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20 weight loss myths you need to stop believing

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  • You could have one of those bodies that just takes more time to lose weight, and that’s totally fine. Don't compare yourself to others.
  • Claiming zero-calorie sodas are better for you or healthier than regular soda is simply not true. 

So you’ve decided to embark on a weight-loss journey. Naturally, you would prefer to see results sooner rather than later; maybe you have a big event coming up or a pair of pants you’re trying to fit into by next week. Regardless, you want to lose a lot of weight and you want to lose it now.

We hate to break it to you, but shedding tons of pounds overnight is impossible. Sure, some people lose weight faster than others, and you can slim down in your sleep, but for the most part, losing weight requires some smart choices and usually lots of patience. Here are some of the biggest myths about rapid weight loss. And if you’re just looking to begin your slim-down journey, don’t be swayed by common misconceptions about shedding the pounds. Check out these 28 Weight Loss Rules You Can Break.

Weight Loss Always Means Fat Loss

If you notice a sudden drop on the scale, especially overnight, you may be excited that you’re losing weight so quickly. But that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily fat loss—it could be water weight. “[Water weight] is extra water that’s hanging around the tissues, joints, and body cavities between cells,” says Abbey Sharp, RD, owner of Abbey’s Kitchen. It’s a different weight from body fat; it’s not linked to calories consumed or expended. An uptick in water weight could be because of eating too much sodium or a change in hormones and can quickly be lost through exercise or drinking enough water (which sounds counterintuitive, but it’s true!).



You Can Target Trouble Spots

Maybe you’re really concerned about the weight on your thighs, and want to slim them down asap. We have some bad news: you can’t. Of course, you can lose weight overall by eating the right foods and incorporating some exercise, but there’s no telling where that fat is going to be shed from. Each body is different, and it’s impossible to target fat loss from specific body regions through diet. That being said, exercises can tone muscle, which may then translate into specific body parts looking slimmer. Check out these 30 Most Effective 30-Second Workout Moves to get a jumpstart.



Lose Weight Fast with a Juice Cleanse

Juice cleanses have been touted as a way to lose weight quickly and detox, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Although you may be getting a reduction in calories, you are also ingesting a lot of liquid sugar, which can spike blood sugar and cause weight gain. And depriving yourself is never a good idea.

“Your body goes into conservation mode because it doesn’t know when its next meal is going to be,” says nutritionist Ilyse Schapiro MS, RD, CDN. She reminds us that, even though cutting calories will lead to weight loss, going too low for too long can have the opposite effect. This just one thing that happens to your body on a juice cleanse.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 13 best places to travel in June for every type of traveler

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13 best places to travel in June

  • The best places to visit in June mark the start of tourism season in many places around the world.
  • Business Insider looked at airfare trends, climate data, and peak travel times to find the best places to visit in June 2018.
  • They include natural wonderlands, serene holy sites, and summer solstice parties for the ages.


As spring rolls into summer, tourism season officially kicks off for travelers around the world.

Smart travelers are already planning their summer getaways for June. The first month of summer offers countless incredible experiences, from a nightlong party under the midnight sun in Anchorage, Alaska, to a jungle excursion through the Amazon rainforest.

We looked at airfare trends, climate data, and cultural calendars to select 13 vacation spots that are some of the best places to visit this June.

Read on to find the 13 best places to visit in June.

SEE ALSO: 13 places to visit in May for every type of traveler

DON'T MISS: The 50 best places to live in America for 2018

New York City

Nothing beats summer in New York City. And while there's no bad month to travel to New York, June very well may be the best time to visit.

The beginning of summer brings perfectly balmy weather to the Big Apple — come in August and you might be sweating the day away. June is also when entertainment kicks into high gear, with ample free concerts at Central Park and Prospect Park and world-renowned Shakespeare in the Park performances.

On top of that, June offers memorable cultural events like the annual Gay Pride Parade and the ever-popular Governors Ball festival.

Prices for flights to New York usually trend upward in July and August, when tourism is at its peak, so if you're planning a summer excursion to the big city, you'd be better off booking sooner in the year rather than later.



Portland, Oregon

Travel to Portland in the first month of the summer and you'll get the full experience — clear skies, warm temperatures, gorgeous views, and a streets filled with life and energy.

June is the first month of the year when the average temperature cracks 70 degrees, and it rains just five days of the month, down from 15 earlier in the year. Take advantage of the great weather and enjoy the outdoors, whether it's hiking Mount Hood, going brewery-hopping, checking out a free concert in the park, or taking in the Portland Rose Festival, which offers weeks of events.



Anchorage, Alaska

Summer solstice in Anchorage on June 21 is one event you do not want to miss.

