shot of trisha sitting down on an indoor bench in front of a detailed wooden wall

I’m helping my mom move to a small place. It has made me realize that at 46, I already have too much stuff.

I’ve seen multiple articles lately about the boomer avalanche — all this stuff people have — and their kids not wanting it. I’m not a boomer, but at 46, I’m already aware that I have too much stuff.

Three recent events made me think about the burden our possessions would place on our kids if something happened to us. So I started decluttering so they don’t have to deal with my stuff.

I helped my mom downsize

The first event was helping my mom downsize.

She moved from a 2,000-square-foot townhome into a much smaller rental home. Doing a pre-move assessment, it was clear that all her stuff wouldn’t fit in the new place.


Small living room

The author’s mom downsized from a two-story, 2,000+ square-foot townhome to a 900-square-foot home.

Courtesy of the author



She saw it as an opportunity and spent two months purging, donating, and selling items.

When scoping out storage spots in her new home, my mom shared that she has a stack of boxes of stuff from her mom’s house. She doesn’t want it, but doesn’t feel like she can get rid of it, and has been holding onto it since her mom passed over 10 years ago.

My kids made sure grandma didn’t get rid of her little rocking chair. They both have memories of climbing on it at Grandma’s house. It’s now in our living room.

Sometimes, there are memories wrapped up in stuff

Decorating our house for the holidays was the second event that confirmed we have too much stuff.

Every year, my husband goes into our crawl space and hauls out a full 19 boxes of holiday decor — trees, lights, ceramic villages, wrapping paper. Our house ends up covered with holidays.


Box of donations

This holiday season, the author started a new tradition, donating decorations her family no longer uses.

Courtesy of the author



This year, when decorating, I decided to downsize and packed a giant box with ornaments, tablecloths, mugs, and random decorations we haven’t put up in years.

During this process, I was reminded how important it is to check before donating. My husband noticed a few decorations from his mom in the “donation box.” We’re keeping them. We may not display them, but there are memories in those figurines.

I asked my kids what they wanted us to keep for them. Stockings, our Advent calendar, and the holiday village — each of them had items they associated with their holiday memories. These things will never go into the donation box.

Our stuff can be so valuable to others

During our remodel last year — event three — my youngest and I learned how much the things we have sitting on a shelf can mean to someone else. My child’s donation of stuffed animals made a huge difference to volunteers and children at a local soup kitchen.


Holiday tablecloths.

The author says she has way too many tablecloths.

Courtesy of the author



We had a repeat experience this year, but this time with tablecloths. I have too many tablecloths. The last count was over 20. Even if I can’t get laundry done for weeks, that is many more than we need. I challenged myself to get rid of half of them.

A friend who volunteers at a shelter and soup kitchen happily took the donation. A few weeks later, we learned those tablecloths had a new life as blankets for a family of four who were living in their car at the time.

I have a process to downsize my wardrobe

Remodeling our house was the most eye-opening demonstration of how many things we have. Our storage space is still crammed with stuff that didn’t make it back into the house after the remodel.

Finding a place for everything during the renovation was a huge challenge. We quickly realized we couldn’t fit 50% of our belongings (three bedrooms and my office) in the other 50% of our house.


a car packed with clothes and suitcases

Hooking hangers on seat belts maximized space and kept the clothes in place when driving.

Trisha Daab



Taking up the most space — the items in my closet, which filled my entire soccer-mom-sized SUV.

So today, for every new thing I add, I donate at least two items. I’ve designated a section of my closet for things I haven’t worn, and when the seasons change, anything in that section goes. And — the most fun — I invite friends to come “shop” in my closet.

Some things are my memories, not my kids’

In my office are multiple items that remind me of my grandma.

One of my favorite memories is being at her house, spending hours poring over her high school and college yearbooks.


Old yearbooks

Yearbooks from my grandma’s high school and college years are items I won’t be getting rid of.

Courtesy of the author



When it was clear the end was near for her, she had me take those yearbooks from the nursing home. She barely remembered who she was, but she remembered how much those books meant to me.

Seeing those yearbooks evokes memories of her, keeping her alive in my mind. But they are my memories of her, not my kids’.

And that’s really the thing, isn’t it? Wrapped up in all this stuff are memories and maybe a bit of guilt about getting rid of it.

So, I will keep cleaning out that closet, clearing out the storage unit, and reducing our holiday decor, but one day, my kids may have to get rid of those yearbooks.




