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As Nicholas Creel, an assistant professor of business law at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, Ga., explains, businesses are already being strained with soaring supply chain prices, giving them next to no room for an increase in other costs without having to pass those costs off to consumers via price hikes. “So it isn’t too surprising that so many employers are trying to hold off on increasing employee pay or benefits—that’s a long-term cost increase they will have to deal with even after the supply chain issues level out,” he says....

How Fast Do Red Maples Grow? Some trees are slow growers (20-30 years to reach full size) and other types of trees grow fast (10-15 years). The good news is that red maples grow at a relatively fast speed; in the tree world, this equals about 12-18 inches of height a year. However, you’ll have to be patient for it to become a full-size tree because it can take about 25 years before this type of maple tree stops adding more height....

Sure, the right lineup is important—including making the proper skincare routine transition—but first, it’s important to understand what dry skin is in order to combat it. Since colder weather is rapidly approaching, we enlisted some top dermatologists to find out how best to prepare for the winter skin storm forecast ahead. What is the difference between dry and dehydrated skin? Dry skin is often misunderstood. To put things simply, dryness refers to a skin type, and dehydration refers to a skin condition....

Fun Halloween Guess the Food Game When I was growing up, my parents always threw me birthday parties with creative birthday party games. That’s actually one of the reasons I share so many games on my blog – I’ve grown up loving games and assume everyone else does too. One of the games I remember the most from all those birthday parties was the time we played Fear Factor, and I ate an octopus and promptly threw it up....

Types of Daffodils Daffodils (Narcissus) are an antidote to the winter blues. Choose bulbs from all three blooming times: early, mid-season or late, and keep the daffodil show running for months in your garden. If you want the first possible flowers, try ‘Rijnveld’s Early Sensation’, a classic yellow trumpet daffodil that blooms in January or February. The early, miniature, yellow ‘Tete a Tete’ deserves a starring location next to your front walk....

There’s been a decades-long discussion over whether or not napping as an adult is definitively good for your health. Napping certainly can be beneficial, if done correctly and under the right conditions (the time of day, the length of the nap, and so on). In other words, whether or not that cat nap you’ve been taking mid-day is good for you ultimately depends on how and when you nap. So, yes, it can get a bit complicated....

To experience optimal benefits, you need the right amount of sleep—every night. How much sleep depends on individual factors, including your age, health, and even DNA. The National Sleep Foundation provides recommended sleep duration guidelines by age, based on scientific research conducted over two years by 18 different sleep experts. Their verdict: Adults between 18 and 64 years old should get seven to nine hours of sleep every night. (The CDC recommends “seven or more hours per night” for the same age range....

But it doesn’t have to be that way. With a few simple strategies, your holidays can be super-festive and fun—but also be eco-conscious at the same time. “We need to be creative and find ways to make this holiday less wasteful,” says Lea d’Auriol, founder of Oceanic Global. “There are now sustainable alternatives to nearly every item you may typically buy during the holidays, so start swapping!” Reduce your gifting carbon footprint Get a gift they’re guaranteed to love Encourage kids (or adults) on your shopping list to create a very specific wish list, whether the old-form written variety or using an online registry like MyRegistry....

But there’s more! Depending on the type of hair you have—thickness, texture, and length—the way you should approach the act of brushing is different. We tapped in hair professional Anthony Cole, hairstylist and Sebastian Professional International Artist, to get some expert answers. For added volume, Cole recommends spritzing a volumizing spray, like Sebastian Professional Volupt Spray ($20; ulta.com), at the roots before brushing through gently. RELATED: These 8 Trusty Hair Tools Are Must-Haves for Curly Hair “Boar bristles are perfect for detangling coarse, thick hair....

Basic budget-friendly dryers come with white exteriors, mechanical controls, and only a few temperature settings (low, medium, and high). Cycles likely include only timed-dry (you pick the amount of time) and air-dry (no heat). As prices increase, the dryers add more sophisticated timers and settings. High-end dryers likely include touch pad or touch screen controls and dozens of choices for heat temperature and cycles that you might be interested in....