That's when residents of Alaska's biggest city celebrate the longest day of the year, and party with music, food, and entertainment underneath the midnight sun.

Being the northernmost major city in the US, Anchorage allows a cool breath of fresh air for a summer vacation. You can expect temperatures to hover in the 50s and low 60s, which is close to as warm as it gets for most places in Alaska. You'll have more than 18 hours of sunlight a day, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the wildlife and picturesque scenery.



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We went inside Manhattan's newest luxury marijuana dispensary on Fifth Avenue — and it's stunning

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MedMen, weed dispensary, New York City

MedMena cannabis retail company that operates a chain of slick, high-end marijuana dispensaries in California and Nevada (and now New York) has opened a new flagship store on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue — just in time for 420

It's a major bet on the future of marijuana legalization in New York. And contrary to what you might expect, being inside the store is a high-end retail experience.

Take a look inside: 

SEE ALSO: A $1 billion dollar marijuana dispensary chain just opened a store on New York City's fanciest shopping street — and it could signal a huge shift in the industry

MedMen's flagship store, is situated on one of the most famous shopping streets in the world. It's just down the street from Barneys.



The store looks more like a sleek Apple store than what you might expect from a dispensary.



The space is decorated to evoke a high-end experience, throwing the "stoner" stereotype out the window.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The wildest celebrity looks at Coachella

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Every year, A-list celebrities, bloggers, and other festival goers flock to Indio, California, for Coachella— the iconic music festival situated in the desert.

Incredible headlining performers like Beyoncé and The Weeknd are a guarantee at the annual event, but it's the wild sense of fashion that keeps everyone on their toes. Previous years have seen an abundance of flower crowns, neon wigs, glittering body suits, and an array of standout outfits planned meticulously for the two weekends out west. But 2018 attendees seem to be taking a sportier approach to style, swapping florals for cargo and sandals for chunky sneakers.

Take a look at how celebrities like Rihanna, Paris Hilton, and the Victoria's Secret Angels are taking the desert by storm.

Rihanna represented Fenty x Puma in a bubblegum pink bodysuit and black moto pants.

The singer went all-out, hosting an elaborate pool party that tied in the motocross theme with an ATV field, according to W Magazine



Paris Hilton adorned herself in a sheer black dress splashed with a pattern of white stars.

The reality star wore the galaxy-inspired ensemble to Coachella's infamous after party, the Neon Carnival.



Kendall Jenner balanced her tiny bandage crop top with a pair of oversized cargo pants.

She complemented the sporty ensemble with a pair of chunky black sneakers. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

18 things that happy people never do

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  • People who are truly happy learn to prioritize the most meaningful things in life. 
  • They learn how to speak up rather than being cold and giving people the silent treatment.
  • The happiest people keep a list of goals and a bucket list so that way they are more motivated to achieve them.

 

Stress over their love handles

Our culture is saturated with images of "ideal" human bodies so it's totally understandable if the way you see your body is depressing you. But the key to feeling happy isn't to change your body until it's perfect (spoiler alert: there's no such thing), but to learn to love your imperfections, says Erin Olivo, PhD, a clinical psychologist, Columbia University Assistant Professor of Medical Psychology, and author of "Wise Mind Living: Master Your Emotions, Transform Your Life."

"I ask all my patients to make a list of what they think makes a person valuable and worthy of love," she says. "Appearance is almost never on that list, yet when I ask them to list the things they think make them unworthy of happiness, appearance is often the top answer." Bottom line: Your happiness should not be dependent on your appearance. Need more? Try these unusual ways to make yourself feel happy.



Give people the silent treatment

When you're hurting it's natural to want to withdraw but unhappy people make a pattern of punishing others by being cold and silent. The secret to happiness? Talk! "Everyone has a fear of not being loved, but happy people learn to directly ask for (and hopefully receive) love," says Todd Pressman, PhD, licensed psychologist, speaker, and author. "Even if you don't get the answer you want, you will discover that your fear of not being loved is not the 'monster' you thought it was, and this by itself is powerfully healing."



Make the same mistake over and over

It's not that happy people never screw up (oh, if only that were possible!) but rather that when they do make a mistake, they learn from it and move on, says Amy Benton, social worker, life coach and owner of Thrive Life Coaching. Too many of us cling to bad habits, even if they're making us miserable in the long run. "Letting go of past habits is a huge barrier to happiness that you need to overcome if you want to change and experience growth and joy in your life," she says. Not sure where to start? Pick one of these 50 tiny changes that will make you a happier person today.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Photos of what the stars of the NBA playoffs looked like when their careers started

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The NBA playoffs is the stage for the league's stars to shine the brightest.