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Lauren Edmonds Profile Photo

How Disney picks its AI copyright battles depends on who’s ripping it off

No, Disney did not release footage of a never-before-seen fight sequence between Marvel’s Wolverine and Thanos (spoiler: Thanos won).

That clip, which amassed over 142,000 views on X over 48 hours, was created using Seedance 2.0, an AI video generation model that ByteDance debuted last week. The tool created a buzz on social media, where one user made a hyperrealistic AI video of Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt fighting over Jeffrey Epstein.

ByteDance’s decision to let users create content based on Disney’s IP without permission isn’t all that surprising given the AI industry’s well-established strategy to “ask for forgiveness, not permission.”

Disney, which is infamous for aggressively protecting its intellectual property, isn’t having it — though how it responds to the threats is not always the same.

On Friday, the entertainment company sent ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns Seedance and TikTok, a cease-and-desist letter, a source familiar with the matter confirmed for Business Insider.

In the letter, Disney accused ByteDance of supplying Seedance 2.0 with “a pirated library of Disney’s copyrighted characters from Star Wars, Marvel, and other Disney franchises, as if Disney’s coveted intellectual property were free public domain clip art.”

“Over Disney’s well-publicized objections, ByteDance is hijacking Disney’s characters by reproducing, distributing, and creating derivative works featuring those characters,” the letter said.

Seedance is only the latest AI company Disney says is ripping it off.

Disney and NBCUniversal sued Midjourney, an AI image generator, in June last year. In the lawsuit, the companies compared Midjourney’s tech to “a virtual vending machine, generating endless unauthorized copies of Disney’s and Universal’s copyrighted works.”

Then Disney accused Character.AI of copyright infringement in a September cease-and-desist letter last September. In December, it sent one to Google in response to the AI image generator Nano Banana Pro and its other AI models, accusing the Big Tech giant of stealing its IP on a “massive scale.” Both companies have since removed Disney characters from their platforms.

Disney is not anti-AI, however, and its strategy is not one-size-fits-all. The company took a much less adversarial approach with OpenAI, the world’s leading AI startup.

When OpenAI debuted Sora 2, an AI-powered text-to-video platform, in September, users began uploading IP-heavy content featuring Disney characters to social media. Instead of a cease-and-desist letter or legal action, though, Disney negotiated a deal.

By December, Disney and OpenAI had announced a three-year licensing agreement that gives Sora users, with some guardrails, access to 200 Disney characters. As part of the deal, Disney would also invest $1 billion in OpenAI.

Although Disney hasn’t shared plans to develop its own AI model or video generator, Disney CEO Bob Iger said the company ultimately sees the tech not as a threat but as a new path to connect with audiences.

During an earnings call late last year, he said AI would “provide users of Disney+ with a much more engaged experience, including the ability for them to create user-generated content, and to consume user-generated content, mostly short form, from others.”




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Lauren Crosby

I bought a house with my best friend. It’s the best living situation I’ve ever had.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sarai Saez Rogers, a 36-year-old mom. It has been edited for length and clarity.

When Claire, my best friend for over 10 years, and I laid eyes on the late-18th-century duplex with a big front yard, we knew it was the perfect house to buy together.

We’d gotten to know each other in New Mexico, where both of our husbands were stationed while in the military. For 10 years, we were each other’s community. Neither of us had family around, so we had to make our own support systems.

We both got divorced

My husband and I divorced, and there was a six-month period when Claire’s husband was deployed. The two of us practically lived together for those six months. We cooked and ate together, picked each other’s kids up from school (she has two, and I have one), worked out together, and even had family sleepovers. I found that being a single mom didn’t mean I had to shoulder the load alone.

I moved to Maryland for a new job. I quickly found out how expensive it was to be a single parent, and relocated to upstate New York to live with my parents.

Claire and her husband then divorced, and she moved in with her parents in Wisconsin.

We stayed in touch, both dreaming about what it would be like to buy a house, but knowing we couldn’t afford it as single parents. Although we both appreciated living with our parents, it wasn’t an ideal situation after being used to living independently for so long.

We bought a house together

At some point during our phone calls, we considered moving in together. We trusted, respected, and liked each other. We’d both say that for the first time in a long time, we knew what it was to feel safe with another person, to be loved for who we were, rather than for who someone wanted us to be.

I had a steady income and credit, and Claire had savings, so we’d be a team if we were to buy a house together.


Friends jumping in front of house

Sarai Saez Rogers bought a house with her bestfriend.

