8 Instagram accounts that make me smile

dancing at the wedding

A little over a year ago, I overhauled my blog with the help of WordPress guru, Renee’ Groskreutz. One of the things Renee’ and I tackled was defining a purpose for my blog. Most blogs exist for a particular reason: to showcase regional activities, to encourage new teachers, or perhaps to educate readers on a specific topic. Not so with my blog. I blog because I like to write. I write about parenting, theology, movies, literature, relationships—well, all kinds of things. (The overhaul, by the way, led me to identify three broad categories: friends, family, and faith.) So anyway, I didn’t know how to answer Renee’s question, “What is the purpose of your blog?”

Finally, I came up with this:

I write to encourage, educate, and amuse.

Still pretty broad, I know, but this has helped me to refine my goals here at aileenmitchelllawrimore.com. It’s also helped me to determine what to post on my Facebook page and on Instagram. If you follow my Facebook page, for example, you’ll not find anything remotely controversial. You’ll surely find lots of “aww!” there as well as some “aha!” and a little “haha!” But no “grrrr!” or “ick!” (If those are there, know I’ve been hacked.)

On Instagram, I only follow positive feeds. Every single time I open the app, I’m met with sweet dog pictures and wonderful photography. It’s delightful—so much so that I thought you’d like to learn about some of these lovely Insta-folks.

So, in no particular order, for your viewing pleasure, are my favorite Instagram accounts.

  • https://www.instagram.com/emmamweiss/
    My niece Emma Weiss is a wedding photographer in the DC area and her pictures are amazing! (This, by the way, is an objective opinion.) Currently, her feed is loaded with pics from Italy as she is there for a summer study program. She really has a unique way of seeing the world and her pictures display sights I would otherwise miss.
  • https://www.instagram.com/henrythecoloradodog/
    I stumbled upon this feed recently and just love it! It chronicles the adventures of Henry the dog and his buddy Baloo the cat, as they travel the world together. A glimpse into the awesomeness: Baloo frequently rides along on Henry’s head. Precious.
  • https://www.instagram.com/kimiko_nishimoto/
    This 89-year-old Japanese grandmother discovered an interest in photography when she was 72 and enrolled in a local photography class. One assignment required students to create self-portraits. Wanting to do something fun and interesting, Kimiko Nishimoto experimented with whimsical settings, props, and even costumes. The results have brought her international attention and 120,000 followers on Instagram. Even if you don’t use Instagram, click on the above link to see her fantastic work.
  • https://www.instagram.com/travelingbabyjesus/
    I’m one of only a few Instagram users who follows this gem. (It’s terribly sad that travelingbabyjesus has fewer followers than I do. That’s just wrong.) Becky Ramsey is the photographer who, according to her profile, is “Exploring the world . . . looking for weird places we find God.” Spoiler alert: Jesus is, like, EVERYwhere.
  • https://www.instagram.com/ellie_belly_beagle/
    Just a very cute beagle from down under—one of many beagle sites I follow. I offer this one because she posts frequently and possibly because little Ellie looks a lot like our Isabella.
  • https://www.instagram.com/nate_sales/
    I’m fairly certain that a sonogram of the pre-born Nathan Sales would show him holding a camera in his little fetus hands, snapping a photo of the technician. I mean, I could be wrong; but he certainly takes pictures as if he was born to be a photographer. Scroll through his Instagram feed and you’ll see what I mean. And yes, he took ALL of those. Some will make you think you are looking at professional advertisements. Nope. Just Nathan doing his thing.

Want to see who else I follow? Just visit my account at www.instagram.com/aileengoeson. How about you? Which Instagram users brighten your world?

By Aileen MItchell Lawrimore

Aileen Mitchell Lawrimore is a mother x 3, wife x 35 (years not men), minister, speaker, writer, retreat leader, and lover of beagles and books. She has a lot to say.