Ross Franquemont is a U-2 pilot and instructor at the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, based at Beale Air Force Base, California. Fortunately for the rest of the world, he is also a great photographer.

In fact, the incredible images you can find in this post were taken by Ross during missions flown at high altitude (something around 70,000 feet) in the Dragon Lady aircraft.

If you want to learn more about the iconic spyplane click here to read our recent article or use the search button on the right hand side of the site (type U-2 and find all the stories we have published on the U-2).

Meanwhile, enjoy this unbelievable collection of photographs taken at the edge of space that Ross has allowed us to share with our readers.

SEE ALSO: We climbed into an Apache helicopter's cockpit and saw why it's one of the most difficult aircraft to fly

Here is Franquemont taking off from Beale AFB.

California as seen from the cockpit of a U-2.

Front view, heading to the San Francisco Bay.

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

The Insider Pick:

• Finding a tote bag that is not only stylish but also big enough to carry all your belongings can be tough. Our top pick is the Everlane Day Market Tote because this sleek, 100% Italian leather bag is affordable, roomy, and well crafted. 

Every working woman has lived the struggle of trying to fit everything she needs to get through the day into her handbag. Many of us even resort to carrying multiple bags full of stuff on our daily commutes.

After my last tote bag’s straps ripped — thanks to me constantly cramming more items into it than the delicate bag could hold — I set out to find a durable bag that could fit everything I could possibly need, including a 15-inch laptop.

While there are plenty of tote bags out there, it was trickier than anticipated to find a bag that was as fashionable as it was functional. But after much research and testing by the Insider Picks team, we managed to find five sturdy totes that are large enough to store anything you could imagine.

Our picks are all super stylish so you’ll want to carry them both in and outside the office. Perhaps best of all, every single one of these tote bags costs less than $300.

Whether you are looking for a tote that can charge your electronics or one that offers customization, we have a tote bag for you.

Read on in the slides below to learn why the Everlane Day Market Tote is our top pick, and why you might also like the Cuyana Oversized Carryall Tote, the Banana Republic Portofino Knotted Charging Tote, the Dagne Dover Legend Tote, and the Michael Kors Kelsey Nylon Travel Tote.

SEE ALSO: 5 work bag startups every woman should know

The best tote bag overall

Why you'll love it: If you are looking for a durable and affordable bag that can hold more than just the essentials, the Everlane Day Market Tote is your best bet. 

The Everlane Day Market Tote is a covetable bag made from 100% Italian leather, that will keep you looking polished all day long. The versatile structured bag is crafted in Florence, Italy and made to be worn with both casual and formal attire. You can choose from red, black, brown, and tan color options. 

This is the bag that I actually purchased after my extensive search, and I couldn’t be happier. I ended up on a waitlist for three months to get the Cognac color option because it sold out multiple times, but it was well worth the wait. The popularity of the tote is largely thanks to Meagan Markle, who carried it during her first appearance with Prince Harry.

I am able to fit everything I could possibly need inside of this tote. Besides the essentials like a wallet, phone, and keys, I can slip in my laptop, a sweater, and a change of shoes.

I'm not the only one who loves this tote. The Insider Picks team gave it an excellent review. It also has a 4.67-star rating on Everlane's website, with many reviewers saying they plan to purchase the bag in multiple colors. It's also quite affordable in comparison with the competition.

Pros: Durable, spacious, classic design, comes in multiple colors

Cons: Can be a waitlist for certain colors

Buy the Everlane Day Market Tote for $165 

Read our full review of the Everlane Tote on Insider Picks

The best tote bag that you can monogram

Why you'll love it: The Cuyana Oversized Carryall Tote is a durable, spacious tote that can be customized with a cute symbol or monogram.

Fashion brand Cuyana was founded with the mission to "create timeless collections for the modern woman through carefully selected fabrics, precise silhouettes, and attention to detail,” and all that focus on design shows in the Oversized Carryall Tote.

The versatile tote has a detachable strap so it can be worn as a shoulder bag, or a handbag, and is made from pebbled Argentine leather. The bag features gold hardware including a full zipper closure to ensure your belongings never fall out.

Many of the brand’s other bags have been tested and positively reviewed by the Insider Picks team, and this tote is equally great in terms of quality and style. It's a roomy, spacious tote that should hold all your essentials.

The tote comes in four different natural colors, and you can customize it with the addition of a monogram or embossed symbols like a heart, star, and four leaf clover.

Pros: Well made, zipper closure, roomy, can be personalized

Cons: The website warns darker clothing may rub off on the lighter color bags

Buy the Cuyana Oversized Carryall Tote for $265 

Read our review of Cuyana bags on Insider Picks

The best tote bag that can charge your phone

Why you'll love it: If you want a tote bag that is large enough to hold all your belongings and charge your phone, grab the Banana Republic Portofino Knotted Charging Tote.

The Banana Republic Portofino Knotted Charging Tote is a sleek Italian leather bag that is spacious enough to hold all the essentials and then some. The tote features an interior zip pocket, three card slots, and two phone pockets to help keep things organized.

But its most exciting feature has to be its ability to charge your electronics as you head out for the day. The bag comes with a 2,600mAh battery inside that you can use to charge your phone, provided you have the right cable. That's enough to charge most phones one to two times before you need to recharge the battery pack itself.

The stylish knotted bag comes in black, brown, and royal blue. While it looks quite structured in photos, one reviewer mentioned that it was “floppier” than expected but still a high-quality purchase.

