I am now officially obsessed with Instagram. A few weeks ago I joined the world of iPhone users and Instagram was the first app I downloaded. I fell in love with the app on this post, when I was in New Orleans with Jenny and Marla. Just look at that first photo. The way they quickly grabbed on-the-go snapshots of the city — photos that might’ve been missed had we taken the time to pull out our larger cameras — and transformed them into something magical with all the filters offered, then instantly uploaded and shared them with friends had me in awe. Not only is Instagram a tool for editing photos, but also a social networking app for sharing photos and following friends. It’s like Twitter for photos. You can check in and get instant snapshots into the daily lives of friends. I’m smitten.
This weekend Kevin and I were at the beach in Perdido Key, Florida. Here are some Instagram images from our four days there.
I love that I was able to capture these moments that I might have missed. I always have my phone with me, but I wouldn’t normally take my camera on a six and a half mile walk on the beach, or stick it out of a moving vehicle in the rain. But scroll down for more on that!
Our first night there we had dinner at a restaurant called Louisiana Lagniappe, and it was my absolute favorite meal of the trip. I had the sautéed grouper topped with crawfish tails and a garlic-beurre blanc sauce. It was heaven, and I could’ve eaten it every single night we were there. The service was incredible, and check out our view. They sat us outside on a private balcony with just two other tables, such a peaceful and quiet dinner.
The next morning (somehow I was hungry again!) we stopped by this cute little beignet shop for breakfast, Cafe Beignet. All they served were beignets and coffee, totally reminded me of New Orleans.
Okay, it’s time to get serious. We had to walk off all those beignets. Every year we attempt to walk down the beach to the jetties — these natural piers of rocks that jut out into the ocean — which are a little over 3 miles from the condo. We never make it! Last year I got stung by a jellyfish. The year before that we got rained out. Sometimes we turn back out of heat or sheer exhaustion. This year I was determined. Can you see the rocks wayyy out there?? And this shot was taken over halfway into our trip!
Somehow the walk wasn’t so bad this year, there’s always so much to see and enjoy at the beach.
Although at one point the dark clouds started rolling in and threatened to rain us out again!
Ahh, we made it!
We worked up quite an appetite, and after dinner at Cobalt, we treated ourselves to a little dessert tasting from the bakery case. The giant chocolate chip cookie was soft and delicious, I wanted to heat it up and top it with a big scoop of ice cream!
Cobalt had the best view. After dinner we walked out to the docks and watched the sun set over the ocean.
Our last day was kind of rainy, so we drove down the beach for a frozen yogurt parfait. I got white chocolate with sprinkles and cookie dough, loved it!
On the way back to the condo, the sun started to shine and we passed a double rainbow over the ocean. So gorgeous. It was raining, and we were in the car, but I rolled down the window and quickly snapped this pic. Can you see the second rainbow up there?
If you have an iPhone or an iPad and you’re on Instagram, come find me, I’m kevinandamanda — I’d love to see your photos! And if you have an Android phone, I started using a great little photo editing app called Magic Hour on my Android just before I switched. Thanks Whitney for recommending it! The filters are gorgeous and totally customizable. Love a certain filter but wish it were a little brighter? Warmer? More saturated? Wish you could change the texture? You can totally do that. There’s a free version and a paid version, and I ended up buying the paid version because you can edit photos you’ve previously taken, instead of having to take the photos with the camera in the app. Loved it, and then I promptly went out and switched phones.
You can also see my latest three Instagram photos in the right sidebar of my blog. Have a great Monday!
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50 Comments
I am following you on instagram (have been for about 2 weeks now)..ever since I Totally!! got hooked on IG myself!
And I’ve seen all your glorious Fla pics. Beautiful!
And I love that you have an IG righthand sidebar widget going on. I need that!!!
awesome pics great job
welcome to the world of instagram! :) it is amazing isn’t it? following you there!
