December 26 marks the 10-year anniversary of the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, one of the largest natural disasters on record.

The tsunami killed some 230,000 people across 14 countries, wiping out entire villages in the process. Around 9,000 of those victims were tourists, visiting the resorts of Thailand, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka during the Christmas season.

The before-and-after photos below show the tremendous scope of the damage of the 2004 disaster, alongside images of the same places in 2009. In the five years following the tsunami, aid groups rebuilt more than 140,000 homes, 1,000 government buildings, and thousands of kilometers of road, according to Reuters.

Today, 10 years later, people in the region and around the world are gathering for memorial services and prayers.

Debris is strewn at a hotel near the popular Patong beach in Phuket, Thailand December 29, 2004 after a tsunami slammed the coast (top) and foreign tourists enjoy the weather at the same hotel five years after, December 10, 2009 (bottom).

An Acehnese man walks past a ship washed ashore by the tsunami in Banda Aceh December 28, 2004, and an Acehnese worker sweeping a street in front of the Hotel Medan in the same area, December 5, 2009 (bottom).

Tourists wait to be evacuated from the Phi Phi Islands, southern Thailand, December 27, 2004 after a tsunami swept through this famous tourist resort (top) and the same pier nearly five years after, December 11, 2009 (bottom).

The best movies aren't always the ones that are highly publicized.

Our friends over at crowdsourced rankings website Ranker came out with a list of the best movies you may not have seen this year. Check out these 15 movies and you'll be a film buff in no time.

15. The Imitation Game

Benedict Cumberbatch stars as British logician and cryptologist Alan Turing, who helped crack the Nazi's "enigma code" and brought the Allies to victory in World War II. Still in theaters, the movie has already received five Golden Globe nominations.

14. Whiplash

A talented jazz drummer is accepted into a prestigious music conservatory where he's willing to do anything to win the approval of the abusive yet respected professor who takes him under his wing while becoming the next drumming great.

13. Into the Woods

When a baker and his wife can't conceive, a witch promises them a child if they bring her three magic ingredients. Based on the musical by Stephen Sondheim, and adapted from the original book and film by James Lapine, this tale of witches, girls in red cloaks, and magic beans has become an enchanting classic.

12. A Most Wanted Man

In what became one of his final performances, Philip Seymour Hoffman plays a German spy who plots out a trap to catch a well-known Muslim scholar accused of helping finance terrorist operations.

11. A Walk Among the Tombstones

An ex-cop-turned-PI (Liam Neeson) agrees to help a heroin trafficker track down his wife's murderers. In the process he discovers that this is not the first time the perps have committed a crime like this, but it will be the last. Lawrence Block's bestselling novel comes to life on screen in this vengeful thriller.

10. The Raid 2: Berandal

The sequel to "The Raid: Redemption," rookie Indonesian cop Rama goes undercover to overthrow a criminal gang in Jakarta from the inside.

9. Birdman

"Birdman" stars Michael Keaton, Emma Stone, and Edward Norton. A washed-up film actor who once played the superhero Birdman tries to reinvent himself as a serious actor by taking a role in a Broadway play. Dealing also with his deadbeat daughter and method-acting co-star makes for a witty and entertaining view.

8. Million Dollar Arm

A failing sports agent heads to India to find a couple of all-star pitchers who can save his career. It's there that he finds two cricket players who, though they know nothing about baseball, can throw a mean fastball, and the agent, played by John Hamm, must help them adapt to the American game.

7. The Theory of Everything

Based on the work of Stephen Hawking, played by Eddie Redmayne, "The Theory of Everything" follows Hawking from Cambridge, where he met his wife Jane, to his devastating diagnosis, to his field-altering work in astrophysics. The real Hawking loved Redmayne's performance and even lent his own electronic voice to the film. 

6. John Wick

Keanu Reeves stars as John Wick, a former hitman who comes out of retirement to track down the men who wrecked his life after the death of his wife. Wick's quest for revenge is an adrenaline rush from start to finish.

5. Boyhood

The movie, which took 12 years to make, follows a six-year-old from childhood to puberty to adulthood as he lives through birthdays, vacations, school, and young love. Richard Linklater's beautiful story, nominated for five Golden Globes, is a heartwarming look into a typical American family as viewers watch him literally grow up on screen.