Pros: Charges electronics, spacious, high-quality leather

Cons: Might not be as structured as some like

Buy the Banana Republic Portofino Knotted Charging Tote for $124.50 (originally $178.00)

• Consumers are spending hundreds of dollars on "ugly" clothes and accessories. 
• Shoppers are favoring more comfortable, practical clothing, and dressing ugly has become ironic. 
• We've rounded up some of the ugliest products to be released in the past year.

Ugly fashion is here to stay. 

The trend of dressing in ugly clothing and accessories hit its peak in 2017, and it shows no signs of slowing down in 2018.

There are two reasons for this: first, consumers are increasingly favoring comfortable clothing and shoes, which is why practical brands Birkenstock and Crocs are having a comeback. 

"It happens every several years" David Kahan, CEO of Birkenstock USA, told Fast Company back in 2016. "The planets line up and Birkenstocks become fashionable again."

Similarly, after falling out of favor around 10 years ago, Crocs' core product, the classic clog, is back in vogue. 

"The classic clog has re-emerged as our hero," Terence Reilly, Crocs' chief marketing officer, told The Washington Post. 

The second reason is that ugly products have become so ironic that they're now trendy, thanks to designer brands launching their own ugly clothing items. It's an excellent marketing ploy — these unappealing products with large price tags create a backlash and subsequent buzz on social media. 

Take a look at some of the products that best exemplify the ugly trend: 

SEE ALSO: Abercrombie & Fitch, Adidas, and Gap are resuscitating a trend that millennials have rejected for years

Balenciaga's triple-soled sneakers, $850

Don't be fooled — these are not hiking shoes. The bulky sole is purely a fashion statement, which is crafted by combining three different molds taken from running, basketball, and track shoes.

The sneakers have been worn by many celebrities, including Bella Hadid, and are now sold-out online. 

Y/Project and Ugg collaboration

Ugg boots are back in vogue. 

In January, fashion brand Y/Projects partnered with Ugg to create a thigh-high version of the boot. Since then, Rihanna and Sienna Miller have been snapped in the classic style of Ugg boots, according to Vogue. 

Ugg has been pulling out equally dubious styles on its own to progress from its classic look. A pair of limited-edition flame boots, designed with Jeremy Scott, are being sold for around $400 at different stores online.

VETEMENTS X Reebok high-top sock sneakers, $840

This is a new kind of high-top sneaker. These men's sneakers were trialed in a Hong Kong pop-up in November but are now available online. 

• Starbucks just opened its first upscale Reserve store to compete with brands like Blue Bottle Coffee and Intelligentsia. 
• Starbucks said that it plans to open 1,000 Reserve stores around the world, in addition to the Reserve bars that are already open in some existing Starbucks locations.
• The Reserve store is four times the size of a traditional Starbucks and features a full bar that serves alcohol and small plates.

Starbucks just opened the first of its 1,000 planned Reserve stores on the ground floor of the chain's headquarters in Seattle, Washington.

The Reserve store — seen as a competitor of more upscale coffee shops like Blue Bottle and Intelligentsia — includes a high-end Princi bakery, full liquor bar, coffee bar, lounge areas, and two fireplaces. The Reserve stores plan to showcase the specialty, small-lot Starbucks Reserve coffee.

According to the Seattle Times, the Reserve store is 8,100 square feet — four times the size of a typical Starbucks.  It's a more high-end experience from Starbucks, with a full bar and bakery that serve breakfast, lunch, cocktails, and appetizers.

Take a look inside the first upscale Reserve store from Starbucks:

SEE ALSO: Starbucks' former CEO says the retail real-estate crisis could be great news for the chain

The Starbucks Reserve store is meant to be more upscale than a traditional Starbucks store.

When you first walk in, you can see a colorful design made of nearly 3,700 Starbucks Reserve cards, which is meant to represent the topography of the mountains where coffee beans are grown. Each card is designed in-house and tells the story of a particular lot of coffee.

Here's a closer look at the Reserve cards that make up the design.

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

Today, many consumer brands start online in order to bypass the cost-heavy middlemen of brick-and-mortar retail models, and to retain more control over their marketing and distribution.

As we've seen from big direct-to-consumer hits like Bonobos, Everlane, and Glossier, being online-first is an effective strategy that taps into the convenience that shoppers love, while nurturing distinctive brand stories that might otherwise be lost in the sea of big-box stores.

That's not to say direct-to-consumer startups have killed brick-and-mortar stores. On the contrary, they're revitalizing them—digitally native retailers are opening up more and more physical retail locations, but with their own spins. At these stores, you can find associates who will truly go out of their way to help you shop, exclusives that you might not be able to snag online, and well-designed interiors that you'll never want to leave. 

Sometimes you just want to be able to see and feel a product before you buy it, which means brick-and-mortar stores are probably here to stay, at least in some capacity. These 18 direct-to-consumer companies have just found a better way to develop them.

Warby Parker

An early direct-to-consumer success story, try-before-you-buy glasses company Warby Parker now has over 60 retail stores across the US and two in Canada where you can browse its stylish eyeglasses and sunglasses. Select locations even offer comprehensive eye exams. 

Find a Warby Parker store near you

Shop glasses online at Warby Parker here

Allbirds

We couldn't be more comfortable walking around all day in Allbirds' merino wool runners and loungers. If you find yourself in San Francisco or NYC, you can check out and try on the full range of shoes, plus shop unique laces to match. 

Find an Allbirds store near you

Shop sneakers online at Allbirds here

Bonobos

Bonobos started out in 2007 with a pair of good-looking men's pants that really fit, but has since moved on to conquering commuter work pants,  underwear sold by waist size, shirts, activewear, and more. Its 30+ Guideshops provide elevated retail experiences that include special event appointments and complimentary style assistance. 

