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Las Posadas Raffle

A $25 donation to our Uvalde Relief Fund gets you a chance to win a CUSTOM pair of Lucchese boots!

Thank you to the incredible musician William Beckmann who is making this possible through his Las Posadas Hope for Uvalde tour. Check out williambeckmann.com for tour dates or click here to donate and enter the raffle! Winner will be announced on December 28. Multiple entries are allowed!

Matthew and Camila McConaughey Sending Warm Wishes

Happy Holidays! As the end of the year approaches, we want to thank you for your support of our mission to empower high school students to lead active lives and make healthy choices for a better future. Thanks to generous partners like you, our after school program now operates at 44 sites in 15 cities and this past year alone, we have served more than 3000 high school students.

As we all know, the past few years have brought with them much isolation and anxiety, especially for young people. We are proud of the ways in which the JKL team has equipped our students with coping techniques to help overcome these challenges. One of our members, Geraldine, noted, “Whether it’s through learning about mindfulness and meditation in our “Mental Health Monday” sessions, coming together for a beach cleanup, kayak excursion, or just listening to each other share during one of our Gratitude Circles, JKL has remained a constant source of support in our otherwise tumultuous lives”.

The devastating mass shooting at Robb Elementary in Matthew’s hometown of Uvalde, Texas, pained us deeply and spurred us to action. We immediately set up a Uvalde Relief Fund to help with grief counseling and other immediate and long-term needs of the community. We opened a JKL program at Uvalde High School in order to provide students with a safe haven and a healthy way to come together. With our partners at Converse, we set up a college scholarship for Uvalde students to Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi, the dream school of Maite Rodriguez, one of the victims of the shooting.

Thank you again for making a difference in so many lives of so many students. Along with our Foundation team – Shannon, Erica, Jenny, Leon, Jasmine and Andrew – we wish you and your loved ones a healthy and peaceful new year, and again, THANK YOU for your continued support.

just keep livin,

Camila and Matthew McConaughey

First Ever jkl Alumni Camping Trip

Some of our jkl alumni enjoyed a weekend camping trip at Lake Perris Campground in Moreno Valley, CA.

Students learned how to pop their own tent, build a fire and the weekend was full of reconnecting, forging new friendships, hiking, gratitude and lots of laughter.

Camila’s Tips: Roasted Potatoes with Arugula

We have never met a potato side dish that we didn’t love!

Looking for an easy roasted potato recipe with a splash of color and a burst of flavor? Well then look no further because you are going to have to give these Roasted Potatoes with Arugula a try!

This recipe checks all the boxes; easy to make, incredibly delicious, and beautifully presented on a holiday table.

Ingredients

• 6-8 golden yellow potatoes, scrubbed and sliced into ¼” wedges
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 3-4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1.5 cups baby arugula

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Add potatoes to a parchment paper-lined rimmed baking sheet, season with salt and pepper.
3. Toss with 2 tbsp of olive oil. Spread potatoes evenly on the pan.
4. Roast about 35 min. Remove pan from oven.
5. Add arugula to potatoes on pan; mix to combine.
6. Return pan to oven for 2 min to slightly wilt the arugula.
7. Transfer to a serving platter.

– Enjoy! Beijos Camila

Full recipe by Women of Today »

Swag of The Month

Just in time for your holiday gift giving…

our new magnetic flip flop bottle openers or natural leather coasters.

Flip Flop Bottle Opener!

Natural Leather Coaster!

jkl is Roaming Wild

Our new partnership with Roam Wild Adventures kicked off this month with our jkl program at Eastern Hills High School.

On Saturday, October 22nd, the group headed out for an all-day adventure that included an introduction to climbing- understanding the elements of rock climbing (fundamentals of climbing, safety, belaying, & knot-tying), followed by practice on routes. In the afternoon, team-building activities mixed with reflection activities throughout the day in a challenge-by-choice environment was definitely a highlight.

The day trip ended with our Gratitude Circle and a family style dinner around a campfire. The jkl students did an amazing job and both staff and students learned so much about their journeys and life experiences throughout the day! It was a powerful experience for all!

