sugarenia.com

I’m caffeinated and listening to Marilyn Manson, so I’ve decided to give you a briefing on my life & work matters during this long, hot summer months.

Nothing fancy, mind you. But this is for the people that’re curious about my whereabouts and why this blog is collecting dust lately.

So, without further ado, what’s keeping me busy:

• Day work. Demanding project on the loose. Much thought going on over features, design, functionality. Meetings, HTML / CSS, a dash of Javascript and PHP. Rinse and repeat.
• PC Magazine. Five pages of the best greek tech magazine out there are pure Sugar, look out for them. Not to forget that monthly greek blogger interview – how cool is that?
• CSS3.gr. Apart from writing articles and blog posts whenever I can, we’re in for some cool updates so keep posted.
• Interact Curriculum localisation. I blame John for proposing me as a Team Leader for the greek localisation team of the Interact curriculum, but it’s a job I enjoy nevertheless. Greek friends, wanna help? Drop me a line at zaxarenia at gmail dot com.
• FancyCage. I’m working on the HTML and Stelios has almost finished with the core functionality. Updates coming soon.
• Blog theme update. I’m so tired of talking about this, but I’m getting somewhere. I’m quite sure about it.
• Tiny personal & family micro-projects.

When not working on any of these, I shut down the iMac and head to the nearest beach because hey, I’m lucky to live in one of the most beautiful islands around.
Plus I read a ton of books simultaneously, both fiction and work-related ones. Katie claims this cannot be, but I make it happen somehow.

So there, it wasn’t that bad, was it?

How do you enjoy your summer, people? Do share in the comments.

Lo and behold, some of the inspirational links of this week, compiled in a short, lovely list for your viewing pleasure:

• Tastespotting.com has the most nailed-it-down interface I’ve ever seen for a food site, of course, heavily aided by its great content. I dare you to check out those photos and not drool, once.
• Not exactly news, but zen living blog powerhouse zenhabits.net posted an excellent post recently, citing 55 ways to get an energy boost. Absolutely worth reading.
• Really cool insight on how to start your own web design workshops by maratz.com. Will prove really interesting for the future (hint, hint).
• This article from sixrevisions.com really nails how difficult is to design for the worst client of all, yourself. Really helped me tying some loose ends here and there.
• I dare you to head over to Pretty Loaded and not get mesmerized by the slew of cool looking preloaders. Yum.
• I love reading case studies. An excellent case study I’ve read recently was that of Wiltshire Farm Foods by Headscape. Very inspiring.

I think I gave you enough links tonight to keep you busy for a while. Now excuse me, will have to drag my sunburnt self back to bed and try to ease my pain.

I’ll draw inspiration from Chris Coyier of css-tricks.com and a dear friend / partner in crime of mine, Yiannis Konstantakopoulos, for today.

Chris Coyier started a Twitter / blog meme, calling people to fill in the gaps in the phrase “CSS is like _______”.

Yiannis wrote an excellent, insightful post concerning all the hullaballoo on the social media field today in css3.gr.

I’ll combine them both and say:

Social Media Experts are _______.

It’s up to you to fill in the gaps.

My take is: Social Media Experts are talking about their work more than they actually work about it.

If you’re offended by this, OK, I add an “IMHO” in there. Or a “most”. As in, Most Social Media Experts are…

Feel free to add your thoughts, positive or negative.