, co-founder and chief strategy officer of SocialChorus and an '04 Stanford GSB graduate.

Stanford GSB's exceedingly slim 6.1% acceptance rate — for perspective, around 20% of applicants get into Yale and Wharton's business programs — means that any edge you can give yourself in this ultra-competitive field can make a difference.

To that end, Business Insider asked six Stanford business school grads — as well as the assistant dean of MBA admissions and financial aid at Stanford's Graduate School of Business — for their insights on how to get noticed and tapped by Stanford GBS's extremely selective Admissions Committee. Here's their top advice.

Don't imitate what you think the Admissions Committee wants to see

While the stereotype of the ideal Ivy League candidate is someone who fulfills the traditional version of achievement (with legacy to boot), Stanford alums highlight the importance of bringing your own distinct A-game to your application. Ian Cinnamon, Stanford GSB alum and president and founder of Synapse Technology Corporation based in Silicon Valley, noticed that his GSB classmates were all "incredibly unique," which provides some insight into what the Admissions Committee values. "Everyone really focused their applications not just on their accomplishments, but their unique motivations that drove them," said Cinnamon.

As a result, his top advice for Stanford business school applicants is to be uniquely you — not an imitation of a type. "Don't try to fit into an unnatural mold. Be true to yourself, be true to what drives you," suggested Cinnamon. "Whether you want to be a journalist, a singer, or a rodeo bull rider, there is no passion that is too 'outside the box' for the GSB. Even classmates who came from similar backgrounds (consulting or finance) each had their own passions and drives that they pursued during the GSB." 

Other Stanford business school alums validated this advice with their own messages. "Tell a story that only you can tell, and avoid writing answers that you think the administration is looking for," offered Samantha Dong, founder and CEO of Ally Shoes. "Authenticity is one of the most important lessons we learned at the GSB. Honestly, people can tell the difference. It's truly one of the greatest gifts to be surrounded by people with a passion for something meaningful, and the drive and capacity to make change happen. If you believe you are one of those people, show it with your story and your unique voice." 

"Please don't try to 'model' your application after someone else you know who got in," said Irina Farooq, chief product officer of Kinetica. "You are not that person, and this approach will inevitably impact your ability to articulate your unique experiences and points of view. The best you can do is to stay true to yourself and your aspirations." Fernandes added: "Be honest about your journey and where you want to go. Finally, be humble, you are not perfect, don't feel the need to show this. Admissions officers have read thousands of essays each year and could spot something being embellished from a mile away." 

Make sure your entire application tells a cohesive story

No guide for getting into business school — much less at a top-tier institution like Stanford — would be complete without mentioning strategic approaches to the essay component of the application. Fernandes focused his tips for getting into the competitive program around how you approach the business school essay. "Truly reflect on the essay question, 'What matters to you most and why?'" said Fernandes. "It's a deep question for anyone to ask themselves; it's almost like asking yourself, what is your life's purpose?" 

Dong agreed that the "What matters most to you and why?" essay question is "notoriously daunting," noting that she found answering this question to be the single biggest challenge of getting into the GSB. To overcome this formidable obstacle, she wrote 20 different drafts before finalizing her essay. "Ultimately, two things helped me put things in perspective," recalled Dong. "I wrote down all the meaningful, big moments in my life, and tried looking for common threads. I also asked myself this question: What's the one thing in life I cannot live without?" 

Fernandes emphasized ensuring that your entire application tells a similar story that delivers a coherent, compelling message throughout. "Your story makes you stand out, but it wouldn't make any sense if one talks about wanting to use technology to transform the football industry and nothing else in your application talking about your passion for football and technology," he explained.

Distinguish yourself in a jam-packed field

Sal Hazday, COO of OppLoans, said he had to be persistent to succeed in his goal to earn a Stanford MBA. "I sent in additional recommendations and my own self-recommendation on what made me a different type of candidate," said Hazday. The reason behind these extra efforts was what Hazday found to be the biggest challenge in getting into Stanford GSB: "Knowing that I had to compete not just with smart people who went to prestigious schools, received good grades, and had successful careers prior to business school, but also they did amazing and interesting things in other areas like athletics, research, or volunteer work."

To help tip the balance and compete in this arena, Hazday encourages candidates to diversify their work experience, like he did: "I had the opportunity to work abroad in very different countries (Saudi Arabia, Costa Rica) as a SAP consultant — it provided a unique foundation to further build my knowledge in solving business challenges globally." 

Read more: Here's exactly what it takes to get accepted into Harvard Business School, according to 5 grads and the managing director of admissions

Express your unique form of leadership

When Farooq first became interested in applying to Stanford Business School, she discovered that the biggest challenge was trying to figure out what she "needed" to do to get in. "At the time, I didn't know a single person who had gone there, but it seemed like everyone around me had heard of 'ideal' strategies to get in," recalled Farooq. "At first, it made the GSB seem like this mythical place for which I had to completely stretch and change myself to get in. That was extremely unsettling." 

Farooq was ultimately able to hurdle this challenge by realizing the first point in the list of strategies above — as she explained it: "that Stanford actually wants you to bring your unique self to the table." With this new perspective, Farooq focused not on stressing the outcome but on giving the Admissions Committee an accurate picture of herself, her goals, and her aspirations. Her route to finding her authentic voice came by tapping into her unique form of leadership and expressing that in her application. 

"It's a small class of around 360 people, so they are looking for every single person to demonstrate how they can be a future leader," said Farooq. "But they also deeply understand that leadership comes in many different forms, and are looking for people from different backgrounds. In fact, a big part of the program is structured around honing your leadership skills, where you get challenged by different perspectives." Pointing out that Stanford GSB's motto is, "Change Lives, Change Organizations, Change the World," Farooq finds it no surprise that their admissions essays are geared towards understanding you as a person and your potential as a future leader. "I used this as an opportunity to really introspect my own goals and motivations and then articulate those in my essays," she said.

Review Stanford GSB's evaluation criteria

In addition to considering the advice of successful Stanford MBAs about how they got into the program, be sure to heed the following words of Kirsten Moss, assistant dean of MBA admissions and financial aid at Stanford's Graduate School of Business: "We're looking to build a diverse class of students who are curious and willing to tackle issues or challenges, which go beyond what may be expected of them," explained Moss. "We look for students who have taken initiative, focused on results, engaged others in their efforts, and helped others grow." 

To understand exactly what the Admissions Committee is looking for, Moss points interested applicants toward reviewing the MBA program's evaluation criteria, emphasizing that their students bring a variety of perspectives and experiences to the classroom and community. "We really mean it when we say we don't expect our students to all fit one mold," said Moss. "So the best advice I can give is for candidates to be honest and authentically yourself."

Read more: The ultimate guide to nailing a sales pitch that closes the deal every time

Make sure you really want it

Farooq takes a lot of calls from people applying to business schools, many of whom she says don't know why they are doing it. "The most common answer I get is, 'I was told it will look good on my resume.' Yes, it may, but so will a number of other things."

Based on this experience, Farooq advises applicants to do some soul-searching before applying. "Really spend time understanding yourself — what motivates you, what you are trying to achieve by going to business school," she said. "The admissions team can always distinguish between people who see business school as a key part of their leadership journey and those who are just jumping on the bandwagon."

Fernandes concurs that motivation, as well as the timing of when you decide to apply to Stanford's business school, can play a big factor in the outcome — not because one application window is better than another, but because it's important to apply only when you have a firm grasp on your true motivations. "I think a reason why many people don't get in is maybe because they apply when they aren't ready yet," said Fernandes. "You really have to ask yourself why you want an MBA — and why now?"

SEE ALSO: Here's exactly what it takes to get accepted into Harvard Business School, according to 5 grads and the managing director of admissions

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Stewart Butterfield, co-founder of Slack and Flickr, says 2 beliefs have brought him the greatest success in life

• Three private islands are currently for sale in Belize for under $530,000 each.
• The cheapest island is listed at $350,000, while the most expensive island is listed at $525,000, according to the listing website 7th Heaven Properties.
• The attractive prices are due to both the location and size of each island, Robert Cooper, director of 7th Heaven Properties, told Business Insider.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

For those outside-of-the-box homebuyers looking to invest in an affordable private island, you're in luck.