VOTE VOTE VOTE!

Jkl is creating young voters!

We are encouraging all our eligible students to practice their right to vote. We have set up an event with Legacy Youth Leadership in January to do an entire two-hour session on voting and the important to pledge to vote. We are inviting all schools in Los Angeles to participate!

Camila’s Tips: Bacon Woven Turkey for Thanksgiving

If you have never made a turkey this way, we highly recommend it! The woven bacon makes a very impressive presentation on any Thanksgiving table.

If you haven’t made a turkey before and are still feeling nervous, just know that this was also the first turkey that Camila ever made and it turned out great!

Ingredients

• 1 Turkey
• 1 lb of regular sliced bacon
• Parchment paper

FOR ROASTING AT BOTTOM OF ROASTING PAN WITH TURKEY:
• 6 Carrots peeled and cut in half
• 2 Small Onions cut in quarters
• 1 bulb of garlic peeled cloves only

Directions

1. Watch video for demo on how to make the basket weave for the turkey, here.
2. Place the chilled bacon on top of turkey and the carrots, onions and cloves garlic in the bottom of the baking pan.
3. Bake turkey 350 degrees (20 minutes per pound)
4. Skim the fat off the drippings and blend the carrots, onions and garlic to make gravy.

– Enjoy! Beijos Camila

Full recipe by Women of Today »

Swag of The Month

Don’t Sweat It – Crewneck

This is just 1 of 2 new sweatshirts you can purchase on the just keep livin store. Both are marshmallowy soft and the perfect addition to your fall and winter wardrobe.

Get Yours Today!

UT Football and JKL

On Saturday, September 3rd and Saturday, September 17th, our jkl programs from East Austin College Prep and Akins High School in Austin got to enjoy the UT game live at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium thanks to our amazing founders, Matthew and Camila McConaughey who gave their suite so the jkl students and staff could enjoy the games!

It was a first-time experience for some of our students and one to remember! Hook ‘EM!

Soccer at the Rose Bowl and JKL

On Saturday, September 24th, our jkl students from Huntington Park High School in Los Angeles were gifted twenty tickets to the Mexico vs. Colombia soccer game at the Rose Bowl from the wonderful folks at Expedia!

The kids had a blast cheering on their favorite teams and creating new memories with their peers.

Camila’s Tips: Chinese Chicken and Sweet Corn Soup

Fall is here and it’s time for cozy soups!

If you’re craving a tasty and hearty soup that comes together in about 30 minutes? Look no further…

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp peeled, chopped fresh ginger
• 1 bone-in chicken breast or fillet
• 1-inch fresh ginger, peeled and finely diced
• 1-quart chicken broth
• 1 can creamed corn
• 1 splash sesame oil
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 2 eggs
• 2 green onions chopped *optional

Directions

1. In a small bowl, com1. In a small pot place chicken breast and cover with water.
2. Add fresh ginger to the water.
3. Cover the pot, bring to a boil, then reduce and simmer for 30 minutes.
4. Once chicken is fully cooked, save the stock in the pot and the ginger.
5. Transfer this to a larger soup pot.
6. Shred the chicken and discard the bone in using bone-in chicken breast.
7. Over medium heat and in the large soup pot, combine the reserved chicken and ginger stock and 1 quart of chicken broth.
8. Add the can of creamed corn and splash of sesame oil.
9. Bring to a boil.
10. Add shredded chicken and bring back to boil.
11. In a small heat proof bowl and the cornstarch with small amount of chicken water to form thin paste.
12. Drizzle into the soup, mixing thoroughly. This will slightly thicken the soup.
13. In a large bowl, beat 2 eggs with a dash of chicken water, then drizzle it into the pot very slowly from about 6 inches above the pot. Slowly stirring.
14. Garnish with chopped spring onions to serve.

– Enjoy! Beijos Camila

Full recipe by Women of Today »

Swag of The Month

Shacket!