It's also a reminder of just how far many of these stars have come since their rookie days.

It's easy to forget we've now been watching LeBron James dominate the playoffs for 14 years, or that Stephen Curry was an undersized, baby-faced guard before he evolved into the face of the Warriors. It's easy to forget that James Harden wasn't always so... beard-y.

Take a look at photos of the NBA's biggest stars when their careers began and today.

LeBron James in 2004 (19).



James today (33).



James Harden in 2009 (20).



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25 items from Zara Home that look way more expensive than they actually are

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  • Zara Home is the design store of your dreams if you love minimalist and modern fashion.
  • You can get a beautiful, cotton bedspread $169 or an embroidered one for $399.
  • If you're interested in kitchenware, you can get some in their patterns for only $18. 

Everyone’s favorite modern, minimalist fast-fashion retailer, Zara, is good for way more than just a new spring jumpsuit or sunglasses. For those who aren’t yet aware, Zara Home exists and has everything you could possibly want to amp up your interiors at a price you can stomach.

While you’re busy saving on your new home decor, you can use that extra dough to update your warm-weather wardrobe. A new vibe for your home and your closet — what more could you ask for? Go ahead, click through the slideshow ahead and get ready to order some chic new pieces on a dime.

Zara multiprint blanket

Available for $119 at Zara Home.



Zara earthenware dinner plate with colored stripes,

Available for $18 at Zara Home.



Zara golden geometric ashtray

Available for $20 at Zara Home.



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9 people share the stories of how they cheated — and they're juicier than any TV drama

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Cheating— as in the act of being unfaithful in a relationship— is more complicated than it seems. It is easy enough to say that cheating itself is bad, but when it comes to putting the people who cheat on their partners, or vice versa, in distinct "good" or "bad" categories, things tend to get more difficult to parse. 

Because cheating is so complicated, no matter what one's reasons for cheating may be, the stories behind affairs are almost always decidedly juicy. (There is a reason why they make for the most compelling fodder for supermarket tabloids and prestige drama TV shows.)

To that end, someone recently asked  "cheaters of Reddit" to share stories about how their affairs started and ended

INSIDER was unable to independently verify all of these stories, but you'll enjoy scrolling through them. 

1. She was (accidentally) the other woman.

"I was the mistress in a marriage. The guy was an old boyfriend from high school, we dated off and on. When we were off he would date this other girl, and when we broke up for the final time he went and married her. Almost a year after we broke up, I was back in town on summer break from college and ran into him at my summer job.

He gave me this sob story about how Kelly wanted a divorce and was taking his kid from him. I (stupidly) believed him, we exchanged numbers, started talking daily. He invited me over to 'his' apartment, showed me his divorce paperwork, and ultimately things got sexual for a couple weeks.

One day I swung by to pick up a pair of earrings I'd forgotten the day before. His best friend from high school answered the door. I asked if Guy was around, best friend said no why would he? Turned out Guy was actually house-sitting for best friend, it wasn't his apartment. Best friend also informed me that Guy and his wife were in the process of BUYING A HOUSE, their marriage was fine.

I was livid and disgusted. I went to work the following day, and in walks his wife. I ask her what she's doing later that night and if she's available to talk. We meet up after I get off and I lay it all out for her. She teared up a bit, but ultimately she was pissed. She gives me their address and tells me to show up there unannounced the next day.

I do and Guy is white as a sheet trying to get me to leave. His wife shows up and they end up in a screaming match. So Guy ended up getting divorced and settled with a chunk of child support because his wife informed the right people about Guy's pot plants. None of us talk anymore. When I think about it, I have to shower at least twice." - Reddit user PeanutPhotography



2. He hooked up with an old coworker...then got a picture of a sonogram.

"Was in a five year relationship with my girlfriend at the time. I started to talk to an old coworker from my teens that I always had a thing for, but she lived a couple states away so I knew nothing would come of it. Well, it turns out that she still had family in my area and regularly visited.

We made plans to get some dinner and catch up, for old times' sake. It ended in both of us getting drunk, renting a hotel room and having some fun. This happened a few times over the next several months until I get a text from her... it's a picture of a sonogram of our child.

I was going to come clean to my girlfriend because I never had a father growing up and I didn't want to put my child through that. However, she ending up losing it a month or so into the pregnancy and we stopped talking.

It left me feeling very guilty and anxiety stricken. 0/10 would not do again." - Reddit user RedBombX



3. He met someone who made him believe in love at first sight.

"I was young — 19. I had been with a girl for a year when my parents decided I needed to pay rent, so I found a roommate and got an apartment. Day one I go to the office to turn in my walk through paperwork. The girl in the office made my heart skip. She made me a believer in the idea of love at first sight.

