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I tried to climb the 'plank walk' in China known as 'the most dangerous hike in the world,' but just getting there was the hardest part

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mount huashan

  • The Plank Walk on China's Mount Hua is considered by many to be one of the most dangerous hikes in the world.
  • Hikers walk across a few planks of wood bolted into the side of a 7,000-foot peak to reach a small shrine. While hikers are harnessed, it is a terrifying adventure.
  • I recently tried to do the Plank Walk on a visit to Mount Hua, but encountered obstacle after obstacle that prevented me from completing it. While hiking Mount Hua was an incredible adventure, I was never able to make to the Plank Walk due to massive crowds and bad timing.

You've probably seen the photos of tourists hanging off the side of a stunning mountain. Or else, walking across a few thin planks bolted into a mountainside, their faces buzzing with adrenaline.

When I found out that the site of those photos is in China, I decided that I had to visit on an upcoming trip to the country.

Located about an hour from Xi'an, one of China's most popular cities for tourists, Mount Hua or Huashan (shan means mountain in Mandarin) is considered to be one of the world's most dangerous places to hike.

The mountain is considered to be one of China's five sacred mountains and is one of the most popular tourist attractions and pilgrimage sites for Chinese people.

The mountain actually has five main peaks — a North, South, East, West, and Center. The infamous plank walk is located on the mountain's highest peak, South, which has a height of 7,070 feet. 

But nothing went quite as planned on my trip.

Here's what happened:

SEE ALSO: I visited the viral, 1,400-foot glass bridge in China — and it was a traveler's worst nightmare

To get to Mount Hua from Xi'an, you have to take a 40-minute bullet train to a 30-minute minibus that takes you to the base of the mountain. But due to a quirk in China's train ticketing (they stop selling 30 minutes before the train departs), I couldn't get on the 8:30 a.m. train.



While a train runs every 30 minutes for most of the day, for some reason, there were no trains until 10 a.m after the 8:30 a.m. That meant that I didn't even get to the base of the mountain until a bit after 11 a.m. Some people start hiking the mountain before sunrise to see everything.



The view from the bottom of Mount Hua is lush. It looks less like a single mountain than a series of granite peaks cut into a valley laden with greenery. Knowing that hiking Mount Hua's five peaks can take between 5-7 hours depending on your fitness level, our only chance to make it to the "plank walk" was to take the cable car.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Taylor Swift is worth more than $300 million — see her bicoastal mansions, lavish vacations, and generous gifts to fans and friends

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taylor swift concert


Taylor Swift never fails to impress.

At 15 years old, she was the youngest songwriter to ever sign with Sony. She now has 10 Grammys on her shelf, several tours under her belt (including one that generated a staggering quarter of a billion dollars), an endless list of chart-topping songs and albums, and a beloved fan base who dub themselves "Swifties."

Such success makes Swift one of the world's highest-paid celebrities and one of the richest female singers. According to Forbes, she has an estimated net worth of $320 million — and that's only expected to rise once her current six-month Reputation Stadium Tour wraps up later this year.

Swift has been strategic and generous with her money, investing in a sprawling $84 million real estate portfolio and often donating it to causes she supports and people in need.

Below, see how Swift earns and spends her fortune.

SEE ALSO: Taylor Swift owns at least $84 million in real estate across four states — and she's not even 30

DON'T MISS: The Obamas are worth 30 times more than when they entered the White House in 2008 — here's how they spend their millions

Taylor Swift currently has an estimated net worth of $320 million, which has grown due to her music, merchandise, and endorsements.

Source: Forbes



Ever the superstar, Swift's endorsement deals and partnerships are with high-profile brands, including Keds, Diet Coke, CoverGirl, and Apple, which bring in a lot of income.

Source:Money



Swift has had a long-term partnership with Diet Coke since 2013, which has involved her chatting about her love for the drink in a "Bon Appetit" interview and holding the drink while on camera.

Source:Hollywood Reporter, Variety



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The best adjustable bed frames you can buy

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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.

best adjustable bed frame

The Insider Pick:

  • Adjustable bed frames can help you sleep perfectly because they are much more customizable than your average bed frame or mattress.

  • The Nectar Adjustable Bed Frame is the best one we've tried because it has zero-gravity presets, a three-zone massage setting, two USB ports for charging, and a reasonable price.

There’s a new trend taking over the bedrooms of America, and it seems to be inspired by hospitals and dentists. Don’t scoff — As it turns out, the adjustable beds and chairs of some of our least favorite environments have made their way into our homes, and you just may be surprised by how pleasant a moving bedframe is when it’s coupled with your television rather than an overhead fluorescent light.

It’s official, friends. Adjustable bed frames are now about as commonly peddled as smart speakers, and honestly, it’s about time. As it turns out, it doesn’t matter how comfortable your mattress is if the frame beneath it doesn’t provide the adequate support. And if that frame can, in fact, be adjusted to suit your particular sleeping needs, then all the better.

When it comes to picking the right adjustable bed frame, you’ll want to keep a few things in mind. First off, are you sleeping alone or with another person? Many companies are offering split king sizes, which allow you to actually control each side of the bed separately.

You’ll also want to consider whether you prefer to make minute adjustments to your sleeping position yourself, or if you’d rather the sleep experts at various companies create presets for you. Some adjustable frames have a number of built-in settings, like anti-snore and zero gravity. Others just hand you the reins and allow you to raise or lower your head and feet without making any suggestions of their own.

Then, you might keep in mind the extent to which you do work in bed. If you’re like me and are looking to turn your bedroom into your home office in every sense of the word, you probably want to pick a higher tech bed frame that comes with USB ports and outlets, so that you can work where you sleep (or vice versa, though that somehow seems sadder).

Some adjustable bed frames come with a few extra bells and whistles, like massage functions and telescopic legs for various bed frame height preferences. Just keep those additional features in mind when deciding which is best for you.

That said, regardless of which frame you pick among our favorites, we’ve no doubt that you’ll be getting some of the best sleep of your life.  

Here are the best adjustable bed frames you can buy:

Read on in the slides below to check out our top picks.

The best adjustable bed frame overall

Why you'll love it: The Nectar adjustable base has it all — anti-snore and zero-gravity presets, a three-zone massage setting, two USB ports for easy charging, and best of all, a reasonable price.

