Notifications show up in the left hand corner, under your username. If you get a comment or friend request, a number will pop up. Like if you have 1 comment, it'll say 1. Or if you got 2 comments, it'll say 2. You just click the number. It will not sure blog comments, though. Those you have to go look at yourself.
As for your avatar, go to "User CP", also to the top left. Scroll down to "settings & options" on the left sidebar, & under that it will say "edit avatar". You can either pick one from the list the site offers, or upload your own.
