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Whether you live in an apartment or a house, kitchen counterspace is premium real estate.

If you're looking to up your home chef game with this constraint in mind, don't worry — we've got you covered. 

The six gadgets on this list will earn their spot in your kitchen, whether they always stay in plain sight, or split their time between your counter and cabinets.

SEE ALSO: 11 kitchen accessories that solve our biggest cooking annoyances

A multi-purpose cooker

The Instant Pot may be a relatively new kitchen gadget, but it's taken the internet (and world) by storm. What makes the Instant Pot so appealing is its multi-functionality. Instead of doing one thing, this model does six. You may not use all of its functions, but being able to sauté, slow cook, and pressure cook in one appliance saves you space and money.

We tried this model out for ourselves, and if you're on the fence, I encourage you to read our full review for even more details.

Instant Pot LUX60 (6-in-1 Multicooker), $69, available at Amazon

Note: Instant Pot recently had to recall one of its models, the Gem 65 8-in-1 Multicooker, due to a manufacturing defect. You can find more details about the recall and specific model here.

A standing mixer

KitchenAid's stand mixers have been a home chef staple for decades, but I had no idea how useful they were until buying one for myself. It's big, bulky, and pretty expensive, but the time it's saved me when baking has made it one of the most worthwhile purchases I made last year. Period. 

KitchenAid Classic Plus Stand Mixer, $199, available at Amazon

A sous vide tool

Historically, sous vide cooking has been reserved for high-end restaurants, but the eponymous tool required to make it work has become a lot more accessible recently. A sous vide tool cooks your food perfectly by heating up water to a very specific temperature and keeping it there.

The food you make is sealed in a bag and submerged under the water, where it cooks evenly without the risk of becoming over or underdone. It sounds kind of complicated at first, but I've been using a sous vide tool called the Joule for a few months, and it's been invaluable for the rare times I'm cooking with an expensive cut of meat I don't want to ruin.

ChefSteps Joule Sous Vide, $199, available at Amazon

Thursday is International Women's Day, which celebrates the ongoing movement for women's rights.

To measure the world's progress toward gender equality, the World Economic Forum (WEF) created the Global Gender Gap Index a decade ago.

The most recent report, published in November 2017, analyzes four main dimensions: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political representation. Looking at 144 countries, the WEF concludes that an average global gender gap of 32% remains, compared to 31.7% in 2016. Globally, the widest gaps between women and men exist in economic opportunity and political representation. Since 2016, 82 countries have improved their overall gender gap score. 

One caveat with the data: When a country ranks very highly in one or two categories, it shoots to the top of the overall ranking. For example, Ireland — which makes the top 10 — ranked #1 in educational attainment, but #96 for health and survival.

In addition, as the BBC notes, the index measures women's position compared to men in their country, not to women in other places.

The 10 countries with the narrowest gender gaps are below. (The United States does not make the cut.)

SEE ALSO: The worst countries for women around the world

10. The Philippines — In 2017, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte signed an executive order that gives women free access to reproductive health information and services.

However, abortion is still banned in the Philippines.

Source: Fortune

9. New Zealand — Following the 2014 election, 31% of New Zealand's parliament was female, compared to 9% in 1981.

Source: New Zealand History

8. Ireland — Irish women have a high life expectancy, and women are more likely than men to achieve a higher-education degree.

But people are still fighting for abortion rights in Ireland, where the medical procedure is illegal. On Thursday, the Irish government approved an abortion referendum bill, and according to The Guardian, the legislation would grant unrestricted abortion access to citizens during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy if it passes in May.

Source: The European Commission

• If you've ever wondered why your armpit sweat has a particularly bad smell, you can blame bacteria. 
• There really is such thing as "old-people smell" but young people and middle-aged people also have distinct smells.
• Your feet can flatten over time making them appear wider and bigger. 

We asked experts for true stories and odd human body facts. What they told us might surprise you.

Do feet really get bigger with age?

Some strange facts end up being debunked, but this is certainly possible: After years of wear and tear, tendons and ligaments in your feet may weaken. This can cause arches to flatten, which means feet get wider and longer. It won’t happen to everyone, though—people who are overweight, who get swollen feet or ankles, or who have certain medical conditions, like diabetes, are more prone. If it does happen, the average gain is about one shoe size by age 70 or 80.—Cary M. Zinkin, DPM, podiatric sports physician and spokesperson for the American Podiatric Medical Association (These are the signs of disease in your feet you really need to watch for.)

What’s with that stomach-in-your-throat feeling on roller coasters?

Your insides are actually shifting! When a coaster comes over its crest, slows for a second for added torture, and then plummets downward, the seat belt keeps your rear in place, but some loosely connected internal organs—like your stomach and intestines—get a little “airtime.” But don't get concerned in light of these strange facts. You’re not damaging your innards by riding even the craziest of coasters (everything returns to its proper place), but your nerves detect the movement, which registers as though your stomach has jumped into your throat.—Maged Rizk, MD, gastroenterologist at Cleveland Clinic’s Digestive Disease Institute

How come women always seem colder than men?

The fairer sex has a higher percentage of body fat and conserves more heat around the core. That helps keep vital organs nice and toasty but not the extremities—and when your hands and feet feel cold, so does the rest of your body. Plus, research suggests that women have a lower threshold for cold than men. When exposed to the same freezing temperature, the blood vessels in women’s fingers constrict more than men’s do, which is why they turn white more quickly.—Kathryn Sandberg, director of the Center for the Study of Sex Differences in Health, Aging and Disease at Georgetown University

"That '70s Show" first aired on TV in August 1998 and lasted for eight seasons before coming to a close in May 2006. The hit show provided iconic lines and hysterical scenes. And let's not forget that it also paved the way for one of Hollywood's favorite celebrity couples— Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher. 