4. St. Vincent

"St. Vincent" is the movie whose success took everyone by surprise. Vincent (Bill Murray) is the retired grump who cares for the son of his next door neighbor, a single mother, while she works. Despite Vincent's love of drinking and gambling, he forms an unlikely bond with the boy.

3. Nightcrawler

A journalist desperate for work ventures into the world of chasing dangerous crimes, or "nightcrawling," in order to get stories. Jake Gyllenhaal was nominated for a Golden Globe for his role in this crime thriller.

2. Chef

Starring Jon Favreau and Sofía Vergara, "Chef" is the funny and heartwarming story of a promising chef who, along with his ex-wife, best friend, and son, tries to make a name for himself in the food truck business among the cutthroat culinary industry in LA.

1. Snowpiercer

After an ice age kills most of the global population, the only survivors, divided by class, are stuck on a train powered by a perpetual motion engine. Set in a dystopian future, "Snowpiercer" is a film about leveling the playing field and taking down the top. Starring Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton, and Octavia Spencer, this is a film that opens viewers' eyes to what might happen if global warming isn't stopped.

SEE ALSO: The 15 Highest-Grossing Movies Of 2014

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HGTV host Matt Blashaw thinks the chief appeal of a vacation home is its convenience.

"It's an easy vacation," he explains. "The point is just to go have everything set up the way you want. You know the area, and you know you're going to have fun."

The vacation may be easy, but the second mortgage probably isn't.

For that reason, Blashaw helps families on his show, "Vacation House For Free," renovate under-the-weather homes into retreats worth renting out when the family isn't in residence.

Of course, no house is actually free, but by earning money on the home when it would otherwise be vacant, homeowners can essentially get a vacation house that pays for itself.

"You're contributing to your wealth and your future," Blashaw says, "not throwing your money away on Hilton and Marriott. You're building equity in what I think is the best investment anyone can have, which is real estate. Plus, people want to have a place they can retire to, so it's a win-win."

It's not quite as easy as it sounds, especially if you've never undertaken a renovation. Here, Blashaw provides his top tips for turning your vacation home into a free home.

Buy in a popular location.

Sure, homes are cheaper in under-the-radar locations, but if no one wants to go there, no one will want to rent your house. "The idea of the house is you want to be able to find a vacation home in a place that people want to go to," explains Blashaw. "You want it to be popular. We've been to Cape Cod, Long Beach Island, Maine, the Florida Keys, Lake Tahoe."

Choose a town that's relatively easy to get to.

Bora Bora might be a great place to take a vacation, but it's a little remote for a vacation home. "The thing I've been noticing with the show is that people want to take a vacation close to home," Blashaw says, "typically within a couple hours drive. I think that's simply because trying to put a family on a plane is a nightmare."

Realize that you might not be able to use it during the high season.

Depending on your area, Blashaw says, there might be a busy season of 10-16 weeks — and you might need to rent during that time. "People have to be OK with not being there during the season," cautions Blashaw.

"You can get the most weekly rental rate and the most people desiring the property. Your vacation home isn't for free unless you have people in it!" he says. There's a bright side, however: "A lot of people who own vacation homes don't even want to be there in the high season because it's so crowded."

Scout the most popular local rentals.

Figure out what renters in the area want, so you can give it to them. "If you're looking in an area you want to buy a vacation home, go tour the house that's a really popular rental," recommends Blashaw. "What makes it so popular? Proximity to the beach or water activities? How it's decorated? The kitchen? See what they did to find out what renters in those areas want, then take those ideas and put them into your rental. Make sure you know what rents out all the time so your house will rent out all the time."

Blashaw notes that you can check listings online at sites like VRBO to see which houses tend to be booked solid, then call the property managers to schedule a tour — or even just go through their photos.

Do the math.

Your vacation home isn't free if you're not earning enough to offset the money you put into it. Blashaw recommends calculating the carrying cost, mortgage, taxes, utilities, insurance, and any other costs on an annual basis.

