Benaim-Fletcher, the blog

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I’m not really sure what my inspiration would be. I have aspirations, but not that many inspirations.

I am, however, inspired by a lot of the people I am friendly with on Twitter. The folks that own their own businesses be it wedding planning, photography, Etsy sellers, consulting or anything else. It is inspiring to see that hard work and perseverance really can pay off. I single that venue out since I am always seeing them posting about their schedules, specials, and clientele.

One day I want to open and run a yarn store. The problem is in the funding. I have a huge student loan debt from my recently completed MBA degree. Like huge enough that I’ll be paying it off even after my children have graduated from college. My job situation is dismal. Don’t get me wrong, I have a job which is more than a lot of people can say. The problem is it is a very part time job and I cannot pay all my bills. It’s freaking me out to say the least.

But that’s not what this post is about, that comes into play on Day 21, so be sure to keep reading. Oh look, my aspirations are the last day. Y’all have that to look forward to at least.

I am also crazy inspired by the uber talented knitters and fiber designers I see online. Every time I knit something, it gets rave reviews, but I’m totally amateur compared to these talented ladies.* Even the personal blogs and test knitting communities on Ravelry are chock full of insane talent. Granted, I only learned to knit about 4 years ago, but I want someone to rave about my knitting talent. My veil is my single greatest knitting accomplishment to date. I revel in that.

So, what inspires you? I bet it’s harder to think of then you might think.

Sorry this one is so lightweight. I guess I’m just not inspired by much. =)

*Sure, men knit, but they’re few and far between in my world.

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image source: magiclamp.org

My beliefs. This should be easy, right?

I was raised in a reform Jewish synagogue. I went to Sunday school, then Hebrew school. At 13 I was bat mitzvahed. At 16 I was confirmed. That’s where my Jewish education ended. In college I hung out with a girl that grew up in a more conservative Jewish household. We went to conservative high holiday services and it intrigued me. Growing up the services were about 90% in English. At the conservative services it was more like 50%. I vaguely remembered some Hebrew from when I was in Hebrew school classes, but not much. Kinda like how much Spanish I know after 9 years of classes…

Anywho, these days I am far more “spiritual” than “religious” in terms of my beliefs. I have not set foot inside a synagogue since my youngest cousin’s bar mitzvah umm.. 4 or so years ago. (Sorry, Eric, I can’t remember how old you are!) My ex-fiance was the only Jewish guy I’ve ever dated. BD was half-Jewish, but he was before that. My first love was Jewish, but we never dated. Since those 3 guys in college, every single guy I dated was not Jewish. But then, religion was never an issue until now. And even now it’s mostly a non-issue.

By now, I mean that I am marrying a Protestant and we will be having children in the not so distant future. Technically according to Jewish law, the children’s religion is their mother’s religion as the father was not always known. We won’t be having that problem. My childrens father will be my amazing almost-hubby, Steve. We have had this discussion. We agree on our beliefs, even if they are not the traditional Jewish or Protestant views. We both believe in a higher being, say our prayers and don’t believe in organized religion.

This is what I believe in

image source: amazon.com

In the non-religious aspect, I believe in fairness, justness, tolerance and creativity. I believe everyone should have their own beliefs and no one should ever try to foist their beliefs on anyone else. I believe in respect and in respecting others. I do not believe that anyone has a right to make anyone else feel small, insignificant or incorrect about their beliefs.

I had a job where my boss and the owner of the company told me I needed to believe in Jesus and attend church with her in order to save my soul. She constantly gave me religious gifts with notes inside about Jesus and Christianity. It was the most uncomfortable time in my life. Ironically, she fired me for noncompliance on the job. I was trying to make them more efficient and easier to work with and for and she would have none of it.

What do you believe in?

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I’d like to preface this by telling you that I’ll be turning 34 in 15 days. I think that’ll make this post worse, but hey, whatever. It’s the truth.

My precious item is my baby blanket. No, I don’t mean my baby’s blanket. We don’t have kids yet. I mean my baby blanket, as in the one I had in my crib in infancy.

Mom and I did some digging a few months ago when I asked where I got it. It turns out my great aunt Pearl made it for me. She was my maternal grandfather’s sister. Mom found her name with this gift next to it in my baby book. Oh yes, mom has all of our baby books 36, 34 and 30 years after our births.

The fabric is white with yellow daisies, a white ruffle around the entire border and random yellow satin bows tied through the fabric. At one point, it had nice thick bunting inside. When you constantly wash and crumble up bunting, it doesn’t hold up that well. Several years ago I finally pulled the clumps out and sewed the sides back together.

Also, it’s about the softest silkiest fabric to ever touch my skin. I take it with me on every vacation and yes, it will be in Vegas with us on our honeymoon. Steve totally accepts my craziness as every time he makes the bed, I find it folded up under my pillow.