Nectar seems to be something of a unicorn when it comes to adjustable bases. Not only is it relatively affordable, starting at $649 for a Twin XL, but it also comes with practically every single bell and whistle you could hope for.

First and foremost, I was impressed by how quickly the bed frame was delivered, and more importantly, how quickly it could be set up. All I had to do was screw in the legs, and as Nectar promised, there were no tools necessary. The frame isn't the most elaborate of designs and it's simple enough to fit with just about any aesthetic. When paired with my pine-colored bedroom furniture, the dark grey frame and its six black legs seemed to blend right in.

Once everything is set up, then you really get to experience the magic that is an adjustable bed frame. The Nectar bed frame is controlled by an easy-to-use remote control that lifts the head region, the foot area, or both, simultaneously. You can either manually select how far up or down you want to go or opt for one of Nectar's presets. There's an anti-snore button that raises your torso quite a bit, slightly elevates your legs, and purports to help you sleep more quietly. While I can't vouch for whether or not this works for snorers, it is a remarkably comfortable position to sleep in regardless.

There's also a TV button, which won't control your television set, but will adjust you to the perfect reclining position for watching your favorite shows. Or, if you'd prefer to simulate what it's like to sleep in a zero gravity setting, you can push the ZG button on the top right of the remote. I wasn't a huge fan of this particular setting (it elevates your legs way up), but hey, to each her own.

The Nectar remote also comes with three memory buttons that allow you to program your own perfect sleeping positions. Just manually adjust the bed to your liking, and have the remote remember it by pressing either M1, M2, or M3.

Nectar's three-zone massage is not the most comprehensive or intense massage you've ever received, but if you're just looking to wind down after a long day, or need a little bit of help falling asleep, this function gets it done with its slight vibrations. You can choose to focus on your head region or your feet, and the vibrations of the bed certainly helped me relax at day's end.

As for tech-forward features, on the right side of the frame are two USB ports, so you can charge your smartphone without having to find a plug on the wall. Atop the remote is a handy little flashlight, so if you need to find your way to the bathroom in the middle of the night, you won't have to flip on every light switch in your room or the hallway.

Pros: Affordable for an adjustable base, great presets, USB ports, pleasant massage experience

Cons: While the flashlight on the remote is handy, underbed lighting is probably a better way to provide some extra illumination at night

Buy the Nectar Adjustable Bed Frame in Twin XL ($649), Full ($699), Queen ($799), King ($1,199), or Split King ($1,298) 

Read our full review



The best decked-out adjustable bed frame

Why you'll love it:  If you want to turn your bed into a central command station, then the Reverie 9T Adjustable Foundation is definitely the way to go. 

If you want to turn your bed into a home office, a spa, and a wireless charging pad, the Reverie 9T Adjustable Foundation is your solution. This adjustable base manages to be much more than an attractive and comfortable bed frame with a veritable cornucopia for extra features that you never even knew you wanted.

Whether you prefer to sleep with your legs and head slightly elevated or want to sleep in a totally different configuration than your partner, the Reverie is here to ensure that you get one of the best night's sleep of your life. Not only is the deck-on-deck design extremely supportive (it comprises an upholstered, movable foundation atop a solid lower), but more importantly, it's extremely customizable.

With the quickly rechargeable LED-screen remote, you can elevate just about any part of the bed to your comfort level. I found this to be particularly useful when I was working on my laptop in bed. Rather than having to create a veritable pillow fort in order to properly prop up my body to what I hoped was an ergonomic position, I could instead bring up the upper part of the mattress so that I was practically sitting in a recliner. You can also elevate the lower part of the bed, of course, if you prefer to sleep with your legs slightly lifted, or bring both sides of the bed up simultaneously.

The remote control comes with presets for Anti-Snore, which is some proprietary combination of moving your head and legs up in such a manner that you apparently breathe more freely when you're asleep, and Zero Gravity, which seems to be all the rage but I find decidedly uncomfortable. While I'm sure some folks feel like they're floating when they're nearly folded in half, I didn't get the appeal. But of course, that's the beauty of the Reverie. If you don't like one position, it's just a couple touches of a button before you're in a much more comfortable place.

The Reverie also features lumbar support, which you can adjust by degree as per your personal needs. You'd be surprised what a couple adjustments on that setting can do for you — even if you don't have back pain, having more fulsome support definitely makes a difference.

But wait, you say. What if I find the perfect setting for me, but my partner doesn't agree? As it turns out, Reverie has a solution for that, too. The split-king model of this bed frame actually allows you to control the two sides of your bed completely independently. So if your significant other needs to stop snoring and you want to sleep at a 90-degree angle, you can both win. Who needs compromise in a relationship when you have an adjustable bed frame?

But aside from the Reverie's virtues as a bed, it also boasts a couple of extra bells and whistles that make it particularly attractive. For example, there's the 3D Wave massage therapy aspect — it comes in four waves and a whopping 10 intensities. Some massage chairs don't even feature that much optionality. Additionally, the bed has a charging pad that can wirelessly charge compatible smartphones, or for those of us without a phone capable of induction charging, there's also a USB port. Honestly, it's like you don't even have to ever leave your bed.

As wonderful as everything about the Reverie is, I should certainly point out that this kind of luxury comes at a price. If you're not looking to spend at least $1,000 on a bed frame, you may want to look elsewhere. But while the price is steep, the sleep you'll be able to get on a mattress atop this frame is pretty priceless.

Pros: Great lumbar support, great massage function, wireless charging pad

Cons: The Reverie 9T is pricey — it starts at $1,399 for a twin xl, and goes all the way up to $2,798 for a split king

Buy the Reverie 9T Adjustable Foundation at Raymour and Flanigan for $1,399 (twin xl), $1,499 (queen), or $2,798 (split king) 

Read our full review



The best no-fuss adjustable bed frame

Why you'll love it: “No fuss” and adjustable base may seem a bit oxymoronic, but of course, Leesa was able to conquer the challenge with its simple yet oh-so-effective adjustable base.

I've always been a huge fan of Leesa's mattresses, and so it came as no surprise that its new adjustable base is a real game changer when it comes to restfulness, too. While it doesn't have all the bells and whistles that some other adjustable bases do, it makes up for it with its whisper-quiet motor that will let you adjust your sleeping position without disturbing your partner or your cat or whatever.

First off — setup. The base is heavy, and there's no getting around it. The whole package weighs in at just under 150 pounds, so unless you're superhuman, you'll probably want a friend to help you bring it into your home. But once that's squared away, the actual assembly of the base is extremely straightforward.

