natural.evolution–

got tagged by my friend to do this so here goes

Two Names you go by:
1. Christen
2. Lady bug

Two Things You Are Wearing Right Now:
1. Denim Trousers
2. Grey Pumps

Two Things You Would Want (or have) in a Relationship:
1. Trust
2. Honest communication

Two of your favorite things to do:
1. Travel
2. Sing

Two things you want very badly at the moment:
1. New Job
2. New house

Two pets you had/have:
1. black lab named Mink
2. goldfish

Two things you did last night:
1. Went out to dinner with friends
2. Sang background on cd

Two things you ate today:
1. roasted balsamic chicken
2. homemade oatmeal walnut cookie

Two people you last talked to:
1. Mom
2. Aunt

Two things you’re doing tomorrow:
1. Going to work
2. Going to the VW dealership

Two longest car rides:
1. DC to Louisiana
2. DC to Florida

Two favorite holidays:
1. Thanksgiving
2. My birthday

Favorite beverages:
1. Water with lime
2. Champagne (pink)

Person no longer alive who you’d like to talk to:
1. My dad
2. My sister

my friend “tagged” me with this on her blog on my.space. It’s the questions from the AmEx ads with celebs that are in all the magazines

Name: Christen M

Occupation: Senior Public Affairs Specialist (9-5), Events and Media Director (part time/billable)

Proudest Accomplishment: Completing graduate school in a year

Perfect Day: A morning where I can sleep in late. I get up and have brunch somewhere wwarm and breezy overlooking some water. I then spend the early part of the day shopping and the latter part of the day getting a massage and other spa treatments. I’d end the day with dinner on the beach and watching the surf

Most Unusual Gift: A “magic” wand

Recent Impulse Buy: Shoes from this online boutique in London and the last 3 bottles of this champagne I have been looking for that I happened upon

Retail Therapy: Nordies, BananaRepublic, Bloomies, and various small boutiques in DC MD and VA

Cannot Shop Without: Money, a cute comfortable shoe, a big shoulder/hobo bag (easy to toss small packages in), a bottle of water, and my blackberry (so I can create wishlists or lists of things I think I can get cheaper online)

I am sooo exhausted. My workload here has seriously gone from like a level 5 to a 15 in a span of two weeks. Before I used to complain about being bored and having nothing to do and now I am just overwhelmed at times. It’s a blessing but it’s also STRESSFUL. I feel like pulling my hair out. eek. I’m going to have to talk to my company about some extra money going into my paycheck because this is wild. But anyway. I’m taking a break… heading downstairs to st*rbucks for some tea and maybe I’ll walk a lap around target (that’s the best thing about this job… a target in the basement). Anyway a friend sent this meme to another blog I never use so I thought I’d do it here…

Apple or PC?
Apple all the way… mac.book and about to get the i.mac

Banking… online or in person, and if in person, drive thru or inside the bank?
Online I rarely go in a bank

Coffee and Chocolate!
neither

Dogs
I had sseveral dogs growiing up. I’m fine without one.

Elvis.Favorite song
Are you lonesome tonight

Flowers
I love Alstroemeria

Grandparents
I love mine. My granny is at my house right now

Handy or call for help?
I am actually pretty handy! I can put anything together (as long as there are instructions)

IOU’s any out there to a person, a friend or family?
I owe my friend $20 but I haven’t seen her in forever to give it to her!

