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Get to Know 3 Crowdfunding Leaders This Fall: Katie Kiesler, Jack Cheng and Justin Lonas

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Photo Credit: These Days by Jack Cheng

Writers can be extroverts or introverts. What differentiates published writers from the rest? It takes a two-step process: writing the material and selling it. SGL interviewed Katie Kiesler and Jack Cheng to mine their expertise.

Photo Credit: Katie Kiesler My Problem with Grace

Top Tip from Katie

Write for yourself and be authentic. Don’t write for the approval of others.

Top Tip from Jack

Writing doesn’t just happen. A person makes writing happen because he/she sets aside time daily to write.

Katie Kiesler and Jack Cheng walk the talk.

Katie Kiesler, author of 22 and Single and My Problem with Grace spoke to SGL’s Editor-in-Chief this to share best practices. Katie also manages multiple blogs including Katie’s Journal and Coffee & Tattoos.

Photo Credit: SGL Renee Marchol & Katie Kiesler

Jack Cheng, author of These Days, published a love story after running his own startup and consulting for businesses.

Photo Credit: Jack Cheng

Both financed their idea with crowdfunding. Visit again for a more extensive tutorial from Katie an Jack!

This Fall will you take the SGL Entrepreneur Challenge? Our editorial staff believes that writers are readers and readers are leaders.  Associate Editor Erica Tyler recommends the 10 week workbook, the Artist’s Way, for those who need to get unstuck. Comment below to let us know your top tips as writer and crowdfunding specialist.

Not a memoir or love story writer?

No problem. Those who lead also inspire, code and garden.

Here are two examples:

Guy Kawaski, as interviewed by Blaine Brount, writes books on business.

Photo Credit: Guy Kawasaki

Justin Lonas, husband of Amanda Ruhlman Lonas, created Krop Mobile App to help people to sell locally-sourced fruit and veggies from their home garden without the hassle of bringing them to a farmers market.

Photo Credit: Justin Lonas, Amanda Ruhlman Lonas and Family

Does Amanda Ruhlman Lonas sound familiar? Yes! That’s why! Because she was interviewed earlier this year as our Gamer Mom. The Lonas family rocks!

Photo Credit: Facebook Amanda Ruhlman Lonas with Damon Lonas

Check back next Tuesday for recommended autumn veggie recipes from Amanda Lonas and Captain Erin Hammack!

Photo Credit: Facebook Erin Hammack’s Garden Harvest of Veggies

Meet Our Fall Service Project Partner: 4 Fast Facts about Our New Friends from Saving Innocence

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4 Fast Facts


1. Kirsten–superhuman ability to consume extraordinary amounts of energy drink
2. Kim (Founder)– Proud owner of a lovable dog named Dave. He survived eating mound of chocolate and we’re pretty sure he’s invincible.  
3.Kelsi–Will attend almost any music concert that she’s invited to, including but not limited to Taylor Swift and One Direction.
4. Emily–worked as a stunt woman for 4 years before switching her focus to fighting trafficking

Photo Credit: Janet E. Dandridge Photography Saving Innocence Emily Hopkins at 3for3 Fundraiser



Post on SmartyGirlLeadership Facebook Page 3 Statistics you read on Saving Innocence website or Twitterfeed by Monday, September 2nd to win a fall holiday prize pack!


10 Family Holiday Outfits That You Might Actually Like

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If your mom and dad laughed when they read “Trolls, Tropic Thunder and Steve Martin” then it’s likely that you have some family traditions that might need more explaining to outsiders than the usual field guide for friends meeting your parents for the first time.

Why not break the tension with some humor? Hey, if you are a Steve Martin fan then you know how comedy gets you through the toughest that life throws at you.

You can find Top 25 Mistakes to Avoid how-to articles for nervous guests meeting the folks but how many tutorials can you find about making guests feel at ease?

Forget the dorky holiday sweaters or itchy-hot holiday pajamas. Try these 10 Family Holiday Outfits as Thought-starters. Add your own list of 10 fun ideas in the comments below.

