In Celebration of Slacking

I'm heading into the last couple weeks of classes. My public speaking class ends this weekend, and in my English class, we've got this week and next to finish. So far, my to-do list is: research my persuasive speech, post my assignment on functional vs. emotional appeals, come up with 8 sources for my annotated bibliography, use those 8 sources to write a 5 page research paper, study 3 chapters of psych terms for the final tests. And somewhere in there, I need to get in touch with my advisor to discuss next semester, as well as stopping into the financial aid office to make sure everything is squared away there, too.

One would think, with the list of things that need done, and quickly, that I would be brewing up a huge pot of coffee, putting my nose to the grindstone and working my butt off to get through all of it quickly. It would definitely not be the time for me to be procrastinating, daydreaming, and otherwise allowing my mind to wander.

Of course, it seems th at the more I need to concentrate, the more prone my mind is to being distracted by all the pretty shiny things out there on the internet. So, I will honor the slacker instinct and celebrate a few of the sites and activities that provide me hours of enjoyment while I"m not doing what I ought to.

1. Blogs

There's a few blogs that I really love keeping up with and reading, and some that I keep bookmarked for the ideas I've found in them.

One of my current favorites is Gothic Charm School. The Lady of the Manners is very entertaining, and the advice she gives is very good. Plus, it's always wonderful these days to see someone encouraging others to use their good manners and treat others politely. She also offers links now and then to some amazing online stores, which provide even more pleasant distraction as I browse through and admire all the pretties.

Speaking of pretties, The Steampunk Workshop features a lot of really amazing items. Not only is it fun to look at the pictures, but they also show work in progress pictures as they explain the process of making the items, a fact that one of these days, I will get around to taking advantage of.


2. Craft and Art Sites

Another one of my weaknesses is craft sites. The main one that I frequent is Craftster. There are so many talented members there that I can't help but be inspired by looking at their wonderful creations. This community is also wonderful for getting feedback on your own work.

I also post some of my work on DeviantArt. I find it's helpful for getting feedback on your work, and browsing through others' work is a good way to spend an hour or so.


3. Shopping

One of my other favorite distractions is window shopping online. There are so many places to buy such wonderful items, and I really enjoy browsing through them now and then.

Etsy has so many wonderful handmade items, I can spend a whole afternoon just randomly browsing through the different stores on the site. One of my favorite shops to brows through is Catherinette Rings. In general, I don't wear a lot of jewelry, but the jewelry in this shop is amazing.

Another site I love to browse through is Clockwork Couture. The offer some extremely beautiful items, and I'm always happy to spend some time sighing over their boots.