Not sure which looks better, the beach or the white chocolate frozen yogurt parfait! Looks like a great getaway, Amanda!
Oh next time you’re in the area be sure to hit up Global Grill in Pensacola. The food is to die for. Let me know and we’ll join you!
Looks like you guys had a great time!
Love instagram…makes me want to swap my Android for an iphone ASAP. Damn that 2 year contract! lol… I will also need to check out Perdido Key, i’ve lived in Miami for 30 years and never heard of it!
Yay for Instagram posts! Love them just as much as the beautiful Canon shots. Loved following your trip this weekend, talk soon! xoxo
I am also obsessed with Instagram. Too bad my hubby has it on his phone and I have to steal from him every chance I get. My iPhone was stolen :( I love taking photos of the kids with the app, it reminds me of the photos my parents took of me when I was little. Always loving your blog from Bolivia……
Between the beignets, cookies, and yogurt in this post – you are a woman after my own heart! I love Instagram, and I am impatiently awaiting the release of iPhone 5 before I upgrade from my Blackberry. I may not make it!!
Thanks Amanda, for the heads-up on Instagram. I’m a new IPhone owner and just learning all the many wonderful things that I can do with it. I now have Instagram loaded and ready to use!
CAS
Your travels always look wonderful! You and your husband seem like such a happy, fun couple! I especially love the sailboat pic :)
I really wish that Instagram would go android! I like the other apps but non have the appeal that Instagram does! Bummer dude! Great pics Amanda! I had already seen a few from Twitter but it was great getting to check them all out here!
Amanda are you iPhone through Verizon? I’m pretty dedicated to Verizon because we can get a signal at our lake house in Killen and most other services cannot. But I REALLY want an iPhone and it’s mostly for things like Instagram. Crazy, huh? Wish the iPod Touch would get a camera then I could stick with my “stupid” phone and cheap (yeah right) monthly rates.
Just butting in here…the ipod touch does have a camera now! I have the first generation ipod touch…wishing for a newer one so I don’t have to switch service from sprint for an iphone. Actually, it’d be great if sprint would just get the iphone already!
What fun pics! I love that app too.
Love the pics – this coming Saturday we’re making it a beach day and it can’t come soon enough! Looks like you guys had a lovely time in Perdido. :)
Glad you had fun on the FL panhandle…it’s our own little piece of paradise down here. Gorgeous photos, as always!
I love Cobalt, I went there for the first time a few weeks ago when we had a girls weekend in Orange Beach. It’s the neatest atmosphere. You should try out Cosmo’s next time you’re down that way, it has the same owners as Cobalt’s or so I hear & is equally awesome.
It sounds as though you had a fantastic trip! I definitely need to get an iPhone and I guarantee that Instagram will be the first app I download.
I love Instagram and have been enjoying your photos:)
Louisiana Lagniappe is where I’ve had the best meals ever…….LOVE that place. The Beignet shop is fantastic as well……Gulf Shores is calling me. :)
Love Love Love Instagram. It is the best photo ap I have found for the iphone. :)
Love it! There are a couple of linky parties for instagram Friday that are fun to join out there in blog land. Please share how you maintained the integrity of the photos! Mine always look grainy and ugly when I blog them.
LOVE all of these festive photos, looks like you guys had a wonderful time.
Ooh what fun. I love instagram, and do you know what another {totally different but still really fun} thing I just started obsessing over is? Pinterest! I am seriously in love with all the fun it provides!
I cant believe that is from your phone, those are stunning pictures!!!
you are just a wealth of info, my dear. I am grateful that I automatically get your newests posts in my personal email! such fun reading all that you have to say!
You were visiting my neck of the woods. I live in Pensacola which is right near Perdido Key. It is a beautiful area and we have the best beaches. I’m following you on Instagram. I’m new to that app as well.
