i_hope_that
For many of us, the holidays can be kind of rough. If you're searching for a network of understanding friends, this ultra-nurturing community encourages you to express your heartfelt wishes and offer other members encouragement and acceptance. Not for the terminally snarky or emotionally-challenged, this is a good-spirited place to lend comfort and support.

diygifts
Feeling crafty? If you've got a few last folks on your holiday gift list, this is a great place to seed your creativity and generosity. You'll also discover wonderful DIY tips to decorate your home and entertain guests. Offering a no-frills-no-skills attitude that welcomes the cash-challenged and arts-phobic, you're sure to get ideas and make friends in the process.

cooking_club
A fun and friendly community dedicated to those who love to cook, whether you're a meat-and-potatoes type, an aspiring gourmand, and/or a vegan. In search of a brilliant dish to use up those weekly leftovers? Post your ingredients and you'll be whipping up a feast by dinner. You can also share favorite recipes. For Type A chefs, you can spice up your culinary repertoire with exciting cooking challenges.

Hello Ladies! 

Just an article I thought I would share with  you that I thought was inspiring for working out. Enjoy!  =]


"Why is it that you can come up with every excuse in the book to avoid exercise, but once you finally do it you feel great? Wouldn’t that so-called “runner’s high” make you want to come back for more? For those who do keep coming back for more punishment, it’s because exercise really can act like a drug. What do exercise and drugs have in common? More than you might have thought, actually. Exercise triggers the release of “feel good” hormones, such as endorphins, that mimic the feel-good effects of taking drugs. 

A joint study through Georgia Tech and the University of California, Irvine found that the body releases cannabinoids post-exercise. Canabiwhats, you say? Forget the pronunciation... the important thing is these compounds, which are in the same chemical family as the substances that give marijuana users a high, are what make you feel so good after exercise. 

This could also explain why some people seem to become addicted to exercise. But you don’t have to be in tip-top shape to feel the effects of an exercise high. You just have to complete at least 20 minutes of aerobic exercise, such as walking, swimming, running, or playing sports. Yes, the first 5-10 minutes of exercise don’t feel that great, but keep moving – you’ll feel great soon enough. Every time you exercise, you’ll feel better and better about your body and your ability to get in shape. So stick with it and soon enough exercise will be your drug of choice – and hey, it’s legal. "

stepstomarrow
When granddaughter, Jada, was born with leukemia, a donor-match was located and Jada made a miraculous recovery. In honor of her grandaughter's health, Jeanna has decided to walk across the country (in the dead of winter) to raise awareness and build support for the bone marrow registry (all that's required is a cheek swab). Follow Jeanna's remarkable journey as she travels the United States by foot.

taste_buds
Holidays provide a built-in excuse for indulgent entertaining. This all-purpose foodie community covers everything from homemade hangover cures to dinner party menus. Need quick advice? Get five-minute snack suggestions, low-fat ingredient substitutes, and even measurement conversions. Delicious recipes garnished with humorous advice. Yum.

naturesbeauty
Always on the lookout for compelling images, we were delighted to discover this flourishing community of artists who share a love of nature. Honoring the subject with photographs, paintings, sketches, prose, poetry, and other creative works, you'll be simultaneously riveted to your monitor and inspired to run helter skelter towards the nearest wooded dale.