She moved in across from my apartment a couple weeks later and we started to hang out. One night we slept together. The next day I broke up with my girlfriend. Me and new girl talked and we both wanted to be together.

She moved in with me a month later. That was 17 years ago. She's currently asleep upstairs next to our daughter." - Reddit user optimaloutcome



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10 ways that adults can have their own magical experience at Disneyland

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  • Kids aren't the only ones who can have a fun experience at Disneyland.
  • Staying at the parks late at night means you deal with shorter lines and fewer crowds.
  •  You can also find bars that will offer you delicious wines and cocktails that are only meant for adults.

Doing Disneyland with adults is a fantastic experience! You will get to feel like a kid at heart while enjoying some of the finer aspects of a vacation at the Disneyland Resort.

Visiting the original Magic Kingdom of Disneyland without children can be so fun and will make you feel like a kid again.

Here are our top ten items to experience when trying to achieve a successful, adults only Disneyland trip.

Try out the Mandara Spa at the Grand Californian

The Grand Californian is a sight to behold — especially with the recent complete hotel renovation — and its luxurious Mandara Spa is phenomenal. The full-service spa and salon offers skin treatment, massages, manicures, and pedicures. This relaxing environment is the perfect way to kick off your Disneyland for adults only trip.

In fact, you can choose from partial or complete spa treatments from Asian, Indian, Mediterranean, and New World journeys. For instance, you can pamper yourself with the Mandara Coffee Body Polish and Coconut Milk Wrap, or treat yourself to the Exotic Lime and Ginger Salt Glow. Any of these treatments will result in a relaxing, calm experience.



Eat some fine dining

The Disneyland Resort offers some delicious and classy restaurant where you can enjoy a wonderful dining experience. Napa Rose is located in the Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and has a view of the Disney California Adventure Park.

The Napa Rose Wine Pairing Experience is a wonderful way to sample their delectable food and wine offerings. Carthay Circle is in Disney California Adventure Park and has a retro, Hollywood movie feel. Their dinner menu touts some tasteful adult cuisine including entrees such as cedar smoked roast duck breast, holiday prime rib, and sautéed sweet potato gnocchi just to name a few. Steakhouse 55 is in the Disneyland Hotel in a classy, dimly lit setting that includes black and white photos of old Hollywood stars. Here you can enjoy a New York strip steak, filet mignon, cold water lobster tail, and truffled macaroni and cheese. Read our full Disneyland restaurant reviews.



Visit the Animation Academy

Located on Buena Vista Street, the Animation Academy is a hidden gem. This is a perfect Disneyland for adults activity. Every thirty minutes you can pop in and draw a different beloved Disney character under the guidance of a professional Disney artist. Maybe you could even create a special something for your loved one? Even the most unartistic Disney fan can have fun drawing Mickey, Minnie or Stitch in this setting.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The new 'God of War' is one of the best-looking games ever made — see for yourself

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god of war ps4

The new "God of War" game, which launches as a PlayStation 4 exclusive this week, is one of the best-looking games ever made. Period.

Sony was kind enough to provide us with a review copy of the game a few weeks before launch, but while we don't want to spoil the game or any of its many surprises, we'd love to give you an idea of the kind of visual treat customers are in for.

All of these images show actual gameplay, and were captured on a PlayStation 4. Note: The thin black bars around the screen are present if you play the regular PS4 version of "God of War," but do not exist on the PlayStation 4 Pro version. It's hardly noticeable, but makes it possible for this incredibly visual game to run on years-old hardware.

Take an early look at "God of War" (don't worry — no spoilers here):







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This is how strong your relationship is, according to your zodiac sign

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Young Couple Kissing Paris

  • Depending on your zodiac sign, you might behave very differently in a relationship.
  • Virgos are practical thinkers and known for their thoughtful words and compassionate actions.
  • Libras are the true masters of relationships because of their abilities to understand other people's perspectives.

We all need strength in our relationships; it's important you're able to identify the signs of how people express their strength.

Let’s steer into the grim reality — all relationships deal with rough patches, some more than others. And the only way to persevere through times of uncertainty is to showcase strength. Each zodiac sign has different capabilities and skills, you need to recognize where and what they excel at doing. Each symbol can prove their strength when faced with seemingly insurmountable odds. The real question is: how do you keep the relationship stable, robust and fulfilling?

What makes a world of difference when forming a healthy relationship is knowing what enables each zodiac sign to step up to the plate when it gets dark. When you can recognize these triggers, you can transform a bleak relationship into an inseparable bond. We are all striving for a sense of companionship in our lives, and the more we begin to understand the zodiac sign we’re involved with, the easier it is for them to prove their strength.

Fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius): Your optimism makes your relationships stronger than ever

Fire signs are enthusiastic and optimistic. When you are dealing with ups and downs, you rise to the occasion and conquer their problems. You believe in standing by your partner and making a way out of no way. The unwavering faith you possess will propel your relationship through the flames and make it whole again.

You're straightforward, honest and persistent. Any problems you encounter in your relationship displays new opportunities. Adversity is perceived as a function to create a closer bond, and ultimately, strengthen the ties you have so you can evolve together. The conviction you have for execution is forthright in finding a way to take the relationship to the next level. You always act intuitively and understand how to let your flame of passion create a deep romanticism in your relationship.



Aries: Your ability to communicate is key

Aries are charismatic and covey points efficiently in your relationship. You understand the importance of communication; aren't afraid of taking risks and actively pursue a higher meaning and purpose for your relationship. You feel the need to initiate under any circumstances. Excitement is an emotion they have mastered, and they bring it into your contact effortlessly.

Aries believe in expressing their feelings bluntly when they fall in love. Take a fearless approach to relationships and see the bigger picture for what it is. Backing down from the opportunity for love is ludicrous for you to consider. The larger the obstacle is, the quicker you tackle it and take it down. Bravery is a joy they experience in your relationship.



Leo: Your self-confidence makes it hard for anyone to resist you

Leos are creative, passionate and generous individuals, who will plan surprise vacations and lavish romantic getaways. You have a cheerful and humorous personality, they grow accustomed to love you dearly. Self-confidence and astounding creativity make it hard for you to resist them in times of duress. Commitment is a trait you value and actively search for in your relationship. You are caring and evaluate the needs of your partner, and look after them in times of distress and discomfort. They praise and flatter you with any opportunity you give them to be vocal.

Magnetism is a trait Leos have a natural disposition for showcasing to the world; you gravitate towards others, the closer you become. Your warm-hearted nature demands it. You believe being faithful is the only option in a relationship and love when the same feelings reciprocate.



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I went to Coachella but I don't plan on going back — here's why it doesn't live up to the hype

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  • Coachella is a famous festival in Southern California that's sprinkled with celebrities, star performers, and Instagrammable artwork.
  • But the experience was overpriced and unorganized.
  • Although I did have a good time overall, I don't think I'd ever go back.


Coachella is nothing if not an experience. From the iconic ferris wheel and stunning art installations to the sheer star power and celeb-filled shows, it seems like a pop culture lover's daydream. My experience was one I'll never forget (for a lot of reasons), but Coachella mostly didn't live up to my expectations. So much so that I don't think I would go back.

Don't get me wrong. Coachella had some of the coolest stage set-ups and live performances I've ever seen. Beyoncé was literal perfection and absolutely shook me to my core, but outside of its stellar lineup and etheral and sunny landscape, the experience was less than perfect.

The food and alcohol weren't good and were way too expensive.

When I first saw all the food options that Coachella was going to offer, I was pretty excited. They had everything from corndogs to ramen, but almost none of it lived up to the hype. It didn't help that a simple corndog cost $11 and $14 if you wanted a foot-long. By my estimation, that's $1 per bite. There were only two beer offerings by the larger stages with all the big acts, and even those cost $11 a pop.

Various tents on the festival grounds had different and unique drink options, but those weren't worth the higher price point, either. My friend ordered a sangria on the first day and said it tasted like Crystal Light and basil. She never went back.



You couldn't drink alcohol outside of small designated areas.

When I first learned you couldn't take beer out onto the larger festival grounds, I felt like a kid being scolded for drinking juice on the carpet. But after I thought about it for a while, I realized they were keeping the beer-drinkers quarantined in order to keep the stage areas clean.

This shouldn't have been something we learned after we arrived, though. Coachella sent multiple emails hyping the food and drinks over the weekend, but nowhere did we see that alcohol would only be allowed in designated areas.



The water filling stations were pitiful.

Our reusable water bottles found some use over the weekend, but they certainly weren't being used for their original purpose. On the first day of the festival, it took us nearly an hour to find the first water filling station. It was tiny, pushed to the back of the park, and was barely marked. With the water filling stations pushed to the remote corners of the grounds, it essentially forced the desert festival attendees to purchase water. A plastic water bottle cost $2, and I ended up buying water every day. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

7 stylish subscription boxes for guys who want to dress well but hate shopping

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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.

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You can get just about anything delivered to your front door on a monthly basis — and clothing subscriptions are one of the most useful online services available.

