Give us your backstory. Where you’re from, childhood, hobbies, etc.

So, I grew up in Northern Virginia. I was raised by my fabulous parents. My dad's amazing. He's a very funny guy, also very hardworking and I look up to him a lot. My mom, she's probably like my best friend. Anyone that has met both of us and knows both of us always says I'm her mini her, which I take as the biggest compliment that you can get. She's just such a super kind person and very creative. I feel like I get a lot of my creativity from her, but I'll get into that when I start talking about that. I'm a middle child and only girl, which I kind of love because I get the perks of being the only girl. But I also have two amazing brothers that I'm super close with. My younger one is in high school right now and my older one is two years older than me. So, we always grew up super close. My little brother was just such a fun addition to the family that we are super grateful for. 

Sports were a big part of my life all growing up. My parents kind of just threw me into any sport just to kind of see what would stick. In high school I played field hockey. I remember I bought my field hockey stick the day before tryouts. So, I did that, ran track, played soccer for a bit and of course, I played lacrosse. I played lacrosse competitively all growing up. That kind of led me to playing at the Division I level at Cornell, which is where I met Gabe. So that was an awesome experience, too. But yeah, big, big sports family. Both my brothers played lacrosse as well. My older brother played in college at Trinity College and my little brother is a stud in high school right now. We'll see where he ends up. 

Hobbies, I love hobbies. I do so many different crafts. It's funny, every year for Christmas, I have a new gift that I'll make for my family and my extended family as well. So, each year, everyone's like, ‘oh, what's it going to be this year?’ But yeah, I've kind of tried out everything in the book. Currently, I'm super into painting and things like that. I hopefully want to start my own little business one day. We'll see how that goes. But yeah, kind of a little side hustle right now.

All of your siblings play lacrosse, too. How big of a family sport is that for you guys? 

I feel like growing up, lacrosse wasn't as big of a thing [in this country]. I remember the first time I started playing, you wear goggles and a mouthguard, and I remember crying and being like, ‘I can't do this, it hurts my mouth, it hurts my cheeks.’ But ended up getting back into it. But yeah, it was a big thing. I mean, for my family, I feel like sports in general, it's something that everyone kind of bonds together and it makes you closer. I got to go watch a lot of my brother's games. Obviously, they came to mine. And just the people you meet playing the sport too, they become your best friends as well. So, it's always something that I hold very near and dear to my heart. I'm very sad that it's over now, but at the same time I was kind of ready to be done when it was that time. But yeah, family wise, I think it’s a super great thing. I'll go home this summer and watch some of my little brother's games. And yeah, it's just a great thing overall. I feel like sports overall, but lacrosse too.

You went to Cornell and were part of its lacrosse team. Can you talk about that experience? 

It was awesome. It was definitely a lot with academics as well. But honestly, I feel like it gave me a little bit more structure. My team there was absolutely amazing. I always say my favorite part about playing in college was the people that I met. We always say that my coach was able to recruit and handpick your best friends. Somehow she gets everyone right. So yeah, it was an amazing experience. Obviously, a lot of hard work that was put into it, a lot of sacrifices that had to be made. But I always say, you learn so much from being on a team that you could never learn in a classroom. That's definitely held true to even where I'm at now and the kind of work that I'm doing now. I feel like there's a lot of correlations there. It was very sad when it ended. I played since I was five years old. So, definitely a little bit of an identity crisis once I stopped. But I mean, hey, I'm still in the sports world now going to games. So, makes it still super exciting and thrilling. Of course, my little brother's in high school. So have a long way to go there, too.

Many college seasons with a 4.00. Did you take pride in academics and how difficult was it going to school at an Ivy League school? 

Yeah, I definitely take pride in it. It was toward the end of my career that I started getting more 4.0s. Obviously, it's something I'm super proud of. I would say in terms of balancing it all in school, I felt like having a set structure of practices, workouts, even games and all of that, really helped me perform well in school. Just because I had that structure of, okay, we have an hour time block before we have practice. So, my team was very good about everyone encouraging each other and helping each other out with academics as well. But definitely a lot of time management and discipline. I was a communications major, and I ended up doing a double minor in business and fashion studies. Because of COVID, we had to slow our credits. So, I had some time to take extra stuff. So, I ended up doing that as well. The classes I was taking, they were very interesting to me. I felt like they aligned a lot with what I like to do. I feel like communications is very broad, but I feel like I'm a good talker. I was like, ‘okay, I'll actually use this.’ So yeah, I'd say it was tricky, but also time management made it work.

