/me usually deals with moderation (eg, approval or front page-ing, mostly) via the Newest Nodes page, from the posting itself, since (to my way of thinking) the process is more direct.

User Settings allows you to check "show unapproved nodes." Once you've done so, new nodes -- whether or not un-moderated -- are available to you to read via the lists on NN. Those lists include PM Discusssions; Questions (eg, those new SOPW, etc. (that may need to be approved and again, in my view, are apt to warrant reading); Notes (replies, of which I tend to read only those whose parent question intrigued me); and New Users.

More setting are also available at Newest Nodes Settings.

Update: Made links generic replacing original a hrefs. Mental glitch to go along with the double posting. Thanks, Perlbotics.