Courtesy of Sarai Saez Rogers



In the summer of 2024, Claire visited us in New York, and on somewhat of a whim, we decided to look at houses for sale.

We saw a happy, yellow duplex, one that our real estate agent tried to dissuade us from viewing, as it was a bit odd, and both fell in love. It was built in the 1800s with period features, located on a quiet street, with a huge yard speckled with trees. It had originally been a farmhouse with different families, so it was a perfect setup for us. There are two bedrooms upstairs, and three downstairs, with a bathroom and kitchen on each floor.

We bought it, and every day, even on the days we have arguments, I’m so glad we made the decision to live together.

I get to live with my best friend

In a world where friendships aren’t always cherished because we’re too busy, I get to see my best friend every single day. We support, love, and are there for each other at the drop of a hat.

Recently, we had gin and tonics and watched “Mulan” together, belting each song. By bucking the trend that says our setup is reserved for youth, we’re experiencing the closeness many people have when they share rooms or houses in their early 20s.

One of the questions people have asked us is what we’ll do if we develop romantic connections. I tell them we both are in romantic relationships. Claire and I have boyfriends, but why should that impact our home situation? We don’t have to move in with partners out of necessity, but only if we choose to.


Women moving washer

Sarai Saez Rogers says her friendship with Claire is one of the deepest relationships she’s had.

Courtesy of Sarai Saez Rogers



We’ve also discussed the possibility of partners moving in — splitting the house right down the middle and having separate rather than shared living spaces.

Another question people ask is what happens if and when we argue. This is an easy one. I don’t think deep, authentic relationships can exist without conflict. In any relationship, romantic or platonic, there will be disagreements. It’s healthy if it’s dealt with in a caring, respectful way.

When we argue or get on each other’s nerves, we take space and then come back together to talk it through. It’s made us closer, rather than driving us apart.

I’m never taking friendships for granted

After my divorce, I thought a lot about how, for years, romantic love had been the epitome of a relationship, the most ideal love to build a life around.

Since living with Claire, I’ve realised I was wrong. My friendship with Claire is one of the deepest relationships I’ve ever had. Why would I not move in with her? Why would I not build a life alongside her? With her, with my friend, I feel like I’m not just surviving, but thriving.

Even though I am in a romantic relationship with someone else now, I’ll never take friendship for granted again.

Bucking convention, buying a house and living with my best friend has made me incredibly happy, happier than I ever have been.




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I spent 50 days on the same Celebrity cruise ship in 5 different rooms. Here’s how they compare, and which is the best value.

  • I sailed on Celebrity Constellation in interior, ocean-view, veranda, and concierge-class cabins.
  • Some lower-tier rooms felt similar to me, mostly just differing in configuration and floorspace.
  • Concierge class was great, but if I were paying full price I’d go for a standard veranda room.

Last fall, my husband and I sailed on the Celebrity Constellation for 51 nights in a row on six back-to-back cruises.

We did so using offers for discounted sailings that we received while playing in the onboard casino on a Celebrity cruise we’d taken earlier that year.

Our almost two-month journey began in Rome and ended in Tampa, and we spent each sailing in a different cabin trying the various room classes Celebrity offers.

Ultimately, we were able to sail in interior, ocean-view (standard and deluxe), and concierge-class cabins. Here’s how they compared, and which I’d book next time if I were paying full price.

We started in a cozy interior cabin without windows.

Though it would’ve been nice to see the seas from our room, the lack of morning sunshine streaming in can be a blessing after a late night.

Tammy Barr

On every cruise ship, interior staterooms tend to be cheaper and smaller than the other cabin types.

Prices vary widely depending on demand, itinerary, and dates, but I’ve generally seen these rooms listed on the Constellation for about $550 to $700 per person.

It was a well-appointed and basic room of 171 square feet that included a small desk area, refrigerator, television, closet, bed, and bathroom.

The king-sized bed was comfortable and the bathroom felt spacious. I especially liked the generous counter space and large rectangular shower.

After a late night, our interior room’s the lack of morning sunshine was a blessing. It was always easy to sleep in without windows, but I did miss seeing the stellar sunsets at sea from my bed.

I spent two voyages in ocean-view staterooms.


Bed under window in ocean-view stateroom on Celebrity Constellation

I liked that the ocean-view rooms tended to be lower on the ship.

Tammy Barr

In my experience, upgrading from interior to ocean-view can add around $50 to $100 per person to the cost of the cruise.

This room was the same size as the interior one and elements of the space, from the bed to the nightstands, looked nearly identical.