Most of the main cast members from "That '70s Show" continue to act, but have also ventured into writing books, directing, and producing. 

Keep reading to see what the cast has been up to since the series finale aired. 

Topher Grace starred as protagonist Eric Forman on "That '70s Show."

He was the leader of his group of friends (mainly because his basement was their hangout spot) and completely obsessed with anything related to "Star Wars."

Most recently, Grace starred in the 2017 film "War Machine" alongside Brad Pitt. He also appeared in "Workaholics" and "Drunk History."

During season seven, Grace left "That '70s Show," but made an appearance on the series finale. He went on to star as villain Eddie Brock (also known as "Venom") in "Spider-Man 3," Anne Hathaway's love interest in "Valentine's Day," and Getty in the 2014 film adaptation of "Interstellar." 

Laura Prepon starred as Donna Pinciotti, the next door neighbor of the Formans, member of Eric's inner circle, and his love interest.

Donna ditched her signature red hair for a blonde shade after she and Eric broke up, but in reality, it was dyed because Prepon's role in the 2006 film "Karla" required blonde hair.

Whether you want to admit it or not, we’ve all dreamed of living in a mansion. And though some celebrities chose to live modestly, others live in homes anyone would envy.

And if you’re going to blow some money, investing in an insanely extravagant home looks like the way to go.

From a trampoline room with 20-foot ceilings to a personal vineyard, these are the most lavish and expensive not-so-humble celebrity abodes that are sure to make any resident feel like royalty.

Oprah's expansive California estate has its own tea house.

Although Oprah owns multiple estates across the US, her42-acre estate in Montecito, California, known as “The Promised Land,” takes the cake as the most lavish.

Purchased for $52 million in 2001, it is now worth over $100 million thanks to Oprah’s over-the-top renovations. The expansive mansion has six bedrooms, 14 bathrooms, 10 fireplaces, a gourmet kitchen, two theatres (one inside and one outside), a wine cellar, a barn, ponds and orchards, a tennis court, a lake, an outdoor entertainment area, and a huge guesthouse with a pool. There is also a teahouse, because why not?

Beyoncè and Jay-Z recently dropped $88 million on a Los Angeles estate.

Legendary hip-hop artists Beyoncè and Jay-Z recently bought a home together in LA with a steep purchase price of $88 million, making itamong the most expensive real estate deals ever in L.A. County. The Bel-Air mansion has six structures with about 30,000 square feet of interior space along with expansive patios and terraces adding an additional 10,000 square feet of outdoor living space.

The home includes amenities such as a spa and wellness facility, a full-size basketball court, a media room, and four swimming pools. Doors and windows on the two-acre estate are bulletproof.

Hugh Hefner's Playboy Mansion was infamous for its parties.

Though Hugh Hefner bought the 22,000 square foot Playboy Mansion for $1.1 million in 1971, itwas sold in 2016 for a whopping $100 million to the co-owner of Hostess Brands, Daren Metropoulos. The mansion was purchased with the stipulation that Hefner could live in the property until he passed.

The iconic estate features a catering kitchen, pool, wine cellar, tennis court, and 29 rooms in addition to a four-bedroom guest house.

Since Hefner’s passing, it is unclear what renovations will be done to the famed mansion.

If you want to save money, buying in bulk seems like a great idea.

However, only you know how your household eats and uses the things you buy. Ultimately, that means only you can determine the best bulk purchases you should make.

Just keep one simple rule in mind and you'll succeed: Don't buy more of something than you can use before it goes bad. Here's a more detailed breakdown of why.

SEE ALSO: The states where women earn the most money — and the least

Fresh produce

Meal prepping changes the way you shop. If you're planning a whole week (or more) worth of meals and prepping them at once, you need ingredients on hand.

Still, unless you have a huge number of family and friends to cook for, buying fresh produce in bulk is rarely a good idea. Most produce won't stay fresh past a week — if that. Some produce goes bad in just a few days.   

There are some exceptions. If you know you love baking banana bread or throwing bananas in a smoothie and you see a great sale, buy them — as long as you have room to keep them in your freezer.

If you have a favorite soup or chili recipe and you spot a crazy sale on the produce you need, cook a big batch, portion it out, and stash that in your freezer as well. Think of it like a present to future-you from present-you — and it's healthier and cheaper than most ready-made frozen entrees, too.

Eggs

According to the American Egg Board, raw whole eggs in their shells will last about 3 weeks from the date of purchase in your refrigerator. If you only use eggs occasionally, be very careful about buying them in bulk.

However, if you're planning to do a lot of baking involving eggs, the idea of scooping up two dozen or more eggs at once can be very appealing. Resist that urge until you can shop around to get the best price. Eggs are often on sale at dedicated grocery and non-bulk general merch stores like Target, so your wallet might be better off elsewhere.

Cooking oils

Unless you're a restaurant or you deep-fry on the regular, you probably shouldn't be buying your cooking oils in bulk. All types of oils go bad over time, and should be stored in a cool, dark place in air-tight containers — usually the ones they come in are perfect for this.

Storing oils in your fridge can help to prolong their shelf life, but some may solidify when exposed to cold temperatures.

