Introducing the next level in luxury desserts: the $150 silver-and-platinum-coated tequila doughnut. 

Yes, you read that right.

The Patrón Platinum Donut is the creation of chef Björn DelaCruz of Manila Social Club, a Filipino restaurant in Brooklyn's Williamsburg neighborhood. DelaCruz previously developed the Golden Cristal Ube Donut, a champagne-and-gold-foil treat. That one was priced at $100 a pop.

Platinum is even more precious than gold, though, so DelaCruz decided to push the envelope even further.

Curious to see what a platinum-crusted pastry might actually taste like, Business Insider attended a taste test for the new pastry.

"It's not like any other doughnut you've ever had before," DelaCruz warned us before we dug in. 

SEE ALSO: 11 of the wackiest street foods from around the world

DON'T FORGET: Follow Business Insider's lifestyle page on Facebook!

The doughnut was inspired by Gran Patrón Platinum tequila and Patrón's "margarita of the year" recipe, a spicy jalapeño and rose-accented concoction.

Here's a closeup of the silver-and-platinum-foil-topped doughnuts. The flakes of foil are weightless, and, even in the enclosed environment of the restaurant, fluttered in a non-existent breeze.

So what's in them? Technically, these are rose-petal doughnuts filled with cream and a spicy ginger-jalapeño margarita jelly. They're then slathered in a sweet tequila frosting and decked out with those sparkling sheets of edible silver and platinum.

When you travel often, knowing the tricks that can save you time and ensure increased comfort can make all of the difference in eliminating unwanted stress.

In a recent survey conducted by accommodation booking website Booking.com, 93% of American business travelers said they are under stress when traveling to other countries. The survey was based on responses from 4,555 people who had traveled internationally for business four times or more in the last year.

Based on these findings, Booking.com teamed up with Elaine Swann, an etiquette expert who specializes in tools and practical tips for business travelers. We spoke to Swann, who also worked as a flight attendant for 10 years, to find out her best advice for how business travelers can beat stress.

SEE ALSO: 20 travel hacks that will save you money on your next trip

DON'T FORGET: Follow Business Insider's lifestyle page on Facebook!

Prep when packing.

To avoid the pains of lost luggage, Swann recommends keeping at least one emergency outfit for yourself in a carry-on. She also recommends that you make copies of all of your travel information and store them in a folder that you carry with you.

Not only will these written documents come in handy if your luggage gets lost, but they also ensure that you have a backup option if you don't have access to the Internet.

Pack starting with larger pieces.

Some people prefer to roll their clothing when packing, while others prefer folding. If you're folding your clothes, Swann recommends starting with the largest pieces first and laying them out to do as little folding as possible. 

This stacking method allows you to fit more items in without wrinkling them. You should also ensure that you pack your suit in the right way.

Pack your electronic devices and cables in plastic bags.

Packing your electronic devices and cables in a plastic bag and packing them as the last layer of items in your luggage can help save you time when you go through airport security. 

According to Swann, when items are strewn about, it can take the TSA longer to identify your items and make sure that they're allowed.

Having them neatly separated makes it easier to quickly pull these items out if they need further inspection. 

Photoshop is a great tool for brushing up misplaced hairs, wrinkled clothing, or the odd zit.

But it's no secret that retailers love to abuse Photoshop to make women pencil-thin.

Sometimes this obsession with Photoshop leads to massive, comical fails.

Website Photoshop Disasters collected many of these mishaps. The hilarious website recently closed down, but we can still laugh at these mishaps.

Take a look at some of these outrageous Photoshop fails.

SEE ALSO: Target disastrously Photoshops teen swimsuit model

What's up with that model's leg? Where is it coming from?

Funny fact about this fail — the model, Countess Filippa Hamilton — is drop-dead gorgeous, slim, and not emaciated at all.

This J. Crew model sure has an interestingly shaped leg.

Nearly a century ago, journalist Napoleon Hill set out to uncover the key to wealth. He studied more than 500 self-made millionaires over a span of 20 years, and his research culminated in what would become a timeless personal finance classic: "Think and Grow Rich."

He boiled down 13 steps anyone can take to get rich, the first, most important step being desire. As Hill wrote, "All achievement, no matter what may be its nature or its purpose, must begin with an intense, burning desire for something definite." 

In one passage, he sums up six "definite, practical steps" to turning a desire for wealth into "its financial equivalent."

Lucky for you, "The steps call for no 'hard labor,'" Hill emphasizes. "But the successful application of these six steps does call for sufficient imagination to enable one to see and to understand that the accumulation of money cannot be left to chance, good fortune, and luck."

