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.

I am surrounded by neighbors that could care less if their dogs bark non-stop albeit 2 in the afternoon or 2 in the morning. What I hear more often than not when I complain is "you're the first to complain". It seems that when few complain that dog owners (of which I am a proud owner of 2 myself) conveniently assume that their neighbors are OK being awakened at 2AM. I think few people complain because they're smarter than I am and know what to expect in advance so why bother. The dog's owner can hear the dog just as well as I can and he/she must know that it has the potential to bother the neighbors but by not doing anything about it they send a clear message that they could care less and so why talk to them about it? Here's the thing - I thought that the bare minimum standard in being a good neighbor is to ask ourselves before undertaking any activity "is what I am about to do going to bother my neighbor?". It doesn't mean that we can't do what we want it just means we have to modify it a tad. I can still suntan on my deck while listening to my music - but if I turn it down low none of my neighbors should know that I am doing it. It's perfectly OK to mow my lawn but maybe Saturday morning at 6AM isn't the best time. It's OK to own dogs but no one should know you do unless they are trespassing on your property or during the times you're outside playing catch. 

You have the right to have guard dogs and if the only time they bark is when there is a real rather than a perceived threat - that would be great. However, if they are barking at the guy across the street walking his dog - that's not being a guard dog, that's being a nuisance. If the dog is barking at cars going by - that is not being a guard dog but a nuisance. If the dog is barking in response to another dog barking - that's not a guard dog but a nuisance. If the dog is barking at the neighbor quietly going about their business doing yard work - that is not a guard dog but a nuisance. If the dog is barking at the kids across the street playing hopscotch that is not a guard dog but a nuisance. Besides unless your dog is a free roaming dog - he/she is not going to thwart a burglary if they are tied to a fixed location on your property. If they are in the back that still leaves the front accessible. Or if they are tied in the front that leaves the back accessible. I speak from experience on this one because 20 years ago I was a crook and encountered many dogs - didn't stop me once - even when they were free roaming. And if the neighbors are used to the dog barking when the wind blows - they no longer look outside to see what the problem might be. Be a decent neighbor and a better friend to your dog - get an electric security system that makes all kinds of noise if there's an attempted break-in and keep your dog inside. It's better for the dog, it's better for the neighbors and it'll even be better for you - win win!  

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.