You probably could have seen it coming, so it's not going to be a surprise when I tell you I'm kind of obsessed with Instagram.

Using it on my phone is way different than the "cheater" method I was using and oh boy, do I understand the hype. Yes there are tons of other photo filter apps out there, but they're not exactly like Instagram and if you don't get it, then don't use it.

After using it for a couple of weeks, here's what I've found:

• My favorite filter so far is EarlyBird. With Sierra and Lo-Fi coming in as close seconds. I try and play around with all of them, but these are usually the ones I land on.
  
• Specific to Android: I wish there was an option to share to Flickr, but I guess that's coming soon. For now, I just find the Instagram photo in my gallery and send it to Flickr from there.
  
• Also specific to Android: the app size is HUGE. Thankfully they updated it rather quickly so it's movable to an SD card, but wow. I ended up buying a new phone with more storage, which was not directly related to Instagram (I was running out of room before it was available), but it was definitely a catalyst.
  
• My stream is full of cat photos. Maybe it should be called Catstagram. Or maybe I'll just start using that hashtag.

I also discovered Webstagram this week. Now I can check my feed without looking at my phone all the time. (Win!)

It's definitely been a welcomed distraction and I'll probably be back in the swing of posting on here and Flickr soon, but right now? I am all about Instagram.

The Good:
Two things:

1. Instagram for Android Coming Soon

2. Remember how I got "kicked off the island" last summer? I started contracting pretty soon after that. Today was my first official day as an employee at the same place. I like the people, and I like the company. It's all good.

The Bad:
I've been dealing with a family issue for the past 2 weeks and mentally, all I've really been able to do is go to work, go home, and sleep. I haven't picked up the camera or posted a photo and I haven't really been on the internet that entire time (aside from a little Google+). Every day sort of feels a bit more normal, but it may be a while before I feel like participating in the internet as much as I was.

So that's what's going on with me.

I'm hoping Instagram for Android will launch soon, because that would be a lovely distraction, but I'm not holding my breath for that.

Edited to add: I guess someone out there heard me because Instagram for Android is in the Google Play store today! (Many, many thanks to JM for the tip!)

I can only keep a photo of my mug as the top post for so long, so it's the perfect time to post a flower photo.

Just a quick note to let you know that Coastal Contacts is having a big 'ol sale right now. If you need (or want) frames, most of them are only $38, so now is the time to order!

Both the pairs I'm wearing in the photo above are from Coastal. So far I'm impressed. While they tend to be a bit pricier than some of my other online frame haunts (I did not pay $38 for them), the quality seems to be good, my prescription was right, they came in a nice case (which included a cleaning cloth and a little eyeglass screwdriver thingie), and they shipped super fast!

The sale ends March 19th, so jump on it!

(I have not been offered a damn thing to say any of this, but as the self-proclaimed online eyeglasses maven, I feel it's my duty to tell you these things.)

So the big Instagram announcement? It happened on Sunday and the result? The android version will be here "very soon" (according to this article over on Mashable Tech). This is good news! Not as awesome as the actual app being ready now, but I think I can live with "very soon". (Dear Instagram, if you need android beta testers, I'm your gal!)

On a totally unrelated note, I attempted to make gluten-free lemon bars this weekend. I used coconut flour in the crust (instead of regular flour), and they turned out kind of "meh". The crust texture is crumbly and dense at the same time and it's just...not right. I made them Saturday night and the fact that we still have over half the pan left is quite telling (if neither one of us wants to eat them, you know they're not very good). I think I might try again with some all purpose gluten-free flour and see if they turn out better. The whole point of making them was to use up the surplus of lemons in the fruit bowl, so I might as well make some more, right? Right. If they turn out okay, I'll be sure to let you know.

For the past, oh year or so, there's a phrase I've been googling every couple of weeks:

"instagram for android"

Late last year there was some article where they mentioned it was being worked on, but no mention of when it might be ready. Well, I just googled it again and there's speculation that the Android version might launch at SXSW this week. Which would be completely and utterly awesome. But it would also make everything I'm about to tell you kind of pointless.

I found a way to sort of cheat on Instagram. The thing is, I have an iPad, so I downloaded the app. But I have the "old" iPad which doesn't have a camera. Last year, I had devised a way to get photos on Instagram by a very complicated procedure using drop box on my phone and the iPad. BUT! A couple of weeks ago, I realized that by using the FlickStackr app I can easily save photos to the iPad, and then upload them to Instagram!

So, it's not ideal. And it's still a bit of a process (take photo with phone, upload to flickr, save to iPad, upload to Instagram), but it's easy enough that I've actually been able to put a few photos on my account. Which has only made me want the app more. So I really REALLY hope the Instagram folks announce something android related at SXSW. Otherwise I may have to break down and actually get an iPhone, and that would be more trouble than cheater Instagram.

You know what we haven't talked about in a while? My hair.

Let's do this.

So, August 2009, after attempting to grow out a pretty short 'do and getting very frustrated in the process, I shaved my own head. I think the timing was off, and I just wasn't ready to deal with growing it out. I continued to cut my own hair until May of last year. That's when I finally felt ready to grow it out.

I admit, the short hair was easy. REALLY easy. But you don't have a lot of styling options. I had reached a point where I wanted to have the option to put it up or leave it down. So I left it alone and let it grow. Well, not entirely. I did go get a trim from a stylist recommended by a friend (the hair had been approaching mullet territory), and I've messed with my bangs a little bit. The photo you see above is pretty much where we're at now. The hair is shoulder length, and I've reached a hair goal!

After many months of my only up-do hairstyle being pigtails, I'm now able to put it up into two little messy buns! Hair achievement unlocked! I can also get it into a pony tail, but I'm much more excited about the buns.

They're actually made possible by the super amazing Goody Mini Spin Pins. I guess they do the work of 20 bobby pins, and I absolutely believe it. I usually have a hard time getting clips and pins to work in my hair because there's so much of it. But the spin pins hold it in place (2 per bun, FYI)! It's taken a little work for me to figure out the best configuration for them (one has to secure the end of the bun and the other has to secure the middle), but once they're in? They're IN. And they stay there all day. Sometimes they're a little bit looser by the end of the day, but they're still up! I'm guessing that if I chose to use some sort of styling product with hold, they might not loosen up, but I'd rather take my chances and go product-free. The spin pins come in a regular size too, which I think works for larger buns and other up 'dos. If you purchase some and aren't quite sure what to do with them, check YouTube - there are a bunch of video tutorials!

So yeah, I'm super excited about the buns! I'm also finally starting to think about going in for another trim because the ends are pretty frizzy and I think it could be cleaned up a little. But I don't want to lose my buns! So I'm going to wait a little bit longer. I'm still not sure how long I actually want to let it grow, but since I've made it this far, I feel like I gotta keep going! This is the longest it's been in almost seven years!!