Instructions are clear and parts are relatively sparse, so once you've screwed in the legs and secured everything, you're ready to rock and roll. Alternatively, you could pay an additional $100 for the white glove delivery and setup service, though frankly, I'm not sure how necessary that really is.

Like the Leesa mattress, simplicity is truly at the heart of this design. You won't find tons of extraneous buttons on the remote for this base, nor will you have the option to have your bed give you a massage. Instead, the Leesa frame's main purpose is to allow you to configure your bed and mattress to the exact position you need to achieve optimal rest.

Working in tandem with both the Leesa mattress and the Sapira mattress, this base lets you adjust both the head and foot of the bed with the accompanying remote control, which comes with just seven buttons. You have the option of raising or lowering each side separately, or simultaneously if you're looking to be a bit more efficient.

I found in sleeping that the minutia you're able to achieve with the adjustments go a long way in alleviating pain and pressure. As it turns out, I do well with my legs and head just barely elevated. The last button on the remote controls the under-bed light, which is useful for all those midnight bathroom runs.

While the Leesa Adjustable Base doesn't come with built-in presets like anti-snore or zero gravity, I found that I preferred the entirely customized approach. With other adjustable bases, I tended to default to the presets that the company had already provided, whereas with Leesa, I was forced to do a bit more experimentation. Sure, it was a bit time-consuming on the front end, but I certainly ended up with a much more me-specific sleeping position when it came time for bed.

Another great thing to note about the Leesa — it comes with adjustable telescoping legs on its split king version, which allow you to actually change the height of your mattress. I found that useful for deciding exactly how much under-bed storage I really needed. These adjustable legs also allow you to sleep in a different position from your partner, and because the motor of the Leesa is so quiet (notably so when compared to other bases), you can change your own position in the middle of the night without worrying about waking up your bedmate.

If you sleep with a partner, the king size ($1,745) allows you to individually control each sleeper’s position via two twin XL mattresses, so you can position your side however you like.

The design of the Leesa Adjustable Base closely mirrors that of its mattresses, with its gray upholstery and two white stripes running horizontally across the bottom of the bed. And while that makes for an aesthetically consistent look when paired with your Leesa mattress, this base works well with just about any topper — I used a DreamCloud mattress I was also reviewing at the time with mine to great success.

As for the pricing, this is one adjustable base that actually won't break the bank. A Twin XL will actually set you back under $900, while a Queen is a relatively reasonable $1,045. And like other Leesa products, this base comes with a 100-night trial, so you can sleep on it for three months to ensure it's something you want to keep around.

Pros: Great value, super quiet motor, underbed lighting for midnight bathroom runs  

Cons: Some folks may prefer to have a few preset positions to start off with

Buy the Leesa Adjustable Base for $875 (Twin XL), $1,045 (Queen), or $1,745 (King/California King) 

Read our full review



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We went shopping at Nordstrom and Macy's to see which was a better department store, and the winner was clear (JWN, M)

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macy's 1900

  • Nordstrom and Macy's are two of the most popular department stores in the United States.
  • On Thursday, Nordstrom reported that comparable sales were up 4% in the second quarter. On Wednesday, Macy's reported that comparable sales were up 0.5% in the second quarter.
  • The stores have a lot of similarities, such as store credit cards, in-store pickup for online orders, and same-day delivery. But when we visited both, we found one store had much more to offer than the other. 

Nordstrom and Macy's are two of the most popular department stores in the United States.

But department stores are no longer in their heyday. The rise of e-commerce, declining foot traffic to malls, and a higher demand for off-price products are just some of the factors that have caused department stores to suffer in recent years. Several department-store chains, including Macy's and JCPenney, have recently closed locations across the country as they struggle to adapt to shoppers' changing habits.

When we visited Nordstrom and Macy's, however, the two department stores appeared to be in pretty good shape. Both were spotless, with extravagant displays and hardly anything out of place. On Thursday, Nordstrom reported that comparable sales were up 4% in the second quarter. Macy's reported on Wednesday that comparable sales were up 0.5% in the most recent quarter, marking the third consecutive quarter of sales growth for the brand. 

The stores have a lot of similarities, both offering store credit cards, in-store pickup for online orders, and same-day delivery. Both also offer free shipping and returns, with Nordstrom handling returns on a case-by-case basis and Macy's accepting products within 180 days. 

Even though the department stores are very similar, one of them had a lot more to offer in-store than the other. Here's what we found when we shopped at each:

SEE ALSO: 13 things you probably didn't know about '2-buck Chuck,' Trader Joe's notoriously cheap wine

I went to the Nordstrom store in The Westchester Mall.



Immediately on the first floor were the shoe department and the men's department. Each of the departments took up half of the floor. The shoe department carried brands like Nike, Converse, and Vans, as well as designer brands like Gucci and Prada.



The men's department carried what seemed like an endless amount of formal wear from brands like Ted Baker London and Bonobos. There was also Topman shop within Nordstrom that carried more casual clothes.



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13 of the best beauty products from e.l.f. Cosmetics under $25

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applying makeupE.l.f. Cosmetics, or "eyes lip face," is a budget-friendly, cruelty-free, and (mostly) vegan beauty brand that offers some high-quality makeup. 

Many e.l.f. products cost under $10— and some can even be purchased for as little as $1. Though some products cost a bit more, the brand still manages to maintain a price point that's generally under $25. 

Here is a list of some of the best e.l.f. Cosmetics products with prices ranging from $1 to $24.

1. The Rose Gold Eyeshadow Palette in "Sunset" will become a staple in your makeup bag.

At only $1 per eyeshadow shade, the value is truly unbelievable. These highly-pigmented colors swatch like a dream, and there are four mattes and six shimmers to create a wide variety of eye looks.

The palette scored 4.5 stars out of five on the website.

Buy the Rose Gold Eyeshadow Palette in "Sunset" on e.l.f. Cosmetics for $10



2. Their Moisture Lock primer will prepare your skin for makeup.

This $8 primer has ingredients like Jojoba oil and shea butter to give moisturizing effects while priming your skin.

One reviewer remarked how this product was especially great for dry skin, stating— "My face stayed nicely hydrated all day."