Here is Hill's 6-step guide, in his words and ours:

SEE ALSO: 78 years ago, a journalist studied 500 rich men and boiled down their success into 13 steps

Establish precise wealth goals 

"First. Fix in your mind the exact amount of money you desire," Hill writes. "It is not sufficient merely to say 'I want plenty of money.' Be definite as to the amount."

Action step: The first step to achieving anything is to figure out exactly what it is you're after. Visualize a savings goal with a specific price tag. It could be a vacation home, more wealth, graduate school, or being able to travel.

Commit to pursuing your goals relentlessly

"Second. Determine exactly what you intend to give in return for the money you desire," Hill writes. "There is no such reality as 'something for nothing.'"

Action step: As Hill emphasizes, "Wishing will not bring riches." You have to commit to attaining wealth, which takes precise goals, sacrifice, a lot of effort, and persistence in the face of failure.

"Thomas Edison dreamed of a lamp that could be operated by electricity," Hill points out. "And despite more than ten thousand failures, he stood by that dream until he made it a physical reality. Practical dreamers do not quit!"

Set a time frame to achieve your goals

"Third. Establish a definite date when you intend to possess the money you desire," Hill writes.

Action step: Come up with a finish line for your wealth and money goals. Be realistic when setting a time frame to attain these goals, but at the same time, think big and don't be afraid to challenge yourself, encourages self-made millionaire T. Harv Eker.

This post from LinkedIn Influencer Bruce Kasanoff appeared originally on LinkedIn.

I'm a shy person who has learned to bring out the best in others. You can, too.

A bit of background: I live in Park City, Utah about two miles from the ski area.

This winter, when I found my writing veering towards the boring, I took a few hours off and headed for the slopes. 

Park City has a lot of four- and six-passenger lifts, which gave me a wonderful opportunity to practice my conversational skills with people from around the world and all over the United States.

Here's what I learned:

SEE ALSO: 9 ways to skip the shallow small talk and have deep conversations

1. "How's your day going?"

I always greet the other people on my chair with a friendly, open-ended question. Most people respond to this one with a short phrase, but plenty of folks immediately start talking in detail about their day, which tells you they are social and outgoing. 

Out of an entire season, about five people basically ignored my greeting or signaled they didn't want to talk. No problem. Besides, that was a very small percentage. (These are the "almost" folks in my headline; don't let them bother you for even one second. Just move on.)

2. Probe for details

I'm genuinely curious. On a ski mountain, I want to know if you are bold or cautious, eager to ski the trees or determined to stay on the bunny slopes. Once I learn this, I can help you. But until I know something substantive about you, we are limited to the most basic topics, which tend to be boring.

So as quickly as possible, I try to understand why you have travelled thousands of miles to my town.

3. Be surprisingly helpful

I want to be one of those people who makes your visit special. Perhaps I can tell you about a secret powder stash or the best off-the-beaten-track restaurant? If your spouse isn't a skier, I can suggest a spectacular hike. My goal isn't to quiz you, it's to help you. 

Once people grasp that your motivation is to help them in a meaningful way, their demeanor often changes. They start sharing information and asking advice. They open up and also become grateful.

In the clear-blue waters off the coast of Dubai lies a chain of islands known as The Heart of Europe. They're manmade reconstructions of actual European nations, just on a smaller scale — part of an even larger chain of islands known as "The World."

Richard Branson, fittingly, owns the island representing Great Britain.

The Heart of Europe saw its very first $2.8 million floating home, the aptly named "Floating Seahorse," touch down earlier this year. Now they intend to build even larger homes that will cost a whopping $12 million.

The giant fleet of Floating Seahorses are slated for completion later this fall. Keep scrolling to see the gorgeous renderings.

The $2.8 million Floating Seahorse is the product of more than 5,000 hours of research and 13,000 hours of design and engineering, according to design firm Kleindienst Group.

The first models went on sale last year, before any Seahorses were even completed. Kleindienst says it sold approximately 60 Seahorses in 2015. More are still for sale.

The underwater portion, composed of a master bedroom and bathroom, will make up approximately 270 square feet on the interior. Just outside the walls is a 500-square-foot coral garden.

From the home, residents will be able to see actual seahorses dance through the Arabian Gulf — the animal's natural habitat.

The floating homes will have a massive floating bed as well as an observation deck above water.

If you want to take a swim, a convenient step-ladder offers a safe entry and exit. Or you could just dive right in.