You will be the coolest person at the pumpkin’ patch when you sport this plaid flannel-lined shacket. It’s the perfect fall addition to your wardrobe.

Get Yours Today!

Matthew McConaughey Surprised With $50,000 Donation to JKL

We want to give a huge thank you to Andy Slavitt and Lemonada Media listeners for making a generous $50,000 donation to support our work empowering students at inner-city high schools.

As Matthew said on the “In the Bubble” podcast on which the donation was revealed, this donation will help fund teachers’ stipends, buses for community service and field trips, equipment and more. To listen to the rest of this inspiring interview that touches on fatherhood, values, new directions and catching those Greenlights, check out the podcast here.

JKL Students Run for a Cause

Even during their summer break, JKL students are still motivated to push themselves and try new things, all for a great cause!

On Saturday, August 13th, students from our Huntington Park and Animo South Los Angeles High School JKL programs had a blast participating in the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Sunset Run!

The annual event supports the LADF’s mission to improve education, health care, homelessness and social justice for all Angelenos. Our students eagerly tackled their goals – some running the 5K and some trying their hand at a 10K – while enjoying breathtaking views of downtown LA at sunset and supporting our longtime partners at LADF.

This awesome community event was a big hit with both students and staff and a great way to close out the summer!

Camila’s Tips: Ginger Garlic Shrimp

This is a quick and easy meal that is perfect for any day of the week! It comes together in about 20 minutes and is very budget-friendly too, tallying in at around $20!

Additional sides you could include are baby spinach or steamed snow peas.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp peeled, chopped fresh ginger
• 1 tbsp water
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp ground turmeric
• 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1/4 tsp fresh ground black pepper
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
• 14 oz can of low sodium chicken broth
• 3/4 cup light coconut milk
• 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 lb frozen shelled medium shrimp – deveined and tails off
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp fresh ground black pepper
For serving:
• 2 cup cooked Basmati or brown rice
Garnish:
• 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
• additional red pepper flakes

Directions

1. In a small bowl, combine first 6 ingredients. Add ¼ tsp black pepper, stir until well blended. Set the seasoning mixture aside.
2. Heat oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add onion, cook 3 minutes stirring occasionally.
3. Add the seasoning mixture that was set aside, cook 1 minute stirring frequently.
4. Add broth, bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes.
5. Add coconut milk and lemon juice, simmer 2 minutes.
6. Sprinkle shrimp with 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and salt.
7. Add shrimp to the pan cooking 4-5 minutes stirring a few times, until no longer translucent, do not overcook.

– Enjoy! Beijos Camila

Full recipe by Women of Today »

Swag of The Month

Shacket!

You will be the coolest person at the pumpkin’ patch when you sport this plaid flannel-lined shacket. It’s the perfect fall addition to your wardrobe.

Get Yours Today!

Teacher Training 2022

We were thrilled to be back in person in Los Angeles to host our annual Teacher Training!

Our jkl instructors from our forty-two programs gathered at the Marina Del Rey Hotel for meaningful conversations, shared best practices, discussed areas of need, and made renewed commitments of action! Our mindset has a powerful impact on how successful our programs can be and our amazing instructors are ready and excited to make the greatest impact on the lives of the students we serve.

Dodgers Summer College & Career Accelerator

The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation held a Summer College and Career Accelerator event with the USC College Advising Corps.

Our Hunting Park just keep livin program brought some students out for a fun day in the sun at Dodger stadium. The students heard from first-generation college students and learned about their diverse college experiences.

The USC College Advising Corps team did a great job of answering questions, motivating students to get ready to apply for college, and provided fun breakout groups. The event ended with the students getting a chance to watch the afternoon Dodgers game against the Washington Nationals. Thank you, Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, for an awesome summer day event!

Camila’s Tips: Honey Ginger Glazed Chicken and Carrots

This is one of those recipes that is great as an easy weekday meal, or can impress guests at a dinner party.

The flavor combinations in this Honey Ginger Glazed Chicken and Carrots bring together savory and sweet! A great tip for this recipe, if you have a cast iron skillet or the equivalent, you could easily make this a one pot / pan meal (who doesn’t love less clean up?!)