However, the various ocean-view rooms can have different layouts. In one, the window was above the head of the bed, and in the other, we were able to use our window well as a bench or storage area.

These were appointed similarly to the inside cabin, but are located on the outside part of the lower decks, featuring windows of various sizes.

Lower floors tend to experience less movement, so these sailings felt especially quiet and smooth — this is one perk interior and ocean-view rooms tend to have over ones with balconies.

The deluxe ocean-view room offered more space and a larger window.


Large window in deluxe ocean view cabin next to bed on Celebrity Constellation

Our deluxe ocean-view cabin had a fairly large window.

Tammy Barr

A cut above the regular ocean-view cabins, the deluxe room size took us from 171 to 242 square feet.

In comparison, this room felt massive, and the (slightly bigger) window provided outstanding views of the sea. The bathroom was similar-sized to the other classes, and the bed and vanity appeared to be the same.

It was nice to have space for in-room yoga and additional chairs that I used to host friends in the room.

These typically cost about $100 per person more than standard ocean-view cabins. Though it was a pleasant week, I am not convinced the larger room and window are worth the extra cost.

The veranda room featured an outdoor balcony.


Sunset view off of balcony cabin on on Celebrity Constellation

I loved watching the sunset from our balcony.

Tammy Barr

On one voyage we stayed in a standard veranda room, which is also commonly referred to as a balcony cabin. It was slightly longer than the previous staterooms, but at 175 square feet, it was not as large as the deluxe ocean-view.

The setups were quite similar, though I liked that the outdoor balcony added another 40 square feet for relaxing.

The best part of a balcony room is the access to fresh, salty air. I loved leaving the door open to hear the waves lap against the side of the ship.

Again, prices can vary, but I’ve seen balcony rooms on this ship cost about $300 more per person than a typical ocean-view cabin.

The cabin we most enjoyed was the concierge class.


Concierge class room with full-sized couch for entertaining on Celebrity Constellation

The concierge-class room came with a full-sized couch for entertaining.

Tammy Barr

The room itself is a balcony cabin, but is slightly larger than the basic veranda level at 191 square feet plus a 42-square-foot balcony.

Some of that extra space was used for additional shelving, and an even longer couch that could fold out to a queen-size bed.

Most notably, though, this class comes with access to a dedicated concierge to assist us with anything we need around the ship, such as booking excursions.

Our bathroom looked the same as it did in the other rooms.


Bathroom in Concierge Class room on Celebrity Constellation

The bathroom in our concierge-class room wasn’t anything special.

Tammy Barr

The bathroom and closet we had in concierge class resembled the ones in the other rooms. All of them were simple and functional with a good amount of counter space and a decent-sized shower.

However, our bathrobes in here seemed to feel more plush than the ones in the regular cabins — but maybe we just imagined it.

Concierge class comes with many perks.


View of balcony and desk area Concierge Class cabin on Celebrity Constellation

Our concierge-class cabin felt quite spacious.

Tammy Barr

This room class comes with an abundance of perks like complimentary binoculars to use and a bottle of sparkling wine, plus a menu of pillow options to choose from for the bed.

Throughout our week sailing in concierge class, we were able to attend exclusive events, like a lecture on our upcoming ports and a party on the ship’s helipad, where we enjoyed complimentary drinks with the officers as we sailed out of port.

As much as I enjoyed the in-room benefits of concierge class (especially the plush pillows), I do think these exclusive events would get old on a repeat cruise.

This luxe-feeling class can get pricey — and it’s not even Celebrity’s top offering.


Bed in concierge class room on Celebrity Constellation

We stayed in a concierge-class room on the Celebrity Constellation.

Tammy Barr

Oftentimes, concierge class costs nearly twice as much as an interior cabin. I’ve seen rooms on this ship for about $928 a week per person to over $1,000.

Although the service we received felt like what we’d find at a fine hotel, this isn’t even the top class that Celebrity offers.

Next up is AquaClass, which offers similar balcony rooms, but with additional spa-related perks and better locations on the ship (like aft-facing balconies). I’ve seen these for a few hundred more than concierge.

Then, Celebrity has its highest-end suites in The Retreat, a ship-within-a-ship concept with a private restaurant, lounge, and team of dedicated employees. These can be double the price of a concierge room.

Ultimately, the sweet spot for me is the veranda room.


Woman's legs crossed in front of balcony on cruise ship at unset

If I’m factoring in cost and value, my top pick would be the standard veranda room.