For most guys, shopping is a hassle. Whether you need some assistance in the style department or you just don't have the time to scour the web for good deals on clothes, subscription boxes are an easy way to be fashionable, while saving money and time. 

As online clothing subscriptions become increasingly popular, they're getting even better at accurately meeting your needs and wants. From full outfits and shoes, to essentials like socks and underwear, there are some really great options out there. 

If you're looking to revamp your wardrobe, sock drawer, or simply need a few stylish accessories to improve your look, you're in the right place. 

We rounded up the 7 best clothing subscription services for men. Check them out below.

Menlo House

$60 per month styling fee, plus the cost of whatever you keep.

Founded by Andres Izquieta and Dee Murthy in Los Angeles, Menlo House (formerly known as Five Four) is the largest platform of vertically-integrated men's fashion and lifestyle brands. Through their subscription service, Menlo Club, the brand creates stylish looks using its own brands — Five Four, New Republic by Mark McNairy, and Grand AC. 

For $60 a month, you'll receive an individually curated package of up to three items like shirts, pants, jackets, shorts, shoes, and accessories. You only pay for what you keep (on top of the styling fee), and you can cancel your membership at anytime, so don't worry about having to make a long-term commitment. 

What I like best about Menlo Club is that the different brands alternate as focal points on a monthly basis. My first month I received Five Four clothing, followed by New Republic Kurt Leather sneakers. Since the subscription has plenty of its own brands to pull from, they're easily able to match your style preferences outlined in the quiz. For a limited time, you can get 50% off your first package and a free pair of sunglasses.

Click "Join the Club" at the top right to sign up for the Menlo Club subscription service.



Bombfell

$20 styling fee, plus the cost of clothes in your desired budget. Keep 4 or more items and save 20%.

Bombfell requires users to take a quiz to help determine their style, but that's just about where the similarities to other boxes end. It uses a very thorough quiz to ensure you get items that lend well to your style and that fit great. In addition to typical questions about body measurements and clothing size, they quiz asks you to describe your style, favorite brands, and even items you never wear (a feature I really like, as it saves plenty of time and aggravation in the long run).

The brand uses "human-in-the-loop" artificial intelligence, which takes the data from your quiz to generate recommended style picks. Then, a Bombfell stylist uses information to hand pick items for you. After your style picks are made, you can preview them, and even communicate with your stylist to make future changes and get style advice. The end result is a satisfying box every time. Read my full review on the Bombfell subscription service here.

Get started on a Bombfell subscription here.



Frank and Oak

Set your budget at less than $150 or $150 and up.

Founded in 2012 by childhood friends Ethan Song and Hicham Ratnani, Frank And Oak is a sustainable clothing startup that makes stylish wardrobe essentials more affordable for men. While the brand does have a traditional online shop, the Style Plan allows you to get clothing on a monthly basis. Unlike other subscriptions that pull products from a pool of brands, Frank And Oak's Style Plan only uses its own designs. If you're a fan of a minimal aesthetic or interested in building an wardrobe filled with basic essentials — not weird graphic tees and funky sweaters you would have never bought in a store — then Frank and Oak is leaps and bounds better than most other subscription boxes.

With each of the pieces I tried priced at $70 or less, I was pleasantly surprised at how well made they were. In addition to having control over what subscription items you keep, you can also buy individual items from the Frank And Oak Collection — and Style Plan members receive exclusive discounted prices. Read my full review on the Frank And Oak Style Plan here.

Sign up for the Frank And Oak Style Plan here.

Shop the Frank And Oak apparel collection here.



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10 celebrities who crashed high school proms

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High school proms are an excuse to dress up and dance the night away with best friends and classmates, but these fun experiences can be even more memorable if a random celebrity shows up.

Katy Perry once showed up to an Australian prom and sang Beyoncé. Another time, Jason Derulo put on a mini show for some students. They aren't the only ones. 

Here are 10 celebrities who crashed a prom. 

Kylie Jenner took a student to prom after finding out that he didn't have a date.

Kylie Jenner and Jordyn Woods took student Albert Ochoa to prom in 2017. Jenner took notice of Ochoa, a student at Rio Americano High School in Sacramento, California, on social media after friends shared posts that he needed a date to prom.

Teens shared tons of videos on their social media of the chaos that ensued when Jenner showed up with Ochoa. Part of the prom was shown on an episode of "Life of Kylie."



Rihanna was on an episode of "Once Upon a Prom."

The MTV series "Once Upon a Prom" paired a celebrity with a normal high school student for prom. In a 2007 episode, Rihanna surprised a kid named Richard from Tampa, Florida. She wore a blue dress and even posed for prom photos.