How was your overall college experience? Was your time at Cornell the stereotypical Ivy League experience? 

Honestly, no. There were definitely classes that were harder. Like Gabe, he was an engineering major and some of the stuff he was doing, I was like, ‘I don't know how you're doing this.’ So, it kind of depends on the classes you take, not to downplay any of the classes that I was taking. It was nice too because I feel like the athlete community, everyone was super close. All the teams kind of knew each other. It almost felt like a sorority or fraternity type thing because you kind of have your set of people. But a lot of times I feel like day-to-day I would just see the athletes. Obviously, I made some friends outside of that as well. But I was really shocked when I got there. I think it was easier than I expected it to be. Maybe that's just because we were good at managing our time and all of that. But I would say it wasn't that bad. I think athletics gives you structure to it. So, maybe that's something that makes it easier.

You and Gabriel met in college. What do you remember most about your early days together? 

Yeah, so he transferred from Union. And now I think, ‘thank God, that's such a blessing.’ So, I met him that first year he was [at Cornell]. We actually met in the winter time. It's funny because at first, I knew of him, but he kind of was more reserved and quiet. So, none of us really knew much about him. And then one night, it was our two teams that were hanging out. He kind of was following me around and talking to me a lot. And I was like, ‘oh, okay.’ So, we kind of started hanging out ever since then. It was funny because we always used to talk about like, ‘how would this ever work out? You're from Sweden, I'm from America, we're going home for the summer, we'll have one more year here, like, what's really going to happen with that?’ So, we were kind of more go with the flow about it. Then, inevitably, we ended up coming back from summer and kind of picked up where we left off and started officially dating. 

But our college experience together was super cool. Like I said, the athlete community was super close. So, the women's lacrosse team and the men's hockey team, we were all super close. I had a lot of friends on my team that had dated some of the hockey players too. It was fun. We all did a lot of fun activities together and then also being able to see him play too. That was such a cool experience, and I felt like he was a big leader on that team. He also came to some of my games. It's funny we joke because in Ithaca, New York, the weather's kind of like here. It's frigid. We had games where they would be plowing the field in between quarters and Gabe always jokes. He's like, ‘I sat through it for all of your games.’ I pretty sure one of the games he went to the hot tub in his locker room. But it was awesome. We both kind of got to experience that portion of our lives together, especially that being my last time playing college sports. He kind of got to experience some of it. So, it was a super fun experience, and I wouldn't change it for the world. I’m very grateful that we both ended up there, right place, right time. Now, we're kind of just going with the flow. 

Can you talk about the ups and downs of professional hockey from your point of view?

Honestly, like I said, us being long distance last year, that was the hardest part. So, now that I'm here kind of getting to experience it with him, I see a lot of the positives of it. It's super fun, being able to go to so many games and see him play, but also getting to meet all the other people from the team. I feel like they're all super close this year. Also, very fortunate that the girl group here is amazing, too. So, even when they are on those long road trips, I feel like there's always something to do. Some of the girls will watch the games together or go to the movies or go to dinner. So honestly, it hasn't been too many downs. I would say more so a lot of ups. Obviously, it's a super long season, too. So, that's a lot of room for different things to happen. Obviously, it can be tricky going through the ebbs and flows. One of the hardest things for me, I think originally kind of going into it, was I wanted to still have a career and I of course wanted to be with him, too. So, it was tricky for me trying to find remote positions. I started out in a sales role that was great. I learned a lot, but cold calling is definitely not for the weak. I'll just say that. It was tricky for me going through that transition, also being done with athletics overall. But now I found a new job, and super happy with it. But yeah, I would say there's more positives than negatives, which is great thing.

First time living with Gabriel as a pro. How different has that been compared to college days? 