Three private islands in Belize are currently on the market for less than $530,000 each. It's a price point that's cheaper than the median home value in some of America's major markets, including New York City, Los Angeles, and Honolulu. 

The three islands vary in prices ranging from $350,000 to $525,000, according to the listing website, 7th Heaven Properties.

They are located off the Caribbean coast of Southern Belize and are either undeveloped or contain a few structures that need repairs, according to Robert Cooper, the director of 7th Heaven Properties.

Read more:The Martha's Vineyard estate that Jackie Kennedy bought for $1 million in 1979 just hit the market for $65 million — here's a look inside the property

Cooper also told Business Insider that the attractive price points are due to three main factors: the islands are small in comparison to other private islands and have minimal to no developments on them; there are around 200 private islands or cayes off the Carribean coast of Belize, so there are quite a few private islands for sale; and Belize's real-estate market is less developed, especially in comparison to other countries that also have large pools of tropical islands, like the Bahamas.

Keep reading for a closer look at the three private islands.

SEE ALSO: Run-down and vacant homes in Detroit are being auctioned off for as little as $1,000. All homeowners have to do is get them into livable condition in 6 months.

DON'T MISS: A private island an hour from NYC is for sale for $13 million, and it comes with 2 homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and a private helipad

Belize is located in Central America and hugs the western edge of the Caribbean Sea. It sits under the US and Mexico and is around just two hours from Houston, Texas by plane.

Source: Google Maps

The largest and most expensive of the three available islands spans 1.5 acres and is located off the coast of Dangriga Town in southern Belize.

Source: 7th Heaven Properties

The 65,340-square-foot island is currently on the market for $525,000 ...

Source: 7th Heaven Properties

... and is only four miles from the Belize Barrier Reef.

Source: 7th Heaven Properties

The second-most expensive island of the three spans just over 0.65 acres and sits on Belize's Tobacco Caye Range. It's listed for $500,000.

Source: 7th Heaven Properties

There are five structures and three piers already on the island. They were built in 2009.

Source: 7th Heaven Properties

Together, the existing structures include nine bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. However, according to the listing website, they are in need of repairs.

Source: 7th Heaven Properties

The least expensive of the three islands spans one acre and is located seven miles off the coast of southern Belize.

Source: 7th Heaven Properties

The island is undeveloped and, as described by the listing website, is essentially a "blank canvas" for the future buyer.

Source: 7th Heaven Properties

It is on the market for $350,000.

Source: 7th Heaven Properties

However, not all of the islands for sale in southern Belize are as affordable. Just consider one 60-acre private island off the coast of Maya Beach.

Source: 7th Heaven Properties

It's the largest island in the area — and it's on the market for $12 million.

Source: 7th Heaven Properties

As for the three, smaller private islands, the affordability of their price tags comes down to three key factors. The islands' small size is working in their favor, price-wise, as is the large number of private islands for sale in Belize.

Source: 7th Heaven Properties

Thirdly, Belize's real-estate market is less developed, especially in comparison to other countries that also have large pools of tropical islands, like the Bahamas.

Source: 7th Heaven Properties

To put the three price tags into perspective, they are all more affordable than the typical home in New York City, which has a median value of $674,100 ...

Source: Zillow

... the typical home in Los Angeles, which has a median value of $688,700 ...

Source: Zillow

... and the typical home in Honolulu, which has a median value of $655,100.

Source: Zillow

• YouTube is a massive platform. Fortunately, there are many hacks you can use to make your YouTube watching easier, more efficient, and more enjoyable.
• Your YouTube experience on both mobile and desktop can be enhanced with these hacks, with some working on both systems, and others tailored for a single type of device.
• Knowing the best ways to search for videos on YouTube, for example, can help expedite the process of finding  the content you want from among the millions of videos on the platform.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

YouTube offers everything from live sports to network TV shows to original programming to a staggering amount of material produced by influencers with every interest imaginable. 

YouTube has grown so large that it can be intimidating to navigate the site or the mobile app. Searching for your favorite videos and engaging with the platform can be tricky. But once you've learned a few handy YouTube hacks, you'll be able to engage with the site much more easily.

We worked with YouTube to assemble a list of seven hacks that will help you make the most of your time using YouTube, both on the iPhone and Android mobile app, and on a computer.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone Xs (From $999.99 at Best Buy)

Google Pixel 3 (From $399.99 at Best Buy)

SEE ALSO: The best iPhone for every type of person and budget

Swipe left or right to switch videos on mobile

While watching a YouTube video in the mobile app, you can easily jump to the last video you watched or the next video in your queue. Just swipe your finger from right-to-left or left-to-right, respectively, across the video that is currently playing.

10 second fast forward or rewind on mobile

If you're watching on mobile and want your YouTube video to rewind 10 seconds so you can see something again, double-tap on the left side of the video window. 

To hop forward 10 seconds, tap twice on the right side of the screen.

Turn on captions and change speed settings on mobile

You can alter your mobile YouTube viewing experience in numerous ways by tapping the three vertical dots at the top right corner of the video window. 

The pop-up menu will allow you to turn on (or off) captions, choose a faster or slower playback speed, and set different video quality settings for most clips.

Use keyboard shortcuts to save time on a computer

There are many keyboard shortcuts you can use to speed up your interaction with content on YouTube's desktop site. 

Pressing number keys will move you to a different point in the video: 3 advances you to the 30% mark, 6 to the 60% mark, and so forth. 

K pauses a video. J and L fast forward and rewind 10 seconds, respectively. 

And maybe most notable, press M to mute a YouTube video.

Watch later with one click

If you don't want to forget to watch a particular video on your computer but don't have time, hover over its thumbnail and click on the clock icon that appears. It will be moved into a "Watch later" playlist you can access from your desktop or on mobile.

Use "Dark Theme" for best video viewing experience

On both mobile and a computer, you can use a setting called "Dark Theme" that sets the background of the page to black. This lets the color of the video that's playing show more clearly. 

Tap your icon at the top right corner, then click "Settings" and toggle on "Dark theme."

Make your YouTube searches extra efficient

There's a lot of content to comb through on YouTube. Save time and search better by using the right keywords and punctuation, examples of which are:

• Add quotation marks to search for exact keywords in a specific order. 
• Use plus (+) or minus (-) signs to include or omit results.
• Add the term "allintitle" in the search box before the keywords to make sure you only get results including all the keywords you searched for in the title.

Add HD to your search query to get high-definition results; you can also add 3D for three-dimensional content.

• You can set up and customize your YouTube TV subscription to access countless hours of programming, including broadcast TV, sports, news, and more.
• YouTube TV also allows you to record unlimited shows, movies, or live events, and you can add or change these preferences at any time. 
• You can watch YouTube TV programming on a computer, on mobile, on a smart TV, or by using a streaming device like Chromecast.

• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

YouTube TV has taken the whole cable ditching thing – the so-called "cord-cutting" movement – to the next level.

Whether you want to watch live TV, sports, news, record favorite TV shows for later viewing, or browse through an impressive archive of past programming, a YouTube TV subscription has you more than covered.

YouTube TV isn't a cheap alternative to cable: its $50 monthly cost is somewhat comparable to what you'd pay for legacy cable providers. But the many ways you can engage with the content and the range of programming offered makes YouTube TV an excellent service.

Once you have finished paying for a YouTube TV subscription, you will be led through a series of easy steps that allow for initial customization.

We worked with YouTube directly to put together these tips for getting your account set up and getting the most out of it.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Roku TVs (From $129.99 at Best Buy)

Apple TVs (From $149.99 at Best Buy)

Android TVs (From $379.99 at Best Buy)

How to navigate the 3 main tabs on a YouTube TV account

These tabs are LIBRARY, HOME, and LIVE. The home tab is where YouTube gives you recommendations of what to watch. 

You can tap the "+" button next to programs you'd like to add to your library, and YouTube TV will automatically record all programs as they air. You can then access all of them in the Library tab. 

The Live TV tab shows you everything that's playing right now. Check out your local live broadcast channels and watch sports, local news, or catch primetime shows airing on those broadcast networks. 

You can scroll down further to see over 70 popular cable networks and local sports networks.

How to personalize your Live Guide on YouTube TV

You can customize the Live tab to match your viewing preferences. For example, you can reorder networks in the guide or hide certain networks so that only your favorite networks appear. 

To do this, select "Sort" on the Live tab, tap "Edit" and customize your Live tab.