• Relationships can be difficult, but when do they go from difficult to detrimental?
• Some people rely on emotional signs or tend to repress their emotions, but oftentimes, our bodies are strong indicators of whether relationships are sustainable.
• These five warning signs may serve as red flags for the fact that an unhealthy relationship could be at fault as well as the risk for an even bigger problem.

It's no secret that for as much as we love to be in love relationships are hard. Relationships require work and that work and communication can be emotionally taxing. But when does all that work cross a line into unhealthy territory?

There are the obvious emotional signs that things have taken a turn for the worse, whether that means sadness because of a partner's manipulative behavior or anger because of their high-conflict personality. Sometimes, though, our bodies can tell us things that our emotions aren't, can't, or that we may be just refusing to see.

These five physical signs may be indicators that a relationship has gone from hard or tough to physically unsustainable. If your body is telling you these things, the line may have been crosses into unhealthy territory.

You can't get adequate sleep.

Your partner and your relationship shouldn't be the reason you're losing sleep, literally or figuratively. A full night's sleep is pivotal for the body to function as it should, giving you a necessary recharge in order to take on work, school, or social activities. Once you start waking up or fluctuating from a healthy sleep pattern, that can big sign that things have gotten out of hand.

"When you're typically a sound sleeper and all of a sudden you wake up with an anxious feeling it's a sign your relationship has you stressed," Lisa Concepcion, a "love strategist" and the founder of LoveQuest Marketing, told Bustle.

If your lack of sleep becomes consistent, not only can it affect your performance in school or work, it can also lead to a whole roster of other physical risks, including cancer and a weakened immune system.

Your heart isn't functioning normally.

Being heartbroken is a real thing, though we usually tend to associate it with the emotional turmoil of going through a breakup or a split. In truth, heartbreak can be the physical symptoms that come with an unhealthy relationship and it can actually lead to cardiovascular problems, which are extremely serious.

According to Psychologytoday.com, a study followed more than 10,000 subjects for over a decade. Researchers found that subjects in negative or unhealthy relationships seemed to be at a greater risk for developing heart problems, including a fatal cardiac episode, than their counterparts who were in positive, close relationships.

If you've been feeling off and have noticed a change in your cholesterol, blood pressure, or overall health, it could be due to the circumstances surrounding your love life. The heart is one of the most important organs in the body, so it's vital that you maintain your cardiovascular health, even if it means a tough breakup.

You're constantly sick.

One of the greatest indicators of a problem is depression. For many, depression is biological and not circumstantial, but if you're in a dark place, it can bring on or exacerbate pre-existing situationally depressive conditions.

Depression is usually accompanied by a whole slew of tough physical side effects, but one of the most physically-damaging is that it can weaken the immune system, according to WebMD. A weak immune system means that the body can have a tougher time fighting off infections and vaccinations may even prove to be less effective.

If you're not only displaying the emotional symptoms of depression but you're also feeling it physically, your relationship might be worth examining.

• Sometimes, kids just can't be explained. In fact, kids often say or do things that leave parents somewhere between laughing and scratching their heads.
• 13 parents of Reddit shared the funniest, strangest, and even most disturbing things their children have ever said or done.

It's been said many times and it bears repeating: kids say the darndest things. Children tend to pick up on certain behaviors, whether through their parents or from TV, and for the most part, they're pretty easily explained. Sometimes, though, there are no apparent explanations for the odd things kids say or do.

These 13 parents weren't sure how to react when their kids exhibited some very bizarre behavior, from asking to peel their skin off to sleeping with scented candles in lieu of stuffed animals.

Of course, these are just for fun as we can't verify the authenticity of Reddit posts.

Diaper change.

"I have a 9-month-old who pretends he's pooping (squat and grunt really loud) when he feels like I'm not giving him attention." - Redditor hailcthulhu8

“Look Mama! I'm a fried chicken!”

"This is a 100% true story and I'll be dead meat if my daughter finds out I told it:

"My eldest, at 2, was a nudist. All the time. Company? Who cares? At school? So what? At home? OBVIOUSLY.

"One day I followed a trail of clothes through the kitchen to the back door. Peering through the glass, I found her stark naked, rolling around in the contents of a bulk sized bottle of baby powder. I opened the door and said 'Hey! What are you doing?' and she cheerfully responded with 'Look Mama! I'm a fried chicken!'

"So I shut the door and walked away." - Redditor MissThystle

Ina-poo-priate behavior.

"On Sunday, my 4-year-old pooped in the front yard next to the sidewalk, picked up his poop with a leaf, and threw it in the neighbor's bushes.

"We'd just returned from a camping trip, maybe he wanted to extend the vacation?" - Redditor PM_me_yur_pm

• The royal family has special protocol and traditions to follow when it comes to pregnancies.
• Queen Elizabeth is always the first person to know about the birth of a royal baby. 
• There are usually two children born in each royal family, but the queen broke that tradition when she had four children. 

Nothing gets people talking like the birth of a new royal baby. And we've been treated to quite a few in the last few years. In 2015, Prince George was born, and Princess Charlotte followed not long afterwards. And now, we're barely a month away from Kate's expected third child. Prince William must be thrilled. And the rest of the world is looking on with unrivaled interest. The royal family is always the subject of much gossip, but it gets truly escalated whenever pregnancy and children are the main talking points. It becomes a worldwide sensation and people love to hear about the pregnancies of the royal family members.