Tammy Barr

Celebrity offers cabins for all budgets and I relished the opportunity to try several of them.

It’s no surprise that concierge class — the most expensive offering with the most luxurious perks — was my favorite. However, if I were paying full price for a sailing I’d book a standard veranda room.

In my opinion, it feels like a great value at a more reasonable cost, and paying a few hundred dollars to upgrade from ocean-view or interior room seems worth it.

And, at the end of the day, when the ship is sailing out of port, I just want to be able to watch from my private balcony — not looking through a window or crowding on a shared deck.




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I made 5 Gordon Ramsay pasta dishes and ranked them from least to most delicious

  • I’ve been making my way through Gordon Ramsay’s quick and easy pasta recipes.
  • I love his 10-minute turkey and leek pasta, which the chef makes for his family every week.
  • And my favorite Ramsay pasta dish is a Bolognese that’s ready in 15 minutes.

Inspired by my quest to find the best Ina Garten pasta recipes, I decided to do the same with Gordon Ramsay.

While the celebrity chef is more frequently associated with his famous beef Wellington, he also knows how to whip up a quick and delicious Bolognese.

I tried five of his pasta dishes — including three that were ready in 15 minutes or less — and ranked them from least to most delicious.

Here’s how it went.

In fifth place is Gordon Ramsay’s Bloody Mary linguine.

Gordon Ramsay’s Bloody Mary linguine.

Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

The Bloody Mary is one of Ramsay’s favorite cocktails, so he decided to whip up a pasta that channeled its iconic flavors.

“This makes an unusual starter or main and just shows how even the most familiar dishes — in this case pasta and tomato sauce — can be updated,” the chef writes in his “Ultimate Home Cooking” cookbook.

Ramsay’s Bloody Mary pasta features linguine, vodka, celery salt, and Worcestershire and Tabasco sauces, as well as handmade toasted breadcrumbs.

Ramsay’s Bloody Mary pasta takes very little prep, but the flavor was surprisingly bland.


Cooking pasta and sauce for Gordon Ramsay's Bloody Mary Pasta

Simmering the Bloody Mary sauce while cooking the linguine.

Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

A great Bloody Mary cocktail is full of salt and heat, a burst of flavor that can conquer any hangover. Unfortunately, Ramsay’s pasta pales in comparison.

While I appreciated the ease of this recipe, the dish lacked depth. The diced tomatoes left the sauce too thin, and I barely got a kick of heat from the Tabasco. Overall, this pasta was just too plain — I’ll be sticking to the cocktail.

How to make Gordon Ramsay’s Bloody Mary linguine.

Taking the fourth spot is Ramsay’s simple shrimp scampi.


Gordon Ramsay's 10-minute scampi

Gordon Ramsay’s shrimp scampi.

Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

Ramsay’s shrimp scampi is one of the pasta recipes in his cookbook “Ramsay in 10,” which features dishes that can be made in just 10 minutes.

In addition to shrimp and angel-hair pasta, the dish includes cherry tomatoes, basil, capers, shallots, and lemon zest and juice.

Ramsay’s shrimp scampi is a great pasta dish for the summer.


Gordon Ramsay's 10-minute scampi

Ramsay’s shrimp scampi tastes bright and fresh.

Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

With its bright pops of color and the scent of freshly squeezed lemon, Ramsay’s shrimp scampi transported me to a seaside taverna in August. The pasta tasted light and zesty, and I loved the texture of the blistered tomatoes.

I recommend adding more chili flakes to this recipe for just a bit more pop, and make sure to carefully watch your angel hair — it can get sticky if it cooks for too long.

How to make Gordon Ramsay’s 10-minute shrimp scampi.

In third place is Ramsay’s easy but elevated cacio e pepe.


Gordon Ramsay's cacio e pepe

Gordon Ramsay’s cacio e pepe.

Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

Ramsay’s cacio e pepe only requires 30 minutes and five basic ingredients — butter, bucatini, black peppercorns, plus Parmesan and pecorino cheeses — but the chef set out to prove that “quick food doesn’t mean bland and one-dimensional.”

“Producing restaurant-quality meals in half an hour can be a challenge,” Ramsay writes in his “Quick and Delicious” cookbook. “But there are ways around this if you know how: choose the right ingredients, marry them with the right combination of spices and sauces, use the right cooking method, and you can produce incredibly tasty meals that tick all the boxes.”

Ramsay’s cacio e pepe is quick enough to make after work, but impressive enough for date night.