Find a Bonobos Guideshop near you

Shop menswear online at Bonobos here

• Actor Jim Carrey has become a political artist and activist on Twitter.
• He regularly tweets politically charged and timely artwork.
• A clear style emerged in the art back in November.

Actor Jim Carrey has gained a reputation recently for not only being something of a recluse, but for being an outspoken political artist and activist on Twitter.

Carrey has developed a passion for painting in recent years and spent time away from the spotlight to focus on his art. But in November, a particular new style from Carrey became clear on Twitter.

A drawing of former strategist to President Trump, Steve Bannon, that Carrey tweeted on November 10, 2017, appears to have set a precedent for the art that would come after it. The art features Bannon's face with the word "fool" drawn over it. That same day, Carrey tweeted a drawing of former Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore. Similar to the Bannon piece, Moore's face had the word "danger" drawn over it.

Carrey has regularly posted drawings since then, almost always inspired by current political events. His Twitter has attracted nearly 18 million followers.

On Monday, Carrey teased on Twitter that he would be "fading into the everything for a while." It gave the impression he would be taking a Twitter hiatus. (He's already boycotting Facebook because he said the social network "profited from Russian interference in our elections and they're still not doing enough to stop it.")

But on Tuesday and Wednesday, he tweeted the same image he did Monday, but with more words each time. On Tuesday, it read "If you woke up knowing," and on Wednesday it read, "You were everything that is."

We don't know what Carrey will say next, or what art he'll post, but until then, we've rounded up a selection of his politically artistic tweets since he debuted the distinct style in November.

Below is a timeline of Carrey's politically charged artwork:

SEE ALSO: Hulu's 'The Looming Tower' is a 'testosterone-fueled' political drama showing the lead-up to 9/11 — and its best-reviewed series since 'The Handmaid's Tale'

November 10, 2017

Tweet Embed:
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/928860839309819904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
I’m Steve Bannon and I endorse Roy Moore for US Senate.He stands accused of molesting a 14yr old girl,but at least he’s not a Democrat! ?8^¥ pic.twitter.com/p2ojKqVS47

November 10, 2017

Tweet Embed:
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/929063564970622976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Alabama GOP, if u can’t vote 4 Doug Jones at least don’t vote for an alleged pedophile. Do the decent thing and just stay home. ;^| pic.twitter.com/KPzIZKLj6X

November 29, 2017

Tweet Embed:
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/935914112994832389?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The GOP and WH have become sinister conclaves of souless traitors, liars and thieves - a gangrene we must remove so democracy can live. #killthebillpic.twitter.com/DzXdh68qVB

• Porsche revealed new details about the Mission E, took shots at Tesla, and laid out plans for a super-charging network.
• Stefan Weckbach, the company's head of battery electric vehicles, claimed the Mission E will perform better and more consistently than Tesla's Model S and hinted at driver-assistance features.
• Klaus Zellmer, CEO of Porsche Cars North America, said the company will install fast-chargers at its 189 dealerships and work on a network of charging stations in cities and along highways.

Porsche's first all-electric production car, the Mission E, is scheduled for release in 2019. The company revealed new details on the vehicle and its electric strategy in a recent statement. 

Stefan Weckbach, Porsche's head of battery electric vehicles, said in the statement that the Mission E will perform better than its high-end electric rivals, including Tesla's Model S, despite having less impressive specs in some areas.

Porsche's website says the Mission E can go from 0-60 mph in "less than 3.5 seconds," which means it probably won't be able to match Tesla's Model S, which can do the same in 2.5 seconds. But Weckbach said the Model S can't sustain that kind of performance, claiming it can only go 0-60 mph in under three seconds twice. 

"The third attempt will fail. The system is throttled," he said.  

Weckbach said the Mission E "will offer reproducible performance and a top speed which can be maintained for long periods."

Weckbach also hinted at driver-assistance features, like the ability to autonomously park or stop and start in traffic, and revealed that the production version of the Mission E would have to abandon the concept's use of exterior cameras rather than mirrors.

"The legislation currently in force would make it impossible to offer such a thing around the
world in a series-production vehicle," Weckbach said, and added that the production model would have "structural" and "functional" differences from the concept version without elaborating on those differences.

Klaus Zellmer, CEO of Porsche Cars North America, also said in the statement that Porsche's plans to start creating a charging infrastructure that will make the Mission E and subsequent electric vehicles more practical for consumers. The company will start by installing 800-volt fast-chargers at its 189 dealerships and plans to develop a network of fast-charging stations in cities and along highways.

The Mission E will be critical for Porsche as it seeks to challenge Tesla in the luxury EV market. Porsche announced in early February that it would double its investment in electric vehicles to $7.4 billion by 2022. If the Mission E delivers on the hype, it will bode well for Porsche's electric future.

Here's what we know about the Mission E so far.

SEE ALSO: 20 electric cars you'll see on the road by 2025

The Mission E will be Porsche's first, all-electric production vehicle.

It will boast 600 horsepower and the ability to go from 0-60 mph in less than 3.5 seconds.

The Mission E will have a range of over 300 miles per charge and the ability to get 250 miles of range from a 20-minute charge.

Debates about "best" and "worst" cities elicit strong feelings. It's a tricky issue because such debates are largely subjective.

So Business Insider attempted to use data to definitively prove which are the most exciting and most boring cities in every state across America.

To do that, we took counts of the number of establishments for 66 different types of businesses — like breweries, art dealers, and museums — that can make a city more "interesting." We sourced data from the Census Bureau's 2015 County Business Patterns program and picked the metro areas with the highest and lowest count of these businesses for our interesting and boring cities.