Buy the Moisture Lock primer on e.l.f. Cosmetics for $8



3. Their Beauty Shield Magnetic Mask Kit will help nourish your skin.

Magnetic masks are all the rage in the beauty world right now, so it only makes sense that e.l.f. Cosmetics hopped on the trend train and created one, too. This kit comes with a magnetic mask, magnetic wand, and 20 magnet wand covers. After you apply the mask to your face, you remove it using the and.  It contains nourishing ingredients including carrot seed oil, sunflower oil, and argan oil. 

One reviewer even commented, "I have never been more amazed! This mask is amazing and makes my skin feel so soft and detoxed."

Buy the Beauty Shield Magnetic Mask Kit on e.l.f. Cosmetics for $24



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

From cosmic dust to a hidden galaxy: Here are the 24 most stunning shots of space from the past year

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Magic © Jingyi Zhang Astronomy photographer of the year 2018

Striking shots of the Milky Way under a thunderstorm, snow reflecting the northern lights, and the International Space Station flying between sun spots are among the photographs shortlisted for this year's Insight Investment Astronomy Photographer of the Year award.

Astronomer and competition judge Dr Marek Kulula told Business Insider that astrophotography is both an essential scientific tool and "an invitation to take a pause from our busy lives and reflect on our place in the grand scheme of things."

Many of the photographs in this collection didn't come easy. One of the Northern Lights in Swedish Laplan,d for example, was taken from a tiny cave in -15 degrees Fahrenheit.

The competition winners will be announced on October 23 at the Royal Greenwich Observatory in London.

Scroll down to see the striking photos shortlisted for this year's prize.

The Milky Way lights up the night sky in this shot taken in New Zealand's Cable Bay. Photographer Mark Gee stitched 42 photographs together to create this panoramic image.

"In today’s light-polluted cities, it’s becoming harder and harder for most of us to see the full glory of the night sky but [this competition] reminds us that we live on a very beautiful planet, in a universe full of wonders," Kulula told Business Insider.



The Eagle Nebula, also known as Messier 16, is a young cluster of stars surrounded by hot hydrogen gas lying 7,000 light years from earth. Marcel Drechsler captured the famous Pillars of Creation — collections of interstellar dust — in the center of his photo.

"The camera can see things that the human eye can't," Kulula said. "It can take long exposures, gathering light over minutes or hours until incredibly faint and distant objects become visible."



"Holding Due North" captures a weathered juniper tree in Montana's northern Rocky Mountains, surrounded by star trails. At the very center is Polaris, the brightest star in the constellation of Ursa Minor.

It took photographer Jake Mosher several test shots to make sure that Polaris was in the right position, but things lined up while the moon provided enough light to illuminate the foreground.



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Netflix's 9 original romantic movies, ranked from worst to best by critics

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In an age when major film studios have essentially killed off the once-thriving genre of romantic comedy, Netflix has been steadily filling a niche by producing original romantic comedies and dramas.  

Netflix's latest, the romantic comedy "To All the Boys I've Loved Before," got an enthusiastic reception from critics and audiences around its release this week.

To find out which of Netflix's original romantic movies have received similar or lesser acclaim, we turned to the reviews aggregator Rotten Tomatoes to rank each release by its critic score.

We excluded Netflix original romantic films that didn't have enough reviews to receive a designation of "fresh" or "rotten" on the site.

Here are nine of Netflix's original romantic films, ranked from worst to best by critics:

SEE ALSO: 12 fan-favorite shows Netflix has revived or rebooted, ranked from worst to best

9. "The Kissing Booth" (2018) — 13%

Critic score: 13%

Audience score: 67%

Netflix description: "When teenager Elle's first kiss leads to a forbidden romance with the hottest boy in high school, she risks her relationship with her best friend."



8. "When We First Met" (2018) — 35%

Critic score: 35%

Audience score: 59%

Netflix description: "Using a magical photo booth that sends him back in time, Noah relives the night he met Avery over and over, trying to persuade her to fall for him."



7. "Christmas Inheritance" (2017) — 60%

Critic score: 60%

Audience score: 33%

Netflix description: "To inherit her father's company, socialite Ellen must first visit his small hometown, where she learns the value of hard work and helping others."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

This is everything WWE wrestler Ronda Rousey eats for breakfast, lunch, and dinner

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Ronda Rousey

UFC icon Ronda Rousey shocked the fight world when she signed a full-time contract with WWE in January.

She made a surprise appearance at the Royal Rumble, completed her professional wrestling debut at WrestleMania 34 on April 8, and has just become the WWE Raw Women's latest champion.

Rousey is one of the most famous fighters in the history of women's mixed martial arts. The 30-year-old won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games, a Strikeforce bantamweight title, and a UFC bantamweight world title.

But what does she eat to remain ring-ready? Well, Rousey is a known advocate of the Warrior's Diet (fresh fruit, vegetables, and intermittent fasting), as well as the Dolce Diet, a meal plan put together by her own nutritionist Mike Dolce.

Here's what she eats for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on a typical day.

SEE ALSO: Ronda Rousey is all-in with WWE after surprise appearance at Royal Rumble

This is former Olympic judoka Ronda Rousey, who quit UFC to become a full-time professional wrestler for WWE in 2018.



Rousey starts her day with a coffee, finished with grass-fed butter, raw coconut oil, stevia, and cinnamon. She says that, regardless of what her nutritionists and trainers say, it is "the only thing" she cannot "fudge on."

Sources: Cosmopolitan and UFC.



Just don't spell her name wrong.

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11 foods that can prevent or relieve bloating

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bananas eating bananaWe’ve all experienced it that feeling when you can’t seem to zip the last button of your skinny jeans. The uncomfortable gassy bubble that resides in your abdominal area after a couple bites too many.

While overindulging and eating certain foods can undoubtedly trigger inflammation, there are several foods that experts recommend regularly consuming to beat bloat or prevent it altogether.

Mint can be consumed in multiple ways.

Pleasant breath isn’t the only benefit mint brings to the table.

"Mint can act as an antispasmodic which can calm the muscular contractions of the GI tract and lessen the pain from bloat," Monica Auslander Moreno, MS, RD, LD/N, and nutrition consultant for RSP Nutrition, told INSIDER."It is best consumed fresh and raw, or steeped into a tea."

In case you need another reason to start that indoor herb garden



Papaya contains a bloat-fighting enzyme.

Slightly sweet, the exotic papaya is full of health benefits including a bloat-fighting enzyme.

