Esther Crawford (Fall 2010 - age 27)

Hi, I’m Esther.

I’m a mom to a toddler, but will soon have a larger troop since we’re in the process of adopting a through foster care.

I originally started this blog while living / traveling in the Middle East in 2004, but its purpose has morphed and changed many times along the way. Then, in 2006 when I discovered YouTube I almost forgot how to type entirely – substituting text for video blogs that have now been viewed over 8 million times. Shocking, eh?

I’ve studied Arabic and love politics + social issues which is why I got my Master’s in International Relations, with a focus on the Middle East, from Durham University in England. Our long-term plan is to move overseas (top choices currently being Beirut, Lebanon and southern Spain) so our kids can experience the world’s diversity while learning a second language.

I’ve been on the internet daily since I was 13 so my life’s trajectory is essentially the byproduct of unlimited dial-up internet access, AOL chatrooms and a short-lived love affair with ICQ. Social media brought me through my adolescence in the 90’s, gave me my first boyfriend and ultimately my husband Nick (we met through my blog – he was a loyal commenter).

Nick works for the family business as an arborist and is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin which explains how I ended up here despite growing up on the West Coast.

This little thing called the internet has brought amazing adventures and people into my life. Some of the most memorable events include being an official vlogger for the CNN / YouTube Democratic Presidential debate and producing a series of commentary pieces for FOX News (although I lean left). I’ve been lucky enough to have been featured by an array of online & traditional media sources including AdWeek, AOL, CNET and Weight Watchers.

After video blogging my 70lb weight loss journey with Weight Watchers, I became their digital spokeswoman and content creator… and have been working with them for over 2 years.

Weight Watchers before & after

I’ve made 75+ videos on health and fitness for their social media channels and am passionate about empowering others to love themselves more.

I’ve also worked with other brands such as Kmart where I co-directed the online and blogger outreach initiatives for their design related webisodes, which included coordinating primary research, targeted paid placements, in-person events, and helping the company think through new policies and procedures for social media interaction.

I sometimes speak or hold workshops at blogger conferences across the country such as Blissdom and BlogHer, as well as regional social media events.

The most important people in my life are my hubby and baby.

Jude & Mommy (Aug 2010)

Becoming a mom in May ’09 has completely transformed me and this space. Baby Jude is my pride + joy and I hope someday he gets to read all of this and know just how much he is loved (and how many sleepless nights he caused).

Adopting through foster care isn’t an easy road, but so far, it’s the right one for us. I’m excited that every day that passes brings us a bit closer to bringing home a new member of the Crawford family.

P.S. The best way to reach me is through my contact form, on Twitter @faintstarlite, or by direct email: faintstarlite(at)gmail.com