"Then you need to renovate and figure out how many weeks you need to rent at x dollars to have your vacation house for free," Blashaw explains.

Don't think you have to renovate the whole place.

While you might be tempted to gut the place, Blashaw recommends being mindful about your renovation and starting with the highest priority areas.

"The rule of standard suburban houses is kitchen is king, then bathrooms, then bedrooms," he says.

"In vacation rentals, I think it's a little different. Bathrooms can be overlooked as long as they're clean and fresh and functional. You need to put money in the decor in the living room, in the furniture to make it comfortable and cater to possibly multiple families with a ton of seating and dining space."

And if you're pressed for time (or money), Blashaw has one particular recommendation: "When people walk into a place, they want it to be fresh and clean," he says. "Nothing will make a space seem cleaner and fresher a than a coat of paint."

Plan to make renters' lives as easy as possible.

Once your house is in renting shape, your priority is to fill it — and that can be as easy as putting up a listing on Airbnb, VRBO, or Homeaway.

Blashaw says that by making your house a pleasure to visit, you can ensure repeat renters. "I tell people, 'If you're by the beach, make it so that your renters don't have to do anything but buy groceries and sit in the house.' Buy a beach wagon, a paddle board, give them a list of restaurants and things they can do. You want your property to be a destination for them every year just like it is for you. I know couples now who don't even have to market their properties anymore because they have ongoing rental agreements. You have to give them a reason to come back."

SEE ALSO: Here's The Salary You Have To Earn To Buy A Home In 15 Major US Cities

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Any modern gentleman or lady knows the importance of keeping a good watch.

Whether it's a shiny new gift or a sentimental hand-me-down from a relative, you'll want to find a repairman you can trust to take good care of your watch whenever it needs repairs, or even a new battery.

We turned to our friends at Yelp, who ranked watch repair shops around New York City based on user reviews, and found the best ten shops in town.

Some of the these experts have been around for years, and you might find your conversations with them as rewarding as the repair itself.

1. Star Watch Service

121 Madison Ave
Midtown East, Manhattan

Star Watch Service is a little mom-and-pop shop but their service is top notch. They'll check out your watch immediately and are often able to fix it on the spot. Or leave it with them for bigger repairs -- they'll get the job done fast for a reasonable price.

2. JWATCH Watch Repair and Service

39 W 14th St
Greenwich Village, Manhattan

JWATCH can boast candid, direct service, according to Yelp reviewer Bryan H. They're also really great about last minute walk-ins, even as the store is closing. They'll get you in and out of there in no time, and the receptionist at the front desk is reportedly very friendly.

3. Watch Station

875 3rd Ave
Midtown East, Manhattan

 Watch Station is an old-school watch repair shop with the customer care and attention to detail to match. It's located inside a newsstand in the subway entrance on 3rd Avenue. Yelp reviewer Dave P. calls repairman Boris "a superstar" and "a true watchmaker."

4. Watch Repair

70 Bayard St
Chinatown, Manhattan

Watch Repair's expert, Michael Chen, is not only talented, he's truly entertaining to watch, according to one Yelp reviewer. He'll change a battery in record time and he's courteous too. (More than one reviewer described him hanging around after closing time to do one last quick fix.)

5. Maddox Watch Co

1 Beekman St, Rm 503
Financial District, Manhattan

This is the kind of place you go to for the customer service and ambience. Mr. Maddox, described by reviewers as a kind old man, still runs the cluttered old shop. But don't be mistaken -- despite his age, he is absolutely on top of his game.

"I think I've found the nicest gentleman EVER!" wrote Yelp reviewer Ebony C. "He didn't want to charge me and that just was the sweetest thing."

6. Precision Watch Repair

20 W 47th St
Midtown West, Manhattan

No more than two people fit in this tiny midtown shop at a time, and it does get busy. But it's worth the wait -- service is "pleasant, quick, and underpriced," according to reviewer Dakota M. 

Some reviewers found repairman Mikhael a bit rough around the edges, but most agreed that he's an honest guy, and he'll repair your watch while you wait.