Jello.
It’s cool, better with rum in it

Kiss. Do you remember your first real kiss?
Yes I do…lol

Language.
a little French. Learning Italian

Milkshake
I’m plain I like vanilla

Neighbors. Do you know their names? Occupations? Phone numbers? Or not?
I know 8 out of the 10 well. The other 2 have only moved in the cul de sac in recent years

Olympics. Do you watch?
Occasionally it depends on the sport

Perfume
Flowerbomb Viktor & Rolfe

Quiche.
I love quiche! Especially with spinach and artichoke or broccoli

Refrigerator.three things in your fridge that are unusual.
1. Face mask
2. natural hair product (that can go bad if it’s left out)
3. Amarula Cream from South Africa (I like it cold lol)

Safari.
did a mini one in August in S. Africa

Telephone
tMobile MDA

Umbrella.
the main one I carry is blue black and white and its really tiny and fits in my purse

Vintage.favorite wine to share
I’m not a fan of Chardonnay but I have one from South Africa that I’m in love with

Willies. What gives you the willies
those big ole rats in DC

X-ray.
last one was at the dentist

Yolk. How do you like your eggs?
egg white omelette’s, frittata’s or quiche

Zodiac.
Cancer

I’m not a person that uses that word casually. In fact if I tell you that I love you then I truly mean it. No cutesy I luv u and all that crap lol. If I love you whether it be in a romantic sense, a sisterly/brotherly sense or a familial one. Please know when I say it I truly do mean it. So to all the folks I love… I love you… to all the folks I like, I like you lol and happy let me try to impress someone and go buy them a card and some chocolate and something ugly and heartshaped from kay/friedmands/jarrods/cheap local jewelry store and show that I like them alot day lol

now on to the meme

Top Fourteen for Valentine’s Day….
my top 14 love songs (in no particular order)

1. “Forever Mine” O’Jays
This song I like for special reasons. Of course this was out before my time. And because it’s by the O’Jays it’s got a whole lot of oohs and ahhs and yeah baby’s in it lol. But this was the song my mom and dad danced to at their wedding. My mom could be half sleep or in a grumpy mood and whenever I play it she smiles and starts reminiscing and sharing stories about her and my dad….

Forever mine
All because, you’re my kind,
I got what you want
You got what I want….

Forever mine
Oh we’re, we’re one of a kind
I need what you need
You need what I need
And we were made for each other

Aww. Let’s move on.

2. “We Must Be In Love” Pure Soul
Another sentimental one. This was sang by the group at my sisters wedding and then they did their first dance to this.

‘Cause you, you are
You are just the one
I want to spend the rest of my life with
You are just the one to bring out the very best in me
You make me so happy
Happy forever
And that’s a mighty long time

3. “Crazy Love” Brian McKnight
I really like this song. Especially because it’s not about a truly crazy person. But just kind of how she makes him crazy in a good way lol

I can hear her heart beat for a thousand miles
And the heavens open up every time she smiles
And when I come home to her that’s where I belong
Yet I’m running to her like a river’s song

she gives me love love love love crazy love
she gives me love love love love crazy love

4. “Embrasse-moi” Les Nubians
This is just a beautiful song in general. I’ve always loved the beat and what they are saying. It’s very sensual. Even if they were saying nonsense the fact that it’s in french just makes it sexy lol. This song also reminds me of this guy that I was driving in my car who was slightly intoxicated and began singing this in French lol. I’d post the lyrics but they are in french lol

5. “At Last” Etta James
The first section of this song makes it perfect. Of course the rest of the song really expresses in a simplistic way how love can make you feel and what more could you want?

At last
my love has come along
my lonely days over
and life is like a song

6. “I’m Ready for love” India.Irie
I have no idea why I feel like crying everytime I hear this song. Doesn’t matter if I’m single or in a relationship it’s something about the words and the way she sings it that makes me sort of exhale. And the voice from which this song is sung can be interpreted in soo many ways. Again I really love this song

Lately I’ve been thinking
Maybe you’re not ready for me
Maybe you think I need to learn maturity
They say watch what you ask for
Cause you might receive
But if you ask me tomorrow
I’ll say the same thing

7. “Never Felt This Way” Brian McKnight
this song just describes how you feel when you get that warm fuzzy nervous feeling inside and you are all smiling thinking about that persin in your head lol.