I also have a pink crocheted afghan that another great aunt made for me. This one was my maternal grandmother’s sister and the only one of her siblings to have passed away already. Her name was Martha and for some reason, all blankets she made are referred to as a Martha Gaga.

I know, you think I’m a crazy person. But you know what? When the babies I’ve gifted items to are in their 30s, I hope they have fond memories of their baby items too. I also hope my babies will love anything I make for them.

It’s a pretty blankie at least….

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Jennifer: one of my favorite people on the planet and the mother to two of my other favorite people on the planet.

She is my bestie, my BFF, my partner-in-crime, my confidante, my house of memories, my Zeffer. I would truly be lost without her in my life. Although, if you asked the 15 year old me in April 1992, I would have told you that she is the most evil and bitchy chain smoking alcoholic on the planet.

Little did I know that it would be our mutual love of college football and our mutual hatred of the Seminoles. Yep, our first outing together was the UM-FSU game at the Orange Bowl. It was amazing and we stayed up till like 4am talking and laughing about boys, football, cars probably and tons of other topics. From then, we were pretty much inseparable.

Even though she wasn’t in high school with me (much), I still hung out with her when I skipped school (often). Off I went to college in Gainesville, where she visited as often as she could. Talk about friendship… she was a true Gator Hater born and raised by some hardcore ‘Canes fans.

We spent Christmases in Newton, NC accompanied by looooong road trips driving there and back. She is my sister. Her parents are my parents. She became a welcome member of my family when she saved my life in my sophomore year of college. She is the mother to my 2 beautiful godsons. Two little boys that I don’t get to see nearly as often as I’d like. Mostly because I love them to pieces and would give anything for them, but also because with them around, she’d be around.

I haven’t seen her since last Christmas and really need a Zeffer fix soon.

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OK, this one is easy peasy! I am an avid knitter. And by avid, I mean whenever I’m sitting for more than 20 minutes or so. I have made so many different things, mostly for myself, but some for others as gifts. My biggest, most intense project was, by far, my wedding veil.

Personal photo. Lots of others here.

Crazy woman says what?

Yep, my wedding veil. It took me 4.5 months to complete knitting over 48,000 stitches. The pattern was quite simple; it was a modified doily pattern. The pattern designer and several others that had completed the pattern were immensely helpful. Oh don’t worry, I have pictures.

I have also completed a couple pairs of socks, steering wheel cover, thick head bands, scarves, hats, a wedding garter for a friend, fingerless gloves, and a few purses. This doesn’t even remotely take into account all the projects I started and are still sitting on the needles.

Oh, sure, I have other hobbies. I think. Oh, yeah, wedding planning, graphic design, web design, general arts and crafts, anything crafty really.

The wedding planning isn’t as much of a duh as you’d think. I’ve planned or help plan several of my friends and family member’s weddings for the last 10-12 years. Yeah, it’s always been a love of mine.

Graphic design was spawned from web design. As I mentioned in an earlier 30 Days post, I fell in love with the internet early on. I was so fascinated with it that I figured out how to rip the pages apart. From there, I learned how to use MS Paint (I know! *cringe*) and eventually Photoshop. I like to think I’m now quite proficient at Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator… and even Dreamweaver. I still can code by hand, but it’s often much easier to use DW.

As for the general arts and crafts, well, I’ve always been creative. I went to sleep away camp for like 8 summers and spent almost my whole month in the arts and crafts room. When I returned to the camp as a counselor at 19, I was the lead arts and crafts counselor. I am so fortunate to have found an equally creative and far more talented artist to spend my life with. One of our favorite “date day” destinations is Michaels Craft Store, as likely to be suggested by me as it is by Steve. Our children have no choice but to be creative!

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“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves.”
– 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

I never in my life thought I’d be quoting from the bible, but hey, if it applies, it applies. Even if it is appropriate in this case. I love this quote. Love it!

This is actually a difficult question. I was a late bloomer, but certainly had my fair share of ridiculous crushes that I thought were true love. My most notable silly crush was my first love. Silly me, right? It’s much like the overwhelming love teenagers swear they have when they want to get married in or straight out of high school.

These days, having finally found the man I want to spend the rest of my life with, I define it differently. It is passionate, comfortable, emotional, content, and compassion. I have many other words to describe it, but they are simply words. I know in my very core that I found my match. That he is everything I have been looking for.

The saying “I’ve kissed a lot of frogs” holds very true in my love life. Like I said, I was a late bloomer. I didn’t start really dating until I was 18ish. I honestly think more people should wait until later in life. Steve was also a late bloomer and we fully plan on teaching our children to do the same.

How do you define love? Has it changed over the years?