7. Drd Jewelry

908 Amsterdam Ave
Manhattan Valley, Manhattan

Yelp reviewers love this place for the speed and the affordability. Avoid the crowds of midtown and come here for battery changes in minutes flat (usually for $7 or less).

"Exceptional service -- owner did repairs himself, very professional & fast," wrote reviewer Julie C. "Had everything he needed, was great experience!"

8. Azena’s Jewelry

500 5th Ave
Park Slope, Brooklyn

This South Park Slope spot is a jewelry shop, but they also do watch repairs. A number of Yelp reviewers have come here for watch resizing or battery replacement services, both of which cost about $5 and take under 5 minutes.

9. Ernesto’s Jewelry of NY

2350 Broadway
Upper West Side, Manhattan

Ernesto's has mixed reviews on Yelp but some long-time Upper West Side residents swear by it. The service is friendly and prices are comparable to other shops on this list.

"This place is awesome and the only place I now go to for any watch repairs," wrote reviewer Marco G. "They are very welcoming at the store and don't rip you off like some of the other places I've been to."

10. Watch & Jewelry Repair

9618 63rd Dr
Rego Park, Queens

This Forest Hills shop is great whether you live in Queens or are willing to make the trek out there. The word most commonly used by Yelpers to describe the repairmen here is "helpful."

"Great service, friendly owner, replaced my watch battery in seconds and showed me all the functions of the watch that I didn't even know about," wrote Michael C. "Highly recommended."

SEE ALSO: Here's What The Stock Exchange Looked Like In 1893

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Thousands of banknotes worth more than 15 million HK dollars (about $1.9 million USD) scattered on one of Hong Kong's busiest roads on Christmas eve, after three cash boxes fell out of an armored van.

Produced by Devan Joseph. Video courtesy of Associated Press.

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The Internet can be a cruel, sharp-tongued place, that's true.

But it's also filled with wonderful people. And those folks have been so moved by Thomas, a kind-hearted homeless man, they are going to give him more than $103,000 — probably a lot more.

The money being raised for Thomas is still growing by leaps and bounds on Indiegogo, and the crowdsourcing campaign is only four days old. It has another 27 days left to go.

In the time it took us to write this post, it climbed from about $101,000 to over $103,000. Some 5,155 people have donated so far.

As we previously reported,  it all started on Monday when YouTube prankster star Josh Paler Lin published a video about Thomas, a homeless man, which went mega viral, racking up nearly 2 million views in about a day (now up to almost 22 million views).

Lin wanted to find out what happens if you give a homeless guy $100. He randomly chose Thomas (who nearly refused the $100 as too much money) and then secretly followed him with a camera.

Thomas went straight to a nearby liquor store. But instead of buying booze, he bought food which he proceeded to distribute to other homeless people in a nearby park, people he didn't even know.

Here he is handing bread out to another homeless person.

Lin was so moved, and shocked, that he came out of hiding, apologized for secretly filming Thomas and asked to hear his story.

It turns out that Thomas had been on the street for about four months. He had to quit his job to take care of his terminally-ill parents when insurance wouldn't cover all of their needs, he told Lin. After they both died, within weeks of each other, the condo was sold out out from under him to pay their bills and he had no job and no place to go.

"There's a lot of people that are just victims of circumstance and they didn't go homeless because they're lazy or ... it could be a divorce, one thing leads to another and the man sells his boat, his home, everything, and all of a sudden he finds out he's got no money. There's a lot of good people that are homeless," he told Lin.

We've been updating our original post with the total amount of money raised as it climbs ever higher, but this outpouring of generosity to help Thomas deserved another shout-out.

We've reached out to Lin, too, to hear how he feels.  Yesterday, when the total hit $100,000, Lin posted this comment to the campaign, "I cannot believe we almost raised $100k within only 3 days... You guys completely shocked me... I'm planning on a huge surprise for Thomas with this fund. Coming up soon! Love and thank you guys for all your support!!

Here's the video that started it all:

SEE ALSO: The Most Overpaid And Underpaid CEOs In Tech

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Ski season is upon us, and mountain resorts across the country are preparing for an influx of daredevils and thrill-seekers.

The most difficult runs in the U.S. serve up 50-degree pitches, drop-offs upwards of 30 feet, and frozen waterfalls buried under powder. Navigating them requires mental stamina and fast footwork.