Since the structures are located about two and a half miles from Dubai's shores, inhabitants can reach their Seahorse via boat or seaplane — not exactly the most accessible way to get to and from home. Once they're out there, they can cross between the islands via floating jetties.

The company says it hopes the structure can set a new standard for what it means to live lavishly.

Kleindienst also hopes it can make some headway in restoring the endangered seahorse population in the area.

"We will create an artificial coral reef beneath the luxury retreats which will be a protected area in which seahorses can safely live and breed," Kleindienst said at an unveiling even in May 2015.

A recent study that followed a group of winners from the reality TV series "The Biggest Loser" came to some bleak conclusions:

Six years after the show ended, 13 out of 14 contestants in the study had regained a significant amount of weight. Four of them are heavier today than they were before the show began.

The results highlight a disheartening reality: Losing weight is hard work, but keeping it off is harder — especially if you're significantly overweight.

Still, the study's somber findings also draw attention to some key principles that anyone looking to losing weight and stay fit can follow:

READ MORE: Most 'Biggest Loser' winners regain the weight they lost, and it reveals a disturbing truth behind many diets

SEE ALSO: 11 fitness 'truths' that are doing more harm than good

1. Aim to lose only a few pounds each week.

Shedding pounds too rapidly can be a red flag for a diet that might encourage unsafe behaviors, and losing weight too slowly might be so discouraging you give up.

Instead, aim to lose about 1-3 pounds each week, University of Texas professor of exercise science and the executive director of the Fitness Institute of Texas Philip Stanforth recently told Business Insider.

"During the losing phase, you need a calorie deficit," said Stanforth. At the maximum, you want to burn 1,000 calories more each day than you eat. "That typically means you're losing a few pounds a week. And that tends to be a lot more sustainable than losing a whole bunch at once."

That jives well with the guidelines from the Mayo Clinic and the UK's National Health Service, both of which suggest losing one to two pounds each week.

2. Be mindful of portion size.

The standard size of many foods, whether they're fast-food, sit-down meals, or even groceries, has grown by as much as 138% since the 1970s, according to data from the American Journal of Public Health, the Journal of Nutrition, and the Journal of the American Medical Association.

So instead of cutting out a specific food group— whether its carbs or fat — you might be better off simply being more mindful about how much of everything you eat.

Of course, there are always some foods to keep an eye out for, like those with high concentrations of a few specific ingredients. A 20-ounce bottle of soda, for example, has roughly 65 grams (just about 16 teaspoons) of sugar. So go for a smaller size instead, or opt for the refreshing classic: All natural tap.

3. "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."

If there's any "secret" to eating healthy, chances are it's incredibly basic. Michael Pollan said it well a few years ago: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."

Vegetables and fruits are high in key vitamins; most have a good amount of fiber to help with digestion and keep you feeling full.

Dr. Mark Hyman, director of the Cleveland Clinic's Center for Functional Medicine, says "about 70 to 80% of your diet should be plant foods," like vegetables, whole grains, beans, and fruits.

"It should basically include whole, fresh food that's unprocessed and high in fiber and phytonutrients," says Hyman, the latter of which are plant-derived compounds associated with positive health effects.

You can start small, for example, by adding a serving of steamed veggies to every dinner. This list should help you get started.

You've heard it a million times: Practice makes perfect.

That's especially true when it comes to interviewing for jobs.

The very best thing you can do is prepare. And the best way to prepare is to think about and rehearse (but not memorize!) responses to the questions you'll most likely be asked.

Not sure what those will be?

The online jobs and career community Glassdoor sifted through tens of thousands of interview reviews to find the questions hiring managers most frequently ask. 

Here are 40 of the top 50: 

SEE ALSO: What to say when an interviewer asks, ‘How much money do you want to make in your next job?’

1. What are your strengths?

This is your chance to highlight your most appealing attributes and anything that isn't on your résumé.

2. What are your weaknesses?

Don't panic when you're asked this dreaded question. Read this article to learn how to tackle it.

3. Why are you interested in working for [insert company name here]?

Be honest ... but don't mention things like the great vacation policy or the awesome free snacks.

Where some see asphalt, others see an urban oasis.

Across North America, city planners and activists are transforming parking spaces into miniature parks, more commonly known as "parklets." These patches of public space encourage pedestrians to sit a spell, socialize, and appreciate their surroundings, while at the same time fostering conversation on how societies can prioritize the needs of people over vehicles.

We scoured the internet and — with the help of Matthew Passmore of MoreLab and Pavement to Parks— found 21 stunning examples of parklets across the US and Canada.