Ingredients

• 6-8 chicken thighs with bone in and skin on
• 2 tsp sea salt
• 2 tsp cumin
• 2 tsp chili powder
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tbsp cider vinegar
• 3 tbsp fresh minced ginger
• 6-8 whole carrots, peeled and cut into sticks (we used multicolor)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
2. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.
3. In a small bowl, combine the salt, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder and cayenne pepper (optional). Stir to combine well and season the chicken with the rub on both sides.
4. Place chicken in an ovenproof baking dish or in an ovenproof skillet (making this a one pot). Roast chicken in oven for 40 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F.
5. Boil carrot sticks in salted water for about 10 minutes or until fork tender. Drain and set aside.
6. In a small bowl, combine the honey, cider vinegar, and fresh minced ginger.
7. After the 40 minutes, remove the chicken from the oven and brush with half of the honey ginger mixture and return to oven.
8. Turn the temperature up to 475 degrees F and roast until the skin begins to crisp, about 5 minutes. Watch the chicken as it could brown quicker or take a little longer depending on your oven.
9. Remove the chicken from the pan, place in serving dish and cover. If using an ovenproof skillet, place the skillet on top of your cooktop. Otherwise, transfer all the pan juices from the roasting pan to a skillet to finish off the carrots.
10. Add the cooked carrots to the pan and add the remaining honey ginger glaze. Stir to combine over medium heat until carrots are glazed.
11. Serve the chicken with the glazed carrots and brush any juices from the chicken on top.

– Enjoy! Beijos Camila

Full recipe by Women of Today »

Swag of The Month

Pack It Up!

Whether heading to school, the trails or flyin’ the friendly skies, this backpack will hold everything you need. Comes in black or blue and embroidered with the just keep livin logo.

Get Yours Today!

Black History Month

This year, for Black History Month, we hosted two guest speakers who are trailblazers in the field of poetry and academics!

Our first guest speaker was David “Judah 1” Oliver, who is the first poet laureate of the city of Pomona in Los Angeles. Judah took us on a journey of passionate poetry reading to break down the makings of his poetry career and community contribution.

Next we had Dr. D.D. Clayborne, who opened our eyes to a few notable black historical sports figures that came before Jackie Robinson. Our students learned about the life of Fritz Pollard, the first African American coach and player in the NFL, Major Taylor, a record-setting professional cyclist, and the first African American heavyweight boxer, Jack Johnson. It is always great to bring new resources and information to our just keep livin students!

Austin Marathon 2022

We wanted to give a shout out to all of our Austin JKL programs for participating in the Austin Marathon on Sunday, February 20th!

Whether you helped pass out water at the Aid Station or completed the 5k or half marathon, we are so proud of our staff and students for representing!

Thank you also to Kyle Buckley and Cynthia Bernard who fundraised for us and ran (Kyle, the full Marathon, and Cynthia, the 5K) in honor of JKL!

Thank You Gilly Hicks

We’re so grateful to Gilly Hicks, an Abercrombie & Fitch brand, for generously donating over 200 sports bras for us to distribute to our just keep livin afterschool programs!

It’s so important for our students to have proper attire when working out and these sports bras are such high quality! These smiling faces tell you everything you need to know about how much we appreciate them!

Camila’s Tips: Easy Grilled Potatoes

It’s super simple to make, and you probably have all the ingredients in your refrigerator!

You can boil the potatoes in advance, so they are ready to go when you’re ready to grill — Making them a wonderful addition to your weeknight meals. This side dish is also very budget-friendly!

