FamilyMinded’s Top 10 Stories of 2019
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Another year came and went for FamilyMinded, as we covered topics that nearly tripled our audience reach and attracted 32 million entrances to the site in 2019.
The birth of the royal baby, the release of “Toy Story 4,” and in-depth looks at the best and worst in education, marriage and even ice cream were just a few articles that engaged readers for a whopping 130 million minutes. Oh, and we can’t forget articles about dog breeds — people just can’t get enough of articles that cover their favorite furry friends.
Here, we look back at the top 10 stories that readers enjoyed the most this past year, highlighting how vastly different the definition of family truly is for everyone across the globe. Cheers to a successful 2019, and as we enter a new decade, we can’t wait to see what’s in store for the next one. Can you even imagine what families might be doing in 2030?
This Year’s Top 100 Baby Names
Published at the very end of 2018, this story highlighted the best baby names of the year — all 200 of them — and attracted 3.4 million entrances to the site. Yes, the list offers insight into the meaning and variation of top names like “Sophia” and “Jackson,” but who knew “Nevaeh” was so popular? And, in case you didn’t realize, that’s Nevaeh, as in “heaven” spelled backward.
50 of the Priciest Barbie Dolls, Ranked From Lowest to Highest
It may not come as a shock that people were interested in reading about one of the world’s most-treasured dolls. But we didn’t realize how many questions they would have about the value of certain Barbies. While some regretted selling valuable Barbies, most engaged in a trip down memory lane by sharing the list with siblings or other relatives that may have owned the original dolls. This glimpse into the past racked up a mere 5 million engaged minutes from our readers.
Dog Breeds With the Shortest Lifespans
Following up on the popularity of our 2018 story, “Bow Wow! The Longest Living Dog Breeds,” this article struck a nerve with dog owners who worry about those breeds that inevitably have shorter lifespans. While this dog-breed article received the most entrances (just over 1 million), other articles covering the best small dog breeds and friendliest dog breeds were also extremely popular.
The Best U.S. Public High Schools by State
Did your high school make the cut? This list, compiled from national rankings, gave readers insight into how each state fared in terms of education level overall as well as named the five best high schools in every state. You better believe that debate ensued.
The Priciest Weddings, Ranked From Lowest to Highest
Sometimes, readers just want a peek into the fabulous lives of celebrities. And there’s no better way to do that than by looking at the lavish weddings these folks plan. Of course, it’s no surprise that Kim Kardashian dropped a casual couple-million dollars on two of her weddings. But that’s nothing compared to a certain Russian oligarch who spent $1 billion on his kid’s nuptials.
The 30 Worst States to Be Married, Ranked
While some weddings may be over the top, not all marriages have a happy ending. The topic of divorce is something that resonated with readers, especially as it related to geographic location within the U.S. But this article wasn’t all dim and grim. In fact, it highlighted how divorce rates have actually been on a major decline since 1990, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Believe It or Not: These Celebrities Are Related
Did you know that actresses Rashida Jones and Peggy Lipton were related? What about Jenny McCarthy and Melissa McCarthy? This list of common and not-so-common celebrity relations left readers realizing that nepotism is still alive and well in Hollywood.
63 Hilarious Dad Tweets on the Realities of Pregnancy
Dads proved to be very funny this year — like really, really funny — especially when it came to their views on pregnancy. Dads took to Twitter to joke about their wives’ seven pillows in bed, gaining sympathy weight and broken water … bottles. But these guys also proved to be talented jokesters in our article, “Bad #DadJokes That Are Actually Pretty Funny.”
The Best Ice Cream in Every State
A trip to the local ice cream shop is the perfect family affair. While there were hundreds to choose from, we chose the best in every state — often due to their use of organic ingredients, their creation of quirky flavor combinations or their historic relevance in the local community. Just remember: Don’t read this article on an empty stomach.
The 21 Pixar Movies, Ranked From Worst to Best
In honor of the release of “Toy Story 4” in June, we ranked all of Pixar’s 21 movies. By using movie rankings from Rotten Tomatoes and IMDB, we tried doing so without any bias. But what we realized is just how good all these movies are — and how strong of a fanbase they have. Team “WALL-E,” anyone?