For example, the New York City metro area has 62 breweries, 762 art dealers, and 305 museums, based on federal data. That ended up being the "most exciting" city in New York. Elmira, the "most boring" city in New York, has two breweries, zero art dealers, and four museums. Of course, this means that bigger cities tended to rank better as "exciting" cities, but that is a trend for most lists of this nature.

The list below breaks out cities by each of the 381 Metropolitan Statistical Areas recognized by the federal government. You will see that some of the metro areas span more than one state (e.g. New York City includes Jersey City and Newark, New Jersey). We have made it clear in the slides below which metro areas span more than one state.

And two states — Rhode Island and Vermont — are not included in the list because they don't have at least two metro areas as defined by the federal government.

Read below to see the most exciting and most boring city in every state in America.

SEE ALSO: Billionaires and royals are rushing to teach their kids Mandarin

Alabama

Most Exciting

Birmingham, Hoover, Alabama

Population: 1,144,857

Most Boring

Gadsden, Alabama

Population: 102,873

Alaska

Most Exciting

Anchorage, Alaska

Population: 399,432

Most Boring

Fairbanks, Alaska

Population: 99,639

Arizona

Most Exciting

Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, Arizona

Population: 4,567,857

Most Boring

Sierra Vista-Douglas, Arizona

Population: 126,395

• Trying to budget while traveling can be frustrating.
• Grocery shopping instead of eating out and working for your accommodations can help.
• Also consider traveling to cheaper destinations and/or traveling during off-season.

Do you want to travel but are worried about how much money you'll spend on your trip? While the plane ticket alone can cut a real hole in your finances, how much you spend while on your trip can make matters much worse.

If you want to see the world but are worried that you can't afford it, there's a few things you should consider before giving up. When done the right way, travel doesn't have to break the bank.

Here are some easy ways to save money while traveling.

Buy groceries instead of eating out.

The first six weeks I lived in Australia, I bought groceries, but I also ate out way too many times a week. Cooking your own food can save you lots of money— and it's usually healthier too.

Make an effort to commit to cooking a certain amount of times per week to stay within your budget.

Stay in hostels.

Sometimes you really just want your own personal space, but trust me, if you want to save money while traveling — and make new friends — hostels are the way to go.

When I was in Southeast Asia, my hostels cost an average of $9 a night. Even in New Zealand, they're only around $20 a night.

Carry a water bottle.

This is a trick that took me far too long to get on board with. Carrying your own water bottle will save you money and help the environment, which is quite a winning combination.

I recommend investing in an insulated bottle so you can't use the excuse that your water isn't cold enough when you use your own bottle. The small extra expense will save you loads in the long run.

• When movies are nominated for Academy Awards, they immediately go down in pop culture history.
• Sometimes, the movie becomes so popular that people flock to its filming locations to try and recreate the movie magic.
• One superfan of "Call Me By Your Name"traveled around northern Italy to match stills from the movie with the real-life locations.
  

The Oscars are upon us — the awards show airs on Sunday, March 4, 2018. 

No matter what you actually thought of the films, it's hard to argue that once a movie claims the designation of "Oscar nominated," it becomes that much more famous. And it's not just the movie that gains popularity — its filming locations often become travel hotspots.

We chose 15 iconic Oscar nominees and winners throughout the years, and matched up their filming locations with what they look like in real life.

Keep reading to see how filmmakers turned a desert into Mars, or to see how one movie shut down the busiest train station in the world to stage a musical number.

Iconic musical "Moulin Rouge!" takes place in early 20th century Paris.

Baz Luhrmann's musical "Moulin Rouge!" lives on forever as one of the most romantic movies of all time. The forbidden love story of Christian, a writer, and Satine, a singer/courtesan with big dreams, was nominated for eight Oscars in 2002 and won two: Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design.

Even though the Moulin Rouge in the movie shuts down, the real Moulin Rouge is still open to the public today.

The Moulin Rouge, located on the outskirts of Paris' Montmarte neighborhood, is still relevant today — it even made an appearance on "The Bachelor" this season.

It might be an overrated tourist attraction, but it's still a must-see for fans of the musical. Be warned though, tickets are €87 ($106), so it's definitely an expensive evening activity.

"Call Me By Your Name" declares its setting as "Somewhere in northern Italy" in its first scene.

"Call Me By Your Name" tells the story of Elio and Oliver's life-changing summer romance while Oliver is helping Elio's father (a professor) with a history project. This scene of the two visiting an excavation site with Elio's father was shot in Sirmione, a town on the coast of Lake Garda.

"Call Me Be Your Name" is nominated for four Oscars this Sunday.

• Pringles, many sauces and gravies, cornbread, candies, and even some medications and dietary supplements can all be hidden sources of gluten.
• Soy sauce is usually brewed using wheat, but you can avoid it with many tamari sauces.
• Oats can be cross-contaminated with wheat, rye, and barley.
• Blue cheese may or may not be dangerous.
• Always read labels carefully if you're serious about going gluten-free.

When you first go gluten-free, you might think it's all about avoiding bread products, crackers, and pasta that isn't labeled "gluten-free." All three of those things are only the beginning, though.

Once you start to dive deeper into what it takes to keep gluten out of your daily food intake, you'll soon start to see hidden sources of gluten in places that may surprise you.

Making a lot of your own food gives you control over keeping hidden gluten off your plate. Luckily, since celiac disease and issues of gluten intolerance have become more mainstream, there are many commercially available gluten-free alternatives to products you might rely on in your pantry.

Here are eight foods you probably had no idea contained gluten — and what you can eat instead.

SEE ALSO: We compared 7 popular granola bars based on dietitians' health advice — here's how they stack up

Oats

It's true that oats by themselves do not contain gluten. However, the key is "by themselves."Commercial farms frequently grow oats and other crops together— including wheat, barley, rye, and other grains. That means cross-contamination can occur pretty much whenever the wind blows — as well as along the production line after harvest.