But have you ever wondered what it's like being a pregnant royal? How do their lives differ from the pregnancy experiences of normal women? The royal family is governed by all kinds of strange rules and traditions, and some of these do govern pregnancies. Some of these traditions might seem a little outdated, but it's very hard to break from tradition if you're a member of the royal family. Some of the trends and rules are actually pretty modern, and they've only been followed for the last few years. Do you think you could follow these wacky royal pregnancy rules? Or would you rather just stick to being a "common" mother?

The post-birth outfit is chosen carefully

When it comes to the royal family, appearances are everything. Every little detail is scrutinized and perfected by the family's advisers. Whenever a royal family member makes a public appearance, you can bet that a great deal of time and effort went into their outfit and their general appearance. You can see signs of this everywhere, but you have to know where to look. With current royal mothers, this trend is more alive than ever.

Do you remember the time when Kate Middleton and Princess William emerged from the hospital after giving birth to King George? Well, it turns out that her post-pregnancy dress was carefully chosen beforehand. This is a rule that all royal mothers must follow. They must adhere to the careful choices of the royal family when it comes to their attire. In the case of Kate Middleton, she wore a blue polka dot dress that was very similar to the one that Princess Diana wore after she gave birth. She was also applauded for showing off her post-pregnancy belly.

Midwives are present — and they're all sworn to secrecy

The traditions of royal births go back many hundreds of years. Obviously, the first royal births predated modern medicine. This was a time when childbirth was much more risky, and we didn't have the same knowledge and skills that we have today. However, midwives have always been present at royal births, and these are specially trained individuals who have been helping the royal family with births for centuries. Today, these midwives still play a major role.

If you're going to have a royal birth, it's expected that you must have royal midwives by your side. It's been the same for every other royal birth in history, and that tradition isn't changing any time soon. In the case of Kate Middleton, doctors were present and involved, but the royal midwives never left her side. In fact, Kate was so thankful for the midwives that she reportedly grew close to them, as they helped her through her short labor with Princess Charlotte.

When the baby is born, a 62-gun salute is fired off from the Tower of London

Another strange rule that accompanies the birth of royal children involves an age-old military tradition. At the moment a royal baby is born, it's announced to the whole of London by a whopping 62 gun salute from the Tower of London. It's seen as a sign of pride that the entire nation can enjoy, but it's also a sign of respect to the monarchs. It may seem a bit pompous, but the tradition is so old that it just won't be changed any time soon.

In addition to the 62 gun salute, there's also a 41-gun salute that is fired from Hyde Park in Wellington Barracks, near Buckingham Palace. If that doesn't wake the Queen up, we're not sure what will! The royal family's ties with the military are very well-known, and this is just another example of that. Technically, gun salutes are meant to be for Royal visits. But when you think about it, a royal baby is visiting ... for the very first time!

• I tried to eat like Jennifer Lopez for a week.

• Her caffeine-free, alcohol-free, high-protein diet was more doable than I thought.

• Although there were a lot of "dont's" the foods I did eat were filling and nutritious.

• I realized that cutting some things out of your diet can help you really learn what foods you value.

Jennifer Lopez and I have a lot more in common than you would think.

No, we don't look anything alike, and no I can't sing, dance, or act (unless you count my 8th-grade school play where I was Barbara Walters).

What JLo and I have in common stems from something deeper — an appreciation for healthy living, and a childhood spent in the Bronx. Not only are we both from "the block," but we actually went to the same high school, Preston High School.

In an effort to emulate Lopez' clean eating, I decided to give her diet a try for a week.

Here is what a typical day looked like while on her strict no caffeine, no alcohol, high protein, veggie-filled diet.

I started the day with a filling protein shake — one of JLo's go-to breakfasts.

I'm a huge fan of protein shakes. So I was excited when I read that this is a staple in Lopez's diet. Although I have protein powder often, I usually don't eat it in shake form. Sometimes I'll mix it into oatmeal or combine it with water and microwave it for a quick mug cake.

Reverting back to my old shake days was slightly boring but, it also reminded me how quick and hands-off it can be to get in some extra protein. As per usual the protein kept me full, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss my oatmeal.

For lunch, I had a refreshing veggie-packed salad.

Salads are my go-to during the warmer months, but during this chilly week at the end of February, I wasn't too keen on having a cold salad. Luckily, Lopez includes some meat or fish with her daily veggie-filled salads, according to a previous INSIDER post.

Thanks to her Puerto-Rican roots, she also enjoys beans and rice, so I included some warm black beans in my salad — and it was a game changer. I also warmed up the chicken and corn, so it ended up tasting like a Chipotle burrito bowl.

My dinner was broiled branzino, a vegetable medley, and potatoes.

Lopez likes to avoid processed foods as much as possible, although she makes an exception with quinoa. According to her interview with Hello Magazine, another common dinner meal for Lopez is a fish and veggie combination. I had some roasted potatoes with broiled branzino and a steamed veggie medley.

Full disclosure: I did not prepare this meal. My aunt actually treated me to dinner one night, and I was thrilled to find out that sticking to Lopez’s diet in a restaurant was easy.

I would have ordered this meal even if I wasn't following JLo’s diet. But knowing that she would approve of my choice made it that much more enjoyable.

History is all around us, but some historical attractions are so old they take us to another world.

From the oldest house and oldest bar in the United States to sites containing remnants of Native American archaeology, see which historic attraction is the oldest in your state.