How to set up live recordings and build a library 

Add any show, sports team, event, movie, and so on to your library just by tapping the "+" button. YouTube TV will record all current and upcoming airings. 

You can add as many programs to your library as you like – YouTube TV includes unlimited cloud-based DVR space, and recording doesn't take up space on your device.

How to watch YouTube TV on your smart TV or gaming system

You can watch YouTube TV on most smart TVs and gaming systems. 

Options include Apple TV, Roku, Xbox One, Android TV, and select Samsung, LG and Vizio models – with Amazon Fire TV forthcoming. You can also stream on your TV with AirPlay, Google Chromecast, or a Chromecast-enabled TV.

How to search for shows, sports, and movies by genre 

Head to the search area by clicking the magnifying glass at the top right. 

You can search via general terms like Sports, News, or Movies, or you can search for specific shows, movies, or televised events.

How to hide scores (and avoid spoilers)

You can turn on the "Hide all scores for this team/league" feature in YouTube TV to hide scores for specific sports teams and leagues. 

This will prevent spoiler information, like final scores or live previews, from appearing before you've started watching. 

To enable this feature, open YouTube TV, select the overflow menu three-dot on a team or league page, and toggle on "Hide all scores for this team/league."

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• 'What is YouTube TV?': Everything you need to know about YouTube's subscription streaming service

• How to upload a video to YouTube and customize its settings on desktop and mobile

• How to make the most out of the YouTube app on your Roku device

• How to cancel subscriptions on your iPad in a few quick steps

SEE ALSO: The best 4K TVs you can buy

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: I cleaned my entire apartment with 4 of Amazon's highest-rated cleaning robots, but I could've done a much better job myself

• Digital home decor startup The Inside just launched its first collection of sofas in over 100 fabric and print options. 
• Six styles range from modern sectionals to mid-century and sleeper sofas. Prices range from $1,599 for the Modern Sofa to $2,995 for the Slipcover Sectional. 
• You can order fabric swatches for $1 each with free shipping, and email the team for free design advice at hi@theinside.com.

Digital furniture startup The Inside has launched its first-ever sofa collection. 

If you're familiar with The Inside, the name probably conjures up images of bold prints, bright colors, and exclusive collaborations with high-end designers. What's perhaps less obvious about its sophisticated furniture, though, is that everything (so far, at least) is under $3,000.

The company's ethos is to go "beyond the beige," which is really more about increasing the diversity of budget-friendly options than convincing people to live inside a snow globe of Wes Anderson color palettes.

After years of working in interior design, The Inside co-founder and CEO Christiane Lemieux (formerly the executive creative director of Wayfair) explained to Business Insider that she'd noticed an recurring problem in the industry, characterized by the blandness of affordable options. In Lemieux's words, "Personal and interesting furniture options did not exist for everyone."

The Inside emphasizes affordable customization as an antidote, and its sofa launch is the latest in its efforts to give the people what they want: more options. 

Altogether, there are six sofa styles (starting at $1,599) and over 100 fabrics for shoppers to choose from to complement their personal style. 

In the sofa collection, as in all The Inside furniture orders, customers get to experience an affordable, digitized version of the otherwise unattainable interior designer experience.You pick everything: the style of sofa, the pattern and fabric, and, when applicable, the metal framing. Then, the sofa is made from scratch and shipped to your door in four weeks free of charge. For smaller products like ottomans and benches, the turn-around time is three weeks. 

The Inside sofas are available in the company's 100+ fabrics, including exclusive collaboration prints from Scalamandré, SF Girl by Bay (the original Pinfluencer), Refinery29's Christene Barberich, Homepolish's Katherine Carter, and fashion designers Peter Som and Clare V. 

Shoppers from diverse aesthetics — from modern to traditional, maximalist to bohemian, and everything in between — should be able to create something unique that they love on the site. As Lemieux notes, The Inside avoids the siloing of style. "It's less about your preferred pattern or color — because we do offer beige options! — and instead about giving people the freedom to choose beyond the same two or three sofa options, by providing access to more than 100 fabrics." 

In other words, The Inside wants to bridge the gap between what you save on your Pinterest as aspirational, and what you are actually able to execute on your own. 

How do they do it? The beige couch problem is, fundamentally, an inventory problem. Since other retailers have to store their furniture, the "drab and uninspired" tend to win the decor war for their simple functionality. Since The Inside doesn't carry inventory or have middlemen, it's possible to make high-quality home decor on demand at reasonable prices. All furniture is made from scratch, and to cut expensive traditional photography, the company's photos are 3D rendered instead.

If you want to see the fabrics in your own home, you can order swatches for $1 each with free shipping. And if you love the idea of playing with color and going with a Scalamandre zebra print à la the Royal Tenenbaums — but you're not sure how — just email hi@theinside.com for free personalized design advice. If your questions are more in-depth than simple color-matching, they'll be passed along to the team's veteran designers to weigh in. 

Perhaps due to a resourceful business model, a lean and passionate team, or its playful collaborations with big names priced for small budgets, but The Inside feels more like a collaborative passion project than another face in the D2C home decor space. Like watching Meryl Streep play a dynamic character role, the sense of fun is palpable from behind the screen. This love of interior design — and the symptomatic desire to give more people the freedom to design a space that feels like them — is again present in its take on sofas, the de-facto centerpiece of a home. 

Shop The Inside debut sofa collection.

Keep scrolling to see all the styles offered in the launch:

Mid-Century Sofa, $2,100

See the Mid-Century Sofa in over 100 patterns >>

Modern Sofa, $1,599

See the Modern Sofa in over 100 patterns >>

Modern Sectional, $2,495

See the Modern Sectional in over 100 patterns >>

Slipcover Sofa, $1,899

See the Slipcover Sofa in over 100 patterns >>

Tailored Sleeper Sofa, $1,999

See the Tailored Sleeper Sofa in over 100 patterns >>

Slipcover Sectional, $2,995

See the Slipcover Section in over 100 patterns >>

• Trade Coffee Co. is the online matchmaker for coffee lovers and their coffee.
• From run-of-the-mill "coffee that tastes like coffee" to "hints of something different" and downright "surprising and unconventional," Trade offers lovingly grown and roasted beans for all.
• Trade also offers equipment from coffee pots and cold brew kits to filters and scales — basically everything you need to make the perfect cup of coffee.
• With subscriptions starting at $12.50 per 12-ounce bag, it's a step up in price from what you might find at big-box stores. But if you enjoy your morning cup, there's nothing more precious and empowering than dialing it in perfectly each and every morning.

"Put your mug's fate in our hands with over 2,000,000 happy coffee matches — and counting!" may reek of gimmick, but we tried Trade Coffee Co.'s matchmaking service, and I, for one, have nothing but good things to say for the brand. Why? Never has a coffee buying experience ever led me through six web pages of consultative questions in order to pair me with a bag of coffee. After the folks (or algorithm) at Trade presented me with a suggestion, I took it. Now, here I sit, feet up, sipping from a soupcon that is surely delivering me ever closer — with each shot — to a time and place where I can confidently claim that I am, indeed, living my very best life.

Okay, I might be taking you for a bit of a ride here, but if you want to learn how to profile your ideal cuppa (and maybe self, while you're at it), there may be no better way than with the help of Trade Coffee. Depending on your profile, Trade may match you with The Classics, which is their best value plan at $25 for two 12-ounce bags. Then there's The Hookup for those seeking something "surprising and unconventional" at $15 to $22 per 12-ounce bag.

The process, intimidating at the outset, perhaps, is so thoroughly yet tidily detailed that it's a breeze.

What we like most about the selection and customization process is how unassuming it is. You don't feel like you're diving in headfirst with a sommelier who's just out to make you feel uninformed. Instead, you get a clean page layout with four options to identify your level of java snob-hood: from newbie to nerd.

Then it's on to your preferred brewing method, which, depending on how much you care, could dictate the roast level and/or type of bean you want to be buying and why that might matter. And if you're using a pod machine, a support team is ready to chat whether you use a Keurig, Nespresso, or apparently, any other type of pod machine.

Next, you'll select what, if anything, you add to your coffee, because they've decided to factor in even that.

Then there's your preferred roast level. This is a common question, of course, but again, like wine, maybe something we don't all necessarily understand. Trade also offers a little explainer about roast levels and how each roasting brand uses its own "scale" while Trade scores all coffees on their own scale so that there's no confusion within their service.