Gabe's a very structured person, I will say, game days, of course he has his own routine, but he's very driven in that sense. So, I kind of saw that in college, too. Obviously now it's a lot different because way more games and things of that sort and it's your job now. So, it's definitely been different. Obviously not as much time together. I think the hardest was I had one more year in college while he was here for his rookie season last year. That was definitely the toughest time for us because he's doing something new for the first time, I'm finishing out school and the first time long distance. So, that was tricky. But now it's kind of amazing. I think the game atmosphere [in Grand Rapids] is super fun, too. I always say it's like a mini NHL game and I get to go to three of them every week outside of the away games. So there's differences here and there, but for the most part, like routine wise and everything, it's pretty much the same.

Looks like you are heavy into art. Can you talk about that? 

I feel like since I was young, I would always do different crafts and things like that. I feel like a big part of it, I've gotten from my mom. She's super creative. She's super great at hosting and always created different things. She used to do little birthday parties and made little activities. So, I think the creative aspect kind of comes from her. I took art classes in high school for a bit and I really loved it. I kind of thought about going into that for my major in college as well, but obviously you needed a portfolio and with juggling athletics that wasn't really something I could do. I've always kind of done little projects here and there. Now that I have more of this free time, outside of having a nine to five job, I feel like it's something that makes me feel like I have a little bit more purpose and it's something that's fun for me. So, I've just been doing it any free time that I get. 

Now my end goal would be to start a little small business. I feel like there's a lot you can do with art because it's something you can kind of put on anything. You see wedding invitations, things like that. There's so many different routes and avenues that you can go. I've been thinking of buying a printer and making prints. Maybe start out with a small website and see where that goes. Obviously, we'd need to kind of brand it a little bit more. I started a TikTok and an Instagram. It's called the Pocket Gallery. So, I kind of have a lot of ideas. The other thing too is I love to do so many different things. I'm like, ‘okay, I need to pick a lane and stick with it’, but obviously have it be something that I love doing. So, I just feel like it's something that I like at the end of the day. My dream would be to kind of have that be my full career in some type of sense. I have a lot of different ideas for it that hopefully comes to fruition.

What do you do for work now? 

I just started and I think I'm about a month into it now. It's actually an alumni that I connected with who started his own marketing group. So, I'm kind of working as a content strategist on the affiliate side. I work with TikTok shop, also some Google meta ads and things of that sort. So, we have different clients that we'll work with and it's fun too because I get to use a little bit of a creative side. I'm watching videos every day and you guys probably feel a little bit similar to that. But yeah, I'm super happy with it now and super content. It's very flexible to do from anywhere, too. So overall, in a good spot now.

How was your trip to Sweden and how has learning Swedish been? 

Yeah, so this past summer, I spent about a month in Sweden. Before that, I had been for a week the summer before. It's awesome. It's so beautiful there, especially in the summers. I actually got to spend my first Swedish midsummer there last year, too. So, we did the flower crowns and everything like that. It's incredible there and Gabe's family is also amazing. I feel like I've gotten super close with them and it's cool having all of them be from there. It's funny I say when I'm there, I don't feel like a tourist because I have my own personal guide. Swedish summers are awesome and I'm super excited to go back. We played a lot of golf because the sun sets around 10 or 11 p.m. So super fun, great place to kind of spend time outdoors.

In terms of my Swedish, I definitely need some work right now. It's funny, before going there last summer, I felt like I was in a pretty good spot. I'm definitely a little rusty and I need to pick back up on that, especially because the summer is coming up so quickly. I tried Duolingo. I would get frustrated though, because you get three strikes and you're done. So that's a little bit tricky, but I felt like I learned best actually when Gabe would try to speak with me. I think while we were driving back from school for the last time, we were practicing Swedish and he was like, ‘okay, pretend I'm my grandma and we're going to have a conversation.’ That's kind of the easiest way that I started to pick up more. Then obviously being there and hearing his family talk, I would kind of be able to pick up on a couple things here and there. But I need to be better and now I'll add that to my to-do list for the day. Also some of the words are very similar to other words. So, I'll keep talking about one thing and he will start laughing at me. It's funny too because I know Loui [Amanda and William Lagesson’s kid] is learning both [English and Swedish], too. Gabe's like, ‘come on, you got to learn with Loui.’ That's definitely a goal to one day be bilingual.