What to eat instead:

Oats specifically marked as "gluten-free" are grown, harvested, and processed in dedicated gluten-free facilities for anyone who has gluten sensitivities. For those with extreme sensitivities, the website Gluten Free Watchdog maintains a list of companies that voluntarily adhere to a gluten-free purity protocol with their oats.

Blue cheese and blue cheese dressing

According to registered dietitian Tricia Thompson, blue cheese is often suspect because it's a category of cheeses made using penicillium spores that may or may not have been grown on a medium — such as rye bread — that contains gluten. It's difficult to get clear answers, so the matter is one of eternal debate.

What to eat instead:

If you love the flavor of blue cheese, look for items containing it that are certified gluten free.

Pringles

You can read sad tales of former Pringles-lovers who discovered that they couldn't eat their favorite chip anymore all over the Internet. It's true: Pringles contain wheat ingredients.

What to eat instead:

Several companies have lists of chips available in the US that are gluten-free. So rest assured, you're definitely not our of chip options. Here are a few to get you started, but be sure to check the manufacturer's website of your favorite snack brand if it's not listed here:

• Utz gluten-free snacks
• Frito Lay gluten-free snacks
• Trader Joe's gluten-free snacks
• Deep River snacks (the entire line is GF)

Sam Walton founded Walmart at age 44; Julia Child published her first cookbook at 60. Your best years may be way ahead of you.

It'll depend a lot on how you spend the next decade or so — i.e. will you start saving or rack up credit-card debt? Wallow in self-pity or learn to be happy with what you have?

Over on Quora, hundreds of people have shared the best ways to spend your 30s in order to lay the foundation for success and fulfillment later on. We sifted throughthosethreads and rounded up 14 compelling responses.

Read on for the small lifestyle tweaks that will pave the way for big life achievements.

SEE ALSO: 11 things everyone should start doing in their 30s

1. Stop smoking

If you've started smoking, stop immediately, suggests Quora user Cyndi Perlman Fink.

While you can't undo the damage you may have already incurred from smoking, research suggests that those who quit before age 40 have a 90% lower mortality risk than those who continue.

2. Start going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day

It might be tempting to use the weekends to recoup your sleep debt, but Nan Waldman recommends you hit the hay and wake up around the same time every single day.

If you oversleep for even a few days, experts say you risk resetting your body clock to a different cycle, so you'll start getting tired later in the day. Avoid a lifetime of sleep issues by sticking to bedtime and wake-up routines whenever you can.

3. Start exercising regularly

"Try to move yourself as much as possible,"says Alistair Longman. "It doesn't matter if it's walking, cycling, running, weightlifting, hiking, swimming — as long as it involves some movement."

In your 30s, you start losing muscle mass, so it's especially important to exercise at this time. But remember to choose physical activities you really love, since you're less likely to continue exercising if you dislike your workouts.

• Like many grocery stores, Aldi can be very overwhelming unless you know what you're looking for.
• Pisces will enjoy Coconut Ice Cream Bars, while Gemini looking for balance will like the Dark Chocolate Covered Sea Salt Caramels.
• Scorpios have a very no-nonsense personality, so it makes sense that they would take pleasure in the straightforward Sea Salt Pita Chips. 

Ever find yourself slightly overwhelmed by all of the delicious-sounding Aldi treats at your fingertips? Same, friend. Same. During that crucial moment of indecision, we tend to grab everything in sight instead of just one box (whoops). Luckily, the stars are here to light your way … down the snack aisle. 

Aquarius: Specially Selected Cheesecake Sampler

Sure, you could reach for a good, old reliable brownie. But you’re way too spontaneous for that. These New York-style slabs, which come in triple chocolate, strawberry swirl, classic New York and caramel turtle, will shake things up.

Aldi ($9)

Pisces: Pueblo Lindo Premium Coconut Ice Cream Bars

Set aside a few minutes of alone time and savor one of these creamy-dreamy pops. For extra credit, close your eyes and imagine you’re in the Caribbean.

Aldi ($3)

Aries: SimplyNature Organic Popcorn

Let’s face it: A boss lady like you doesn’t have time for anything but the best. These morsels are nutritious (um, sort of), downright delicious and won’t weigh you down.

Aldi ($2)

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

The Insider Pick:

• One of the best things about soccer is that you only really need one thing to play the game: a ball. If you want the ball that the pros will be kicking around the pitch at the World Cup, the Adidas Telstar 18 Official Match Ball is the best soccer ball you can buy.

Soccer — or football as it's known around the world — is arguably the most loved sport on Earth. Although Americans still aren't as enamored of the sport as the rest of the world is, teams around the country are stealing hearts and minds, and Americans are getting into the game. For years, soccer has been a sport played by kids, college students, and ex-pats, but it's now being cheered in stadiums and watched on national TV.

Thankfully, we’ve come to understand what everyone else already knew: All you need to play soccer is a ball and a dream. That's why choosing the correct ball is as important as supporting the right team. So, whether you’re heading to a match, to the park, or just kicking around the streets, here’s a guide to finding your perfect soccer ball.

Our top pick is an homage to the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2018, which will be played in Russia this summer, but depending on where you’re playing soccer and with whom, our other picks are just as great for any soccer enthusiast.

Read on in the slides below to learn why the Adidas Telstar 18 Official Match Ball is our top pick and why you might also love the Select Numero 10 training ball, the Senda Vitoria Futsal, the Tachikara SS32 soft soccer ball for kids, and the Kixsports KixFriction street soccer ball.