And this is where it all might get a little tricky. Just the same, though, don't overthink it; you can always try more. Be bold.

Do you buy ground, whole bean coffee, or both? This is fairly self-explanatory, though Trade makes a point to push grinding your own coffee for the best brew you can get, and we're with them. If we can offer a single piece of conjecture, to you, dear reader, let it be this: If you're going to invest in good coffee, grind it yourself or you are missing the point of luxuriating in this splurge altogether.

Tasting notes

Some of us on the team tried coffee; others tried equipment. Below is a short roundup of what each of us tried along with our findings and/or tasting notes respective of what we tried.

Leftist Espresso by Gimme!

Buy Gimme! Leftist Espresso from Trade Coffee Co. for $16

I rarely go a day without coffee but typically settle for the brew in our office. The Gimme! Leftist Espresso was a nice change to my routine and provided a strong and sweet batch of coffee. I received the whole bean bag and decided to grind it into medium grounds to use with my French press. Since it's a light-medium roast, it was smooth and had a higher level of caffeine — meaning that I only had to have one cup to get through my morning to-do list. The actual coffee was a treat, plus I felt like it was made especially for me after using the "get matched" quiz on the Trade website. — Megan Foster, Insider Picks intern

Petunias Espresso by Revelator Coffee Co.

Buy Petunias Coffee by Revelator Coffee from Trade Coffee Co. for $15

I went for the "surprising and unconventional" choice because you only live once, as they say. I'm rarely able to place undertones within things like coffee, wine, or beer. "Enjoyable" and "not enjoyable" are my usual descriptors, and to each our own, I always believe, but this was something I could savor, and did I ever. A bitter, velvety dark chocolate tone was punctuated by hints of red stonefruit (cherry, I suppose) as vividly as any beverage ever delivered flavor to my palate. Okay, maybe it wasn't all that distinct (at least not for me), but it was different, and each and every morning, while the bag lasted, the thought of that thick crema greeting my tongue was enough for me to peel off the sheets and (almost) make it to work on time. Now that's something. I'd be happy to wake with this sensation every morning for the rest of my life, and therein am seriously considering one of these subscriptions for myself. My benevolent overlords might appreciate this motion, too, should it continue to deliver me to work on time. — Owen Burke, Insider Picks senior reporter

Cold Brew Coffee Bags by Trade Coffee Co.

Buy a pack of 20 cold brew bags from Trade Coffee Co. for $7.50

Typically, I use this cheap, utility-first plastic cold brew bottle to make a quart of cold brew at home. But on the go, one reusable Trade Cold Brew Bag can make up to five batches per 12 ounce bag of coffee (and $7.50 gets you 20 bags). Pretty much all you need is the Trade cold brew bag, some coffee, and a glass on hand (the company notes that mason jars work well, and I'd agree). You'll still have to wait 12 to 18 hours for your cold brew, but it's easy, mobile, and the bags are blessedly compostable, made from corn-based fiber. — Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter

French Press by Yama

Buy the Yama French Press from Trade Coffee Co. for $36

I've been using this French Press for about a month, and I'm really enjoying it, but I figure I should get this out of the way now: It's really only made for one or two cups of coffee, so if you're looking for a family-sized carafe, this is not it. 

If a small French press is what you're looking for, this one is solid, though not perfect. The superfine mesh filter does a great job of straining grounds, provided you have the top mechanism properly nestled on before you press the plunger down. But the grounds get caught between the mesh and the metal pieces that hold it into place, making it hard to clean.

That said, there are a few other pros and cons. The base is rubberized, so it's hard to spill. Big pro in my house. But there are plastic parts to the press, which I don't love (though they are BPA-free). The metal handle and base come off in one piece for easy cleaning, another pro.  

Overall, I really like this French press. Is it the absolute best one you can buy? Probably not. Will it work and be relatively easy to clean and take care of? Absolutely. — Sally Kaplan, Insider Picks editor

Note: The Yama French Press is currently sold out on Trade's website, but it's available on Amazon for $24. 

The bottom line: Who's this really for?

If you're already spending $10 to $15 on a 12-ounce bag of coffee, if you want to learn how to pull a better shot of espresso, brew cold brew, make a better pour-over, or just learn a bit (or a lot) more about making coffee in general, then Trade Coffee might be for you. But if you don't reeeaaally love coffee, and coffee is just a utilitarian pick-me-up, then stick with your Folgers or your Maxwell House.

Coffee subscription services like this one are either for snobs and snobs-to-be or academics. And whether it's the cheap pre-ground stuff off the shelf at Walmart or the award-winning $17-a-bag, Fair-Trade-certified, all-organic beans from Trade or Atlas or Driftaway, we're just trying to help you find the best way to keep doing you.

Take the "Get Matched" quiz at Trade Coffee Co. for a personalized subscription or explore single matches, starting at $12.50 per 12-ounce bag.

• The Cosabella Never Say Never Curvy Sweetie Bralette ($65.50) is the only bralette I've reviewed that suits my petite, large-chested frame. 
• It's comfortable and relatively supportive, especially considering the lightweight lace material it's made of and the pullover, hook-free design. 
• Available in 25 colors and six sizes, there are a ton of options built for just about any wardrobe. 

Like most people, I'm rife with insecurity about different aspects of my body, personality, and so on. But the biggest acceptance battle I've had to fight throughout my life has to do with my chest. It's relatively substantial while the rest of me is … not.

I'm 4-foot-11, but I wear a 30G bra.

I've never loved having a large chest, but the feeling was especially acute when I'd spot those flimsy little bralettes with triangle cups fanned out in a rainbow of colors by the register at every mall store from Free People to Aerie. Every time I'd cave and take one of them into the dressing room, only to end up very nearly in tears.

Over the years I've tried several promising undergarments billed as bralettes for busty people. Still, something was usually off about them. The cups would cut into me at weird angles, creating visible lumps beneath certain tops, or the closures would more closely resemble an actual bra, making the bra less suitable to pair with backless tops or dresses with spaghetti straps. But then I came across the Cosabella Never Say Never Curvy Sweetie Bralette.

This is a real bralette, with no hooks or wires and an easy pull-on silhouette, only it's designed specifically for bodies built like mine (i.e. small rib cage,large cup size). Unlike similar styles made for smaller chests, the Cosabella bralette has adjustable straps, which are helpful for me and my short shoulder span. Mesh lining, an elegant sweetheart neckline, and hidden elastic around the band and the tops of the cups subtly shape your chest and provide the added support those of us with larger chests need.

Read more: The best bralettes for a large bust

I own the bralette in black (goes with everything!), but there are 24 other colors available, ranging from Pink Lily to Tourmaline. The sizes currently run from petite to extra-large; Cosabella's size chart says the extra large is meant for 38-40 G-H busts.

Of course, this bra doesn't work under every kind of top or dress. Some of my clothing items are better served by the more pronounced lift and structure provided by an underwire bra, even if it's less cozy. But the Cosabella bralette has been a true game changer in my wardrobe. It's comfy enough to wear while lounging around at home and looks pretty underneath a light, airy top on a hot summer day.

Despite the minor drawbacks, the Never Say Never Curvy Sweetie Bralette is worth the $65.50 price tag. It's cozy and sexy, but also much more supportive and attractive under clothing than similar styles I've tried.

Pros: Supportive, adjustable straps, elastic band, wireless

Cons: Expensive, size range could be expanded

Buy the Never Say Never Curvy Sweetie Bralette for $65.50 at Cosabella

SEE ALSO: The best bras you can buy

DON'T MISS: Spanx has become synonymous with shapewear, but its bras are the company's hidden gems — here's why we love them

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• YouTube personality Brooke Houts uploaded a video Wednesday that showed her hitting and spitting at her dog.
• The video, which has since been deleted, was the unedited version of one she meant to post to her YouTube channel, where her Doberman dog is often featured.
• Houts issued an apology to fans on Twitter, saying that she was having a bad week and that she's not an animal abuser "in any way, shape, or form."
• Houts did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A YouTuber inadvertently uploaded the unedited version of a video to her channel that showed her hitting and appearing to spit on her dog.