How it takes my breath
Starts a pounding in my chest
Make me weak, when I think about you
Makes me want to give my all
Life wouldn’t mean a thing
Not a happy song to sing
Just emptiness if I had to live without you
When I look into your eyes
Then I realize
That all I need is you in my life
All I need is you in my life

I swear fo gawd (as my granny used to say) if a dude said anything remotely close to this to me I’d be in the kitchen every morning kneading dough making him biscuits lol

8. “Head Over Feet” Alanis Morrissette
Not your typical love song but I love her hesitancy about love but her willingness to accept it and place blame on him

You treat me like I’m a princess I’m not used to liking that You ask how my day was….
You’ve already won me over in spite of me
Don’t be alarmed if I fall head over feet
Don’t be surprised if I love you for all that you are
I couldn’t help it
It’s all your fault

9. “Be Good To You” Vivian Green
Not your conventional love song. But still one I like. It’s a love song for the once scorned…

I’ll never hurt you
And you will never shed a tear for me
I know you’re tired of
Being in and out of love with nothing to show,
And nowhere to go, but
Back to the same one only with a different face
But now you are in a different place
And if my words don’t comfort you
Time will surely prove,
That I’ll do just what I say

I’ll only be good to you
Be like I should to you…

10. “In a Sentimental Mood” Duke Ellington and John Coltrane
This song has no words at all. But to me just oozes love and romance. I can listen to it and drift and place myself in different situations at different times and it just makes me think of love and all that it embodies.

11. “He Loves Me” Jill Scott
This song just makes me smile. She loves everything about him and she loves him soo much he makes her burst into chorus. That my friend is some love lol

You love me especially different every time
You keep me on my feet happily excited
By your cologne, your hands, your smile, your intelligence
You woo me, you court me, you tease me, you please me
You school me, give me some things to think about
Ignite me, you invite me, you co-write me, you love me, you like me
You incite me to chorus

12. “If this world were mine” Luther (no last name needed)
Did yall think I’d do a list without including him on here. I was late to this song. Heard it on a soundtrack, but after that I’ve loved it ever since. What you know about giving someone the flowers the birds AND the bees lol.

I’d give your each day so sunny and blue
And if you wanted the moonlight
I’d give you that too
If this world were mine, oh, baby
I’d give you anything

13. “Kiss of Life” Sade
I remember hearing this song in like 5th/6th grade like wow thats deep. Then my cousins boyfriend used to play it to her on her answering machine. Then when I grew up and heard the lyrics I realized what a beautiful song it really is

When I was led to you
I knew you were the one for me
I swear the whole world could feel my heartbeat
When I lay eyes on you
Ay ay ay
You wrapped me up in
The color of love

14. “You Got Me” The Roots feat. Erykah Badu
This one is a flashback song. This was me and my boo boo in high schools little song. Why this was our song I’m really not sure. Because I definitely wasn’t in any clubs with my homies (okay yes I was but he didn’t see me there). But this was our song *rolleyes*

If you were worried ’bout where
I been or who I saw or
what club I went to with my homies
baby don’t worry you know that you got me

I hope everyone has a wonderful day. Even though I don’t “celebrate” make sure you let someone know you love them tomorrow

found this on a blog I was reading… and sine I’m doing nothing at work…

FAVORITES

Lip gloss: Hmm I like a sheer lip so probably baci xxx from vincent longo

Jewelry: hmm this is hard. I’d say this handcrafted bronze pewter necklace that I got from a boutique in DC. It’s one of a kind and people always ask me where I got it.