SEE ALSO: The best golf clubs you can buy

The best soccer ball overall

Why you'll love it: The Adidas Telstar 18 Official Match Ball is what the pros will be using when they take to the pitch during the World Cup.

Crafted by Adidas, the Telstar 18 is the official ball of the FIFA World Cup. Drawing inspiration from the company’s first World Cup match ball, which debuted at the 1970 tournament in Mexico, the new ball reimagines the 12 black panels on an otherwise white design. Fun fact: the iconic original black and white ball was made that way to be more visible for black-and-white TV viewers, and it was dubbed the “star of television.”

Adidas says its design was motivated by Russia’s urban landscapes. It uses textured graphics and a metallic sheen to bring a modern look to the classic design. The ball is made of six panels of thermally bonded TPU and about 15% silicone. The materials allow for better trajectory, accuracy, responsiveness, and low water absorption. It also feels well-padded and slightly lighter than previous match balls.

The most modern feature is an embedded NFC chip, which is found on the top of the ball. If you download a free app on iOS or Android, you can personally interact with the ball's exclusive content and location-specific challenges. You’ll also be able to participate and enter competitions and World Cup-related challenges. Of course, you can record and upload your experiences for social media posterity.

Pros: Iconic updated design, light-weight, interesting digital feature for social media opportunities

Cons: Expensive for a soccer ball, only works on iOS 11, NFC chip interesting but also an obvious marketing tool

Buy the Adidas Telstar 18 Official Match Ball on Amazon for $138.75 or from Adidas for $165

The best training soccer ball

Why you'll love it: The Select Numero 10 is a budget ball made from premium latex that can be used indoors or outdoors for training sessions.

Select was the first company to create a 32-panel soccer ball, and the Denmark-based company believes its design makes for the roundest ball and truest flight. Its Numero 10 ball also complies with the regulations of FIFA International Match Standard (IMS), the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS), and the NCAA.

Select’s attention to detail can be found in the ball's handy work and composition. It comes in nine different colors, including bright orange and bright yellow, which are perfect for training in semi-darkness. The 1.5mm PU cover is hand-stitched and textured for the brighter colors, adding durability. The design also aides turf play by zeroing in on control and resistance.

The zero-wing bladder makes for responsive flight and optimal bounce, but you will need some time to break the ball in at first. Graphic detailing on its shell can also help players consider which way the ball is spinning when in flight.

Pros: Thick outer material makes it extra durable, affordable, approved for IMS, NFHS and NCAA play

Cons: Thickness of PU material can be unforgiving and needs breaking in, traditional design doesn’t offer many surprises, comes deflated

Buy the Select Numero 10 on Amazon for $25.67

The best futsal ball

Why you'll love it: The Senda Vitoria Futsal is a reasonably priced ball that's made for the South American variant of soccer.

A smaller, faster-paced variant of modern day soccer, Futsal is played indoors on basketball-sized courts with five players on each side. Though it was made popular in South America and helped players like Pele and Zico retain their fast-footed skills, the U.S. didn’t have its own Futsal league until 1981.

The Futsal ball is typically smaller, harder, and heavier, allowing for less bounce and better control on harder surfaces. Senda Athletics is the official ball partner of U.S. Youth Futsal and the Vitoria is the Official Ball of the USYF League. Accented with bright red or green and created with fair trade practices, its stamp of “Respect,” “Joy,” and “Community” expresses the company's philosophy.

The ball’s 32, DuoTech panels use a new construction of stitching and bonding of the synthetic leather, combined with a 1mm textured cover for extra durability, control, and water minimization.

A butyl rubber bladder gives the Vitoria its low bounce and extended air retention, which helps it stay closer to the ground. Its diminutive size ultimately helps players hone more technical skills by making it more difficult to control, pass, and kick.

Pros: New construction makes it more durable, synthetic core ensures maximum air retention, constructed using fair trade practices with a guarantee of no child labor

Cons: More expensive because of duo-tech, not much difference from the lower-cost Senda Rio ball, comes deflated

Buy the Senda Vitoria Futsal on Amazon for $39.99

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

Amazon Prime may be best-known for its two-day shipping perk, but it's worth subscribing for over a dozen other reasons.

Two that stand out for gamers are discounts on certain game preorders, and benefits when watching video game streams on Twitch.tv. 

I've broken down the specifics for each of those Amazon Prime perks below, and if you'd like to give them a try for yourself you can sign up for a 30-day trial here.

SEE ALSO: 22 awesome and weird things we bought using Amazon Prime

Preorder game discounts

Traditionally, people who preordered games at certain retailers would get exclusive merchandise, but an Amazon Prime subscription can save you money instead. 

Not all games are eligible for a discount, but the ones that are can be had for a pretty steep day-one discount; you can find a full list of games list here for your convenience.

If you preorder one game a month, you've pretty much paid for your annual Amazon Prime subscription, and that's without factoring in any of the other benefits you get as a subscriber. On top of that, Amazon's trade-in program lets you send in games you've completed for store credit, which you can put towards new games.

Twitch.tv perks

Twitch.tv has become the place to watch people stream video games live on the internet, and for good reason. There's always something to watch, you can follow or subscribe to your favorite streamer's channel to make sure you don't miss anything, and you can interact with the streamer through a live chat.

Although Twitch is free, the service is ad-supported, and while following a channel is free, subscribing to one costs money. The way to look at it is: Ads pay for Twitch to exist, and subscribing to channels ensures that your favorite streamer gets paid for entertaining people.

As a Prime member, you get an ad-free Twitch experience on all channels and get to subscribe to one for free, letting you help out your favorite streamer without having to pay a monthly fee. If you have been paying to support a Twitch channel, which usually costs $5 a month, the "free" subscription will pay for a good chunk of Amazon Prime's annual fee. 