Taylor Swift and her best friend Abigail went to a prom thanks to MTV's "Once Upon a Prom," too.

Taylor Swift and Abigail picked names out of a hat and chose high school senior Whit Wright from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She pulled up to his house in a large tour bus before the two went to prom together.



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40 signs you're an adult even if you feel like you're not

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new girl

Over the past few years, the word "adulting" has become a popular way to describe the process of growing up and learning how to be independent.

Some big-picture concepts or responsibilities you might associate with adulthood include paying the bills, finding a career path, and figuring out your purpose in life. But a new study found that some people also define "adulting" by a number of simple activities that you probably do every day.

In a recent survey of 2,000 millennials, Mattress Firm asked participants to identify what they believe are the milestones of adulthood. As it turns out, millennials think that doing laundry, washing dishes, and taking showers are all signs of being a mature adult.

Read on to see 40 relatable ways that you're becoming a functioning adult, according to millennials, even if it doesn't feel like it.

You have a steady job.

According to Mattress Firm's study, 78% of millennials think steady work is the number one indication of being a true adult.



You're financially independent.

Mattress Firm found that 52% of the millennials surveyed think the current economic climate hinders their ability to grow up.



You pay bills on your own.

Over 35% of millennials pay off their credit cards each month.



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Here's what 14 movies looked like before and after CGI

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Before Harry Potter soared across Hogwarts on a broomstick, he was just Daniel Radcliffe balancing on a broom in a studio's green screen room.

The fantastical universes of great movies are made with CGI special effects. But before they can be rendered by visual effects artists, filmmakers first need to put the actors in strange situations.

To play the dragon Smaug in the "Hobbit" movies, for example, Benedict Cumberbatch wore a motion capture suit and roared while crawling around on the floor. And to play a raccoon-like alien in "Guardians of the Galaxy," Bradley Cooper strapped up in a full-body green suit.

Here's what 14 movie scenes look like without the CGI effects.

"Beauty and the Beast" created a magical world where Emma Watson, as Belle, dances with a beast.

The 2017 adaptation of "Beauty and the Beast" had lavish sets and costumes, as well as some CGI magic that made Dan Stevens look like a prince-turned-beast.



In reality, Dan Stevens wore a goofy outfit to play the beast.

Behind the scenes, Stevens wore a 40-pound padded gray onesie that bulked him up and allowed the movie magic to happen. The suit tracked his movements and allowed the post-production team to build the beast digitally to scale while tracking his movements.

"With the size and mass and shape of the Beast, so yeah, it was a whole combination of things — vocal exploration, dance, singing, movement, the whole package of challenges, really," Stevens told People.



The big egg-like spaceships loomed over "Arrival."

In 2016's "Arrival," alien "landing sites" floated in different spots around the world. The one Amy Adams visited had rolling, magical fog that added a mysterious effect



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A new era of diplomatic relations with North Korea is on the horizon — here's what's happened so far

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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



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We took a 1,000-horsepower electric luxury sedan for a spin on the streets of Silicon Valley

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Lucid Air

We have driven, reported on, road-tripped, and talked about our fair share of electric and hybrid vehicles at Business Insider. These are exciting times for a technology that was born more than 100 years ago, but only started to gain steam in the last 20 years with the Toyota Prius.

Electric-vehicle sales reached a milestone in 2017, crossing the one-million-vehicle threshold for that year. Nearly 200,000 of those plug-in vehicles— up from about 159,000 in 2016.

That growth has spurred a whole new class of EVs from investor-funded startups. While many of these companies poach engineering and design talent from big-name automakers, the new companies themselves have never mass-produced a car before. It might be a stretch to call it an automotive renaissance, but it's starting to look that way.

Still, one thing remains the same — it is incredibly difficult to start a car company. Tesla CEO Elon Musk probably knows this better than anyone. Tesla is the first American automaker to go public since Ford Motor Company in 1956, but it took Tesla and its stakeholders nearly two decades and many hundreds of millions of dollars to get there.

Lucid Air

And as we have learned in the last couple years from the scandal-plagued electric-car startup, Faraday Future, the business of designing and building cars can easily lose traction if just enough things go sideways.

Nevertheless, a handful of electric-car startups in California are undeterred, and they are vying to bring the next mass-produced luxury electric vehicle to market.

Lucid Motors is one of those companies. Founded in 2007 under its former name, Atieva, the Newark, California-based company began developing its first electric vehicle in 2014.

The car, called Lucid Air, debuted in late 2016 as a 1,000-horsepower electric luxury sedan that Lucid said would rival Tesla's highly successful Model S.

Among other investors, Lucid is also backed by Venrock — the same venture capital firm that led Apple's Series A round in 1978.