Shoes: leopard ballet flats

Handbag: lv speedy 35. folks call it a mini suitcase lol

Car: still love the landrover… right now its the 2007 vw passat that is waiting for me to pick it up

City: I really love London

Restaurant: Hmm my casual spot is probably Match.box and I still love DC Coast

Body Lotion: Warm.Spirit body souffle in sweet.love

Book: Cure.for.the.Common.Life

Color: purple (any shade)

Department Store: Nordstrom

Department in the Department Store: shoes

TV Show: CSI, First.48 anything crims scene related

Reality Show: Project Runway

Song: In A Sentimental Mood

Body part on you: My lips followed by my chest (hey I love them)

Drink: water and tea

Perfume: flower.bomb

Cheese: brie

Ice Cream: pralines and cream

Mascara: Lancome L’extreme

Hair Product: Miss.Jessies.Buttercreme

Nail Polish: OPI Got.the.blues.for.red

RANDOM QUESTIONS

Explain what ended your last relationship?
Different priorities and ideals about our relationship

When was the last time you shaved?
Saturday

What were you doing this morning at 8 a.m.?
sitting at my desk reading email

What were you doing 15 minutes ago?
talking on the phone

Are you any good at math?
relatively good

Your prom night, what do you remember about it?
My date was fine and that everyone was trying to figure out where he came from lol

Do you have any famous ancestors?
nah… none that I care to mention lol

Have you had to take a loan out for school?
yes

Last thing received in the mail?
a letter from my friend in London

How many different beverages have you had today?
two- water and my protein shake

Do you ever leave messages on people’s answering machine?
occasionally if I really want to hear from them

Who did you lose your CONCERT virginity to?
new.kids.on.the.block

Do you draw your name in the sand when you go to the beach?
sometimes

What’s the most painful dental procedure you’ve had?
getting stiches in my head

What is out your back door?
patio, grill and trees

Any plans for Friday night?
sorors bday party

Do you like what the ocean does to your hair?
I’m indifferent about it

Have you ever received one of those big tins of 3 different popcorns?
Yes

Have you ever been to a planetarium?
yes in elementary school and once on a date

Do you re-use towels after you shower?
Yes.

Some things you are excited about?
upcoming trips and my new trainer

What is your favorite flavor of JELL-O?
none

Describe your keychain(s)?
its one of those climber keychains and then a sterling tiffany chain I got asa gift

Where do you keep your change?
coach coin purse

When was the last time you spoke in front of a large group of people?
My old job doing speakers bureau training

What kind of winter coat do you own?
black and white tweed military coat, black wool military coat, red 3/4 peacoat, blue ski jacket.

What was the weather like on your graduation day?
hot high school, hot undergrad and rainy grad school

Do you sleep with the door to your room open or closed?
Open

about me. yes another meme. someone tagged me on my.space and I don’t blog there so I promised I’d post it here. Again thanks for all the kind words. Things are getting better. My internal sunshine is starting to peak again. And I know the best is yet to come. So onward with this meme

1. How tall are you barefoot?
5′6″

2. Have you ever flown first-class?
Yes it’s been a minute though

3. One of your favorite books when you were a child?
Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry

4. A good restaurant in your city?
Have so many favorites. I’ll list three… Cafe Asia which I go to ALL the time (when I say all the time I mean the guy comes to the table and tells me my order lol), DC Coast- most that know me know I love this spot, and then Roy’s in Baltimore- it’s Hawaiian fusion has a great prix fixe menu along with other good stuff (hawaiian martini)

5. What is your favorite small appliance?
My steamer. I cook everything from veggies, to rice to seafood in there

6. One person that never fails to make you laugh?
My mom… she is one of the silliest people I know

7. What’s your favorite Christmas song?
not a song but Handels Messiah

8. What was the first music that you ever bought?
The Boys cassette tape was the first thing I got with MY money

9. Do you do push-ups?
yep last time the trainer had me do 99

10. What was one of your favorite games as a child?
dodgeball

11.What is the one thing that you cook that always receives compliments?
so many things… Morrocan spiced chicken is always a hit as well as my spinach lasagna

12. When you were twelve years old, what did you want to be when you grew up?
a gynocologist (where I got that from I’m not sure)

13. Your favorite Soup of the Day?
My grandma’s vegetable soup. It’s so good and it’s homemade, from the stock to her cutting and peeling each vegetable

14. What in your life are you most grateful for?
So many thing. But right now it would be my faith and my support system. It’s astounding!

