I AM Modern Magazine for Moms

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting some powerful and awesome ladies at the Modern Mom get together at San Vito’s in South Riding. One of the feedbacks that I received, once I was introduced as “the Val who is losing weight,” was that no one really knew too much about me--other than that I was losing weight publicly.

When I first started this venture, I wanted to be ‘everywoman’. Thinking that all the readers out there could better identify their own weight loss issues with someone who was more like them, whoever “they” might be. I found, during that evening, that people really wanted to know who I was. So here goes:

Hi my name is Val Cavalheri. I was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil to a Russian mother and Italian father. My family moved to the United States for about 10 years and then moved back to Brazil. I remained. I’ve lived in Upstate New York, New York City, Martha’s Vineyard and a small town (Westford) in Massachusetts. I currently live in South Riding with a husband (who I’ve been married to for 27 years), a 15-year-old son, two dogs, and three cats. I have another son who is a senior at George Mason University. I earn my living doing what I love best: Photography and Writing. I am under contract with the Washington Post as a correspondent to Living in LoCo blog (online) and I write for various other companies and organizations (and Modern Mom). I keep very busy with all types of photography, from Modern Mom magazine covers to sport events to family photos. I love the picture on this page of the little girls watching the big girls perform at a football game.

I am on the board of directors for a couple of different organizations and I do tons of volunteer work with my son’s high school. I belong to a book club and have, what I consider, outstanding friends. I like board games and never miss American Idol. I have been a vegetarian for all but 10 years of my life and I’m in the process of writing a book. I’ve had a little nip and tuck….. I have a tattoo. I do not consider myself a religious person, but I am spiritual. I am excited about this year’s elections. I have WAY TOO MANY pocketbooks and shoes.

I also need to lose weight.

20 pounds from now, I’ll even post a picture, but there is a reason why I’m a photographer. I like being behind the lens and I hate the way I come out in photos.

Again, I loved meeting the ladies at the get-together. My little end of the table and I bonded (no?), and we’ve exchanged emails. Hopefully we will continue to do so.

I’ll go back to my weight struggles on Wednesday, but for now,

Openly yours,

Val