10 Things You Didn’t Know About Val

Be prepared, because once you step inside my head, there's no turning back baby!

You guys know quite a bit about me already, but I thought it would be fun to join Samm and Curt in their "10 Things You Didn't Know About Me" series. Check this out! How many of you guys knew this before?

1. I used to be in pageants.

We're not quite talking Honey Boo Boo style full-on-makeup pageants here, but back in 1999 and 2000 I partook in a few Miss Pennsylvania Pageants. My Mom had the best time dressing me up, but I wasn't into that part really. I had fun making friends, and winning the Sweetheart Division Speech Contests (go figure!) both years I entered. My speeches were Oprah Winfrey: My Favorite American and Why I Love Breyer's Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream haha! This leads me to #2...

2. I spoke on the Pennsylvania Senate Floor in 1999.

That's me and my brother Vince with then PA Governor Tom Ridge in 1999. Yeah, we were little! I was 9, he was 7. My then local Senator invited me to give those same pageant speeches on the Senate Floor in October of 1999. At the time, I had no idea how big that was, but I'm proud of it now!

3. My husband and I met in high school.

Yep! 11th grade English Class! He always asked for my "help" on assignments and things he didn't pay attention too. I was a sucker for the hair. We've been married for almost three years now.

4. I've lived in four states.

Including my native Pennsylvania, I've spent time in South Carolina, Illinois and now Minnesota!

5. I love to travel!

I've been everywhere in the US, except for the west really. I've even been to Canada! This is me, my husband and my brother-in-law at Mt. Rainier in Washington. We were there last summer! We usually hike, but I like the beach too!

6. I have fed a musk ox before.

Pictures or it didn't happen! This is me feeding a fourth month old musk ox just outside of Anchorage, Alaska in September of 2015! So much fun!!

7. I played street hockey in Pittsburgh.

I was the only girl on my team too! Shout out to SPRHL! The South Park Roller Hockey League! I was actually terrible, but I had a lot of fun playing. This was 2002. I was 12.

8. I'm a sucker for pizza and cheeseburgers.

I'll work for pizza or cheeseburgers. It's just what I do.

9. Mom brought me up on Allison Krauss, Linda Ronstadt and John Denver.

I've got a lot of fond memories of listening to them while I went camping.

10. I saw my first lighthouse in Minnesota.

It's true! I hadn't seen one until my trip to Duluth last fall!

There you have it folks! 10 things you probably didn't know about me - or, maybe you did. Either way, I thought it was fun to revisit those moments! Check out Samm's list here! Curt's is coming soon!