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Unboxing: The new Cheez-It Crunch'd Cheese Puffs


These two best friends started a fitness revolution for women on Instagram

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Tone It Up

Two women have inspired hundreds of thousands of women to get off their butts and start living healthy lives by working out and eating nutritious food. 

And it's all thanks to Instagram.

The best friends have started a #ToneItUp community, where they teach women how to work out and what to eat.

They also make it really fun — it's hard to not want to become friends with them when you watch their YouTube videos and Instagram uploads.

Now they have books, a show on Bravo, and have made countless appearances on television and in magazines, all while traveling all over the world to meet their fans and supporters.

Meet Karena and Katrina and the #ToneItUp community.

Meet Karena and Katrina, the founders of #ToneItUp, one of the most popular weight loss programs for women.



This is Karena.



And this is Katrina.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider






8 Mother's Day gifts that any mom would want this year [up to 63% off]

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mom working from home

Finding a good gift for your mom on Mother's Day is tough — but it's not impossible.

We've put together a list of some great ideas to help you find the right one.

Whether your mom prefers fitness or fashion, there's something for her here.


Noise-canceling headphones

noise-canceling headphonesSometimes moms just need a break from all the crazy — and these noise canceling headphones will do the trick.

Bonus points: they're lightweight and fold flat, so they won't take up too much room.

Audio-Technica noise-canceling headphones: $199.95$150.45[25% off]


An iPhone battery case

iphone charger

Whether she's a working mom or a stay-at-home mom, we guarantee that she'll appreciate a stylish phone case that gives some extra battery life.

Trianium iPhone 6 battery case: $99.95 $69.95[30% off]


A statement necklace

statement necklaceIf your mom is more fashion forward, here's a great statement necklace. 

She can wear it for virtually any occasion, from work to a fancy evening event.

Pro-tip: We recommend staying away from buying colored necklaces if you're not sure what she likes or what her style is.

Fit&Wit statement fashion necklace: $39.00$22.00[43% off]


A diaper bag that looks cool

diaper bagIf you're buying a gift for a mom who needs to carry around a diaper bag, it might as well be a chic one.

Most people would never guess that this bag is for holding baby items — and that's a good thing. 

Skip Hop Versa diaper bag: $70.00$59.50[15% off]


A (good) mother-daughter necklace

mother daughter necklaceTypically, we suggest that you steer clear of tacky mother-daughter accessories.

But this set is a different story because the necklaces work as individual pieces, too.

Kinzie Fashion sterling silver necklaces:$80.00$29.99[63% off]


A fitness tracker

fitbitIf she's always on the go, she may not have the time to properly work out at the gym.

But with a FitBit, she can keep track of how many steps she takes and monitor her fitness even on busy days.

FitBit: $99.95


A wallet that holds everything — even a smartphone

smartphone walletThis smartphone wallet is a stylish way to keep all the important things together — without taking up too much space. 

Kroo clutch wallet: $13.72

 


Membership to Amazon Mom

amazon momCribs, baby toys, and diapers all cost loads of money.

So if you have no clue what to get the new mom in your life, we guarantee that she'll appreciate an Amazon Mom membership.

For $99 per year, you get free 2-day shipping and 20% of diaper subscriptions (that saves a lot) and more. 


 

SEE ALSO: Make your own homemade bacon with 'The Original Bacon Kit'

SEE ALSO: Edward Norton just released a special edition run of the coat he wore in 'Birdman'

SEE ALSO: Unleash your inner BBQ master with these 10 grilling accessories

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 14 things you didn't know your iPhone headphones could do








I read 'Fifty Shades of Grey' with my boyfriend and it changed our relationship

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us

Let me start by explaining how this happened: My boyfriend, let's call him "Dave," and I are in a long-distance relationship. Therefore, we have to come up with activities that we can do together without actually being together.

Last month, he suggested we read a book. After discussing possible genres, then arguing over what constitutes a "good" mystery novel, I only half-jokingly suggested "Fifty Shades of Grey." After all, it was just in time for Valentine's Day and I had been seeing the seductive trailers for the film "Fifty Shades of Grey," based on the 2011 novel. I was admittedly more than a little curious.

To my surprise, Dave agreed, after a few seconds of hesitation. And here we are, more than 500 pages of mediocre plot and cringe-inducing porn later, and I must say that our relationship is better for it. Here's why:

Experts will tell you how important communication is for a healthy relationship, and while E.L. James's novel isn't the best piece of literature around, it's a classic example of a relationship gone sour because of poor communication.