15. Have you ever met someone famous?
Yep but fame is all relative… like people I think are famous others may not know

16. Date Of Birth?
06-24-81 (all gifts are accepted)

17. Top 3 thoughts at this exact moment:
I wonder what he’s doing
Can’t wait for the weekend
do I really want sushi again for lunch… it’s so good though

19. Name five drinks you regularly drink:
Water
Green Tea
lemonade
blood orange soda (SO good)
peach iced tea

20. From what news source do you receive the bulk of your news?
The newspaper. I read like five papers a day. Then the net.

21. Current hair?
curly and big

22. Current worry?
my nieces and nephew and how I can support them

23. Current hate?
no hate just have some disdain

24. Favorite place to be?
on the water

25. Least favorite place to be?
Work

26. Do you consider yourself well organized?
an organized mess

27. Do you believe in a afterlife?
I believe in heaven.

28. Where do you think you will be in 10 Yrs?
Someones wife and mommy and in political PR

29. Do you burn or tan?
I tan to a gorgeous rosey golden brown

31. Are you more optimistic or pessimistic about the future?
optimistic. there is nowhere to go but up. and I have some eyes that are watching me so I HAVE to be succesful.

32. Last time you had an alcoholic drink?
Last Saturday at this Mexican Restaurant and it was good

33. What songs do you sing in the shower?
none. I’m focused on cleaning and exfoliating and such

34. What did you fear was going to get you at night as a kid?
alligators. for some reason I just KNEW they lived under my bed

35. What’s in your pockets right now?
a dollar and three pennies

36. Last thing that made you laugh?
my co-worker

37. Best bed sheets you had as a child?
strawberry shortcake (I still own them… don’t use them though lol)

38. Worst injury you’ve ever had?
Head trauma after my car accident

39. Favorite song?
Hmm anything by Fred Hammond. I’m a groupie

40. How many TVs do you own?
three

41. In the last calendar year, how many people have you told that you love them?
So many people. Can’t even count.

42. Last thing that made you blush?
When my friend told me the first time he touched my skin that’s when he fell in love with me

43. Best Compliment received?
That my spirit is beautiful and shines like no other

44. What song is in your head?
Be Exalted by Marvin.Sapp

45. What is your favorite book?
Cure.For.The.Common.Life

46. Last meal you cooked for the opposite sex?
banana nut (macadamia) pancakes with some chicken sausage

47. What songs do you want played at your wedding?
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, Trumpet Voluntary, Canon in D and Sheep May Safely Graze- I love classical at weddings

48. What song do you want played at your funeral?
Don’t Cry for me, going up yonder, and then some rejoiceful songs

49. What were you doing at 12 midnight last night?
On the phone and eating a quesadilla

50. What would you like to accomplish with the remaining years of your life?
I can’t plan everything because tomorrow is not promised. But I hope to attain a succesful marriage, great children, I hope to help raise my niece and nephews to be great adults, I hope to be succesful (according to my standards) career wise, and I hope to continue to be used as a vessel having God’s light reflect through me.

Wanted to do something lighthearted so…. I stole this from aquababies blog

YOUR FIRST YEAR OF COLLEGE……*What do ya’ll remember?

*School:* Pace University, Pleasantville NY

*Where did you live?* I lived in Valley House

*Who was/were your roommate(s)?* Norika first semester and then this girl Sandy that was never there second semester

*Do you still talk to them?* nope lol

*Ever get in trouble in the dorms?* nope we didn’t have any rules so it’s not like there was much trouble to get into

*Something you remember about when you first lived on campus?* the first week when we went to the caf for a cookout and I met all the black people and all the football players (who preyed every year).

