At first I was hesitant; I didn’t know whether it would hurt me in the long run. Can employers look at a list of people who collected unemployment?! I wondered. (No, they cannot.) Ultimately, getting that unemployment money was a fantastic choice—for me, my (newly freelance) career, and my budget. Here’s what you need to know before applying for unemployment benefits yourself. A Useful Resource There’s a misconception that turning to unemployment benefits is a poor-choice, last-ditch resort—when, in fact, these benefits are a great resource for people who find themselves temporarily without a source of income....

As a hormone imbalance, the condition is not permanent and can be reversed once you’re able to take a step back and prioritize your mental health. Of course, reducing daily stress isn’t as easy as it sounds, so consider supplementing your internal efforts with a product that can help slow the shed while you slow the spread. Dedicated serums and supplements for thinning hair all may be popular, but there’s a new two-in-one hair growth product that can replace an oil-absorbing essential you’re probably already using, so you don’t have to add an additional step to your routine....

Fall, on the other hand, is the ideal time of year to enjoy your outdoor living area. Golden autumn light bathes everything in its reach, and the slight chill in the air is much appreciated after the dog days of summer. Instead of hotdogs and pasta salad, dining al fresco now includes festive fall recipes — pumpkin flavors, lots of apples, and sweets made with cinnamon and chai. Before the season officially gets underway, though, you might want to take a look at your current outdoor setup....

Create a unique water garden and enjoy a host of backyard benefits. All water features beckon wildlife—from songbirds to foxes—to your landscape and provide a valuable water source for the creatures. Add a fountain to your garden, and you’ll enjoy the music of moving water. A pond will quickly become home to frogs, dragonflies, and other creatures. Stock it with fish and enjoy their graceful movements. Ready to get started?...

“People spend a lot of time planning a two-week vacation, but they don’t spend a whole lot of time planning that part of their life,” says Lisa Cini, an award-winning senior living designer and CEO of Mosaic Design Studio. If you want to pursue aging in place—the ability to live in your own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably regardless of age, income, or ability level, as defined by the U....

“A barndominium is a type of architectural style in which a barn is converted to a livable space,” explains Tyler Forte, CEO of Freshbuilds, a general contracting company specializing in interior renovations. He adds that barndominiums are typically constructed of corrugated metal sheets with spray foam insulation and a prominent feature of these homes is large, open spaces (think “open concept” to an extreme). In fact, he says, some are even large enough to store an RV....

Below, learn more about the history of free stores, how they work, and how you can contribute to or start one of your own. The History of Free Stores The idea of a moneyless market or store isn’t actually new at all. It’s actually a 17th century idea being continued in the 21st century. The first known iteration of these ‘markets’ were the brainchild of a communist, agriculturally based sect in England around 1649-1650 called the Diggers....

Soft skills, on the other hand, are more innate and subjective qualities that refer to how well people connect, collaborate, and communicate with others. “Soft skills are the essential interpersonal skills that make or break our ability to get things done in our current jobs and take on new opportunities ahead,” according to a LinkedIn report on top skills companies and hiring managers are looking for in 2020. “Soft skills demonstrate how we work with others and bring new ideas to the table....

“I save around $100 a month,” says Ja-ne de Abreu, author of Sassy Food, on growing veggies at home. “Sometimes more depending on the season and trades. Regardless of the money, it is fun and brings me and my family peace.” Of course, your individual bottom line will depend on factors like how many vegetables you’re growing, the space, and the type of materials. An Investopedia report on gardening costs notes that some of the expenses to expect when starting your own vegetable garden are the cost of the plants or seeds, nutrient-rich soil additives such as compost, specialized tools, and utilities such as water for your crops....

If you’re planning (or just dreaming about) a closet, room, or whole-house renovation, heed this word-to-the-wise advice from homeowners who’ve already been through it, so you can pull off a savvy, remorse-proof redo. Your Budget Homeowners often underestimate the cost of updates. “We discovered that renovating a small kitchen in our area costs at least $30,000,” says Lindsay from Arlington, Va., who ended up having to take out a second loan to pay for repairs to her recently purchased ranch....