Additionally, Prime members will have access to exclusive emoticons, free in-game content, the ability to change your chat color, and a member's only badge. One thing to note is that Twitch Prime (the official name for this perk) is only available in the US, Mexico, Canada, Italy, France, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Spain, Japan, Singapore, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom

Although Amazon Prime may forever be known as a way to get packages to your house very quickly, these gamer-specific benefits are pretty great. Between the preorder bonuses and Twitch perks, an Amazon Prime subscription is a must-have for avid gamers. In fact, it could actually end up saving you money over time.

Sign up for your free 30-day Amazon Prime trial

The month kicks off with the Virgo full Moon on the 1st, the first of two full Moons in March. As it combines with a Venus-Jupiter interaction on the same day, it’s a perfect time to get clear about what you want to achieve and make plans to head in that direction. The sun and Neptune connect on the 4th, boosting your imagination, inspiration and opening doors to opportunity. This energy is in the sign of Pisces, so love is also very much on the astral radar.

During the second week of March, both Mercury (on the 5th) and Venus (on the 6th) will move to Aries, with communication becoming more urgent and love more passionate. However, relationships can also experience irritable interactions during this time. Jupiter will go retrograde on the 8th for a four-month period, which will turn our attention inwards, with much soul searching.

As Mars trines Uranus on the 11th, unusual options and opportunities can be presented. Be prepared to step out of your comfort zone. When you feel a little uncomfortable, it’s a sign that things are changing in your life. Venus will square Saturn on the 13th, further adding some brutal reality to situations. But there is some softening and good fortune on the way with a Sun-Jupiter interaction and new Moon in Pisces on the 17th. Mars will enter Capricorn and fire up your ambition for the next two months.

This year the Sun will move to Aries on the 20th, the spring equinox, a great time to recheck your goals and clean out anything not working. Mercury will go retrograde on 22nd, which means it will stay in the sign of Aries through to May. Venus and Pluto will square off on the 23rd. Beware of power struggles, particularly with love and money. And a Sun-Mars square on the 24th can add more fuel to an already irritable situation. Beware what you do and say.

The month closes with Venus in the spotlight. Venus-Uranus have an unpredictable connection on the 28th. On the 31st, Venus moves to Taurus, one of the signs it rules and is at home. This is good news for love and finances. And the full Moon on the 31st is in Libra, the other sign Venus rules, signifying the start of something new and beautiful, and the letting go of something no longer needed.

ARIES: Be prepared to say goodbye to the past while you plant new seeds for the future.

This is a dynamic month for Aries! The influence of planets in your sign interacting with other planets makes this an action-filled month. As Mars moves to your career zone, an opportunity at work makes you stand up and take notice. And as Venus moves to your sign, the energy intensifies your love life. Your intuition and creative senses are heightened, which makes this a time of transformation. Mercury in your sign goes retrograde on the 22nd, making it a good time to get organized. Be prepared to say goodbye to the past while you plant new seeds for the future.  

TAURUS: A door opens, and with a new attitude on life itself, you can walk in a new direction.

Your instincts are hot this month, and you will want time just for yourself to sort out how you feel about certain situations before making final decisions. Be mindful that not all information is meant for all people, but be careful of keeping secrets from those who need to know. A breakthrough with friends can occur on some level and the support of friends is important and welcomed. A door opens, and with a new attitude on life itself, you can walk in a new direction. The full Moon sends light and attention to your love life. Pay attention to what’s happening with relationships.

GEMINI: Your career gets a positive boost this month.

You are a social person at the best of times, and with so much activity in your solar eleventh house, your popularity is off the charts. However, with Mercury going retrograde later this month, be careful of how you approach what could be a sensitive topic. Your career gets a positive boost, too. There will be opportunities for you to stand on center stage, take advantage of them. Be prepared to be your own PR manager and promote yourself. Not everyone will be on your side, but those who count, will. Passionate Mars is still in your love zone for the first half of the month creating excitement. Don’t neglect family.

More and more city dwellers are considering alternative housing options.

Co-living spaces like Common, which opened three new living facilities since the start of 2018, are providing a sleek reconfiguring of communal life.

In exchange for putting up with a group of strangers in your common space, you receive your own bedroom, a weekly cleaning service, and a regularly replenished stock of items like paper towels, toilet paper, and dish soap. 

As Common grows, it's able to offer its rooms at increasingly competitive rates by buying furnishings, supplies, and linens in bulk.

Whatever your opinion on sharing a bathroom with nine other people might be, the demand for co-living spaces shows no sign of letting up: "Right now, we're supply-constrained," said Hargreaves. "We get over 1000 applicants per week — far more demand than we can currently provide for."

Take a look inside Common's latest facility:

Common's latest living space, called Common Racine, offers the company's cheapest rooms to date in downtown Chicago: 10 rooms at $950 a piece, which includes utilities and a weekly cleaning service.

Racine is the 19th home Common has opened since its launch in 2015.

Common's founder Brad Hargreaves says he attributes the company's expansion to rising rents and an increase of young renters looking for homes in urban areas.

"Our goal at Common is to keep the good parts of living with roommates," Hargreaves told Business Insider. "The affordability, the social environments — we're trying to get rid of as many of the annoyances of communal living as we can possibly control."

Every Common bedroom comes fully furnished, which means you won't have to lug furniture from Ikea if you move to a new city.

Some people wait all year to tune into the Academy Awards, but others prefer the Oscars red carpet to the actual awards show. Although the event has a black-tie formal dress code, celebrities' outfits can be pretty hit or miss. 