Brooke Houts has since deleted the video from her channel, but YouTube users were quick to spot and upload their own versions online. In the video, Houts is seen on at least three separate occasions screaming at and smacking her dog after he playfully jumps up on her while she's trying to film the YouTube video.

Houts, who has just over 300,000 subscribers on YouTube, often uploads content to her channel featuring her dog, a Doberman named Sphinx. The most recent video was an attempt at a popular pet prank, dubbed the "invisible challenge," where owners put up plastic wrap in the frame of a doorway and see how their animals react to it.

In one clip from the video, the dog jumps on Houts while she's filming for the video. In turn, Houts holds down the dog, yells "stop" at him, and appears to spit on him just out of frame of the camera — although Houts has said she didn't do that.

Houts has since issued an apology on Twitter to "anyone who has been effected negatively by the footage." In an extensive statement written in the iPhone Notes app, Houts wrote that she had been having a "less than exceptional" week, and said she was showing him "as a dog parent" that his behavior was unacceptable.

"I am not going to play the 'victim card' or anything of that sort, but I do want to point out that I am rarely as upset as what was shown in the footage," Houts wrote on Twitter. "Anyone who knows me personally know I have an immense love for animals, including my own ... He was not hurt, nor has he ever been purposefully hurt by me."

Many of the 31,000 users who have commented on Houts' apology tweet have called on the dog to be taken out of Houts' care. YouTuber Ethan Klein, who runs the comedy channel H3H3 productions, volunteered on Twitter to adopt the dog at "any price."

SEE ALSO: How Logan Paul went from making videos in his backyard to becoming a 24-year-old millionaire and one of the most controversial stars on YouTube

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Why Apple's Mac Pro 'trash can' was a colossal failure

• Almost all men use some form of heat to make shaving easier and reduce irritation. Hot towels, running blades under hot water, and shaving in the shower are some of the most common techniques.
• Gillette developed a $200 razor that delivers heat directly to your face while you're shaving. It has 5 blades, a warming bar with two heat settings, and FlexDisc technology to contour your face and neck. 
• I usually prefer to shave with clippers or an electric razor, but I put the GilletteLabs Heated Razor to the test to see if it's worth the hype and the steep price tag — and it worked remarkably well.

From advanced face-contouring systems and multi-blade razors to soothing balms and moisturizing aftershaves, grooming companies are constantly working to come up with products that make shaving a more pleasant and comfortable experience. 

But one thing that almost all guys can agree on is that the most important thing to stave off irritation is heat. Hot towels, running blades under hot water, and shaving in the shower are just some of the tricks that help.

To make things easier on us, Gillette introduced the world's first heated razor, which brings a warming sensation right to your face.

The GilletteLabs Heated Razor is a state-of-the-art device — and it better be for $200. It features five blades for a close shave, FlexDisc technology to contour to your face and neck, and most notably, an Intelligent Heat Control System. Located directly underneath the five-blade system is a warming bar that delivers the sensation of a hot towel in every stroke of the blade. 

Designed with a high level of craftsmanship, The razor handle is made from high-grade aluminum zinc, so it feels substantial in-hand and never rusts. It also comes with a magnetic wireless charging base that almost gives the illusion of the razor floating while it's charging. Everything that goes into it equates to a $200 razor.

How it works and what it feels like to use

The first step to using the GilletteLabs Heated Razor is to set it on the charger. It takes 60 minutes to fully charge, but you can get up to six shaves on a single charge. Once you're ready to shave, simply turn it on and shave as you normally would. The warming bar heats up almost immediately, so you won't have to wait to begin. You can adjust the heat level by holding down the power button until the light indicator changes colors. The standard high-heat setting makes the lights glow in a darker reddish-orange color, while the lower heat setting glows in a pale orange color. I tried both settings and personally liked the high-heat setting better.

The heat makes every stroke comfortable and smooth. I didn't feel like I was tugging at my hair or scraping my skin, and even after my face was shaved smooth, I was tempted to do extra passes because the heat was so satisfying. I also really appreciate that Gillette designed the razor to be waterproof. You can run the blade under water without hesitation or take it in the shower if that's your preference. 

Immediately after I shaved, I was happy with the results. My face was smooth and free of any cuts. Over the next couple days, I didn't get any razor bumps as my hair started to grow back in. In my past experiences, it didn't matter what brand of razor I used or what type of preparation I did before shaving, I'd end up with bad razor bumps, which every guy knows to be uncomfortable and not a good look.

Bottom line

In short, the GilletteLabs Heated Razor is no gimmick. The heated technology makes a huge difference in comfort during and after a shave. And, although I've consistently opted for electric shaver or clippers for my grooming, the GilletteLabs Heated Razor is the exception to my rule. It's precise, easy and enjoyable to use, and as an added bonus, it looks cool.

GilletteLabs Heated Razor, $200

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• Roger Federer remains an elite competitor at the highest echelons of world tennis.
• But to stay on top of his game at 38 years old, he has to eat right.
• For Federer, that means cheese.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Roger Federer remains a fierce competitor at the highest echelons of world tennis.

He has 20 Grand Slam titles on his record, and he shows no real signs of slowing down.

Read more: One moment in Roger Federer's first clay match in 3 years shows how wrong he was to fear his return to the soft surface

As he turns 38 on Thursday, Federer continues to marvel on the courts. But to maintain his sporting dominance, he has to eat right. So what sort of food does the face of tennis eat?

Here's everything Federer likes to have for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

SEE ALSO: People are asking who would win in a match between Roger Federer and Serena Williams — and the winner is clear

DON'T MISS: This is the one record Roger Federer has set that future tennis players will struggle to beat

This is 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer, who is widely considered as the best male tennis player of all time.

To start his day, Federer prefers to go sweet rather than savoury and reportedly enjoys homemade waffles with a fresh fruit compote on the morning of a match.

Source: The Guardian

To wash the waffles down, Federer has fresh juice, coffee, and a vinegar shot.

Source: The Guardian

Before tennis, Federer will eat a plate of pasta. "Two hours before every match, I eat pasta with light sauce … I have been doing it for 20 years."

Source: International Business Times

In between practice sessions or competition matches, Federer is no stranger to snack bars.

He also eats bananas, which are a good source of carbohydrate and potassium. When tennis players contest long matches, their energy levels may lull and they may succumb to cramp if they lose too much potassium. Bananas help players like Federer refuel.

Source: BBC

However, research suggests that energy drinks may be a superior way of replenishing an athlete's body during competition. This is because the body absorbs liquids quicker than solid foods, like a banana.

Source: BBC

When Federer goes out for dinner, variety is clearly the spice of life. "I am a lover of Italian, Japanese, and Indian restaurants," he said recently.

Source: International Business Times

He even likes to take selfies with his naan bread.

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Source: Instagram

It's not all health foods, though. Federer does have a sweet tooth and can't resist ice cream. "I like my ice cream, I like my chocolate," he said in 2017. "That’s my diet. I like my treats. I don’t feel bad about it. I can do it and play tennis at the same time."

Source: News

Being Swiss, he is no stranger to cheeses and likes to eat fonduta, a dish that combines milk, cream, cheese, and egg yolk. He also has raclette (pictured), a cheese that's melted and scraped onto a plate.

Source: International Business Times

Federer has also tried local delicacies in other countries, including Scotland. He once received Irn-Bru and a tin of shortbread biscuits made especially by Andy Murray's grandmother.

Source: Twitter

One thing Federer doesn't eat is wombat meat. It was an allegation he denied during a bizarre interview conducted by Will Ferrell, who channeled Ron Bergundy, his character in the hit comedy movie "Anchorman," at the 2018 Australian Open.

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Source: Australian Open TV

Federer drinks alcohol if he is celebrating success. He may look dapper here in his tuxedo and his glass of Champagne, but sometimes he doesn't just have one glass and suffered a "head-ringing" hangover when he mixed his drinks until 5 a.m., the morning after his eighth Wimbledon title, in 2017.

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Happy new year from Perth everyone, 2017 was unreal. 2018 here we come.
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Source: Twitter and Business Insider

Sometimes there's not a trophy big enough for Federer's Champagne diet ...

But that doesn't seem to be holding him back.