Why Choosing the Right Sports Bra Is So Important If you have the right fitting bra for your sport you’ll improve your comfort and confidence and prevent more serious damage. To get a little technical: “When you move, your breasts bounce in a 3D motion, so without a supportive sports bra the Cooper’s Ligaments—an internal band of elastic tissue that supports the breasts and keeps them upright—can stretch irreversibly,” Hill-Norton says....

In fact, some people might want to avoid chlorine bleach entirely. For example, factors like skin sensitivity should be considered before adding bleach to your washer. Keep reading to learn whether chlorine bleach, oxygen bleach, or an alternative cleaning method is the right choice for your stubborn stains. Chlorine Bleach As far as bleach goes, chlorine bleach packs the most powerful punch. It not only whitens but also disinfects and deodorizes....

The good news? Getting your makeup sponge to look brand new doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. This guide will teach you how to clean a Beauty Blender quickly and includes four equally effective cleaning methods. Choose whichever way is easiest for you to do often. Why You Should Clean Makeup Sponges Dirty makeup sponges are undesirable in more ways than one. First, there’s the matter of hygiene. A grimy Beauty Blender or makeup sponge can be a veritable breeding ground for all kinds of germs and bacteria, which are then transferred onto your skin every time you use it....

“Over time, food particles can accumulate in the drain filter, drain hose, spray arm, or elsewhere in the dishwasher,” notes Vera Peterson, president of Molly Maid, a Neighborly company. “Standing water [or stagnant moisture] can also cause mold to grow inside the dishwasher.” Deep-cleaning a dishwasher requires some elbow grease, but streaming an upbeat playlist or your favorite podcast can make the task more enjoyable. Keep scrolling for the full rundown on how to clean a dishwasher, even if it’s moldy, smelly, or simply isn’t cleaning dishes as well as it should....

How to Prevent Stains on a Mattress The best way to keep a mattress clean is to prevent stains in the first place. “It’s always best to use a mattress protector to prevent stains altogether,” Corrow says. “Contrary to the noisy old vinyl ones that probably come to mind, the market now offers many inexpensive options made of soft fabric bonded to waterproof backing. Some even offer additional benefits like stain repellent, antimicrobial, and bedbug protection....

What to Clean a Mirror With Old habits die hard, and if you grew up being taught to use newspaper or paper towels to clean the mirror, you may still reach for those products today. But not only are these single-use items, making them less environmentally friendly, they can also leave behind lint, dust, paper debris, or ink residue. So, we recommend using a trusty lint-free cloth instead. Lint-free cloths will pull up dirt and grease without leaving a trail of lint behind....

The Best Ways to Clean Houseplants In nature, rain often does the job of cleaning off plants. One of the best ways to clean many tropical houseplants is with a gentle spray of water. Move smaller or compact houseplants like pothos or pilea into a sink. Place larger plants in the shower. Rinse them off with lukewarm water to get rid of pests and dust. Keep the water pressure low and don’t use hot or cold water because extreme temperatures can damage leaves....

Before cooking asparagus, trim or snap off the woody ends, which can have an unpleasant, fibrous texture. Freshly cooked asparagus always welcomes a drizzle of olive oil, lemon wedges, or a bit of butter. See a bunch of asparagus as a blank canvas and pair it with punchy vinaigrettes or creamy, rich sauces. A glass of crisp, white wine wouldn’t hurt either. Keep in mind that the thickness of the asparagus will affect cooking time....

Keep reading to learn our six go-to strategies for cooking corn on the cob at home. How to Boil Corn on the Cob With this classic method, you can boil as much corn as you can fit in your largest pot. Boiling is a gentle way to cook corn, and yields tender, golden kernels. How to Roast Corn on the Cob There are different ways to roast corn on the cob, but we think the easiest and best one is to shuck it and wrap it with foil, which allows the corn to steam in the oven....

How to Choose and Store Fennel With its wispy fronds and bulbous base, fennel looks like a feather-topped, potbellied cousin to celery. But its flavor is remarkably different. The white bulb and bright green fronds have a gentle, slightly sweet anise flavor. The stalks are tough, so they’re not usually eaten. In many regions, fennel is available year round; however, its peak season is October through April.Look for crisp, clean bulbs without brown spots or blemishes....