And then make sure to go check it out because we made sure to only include historic attractions that are open to the public to visit.

ALABAMA: Ivy Green

Visit Tuscumbia and view the grounds and home in which Helen Keller grew up in. Helen Keller, was an accomplished author, social and political activist, and one of the most remarkable women in history, as she was also totally blind and deaf from the age of 19 months old.

According to the Helen Keller Birthplace Foundation, Inc., the home was built in 1820 and is maintained to the smallest detail in its original state. On the grounds you can visit the main home, herb gardens, outdoor kitchen, birthplace cottage, and complete library of Braile books amongst many of her other personal mementos.

ALASKA: Sitka Spruce Plantation

In 1805, a Russian colony settled on Unalaska (on present-day Amaknak Island) and planted spruce trees where no trees had stood before in hopes of being "self-sufficient." Today, Sitka Spruce Plantation is one of few places on the island where there are many trees.

According to the National Park Service website, the Sitka Spruce Plantation is the oldest recorded afforestation project on the North American continent.

ARIZONA: Pueblo Grande Ruin and Irrigation Sites

Located in Phoenix, the Pueblo Grande Ruin and Irrigation sites are remnants of the pre-Columbian archaeological sites and ruins of a large Hohokam Indian village site that was settled around 450 AD.

There still stands a 20-foot tall mound covering 3.3 acres that is thought to have been constructed between 1150-1450 AD, as well as irrigation canals, and ball courts. "The Hohokam were the first people to practice irrigated agriculture in the region."

• Denmark is the best country in the world for women this year, according to a ranking from U.S. News & World Report.
• Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, and Finland round out the top five.
• The annual list is based on survey responses from more than 9,000 women around the world.

Denmark is the best country in the world to live in for women this year, according to a new ranking from U.S. News & World Report — and last year's winner, Sweden, is close behind.

The Best Countries for Women list is based on the survey responses of more than 9,000 women. The ranking takes into account five equally-weighted attributes: gender equality, safety, progress, income equality, and care about human rights.

Check out this year's top 20 countries in the world for women below.

20. Portugal

As of April 2015, 34.8% of women were represented in parliament. However, their gender pay gap still persists, as Portugal only ranks 33rd of 144 countries in the 2017 Global Gender Gap Report.

19. Italy

The  Italian Constitution of 1948 legally affirmed that women had equal rights to men, and in 2017, an Italian state-owned broadcaster's show was canceled for promoting sexist views against women. However, Italy ranks 82nd out of 144 countries for equal opportunities at work and in politics, education, and health.

18. Spain

During Spain's Franco era from 1939 to 1975, women's right were severely restricted: abortion, divorce, and contraception were all prohibited. Now, women in Spain openly lobby for the eradication of gender-specific violence and the abolishment of the gender-pay gap.

• Life in your twenties is constantly changing.
• Nothing is tying me down.
• It's easier than ever to travel on a budget.
• The memories are priceless.

Over the past few years, I've had the privilege of traveling across the country and beyond.

Although these opportunities may not have arrived at the perfect time, or for the perfect price, I have made it a priority to seize every travel opportunity that has come my way.

Your twenties may be ever-changing and hectic, but that is exactly why it's the perfect time for personal travel.

Here are some reasons why I'm choosing this time in my life to travel — and why you should too.

Your life is likely already in a constant state of flux.

Your twenties are a time of constant change. Whether you are job hunting, moving, searching for love, or any combination of major life changes, it feels like nothing is ever certain. So why not take advantage of these changes while you can? Travel is a great way to seize control of your time.

Go see the world before your schedule becomes too rigid and you can't escape the monotony.

Nothing is tying you down.

If you're in your twenties, chances are you don't have a mortgage or kids — you may not even have a dog yet. Although this may be the ultimate goal for some, being free of these obligations means you are in the perfect position to travel.

You can pack up and leave without worrying about hiring anyone to watch your kids/dog/house plants. In your twenties, life is already full of new experiences, so why not make some of those experiences adventurous?

It's easier than ever to travel on a budget.

With amazing new sites like Airbnb, Couchsurfing, Lyft, and Uber, hospitality and transportation are easier (and cheaper) than ever before. If Airbnb or Couchsurfing freaks you out, most major cities have hostels as well. They may not have five-star luxury suites, but it's usually a cheap room right in the heart of the city.

Bargain airlines such as WOW and Allegiant also cut major costs of airline travel. If you don't feel like planning a trip on your own, programs like EF Ultimate Break also plan remarkable trips for affordable prices. They will even set you up with a monthly payment plan. There has simply never been a better time for budget travel.

FORT BLISS, Texas — Spread across Biggs Army Airfield, and tucked in between the mountains surrounding it, were Blackhawks, Apaches— and yes, Chinook helicopters. 

The Boeing CH-47 Chinook has been the US Army's main soldier and supply transport aircraft since it was first put into service in the early 1960s. 

In 1982, the Army upgraded all of its Chinooks to the CH-47D versions, which, among many other improvements, received a much more powerful engine that can lift nearly 20,000 pounds. 

I got a chance to see the CH-47D up-close during our recent trip to Fort Bliss. 

Here's what I saw:

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

Here's a wide view of the Biggs Army Airfield, with Chinooks and Apaches in the background.

The CH-47D is a tandem rotor aircraft, meaning it has two sets of blades, with two T55-GA-714A turboshaft engines that can lift and transport 19,500 pounds.

Source: Military.com

Its top speed is 184 mph, with a maximum range of 400 miles.