A company spokesman told Business Insider Lucid has raised several hundred million dollars to date. The spokesman declined to give specific dollar figures. Lucid was preparing to close its Series D round fundraiser in January.

The Lucid Air will be the first vehicle out of the company's stable when it goes into production in 2019, the company said. Lucid invited Business Insider to check out a nearly finished representation of the car at its headquarters.

Scroll down to see how it went:

SEE ALSO: Tesla's largest US Supercharger station has a plush, private customer lounge in the middle of a folksy California town — take a look inside

DON'T MISS: We drove the all-new $644,000 Rolls-Royce Phantom to see the future of automotive opulence — here's what it was like

The Lucid Air is almost surreal when seen outside in natural light. It's not a complete stretch to say it looks like a road-bound spacecraft.



Everything from the windshield forward evokes a nearly seamless aesthetic. It has a quietly commanding presence.



Quiet because it's electric, of course. The Air will be available with a battery pack that boasts about 240 miles of range on a full charges, or an optional pack that's expected to deliver up to 400 miles of range.



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The market is stuck in a traffic jam — so Goldman Sachs has picked 14 stocks set to break the gridlock by exploding higher

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Traffic Jam

  • There's gridlock in the US equity market, with intra-stock correlations sitting close to their highest level on record.
  • Goldman Sachs has identified 14 stocks that are operating with a mind of their own and seem to offer a big upside.

Stocks in the US market are increasingly following the herd, and it has created a huge dilemma for investors who prove their bona fides picking single companies.

Goldman Sachs finds that stock correlations within the benchmark S&P 500 have surged into the 95th percentile since 1980. In addition, average three-month correlations have spiked by 43 percentage points since January, which is the fastest and biggest increase since the 1987 market crash.

To put it in the simplest terms, this indicates that the US equity market is mired in a traffic jam in which almost everyone is stuck moving in the same direction. This makes it exceedingly difficult to generate returns when a broad move transpires, simply because there are so few outliers. Stock pickers loathe this correlation for these reasons.

Screen Shot 2018 04 19 at 3.19.00 PM

So how did we get here? For one, the rapid rise of exchange-traded funds and passive investing has resulted in traders buying and selling large swaths of the market at once, leaving little room for single-stock fluctuations. Goldman also notes that large pullbacks in stocks have been driven largely by valuation concerns, rather than individual company earnings.

The firm knows it has become a difficult environment, and it's here to help. Its chief US equity strategist, David Kostin, has calculated a so-called dispersion score for each S&P 500 company, for which he factors in (1) the proportion of returns driven by company-specific factors and (2) Goldman's forecast of the volatility associated with the proportion of return attributable to those micro factors.

"Stocks with high dispersion scores are more likely to have heightened responses to idiosyncratic news and present the best alpha generation opportunities," Kostin wrote in a recent client note.

Goldman then takes its analysis a step further and identifies the companies within the high-dispersion universe that have the biggest upside to the firm's price target.

Without further ado, here are the 14 high-dispersion stocks, arranged in increasing order of which ones have the biggest upside to current trading levels:

SEE ALSO: The stock market's 'secret medication for longevity' has vanished — and that leaves it highly vulnerable to a meltdown

14. Take-Two Interactive

Ticker: TTWO

Industry: Information technology

Market cap: $11 billion

Dispersion score: 2.7

Upside to Goldman target: 37%



13. Tyson Foods

Ticker: TSN

Industry: Consumer staples

Market cap: $21 billion

Dispersion score: 1.8

Upside to Goldman target: 37%



12. Broadcom

Ticker: AVGO

Industry: Information technology

Market cap: $99 billion

Dispersion score: 2.5

Upside to Goldman target: 40%



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Inside the Chinese tropical island dubbed the 'Hawaii of the East,' which the Communist elite is making a hotspot for gambling, tech, and luxury

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hainan phoenix island

China is planning to transform an island the size of a small country into a sprawling hub for foreign investment, gambling, tourism, and luxury.

Xi Jinping's government announced its plans for Hainan last month. It said it would encourage the horse racing, gambling, and water sports industries to the island known as the "Hawaii of the East."

This is a big deal: The Chinese Communist Party bans its members from playing golf, prohibits gambling, and only allows occasional horse-racing.

Scroll down to learn more about the island destined to become China's biggest playground.

The island of Hainan is located in southern China. Its Chinese name — 海南 — means "south of the sea." Its population is around 9 million, and its landmass is around the size of Belgium.



Many ad campaigns and news outlets have described the island as the "Hawaii of China" or the "Hawaii of the East."



It certainly looks very different to other pollution-ridden Chinese cities like Beijing.



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