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.

I have the following available for sale and am open to all reasonable offers:

• NARS Striptease lipgloss - Tested with a clean lip brush, 99% full/like new. - $14 shipped
  
  
• Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush Soothing Lip Balm in Clear Shine - Brand new, never tested. Peppermint scented - $4 shipped
  
  
• Smashbox Fusion Soft Lights in Sunset - Very barely used, if at all - 99% full - $12 shipped
  
  
• SIB Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage in SC2 - Lightly used towards the tops of both pans w/concealer brush; 95% full - $20 shipped
  
  
• Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum - 5.1 fl oz size, 70% full (up to the "H" in "Mitchell" - $14 shipped

backpacking
Want to embrace your wanderlust on the cheap? If you're tall on adventurous spirit, but short on funds, this community can help you plan a trip to anywhere. Offering plentiful tips on how to travel light, you can post about bargain hotels and hostels if you're into urban exploration or discuss camping gear and mosquito netting for the great outdoors. Hitch your backpack, pitch your tent, and carpe diem!

**FINAL EDIT Thu Dec 10 02:15:47 UTC 2009**

So there is the final update... Over the past day we have processed around 11 million jobs out of the 12 million that were in queue at that time. Please bear in mind that over this past day, more jobs for notifications are also created. So while the queue has been dropping, we are still not fully caught up at this point, due to backlog and new jobs. We have roughly 3 million jobs still pending that involve the notification system in some manner. We had hoped we could have fully cleared the queue in a day, but unfortunately we can't clear it too quickly, since we need the rest of the site to operate normally. From our current perspective on the amount of jobs that are left in queue, and how many it has processed thus far, we believe it will take around another 8 - 12 hours to process everything.

And finally some answers to some questions:

( Read More and Get Some Answers... )

freeskiers
While some of us long to escape the cold, dark stretch of winter for hot tropical beaches, for others, there's nothing quite like whoooooshing down those shimmering sugar alps. If you're fond of freestyle skiing, get ready to slide down the slippery slopes in good company. This passionate, international community shares travel/gear tips, anecdotes, photos, and videos for those who can't get enough of the sweet stuff.

seasonal_icons
Need some extra twinkle to decorate your place? Check out these dazzling holiday-themed icons. If you're an artist, you can post your own creations, provided you abide by the simple rules (which is to say, all cheer and no politicking). Be sure to comment and give credit if you wish to borrow a little spirit (no direct links, please). If you're feeling a touch of humbug this season, this is an instant shot of festivity.

handmade_gifts
High on creativity, but low on cash? You'll find tons of brilliant suggestions for do-it-yourself crafts sure to please everyone on your holiday gift list. Offering detailed instructions, photos, budgets, timelines, and active support, you'll soon turn spare remnants of fabric and time into cherished keepsakes. Be sure to search entries and read user guidelines before you post for help!

So I recently received a $50 gift certificate to Sephora and I have no idea what to get! I have all the basics (bare escentuals mineral foundation, a few eyeliners & eye shadows, etc). So what would you guys get?

American Apparel slim slack in Almost Black
size 24
brand new, $30 (selling for a friend, its $30 including shipping so i cannot combine shipping these pants with the other stuff in my sale!)




Obey jacket
called the "Ella Cape Jacket" in Black, size Small (google it for more pics)

retailed over $105, I bought it for $87 + shipping from karmaloop

looking for $50, but make an offer!


newly added MAC stuff (havent taken pictures et):
pinked mauve pigment vial, 1x- $5
frozen white pigment vial 1x- $5
soft flame loose beauty powder, 1x- $15
iridescent loose powder in silver dusk, used a few times- $15


more stuff here: http://czirconium.livejournal.com/65649.html

$3 for shipping in the USA
more for canada
if you pay with paypal, please send payment from your account to avoid fees!

( some American Apparel stuff with lowered prices )

So I haven't seen one of these posts in a while, so I thought I'd start one!

I know every girl here has a cheapskate hiding on the inside, so what's your secret to beauty without the bucks?

Here's mine:

1. I put baking soda in my cleanser and my toothpaste for extra cleaning power
2. Sometimes I use Vaseline (or petroleum jelly, whatever) as lipgloss because it's shiny and it moisturizes, too.
3. I also use body lotion on the ends of my hair when they feel dry. I do this instead of leave-in conditioner because I like the scent better and it feels a bit more natural.
4. I dust some powder on my eyelashes before putting on mascara and it makes them look a tad bit thicker
5. If I get a deodorant mark on a shirt after I put it on, I just rub it out with a dryer sheet (and same goes for those scuff marks you get on your tights from the dust on your shoes).
6. I've used like fifty gillion toners in my life, but by far the best I've found is plain ol' witch hazel which can be bought at Walgreen's for about eighty cents.

Your turn!