• Roger Federer, now 38, is still winning trophies.
• The tennis star won his first Grand Slam at Wimbledon in 2003 — his first of a record 20 Grand Slam singles titles.
• He's also the richest tennis player in the world, with an estimated net worth of $450 million.
• While Federer's competition winnings are significant, the majority of his earnings come from lucrative sponsorship deals with the likes of Rolex, Mercedes, and Uniqlo.
• Read on to find out how he spends his enormous wealth.
• Visit Business Insider's home page for more stories.

SEE ALSO: Everything tennis icon Roger Federer eats and drinks for breakfast, lunch, and dinner

This is 38-year-old Roger Federer, the richest tennis player in the world. He has an estimated net worth of $450 million.

Source: Celebrity Net Worth.

Federer has been a force to be reckoned with on the hard courts this year, winning the Dubai Championships, the Miami Open, and reaching the final of Indian Wells. He's risen from seventh in February back up to third in the ATP world rankings.

Source: ATP.

He's not too interested in his current ranking, though.

"For me, the ranking, at 37 years old, is no longer really the priority," Federer said at a media event earlier this year. Instead, he's focusing on his health and winning the big tournaments, which might mean skipping smaller events here and there.

His success trails back to the age of eight, when he started playing tennis. Born in Basel, Switzerland, on August 8, 1981, his Swiss father, Robert Federer, and South African mother, Lynette Du Rand, encouraged him to play from an early age.

At 14, Federer became the national junior champion in Switzerland. He joined the junior tennis circuit in 1996, and won the junior Wimbledon title in 1998. In this photo, from Wimbledon 2000, he is 19 years old.

Source: Biography.com

Federer's big break came in 2003, when he won his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon against runner-up Mark Philippousis. He was just 21 at the time. He received £575,000 ($714,460) for his victory.

One year later, he signed a sponsorship deal with watchmaker Maurice Lacroix. Later, Rolex struck an endorsement deal with Federer worth a reported $15 million. Here he is wearing an impossible-to-find, $14,000 Rolex Sky-Dweller back in 2018. Perks of being an ambassador.

The majority of his income is thanks to endorsement deals and partnerships, which he is known for across the globe. He's won $3 million in prize money from tennis tournaments in 2019, bringing his career total prize winnings to more than $123 million.

Sources: Forbes, ATP.

In 2007, he was signed by Gillette, starring in a number of adverts for the company.

Glen Gabriel/Youtube

In 2008, Federer signed a 10-year sponsorship deal with Nike worth almost $120 million. The partnership ended in March 2018.

Source: Forbes.

Last summer, Federer made headlines when he swapped Nike for lesser-known Uniqlo in a 10-year deal estimated to be worth $300 million. The deal with the Japanese brand had been "a long time coming," Federer said at Wimbledon 2018.

Read more: Roger Federer's new sponsorship deal is reportedly worth $300 million as he replaces Nike with a lesser-known brand

In a recent Uniqlo ad, Federer tried his hand at the piano, and said he'd like to practice more so he can surprise his wife.

Watch the video here.

In 2009, Federer signed another 10-year contract, this time with Credit Suisse. The firm declined to comment on the contract's value at the time, but it's thought to be worth around $20 million.

The player is also known for his charity work. He founded the Roger Federer Foundation in 2003, which has since raised $40 million and recently hit its goal of educating one million children in Africa by the end of 2018. He still finds time to visit children who benefit from his charity.

Source: Forbes, Tennis World USA.

As a dedicated athlete, he spends a lot of money on his equipment. He has his rackets made by P1, a company which also counts Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray as clients.

Source: The New Yorker.

He likes the finer things in life, too. In 2014, Federer completed the construction of a modern-looking mansion on Lake Zurich worth around $8.1 million.

Thanks to his role as a brand ambassador for Mercedes-Benz, Federer also has a large car collection. He partnered with the German auto-maker in 2008, and renewed the deal in 2018. The multiyear partnership is estimated to earn the tennis star $5 million a year.

When he's not on the court, Federer is a keen hiker. Last year, he appeared on "Running Wild with Bear Grylls." "Just slightly upset that he beat me at mini ping-pong on the top of the cliff face," Grylls said.

Source: Tennis World USA.

That's not to say the athlete doesn't like to party in his downtime. He's an ambassador for Moet & Chandon Champagne, which recently released a limited-edition bottle to mark his 20th year in professional tennis. The 20 bottles sold for $23,000 a pop — but all the proceeds went to the Roger Federer Foundation.

Source: Adweek.

After winning his eighth Wimbledon title in 2017, Federer complained of a "head-ringing" hangover the day after. "[I] got to bed at 5 a.m., then woke up, and just didn’t feel good. The last hour or so I’m somewhat okay again. I'm happy with that."

Source: Business Insider.

When Federer goes out for dinner, variety is clearly the spice of life. "I am a lover of Italian, Japanese, and Indian restaurants," he said recently.

Source: International Business Times.

Some of his fortune also went on his wedding to former professional tennis player Mirka Vavrinec in Basel, Switzerland. They had their first kiss at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, and got married in 2009.

Source: Telegraph, MailOnline.

They have two sets of twins together. Daughters Charleyne Riva and Myla Rose are 10, while sons Lenny and Leo are five.

His wife is his source of fashion advice. "I used to wear jogging shoes, jeans and a practice shirt, then when Mirka met me, she would look and go, 'Errr, are you sure about this look?'"

Source: GQ.

Federer's worst fashion mistake came when he won Wimbledon in 2007.

"I went to receive the trophy, and as I walk down I'm a bit nervous, and as I put my hands in my pockets I realise that the pockets are going backwards," he said. "I was like: 'It's too late! I can't change them anymore!' I lifted the trophy, and the pants were on backwards."

If you look closely in this picture you can see that his trousers are on back-to-front.

As he celebrates his 38th birthday on Thursday August 8, Federer has taken some time to consider his retirement. He recently told a Swiss newspaper that he has bought "an old bus from the 60s," which he plans to drive around Europe once he has some spare time.

Read more: Roger Federer says he bought an old bus and plans to drive it around Europe when he retires from tennis

This is an updated version of a post originally written by Edith Hancock published on January 31, 2017.

• A team of scientists has created vodka from rye grain grown within the Chernobyl exclusion zone.
• "Atomik" vodka is the first consumer product to be made within the exclusion zone.
• Professor Jim Smith from the University of Portsmouth in the UK and a team of researchers made vodka because the distillation process removes radioactive impurities.
• "This is no more radioactive than any other vodka," Smith told the BBC.
• 75% of the profits will go back to communities affected by the disaster.
• So far, only one bottle of Atomik vodka exists, but the team are hoping to release 500 bottles this year
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Has the craft spirit revolution finally gone too far?

On Thursday, a team of scientists announced the release of their first bottle of artisan vodka made from water and grain grown near the site of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986.

They called it Atomik vodka, and it's the first consumer product to be made within the exclusion zone of the nuclear reactor.

Read more:Why a master gin distiller always takes the garnish out of his drink before he sips it

Professor Jim Smith and a team of researchers from the UK and Ukraine grew rye crops within the exclusion zone where public access and inhabitation is restricted due to the dangerous levels of radiation still present.

During testing, Smith and his team found a radioactive isotope present in the grain, strontium-90, which exceeded the levels of radiation allowed in goods by Ukrainian authorities.

However, this vodka is unlikely to give you superpowers (or crippling illnesses) as the distillation process removes any radioactive impurities.

"This is no more radioactive than any other vodka," Smith said in conversation with the BBC.

"Any chemist will tell you, when you distill something, impurities stay in the waste product.

"So we took rye that was slightly contaminated and water from the Chernobyl aquifer and we distilled it. We asked our friends at Southampton University, who have an amazing radio-analytical laboratory, to see if they could find any radioactivity. [And] they couldn't find anything — everything was below their limit of detection."

Smith described Atomik vodka as "possibly the most important bottle of spirit in the world" in a press release because of its implications to the communities living around the main exclusion zone.

The vodka will be sold under the newly-created social enterprise Chernobyl Spirit Company, which will return 75% of its profits to the affected community.

While radiological conditions in the area are recovering, the social and economic development for the people living there has remained stunted.

"There are radiation hotspots [in the exclusion zone] but for the most part contamination is lower than you'd find in other parts of the world with relatively high natural background radiation," Smith told the BBC.

"The problem for most people who live there is they don't have the proper diet, good health services, jobs or investment.

"Now, after 30 years, I think the most important thing in the area is actually economic development, not the radioactivity."