More than 100,000 visitors enjoy San Francisco's shopping district, Union Square, each weekend. Now they have a pleasant spot where they can take a break.

Source: Office of the Mayor of San Francisco

Parklets packed with succulent gardens and wooden seating areas on Los Angeles's Spring Street foster vibrant street life.

Source: Complete Streets for Downtown Los Angeles

A tiny park in Vancouver, Canada, features three circular seating areas surrounded by tall grass. The design is inspired by wooden hot tubs.

Source: City of Vancouver

Almost anyone can become a millionaire if they make a commitment to save early in their career and stick with it over several decades.

Savvy investors will be helped along by employer contributions and tax breaks and will skillfully avoid high fees that reduce investment returns.

Here's how to save $1 million in time for retirement.

See: 10 Painless Ways to Save More for Retirement.

SEE ALSO: 7 ways to guarantee you won't save enough money to retire

Start saving at an early age

If you start saving for retirement at age 25 and save $4,830 per year, or about $400 per month, and earn 7% annual investment returns, you will accumulate just over $1 million by age 65. If you wait until age 35 to start saving, you'll need to save over $10,000 per year to hit $1 million by 65, assuming the same investment returns.

"For every 10 years that you delay, there is going to be a significant increase in the amount you have to save," says Danna Jacobs, a certified financial planner and founding partner of Legacy Care Wealth in Jersey City, New Jersey. "You are missing out not only on the contributions but on the compounding interest."

Capture employer contributions

If your employer provides a 401(k) match, you can get by saving a little less and still hit $1 million by retirement. A worker who starts saving at 25 and gets a $1,500 annual match could save $1 million by age 65 by tucking away as little as $3,330 per year. A worker who starts saving at 35 and gets the same match would need to tuck away $8,705 annually to hit $1 million by retirement.

However, job changers need to be careful that they get to keep the match. Many companies have vesting schedules that prohibit departing employees from taking the match with them until they work for the firm for a specific number of years, or they allow workers to keep a portion of the match based on their years of service.

"Usually you do have to be with your employer for a certain number of years, and sometimes you do leave your employer contributions on the table," Jacobs says. "If it's a sizable amount, a lot of times you can negotiate for a sign-on bonus with your new employer to try to compensate you for those unvested amounts."

See: 10 Ways to Repair Your Retirement Finances.

Save money on taxes

You can also use tax breaks to grow your money faster. If you put $5,000 in a 401(k) and you are in the 25% tax bracket, you will save $1,250 on your tax bill. Income tax won't be due on your contribution until you withdraw it from the account. "When you put the money in the 401(k), it reduces the amount of income you have, so it's less tax you are paying at the end of the year," says Anjali Jariwala, a certified financial planner for FIT Advisors in Chicago. "The savings that you get from being able to defer that income is huge."

However, it's important to note that you will need to accumulate more than $1 million in a retirement account to have a million dollars to spend in retirement because you still need to pay income tax on each distribution. But if you save $1 million in an after-tax Roth IRA, no income tax is typically due on distributions in retirement.

In 2013, my article "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do" went viral. It attracted more than 20 million views on Forbes.com and and Business Insider alone.

My list was also featured on other websites, like Success, Psychology Today, and The Huffington Post, making it impossible to know exactly how many people read those 600 words.

As a psychotherapist and college psychology instructor, I'd spent over a decade teaching people about mental strength.

It's also a topic I feel passionate about on a personal level (watch my TEDx talk to hear what inspired me to write the article).

Creating a mega-viral article was a dream come true — and being able to turn it into a best-selling book was definitely the highlight. It's led to a lot of other opportunities too — the Mental Strength e-course, speaking engagements, and a second book deal with a major publisher.

Since my article went viral, many other writers have created similar headlines. And while some of their articles offer valuable and accurate insight into mental strength and mental toughness, others miss the mark.

Decades of research have gone into studying the way people can grow stronger by changing the way they think, feel, and behave. So I wanted to take the opportunity to clear up some of the biggest misconceptions some writers are spreading about mental strength.

Here are five truths about mental strength:

SEE ALSO: After training with a Navy Seal, an entrepreneur explains why everyone should have a 'f--- it list'

1. Mentally strong people are OK saying they can't do something.

Mental strength doesn't come with super powers. There are plenty of things mentally strong people can't do — and they're not afraid to admit it. But sadly, I see a lot of articles that claim "Mentally strong people never say, 'I can't.'"