As Dr. Roshini Raj, gastroenterologist, internist, and "Lose It!" advisory board member explained,"Papaya has papain, an enzyme that helps digestion and can actually reduce inflammation in your gut."

Additionally, its high water and fiber content alleviates constipation and regulates bowel activity a win-win for belly health.

 



Pineapple can help combat water retention.

Fresh or canned, pineapple serves as a nutritious low-calorie snack that’s rich in vitamin C and easy to digest.

As a natural diuretic,"Pineapple is great at flushing your system out because of the combination of enzymes it has," Carol Aguirre MS, RD/LDN, and nutritionist/dietitian at Nutrition Connections, LLC told INSIDER."It contains an enzyme called bromelain, which helps digest proteins. Pineapples also contain potassium, which helps combat water retention caused by eating foods high in sodium."



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Saudi Arabia's reportedly looking to invest in Tesla competitor Lucid — we took its 1,000-horsepower electric luxury sedan for a spin

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Lucid Air

  • Saudi Arabia has been in talks with the electric-car maker Lucid Motors, Reuters reported Sunday.
  • Lucid was founded in 2007 under its former name, Atieva, and 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.
  • Lucid invited Business Insider to check out a nearly finished representation of the car at its headquarters earlier this year.

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), the fund Elon Musk has said could help take Tesla private, is considering an investment in a electric-car maker Lucid Motors, according to Reuters. 

The report comes almost two full weeks after the Financial Times first reported the kingdom's sovereign-wealth fund had bought a 3% to 5% stake in TeslaElon Musk then tweeted that funding had been secured to take the electric-car maker private at $420 a share.

Musk later said he used the phrase "funding secured" because he believed there was "no question" Saudi Arabia's PIF would provide funding to help take Tesla private. That's funding's since come in to question.

Lucid was founded in 2007 under its former name, Atieva, and 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.

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 earlier this year.

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 best dorm kitchen appliances you can buy

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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.

best dorm kitchen appliances

The Insider Pick:

Whether you're a college kid looking to save cash by cooking while living in a dorm room or you're a diehard chef currently cooped up a downtown efficiency without so much as a two-burner stove, you need not worry about creating a fully functional kitchen even in a compact space.

That's thanks to our list of superlative countertop kitchen appliances, which will allow you to boil, bake, roast, and more, and all using nothing more than a power outlet. While most people will likely pick and choose a few of the appliances from this article, if indeed you were to secure every single item on the list, you would have just about every capability to be expected of standard American residential kitchen.

That said, for most people a combination of microwave, electric kettle, and mini fridge might be perfect. For others, a burner plate and countertop oven might be just the ticket. And of course, many a college kid and apartment dweller swears by his or her trusty George Foreman grill, an elegantly simple device that can cook just about any foodstuff that's not in liquid form.

In order to do your apartment or dorm room cooking, you will need to secure your own set of pots and pans, a decent knife set, kitchen utensils, and of course some flatware and plates and bowls and such. Also, you'll need to procure the foods to be cooked, FYI. But when it comes to the cooking appliances themselves, these should be just about everything you need to cook just about any dish you want.

So say goodbye to expensive cafeteria meal plans or the constant choice between ordering in or eating out and start making your own great meals by creating your own kitchen anywhere. Just don't try to use all of these gadgets at the same time, because you will definitely blow a fuse or 10.

Oh, also you'll need a coffee maker. But we've got whole articles devoted to those.

Here are the best dorm kitchen appliances you can buy:

Read on in the slides below to check out our top picks.

The best compact countertop grill

Why you'll love it: With a George Foreman 4-Serving Grill and Panini Press, you can cook fish fillets, pork chops, panini sandwiches, veggie burgers, and just about anything else. 

I clearly remember the day my friend Toby got a George Foreman grill. We were in college, and as such were relegated to cafeteria food, eating out or taking in, or microwave mac and cheese or soup. I had yet to learn that one could cook a lot of great food in a microwave, for the record.

His new marvel of a plug-in appliance meant grilled burgers, hot sandwiches, sausages and dogs, and just about any other fresh grilled food a hungry 20-year-old could dream up.

In the years between my first experience using a George Foreman grill and the release of the George Foreman 4-Serving Grill and Panini Press, a few things about the device have changed, and a few have thankfully stayed the same.

First, the updates. This George Foreman grill heats up more than a third faster than older models, and is usually ready to start cooking in about a minute — an indicator light tells you when its warm-up is complete. Second, and most notable of all here, the nonstick grill plates are removable for easy cleaning. They are dishwasher safe, though if you're reading this article, you probably don't have a dishwasher handy right now.

As for the classic selling points of a George Foreman grill, the elegantly simple design sees even heating delivered from top and bottom, quickly and thoroughly cooking all sorts of foods. The sloping design of the cooking surface drains away excess oils, butter, and fats, leaving you with foods that have as much as 40% lower fat content than they would if prepared on a flat surface.

With more than 3,000 reviews logged, the George Foreman 4-Serving Grill and Panini Press has a 4.2-star average rating on Amazon. A cook named Tom speaks for many other George Foreman grill enthusiasts when he says that when cooking "for one or two people, this [grill] may be all you need" in your kitchen.

A KitchenSpiceGirls reviewer appreciated the "easy clean up" of the George Foreman 4-Serving Grill and Panini Press and noted its "fast and even heat distribution."

Pros: Easy to clean and maintain, fast and even heating, reduces fat content in foods, great low price

Cons: Single temperature cook surface

Buy the George Foreman 4-Serving Grill and Panini Press on Amazon for $30



The best affordable microwave oven

Why you'll love it: The hOmeLabs hOme Countertop Microwave Oven is easily programmed for custom cooking or warming, has preset cooking times and temperatures that eliminate your guesswork.

Look, you can get a brand new microwave for less than $50, and it will do a lot of the things that this ~$100 hOmeLabs hOme Countertop Microwave Oven will do. But it won't offer all of this unit's functions by a long shot, and it won't match its reliability, either. In the scheme of things, this microwave is priced quite competitively — many units sell for $250 and beyond without appreciable benefits over it.

A hOmeLabs hOme Countertop Microwave Oven features 12 pre-set cooking features that include cooking a single potato, making popcorn, heating frozen pizza, and more. You pop the foodstuff into the oven, press one button, and then wait for the beep, that's it. And when you want to set your own cooking terms, it's blissfully easy to control the power level and timing with this unit. There are none of those multifunction buttons that require an owner's manual to understand. If you press Power Level, you will be changing the power level. If you hit Cook Time, you're setting the cook time. And so forth.