"We don't have to just abandon the land," Dr Gennady Laptev, a Ukrainian scientist and fellow founding member of the Chernobyl Spirit Company, told the BBC. "We can use it in diverse ways and we can produce something that will be totally clean from the radioactivity."

The BBC was able to take a sample of the product to bartender Sam Armeye, from London's Bar Swift, who said that the vodka could be served in a martini or mixed with Champagne.

"It's more of a grain spirit than a vodka, so it has much more fruity notes — you can still taste the rye," Armeye said.

According to a statement from the University of Portsmouth, Atomik vodka still has some legal hurdles to clear before production can properly begin, but they are hoping to release 500 bottles this year, selling initially to the tourists visiting the exclusion zone.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Animated map shows where American accents came from

• I don't like dealing with complicated tech or specs.
• But I do really like these simple, affordable wireless headphones by RHA that cost $89.99 on Amazon.
• They sound just as good as my in-ear Bose SoundSports, and come with volume controls and a built-in microphone, too.
• One year update: I still use these headphones every day for my commute and workouts. They've held up extremely well, continue to pair seamlessly via Bluetooth, and the sound quality still impresses me every time I use them.

I am pretty bad with tech. It's not that I don't know how to use it, it's just that I'm impatient; I hate setting up new gadgets, and I feel intimidated by all the language used to describe them. You'll never get me exited by talking about LED zones or OLED displays or any kinds of bits or bytes because I honestly have no idea what any of that means. 

So when I find a tech product that's affordable, relatively uncomplicated, and easy to incorporate into everyday use, I feel the need to share it. Such is the case with this pair of $90 MA650 headphones from RHA. 

This is the first wireless pair I've owned, and they've been extremely kind to me so far. It wasn't until I started using them that I realized how much of a pain it was to be physically tethered to my computer all day. (However, if you do appreciate wired headphones, RHA recently came out with a $60 wired version of these with an Apple-compatible Lightning connector that can be pre-ordered now.)

The setup for the MA650 is super easy, only requiring you to charge the headphones, turn them on, and discover them via Bluetooth on whatever device you're using. Once paired, you shouldn't have an issue connecting them. A year later and I haven't experienced a single Bluetooth-related issue.

The battery lasts a full 12 hours of use, which is pretty solid for wireless headphones, and there's a built-in voice notification for when it's running low and needs to be charged. Each pair also comes with a set of eight earbud styles you can swap around depending on the size and shape you prefer, which is something my tiny ears appreciate very much. 

The flexible, sweat-proof rubber build is super comfortable, and the built-in remote and microphones work like a dream. The only annoyance is that it strains my eyes a bit to see the controls since they're pretty close to my face, but the more I use the headphones and get a feel for where all the buttons are, the less I need to look at it to make sure I'm pressing the right thing. 

RHA offers two versions of their wireless headphones: the MA650 ($90) and the MA750 ($167.31). I've been using the MA650, but the advantage to the MA750 is the added feature of digital assistant control (which I don't particularly need for an additional $65). Also, I'm sure there's some sort of sound quality difference, but I haven't tested the MA750s so I can't speak knowledgeably about it. 

The pair I usually use is the Bose in-ear SoundSports, which costs $99 and has excellent quality audio. The wireless MA650 is at a similar level, but the noise-isolating capacity gives it a leg up. Sometimes I have no idea that one of my coworkers is trying to talk to me until they frantically wave their hands around to get my attention — which, depending on how much you like your coworkers, could be both a pro and a con (for the record, I love my coworkers, and I try to keep the volume pretty low now so I'm never completely sealed in my own world). 

All in all, I'm just here to tell you that I really like these headphones. They're affordable, high-quality, wireless, and extremely comfortable. The sound competes with my Bose pair, and though not completely mind-blowing, it's pretty solid for small in-ear buds. If you're not super tech-savvy, or even if you're just looking for a good pair of wireless headphones, these are my personal recommendation. 

RHA MA650 Wireless Headphones, available on Amazon, $89.99

SEE ALSO: I no longer have to worry about my Wi-Fi speeds now that I have this blazing-fast $155 router

Join the conversation about this story »

• On a recent trip to Russia, I spent 50 hours riding the Trans-Siberian Railway across more than 2,000 miles and four time zones in Russia.
• It was the experience of a lifetime, but there are a few things I wish I'd known before my journey.
• I wish I would've chosen my route more carefully, made some stopovers, and brought a better variety of snacks and entertainment. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

At 5,772 miles (9,289 kilometers), the Trans-Siberian Railway is the longest railway line in the world, connecting Moscow to Vladivostok in far Eastern Russia.

On a recent trip to Russia, I spent 50 hours riding the legendary Trans-Siberian Railway across more than 2,000 miles and four time zones in Russia.

Read more:I rode the legendary Trans-Siberian Railway on a 2,000-mile journey across four time zones in Russia. Here's what it was like spending 50 hours on the longest train line in the world.

I got on the train in Novosibirsk, the third-largest city in Siberia, and rode it all the way to Moscow. I had to deal with not showering or changing clothes for more than two days, entertaining myself without cell service or Wi-Fi, a cramped bathroom, mediocre food, and a snoring compartment mate.

But it was the experience of a lifetime, and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. There are, however, a few things I wish I'd known before embarking on my journey.

Here are my top six tips for riding the Trans-Siberian Railway.

1. Do some research on which route will be most interesting to you.

I wish I had done more research on the stretch of railway I'd be traveling.

I only knew that I didn't have time to ride the entire thing, and as I was already in Siberia, leaving from Novosibirsk back to Moscow made the most sense from a logistical perspective.

Next time, I would try to choose a route with more varied scenery. While the views were beautiful, the flat landscapes of green fields and forests got a little monotonous after a while.

I longed to see some mountains or more varied landscape, and apparently, I missed my one chance to do so. One afternoon, our train passed through the Ural Mountains. One of my Australian compartment mates told me the scenery was stunning and reminded her of Switzerland.

Unfortunately, at that time, I was napping. 

So if you're not riding the entire line, I'd recommend doing a little research on the different stretches of railway and how they correspond to what you'd like to see.

2. Make some stops along the way.

Fifty hours on a train is a long time. But it wasn't until I was about 15 minutes into my train journey and already bored of my snacks and reading material that I realized just how long it really is.

And a week — which is about how long it takes to ride the whole thing nonstop— would really be a long time to spend on a train.

If you're riding for a significant length of time, I'd suggest breaking up your journey with some short stays in cities or towns along the way. 

Lake Baikal, off the Irkutsk stop, is a popular destination, and I heard Yekaterinburg (which I passed through) is a beautiful city. The Culture Trip compiled a list of the 10 most beautiful stops on the Trans-Siberian Railway.

Hopping off the train for a night or two here and there would add some variety to your trip, and you'd get to experience more of Russia than you would from the train window.

3. Travel with a friend.

I cannot stress enough that the hours you spend on the Trans-Siberian can sometimes go by very slowly.

I was traveling for work so this wasn't an option for me, but I'd recommend riding the Trans-Siberian with a friend rather than alone.

While I often enjoy traveling alone, I kept thinking about how nice if it would be if I had a friend to talk to, eat with, perhaps play card games with, and someone to watch my things if I felt like leaving the compartment for an extended period of time. Fortunately, I felt like all of my compartment mates were pretty trustworthy.

Even better, if you had four friends, you could book an entire compartment to have to yourselves. The only downside of this would be that you'd have to make more of an effort to talk to locals traveling on the train, if you're into that.

4. Bring books and other entertainment, because there will be no Wi-Fi and very little cell service.

There's no Wi-Fi on Trans-Siberian trains, and I found that I only had cell service when the train made a stop, which was sometimes only for two or three minutes at a time.

There are, however, power outlets on the train, so you have the option of watching movies or TV shows that you've previously downloaded. 

I kept myself entertained with a good old-fashioned book, but I did sometimes wish I had some other options.

5. Don't worry about packing all the drinking water you'll need.

I didn't discover until the last few hours of my trip that there was drinkable water on board. Instead, I spent 40-something hours rationing the three liters of bottled water I'd brought, worried that I'd run out.

It turned out that in addition to the samovar (hot water kettle) that I used to make cup after cup of tea, my train car had a faucet near the attendant's cabin that provided drinking water so I could fill up my water bottles.

