When I was 30, my mom gave me $15,000 to spend on a gap year in Italy instead of a house or wedding. I have no regrets.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel
Rooftops and cathedral di Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, Italy, with mountains and bright-blue sky in the background
With my mom's help, I lived in Florence, Italy, at the end of 2023 and early 2024.

xbrchx/Getty Images

I'm a professional baker. I compared apple pies from 3 grocery stores, and I'd only consider buying 1 again

Tech Insider
Several apple pies and slices on plate on table
I tried apple pies from Kroger, Whole Foods, and Safeway.

Molly Allen

My husband and I spent $200 at a historic Florida restaurant only accessible by boat. The views were great, but the food was even better.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel
The writer Linnea Bailey, wears a pink, blue, and green dress and sits on a boat with more boats and water in the background
I took a boat to a great restaurant, Cap's Place, in Florida.

Linnea Bailey

I tried Ina Garten's mashed potatoes, and I'll never make them without her secret ingredient again

Tech Insider
ina gartens face in a circle above a pile of mashed potatoes on a plate
Ina Garten's creamy mashed potatoes use lemon zest.

Paige Bennett; Evan Agostini/AP

3 common mistakes customers make at a wine tasting, according to a server at a winery

Tech Insider
The writer Katelyn Snodgrass wears a white cardigan and smiles as she pours white wine into a glass
I love working at a winery, but there are a few common mistakes I've seen guests make.

Everrgreen Photography

I tried making Ina Garten's pumpkin, apple, and pecan pies. I'll never use anyone else's crust recipe again.

Tech Insider
a pumpkin pie, an apple pie, and a pecan pie on a kitchen cutting board
I made pumpkin, apple, and pecan pies with recipes from celebrity chef Ina Garten.

Paige Bennett

I typically spend $60 at Trader Joe's on weekly staples. I was shocked when I tried to take that budget to Whole Foods.

Tech Insider
composite image of the outside of a trader joes and outside a whole foods
I usually shop at Trader Joe's for my family and Whole Foods for my private-chef clients.

Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images; Fatima Khawaja

I'm a wedding planner. Here are 8 trends I think will be huge in 2025 — and 3 that are going out of style.

Tech Insider
Wood table set with colorful floral centerpieces and white candles and blue napkins for wedding
I'm seeing more couples incorporate whimsy into their weddings.

Teresa Kopec/Getty Images

5 shoe trends that are in right now and 4 that are out, according to stylists

Tech Insider : Style
composite image of a man wearing cow print loafers and a woman wearing tan short uggs
Sleek shoes with funky patterns are in, and bulky boots are out.

Edward Berthelot/Getty Images; Bellocqimages/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

How Ariana Grande built her fortune, from Broadway and Nickelodeon to hit albums and movies

Tech Insider
Ariana Grande at the London premiere of
Ariana Grande at the London premiere of "Wicked."

Neil Mockford/WireImage

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