Since we’re heading into holiday crunch time, I thought it would be fun to highlight some of my favorite small business Instagram accounts. I follow a lot of them. I actually didn’t realize how many until I sat down to put this post together.

Personally, I’m not a fan of accounts that are nothing but product shilling. I totally get that Instagram accounts are a marketing tool. But my favorite accounts are a mix of business and personal. They make us feel like we know the people behind the business and sometimes give us a little look at their process—which, actually works for the business because it totally builds loyalty.

Here are a few that I love.

Since my Instagram addiction is still going strong I thought it would be fun to keep the InstaAddict ball rolling and continue to highlight some of my favorite accounts. From travel shots to silly videos, sweet slices of life and awesome styling, these ladies and their photos catch my eye regularly—and I think you’ll like them too!

I had grand plans to share a piece of an old essay I wrote about my dad this week. But when I sat down to read it and retype it I ended up sobbing like a baby, unable to see through my tears.

My dad was torn from us way too soon. He died when I was fourteen—before he had even turned forty—after fighting awfully hard and slowly deteriorating in front of our eyes thanks to that bitch cancer. Since then, Father’s Day has always been a weird thing for me. In recent years, it’s been fun to watch my girls get all excited about showering their daddy in love. At the same time, it’s always reminder of the gaping void that’s there.

My dad was a great dad. He was the best dad. Remembering him whistling in the car as he carted my brothers and sister and I around or coaching baseball games or making us laugh makes things slightly easier. It’s still a hole. But at least it’s a hole that was at one time filled with something amazing. Not everyone is lucky enough to be able to say that.

So instead of hiding from anything father-related, I’ve decided to celebrate it this year. My dad was one of those hands-on dads who was always there for everything, video camera on his shoulder and bright smile on his face. Way too often, dads get a bad rap. We forget about the day-to-day superheroes while getting wrapped up in absent (or present but useless) fathers. But they’re there! And they’re awesome…

I’ve been promising a new InstaAddict post to people writing in and asking about it for awhile now, but have been having so much trouble categorizing accounts like I did for my Momma and Healthy Living posts.

Finally it dawned on me that I don’t have to put people into tiny boxes. Sometimes a fab DIY blogger has an account that focuses an awful lot on her cute kid. Other times a prop stylist or a designer will give some peeks into what her life is like. I’ve found that my favorite accounts are the ones that are all over the board. They don’t comfortably fit into any one category. And why try to make them?

So instead, I’ve pulled together a few that my inner people watcher adores…

I’ve been working my butt off for the last couple of months. Just about every day I have made it my mission to work out. Instead of being something I fit in if I can, I’ve made exercise a non-negotiable. This has been game changing for me.

I’ve always been one of those girls who, while not obese, could stand to lose at least 10 pounds. Blame it on body type, genetics, laziness, whatever. I’ve always struggled to keep those last few pounds off. But now it’s different. I’m not dieting. I’m not looking for mystical results in a ridiculously short amount of time. I’m making a lifestyle change.

The problem? I’VE LOST HARDLY ANY WEIGHT. I realize that muscle weighs more than fat and that inches are just as important as pounds. I realize that my clothes fit me differently and that I feel stronger and my back doesn’t ache when my toddler is in a hardcore “CARRY ME!” mood. I realize all of that. But would it kill the scale to creep down a bit?! For my psychological well being?!

The one thing that does seem to help me is flooding myself with positive reinforcement. I started following a bunch of healthy living Instagrammers and the constant encouragement and healthy food inspiration has been huge. HUGE, I tell you!