Source: Military.com

In 2020, the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers hope to share a stadium in Inglewood, California.

The LA Stadium, which will house both teams, is a massive, sprawling $2.6 billion project that will host year-round sports and entertainment events. It's also slated to host the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2028 Olympics in L.A.

Renderings of the arena show a sleek, state-of-the-art, open-air building, with plenty of restaurants and bars, community spaces, and the in-vogue "halo" scoreboard the Atlanta Falcons brought to the NFL.

Take a look at the renderings below:

The entire complex sprawls over 298 acres just outside of L.A.

The complex will include retail and residential space.

The space is pretty scenic.

Following North Korea's overtures of reconciliation beginning in January, the regime has made several diplomatic moves to indicate it is willing to resume talks between the US and neighboring South Korea.

After sending a delegation of athletes and members of the ruling family to the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea, North Korea has made significant strides in thawing relations — though some political observers remain skeptical of the regime's motives.

Here are the latest developments between the US, South Korea, and North Korea:

SEE ALSO: North Korea is suspiciously calm about one of its biggest complaints — and it may be a trap for the US

During her trip to South Korea, Kim Yo Jong — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's sister — delivered a letter to South Korean President Moon Jae-in. The letter indicated a willingness to foster better relations between the Koreas. There was also an invitation to visit Pyongyang, North Korea's capital.

Kim Yo Jong's trip to South Korea marked the first time since the Korean War that a ruling family member of the North Korean regime visited the country.

North Korea then sent Kim Yong Chol, the country's vice chairman of the ruling Worker's Party Central Committee and the country's former intelligence chief, to South Korea for the Closing Ceremony at the Winter Olympics. Following Yo Jong's lead, Yong Chol also delivered a bombshell announcement: that North Korea was willing to hold diplomatic talks with the US.

Source: Yonhap News

• Goldman Sachs has some ideas for how companies can offset higher rates by pursuing internal growth.
• The firm sees 4% as a crucial threshold for the US 10-year Treasury yield.

If US companies are going to withstand the pressure of Federal Reserve monetary tightening, they're going to have to grow.

So says Goldman Sachs, which sees 4% as a crucial threshold for the US 10-year Treasury yield. If rates exceed 4%, the firm estimates companies will have to generate 200 basis points of medium-term growth to neutralize the negative effect on valuations.

"A boost to medium-term growth expectations or a decline in the equity risk premium (ERP) could offset the negative valuation impact of rising bond yields," a group of Goldman strategists led by David Kostin, the firm's chief US equity strategist, wrote in a client note.

It's important to note that Goldman is making recommendations in the event of a sudden, unexpected rate increase. The firm's 2018 forecast for the 10-year is just 3.25%, and it's been argued in recent weeks that at least some areas of the market will do just fine on a relative basis, regardless of how high rates go.

With that in mind, here are the five ways Goldman says companies can preempt rate-hike madness and stand tall in the face of rate hikes:

1. Growth-enhancing investments

This includes the growth of capital expenditures (capex), as well as research and development (R&D).

Goldman notes companies that "invest for growth" have historically outperformed during periods of rising interest rates. In addition, growth investment as a percentage of cash flow from operations has declined close to its lowest level in 30 years, suggesting there's room for a rebound.

2. M&A

Goldman is referring to the type of merger and acquisition (M&A) activity that "improves existing revenue streams or offers access to new markets." 

And the firm says conditions are ripe for M&A right now, with the ratio of cash-to-assets for S&P 500 companies sitting at a record high. Goldman also notes tax reform will bring a flood of cash into the US from overseas — money that companies should put to work.

3. Expansion to new geographic markets

Goldman is particularly keen on emerging markets (EM), which account for just 14% of S&P 500 sales, thereby representing a massive area of opportunity.

The firm highlights its proprietary current activity indicator (CAI), which it notes is roughly 2 percentage points higher than the US version. 

"EM is early in the cycle, and therefore presents an opportunity for incremental growth," said Kostin.

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The Insider Pick:

• If you love to hike and go off the grid, you need a great compass. The Suunto M-3 Leader is our top pick for your go-to compass because it has a practical Finnish design, a durable baseplate protractor, a quick and highly accurate steel needle, and good price tag.

You’ve probably used your smartphone’s GPS to find your way around on more than one occasion. Many phones today even have built-in magnetometers that allow the phone to effectively function as a compass by pointing you toward magnetic north. When you’re in the wilderness far away from civilization, however, your electronics can run out of juice, get wet, lose their signal, or fail in other ways, and getting lost in the great outdoors can be a serious hazard.

Even if it’s not a matter of life and death, being unable to find your way around can quickly ruin an otherwise enjoyable camping or hiking trip. It, therefore, behooves the modern scout to invest in a good analog compass and to learn how to use it. Aside from practical safety concerns about not getting disoriented in the wild,  land navigation can offer a lot of plain old fun for those who enjoy practicing and mastering old-fashioned skills.

Modern compasses used for land navigation fall into two general categories: Baseplate compasses and lensatic or prismatic compasses. Baseplate compasses feature a needle suspended in a liquid-filled housing on top of a flat see-through protractor marked with various measurements for calculating distance and plotting a course when placed on top of a map. Some also feature mirrored lids for added sighting and signaling functionality.

