Hello Benjamin

Favorite pair of shoes? Oh, so many…That could be the hardest question you have asked yet. I have 2 I guess. 1 is a Nine West sling back with a spring paisley pattern. I am obsessed with them. (white, pink, green, blue, yellow – how could I not love them!) I also have a pair of gold and bronze patterned BCBG that Matt gave me as a surprise a few years ago. Also obsessed with those… I need a new shoe crush, but I hate all the new shoes the past few seasons! Favorite quote regarding my shoes: Blaze hinted to her husband that Matt gives me shoes as presents to which he responded “that is like giving Crack to an addict.”

Favorite Shot? I don’t really do shots anymore, but when I do, I usually go Red Headed Slut, and sometimes Sex on the Beach, because I think it is funny to say.

What toppings do you like on your pizza? Pepperoni, pineapple, onion, green pepper, mushroom, and if they have it, mandarin oranges, and sometimes I throw in sausage. In fact, that is almost the exact pizza I made last night. Now I am hungry and want pizza.

How do you deal with stress? I don’t realize I am stressed until I explode. I just push throw and don’t think about it usually.

Favorite Fruit? Raspberries, hands down. Peaches are a distant second

Who was your best friend your freshman year in high school? Are you still friends? Jennifer Millay. Does facebook friends still count? HAHA! We go out the 1 or 2 times I go home every year, but haven’t stayed super close.

**Benji - I recommend Jessica Simpson's fall/winter collection [yea, I know... Jessica Simpson...?! but seriously, it's nice.] Peep out the Donora... If you don't mind a 4in+ heel. AND my favorite the Mowin! Yea, the BCBG footwear collection sucks this season, I've seen a couple hot items, but I think they were lagging around from last spring.

Hello Benjamin

Top 3 favorite designers?
Tough…. I’ll give you my top 3 labels right now. BCBG, Rachel Roy, Vera Wang. My favorite designers of all time: Tom Ford for Gucci, Vera Wang – no one else really registers as FAVORITE as those 2.

Last good advice someone gave you?
They didn’t give it to me directly but it is from the new book by Mitch Album For One More Day. It was “love yourself, love your spouse, and most importantly, love your marriage. There will be days when you may not like your spouse, and it will have to be your love of your marriage that gets you through those times.” I think it is true for any relationship, but especially for marriages. It made me really think about all my relationships. I have come to the realization that I don’t have to keep every relationship that I have. So many times I have been mad at someone and realized I don’t actually like them, but keep the relationship. If I don’t like the person 90% of the time, and I don’t like the relationship, I need to either work on changing the relationship, my perspective of the person, or just cut out the relationship. Life changing…

What’s the capital of Denmark?
Don’t look it up you cheater!
I don’t freakin know the capital of denmark! Butt face!

Episode 5

Which bear is best?
First thought is Koala, but I feel like maybe it isn’t a bear. So my next thought is Panda, but again, I feel like it is named wrong. Black Bear. I know for certain it is a bear and so I will go with Black Bear. In all honesty, I am not a bear fan. Call me crazy… They are big, hungry animals and frankly, I hope I never see one in the wild. I am not going to go as far as Steven Colbert and put them on my Dead to Me list, but they definitely have potential to make the list should I ever see one in person.

Worst pick up line you have ever heard? And, best?
Worst – someone actually came up to my friend at a bar and seriously tried the “are you rlegs tired, because they have been running through my mind all night” line. And yes, we did call him out on both using a generic line, and getting it wrong. The best line I have ever heard… the guy just casually said “You are looking particularly enchanting tonight.” And then just walked off. Immediately, I was intrigued! He didn’t try and stay and annoy me and follow through. Very nice... Had I not been married, I would have sent him a thank you drink.

What do you think of quantum physics?
I think I am proud of myself for being able to announce quantum. I think quantum physics and I have a lot in common, actually. Our energy is not continuous, but small discrete units (my energy is probably not ALWAYS discreet), my our movements are inherently random. Bet you thought that would throw me, didn’t ya!? Wikipedia is an amazing thing.

Favorite children’s book?
Anything Dr. Suess. I think I will have to go with Red Fish, Blue Fish.

We watched the most recent Brittany Spears eTHS this weekend. It was pretty awesome, what do you think of Brittany Spears? What could she have done “better” over the last 3 years?
That is a silly question. I think you know all to well, that I am a die hard Brit Brit fan. Yes she went crazy, no she isn’t the best singer, or mother, or person. I don’t care. There is a special place in my heart for Britany – damn the consequences! What could she have done better over the past 3 years? Are you kidding me?!? Yes, she went crazy… but she stayed in the media and relevant for 3 years with out releasing a major album or touring. She got on the VMA awards (albeit, she bombed), and now is nominated for a VMA this year – for an admittedly bad video. Crazy like a fox! America loves a comeback, and she is about to make one heck of a comeback. It was the road less traveled, but she is back, baby!

Hello Benjamin Episode 2

And now...
As seen on duanefernandez.com

In this week’s feature of “Hello Benjamin”, we get down to some real hard hitting questions with Rachel. If you are a new visitor to duanefernandez.com last week we decided to start a new weekly feature titled “Hello Benjamin” – A look into the life and times of Rachel. Why Rachel? Because she is awesome and she appreciates the fact that I am ok with annihilating an entire species of animal to bring down gas prices. [Disclaimer, she may not share my point of view, but she appreciates it… * Tina does not appreciate it.]

What did you want to be when you were a kid?
I think I wanted to be a doctor, but then I realized I hate science and am also not good at it. I used to want to be a fashion designer… I drew a dress once that I found like 5 years later at Cache… I wore it to my Junior prom and still have it. Man – I should really start thinking about doing that instead!!! Also, I should learn to sew if I want to design again… Interesting…

Greatest accomplishment?
Um… Keeping myself alive for the past 25 years? I don’t like to hang my hat on “this one time, I did this one great thing.” I would rather live by being proud of the little things. I graduated from a private college with 2 majors in 4 years with 0 debt (ok, so that’s kinda big!) I make my dogs happy every day. I married my soulmate. I have awesome friends… and now… “Hello Benjamin” (said with a SPANISH accent!). Now, once I get my own show on Bravo or Mojo, all that goes down the drain…That will be my greatest accomplishment and how I define success and screw all the little people I have to step on to get there!! (followed by evil giggle)

How do you define success?
Personal success? I am happy with the outcome and didn’t have to hurt anyone in the process. I just can’t stand when people brag about accomplishments that they only got or did because they obliterated other people to get there. What’s funny – I want to be a lawyer?

1 of your top 3 favorite albums of all time…?
I can’t narrow it down to just one! Paul Simon, Graceland – snap decision. I am not a hippy, but I was raised by them..

Posted by Duane Fernandez at 1:19 PM 0 comments