As we read the book, Dave and I could objectively discuss where the main characters went wrong, who was to blame, and ultimately what they could have done to avoid the miserable situations they find themselves in by the end.

Fifty Shades Of GreyOver the course of our five-year relationship, Dave and I have had our fair share of arguments. Many of them spawned from miscommunication by one or both of us. And if you and your partner have ever fought because of some kind of miscommunication, then you know how difficult it is to see any side but your own.

Reading "Fifty Shades of Grey" gave Dave and me the unique chance to see each other's perspective on how couples should communicate.

More importantly, we were detached from the characters, thanks to their bizarre qualities and poor character development. This detachment meant that if we disagreed how one character acted or miscommunicated we could calmly discuss our opinions without getting into a heated dispute where someone's pride was left beaten on the floor.

During one memorable conversation we even managed to resolve a major misunderstanding we had early in our relationship.

About two-thirds into the story, the two main characters, Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey, have an in-depth discussion on Steele's feelings about their relationship, which at that point has escalated from just sex to semi-serious. The discussion, however, is conducted through a series of back-and-forth emails.

50ShadesofGreyCoverArtDave strongly felt a conversation like that should take place in person and did not understand why the author had it happen any other way. While I agree a topic that important should be discussed in person, the emails were a perfect example of Steele's inability to express herself when she's with Grey.

As it turns out, I sent a few angry emails to Dave during our first year together because I, too, used to struggle with communicating my emotions. (I eventually stopped when I learned those emails ruined his entire day.)

As we discussed the example in the book, I mentioned my angry emails as a way to defend both the author's choice and Steele's actions. To my surprise, Dave had thought that I was sending those emails to be a killjoy. To his surprise, I'd sent those emails to communicate.

Needless to say, I was reminded of the importance of clear communication in a relationship and it all came from a very unexpected source. Thanks, E.L. James.

 

CHECK OUT: How 'Fifty Shades of Grey' would be different if it were written for men

LEARN MORE: Science explains how to make a long-distance relationship actually work

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Learn what all the fuss is about — here's the regular guy's guide to 'Fifty Shades of Grey'








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Go inside an abandoned NASCAR race track that's been left to rot for the last 20 years

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Abandoned NASCAR speedway

North Wilkesboro Speedway, which served as a stop in NASCAR's Winston Cup Series from 1949 until September 1996, has sat abandoned for 20 years.

Aside from a brief year of activity in 2011, the speedway has been left to rot in the elements.

Photographer Seph Lawless captured the decrepitude as part of his "Autopsy of America" project. The images are gathered in his new book, "The Last Lap – North Wilkesboro Speedway."

In his new photo series, photographer Seph Lawless revealed just how far a former NASCAR track has declined.



Lawless explored the abandoned North Wilkesboro Speedway, capturing every decrepit nook and cranny.



The track has sat empty since it was closed and sold in September 1996.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider






Norway's island prison for violent criminals looks like no prison we've ever seen


There's no evidence that all the money Americans spend on college is actually worth it

6 shampoos to use if you're worried about hair loss

Beautiful drone video of epic trip across South America

Manny Pacquiao bought a Beverly Hills mansion for $12.5 million and 4 tickets to the Mayweather fight

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pacquiao house027

Manny Pacquiao had to get creative to buy his new mansion in Beverly Hills.

In addition to paying $12.5 million for the 10,000 square-foot sprawl, Pacquiao also gave the seller four tickets to his fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr., according to Martin Rogers of USA Today

Tickets are priced as high as $7,500.

Pacquiao's realtor told Rogers the tickets "no doubt" helped him get the house over two other bidders.

The seven-bedroom, eight-bath mansion has a sleek, bright interior with gorgeous backyard views overlooking Beverly Hills.

The house also has an in-home theater and a beautiful back patio with a pool and lounge area.

The house is an exclusive, gated community.



The entrance is two stories high with a fountain centered in the driveway.



The entrance with a winding staircase.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider






12 NYC restaurants Wall Street should absolutely check out this spring

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Bowery Meat Company

Spring is almost upon NYC, so, foodies, step aside, Wall Street will be coming out in full force.

Prepare for a deluge as the luckiest of them depart Miami and return home to the city that never sleeps.

Join the conversation about this story »








Tom Brady posted a Facebook video of him doing a crazy cliff dive and fans are flipping out

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Tom Brady is known for taking a risk or two and sacrificing his body on the football field. Fans love that.

But when he goes on vacation and decides to jump off a crazy high cliff just for the thrill of it? That's a little different.