Ahead of this year's ceremony on Sunday, we took a stroll down memory lane and revisited some of the worst outfits people wore to the Academy Awards. From Björk's swan dress to Kate Winslet's latex gown, we rounded up 27 mismatched, off-beat, and downright confusing ensembles that people wore on the red carpet.

In 1969, Barbra Streisand wore a sparkling pantsuit to the Academy Awards — but she didn't know it was sheer until she got there.

Streisand discovered that her outfit was see-through"when the lights hit," Vanity Fair reported.

Cher wore a cutout crop top, sheer pants, and a feathery headpiece to the Oscars in 1986.

In 2017, Cher told Vogue that she has some regrets about the outfit.

"I knew some people in the Academy didn't think that I was a serious actress," she recalled. "I always felt a bit sad that I presented Don Ameche with his Best Supporting Actor Award in that outfit. It seemed to make him a little nervous."

In 1997, Billy Bob Thorton paired a flimsy string tie with a ZZ Top baseball cap.

This was a pretty casual ensemble for the black-tie formal red carpet. 

• Hope Hicks was the youngest-ever White House communications director.

• She got her start promoting Ivanka Trump's fashion brand, before earning Donald Trump's trust and becoming a part of his inner circle.

• Hicks has recently been embroiled in a number of White House controversies.

• She announced her resignation Wednesday.

Hope Hicks was the youngest person to ever hold the position of White House communications director.

Business Insider reported she resigned from the White House role today. 

Hicks is recognized as one of President Donald Trump's inner circle, and is one of his longest-serving advisers.

She was recently embroiled in a number of White House controversies. On Tuesday, she admitted to telling "white lies" on behalf of the president, during her eight-hour testimony to the House Intelligence Committee.

Hicks was romantically linked to former White House staff secretary Rob Porter. When Porter's two ex-wives went on the record alleging that Porter had a history of domestic abuse, Hicks reportedly helped Chief of Staff John Kelly craft a statement defending him.

She was also interviewed by special counsel Robert Mueller's team regarding Russian interference in the US election.

The 29-year-old had zero experience in politics before joining the Trump campaign in 2015. The New York Times reported the Greenwich, Connecticut native was "the third generation of her family to represent a powerful but highly controversial client." Her father ran PR for a tobacco company and the NFL, while her grandfather represented Texaco during the energy crisis in the 1970s.

"My father has been a huge influence on me, starting with introducing me to lacrosse, then a career in public relations and now politics," Hicks told Lacrosse Magazine.

Here's a look back at her career:

SEE ALSO: The incredible life of rumored Tillerson replacement and CIA director Mike Pompeo, a West Point valedictorian and Trump's go-to source on North Korea

DON'T MISS: A look inside the daily life of Kellyanne Conway, the loyal Trump adviser favored to become the White House's next communications director

Growing up in Greenwich, Hicks swam, and played golf and lacrosse. At Greenwich High School, she became captain of the varsity lacrosse team, which ultimately won a state championship. She also landed modeling jobs for television commercials, Ralph Lauren, and Vogue. Ford Modeling Agency represented Hicks and her sister Marcy Grace.

Source: New York Times, NPR

Hicks dreamt of becoming an actor. The New York Times reported she even "read lines for a film role with Alec Baldwin." At the age of 13, Hicks told Greenwich Magazine she wanted to pursue acting, but could see herself in politics.

Source: New York Times, NPR

After graduating from Southern Methodist University, CNN reported Hicks landed a job at PR firm Hiltzik Strategies in 2012 after meeting founder Matthew Hiltzik at a NFL Super Bowl event. According to the New York Times, however, the interview with Hiltzik was set up after Hicks and her father met Alec Baldwin at the Super Bowl.

Source: CNN, Marist, PR Week, New York Times

Hope Hicks is President Donald Trump's 29-year-old White House communications director. But before joining Trump's 2016 campaign, she had no political experience.

Hicks was born in Greenwich, a town of 60,000 on the southwest tip of Connecticut that's a favorite spot for hedge-fund headquarters.

She was a model, actress, and lacrosse player as a child, before getting her English degree at Southern Methodist University.

Hicks didn't intend on playing such a large role in a presidential campaign, instead falling into the gig through a job at the Trump Organization.

Yet she became the youngest White House communications director in history.

And Hicks has been with Trump — to use his words — "from the beginning." White House staffers may even called her his "real daughter."

Hicks became ensnared in two high-profile White House controversies: the special counsel's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, and her role in crafting the White House's response to abuse allegations against staff secretary Rob Porter.

And on February 28, Hicks announced that she was resigning in the coming weeks. She served as Trump's fourth communications director.

Here's what we know about Hicks.

SEE ALSO: Inside the strange relationship between Trump and Hope Hicks, his right-hand woman and the youngest White House communications director in history

DON'T MISS: Hope Hicks, one of Trump's closest confidants and longest-tenured aides, is resigning

Hicks and her sister, Mary Grace, were successful teen models. Hicks posed for Ralph Lauren and appeared on the cover of "It Girl," a spin-off of the best-selling "Gossip Girl" book and TV series.

Source: New York Times

Hicks' first brush with the Trumps came in 2012 when she was at the public-relations firm Hiltzik Strategies working on Ivanka Trump's fashion line. Trump's eldest daughter hired Hicks away in 2014 and she became an employee of the Trump Organization.

Tweet Embed:
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/816768567517581312
Congrats to my brilliant, kind & wickedly funny friend Hope Hicks on being named to the @Forbes#30Under30 list! https://t.co/s3YO9Eq83Z

Sources: New York Times, GQ, NYMag

Hicks met patriarch Trump and quickly "earned his trust," Ivanka Trump told The New York Times for a June 2016 profile on the spokeswoman.

Source: New York Times