Our friends at Liftopia helped us find the trails that have even the most expert skiers shaking in their boots.

Corbet's Couloir – Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Teton Village, WY

The Ride: Corbet's Couloir starts with a massive drop off a snow-covered cleft in the rock face, so you're free-falling two to nine meters, depending on the snow. If you stick the landing on the 50-degree slope, you must immediately throw all your weight forward and make a right-hand swerve to avoid smashing into a Precambrian rock.

The Couloir's upside down funnel shape opens into a super powdery 200-meter run.

Pro Tip: Some skiers panic down the chute and try to stop after landing, which is unwise at 40mph. Jackson Hole's ski coaches say, "Don't stop, stand up and ski!"

The Fingers – Squaw Valley, Olympic Valley, CA

The Ride: Squaw Valley's unofficial morning ritual is the Fingers Race, where skiers show up at the KT 22 lift at an ungodly hour and elbow their way in line to be the first to bomb the 2,000-foot vertical.

They charge from the Nose down the Fingers in mass chaos, one person after the next at 40mph. The two iconic lines on the Fingers — Main Air and Middle Knuckle — offer 40-foot flights and blind 60-degree pitches, respectively. The whole base of the mountain looks at the Fingers, so expect an audience.

Pro Tip: Avoid the center of the run, where transitions get swept away and snow sluffs expose hidden rocks.

Paradise – Mad River Glen, Fayston, VT

The Ride: This steep, sheltered run is a labyrinth of dense glades and open headwalls. It starts with a plunge off an eight-foot cliff, then morphs into a windy, super-steep trough lined with six-foot frozen waterfalls, big soft moguls, and side gullies with monstrous pockets of powder.

There's a 38-degree pitch in there that will keep you on your toes.

Pro Tip: It's easy to lose people in the trees, so try to stay cognizant of your group's whereabouts at all times. Ski blogger Troy Hawks says, "This is a classic line in every sense. If you ski in the West and think the trees there are tight, welcome to Paradise. Here there are two options. Turn now, or bust."

Adrian College in Michigan is offering up a new program called AdrianPlus, a loan repayment assistance initiative to pay all or part of a student’s loans if they are unable to secure a well-paying job post graduation. 

Produced by Devan Joseph. Video courtesy of Associated Press.

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An apartment in New York's Plaza Hotel has hit the market for an insane asking price.

Florida-based philanthropist and retired insurance tycoon Barry Kaye and his wife Carol Kaye have discounted their sprawling apartment at New York's Plaza Hotel by 30%, Curbed reports.

The third-floor apartment had been listed for a whopping $49.5 million in August. The current price is a relatively paltry $35 million.

The 3,412-square-foot pad has three bedrooms, two master bathrooms, access to the Plaza's spa and gym, and views of Central Park in every room.

The apartment was built from two former state rooms, which the Kayes bought in 2008 for $13.6 million.

The Plaza Hotel is one of New York's most iconic buildings and sits right at the foot of Central Park.

It's also the place that a lucky few call home. Barry and Carol Kaye bought two former staterooms on the third floor for $13.6 million in 2008. They are now selling the converted apartment for $35 million after knocking $15 million off the price.

The massive living room includes a 13-foot-high ceiling with a recessed coffer.

A fight erupted between ruling and opposition lawmakers in the Georgian parliament on Friday, Dec. 26. The brawl broke out when an argument over the composition of Georgian delegations in international institutions turned violent.

Produced by Devan Joseph. Video courtesy of Associated Press.

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Each year, Vanity Fair reveals its annual best dressed list.

Readers and editors vote for well-heeled actors, socialites, and CEOs to determine the top spots.

The list, which was unveiled in August, includes categories for women, men, couples, working professionals, "originals," as well as editors' picks. There were even a few inductees into the "Hall of Fame"this year.

Many familiar names made the list, such as Kate Middleton and actress Emma Watson. But there were a few surprises, chief among them the King of Bhutan who won in the "originals" category.

Since it's the end of the year, it's time to take a look back at who was the best dressed of 2014.

