You can use Favorites Menu or quick launch toolbar near Start button.
Visit the site you will like to add to quick launch toolbar and then drag the address to the toolbar by clicking and dragging the icon that looks like a piece of paper with the Internet Explorer logo on it in the Address field to the toolbar. Now right click on the newly created shortcut and change the icon or set a shortcut like Ctrl + Alt + y for yahoo.
You can also increase the size of the icons (view-large) and have the name of shortcut written next to it (show text). Just right click anywhere in the blank space of the quick launch toolbar to change it's appearance!