Motivational Monday: Claudie Royals & Community

S is for …

Soul food * Speeches * Shoutouts 

Abilene Reporter-News: Monday, Feb. 16, 2015 (bottom of the cover)

at Claudie C. Royals‘ 70th Birthday Banquet

Abilene Reporter-News: Monday, Feb. 16, 2015 (page 4A)

 Before I covered this annual event during Black History Month again this year, I already felt the hype as I wrote the advance.

Fellow Cooper alum Dominic Rhodes & Matthias Royals, Class of 1997, part of the 1996 Cougars football team who went all the way to state until defeat against Austin Westlake

My good buddy, Big Matt, the youngest son of the late and great Royals, coordinated the function that featured his former football teammate and Super Bowl XLI champion Dominic Rhodes

*Starstruck*: Papa Jun has always been impressed by Dominic, both on and off the field as a community ambassador

(who pointed out how he switched from Lincoln to Clack ~ our junior high ~ upon redistricting to face Matthias as an opponent running back at Jefferson in the 8th grade).

Cougar Pride: We represent Cooper and are of Cougar age now! My mom had to steal a shot ~ which is why the men are looking in her direction ~ while my dad took this!

Along with Rhodes’ speech,

Dominic Rhodes made remarks about Matthias being a community leader who follows in Claudie‘s footsteps

the key note address by the Rev. Felicia Hopkins (who also served as an Army Chaplain, including during Operation Iraqui Freedom and had ministered to wounded warriors at my birth hospital in Landstuhl, Germany) of St. Paul UMC ~ just down the street from Big Matt’s and my alma mater, McM ~ was inspirational,

“Glorify †GOD†!” ~ Rev. Felicia Hopkins, St. Paul UMC senior pastor, as 2015 keynote speaker

as well as seeing community leaders and youth who were recognized.

“We feel like we’re being treated like royalty, as friends turn into family… Let it spread like wildfire.” ~ Michael T. Royals, eldest son

Random: I also ran into my elementary school ♫music♪ teacher, Mrs. Petty!

One of my childhood inspirations: Susan Petty, my ♪music♫ teacher at Austin Elementary

2 for Tuesday: Sweater Weather Tag before I Ring in Spring!

Let’s hear it for the Sweater Tag!

Like my sweater and snake scarf?

My family and I went to Rattlesnake Roundup in Sweetwater (approx. 45mi NW of Abilene) ~ which supposedly is the world’s largest!

Now here goes… [Questions are in italics; my answers are in bold.]

Yours truly’s SWEATER TAG

1. Favorite candle scent? Bath & Body Works Salty Caramel

BBW Salty Caramel

True Blue Jack-o-Lantern w/Salty Caramel Candle

2. Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate? ALL of the Above
3. What’s the best fall memory you have? football ~ most recently Dallas Cowboys 

GO, ‘BOYS! True Blue, through & through!

4. Which makeup trend do you prefer: dark lips or winged eyeliner? neither; cat make-up: my red lips in Ardency Inn Modster Long Play Supercharged Lip Color in Love Cat and cat eyeliner by M•A•C 

Tried to pull off Cat Eye & Cat Lips at Christmas Party

5. Best fragrance for fall? COACH Legacy

COACH Legacy Stripes in bag, fragrance and Gabrielle glasses

6. Favorite Thanksgiving food? my Cranberry Walnut Pie

My THANKful Cranberry Walnut Pie

7. What is autumn weather like where you live? bipolar: sunny & warm 1 day, snowy & frosty the next

Sunny Abilene

Snow Day

8. Most worn sweater? my Kardashian Kollection white Open Knit Sweater because I could layer it over any color and wear off-the-shoulder 

My fave Sweater Weather sweater that I can wear everywhere, including the beach!

9. Must-have nail polish this fall? Nicole by OPI® Kardashian Kollection Disco Dolls for the gold glitter and Follow Me on Glitter for the dark glitter

Kardashian Kolor from Nicole by OPI®

10. Football games or jumping in leaf piles? BOTH

Dallas Cowboys on the field! I’d like to play in the leaves with them!

11. Skinny jeans or leggings? BOTH … or how ’bout jeggings? (e.g., Sofia Vergara Lurex Jeggings in Gold Foil, Indigo & Jet Black ~ like the glitter effect from #9)

These Gold Jeggings pair well w/this Snake Scarf, along w/my Cowboys Boots!

12. Combat boots or Uggs? neither; I’ll go for my Kenneth Cole knee-high zip-up black stiletto boots, Corral Cowboy boots or Sketchers Tone-Ups camel boots w/ faux fur

Jeggings + Sketchers = Match Made on Snow Day

13. Is pumpkin spice worth the hype? he**-to-the-YEAH

Starbucks Pumpkin Spiced Latte

I asked for Salted Caramel & Whip to top off my PSL!

Salted Caramel PSL in the house!

Enjoy like yours truly at a Starbucks near you!

14. Favorite fall TV show? I’d say Grey’s Anatomy for the rainy weather, ’til it went on hiatus before the holidays, but now it’s back to ring in spring! 
15. What song really gets you into the fall spirit? Katy Perry’s Eye of the Tiger brought me school spirit because my alma mater, Cooper H.S., was a finalist in her music vid contest

Katy Perry ~ Hear Me ROAR!

Katy Perry Challenge Finalists

Katy Perry Challenge includes CHS, all right, all right, all right!

Cooper Cougars ROAR to Katy Perry!

5:55 ~ make a wish!!!