(HALL OF FAME 2014) Designer Karl Lagerfeld

(HALL OF FAME 2014) Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge

(HALL OF FAME 2014) Creative director and CEO of Alice and Olivia Stacey Bendet

Located in southern France, south of Arles and west of Marseille, the Camargue is a little-known region that's full of marshy wetlands teeming with wildlife.

Here, cowboys — called gardians — ride white horses on the beaches and herd black cattle, while flamingos wade in the shallow marshy waters. 

The Camargue is known for its beautiful white horses, which are considered to be one of the oldest breeds in the world.

There are no fences in this region and the horses run free along the coastline.

But they're not running wild. The horses are tended to by French cowboys called gardians. Today, there are female gardians as well.

Syria has been at war for nearly four years. The most recognizable images of the country today depict bombed-out buildings, piles of rubble, and displaced citizens.

A collection of images taken fifty years earlier by Charles W. Cushman, an avid traveler and amateur photographer, are a stark contrast.

Though Syria saw a number of coups d'etat in the 1960s and in the decades before and after, Cushman's photos of downtown Damascus in 1965 paint a more mundane picture, showing families gathering, men riding donkeys, and shoppers in bustling bazaars.

These photos are being shared with permission from the Indiana University Archives.

Two years before Cushman visited Damascus, Syria's government was overthrown in a coup d'etat.

The military then overthrew the ruling Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party in 1966, the year after Cushman's visit.

But these photos show a more mundane side of the country, giving a rare glimpse into everyday life in the capital.

Dramatic video captured a monkey reviving another monkey, which had fallen unconscious on the rail tracks of a train station in India after being electrocuted on Saturday, Dec. 20. The incident was watched by travelers at the station, some of which were filming and taking pictures of the monkeys.

Produced by Devan Joseph. Video courtesy of Associated Press.

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A Palm Beach Gardens mansion with Italian Renaissance- and French Baroque-revival details just listed for $30 million, according to Curbed Miami.

That makes it the most expensive property for sale in the neighborhood.

The home is quite ornate — it has marble floors, hand carved ceilings, and a whopping 40 chandeliers, not to mention six bedrooms and a ballroom.

The Palazzo Grande Mansion was built in 2005 to mimic the romance and luxury of a 16th Century Italian Renaissance-style villa. The land was sold to the builders of the house in 2002 for a measly $111,600.

The exterior was made with a cast-stone marble veneer. The front portico features Corinthian columns meant to emulate the east side of the Louvre in Paris.

The luxury doesn't stop as you enter the house and make your way to the kitchen. Limestone walls, cherry cabinetry, granite countertops, and the very top-of-the-line appliances, including two Sub-Zero refrigerators and two dishwashers. A Venetian-style ceiling completes the look.

Coffee, Red Bull, whatever. We drink it for energy, but is that really what it gives us?

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Mark Cuban spoke with Henry Blodget at Business Insider's IGNITION 2014. He told us how he manages to handle fame.

Edited by Devan Joseph. Special thanks to Justin Gmoser and Sam Rega.

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Iain Armitage recently sat down with Sting to talk with him about his role in the Broadway musical "The Last Ship."

The six-year-old kindergartener began reviewing Broadway shows earlier this year on his YouTube channel.

Produced by Alex Kuzoian. Video courtesy of Associated Press.

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The fun parts of winter, seeing family, the time off, is coming to a close. Now you realize you've put on an extra 5 pounds in the last few weeks, and it's such a pain dragging yourself to the gym in 20-degree weather.

And it's even worse after your workout when you have to get back out into the cold, completely drenched in sweat, to make your way home.

Let's forget all that.

Instead, make your life easier and create a minimalist home gym right in your house.

Insider Picks has put together the essentials that you'll need — without sacrificing the intensity of a regular gym.

Core Strength:

Regular sit-ups and push-ups are fine, but if you want to turn your home into a mini gym, we recommend stacking up with some of these tools. The 'Ab Carver Pro' will work your abs and arms better than regular sit-ups because you'll have to work on balancing as well.

Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro | Amazon

You can amp up ab workouts by doing them on stability balls. And bonus points: it doubles as a chair that will help with your posture.