Adding pasta water to the sauce for Gordon Ramsay's cacio e pepe

Ramsay’s cacio e pepe sauce is silky and luxurious.

Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

Ramsay really elevates this cacio e pepe with the homemade Parmesan crisps, which added a nice contrast of texture to the chewy bucatini noodles. I also loved the sauce, which tasted silky smooth with the simple addition of some pasta water.

“Cacio e pepe translates as ‘cheese and pepper,’ and that’s essentially all that goes into this sauce,” Ramsay writes in the recipe description. “The magic ingredient that binds them together is the pasta cooking water. It is full of starch, which emulsifies with the butter and helps the sauce cling to the pasta.”

How to make Gordon Ramsay’s cacio e pepe.

Ramsay’s turkey and leek pasta takes the second spot.


Gordon Ramsay 10-mintue pasta

Gordon Ramsay’s 10-minute turkey and leek pasta.

Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

Ramsay loves this turkey and leek pasta so much that he said he makes it for his family every week.

“For a change, skip the Bolognese and make this creamy turkey and leek sauce in a fraction of the time instead,” he writes in the “Ramsay in 10” cookbook. “It might just become a regular midweek family meal, as it has at my house.”

The 10-minute dish features either penne or fusilli pasta, plus ground turkey, leeks, shallots, garlic, lemon, Parmesan cheese, and homemade sage breadcrumbs.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Ramsay’s 10-minute pasta.


Making Gordon Ramsay's 10-minute turkey and leek pasta

Ramsay’s turkey and leek pasta is full of light and bright flavors.

Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

I don’t usually crave poultry with my pasta, but Ramsay’s dish showed me what I’ve been missing.

The turkey and leek sauce was light but bright, thanks to the sweetness of the leeks and the zing from the lemon, and the sage breadcrumbs added an extra layer of depth to the overall flavor.

I whipped up this pasta while visiting my family, and everyone loved it — no wonder Ramsay makes it every week!

How to make Gordon Ramsay’s turkey and leek pasta.

In first place is Ramsay’s 15-minute sausage Bolognese.


Gordon Ramsay's 15-minute bolognese

Gordon Ramsay’s 15-minute Bolognese pasta.

Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

My family and I discovered this 15-minute Bolognese while watching episodes of “Gordon Ramsay’s Ultimate Cookery Course” at the start of the pandemic.

The dish only requires a few basic ingredients — dried tagliatelle pasta, sausage, tomatoes, garlic, and onion. I also like to add a can of crushed tomatoes and some parsley if I have them on hand.

Ramsay’s 15-minute Bolognese has become one of my family’s favorite recipes.


Making Gordon Ramsay's 15-minute bolognese pasta

Making the 15-minute Bolognese sauce.

Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

A typical Bolognese can take hours to simmer, but Ramsay’s recipe develops so much flavor at a fraction of the time. The dish takes very little prep — five minutes or less — and the sauce still comes out comforting, rich, and delicious every time.

My parents loved this pasta so much that my dad started making it almost every week after we first tried it. And no matter how many dishes I’ve tested on them, this is still one of their all-time favorites.

“It feels like home,” my mom told me.

How to make Gordon Ramsay’s 15-minute sausage Bolognese.




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We sold our house in Utah to rent in Denver. The move was a big financial risk, but it was worth it.

Sometimes, a decision doesn’t make sense on paper, but it just feels right to your soul. That’s what my family’s big move was like.

Last year, our family of five sold our affordable home in rural southern Utah to move into a more expensive rental in a Denver suburb.

We had wanted a change for a long time, and the timing finally felt right. We could’ve stayed where we were “safe” financially, but all our family members were struggling in different ways.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that nothing would really get better until we were brave enough to make a big change — so we did.

Moving from Utah to Denver was a difficult financial decision

One of the hardest parts to accept about moving was leaving our extended family and a house that we had lived in for 13 years.

Even more difficult was that our house in Utah was affordable. We were privileged to buy a house when prices were reasonable, and mortgage rates were low. We would have moved a long time ago, but we felt stuck in a home we had outgrown because it was cheap.

We knew that if we sold our house, we would be paying a lot more elsewhere. But the decision still felt right for our family.

We figured Denver was worth the price increase

We chose a Denver suburb because we love the outdoors and also miss the opportunities that a city provides. We have friends in the area, so we knew we would have a community once we arrived.


Katy Anderson's kids in nature in denver

The author’s kids enjoy Denver’s nature.