Such was the case this weekend as Brady posted a video on his Facebook page. It shows Brady at first contemplating the plunge. Someone (Gisele?) asks at the top of the video, "Are you going to jump, Tom?"

Tom Brady Cliff Dive

He doesn't seem so sure.

But then Boston's favorite quarterback, and defending Super Bowl champion, gets up and takes a long look down.

Tom Brady Cliff Dive

And then — boom.

Tom Brady Cliff Dive

Needless to say, this all turned out well. At least, the dive did.

The Facebook feedback from his fans was definitely not as positive.

A Sampling:

Screenshot 2015 03 29 14.22.58

And this is just a small sample.

Here's the whole dive in its full glory:

Never doing that again! #AirBrady

Posted by Tom Brady on Saturday, March 28, 2015

SEE ALSO: The NFL banned the genius formation the Patriots fooled the NFL with in the playoffs

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Tom Brady stars in the 'Ted 2' Super Bowl spot








Doing your last-minute taxes will be less miserable with TurboTax [up to 39% off]


15 stunning entries from Smithsonian Magazine's annual photo contest

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Smithsonian Photo Contest Snake Eating Frog

Smithsonian.com has announced the finalists for its 2014 photo contest, in categories such as natural world, travel, people, Americana, altered images, and mobile.

The competition saw more than 26,000 entries this year from 93 countries. It is the 12th year of the contest.

The Smithsonian is also running a reader's-choice contest where people can vote on their favorite image.

The winners of this year's awards will be revealed on March 31.

Women sew their fishing net in a village near Vinh Hy Bay, Vietnam.



President Barack Obama in the Oval Office of the White House on October 7, 2014.



Light refracts through the curves of a breaking wave in New South Wales, Australia.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider






What it's like to ride 'the Train of Death' from Mexico to the US

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MFrankfurter_Destino_10Photographer Michelle Frankfurter had traveled to Mexico, the US-Mexico border, and Central America for years, working first as a photojournalist and then as a human-rights worker. During her travels, she heard about a particular route that hopeful migrants take to reach the United States. In 2009, she set out to follow it.

Following the path described in Sonia Nazario's award-winning book "Enrique's Journey," Frankfurter headed to southern Mexico and followed the path north. In six journeys, she rode the treacherous El Tren de la Muerte (The Train of Death), came into contact with the drug cartels, and befriended numerous migrant families, many of whom never made it to the US.

Frankfurter has shared some of her photos with us here, but you can check out the rest at her website or in her book "Destino," available now.

The first step of the journey for Frankfurter and thousands of migrants is crossing the Suchiate River between the Guatemalan border town of Tecún Umán and the Mexican town of Hidalgo in the southern state of Chiapas. Migrants ride rafts made of tractor tires across the water.

 



After crossing the river, migrants hike 150 miles on foot to avoid Mexican migration checkpoints and reach Arriaga, a city in Chiapas. Here, a Salvadoran woman feeds her 18-month-old son at a migrant shelter in Chiapas after making the trek.

 

 

 



Frankfurter began the most significant part of her journey in Arriaga. Here, most migrants catch a freight train illegally to start their trek north.

 

 

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider






Science-backed methods to make a long distance relationship work

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long distance relationship

Today, about 3 million married Americans and as many as half of US college students are in a long-distance relationship— but don't feel too bad for them.

Studies show that couples in long-distance relationships can be equally, if not more, satisfied as geographically-close couples. Not only that, long-distance couples are more likely to share meaningful thoughts and feelings, and therefore, experience a deeper sense of emotional intimacy, according to one study of 63 college students.

But not everyone can thrive in this kind of romantic commitment.

Emma Dargie, a PhD student in clinical psychology at Queen's University who has studied hundreds of long-distance daters, says that the single best advice for maintaining a healthy, long-distance relationship is communication.

"Establish the needs of each partner early on, practice working towards meeting those needs, and give feedback about which needs are still being unmet," Dargie told Business Insider in an email.

These needs can include agreeing on anything from on how often the couple communicates to how frequently they take time to see each other in person. In fact, it's important to set dates for meet ups, Dargie said. Going long distance with no end in sight can be trickier.

"Those who are certain of when they will be in the same city as their partner … seem to cope better with the distance," she said.

The hardest part

Dargie, along with a team of researchers at Queen's University, published a paper last year that compared relationship quality between long-distance couples and geographically-close couples.

long distance relationshipIn their study, the researchers gave 474 females and 243 males in long-distance relationships a series of questions on topics including intimacy, commitment, communication, and sexual satisfaction (or lack thereof). The researchers asked the same questions of 314 females and 111 males who lived near their partner.