Ingredients

• 6 small Russet or baking potatos, scrubbed well
• 1/2 cup sea salt
• 3 tbsp butter, melted
• 3 green onions, finely sliced sour cream for serving (optional

Directions

1. In a 6-quart pot over medium heat, add the olive oil, chopped jalapeno peppers, diced red onion, cumin, chili In a large pot that will comfortably fit the potatoes, add enough water to cover the potatoes and add ½ cup of sea salt.
2. Boil the potatoes until just fork tender.
3. Remove potatoes from water and set aside. (They can be cooled and refrigerated for later grilling at this point). Some of the salt will dry onto the skin of the potato and you might notice it has a white cast. This will add extra flavor to the skin.
4. Let potatoes cool enough to handle and then slice in half, lengthwise.
5. Just before grilling, brush the flesh side of the potato with melted butter and place on the grill flesh side down. Depending on the heat of your grill, grill long enough to get grill marks and then flip over to grill the skin side. Approximately 2-3 minutes on each side.
6. Remove from grill, plate, and sprinkle the sliced green onions over all the potatoes.

Serve with sour cream on the side if desired.

– Enjoy! Beijos Camila

Full recipe by Women of Today »

Swag of The Month

Spring Break Necessities!

Keep your beverages cool and your life cooler with this 4 pack of 100% neoprene can coolers. Light blue with red imprint and red stitching on the sides.

Get Yours Today!  

Thank You Acteev by Ascend Materials for Our New Favorite Masks

We were thrilled when Acteev by Ascend Materials reached out wanting to provide our students with effective, comfortable, anti-microbial masks to help them stay safe while staying fit!

Acteev, a Houston-based materials technology company, is donating over 1,000 quality, workout-friendly masks to our programs all across the country to help us stay active despite the ongoing mask mandates.

They recently visited our JKL program at Cesar Chavez High School in Houston to personally hand out masks to our students there, which also gave us the chance to properly thank them for their generosity. Acteev wants to help students like ours reach their health and fitness goals this year and having access to masks like these is crucial in keeping programs like ours going.

The Ving Project

The Ving Project in conjunction with the just keep livin foundation gives high school teens the opportunity to be a blessing to a community member in need.

Hanna Collins, a 10th grade student at Pinkston High School was selected and she surprised her nominee, Mrs. Esparaza Garcia with a check for $1000.00. Through VING, teens have an opportunity to give an individual in need an encouraging boost by surprising them with $1,000.

Backpacks, Hoodies and Sneakers Event in Dallas

We are so grateful to Dak Prescott’s Faith Fight Finish Foundation for including our JKL Dallas students in the “Backpack, Hoodies and Sneakers” event!

Faith Fight Finish Foundation and NEX Metropolitan, alongside Blackout Training Group hosted an event bringing youth, community leaders and law enforcement together. Discussions were had to empower and educate young men about the influences of backpacks, hoodies and sneakers in our community from a mentoring and law enforcement perspective. Huge thanks to the Jordan Brand for generously donating some awesome shoes, backpacks and hoodies to all youth at the event!

On a Quest

Thank you so much to our friends at Quest Nutrition for donating over 400 of their delicious snack bars to our JKL students at Sunset HS in Dallas!

Quest’s mission is to make the foods you crave work for you, not against you – we love that! They have been a generous supporter of ours for several years now, and these bars help give our students energy to get through their workouts. We’re so grateful!

Camila’s Tips: Easy Turkey Chili

Looking for a super easy, healthy, and tasty side dish for your dinner table?

We tried this in the WOT Test Kitchen a couple of months ago and have been making this dish on our regular rotation ever since. Give it a try and we promise this one will become a regular in your kitchen too.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 jalapeno peppers, chopped
• 1 small red onion, diced
• 1 tsp cumin
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1 pound ground turkey (93% lean, 7% fat)
• 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 28oz can of diced tomatoes with juice
• 1/2 tsp sea salt

GARNISH OPTIONS:
• avocado slices
• jalapeno slices
• cilantro, chopped
• shredded cheese
• sour cream
• green onion
• lime wedges

Directions

1. In a 6-quart pot over medium heat, add the olive oil, chopped jalapeno peppers, diced red onion, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika and cayenne (optional). Simmer for approximately 10 minutes until the onions and peppers soften.
2. Add the ground turkey and cook through and broken apart into small pieces.
3. Add the drained black beans, diced tomatoes, and salt. Stir and reduce heat to simmer. Simmer for 15 minutes. Taste and ass more salt or pepper if needed.
4. Ladle into bowls and top with any of your favorite garnishes and serve.