Courtesy of Katy Anderson



We chose an area known for its “small town feel.” As soon as we moved in, I immediately fell in love with the neighborhood. We are surrounded by an abundance of mature trees, and are within walking distance of wonderful trails for walking and biking.

I’ve been amazed at the wildlife around us, especially considering we live in a Metro area.

Just walking the trails in our neighborhood, we’ve seen rabbits, coyotes, elk, raccoons, turkeys, and many different species of birds. We feel closer to nature here than we did in rural Utah.

After living here for a few weeks, we decided to purchase e-bikes so we could ride much farther along the trails, including to coffee shops, restaurants, city gardens, and parks.

This area also provides us with access to shopping, museums, concerts, and sporting venues. After living in a secluded town for so many years, having these amenities feels like a luxury.

We’re saving money in other ways

Our rent is high in Denver, and that has been the biggest adjustment.

Before we made the move, I was also worried about the cost of living, but I have been pleasantly surprised. Our kids even get free school lunch thanks to a statewide Healthy School Meals for All program. My kids have all commented that the food is of better quality. They actually want to eat the school lunches here.

We are paying much less for gas in Colorado, as we are driving substantially less. In Utah, we lived on the outskirts of town and had to drive 15 to 20 minutes to get to work or to the nearest grocery store.

When we moved to Colorado, we also immediately ended most of our subscriptions and streaming services. We’ve cut down on our discretionary spending and are eating more family meals at home.

We also chose jobs that would help us adjust to our new housing costs

We knew we would be paying more for housing no matter where we moved, so we chose a location with ample work opportunities. My husband is a psychiatric nurse practitioner, and I have picked up a part time job in addition to my freelance writing business.

We are all making more money in Colorado than we could in Utah, where the minimum wage is still $7.25 per hour. Two of my teenage sons were amazed when they realized how much more they could earn in their new city.

Right now, we are enjoying the freedom of renting. Buying a home in this economy feels daunting, and we want to take our time exploring Colorado to see where we may want to buy if it feels right.

For now, I am grateful that my kids have a chance to experience living in a bigger city with more diversity and opportunities. Overall, I feel like we fit in here in a way that we never did in our old town, and that is priceless.




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Steve Russolillo

I’m going to Disneyland with my kids for the first time. I’m terrified.

My Disney dilemma

My wife and I are about to take our two kids to Disneyland … and I’m absolutely terrified.

Not because I don’t want to go. My nearly 3-year-old carries his Mickey Mouse stuffie everywhere. He sleeps with it. Eats with it. When he sees Mickey in real life, he’ll lose it. I can’t wait for that.

Here’s the problem: I’m really worried about how much it’s going to cost. The price of visiting Disney — and competing amusement parks — has been rising for years. But the upper end of what it can cost, depending on the experience you want, has entered rarefied air.

In a recent Business Insider documentary, we dug into Disney’s history to better understand the real reason the Mouse House has gotten so expensive. When Disneyland opened in 1955, admission was basically pocket change. Back then, it cost 50 cents for a child and $1 an adult, to get in, or $6 and $12, respectively, in today’s dollars adjusted for inflation. Going on the rides cost more.

Today, admission plus rides can run close to $200 a day, although the lower tiers are cheaper. Then there’s the food. The merchandise. Not to mention the enormous crowds and the endless lines if you don’t pay for a line-jumping pass. The happiest place on Earth? My wallet might disagree.

Disney parks have been a bright spot for the company post-COVID under the stewardship of parks czar Josh D’Amaro. He is set to succeed Bob Iger as CEO.

The question now is whether Disney diehards start to change course.

One hardcore Disney fan who still visits multiple times a year told us she’s cut back on extras and avoids premium shortcuts or add-ons.

Another family dropped nearly $10,000 on Disney World and came home with a list of what they’d cut next time.

There are Disney-specific budgeting stories, too, showing how families save on tickets, food, and hotels. I’m taking notes.

My real fear isn’t the credit-card bill. What if my kids love it? What if they beg to go back? What if this trip becomes such a core memory — priceless, one might say — that they measure other vacations against it?

Wish me luck.

What are your best Disney tricks and hacks? I’d love to hear from you at srussolillo@businessinisider.com.




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Nike salary data reveals what employees can make at the sportswear giant

As Nike continues its quest to come back as a dominant retail force, the sportswear giant has continued to invest in tech and design jobs.

Publicly available work visa data, which companies are required to disclose to the US Department of Labor, gives an idea of how much Nike’s employees bring home and some of the roles it has invested in.