The lensatic/prismatic compass is a slightly more old-school design: Favored by a number of military forces including the US Army, lensatics use a rotating disc instead of a floating needle and feature a lid with a sighting notch. This allows the navigator to align the sight with a distant landmark while establishing a bearing (or azimuth) using the dial. No matter which design you favor, any well-made compass will be durable, accurate, and feature precise gradations to help you plot a good course.

The biggest compass brands today are Suunto, Brunton, and Cammenga. Another name you may see is Silva, but the US-based Silva is completely different than the original Swedish-made Silva compasses, and so we don’t recommend these. You’re good to go with any of the “big three” compass makers, but which type you need depends on your intended use and budget.

We’ve rounded up the top five compasses you can buy, from a basic budget-friendly baseplate to a military-grade lensatic.

Read on in the slides below to learn why the Suunto M-3 Leader compass is our top pick and why you might also like the Brunton TruArc 3 baseplate compass, the Suunto MC-2 mirrored compass, the Brunton Tag Along Zip compact compass, and the Cammenga 3H tritium lensatic compass.

SEE ALSO: The best tents you can buy

The best compass overall

Why you'll love it: The Suunto M-3 Leader sets the standard for modern baseplate compasses with its quick and accurate steel needle, metric or Imperial protractor measurements, and declination adjustment.

When choosing your first compass, you might be tempted to buy a high-end model with all the latest bells and whistles. But unless you intend to actually use all of these features, it’s generally a good rule to keep things simple. When researching compasses, Suunto is a name you’re going to see a lot, and our top recommendation for most people is this historic Finnish company’s excellent M-3 Leader Compass.

Its baseplate design features a steel needle with a jewel bearing suspended in liquid for quick and stable readings. The clear baseplate has a handy magnifying lens along with scaled distance measurements in both kilometers and miles. The rotating bezel, or azimuth ring, is also marked in 360 degrees with two degree increments to help you set a precise bearing.

Luminescent dial markings allow for use in low-light conditions, although you should still keep a good flashlight handy for using your map in the dark.

The M-3 Leader boasts an ever-important declination adjustment as well. This allows you to correct for the difference between true north (the northernmost geographic point on the globe) and magnetic north (the magnetic pole towards which the metal compass needle is drawn). Built-in declination correction is nice to have, as the exact location of magnetic north shifts around and is relative to your location.

You can always manually correct for declination while making your calculations, but the M-3 Leader’s built-in adjustment makes this easier and gives you one less thing to worry about on the trail.

Like many Suunto compasses, the M-3 is available with two needle options: One for the Northern Hemisphere and one for global use. The global model is a bit expensive at around $50, but if you’re a globetrotter, that’s the one you should get as the standard needle will not read properly when you’re south of the Equator. The NH M-3 is highly affordable at roughly $30, however, making the Leader compass a solid value given its build quality, great design, and excellent suite of features.

Pros: Made in Finland, a quick and accurate steel needle, metric and Imperial distance measurements, a 360-degree rotating azimuth ring with precise increments, a declination adjustment, and it’s available with both NH and global needles

Cons: The global needle model is relatively expensive

Buy the Suunto M-3 Leader compass on Amazon for $32 (NH) or $52 (Global)

The best budget compass

Why you'll love it: The US-made Bruton TruArc 3 offers a full range of features typically found on baseplate compasses that cost two or three times as much.

If you’re on a tight budget, or if you just want a basic compass that’s well-made and has the modern features a 21st-century navigator needs, don’t settle for some cheap generic thing you found on Amazon. American maker Brunton has your back with its TruArc 3 compass, a no-nonsense baseplate design that offers an impressive suite of tools for its size and cost.

The fact that it’s made in the United States is surprising enough at this price, but the value of the Brunton TruArc 3 really becomes apparent when you look at its many features. The rotating azimuth rings features 360-degree markings in two-degree increments, the compass has a tool-free declination adjustment, and the global needle is responsive, accurate, and good to go in either of Earth’s hemispheres.

The only things this compass really lacks, at least when compared to other popular baseplate models like the Suunto Leader, are luminous markings and distance measurements. Although the TruArc 3 has rulers in inches and centimeters, they aren’t scaled for map grids, so you’ll have to do these calculations manually. This is hardly a deal breaker. Just be prepared to do a little basic math when figuring out distance and plotting a course with your map.

At only $13, you’re simply not going to find a better value for a global compass than the Brunton TruArc 3. This baseplate model would be a great choice for a beginner or perhaps a young scout you know, but it’s also perfect for any navigator looking for a good American-made compass that’s easy on the wallet.

Pros: Made in the U.S., metric and Imperial baseplate measurements, an accurate global needle, a tool-free declination adjustment, and it’s an incredible value for its features and build quality

Cons: Non-luminous markings, and the baseplate measurements are basic inches/centimeters rather than scaled distance markers

Buy the Brunton TruArc 3 compass on Amazon for $12

The best mirrored compass

Why you'll love it: The Suunto MC-2 has a complete set of measurement tools along with a sighting mirror that makes quick land navigation a breeze.

Standard baseplate designs dominate the field of land compasses, but more advanced mirrored models are another popular choice, especially for experienced scouts with more demanding tastes and for those who need a compass built for quick navigation. A mirrored compass is essentially just a regular baseplate design with a mirrored lid that allows you to get a precise bearing and make quick course corrections using your natural surroundings.

A mirrored compass is used in like a lensatic, in that you are aligning the compass itself with a landmark and then using this reference point to set your bearing. Instead of a lensatic sight, a mirrored compass features a simple notch on the lid for alignment with your chosen objective.