– Enjoy! Beijos Camila

Full recipe by Women of Today »

Swag of The Month

NEW Alright Beanie

You will look more than “ALRIGHT” in this 100% acrylic made in the USA knit beanie. On the front you have the iconic phrase embroidered on the cuff in red, white and blue along with knit-in white stars and red stipes. The back is plain navy.

Get Yours Today!  

JKL students are LOVING Sing 2! Los Angeles members scored an invite to the film’s premiere, where they got to watch it under the stars outside at the famed Greek Theater.

The kids enjoyed a plethora of fun treats like corn dogs and churros, as well as glimpses of stars, including our Founder Matthew McConaughey, reprising his role as the eternally optimistic koala, Buster Moon. 50 JKL students and staff in Nashville were also treated to a special screening thanks to another one of the film’s stars, Reese Witherspoon and her husband, JKL Board Member Jim Toth. They got to safely gather in their very own theater and view the film before it was released. Thank you Reese and Jim! Check out Sing 2 in a theater near you!

TikTok Hosts Career Panel with JKL Students

We are beyond grateful to the amazing team at TikTok for hosting a career panel for our just keep livin student and teachers.

This opportunity allowed for our students to interact with professionals in different areas from TikTok to learn about what it takes to prepare for the fundamentals of working at their organization as well as what it takes to be successful in the world of work in general. Some of the skills touched upon were “Good Partnership Tips,” resume building and an overview of the beyond the scenes at their organization! Our students thoroughly enjoyed this interactive and informative session!

Carver JKL Program Partners with the Houston Texans

Even on the weekends, the JKL program at Carver High School is working!

On Sunday, December 5th, the program volunteered to pass out game day gate giveaways to all the Texan fans attending the Houston Texans/Indianapolis Colts game. The students were thrilled to be at NRG Stadium and be a part of all the excitement!

Carter Students Speak Up

Students at Carter High School in Dallas had the opportunity to attend a Town Hall Meeting hosted by Dak Prescott’s Faith Fight Finish Foundation.

The town hall consisted of local law enforcement, high school students and parents, mental health professionals and community leaders. Participants engaged in a great dialogue and shared ideas to help bring unity between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

Camila’s Tips: Easiest Roasted Zucchini Ever

Looking for a super easy, healthy, and tasty side dish for your dinner table?

We tried this in the WOT Test Kitchen a couple of months ago and have been making this dish on our regular rotation ever since. Give it a try and we promise this one will become a regular in your kitchen too.

Ingredients
• 2 lbs frozen brussels sprouts
• 4 zucchini
• 1 tsp Italian or Herbs de Provence seasonings
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• 1/4 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Trim ends of zucchini and slice in half. Slice each half in half and the remaining strips in half one more time. One zucchini will give you 8 strips or a total of 32 strips using all the zucchini for this recipe.
3. Place all the zucchini strips in a roasting pan. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian or Herbs de Provence seasonings.
4. Drizzle the extra virgin olive oil over the zucchini strips and with clean hands, gently toss and rotate the zucchini to get an even distribution of seasonings.
5. Place roasting pan in oven and cook for 20 minutes.
6. Remove pan from oven and using a spatula gently, move the zucchini strips in the pan to expose zucchini that hasn’t browned. Return roasting pan to the oven and cook for another 20 minutes until nicely browned.
7. Using two spatulas or large spoons, remove the zucchini strips from the pan and plate on a serving dish.
8. Sprinkle the finely shredded Parmesan cheese on top, the heat from the zucchini will melt the cheese.
9. Serve immediately.

– Enjoy! Beijos Camila

Full recipe by Women of Today »

Swag of The Month

The Shackett

Is it a shirt?  Is it a jacket?  However you decide to wear it, it’s a great layering piece to add to your JKL gear.  Navy canvas  with tan and gray plaid flannel lining embroidered with just keep livin and Pops. 

Get Yours Today!