*Your campus phone number or other number:* Can’t remember

*First party attended? * I’m sure it was in either wilcox

*First Bar you got wasted at?* I drank in the dorm lol

*Favorite Pizza Place? * Lucio’s Pizzeria

*Favorite place to go out to eat?* hmm in Pville it was On’s (the chinese spot that delivered) in BCliff it was Amalfi’s they had some good pasta

*Did you go to the library? * I sure did I stayed in Mortola

*What was your Favorite Floor you’d always be on? * Dow Hall 2nd floor

*Club, Athletics, Frat or Sororities, you joined?* I was a booster (the black cheerleaders), was in PIPE the gospel choir and everything else I think I joined/pledged my sophomore year and on

*Where did you buy your books? * first semester in the bookstore second in there and online

*Who made the best wings? * The Caf.. those chicken drummies were great

*Ever attend a sporting event?* of course I saw that wack ass team play lol

*Ever attend a concert or comedic performance?* I’m sure i did

*Have you ever spent the night on campus not in your dorm hall?* I was always in Dow so I’m sure I stayed the night over there

*Favorite night to go out on, and where did you go?* Thursdays. Freshman year didnt have a car so I dont even know how we got around lol

*Where did you get coffee?* I didn’t drink coffee.

*Favorite part of Halloween?* The costume parties

*Go see a play or been in one?* Not my freshman year

*Did you ever have a job at school? * I worked at the phon-a-thon all 3.5 years there

*What do you hate about your college?* That it could get REAL boring and the smell of those animals lol

*What did you love most about it?* so many memories, good friends, lotts of fun, and plenty of foolishness

*Ever leave to go on a road trip, where?* I know we went skiing and philly cant think of where else

*Where would you believe is the best location to live in? * I loved Dow Hall because its an old mansion.

*Graduated or still attending?* i finished in 03

*Will you go back?* To visit sure. Great memories there

*How many parking tickets have you gotten there? * One but it wasnt my freshman year.

*Finally, ever gotten arrested?* nope.

I was tagged to do this meme by a friend…. even thought I don’t want to I’m going go ahead for you and only you lol

Basics
Relationship status: technically single
Height: 5′6"
Shoe: big lol
Parents still together: my mom is a widow
Siblings: one of each
Pets: haven’t had a pet in a minute

Favourites
Colour: red, pink and purple
Number: 7
Animal: fish lol… something easy to maintain
Drinks: Water, jasmine tea, fresh lemonade, iced tea
Meal: Used to be crap stuffed salmon… lately it’s been this vegetarian lasagna and eggplant parm
Soda: ginger ale
Book: I can’t choose just one… but right now it’s Cure for the Common Life

Do you?
Colour your hair: Nope, natural black
Have tattoos: Yes
Piercings: Yes
Like cleaning: No but once I get started I’m a monster lol
Know how to drive: Yep, been driving before I was supposed to know how

Have you ever…
Been in a physical fight: I am too cute for that
Kicked someone in the nuts: haha yes I did (sorry guys)
Stolen anything: besides moments. some office supplies but govt workers call that reparations lol
Held a gun: yes (and can shoot it)
Drank: yes
Cried over a guy: yes lawd, for days
Been in love: yes
Lied to someone: yep
Cried over a girl: when I was little I prob cried over something a girl said

Currents
Current clothing: black shirtdress and black stiletto pump, with pearls
Current mood: tired
Current taste: fiji water in my mouth
Current smell: lemon air freshener in my office
Current thing I ought to be doing: writing a press release
Current CDs in stereo: praise and worship cd’s (songs I need to learn for church)
Last book you read: Cure for the Common Life by Max Lucado
Last movie you saw: King Kong at my friends house the other night
Last thing you ate: pineapple I cut up this morning
Last person you talked to on the phone: My momma

Do you…?
Do drugs: No.
Have a dream that keeps coming back: occasionally
Play an instrument: besides my voice… a little piano
Read the newspaper: New York Times, Washington Post and whatever Google News and CNN has