A Few Instagram Favorites of 2017

I absolutely must say that Instagram has become my favorite social media platform during the last couple of years, probably because I love to express my own self through photography so much. I can enjoy a quick look at all the quirky, beautiful, fun and amazing photographs in my feed without having to wade through all the opinions and sharp words that often come with other forms of social media. If the old saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” is true, then I can uncover a million stories in a fraction of the time it takes to scroll through Facebook.

So in the spirit of sharing a tiny glimpse of life and welcoming the new year, I want to pass along some of my favorite Instagram moments from 2017. But before I show you my picks, I want to pass along the top nine most liked photos according to Small Talk Mama’s followers and the stats. Here they are:

Okay, so while I don’t think stats lie, I do think they often fail to tell the whole story. Some of these top photos garnered likes because they were associated with a project or challenge, which adds lots of nontraditional traffic to a particular post. . . and why a photo of my curtains made the list, I’ll never know. So let’s forget the data for a bit while I share a few of my 2017 Instagram favorites you might have missed. . .

 

 

My son gave me a corsage for the mother and son dance last night. He even opened all my doors. Such a gentleman! #pathfinderelementary #motherson #motherhood #family

A post shared by Small Talk Mama (@smalltalkmama) on Mar 5, 2017 at 12:03pm PST

 

 

#kansascityzoo on a beautiful March afternoon.

A post shared by Small Talk Mama (@smalltalkmama) on Mar 8, 2017 at 8:13pm PST

 

 

What a crew at the Tulsa Zoo! #tulsazoo

A post shared by Small Talk Mama (@smalltalkmama) on Mar 20, 2017 at 10:44am PDT

 

Cousins. It’s good to have a cousin at Silver Dollar City. #silverdollarcity #cousins spending day 11 of #100dayproject making new memories to scrapbook. #100dayproject_scrapgals

A post shared by Small Talk Mama (@smalltalkmama) on Apr 14, 2017 at 9:06am PDT

 

 

Cousin trouble in the flesh. Love all these little boys! Day 13 of #100dayproject_scrapgals

A post shared by Small Talk Mama (@smalltalkmama) on Apr 16, 2017 at 2:30pm PDT

 

 

Woo hoo!! 2010 is completely finished!! Only seven more years, two December Dailies, three vacations, and three special birthday albums to go. I think I’m going to need more than 100 days!!! #100dayproject #100dayproject_scrapgals Day 22

A post shared by Small Talk Mama (@smalltalkmama) on Apr 25, 2017 at 6:21am PDT

 

 

My future Razorback watching the Hogs play KSU at The K!! #razorbacks #razorbackbaseball

A post shared by Small Talk Mama (@smalltalkmama) on Apr 25, 2017 at 5:47pm PDT

 

 

My beautiful #mothersday roses again. They came with 4 pounds of Smarties. Yes, 4 pounds!! #smarties #artistry_flair

A post shared by Small Talk Mama (@smalltalkmama) on May 14, 2017 at 5:48pm PDT

 

 

I cut a few peonies before the storms hit so that I could enjoy them indoors a bit. #flowers #artistry_flair #flowerstagram #mayflowers #mamakats

A post shared by Small Talk Mama (@smalltalkmama) on May 18, 2017 at 2:17pm PDT

 

 

First splash of Memorial Day. #memorialdayweekend #swimming #familyfirst

A post shared by Small Talk Mama (@smalltalkmama) on May 30, 2017 at 10:43am PDT

 

 

… and apparently this is appropriate chicken wrangling gear these days. He’s six — I don’t always understand. #chickens #mychickens #chickencoops #mychickencoop #countryinthecity #childhood

A post shared by Small Talk Mama (@smalltalkmama) on May 31, 2017 at 6:28pm PDT

 

 

First T-ball game of the summer for Daddy Coach and son. Love these guys. Go Warriors!! #summerbreak #childhood #ymcatball #familyfirst

A post shared by Small Talk Mama (@smalltalkmama) on Jun 6, 2017 at 6:52am PDT

 

 

Formal night

A post shared by Small Talk Mama (@smalltalkmama) on Jun 26, 2017 at 1:52pm PDT

 

 

Formal night number two selfie with my other main man. #alaskancruise2017 #familyfirst #family #alaska #hollandamerica

A post shared by Small Talk Mama (@smalltalkmama) on Jul 3, 2017 at 8:52pm PDT

 

 

This is Alaska!! #summervacation #cruise #hollandamerica #family

A post shared by Small Talk Mama (@smalltalkmama) on Jul 10, 2017 at 3:53pm PDT

 

 

Not the fastest cart in the class but outmaneuvered the competition and finished first thanks to my little guy riding shotgun! #bransonmo #gokarts #thetrack #familyfun #summervacation

A post shared by Small Talk Mama (@smalltalkmama) on Jul 31, 2017 at 7:56pm PDT

 

 

Spending our last day of summer at the KC WWI museum. #wwimuseum #wwimuseumkc #summervacation #familyfun

A post shared by Small Talk Mama (@smalltalkmama) on Aug 16, 2017 at 11:44am PDT

 

 

Hubby came home for lunch and the eclipse. #totaleclipse #eclipse #eclipse2017 #igkansascity

A post shared by Small Talk Mama (@smalltalkmama) on Aug 21, 2017 at 11:56am PDT

 

 

So proud of his sunfish! #familyfun #fishing #missourifishing He said this was his “20th best day ever.”

A post shared by Small Talk Mama (@smalltalkmama) on Aug 25, 2017 at 7:42pm PDT

 

 

Making H.D.’s birthday cupcakes with Mimi. #familyfun #cookingwithgrandma #inthekitchen #cookingwithkids #cupcakes

A post shared by Small Talk Mama (@smalltalkmama) on Sep 2, 2017 at 8:36am PDT

 

 

My apple harvest from Schweizer Orchards yesterday. #schweizerorchards #apples #applepicking #applepickingseason

A post shared by Small Talk Mama (@smalltalkmama) on Sep 19, 2017 at 2:48pm PDT

 

 

Happy birthday big boy!

A post shared by Small Talk Mama (@smalltalkmama) on Oct 5, 2017 at 6:46pm PDT

 

 

Pointing the way out of the maze! We had a great time at Pumpkins Etc. on this perfect yet windy fall day. #pumpkinsetc #pumpkinpatch #pumpkinpatchfun #familyfun #fallfun #fallfun?

A post shared by Small Talk Mama (@smalltalkmama) on Oct 21, 2017 at 1:12pm PDT

 

 

Enjoying a brisk night around the campfire with the family. #bonfire #campfire #familyfun

A post shared by Small Talk Mama (@smalltalkmama) on Nov 12, 2017 at 3:47pm PST

 

 

The star is on the tree! #familyfun #christmastree #christmas #familychristmas2017 #decoratethetree

A post shared by Small Talk Mama (@smalltalkmama) on Nov 30, 2017 at 8:46pm PST

 

 

Family fun selfie at Silver Dollar City on a December Saturday night!! There are people absolutely everywhere!!! #december2017 #familyfun #silverdollarcity

A post shared by Small Talk Mama (@smalltalkmama) on Dec 17, 2017 at 11:47am PST