Our pick, the Suunto MC-2, also has an additional sighting hole at the base of the mirror for use at high elevations, such as when you’re referencing a low-lying landmark while standing atop a hill.

When you’ve aligned the compass with your target, hold it at eye-level with the lid tilted so you can see the dial in the mirror and rotate the bezel until the north marker is lined up with the needle. The straight vertical line running through the center of the mirror should at this point be lined up with your objective. Take note of the position of the mirror’s sighting line relative to your azimuth ring and bingo — you’ve got your bearing.

Along with the sighted mirror, the Suunto MC-2 offers all of the tools you’d expect to find in a modern well-made compass: A steel global needle, a jewel bearing for smooth and stable needle movement, a 360-degree rotating azimuth ring marked in two-degree gradations for precise calculations, a declination adjustment, and Imperial and metric distance measurements on the clear baseplate protractor for plotting an accurate course with your map.

The MC-2 baseplate also features a clinometer for determining the incline or decline of a slope you’re navigating. Like all Suunto compasses, the MC-2 is sturdily built in Finland and made to last. Although the mirrored lid is a potential weak point, it’s far less likely to break with regular use.

Pros: A declination adjustment, a global steel needle with a smooth-moving jewel bearing, metric and Imperial distance measurements, a clinometer for calculating inclines, durable Finnish construction, and a mirror with two sighting notches for quick and easy navigation

Cons: The mirrored lid is a potential breakage point

Buy the Suunto MC-2 mirrored compass on Amazon for $65 (Global) or $45 (NH)

• Warren Buffett has long championed low-cost investing, often recommending Vanguard's S&P 500 index fund for the average investor.
• New fintech — financial technology — companies are attracting users for their convenience and sleek interfaces, but the fees associated vary between apps.
• We looked at the fees and the expense ratios for eight fintech investing companies on the Forbes Fintech 50 2018 list.

Investing can be a difficult process.

Deciding what to invest in can take hours of research — but before you get to that point, you have to decide where you plan to invest.

Billionaire and legendary investor Warren Buffett has long championed Vanguard's low-cost investment options. Vanguard primarily offers index funds — passive investments that allow ordinary people to invest in the stock market with little effort and incredibly low fees.

"My regular recommendation has been a low-cost S&P 500 index fund,"Buffett said. "To their credit, my friends who possess only modest means have usually followed my suggestion."

Investing in a Vanguard S&P 500 index fund can be done directly through the investment giant, which manages $4.5 trillion. Opening an account at Vanguard is free.

But many investors are turning to financial technology companies — fintech for short — for their convenience and sleek interfaces.

However, as Buffett emphasizes, one of the most important factors when choosing an investment platform is fees. We looked at the fees and the expense ratios for eight fintech investing companies on the Forbes Fintech 50 2018 list.

Two of the apps — Robinhood and CircleUp — are free for most investors. The rest charge a percentage or flat fee, typically based on the amount of money in your account. Several apps also offer multiple levels of service, like a premium account, which comes with a higher fee.

Many of the investing apps offer ETFs— or exchange-traded funds — a low-cost passive investment product similar to an index fund. Even though ETFs are passive investments, they still have expenses to cover. The expense ratio is the fee charged by the ETF, which is in addition to the fee charged by the investing app.

Fintech companies that offer real estate or other types of investments are all over the place in how much they charge. Minimum requirements to open an account may also be an important factor for people with smaller investment plans.

Below, compare the costs for each of the eight investing apps that made the Forbes Fintech 50 2018 list.

SEE ALSO: I used an app to start investing, and it made me realize how little I know

DON'T MISS: The 20 best countries to invest in now

Acorns

Investment type: ETFs

Fees: $1 a month for accounts under $5,000; 0.25% annual fee for accounts of $5,000 and more

Expense ratio: Varies (ETF industry average was 0.57% in 2016)

Minimums: No minimum amount to open an account

Betterment

Investment type: ETFs

Fees: 0.25% annual fee for Digital accounts; 0.40% annual fee for Premium accounts 

Expense ratio: Varies by portfolio; average is 0.13%

Minimums: No minimum amount to open a Digital account; $100,000 minimum for Premium account

Cadre

Investment type: Real estate

Fees: 1.5% annual fee

Transaction fee: 1%

Minimums: $100,000 per transaction

• Tesla is known for hiding clever Easter eggs in its vehicles. 
• Some Easter eggs include Mario Kart and Mars rover simulations that can be activated with certain access codes.
• Elon Musk has said he will also add an Easter Egg that plays Marilyn Monroe singing "Happy Birthday."

Tesla CEO Elon Musk is always announcing updates and future plans for his cars.

With all of the exciting news constantly surrounding Tesla, sometimes the car's smaller details get lost in the mix. Tesla cars have a lot of fun Easter eggs like a Mario Kart simulation and holiday light show that can be activated inside the vehicle. 

Keep scrolling to see some of our favorite Tesla Easter Eggs: 

SEE ALSO: Tesla customers are demanding these features in the next Model S

In Tesla cars that have Autopilot installed and activated, drivers can press Autopilot four times in rapid succession and the console will make it look like you're driving down the Mario Kart track rainbow road.

Musk referred to it as "psychedelic cowbell road."

A similar feature allows users to turn their spacecraft into a Mars rover by holding the Tesla logo at the top of the screen and entering the activation code "mars."

Using the access code "007" instead of "Mars," the screen will show the James Bond Louts.