In reality, mentally strong people are happy to acknowledge their weaknesses. When it makes sense to work on them, they do. When it's something they aren't particularly motivated to change, they don't worry about it.

2. Developing mental strength doesn't mean you can't give up.

Lots of articles claim mentally strong people never give up. But just like everyone else, mentally strong people's goals change.

When the cost of working toward something starts to outweigh the benefit, they give up and move on. They're strong enough to do that.

They don't waste time working to solve a problem that doesn't have a solution. And they aren't so prideful that they have to keep going, no matter the cost. That's because they're mentally strong — not just acting tough.

3. There aren't any specific diets that will help you build mental strength.

There are lots of cringeworthy recommendations about what you should consume to build mental strength. But mentally strong people are just as diverse in their diets as any other group.

Some drink coffee. Some are vegetarians. Some like cereal for breakfast. So don't believe any articles that say you have to consume certain foods if you want to build mental strength.

While there is a clear connection between maintaining a healthy body and a healthy mind, there's more than one way to stay healthy. What mentally strong people eat for breakfast is far less important than their daily health habits. Just like there are a lot of different diets that help people grow physical muscle, there are a lot of different ways to build mental muscle.

When I was hiring manager, I spoke with upwards of 30 to 40 candidates a week. Nearly every person I met played it cool and avoided asking about time off, benefits, or anything already explained in the job ad.

They were smart and steered clear of the glaring red flags we've all been taught not to touch on during an interview.

But there were less obvious questions that, asked the wrong way, made a handful of those candidates appear unprepared, lacking in confidence, or, well, just plain rude.

Do your job hunt a favor and avoid these interview questions like they're week-old takeout food:

SEE ALSO: The worst job interview advice people love to give

DON'T MISS: 15 things you should do right before a job interview

1. 'Did you have a chance to read my résumé?'

You might be tempted to respond this way after your interviewer asks about a project or role from your career history that you feel like you already explained pretty well in your bullet points.

Don't do it!

Think about it: The person you're meeting with set aside an hour of her day to speak with you. Of course she's done her research. She's read your résumé, reviewed your LinkedIn profile, and likely Googled your name at least once — she just wants to learn more. (And on the off-chance she's only skimmed your qualifications, choose filling her in on your awesomeness over calling her out.)

Remember that if you want to impress the pants off of people during this process, you should be prepared to speak naturally about your career from different angles and with vivid examples.

2. 'When will I speak with someone more senior on your team?'

Remember what I said about (accidentally) being really rude? Bingo!

Asking this question implies that you're not so invested in the discussion at hand. It sounds like you'd rather meet with a "real" decision maker — and who wants to hire the person who is always going over your head? The fact is, everyone you meet with during this process plays a part in deciding if you move forward.

So, instead try saying "Can you tell me about the next steps?" at the end of your conversation.

This way, you can get the information you're looking for without offending your interviewer. He may not have a fancy title, but you can bet you lunch money that the "low-level" person you're dealing with will be asked to filter out candidates that he wouldn't personally want to work with.

3. 'How many other candidates are you meeting with?'

Curiosity gets the better of all of us sometimes. While it's understandable that you'd wonder about your competition, when you ask this question you come off as unsure of yourself. Worse, you're drawing your interviewer's mind away from your awesomeness and toward that of other candidates she's met with.

Your odds have less to do with the number of people being considered and more with your fit for the opportunity itself. If the company meets with you and only one other person, and neither of you is a fit, your odds are zero; likewise, if you're the only shining star of 15 people, you're a shoo-in.

Not to mention, the person you're speaking with is rarely in position to answer this question honestly anyway, so the numbers you hear could be totally meaningless. Your best bet is to keep this thought to yourself and instead ask questions like these that keep the conversation focused on you, and may provide additional info about the role!

Related:3 Smarter Things to Focus on During Your Job Interview Than the Intense Competition

The Major League Baseball season is now one month old and the hopes and dreams of spring training have been replaced by realistic chances and harsh realities.

So let's take a look at where all 30 teams stand and how they are projected to do the rest of the season.

Using two projection systems from Baseball Prospectus (PECOTA) and Fangraphs and odds to win the World Series from Sportsbook — think of this as how much confidence the public has in each team — we have developed a formula to rank all 30 teams.

#1  Chicago Cubs (18-6)

Preseason ranking: 1

2016 projected wins (PECOTA): 98

2016 projected wins (Fangraphs): 95.5%

Odds to win the World Series: 9-2

One thing to know: Jake Arrieta is now the best pitcher in MLB, but that comes with having to deal with accusations of steroid use. 

