*hey there, it's christa*: List #6: 10 Websites That Qualify For My Coveted M.V. Status

Yeah, like everyone else on the planet these days, I participate in everyone's favorite form of procrastination social networking: Facebook and Twitter.

On any given day, Google also racks up plenty more pageviews thanks to silly ol' me (namely for driving directions since I'm a little challenged in that area and happen to live in a brand-new city), and I'd be an awful, awful freelance writer if I didn't check out the sites I write for, right? So everything from Crosswalk.com to GospelMusicChannel.com to Scribble Chicks gets some regular attention from my Web browser.

But aside from the aforementioned, I'd like to nominate 10 more websites for the coveted M.V. (that's must-visit) status. These are the places that are nothing but a pure joy to visit online and are rather helpful and insightful to boot—a formidable combination, no?

Food Network.com: It's no secret that I absolutely love to cook, and there's nothing more fun than dreaming up a recipe on the fly. But every once in a while when I find myself completely uninspired by the chicken I've defrosted for dinner, I go to Food Network.com and see if I can jazz things up a little, and it's never failed me yet. Plus, if you're like me and regularly watch the Food Network chefs like Ina, Giada, Paula, Sunny and Rachael, they always post whatever they've made that day for easy reference (and bookmarking).

Writeitsideways.com: Now that I've been a professional writer for a decade (yeah, I can't believe it's been that long either), one of the most frequently asked questions I get is whether I still love it, considering it's something I do every day, rain or shine, whether I'm feeling the Jerry Maguire, up-until-the-wee-hours-of-the-night level of inspired or the I-can't-possibly-dream-up-anything remotely-inspiring-to-say doldrums.

For the record, the answer is definitely yes. But from time to time, working as a full-time freelancer can feel a little isolating, so it's great to know there's people who absolutely, positively get that. And that's just one of the many reasons I like WriteItSideways. Not only do they offer great professional advice and helpful tips on grammar, beating writer's block, etc., but they totally understand what it's like to work with words.

HipParis.com: Yes, I've always dreamed of going to Paris, and that's actually happening in early 2011, meaning that all my reading up on the City of Love on HipParis.com hasn't been for naught. From fashion to restaurants to sightseeing off the beaten path, trust me, they've got it covered.

Sephora.com: Shopping at Sephora.com is almost as much fun as shopping at my favorite cosmetics purveyor itself—almost. The best thing is the web-only exclusives and your choice of free samples whenever you buy something. Yeah, you get to pick the samples!!!

Goodreads.com: 'Cause it's always fun to see what everyone's reading, right? Plus, I keep track of everything I've read, too, which is a nice reminder at the end of year when I wonder what I've done with all my spare time.

Chicklitisnotdead.com: Love the name, love the site, love the girls who run it. In fact, whenever I need a good laugh, it's my go-to webpage because Liz and Lisa not only do a fantastic job of spotlighting great female writing talent, but their blog posts seriously deliver the funny in that lovingly sarcastic way I adore so much.

Pandora.com: Yeah, I'm a little late to the game, I know. But when I don't feel like driving to Panera for Wi-Fi, their hazelnut coffee and classical music to write by, it's been my new best friend when I'm craving a good dose of Vivaldi, Chopin and Debussy.

ThePioneerWoman.com: While I'm pretty sure I'd never trade city living for a downhome country existence, I still love reading how Ree Drummond (a.k.a. The Pioneer Woman) does it. Plus, there's plenty of great home and cooking ideas all in one place...think HGTV meets chic hillbilly housewife.

Groupon.com: Awesome discounts on everything from entertainment to beauty services to restaurants. Yeah, I'm hooked.

Kayak.com: If you're like me and don't like searching for cheap airfare, car rentals and hotel rooms on a gazillion different travel websites, Kayak.com actually knows how to multi-task. I've not only found countless awesome deals on travel this way, but managed to save a little sanity in the process. Bonus!