How will your guest react? If he/she joins in, you know he/she is a keeper!

1. Addams Family

Photo Credit: The Addams Family via Pinterest

2. Royal Tannenbaums

Photo Credit: The Royal Tannenbaums via Pinterest

3. Blade 3: Trinity

Photo Credit: Whistler’s Daughter from Blade 3: Trinity via Pinterest

4. The Sunshine Family

Photo Credit: The Sunshine & Happy Family Dolls via Pinterest

5. The Adventures of Pete & Pete

Photo Credit: Petunia Tattoo from The Adventures of Pete and Pete via Pinterest

6. The A-Team

Photo Credit: The A Team via Pinterest

7. The Princess Bride

Photo Credit: The Princess Bride via Pinterest

8. Goonies

Photo Credit: Goonies Never Say Die via Pinterest

9. The Avengers

Photo Credit: The Avengers via Pinterest

10. Scooby Doo

Photo Credit: Daphne of Scooby Doo via Pinterest

What holidays? You can let the groups above inspire a family-wide Halloween party, a twist on Thanksgiving, or a quirky Christmas.

Photo Credit: SmartyFellaHumor Turkey Lurkey
Photo Credit: Vegan Thanksgiving via Pinterest

Who says holidays with the family or first visits for friends meeting your family has to be uncomfortable or serious? Also, SmartyGirlHome Readers, you get to define family.

Send us photos to win our holiday prize pack for the SmartyGirlLeadership (SGL) Stronger Families in Fall. Deadline is October 17th, 2013 to receive the prize before New Year’s Eve!

Health and Relationships on Comedy’s Schedule

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Via crossfitredefined.com

Fitness and nutrition can be tough to schedule into our lives.  Whether you’re going to school or working a 9-5, it can be tempting to ignore these pillars in favor of more free time.  We asked stand-up comedian Andrew Norelli and writer/actress Hogan Gorman to share how they fit taking care of themselves into their non-traditional schedules.

Fitness has always been an important part of Hogan’s life, especially since being hit by a car (She recounts her recovery experience in her book, Hot Cripple).  No matter what obligations she has with her work at any given time, she makes sure to schedule workouts and maintain her routine. 
Andrew finds exercising easier when there’s a sport or hobby that can go along with it.  For him, that’s surfing when he’s home in L.A.  It can be more difficult when on the road, but tries to at least do some strenuous activity in his hotel room.  “Exerting yourself is important for general stress reduction and clearing your head.”

“Nutrition, I’m pretty bad at,” tells Andrew.  “It’s tough because you have to be organized.”  Being a night person on the road, it can be difficult to find healthy food.  It’s a lot easier to eat whatever is around, be that 7-11 or fast food.  Unfortunately, that can be a sacrifice.  Some comedians really plan ahead when they get to a new city, immediately going to a grocery store and stocking up for their stay.
Hogan is a vegan, but living in New York, she has plenty of options.  Even so, her health habits echo the importance of organizing what you eat.  She plans ahead, cooking for herself a lot, which gives her full control of what she eats.  Even traveling, restaurants have plenty of vegetarian restaurants, with sides at southern steakhouses ironically turning out to be the best option.

Hogan’s book, now being adapted for the screen
Relationships are another challenge when you’re not on a standard schedule.  Andrew says he’s a night person, and would be on a late schedule even if he wasn’t a comedian.  “That’s hard in general with relationships, or even friendships.  People aren’t available after 11 p.m. to hang out, or even talk on the phone.”  He says he’ll take the tradeoff, though.  While he might not have the same working schedule as most other people, comedians have a lot of flexibility, getting several days in a row to do whatever they want.
Hogan is currently writing, so she knows about flexibility.  For her, the challenge is, “[Finding] somebody who’s patient and understands when you’re working on something, especially [because] artists become a bit obsessed.  I need somebody that understands that.”
And both artists have work to be proud of.  Hogan is currently writing the screenplay based on her one woman show and book, Hot Cripple.  Andrew is touring, and you can see him at the Jacksonville Comedy Club August 29, 30, and 31.