We always joke about how Gabriel is the most American Swede we've ever met. You would never tell that he's Swedish until he starts speaking it. Have you noticed that or was that something that he was like in college?

Honestly, when I first met him and he was more reserved, I was like, ‘okay, maybe he just can't speak English or something like that.’ Then when we started talking, I couldn't really tell that much. There's definitely a couple words here and there or sayings and I'll correct him on stuff, too. He's like, ‘come on.’ I agree though, he sounds very American. His family says that, too. They're like, ‘how do you speak like this?’ Then I go to Sweden and I hear him, speaking with everyone and I'm like, ‘wow, you're really bilingual.’ But yeah, he was always kind of like that, even in college. He spent time in Texas before college, too. So, I guess he's had a lot of time to pick up on that American slang. Then I feel like I'm going to have the thickest American accent once I learn Swedish.

What are some of your favorite things to do when you have alone time while the team is on the road? 

I know I mentioned the girl group here being amazing. So, we'll all try to hang out anytime that we can now that the weather is once in a blue moon being warmer. We went on a walk the other weekend. We'll have dinners and things like that. So, that's super fun. Also, I feel like I'm very comfortable being alone, too. I always find something to do. I know I mentioned painting. There's canvases around me everywhere. I feel so bad. I've kind of turned this apartment into a little bit of an art studio. Painting is something that I fill a lot of my time with. I've been trying to do little commission pieces for friends here and there. I feel like it’s a relaxation for me, but also a space to kind of be creative. So yeah, I'd say that's what I spend most of my time doing when they're gone. 

On the opposite side, what are things you like to do with Gabriel when you have time together? 

I would say, in season at least, I feel like with the weather here and everything, we've been watching a lot of different shows and movies. We just finished “Sherlock”, which we highly recommend. But whenever it's nice out, we try to get outside and be active. He loves fishing. Honestly, I'll fish a little bit, but not really my thing but I'll go with him. We'll go on walks and I feel like that's pretty peaceful. He also really got me into golf this past summer. I used to play [golf] when I was super little, but we played a lot over the summer. He's also a very good teacher. He's very patient with me, which is great. But I feel like I'm not too shabby now [at golf]. So, we'll see. Hopefully more golf to come this summer. 

What are you most excited about for your future?

It's so funny because the future is so unknown in this world and profession. We've always kind of been like, ‘all right, let's just go with the flow.’ It always ends up working out from there. Eventually down the line, I hope to start a family and things like that. We really want to get a dog. Both of our parents are like, ‘no, like, come on you guys, that's going to be tricky,’ and honestly, I agree with them. So maybe that'll have to take a pause for a little bit of time. I guess I would say just eventually starting a family one day. This life is crazy, popping around, moving around different places. I also think there's some beauty in it, too. I never would be all the places that I've been now had I not been put in this position. So, I would say main answer is just kind of go with the flow, but long term, starting a family and all of that.

Any fun facts about Gabriel that you could share with us?

I feel like my fun facts are all pretty great things, honestly. He's a really good planner when it comes to travel and stuff like that, which is super surprising for me. He planned a trip for us as a little graduation gift. We went on a super fun trip in Austria, Germany, and Montenegro. He kind of planned it all out, sent it to me. He was like, ‘okay, this is what we're doing and this is where we're going.’ I just find that very fascinating about him. Maybe it's because he's from another country and kind of knows more about those areas. I'm also very directionally challenged. We were traveling and he's like, ‘all right, we're hopping on this bus to reach this one,’ and I'm like, ‘what?’ Obviously, he loves to golf. He loves to fish. He's also very intelligent. I know I mentioned he was an engineer. It's funny because in his free time, sometimes he'll be like, ‘I'm just going to work on a project.’ In school, he made a self-driving car, like programmed the car. He made his mom's website for her business. So those are some impressive things, too. He's also a really good cook. He makes a really good steak too, steak and potatoes. It's funny because he cuts his potatoes up very specifically. It’s called hasselbackspotatis. I don't know what style of potatoes it is, but it's funny because during Christmas, my parents were like, ‘all right, Gabe, you got to make the Swedish potatoes.’ So now, they're called Swedish potatoes in our household.