This capable microwave has a solid 4.3-star average on Amazon right now, with an owner named Nancy raving that it "heats most things in half the time" of other microwaves she had used. A customer called Armont said it "has every feature [he] was looking for."

NYMag review included this unit on its rundown of great microwave ovens, noting its great price and ease of use.

Pros: Multiple pre-programmed options, easy to operate, reliable even heating

Cons: Loud while running

Buy the hOmeLabs hOme Countertop Microwave Oven on Amazon for $98.29

Read our full guide to the best microwaves



The best mini fridge and freezer combo

Why you'll love it: With the Whirlpool 3.1 Cubic Foot Mini Fridge and Freezer, you'll be getting a quality fridge and freezer that just happen to be small.

Most mini fridges found in college dorm rooms are pretty sorry affairs. Sure, they often cost less than 75 bucks and they keep the beer cold enough, but woe be to the student who wants to fit a pizza in the freezer nook. Also, there's not much to do with a 1.5 cubic foot capacity cube-shaped fridge aside from beer and a half-melted pizza, anyway.

The Whirlpool 3.1 Cubic Foot Mini Fridge and Freezer is an honest to goodness fridge and freezer combo unit that offers the space to store plenty of food for one person and with size enough for a regular oven pizza in freezer, not to mention some pints of ice cream and trays for ice cubes.

The door can accommodate full-sized wine or soda bottles and has a can dispenser and a shelf for condiments, and there's a crisper drawer for produce, too. In short, the Whirlpool 3.1 Cubic Foot Mini Fridge and Freezer offers just about everything a larger fridge/freezer nets you albeit in a smaller size.

Buyers love the separate fridge and freezer compartments accessed with different doors. One buyer praised the freezer for getting "very cold... very fast" and reliably maintaining its temperature. Another appreciated that the unit managed to be "spacious without taking up a lot of space."

I do have to note that some customers reported their Whirlpool 3.1 Cubic Foot Mini Fridge and Freezer dying after a few months of operation, but at least it's covered by a year-long warranty

Pros: Compact and efficient, separate freezer and fridge compartments, cools quickly

Cons: Some units fail quickly

Buy the Whirlpool 3.1 Cubic Foot Mini Fridge and Freezer at Target for $139.99 (originally $199.99)

Read our full guide to the best mini fridges



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11 tips for talking to someone in public without coming off creepy

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No Strings Attached flirting

Who doesn’t dream of one day telling their grandkids that they met their partner the good old-fashioned way: by approaching them in public and asking for a date?

Old Hollywood-style meet-cutes actually aren’t dead, even though online dating might have rendered them endangered. It is possible to successfully meet a new significant other in public.

Just keep a few things in mind and you’ll be good.

Before you approach someone, make sure you’re not interrupting anything.

Interrupting someone else’s conversation is widely considered rude. You don’t want someone’s first impression of you to be that you’re rude, impulsive, or socially inept. Studies have shown that women, especially, are consistently interrupted everywhere from the office to social situations, The New York Times reports.

So if the person you want to approach is clearly busy, maybe leave them alone or let them finish what they’re doing before you approach. And yes, reading a book, talking on the phone, and texting all count as being busy.

If you do approach and the person seems distracted or unwilling to stop and chat, bow out.



Accept that the person you’re approaching is a unique individual — one you know nothing about.

Whoever you’re approaching has a life of their own. They might be married, they might have a long-term partner, or they might not be in the mood to chat.

They also might not even be the right person for you — or they might hate being approached in public. So if they respond to you in a way you didn’t expect, don’t be surprised. Besides, you don’t actually know this person at all. Once you get to talking, you might realize you don’t even like their personality. It’s more important to get a conversation going. That way, you can figure out if you even want to see the person again before you express interest.



Approach from a place of kindness and humility.

If you’re striking up a conversation with this person because you expect them to immediately say yes to a date with you, they might pick up on this intensity and your high stress. And they might be instantly turned off.

Dr. Fhionna Moore, a Psychology Lecturer at Abertay University, led a research team investigating how stress affects one's chances with the ladies. She found "that women find the faces of men with low levels of the stress hormone cortisol to be attractive."



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14 of Melania Trump's most expensive outfits

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Melania Trump

Some speculate that First Lady Melania Trump uses her outfits to make subtle (or not so subtle) statements about her husband's administration. Omarosa Manigault Newman wrote in "Unhinged: An Insider's Account of the Trump White House," that she believes Melania Trump uses style to "punish" her husband.

But others simply admire her "streamlined glamour," as designer Michael Kors described her style.

First ladies' outfits are not paid for by taxpayers, and designers often offer to dress them for free. Still, some pieces  she has worn are available to buy, even if they're not exactly affordable.

Here are 14 of the first lady's most expensive looks.

SEE ALSO: The cost difference between Melania Trump's and Michelle Obama's outfits reveals the truth about America's criticisms of them

Manolo Blahnik heels — $625

The First Lady was criticized for seeming out of touch by wearing expensive designer heels to visit the site of a natural disaster. The Manolo Blahnik pumps retail for $625 at Neiman Marcus, but are currently sold out.

By the time she disembarked in Texas, she had changed into sneakers.



Balmain button-down shirt — $690

Trump welcomed the Boys and Girls Club of Washington into the White House Kitchen Garden in a tartan cotton button-down shirt. It's available on Net-A-Porter for $690

Her outfit garnered comparisons to Michelle Obama's less expensive J. Crew-based gardening outfits that included a $29.50 shirt and a $228 jacket.



Gucci blouse — $1,100

Trump wore a pink Gucci pussy bow blouse to the second presidential debate. Many wondered if the style choice was related to audio of Donald Trump remarking that he could "grab" women "by the p---y" because "when you're a star they let you do it" that had leaked a few days earlier. A campaign spokeswoman said that the similarity was not intentional according to a tweet by Sopan Deb, then of CBS News.

The blouse retails for $1,100 on Net-A-Porter.



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15 of the worst TV villains of all time

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Cersei Lannister Game of Thrones finale dress

Everyone loves a hero they can root for, but oftentimes, watching an entertaining villain is even more fun. The following villains are a combination of characters that viewers actually detest, and some we love to cheer on every once in a while.