However, I've read some reports that not all trains have this faucet for drinking water, and that the water may run out. Either way, there is also bottled water available to purchase from the attendant, as well as from train station vendors at stops along the way.

6. Choose your snacks wisely. 

I found the food served on the train to be mediocre, so I was glad I'd packed my own snacks for the journey. I brought tea, dried noodles, granola bars, chocolate, and some fruit-and-vegetable baby food.

But I got sick of these things far more quickly than I'd expected — as in, probably within the first few hours.

An Australian couple I shared my compartment with for the later part of my journey brought fresh fruit as well as meat, cheese, and bread to make sandwiches. My granola bars and dried noodles seemed pretty boring in comparison, and I was quickly craving "real food."

While snack choice is very personal, I'd recommend bringing a variety of options that won't spoil quickly.

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• I use a $14 copper tongue scraper every morning. 
• Tongue scrapers remove bacteria buildup on your tongue for better oral hygiene. Mainly, it means better breath. 
• Despite the fact that it sounds completely made-up, it's a pretty common practice. 

It might seem odd, but I spend about 30 seconds every morning standing in front of my bathroom mirror, scraping my tongue with a $14 copper wishbone.

It's called a tongue scraper, and its primary purpose on Earth is to remove the bacteria on top of tongues that account for as much as 80% of bad breath. It's also supposed to return tongues to their more aesthetically pleasing soft pink, and, in the long term, strengthen overall oral health by keeping the armies of pathogens in the mouth at bay. 

While most of us are probably used to haphazardly pressing our toothbrush into the service of cleaning our tongues, toothbrushes are specifically designed to clean hard surfaces — like teeth — and not the soft muscle of the tongue. For that, you need something more rigid — like a copper tongue scraper — to literally scrape against its flexible top. But, beyond that, I found the idea of brushing bacteria into and around my tongue like a car wash, and undoubtedly onto the bristles of my toothbrush, prohibitively gross on its own. 

After a friend recommended this copper tongue scraper repeatedly, I bought one. (Yes, someone loved this enough to mention a fairly gross ritual to me publicly, multiple times). Ever since, I feel a little queasy when thinking about how many years I went without it. Flossing and brushing are impactful, but once I started using a tongue scraper, it was immediately evident just how much I was missing.

I use the tongue scraper in the morning before I brush my teeth so I have the lowest odds of ingesting any of the natural buildup. To use, you scrape your tongue from back closest to your throat to the front, and then rinse your tool in warm water. Pretty much instantly, I noticed a difference: better color (who knew?) and more confidence throughout the day. While research is limited on the effectiveness of tongue scrapers, what has been published describes it as temporarily effective, though not a fix for ongoing, chronic halitosis. 

You can pick up much cheaper options from Amazon, like this $7 version that inspired more than 1,000 people to sit down and write it a five-star review, but I went with the $14 copper version from Neiman Marcus for a few reasons. 

1. Copper is antibacterial. I didn't want to simply relocate the bacteria from my mouth to somewhere else. I wanted to get rid of it.
2. It looks nice, and if a tool for a relatively gross job can look nice, I've learned it often leads to me using it more frequently.
3. It comes with a small, simple traveling pouch so you can keep up with the practice on the road, and do so without stuffing a tongue scraper into a plastic Ziploc bag — the fastest way to lose your appetite for using it ever again.
4. At the end of the day, $7 more for something I don't mind being on-view in my apartment is $7 worth spending on building a habit. 

All in all, a $7 or $14 tongue scraper is not an essential purchase, but it is a relatively cheap and high-impact way to do away with anxiety over oral hygiene or bad breath hours after you've brushed at home. I bought one months ago, and it's quickly become a daily ritual. 

Black Chicken Remedies Cuprum Tongue Cleaner, $14

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• Former hedge-fund manager and chairman of Barney's New York Richard Perry made mistakes that led to the famed department store's financial troubles, the Wall Street Journal reported.
• Barney's New York filed for bankruptcy on August 6 and put itself up for sale, according to Reuters. 
• Perry's own hedge fund, Perry Capital, shuttered in 2016 amid growing losses, The New York Times reported at the time. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The financial troubles of famed luxury department store Barney's New York may not be just another tale of a brick and mortar retailer crushed by the rise of online shopping.

The leadership of billionaire former hedge fund manager Richard Perry may also be to blame, the Wall Street Journal reported on August 6. Perry, the former president of now-defunct hedge fund Perry Capital took control of Barneys in 2012 and Perry assumed the role of the chairman of the board. 

Perry was once considered one of the hedge fund industry's most successful investors, according to The New York Times. However, Perry closed the fund in 2016 after mounting losses cost him the trust of his investors, the Times reported at the time.

Read more: New York's iconic luxury department store chain Barneys has filed for bankruptcy

A representative for Perry did not immediately return Business Insider's request for comment.

Keep reading to learn more about the rise and fall of former hedge fund manager Richard Perry.

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Perry, 64, has an MBA from New York University's Stern School of Business, according to Forbes.

Perry also earned a Bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania, according to Forbes.

Perry is married to fashion designer Lisa Perry. Barney's sold her clothing line, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The couple owns a Manhattan penthouse, a house in the Hamptons, another house in Palm Beach, and a house in the French Riviera.

The couple's Hamptons home features a wood-paneled library and an infinity pool, according to Architectural Digest. Their house in the French Riviera is inspired by the 1960s, according to Elle Magazine.

Perry's wife Lisa wrote a book about the interiors of their homes, which she designed herself, according to Architectural Digest. 

After a stint at Goldman Sachs' risk-arbitrage desk, Perry cofounded Perry Capital in 1988 with former Harvard Management Co. portfolio manager Paul Leff.

The Manhattan-based hedge fund made successful bets against the housing market before the 2008 collapse, according to the Wall Street Journal.

At its 2007 peak, the hedge fund managed $15 billion, the Journal reported on August 6.

The following year, Forbes estimated that Perry had a net worth of $1.2 billion. 

Activist investor Carl Icahn sued Perry's hedge fund in 2004, accusing the hedge fund of manipulating share prices during Icahn's takeover battles.

The suit was valued at over $1 billion, according to the New York Times. Icahn alleged that Perry's hedge fund manipulated the boards of several companies facing acquisition, including Compaq Computer before its merger with Hewlett-Packard between 2001 and 2002, the Times reported at the time.

The lawsuit was eventually dropped, according to Forbes.

Perry Capital took control of Barneys New York in 2012.

The hedge fund invested less than $300 million in the luxury department store, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The Journal described Barney's as Perry's "passion project." However, Perry's spokesperson, Richard Edelman, told the Journal, "As Richard has done over the course of his career, he made the investment after significant diligence and determining it was a smart investment to make."

Perry served as the chairman of Barney's board, and made mistakes that contributed to the store's financial troubles, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Perry underestimated the threat e-commerce posed to Barneys, the Journal reported, and put too much emphasis on the chain's brick and mortar locations.

Perry also was unable to negotiate the department store out of a substantial rent increase, according to the Journal. 

However, Perry did close some unprofitable stores and reduce customer's shipping and returns costs during his tenure, according to the Journal. 

Perry Capital shut down in 2016, after several years of steep losses.

The hedge fund lost more than 12% of its investors' money, causing clients to pull out, according to The New York Times. While Perry Capital stopped managing money for the public, it did retain some investments — including its stake in Barneys, according to the Journal.

"The industry and market headwinds against us have been strong, and the timing for success in our positions too unpredictable," Perry wrote in a September 2016 letter announcing the closure to investors, according to The New York Times.

On August 6, 2019, Barney's filed for bankruptcy.

The retailer cited slowing sales and rising rents as the source of its financial problems, Business Insider previously reported. 

Read more: We went to Barneys' New York flagship store shortly before the retailer filed for bankruptcy. Here's what it was like.

"Like many in our industry, Barneys New York's financial position has been dramatically impacted by the challenging retail environment and rent structures that are excessively high relative to market demand," CEO Daniella Vitale said in a statement. "In response to these obstacles, the Barneys New York Board and management team have taken decisive action by entering into a court-supervised process, which will provide the Company the necessary tools to conduct a sale process, review our current leases and optimize our operations."

While the Manhattan location will remain open, Barney's will close 15 of its 22 stores and put itself up for sale.