Amanda, loved seeing these photos on Instagram and now here again. They tell such a lovely story of your fun time with Kevin :) xxoo
I too love Instagram! But Hipstamatic is even more fun…. Now that you’ve joined the iPhone users, and Instagram users, you should join the Pinterest users! It is wonderful, and they also have a highly addictive app. Love your photos!
As soon as I read your post I downloaded Instagram and started using it. I forgot my regular camera today and “borrowed” your idea of a post, taking Instragram (and CameraBag) photos of my local area and posted them on my travel-related blog. I linked to this post as my inspiration. Please let me know if this is a problem!!
My name is Cheryl and I’m an Instagramaholic too!!
Love following all your gorgeous shots Amanda
Kristen showed me this the other day… http://web.stagram.com/
Like you, I am hooked on instagr.am! I love your Florida vacation shots, they serve as a Gulf Coast tutorial for me, as I am fairly new to Alabama, and I am always looking for regional travel suggestions. I love your instagr.am stream. {laurie716}.
Okay, it’s always fun to see what apps people are getting, but I’m not an iPhone-er, I have a Windows phone – which finally got Angry Birds. So, is IG available on the Windows phones or does someone know of a similar app?
Fun photos! That giant chocolate chip cookie is making me swoon!
Such beautiful pictures! Just in case I wasn’t dreaming of the beach before I totally am now!!
How fun! I have never heard of instagram before…I need to get that app! I can’t believe that those pictures are from an iphone…they look great! :)Looks like your guys had a blast! Makes me wish I was at the beach!
You are so stinking adorable! I love the ap as well! I have done some festive things with that camera as well!
Your smile makes my day brighter! You are simply adorable!
Hi Amanda! Your pictures are great! I am from Alabama as well and LOVE Florida beaches! I love your blog :)
Yay! Another Instagram convert! I’m @sprittibee on Instagram. ;)
I recommend Camera+ and Xiamen for editing (Xiamen is all Korean, but you can manage to get around by looking only at the icons and images – it has a great selective focus ring and amazing lomo edits… and Camera+ has a TON of filters and a great “Clarity” feature that makes your images sharper). Lately I’ve been playing with PixFx, also. Neat borders in there. Sometimes I drag my images through three different apps before instagraming them.
Looking forward to connecting! Also — if you like Dayspring Cards and InCourage Blog, you can tag your pictures with #incourage to be included in their collage at the Relevant Conference (PA – October 2011). They are actually printing and making a lovely piece of art with instagram!
I’m from Perdido (the Florida side), so it was awesome to see your pictures! Cobalt and Lousiana Langiappe are two of our favorite places to eat (and I second the comment above to try Cosmos – they have excellent food and a less-beachy, but still wonderful atomosphere). After reading your post about the Dismal Canyons, I’m taking my girls up there this weekend. Thanks for the info about that – I’m really excited to go on the night tour!
Looks perfect and relaxing. I always love your Instagram pix. I’m addicted too!
I am so envious of iPhone users! I had one until last year when I switched to Droid, and I am just LOVING all the Instagram pics I’ve been seeing. You documented your vacation beautifully! Maybe I’ll switch back when the iPhone 5 is released ;-)
I just started using Instagram too and I love it! I only have an iPod though so it makes it a wee bit tricky but still works great once you get the photos on the thing! Awesome photos! – Lindy
Could you suggest a comparable application for a computer to be able to take your photographs and change them into these great kind of images?
Hi Danielle! I like The Pioneer Woman actions for Photoshop. Picnik.com is also fun! :)
Louisiana Lagniappe is my absolute favorite too. My dad lives on Ono Island & we’re headed down next weekend- I’m pretty sure we’ll eat at the Lagniappe! Cobalt is great too, huh?
We go to Perdido Key every year for Thanksgiving with my husband’s family. Such a wonderful, quiet beach and your pictures made me wish it was November already! Definitely going to try those restaurants the next time we go!
I loved being on vacation with you through Instagram! Looks lovely.