25 things *this* Mormon girl loves.

Recently, my friend Hunter (well, I guess he's a friend -- we went to the same junior high and we're on each other's Facebook, even though we haven't actually spoken in a decade or more) published this article on BuzzFeed entitled, "25 Things Mormon Girls Love."

I have a tendency to spend waaaaay too much time on BuzzFeed so naturally, I read this article. Well, technically, it's more like a list with pictures, but that's what the kids are into these days. So anyway, I looked at this and got a good chuckle out of it, found myself saying "SO true!" to most of the items and then going on with the rest of my day.

In the meantime, it picked up a lot of speed and went viral. Today, I've seen it shared five or six times by female Facebook friends. The tone of the accompanying captions is a little condescending, I've noticed. For example, "I only like #3 and #8. Glad to be different for once!" As if liking these things is bad just because they're enjoyed by many people in a particular group (in this case, "Mormon girls").

I see the list as nothing more than a hyperbolic stereotype. It ends up being funny because we all know it's a gross exaggeration, but it's true in part. Yes, a lot of Mormon girls happen to like blogging, diet Coke and lacy undershirts. And it's OK to like those things, too, if you want to. No need to disassociate yourself with the mainstream, because then you're just a hipster and we all know hipster = mainstream anyway.

In the interest of full disclosure, I've made my own list of "25 Stereotypical Things I (A Mormon Girl) Love." Lots of other people love these things, too. Holla back if you're one of 'em!

P.S. - the starred items were also on Hunter's list.

1. Disney. HOW did this not make the BuzzFeed list? I've yet to meet a Mormon girl who doesn't love singing along to Disney songs, going to Disneyland and quoting "Aladdin" to the end of her days.

I would KILL to be a Disney princess.

2. IKEA. Cute, functional stuff for cheap? Makes me feel so modern but also frugal. And we Mormon girls love frugality! IKEA comprises practically half my house. Not gonna lie.

Let's play "Name All the Things from IKEA in This Picture!"

3. Hobby Lobby. When I've had a long day with the kids, I sometimes steal away to this magical place (part-boutique, part-craft store). And by sometimes, I mean once a week.

4. Donuts. Cupcakes are great and all, but a donut is like fried cake with frosting on top. Fried > baked every time.

Bosa Donuts, via

5. Smoothies. So yummy, so nutritious. The appearance of health-mindedness minus the kale. What's not to love?

6. Bubble necklaces. For example:

7. Maxi skirts. Again ... photographic evidence:

Bonus points for the horizontal stripes!

8. Baby names*. I'm not even pregnant but I still like to think of what I might name any future spawn I might create. "Not too crazy, not too popular" is my motto.

9. Big hair. I like big hair and I cannot lie.

10. Pedicures. Because paying little Vietnamese ladies to rub your feet and maintain your toe nails is totally worth it, even if they gossip about you in their native tongue the entire time.

11. Blogging*. Yep, I blog. And I mostly love it. And lots of other Mormon girls do, too. Whatevs.

12. Taking pictures with my DSLR*. This was kind of on Hunter's list -- I don't have a photography business, but I do loooove taking pictures with my fancy Nikon. It just makes my kids (and me) look extra adorable.

13. Wedges. Sexy height without the discomfort of a stiletto. Beware the risk of turning your ankle.

Wedges on dirt is a legitimate hazard.

14. Vintage stuff. As long as it doesn't stink and basically looks new. So ... maybe I don't actually like vintage stuff.

15. Vaycay.

'Nuff said.

16. Cute handwriting*. I like it because I don't have it and I wish I did. I sometimes covet other people's handwriting. I should probably repent for that.

17. Top 40 Hits. More specifically, singing them at the top of my lungs while driving. "We can leaaaaaarn to love agaiiiiiiiin!" I'm easily as good as P!nk.

18. Pattern-mixing. I feel so rebellious when I bravely pair a stripe with a floral.

Even my pillows are pattern-mixed!

19. Target*. It's just so pretty, organized and relatively-affordable!

20. Froyo*. 'Cuz it's good, but ... I actually like ice cream better.

21. Girls' Camp*. I always think I'm going to hate it because nature and I don't get along, but you get a bunch of girls together in the woods to cry about how much they love each other and it's bound to be a good time.

22. Pinterest (except when it's ridiculous -- I have a board for that)*.

23. The Hunger Games. What Mormon girl isn't trying to figure out how to work Everdeen, Mellark or Primrose into her baby name line-up? And I'm one of them, bee-tee-dubs.

Bawl your eyes out. NOW. via

24. Sushi. You already know that.

25. Taking selfies. And I'm REALLY good at it.