Introducing…Emma!
Hi there! I’m Emma, and you might be wondering – how did a kid from Colorado end up all the way in New Zealand? And why am I writing blogs for a company based in the USA? Well, let me tell you a little story...
Back in 2014, I was 17 years old, and one of my best friends dropped a bombshell on me – he was starting his own media company (remember him for later, he’s important). As a teenager, I found this idea pretty crazy. At that time, I didn’t have big expectations for myself. I pictured a simple life: moving to Wyoming, teaching kindergarten, marrying a police officer, having three kids, and owning a dog (not that there is anything wrong with that). But my friend's ambition at such a young age shocked and inspired me.
Fast forward a year later, and I made some bold decisions myself:
Graduated high school 6 months early (I was very ready to get out of there).
Opted for a mission trip to New Zealand over senior prom (no regrets!).
Decided to go to college after I got back.
Well, I did graduate early, and I did go on that mission trip to New Zealand… But, 9 years later, I never quite made it to college. Sorry Wyoming, New Zealand was calling!
I fell in love with the country and with a guy named Ben. We got married (with my same friend from high school live-streaming the wedding), had some more adventures, and last year, just after our 6th anniversary, we welcomed our precious son Luke into the world! I’m completely obsessed with him – he's absolutely the cutest baby ever. Then came a problem: I wanted to stay home with Luke instead of going back to work, but we couldn’t afford it.
But where there's a problem, there's also a solution. I realized I could find remote work to do during Luke’s nap times! So, I reached out to my friend from high school who had his own creative studio… Lachlan Quintana, the founder of LVL Creative Studios! We brainstormed some exciting ideas, and voila – here I am, diving into the world of blog writing!
So, if you’ve made it this far, thanks for sticking with me! I tend to ramble a bit (working on it, I promise, Lachlan!). You’ll be seeing more of me around here, bringing you blogs filled with fun and fresh ideas. And if you come across any Kiwi-inspired language quirks, blame it on my surroundings! I say “bin” instead of “trash,” love my black tea, and throw around words like “reckon” and “keen.” Plus, I might sprinkle in some Māori words – the indigenous language of New Zealand – but don’t worry, I’ll provide translations!
Aaaand right on cue, Luke is up from his nap! That’s me for now!
Mā te wā (see you next time),
Emma
P.S. Keep scrolling for a pic of LVL founder Lachlan and me in our fedora-wearing high school days + some photos of my family and our beautiful home!
Lachlan and Emma circa 2014… we were very cool, I promise.
We currently live in a small beach town community of a few hundred on the North-West coast of the North Island of New Zealand. I love our daily beach walks!