No. 2  New York Mets (16-8)

Preseason ranking: 2

Projected wins (Fangraphs): 93

Chances to make playoffs (PECOTA): 89.8%

Odds to win the World Series: 10-1

One thing to know: Is it a slider? Is it a cutter? Whatever Noah Syndergaard's new pitch is, it is unlike anything else in baseball and it is baffling hitters. 

No. 3  Washington Nationals (18-7)

Preseason ranking: 6

Projected wins (Fangraphs): 93

Chances to make playoffs (PECOTA): 84.7%

Odds to win the World Series: 10-1

One thing to know: Bryce Harper is off to a good start, being named NL Player of the Month for April, and should now be considered the favorite to win the NL MVP Award again.

Warning: There are spoilers ahead for "Game of Thrones" season six, including theories and speculation of future events. 

In what some fans are calling the biggest episode of the series to date, the second episode of "Game of Thrones" season six showed viewers a wide range of shocking events. From returning to Bran Stark and his training in greensight, to the resurrection of Jon Snow and death of three Boltons, it was a jam-packed hour. 

Service to the regular viewership aside, "Home" seemed to be a time when the showrunners took every opportunity to incorporate hints, theories, and scenes straight from the book series. 

Keep reading see how Sunday's episode was a huge pay-off for book readers. 

Bran's vision of Winterfell was a long-awaited peek into the past.

Ned, Lyanna, and Benjen Stark were all featured in Bran's vision to Winterfell — a brief moment from the books. This was the first time readers saw any version of Lyanna on screen. Why does it matter? There's a running theory (practically accepted as fact at this point) that Lyanna is the real mother of Jon Snow. 

She's described in the books as a wild, strong-willed girl (not unlike Arya). The show has only given offhand mentions of her, when King Robert reminisced on their engagement and expressed anger at Rhaegar Targaryen for taking her away. Lyanna died right after Robert's rebellion, leaving a sad mark on the war. 

Seeing a young Hodor for the first time was sweet and heartbreaking all at once.

Fans have long theorized about what happened to Hodor to make him, well, Hodor. In the books we know his name used to be Walder, but the show's flashback revealed that it's been changed to Wylis. 

This was also the first time we saw Hodor speak regularly, joking and teasing alongside young Ned, Benjen, and Lyanna. When Bran returned to the present, he asked Hodor what happened to him. Though we don't have an answer yet, Bran's questioning makes us believe that we may learn the truth soon. 

Wun Wun the giant wreaking havoc in Castle Black was an adapted book scene.

In the books, Jon Snow's assassination plays out a little different. Wun Wun has an altercation with some of Stannis' soldiers, and when Jon rushes out to the courtyard he sees the giant "dangling a bloody corpse by one leg." Amidst the chaos of the scene, several Night's Watch men take advantage of the distractions and kill Jon . 

A cool factoid about Wun Wun's victim in the books has to do with George R.R. Martin's love for the New York Giants football team, and his friendly rivalry with a man who loves the Dallas Cowboys. The man Wun Wun killed has heraldry similar to the Dallas Cowboys' blue and white stars. Martin intentionally included a "giant" killing a "cowboy" after he losing a bet.

Even though the details were left out, the showrunners' inclusion of Wun Wun's rage killing was a fun book nod.

Sometimes, a boring home office just doesn't cut it.

Instead, consider working in a Podzook, a funky work-life pod for your backyard.

The pod serves as an alternative to the traditional home office, according to its inventor and director, Chris Sneesby.

Commuting is inconvenient, more people are working from home, and the Podzook provides a magical space to be productive, he says.

The London-based company behind the Podzook, Archipod, only sells the pods in the UK, but it will bring them to the US and Canada. Prices range from $28,000 to $32,000, depending on how you customize them.

Take a look inside.

The Podzook come in two different sizes: — 10-foot and 13-foot in diameter.

After you close the gull-wing door, you can peek out of the porthole windows on the side and ceiling.

Each pod is made from recyclable materials, including insulation made from blue jeans. The walls are made from laser-cut, locally-sourced plywood.

Being more productive is about working smarter, not harder, and making the most of each day.

While this is no easy feat, getting more done in less time is a much more attainable goal if you're not sabotaging yourself with bad habits.

Following are 16 things you should stop doing right now to become more productive.

Aaron Taube contributed to an earlier version of this article.