2000lbs Anti-Burst Exercise Stability Ball | Amazon

Tone Fitness Stability Ball | Amazon

Standing on a fitness cushion disc will help work your balance and stability. Make sure to stand on it with slightly bent knees.

Waccess 13" Athletic Inflatable Balance Stability Fitness Cushion Disc | Amazon

Similar to fitness cushion disc, but these are thick and not-inflatable. Just trying doing squats on them. (Be careful not to roll your ankle.)

Black High Density Foam Rollers (36-inch) | Amazon

Black High Density Foam Rollers (6 x 12 inch) | Amazon

Muscle Building:

Kettle bells were trendy at first, but they've quickly become a workout staple. They're a must-have because they combine cardio and strength training. Just think, you won't have to die of boredom getting your cardio work out done on treadmill at the gym.

ProSource Solid Cast Iron Kettle Bell Weights | Amazon

Aside from Kettle Bells, it's good to have your average dumb bells on hand. If you're looking to tone, get a lighter weight and do more reps with them. If you're looking to build muscles, get a heavier weight and do less reps with them.

Yes4All Rubber Coated Hex Dumbbells | Amazon

SPRI Deluxe Rubber Dumbbells | Amazon

Gold's Gym 40 Pound LB Vinyl Cement Dumbbell Weight Set | Amazon

Flexibility:

Stretching is important — especially because it prevents injuries. Get yourself some stretch bands to help stretch out the tighter parts. It's a good idea to have various levels of stretchiness (more stretchy for where you're less flexible, and vice versa).

Valeo Stretch Bands | Amazon

Aylio 3 Flat Stretch Bands | Amazon

Resistance:

If you think your basic push-ups, lunges and squats are easy — these things are for you.

A fitness vest adds an extra however-many-you-want pounds to your core, which will add intensity to everything you do. We recommend going for the 20-pound if you've never used one before.

Perfect Fitness Vest, 20-pounds | Amazon

Perfect Fitness Weight Vest, 40-pounds | Amazon

Similar to the vest, except — naturally — for the ankles. Wear them while doing lunges, leg lifts, or V-sit ups for extra resistance.

All Pro Weight Adjustable Ankle Weights 10-lb pair | Amazon

Gold's Gym Adjustable Ankle Weights | Amazon

Fitness bands (also called resistance bands) are a great way to strengthen isolated muscle groups — which is something that can't be done with weight machines. Bonus: they're light and easy to take with you on business trips, so you can even work out with them in your hotel room.

SPRI Xertube Resistance Band Exercise Cords | Amazon

Perfect Fitness Bands (Extreme) 50-Pounds | Amazon

Weighted gloves aren't too heavy, so you could easily wear them during your entire work out to add a touch of resistance to any movement you do. They'll act sort of like mini-weights, and help tone your arms.

Title Boxing Strong Hands Weighted Gloves | Amazon

Cardio:

Jumping rope is an extremely underrated exercise — it's not easy, and it's great for your heart. Plus, just like the resistance bands, jump ropes are extremely portable.

Master of Muscle Jump Rope | Amazon

Valeo Deluxe Speed Rope | Amazon

Mats:

Many exercises are done on the floor — but no one wants to end a workout with bruises all over their elbows, knees and tailbone. Getting an exercise mat is a great way to protect your body.

HemingWeigh Extra Thick Foam Exercise Mat | Amazon

SPRI Exercise Mat | Amazon

Yoga has officially gone mainstream, and if you want to keep up your practice at home, you're going to need your own mat. (Plus, if you go to a yoga studio as well, just bring your own mat instead of pre-used one. Gross.)

Prosource Premium Yoga Mat | Amazon

Sivan Health and Fitness NBR Yoga Mat | Amazon

Accessories:

There's one sure-fire way to see how much (or how little) progress you've made. Invest in a scale — numbers don't lie.

Perfect Fitness Scale | Amazon

TG Mens Remedy Digital Scale | Amazon

The cooling towel is a life saver. Not only does it keep you dry, but the cooling effect will keep you from overheating during workouts. Plus, it's made of evaporative material.

Perfect cooling towel | Amazon

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