Just a warning that this post contains some spoilers. 

Here are 15 TV villains people love to hate.

Nina Myers learned to not mess with Jack Bauer in "24."

Nina Myers (Sarah Clarke) was a secret spy in "24," where she worked alongside Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) and then murdered his wife. Bauer, avenging his wife, killed Myers.



Mona Vanderwaal outsmarted everyone on "Pretty Little Liars."

The on-and-off friend of Hanna Marin (Ashley Benson) was revealed to be "A" on season two of "Pretty Little Liars." For the rest of the show's run, the viewers are mostly unsure whether or not Vanderwaal is on the side of the Liars, or back on the "A" team.



Perry Wright has a secret revealed in "Big Little Lies."

One of the main love interests in the show, Perry Wright (Alexander Skarsgård), is a villain in every sense of the word. Viewers slowly see more and more of Wright's behavior – he physically abuses his wife, Celeste (Nicole Kidman), and it's later revealed that he raped Jane Chapman(Shailene Woodley), and is the father of her child, Ziggy.

At the end of the first season, Bonnie Carlson (Zoë Kravitz)defends Celeste and Renata Klein (Laura Dern)against Wright, which accidentally leads to pushing him down a flight of stairs, killing him.



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6 reasons you should buy a Nintendo Switch instead of a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One in 2018

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Nintendo is on a roll, with no end in sight.

Super Mario Odyssey

The company's latest big game — "Super Mario Odyssey"— received near-universal praise, and the Nintendo Switch continues to sell extremely well.

There's a good reason for that: The Nintendo Switch is the best console to buy. Here's why!

SEE ALSO: With over 75 million sold, the PS4 is the most popular game console in the world — these are its 29 best games

1. The Switch has the best lineup of games ...

Since launching in March 2017, the Nintendo Switch has taken the mantle as the must-have console for playing the best games. This is the number one reason to buy the Switch: It's the only place to play the best games available right now.

Yes, there are excellent exclusives on the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. "Horizon Zero Dawn" on PS4 and "PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds" on Xbox One stick out as strong arguments for each, and that's not wrong.

But let's be clear: The Switch is stacked with huge, new games that can be played only on the Switch.



... like "Super Mario Odyssey" ...

The latest hit that can be played only on the Switch is "Super Mario Odyssey." It has an average score of 97/100 on Metacritic, putting it among the 10 highest-rated games.

It's highly rated because it's an outrageously good game, full of delight and surprise around every turn. "Odyssey" is the latest example of Nintendo's approach to major games of late: Take classic franchises and evolve them to new heights.

It's hard to overstate the quality of "Super Mario Odyssey"; it's clever, and massive, and beautiful, and deeply referential, and so much more. It is, frankly put, one of the best Nintendo games of the past decade — perhaps of all time.

Read our review of "Super Mario Odyssey" right here.



... "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe" ...

Whether you've been playing "Mario Kart" games for years or you've never touched one, "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe" is a tremendous delight. 

It's the definitive "Mario Kart" experience, with a ridiculous number of courses and playable characters. Best of all, the Switch becomes a portable "Mario Kart" machine if you take the console in portable mode — each Joy-Con becomes a gamepad, and the Switch is the screen. Being able to casually challenge a friend to "Mario Kart" by simply having the Switch with you is pretty incredible.

Crucially, "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe" is a perfect game to play alone or with friends. The vast majority of the time I've spent with the game has been sitting next to my wife, playing together online against the world. Since the game came out in late April 2017, it's been a recurring delight in my apartment. 

Read our review of "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe" right here.



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The states with the most millennials living with their parents, ranked

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millennial

  • Millennials are grappling with issues like student loans and pricey housing.
  • Many of them also have to be caregivers to elderly parents.
  • As a result, an increasing amount of millennials live with their parents. 
  • According to a Comet study, the state with the highest proportion of millennials living at home is New Jersey, where 12.5% of millennials live at home. 

 

Thanks to a slew of economic factors like student loans and the rising cost of housing, more and more millennials are living at home.

A recent study by student loan refinancing firm Comet found the states with the highest proportions of millennials living at home. Coastal areas like New Jersey, California, and New York took the cake. 

"New Jersey, California, and New York are densely populated urban areas that are notorious for being high-priced," Joe Mercurio, project manager for Comet, told Business Insider. "Between the cost of living, high property taxes, and the sheer amount of student loan debt young adults are taking on, it's not surprising why children are moving back in with their parents."

States like North and South Dakota had the lowest proportion of millennials living at home. That's thanks to the low cost of living in those states, Mercurio said.

"The cost of living in Midwestern states routinely ranks among the lowest in the nation, which is appealing to recent grads with mounds of student debt," Mercurio told Business Insider.

A quick note on the data for this piece: Comet provided the numbers of millennials living at home per 10,000. We rounded that to a tenth of a percentage point. While some states appear to be tied in the percentages, look below at the description to see the more precise number.

See where your state ranks for millennials who are still living at home:

SEE ALSO: Here's how many millennials live with their parents in each US state

DON'T MISS: More than half of 20-somethings still count on money from their parents to pay their bills

51. North Dakota: 5.2% of millennials live at home

Young adults living at home per 10,000: 527.1



50. South Dakota: 6.1% of millennials live at home

Young adults living at home per 10,000: 613.2



49. Wyoming: 6.3% of millennials live at home

Young adults living at home per 10,000: 630.3



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'Cat people' and 'dog people' are so different that it can affect everything from your job to your hobbies

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grumpy cat

  • It's not unusual to divide people into two categories: ‘cat people' and ‘dog people.'
  • And whether you're more of a ‘cat person' or a ‘dog person' can affect all different facets of your life in ways you might not expect.
  • ‘Dog people' tend to make a higher annual salary than ‘cat people', while ‘cat people' tend to have hobbies like gardening, reading, or writing.


Chances are, you're already well-aware of whether you're a ‘cat person' or a ‘dog person.' And it's probably something you know about many of your friends, family members, and co-workers, regardless of whether you've ever openly discussed it or not. A
survey from Mars Petcare found that which group you fall in, ‘cat person' or ‘dog person,' can say quite a bit about you. There are some distinct differences between cat and dog owners, according to survey respondents, and they occur in just about every category, from your job to your salary, to your hobbies, and more.

Here are some of the major differences between cat and dog owners.

Cat people are more creative.