DON'T MISS: From napping at work to clearing your mind before bed, Arianna Huffington just answered all our questions about sleep

SEE ALSO: Richard Branson, Tony Robbins, and 5 other successful people share their best productivity tricks

1. Hitting the snooze button

It might feel like pressing the snooze button in the morning gives you a little bit of extra rest to start your day, but the truth is that it does more harm than good.

That's because when you first wake up, your endocrine system begins to release alertness hormones to get you ready for the day. By going back to sleep, you're slowing down this process. Plus, nine minutes doesn't give your body time to get the restorative, deep sleep it needs.

2. Prioritizing work over sleep

This isn't to say you should cut back on sleep.

As Arianna Huffington discusses in her sleep manifesto, "The Sleep Revolution," a good night's sleep has the power to increase productivity, happiness, smarter decision-making, and unlock bigger ideas.

As she explains to Business Insider, a recent McKinsey study shows the direct correlation between getting less sleep and workplace inefficiency. The prefrontal cortex, where the problem-solving functions of the brain are housed, is degraded if we don't get enough sleep. Working 24/7 "we now know is the cognitive equivalent of coming to work drunk," she says.

The trick for getting enough sleep is planning ahead and powering down at a reasonable time.

3. Keeping your phone next to your bed

Another key to getting better sleep is not letting outside influencers impair your sleep.

The LED screens of our smartphones, tablets, and laptops, for example, give off what is called blue light, which studies have shown can damage vision and suppress production of melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate the sleep cycle.

Research also suggests that people with lower melatonin levels are more prone to depression.

There's no denying the trend of people with disposable income ditching the suburbs for smaller urban homes.

But just because square footage is shrinking, that doesn't mean people want to compromise when it comes to their kitchens — at least, that's what GE is hoping.

The company's appliance microfactory, FirstBuild, designed a micro kitchen in 2014 that is currently in the development phase. While the whole thing is about the size of a standard refrigerator, it includes a stovetop, oven, microwave, sink, dishwasher, fridge, and freezer.

All in a six-foot-long table.

GE tells Tech Insider the micro kitchen units will range from $7,000 to $15,000 depending on the desired features. The company is still in the process of working out kinks (like conforming to building codes in different cities) as well as the final design.

Still, the micro kitchen prototype is an exciting look at the future of micro living.

GE unveiled its micro kitchen design back in 2014. The goal was to seamlessly integrate into existing kitchen cabinetry.

The six-foot-long table is multifunctional with a dishwasher, fridge, sink, freezer, oven, microwave, and stovetop.

The microwave is an Advantium, one of GE's fast-cooking microwaves.

For many iPhone owners, especially those who buy the 16GB models, the struggle to keep the "storage full" alert at bay is real.

The chances are very high that you or someone you know is constantly running out of space on their iPhones.

The ultimate solution is to get an iPhone with more storage, like the 64GB or 128GB models, but it's understandable why many don't splurge for the extra storage considering their higher price tags.

If you or someone you know has been affected by this terrible condition, consult these space-saving and space-making tips.

1. First, do the obvious: Delete apps you don't need.

2. Ditch iTunes and stream your music.

This is pretty much a must-do if you have a 16GB iPhone.

We know, streaming doesn't work in places without a decent cell 4G or LTE signal, but music can take up a giant chunk of iPhone storage and leave no space for photos or anything else.

3. Do this wacky trick to free up hidden storage space in your iPhone.

Apparently, there's a bunch of hidden storage in your phone that you can't normally use, but there's a way of fooling your iPhone into thinking you need that storage for content you buy from iTunes.

You have to pretend that you're renting a movie without actually renting the movie, and the movie's file size needs to be larger than your available storage. Here are the full instructions on how to do it.

Where does your food come from? What's in it? 

It'll take more than a glance at the label to see what's actually in your food. And that's the problem. As we've made certain foods cheaper and more readily available, we've distanced ourselves from its production, letting the fast food and sugar industries make decisions for us. It's a serious problem, perhaps best illustrated by our pernicious obesity and heart disease epidemic. 

What can help? Knowledge. These documentaries will not only reveal where your food comes from, they may even change your idea about what "food" is. 

"Fed Up" makes two points very clear: sugar is poison and Americans don't have a clue.

The 1 hour, 32 minute documentary makes the first point clear through perky, bright infographics and interviews with nutritionists and scientists about sugar's effect on the body. Soft drinks are highlighted as especially problematic, as Americans are now drinking their calories at a faster rate than ever. 

