ESSIE TRUJILLO

33, TEACHER, MUSICIAN, SMALL BUSINESS OWNER

Essie Trujillo wears many hats: kindergarten teacher, variety musician, small business owner. Whatever it is she’s working on, she’s putting her best foot forward. “Music is really my passion,” she says. “I love what I do and it also allows me to perform with my dad and brother, which is really special.” Other than taking care of her three-year-old daughter, Essie is a huge “The Office” fan—no need to stifle a ‘that’s what she said’ in front of her! Essie’s not much of a drinker, but on occasion she’ll order a sweet and tangy lemon drop. “A couple lemon drops and I’m done,” she says laughing. The question remains: what drink contributes to a nondrinker’s dry habits? For Essie, it’s a shot of fireball, which she describes disgustedly as “the cinnamon flavored one.” Like most of us, though, she’s a big fan of anything chocolate—including the childhood staple of instant hot cocoa mix.

WHAT COPPER COCKTAIL WOULD YOU ORDER? A Sprite. THINGS I LOOK FOR IN A PARTNER Honesty & devotion. FIRST LEGAL DRINK Wait… I don’t remember. PREGAME SONG BEFORE A DATE “Master of Puppets” by Metallica. YOUR IDEA OF A FLAWLESS DATE NIGHT? Dinner, dessert, hand holding, and a connection that leaves me smiling. WHAT WOULD YOUR MOST RECENT EX SAY IS YOUR BEST QUALITY? I’m down to earth and happy. BRAVEST THING YOU’VE EVER DONE: Become an independent, single mom. LOVE LANGUAGE Meaningful conversation. Flowers are nice, too. A HANGOVER MEANS: Let’s go have breakfast! IF YOU WERE A NEW MEXICAN DISH, WHAT WOULD YOU BE AND WHY? Red Chile Cheese Enchiladas… because I’m the whole enchilada! ;)