If you describe yourself as creative, you probably prefer cats to dogs.



Dog people make more money.

People who own dogs have, on average, a higher salary than those who own cats.



Dog people spend more on certain things.

Since you have some surplus thanks to that higher salary, if you own a dog, you probably spend more on things for yourself, including new outfits and fun and entertaining experiences, than those who own cats.



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Netflix's latest rom-com, 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before,' has critics obsessed and a 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes

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To All The Boys Ive Loved Before Lana Condor

"To All the Boys I've Loved Before" is the latest Netflix rom-com that critics are gushing over.

In June, Netflix released "Set It Up," a formulaic rom-com about young adults who fall in love while they set their miserable bosses up with each other. The movie became a massive critical and audience success, and further proved a thirst for romantic comedies after years of a dormant period in favor of superhero movies and dark dramas. 

And "To All the Boys I've Loved Before" is clearly another hit for Netflix.  The teen rom-com, based on the 2014 novel of the same name, follows Lara Jean, a shy high school junior who writes letters to all of her crushes that she keeps hidden. One day, the letters get sent to all of the boys. One of her crushes suggests that they pretend to date for reasons that are supposed to benefit them both. And you can probably guess the rest.

Right now, the movie has a 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

While its plot is predictable, the visually exciting (especially for a high school rom-com) movie is sweet, and features an excellent, inclusive cast that is just as inspiring for older generations as it is for teens.

Here's what critics are saying about "To All the Boys I've Loved Before," which you can watch on Netflix now:

SEE ALSO: Netflix's 9 original romantic movies, ranked from worst to best by critics

"The film is precisely what it should be: pleasing and clever, comforting and fun and romantic."

Linda Holmes, NPR



"This generation is lucky to have 'To All the Boys I've Ever Loved Before' as the teen romance comedy of their generation."

Jordan Calhoun, Black Nerd Problems



"Like any teen story, To All the Boys has some growing pains ... Still, we'll forgive it. Sure, it hits at core truths about new love. But it's still a fantasy, just not the bodice-ripping one of Lara Jean's teen daydreams."

Esther Zuckerman, Thrillist



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20 of the best places to live for first-time homebuyers

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Chicago Illinois

  • Saving enough money for a down payment to buy a home isn't easy these days.
  • In fact, 39% of millennial homebuyers find it difficult to save for a down payment, according to Zillow Group's Housing Trends Report.
  • RealEstate.com found the places where first-time home buyers can save for a down payment the fastest based on average income and savings rates.
  • There are only six cities where it takes the average person less than four years to save for a down payment.

Saving for a down payment can be tough, especially when it's your first home.

The price of housing has become so high that it can take nearly a decade to save for a 20% down payment on a house, according to a SmartAsset report released earlier this year. And 39% of millennial homebuyers find it difficult to save for a down payment, according to Zillow Group's Housing Trends Report.

But in some places it's easier to save for a down payment than others.

RealEstate.com recently took a look at the 35 biggest metro areas in the US to see where first-time homebuyers can save for a down payment the fastest. Analyzing data from the US Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics, they factored in the median household income among buyers aged 24 to 36, as well as the annual savings rates for renters, using data from the March 2018 Zillow Group Housing Aspirations Report.

Assuming the buyer was looking for an entry-level valued home, RealEstate.com determined how much money they would need to save for a 20% down payment for the median home value in that range — the standard, but not required, down payment to buy a home. More than one-third of millennial homebuyers put down 20%, according to the Zillow Group's Housing Trends Report.

They then calculated how long it would take the buyer to save for the down payment based on their income and annual savings rates. These calculations did not factor in any windfalls or gifts millennials received from family, though many do — one-third of millennials anticipate they'll receive family support for at least 30% of their down payment, revealed a study by Apartment List.

Turns out, first-time homebuyers can save for a down payment in less than four years in six cities, including Detroit and Chicago. In eight cities, including Atlanta and Boston, it can take them more than five years to save for a down payment.

Below, see the top 20 cities where first-time homebuyers can save for a down payment the fastest, ranked from longest time to shortest time.

SEE ALSO: The most expensive and affordable states to buy a house, ranked

DON'T MISS: The 25 best places to live if you want to save a lot of money

20. Boston, Massachusetts

Annual income: $58,600

Annual savings: $12,557

Median home value: $394,300

20% down payment for median home: $78,860

Years to save for down payment: 6.28



19. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Annual income:  $46,900

Annual savings:  $5,862

Median home value:  $174,200

20% down payment for median home:  $34,840

Years to save for down payment: 5.94



18. Charlotte, North Carolina

Annual income:  $42,800

Annual savings:  $5,350

Median home value:  $156,700

20% down payment for median home:  $31,340

Years to save for down payment: 5.86



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16 things that are still more expensive for women than for men

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women's haircut

You've probably heard people talk about the "pink tax"— a term that refers to how products for women, like razors in "feminine" colors, are often pricier than the men's equivalent. 

From everyday items like deodorant and clothing to services such as haircuts and dry-cleaning, here are 16 things that cost women more money than men.

Women pay higher mortgage rates because research has found that they often choose lenders by recommendation rather than by rate.

According to a 2011 study in the Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, women, on average, pay more for mortgages than men do.

The researchers posit that the disparity cannot solely be attributed to gender discrimination, finding that "women pay higher rates because they are more likely to choose lenders by recommendation, while men tend to search for the lowest rate." 



Women tend to pay more for car insurance.

Some might believe that women pay less for car insurance than men because they're viewed as safer drivers. However, a 2017 report from the Consumer Federation of America found that car insurance is actually more expensive for female drivers.

Comparing 165 online premium quotes, researchers found that 40-year-old women faced the greatest chance of being charged more than men. In addition, 60-year-old women often had higher premiums than male drivers their age.



Personal care items are pricier for women. Razors, for instance, are more expensive due to the "pink tax."

"The Cost of Doing Femininity: Gendered Disparities in Pricing of Personal Care Products and Services," a 2011 study in the journal Gender Issues, looks at the gender-based economic discrimination that factors into the cost of personal care items. Researchers compared pricing at national retail chains including Target, Wal-Mart, CVS, and Walgreens. 

The disparity — often labeled the "pink tax," since women's products come in "feminine" colors — means that female consumers are charged more for products like razors simply on the basis of their gender. 

Women's razors are around 11% more expensive than men's.

 

 



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