diff --git a/examples/basic.html b/examples/basic.html
index b85bf6e..95b3c6d 100644
--- a/examples/basic.html
+++ b/examples/basic.html
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@
 <script>
 docReady( function() {
   var container = document.querySelector('#basic');
-  var iso = new Isotope( container, {
+  var iso = window.iso = new Isotope( container, {
     layoutMode: 'fitRows'
   });
 });
diff --git a/isotope.js b/isotope.js
index 880eea1..80b0cda 100644
--- a/isotope.js
+++ b/isotope.js
@@ -46,20 +46,20 @@ function isotopeDefinition( Outlayer, getSize, matchesSelector ) {
   };
 
   Isotope.prototype.layout = function() {
-    // this.filteredItems = this._filter( this.items );
+    this.filteredItems = this._filter( this.items );
     // this._sort();
-    Outlayer.prototype.layout.call( this );
-    // this._mode._resetLayout();
-    // this._resetLayout();
-    // this._manageStamps();
-    // 
-    // // don't animate first layout
-    // var isInstant = this.options.isLayoutInstant !== undefined ?
-    //   this.options.isLayoutInstant : !this._isLayoutInited;
-    // this.layoutItems( this.items, isInstant );
-    // 
-    // // flag for initalized
-    // this._isLayoutInited = true;
+    // Outlayer.prototype.layout.call( this );
+    this._mode()._resetLayout();
+    this._resetLayout();
+    this._manageStamps();
+
+    // don't animate first layout
+    var isInstant = this.options.isLayoutInstant !== undefined ?
+      this.options.isLayoutInstant : !this._isLayoutInited;
+    this.layoutItems( this.filteredItems, isInstant );
+
+    // flag for initalized
+    this._isLayoutInited = true;
   };
 
 
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ function isotopeDefinition( Outlayer, getSize, matchesSelector ) {
 
   Isotope.prototype._filter = function( items ) {
     var filter = this.options.filter;
+    filter = filter || '*';
     var matches = [];
     var unmatches = [];
     var hiddenMatched = [];
@@ -111,13 +112,13 @@ function isotopeDefinition( Outlayer, getSize, matchesSelector ) {
   // -------------------------- sort -------------------------- //
 
 
-  Isotope.prototype._sort = function() {
-    var sortBy = this.options.sortBy;
-    function sortFn( a, b ) {
-      
-    }
-    this.filteredItems.sort( );
-  };
+  // Isotope.prototype._sort = function() {
+  //   var sortBy = this.options.sortBy;
+  //   function sortFn( a, b ) {
+  //
+  //   }
+  //   this.filteredItems.sort( );
+  // };
 
   // -------------------------- methods -------------------------- //