In the end, Dargie and her colleagues found no difference in the quality of the relationship for either type of couple. Oddly enough, they found that for long-distance couples, the farther apart each partner was from the other geographically, the higher their level of satisfaction, intimacy, and communication was.

This suggests that the hardest part about long-distance relationships is not the distance itself, Dargie said.

"According to our research, it's not necessarily how far apart you are or how little you see your partners," she explained. "It's more about the discrepancy between your expectations for relationships and the reality of your current situation."

In addition to her research, Dargie is an expert on long-distance romance from personal experience. In fact, part of the reason she began researching this type of relationship is because she was in a long-distance relationship at the time.

"There was not, and still is not, a great deal of research on the topic, so my partner and we were just stumbling through as best we could. Ultimately, that relationship ended," Dargie said. "Although it would be tempting to blame the long distance for that dissolution, I now see that the relationship had just run its course."

Technology to the rescue

iphone facetime head tiltWhile long-distance relationships are nothing new and faraway lovers have historically stayed in touch via letters and phone calls, recent technology — especially the internet — means it's possible to regularly see and communicate with your partner even if you can't be with them physically.

The study of 63 couples, published in the Journal of Communication in 2013, found that digital media, like video chatting and texting, may help couples achieve healthy long-distance relationships — at least among younger daters. (The average age of research participants was 21, and the authors cautioned in the paper that "the sample of tech-savvy college students may limit the generalizability of the conclusions.")

The study analyzed 876 diary entries detailing the couples' day-to-day interactions. Roughly half of the couples were in long-distance relationships. Although the people in a long-distance did not interact as frequently throughout the day, their interactions were longer and more intimate.

"If being geographically apart is inevitable, people should not despair," Crystal Jiang, an assistant professor at City University of Hong Kong and coauthor of the paper, told the Huffington Post. "They are capable of communicating intimacy."

Some more advice

drew barrymore in going the distance movieIn any relationship, but especially in long-distance relationships, it's important to understand that your partner has a life outside of the relationship. While making time for talking and being together is crucial, it's also important to spend time with friends and family.

"There is likely little that people will be able to do in order to change their long distance status, but if they devote their time to filling their lives with good people and fun activities, that absence may feel less pronounced," Dargie told Business Insider. "Plus, that gives much more to talk about during phone and/or Skype dates!"

SEE ALSO: Here's why marriage is harder than ever

LEARN MORE: Why you should never give your partner the silent treatment

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Research Reveals Why Men Cheat, And It's Not What You Think








A man lost 50 pounds hiking 2,660 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail — and he made an awesome time-lapse video of selfies to prove it

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Imagine hiking 2,663 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail. Then imagine taking a selfie at every mile. That's what Andy Davidhazy did back in 2013, capturing a 50-pound weight loss with photos of himself.

Here's Davidhazy at the beginning of his journey.

Andy Davidhazy

He created a time-lapse video (about four minutes long) of every selfie he took during his five-month hike.

Andy Davidhazy

Davidhazy wrote about why he chose to do the hike (and why he chose to take a ton of selfies along the way) on his blog:

I did the hike for the challenge, and this was the hardest simple thing I could think of. In life I get rewarded for finding short cuts to things, being creative in the face of a challenge, problem solving, etc. But there's a lot of things I want to achieve in life, and as I've grown older I have begun to worry that they may not happen. So I wanted to test my limitations and commitment by doing something that had no short cuts. You either hike every foot of the trail (from Mexico to Canada) or you don't.

Taking a photo of myself every mile wasn't about vanity, but rather a way for me to fully commit to the whole hike. If I were to skip ahead, myself and everyone else would know it.

Here's how he started to look near the end of his trip.

Hike2

By the end, the differences between the first and the last selfies were staggering.

Andy Davidhazy

You can watch the whole video below:

 [h/t BuzzFeed]

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Selfies are evolving beyond the selfie stick








DRONE DEAL OF THE DAY: This Axis Gyro RC Quadcopter drone films as it flies [47% off]

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droneHere's the drone deal of the day.

The UDI Axis Gyro RC Quadcopter drone comes with a camera so that you can film as it flies, and we've got it today for nearly half price.

The high-capacity battery and strong power motors enable this drone to fly longer and more efficiently than your average drone.

"This is my first quad copter. I bought it because it has a built in camera, and the blades are protected making it a good first quad. I've slammed this thing against walls, down some stairs, and into bushes and it is still fine," one reviewer wrote.

UDI Axis Gyro RC quadcopter with camera: $99.99 $52.76[47% off]


 

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Join the conversation about this story »

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