But "Fed Up" doubly emphasizes how dangerous sugar is by pointing out how ignorant we are of its effects. There are heartbreaking interviews with overweight children and their parents, clueless why diet and exercise aren't helping the kids lose weight. One such child is a 14-year-old considering gastric bypass, a highly invasive surgery. One parent, when asked how she's helping change her son's diet replies that she's feeding him healthier meals: serving him lean Hot Pockets instead of regular. It's a sad illustration of how little we know about what we eat.  

 Watch the trailer.  | Stream the film. 

"Place at the Table" focuses primarily on the federal school lunch program.

What role does the federal government have in the current obesity problem? "Place at the Table" investigates the Obama administration and its role both in child hunger and child obesity, focusing primarily on the federal school lunch program. Although $2.68 is allotted to school cafeterias per child for food, "Place at the Table" asserts that, accounting for labor and administrative costs, schools report between 90 cents and a dollar per child.

Even more disheartening is that for many students, the meal provided from the school is all they'll eat that day. As cafeterias feel pressured to cut costs by using additives and skirting nutritional requirements, students face the paradox of being both underserved and overfed with cheap, dangerous foods.   

 Watch the trailer.  | Stream the film. 

"Forks Over Knives" follows two doctors advocating an entirely plant based diet, arguing that diabetes and heart disease are a result of the Western diet of meat and dairy.

From Mother's Day to Memorial Day, May is a busy month for retailers and shoppers alike.

In addition to being the unofficial start of the summer, it also marks the time of year when we start spending more time outdoors, and that can lead to additional spending. But before you purchase a new grill or try on any summer apparel, you'll want to read our guide, which points out some of the best (and worst) products you can buy this month.

Peruse the advice, then consider signing up for the DealNews Select Newsletter to get the best deals delivered to your inbox every day.

SEE ALSO: 10 everyday products that cost twice as much for women — for no reason at all

Spring clothing shines during early Memorial Day sales

In 2015, we saw retailers kick off their Memorial Day sales as early as 11 days before the holiday. Travel sites started their discounts even earlier, in the first or second week of the month. As such, we expect store sales to begin as early as May 19 this year, with travel promos throughout the entire month.

While many sales will attempt to tease you with deals on summer clothing, the best savings will actually be on spring apparel. (Summer apparel is always cheaper during the months of August and September, when retailers are trying to clear any inventory that consumers didn't buy.)

Spring apparel will see its deepest discounts of the year during Memorial Day weekend, and we expect to see deals from Uniqlo, Macy's, Amazon, Saks Fifth Avenue, PacSun, Sierra Trading Post, Gap, and Eddie Bauer. Look for discounts of 20% to 90% off. Meanwhile, designer brands like Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, and Cole Haan will also offer discounts, which will range from 30% to 50%.

SEE ALSO:What to Expect From Memorial Day Sales

However, you won't want to settle for a mere sale price, as most stores will also have coupons offering deeper discounts. Look for coupons taking up to an extra 40% off. Last year, Saks Fifth Avenue offered free shipping on some orders with a coupon, as did Eddie Bauer. Check out the coupon center for promos from your favorite stores, and be sure to peruse our entire Memorial Day sales guide.

Memorial Day also brings great discounts on home goods

Last year, 27% of all Memorial Day weekend sales were focused on home items, including appliances, kitchen supplies, and furniture.

If you want to prepare your home or yard for summer, Lowe's and Home Depot will likely have discounts of up to 50% and 34% off, respectively. Meanwhile, Williams-Sonoma and Chef's Catalog will be cutting prices by 60% and 70%, respectively. Also look for big sales from Sears, JCPenney, and Cymax.

Save money by avoiding stereotypical Mother's Day gifts

The longer you wait to buy your Mother's Day gifts, the more you'll pay. In previous years, our deal database has shown that jewelry deals tend to increase in price at the beginning of the month, which means procrastinators will pay a premium. Fortunately, this year, Jewelry.com has already posted its Mother's Day sale and is knocking up to an impressive 80% off with additional "buy more, save more" discounts.

Our advice? Get your mom something that seems expensive, but isn't. Designer clothes, especially from outlet stores, often see discounts at this time of year. For example, last year a Michael Kors handbag sale was the most popular deal of the season. Fragrances are another affordable luxury, and FragranceX is ahead of the game this year; it already posted its Mom's Day sale weeks ago, cutting up to 80% off with an extra 15% off all designer scents.

Ultimately, you can never go wrong buying something you know is heavily discounted, such as items from our list of Editors' Choice deals— which include everything from apparel to tech. Also check out our full guide on how to save money on Mother's Day gifts.