Nike had about 755 open positions worldwide listed on its jobs board as of February 13. In January, the company also said it planned to lay off 775 employees at its distribution centers, citing efforts to accelerate the use of “advanced technology and automation.”

Nike had several leadership shake-ups in 2025, including promoting at least four insiders to senior roles reporting directly to CEO Elliott Hill.

Hill, who rejoined the company in October 2024, has told investors that Nike is aligning its employees around five key action areas: culture, product, marketing, marketplace, and connecting with consumers on the ground in their communities.

That strategy plays into Nike’s efforts to focus its marquee brands — Nike, Jordan, and Converse — on key sports such as running and basketball. It’s also pushing a new collaboration, NikeSKIMS, an athleisure brand for women.

“We are in the midst of realignment at Nike,” Nike said in a July statement to Business Insider. The realignment and sport strategy aim to “create sharper distinction and dimension” for its brands, the company said.

Here’s what some key Nike roles can earn, based on work visa data for the year ending September 30.

The salary data includes information from Nike Inc. and some subsidiaries, such as its retail services arm and Air Manufacturing Innovation division. It reflects US-based roles and, given that it’s based on H-1 B visa disclosures, tends to skew more tech-focused.

Data and engineering roles: Software engineers can earn more than $300,000

Software Engineer: $124,592 to $203,581 a year

Software Engineer I: $120,000 to $144,612 a year

Software Engineer II: $152,007 to $178,231 a year

Software Engineer III: $139,845 to $180,353 a year

Senior Director, Software Engineering: $301,378 a year

Data Engineering: $104,500 to $175,000 a year

Data Analytics: $114,600 to $118,398 a year

Director, Supply Chain AI/ML Engineering: $252,535 a year

Design roles: Some designers make around $200,000

Designer II: $94,691 a year

Materials Designer: $100,000 a year

Senior Digital Product Designer: $155,810 a year

Senior 3D Designer: $106,605 a year

Director, NikeSKIMS Apparel Design: $244,466 a year

Manager roles: Managers can take home more than $270,000

Senior Manager, Software Engineering: $273,156 a year

Delivery Excellence, Uniform Operations Manager: $164,439 a year

Senior Product Manager: $153,431 to $169,744 a year

Manager, Data Engineer: $168,031 to $213,190 a year

Senior Program Manager: $147,434 a year

Supply Chain Intelligence Manager: $158,311 a year

Marketing roles: Some marketing jobs can earn as much as $425,000

Lead Professional, Sports Marketing: $128,434 to $143,251 a year

VP, Global Brand Marketing, Women’s: $425,000 a year

Have a tip? Contact Jordan Hart via email at jhart@insider.com or Signal at jordanhart.99. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here’s our guide to sharing information securely.




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Gary Marcus says AI fatigue could hit coders but other jobs may be spared — and even become more fun

AI fatigue won’t hit everyone the same way, AI researcher Gary Marcus said.

“In some domains, AI might actually make a person’s job more fun,” Marcus told Business Insider.

Software engineers are increasingly discussing how AI is draining them. Siddhant Khare, who builds AI tools, recently wrote about how he’s experiencing AI fatigue.

“If someone who builds agent infrastructure full-time can burn out on AI, it can happen to anyone,” Khare wrote.

Marcus said that not all industries are set to be disrupted in the same way AI has upended programming and engineering.

“If somebody needs to do some artistic work and they don’t really have artistic talent, it might be fun to get the system to make them feel like they have a superpower,” he said.

However, Marcus said he isn’t surprised that programmers are beginning to feel fatigued.

“Some people in coding, in particular, probably feel like constant pressure, and now they feel like what they’re doing is debugging somebody else’s code, instead of writing code,” he said. “Debugging somebody else’s code is not particularly fun.”

The feeling Marcus described echoed what Khare told Business Insider when asked to expand on his AI fatigue.

“We used to call it an engineer, now it is like a reviewer,” Khare said. “Every time it feels like you are a judge at an assembly line and that assembly line is never-ending.”

Steve Yegge, a veteran engineer, said companies should limit employees’ time spent on AI-assisted work to 3 hours. He said AI has “a vampiric effect.”

“I seriously think founders and company leaders and engineering leaders at all levels, all the way down to line managers, have to be aware of this and realize that you might only get three productive hours out of a person who’s vibe coding at max speed,” Yegge told The “Pragmatic Engineer” newsletter/podcast. “So, do you let them work for three hours a day? The answer is yes, or your company’s going to break.”




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