So what’s the difference between a sofa table and a console? While today, the two items are often interchangeable, their original purpose differs slightly. A sofa table was traditionally only placed behind a large seating piece, such as a sofa, in a formal room. The table was narrow and rectangular in shape, but slightly lower than a console because its height needed to correspond with the back of a sofa....

What Is Biotin? Biotin is a common over-the-counter supplement, also known as vitamin B7. It plays a critical role in a handful of metabolic processes in our body. More specifically, it stimulates keratin growth which is responsible for healthy hair, nails, and skin. Most of our biotin intake comes from what we eat, as it can be found naturally in many foods including eggs, fish, bananas, avocados, broccoli, and legumes....

Sugaring, a form of hair removal that dates back to ancient Egypt, uses a sugar paste consisting of sugar, lemon, and water to extract hair from the root. It’s often confused with waxing, but they’re not the same—there’s no wax here (it really involves sugar!). To learn more about how it works, how it feels, and what to expect before trying it yourself, we did an expert deep dive into the sugaring process to help you determine if it’s the right hair removal move for you....

While officially inducting burnout into the canon of negative work-place-related syndromes was an excellent first step, professional people still struggle hard to find the proper balance and boundaries between work and non-work. Technology renders anyone reachable at any time (You’re on the road? Take that quarterly call from the car!), and anyone can hop online from anywhere (on Fly-Fi, with a smartphone hotspot, at a nearby Starbucks). You have a couple of bars, so why not get a few more emails sent or that Instagram sales post up, right?...

One of my favorite things to do with my family is go to amusement parks. We did it all growing up, and I’ve continued the tradition with my own family. I’m so excited because this year my oldest son is finally 48 inches tall! And 48″ is a huge milestone for amusement parks; he can go on like 20 more rides this year than last. It definitely makes the amusement park tickets we bought this year more worth it....

Start by talking with your tax accountant. You’re already paying this person to prepare your return, and they have all the documentation at their fingertips to answer questions about your personal situation. If you aren’t working with a CPA, software such as TurboTax typically offers a way to chat with a specialist or have your questions reviewed. But if you think your question is best answered by an IRS employee, visit their website before calling....

Just picture it: Endless stacks of kitchen towels, dish-washing and cleaning supplies, old sponges, recycled paper bags—the list of items that most people categorize as eligible for under-the-sink storage goes on and on. It doesn’t matter if your farmhouse kitchen sink is as charming as can be. If you know there’s a mess of clutter and junk under there, you’ll have a hard time enjoying it fully. But take heart, there’s hope!...

One of our favorites (and perhaps one of the more surprising) ingredients with numerous cardiovascular benefits is tea. To learn more about the health benefits of tea and how it can impact our hearts, we spoke to a renowned doctor, William W. Li, MD, author of Eat To Beat Disease. Here’s what he had to say. How Tea Benefits the Heart Tea is one of the best sources of dietary flavonoids or natural plant compounds that have long been associated with heart health benefits....

“Eyelash hair loss happens for a multitude of reasons,” says Paul Jarrod Frank, MD, a cosmetic dermatologist in New York City and author of The Pro-Aging Playbook. “It can be a sign of using the wrong products, a signal you’re under tremendous stress, or a result of removing false eyelashes improperly, but it can also signal a more systemic health issue.” Keep reading for more reasons your eyelashes could be falling out and when to see a doctor for a proper evaluation....

The average glass of wine contains about 11 percent to 13 percent alcohol, but bottles range from as little as 5.5 percent alcohol by volume to as much as around 20 percent ABV. When tasting wine, you’ll notice alcohol comes through as heat in the back of your mouth or throat. A higher ABV wine will taste warmer and bolder, almost like a slight burning sensation on your palate. RELATED: This Mind-Boggling Sommelier Trick For Buying Rosé Might Be Secret Genius...