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SGL Humor Summer Reading: What’s on your Beach Read List?

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Zooey Deschanel, co-founder of HelloGiggles wrote a birthday tribute to her friend Molls. Zooey said that if someone made a book out of everything Molls said that she would never need to seek other entertainment. Do you have a naturally funny SmartyGirl or SmartyFella in your life like that?

Photo Credit: Hello Giggles Logo co-founder Zooey Deschanel

And I don’t mean lazy-brain humor that The Onion spoofed in “Woman Thinks All Her Friends Should Be Comedians” but genuine, active wit.

My 7 Favorite Reads This Season are:

Hot Cripple by Hogan Gorman

Photo Credit: Hogan Gorman Hot Cripple

In the Water They Can’t See You Cry by Amanda Beard
America You Sexy Bitch by Michael Ian Black

Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang by Chelsea Handler

Photo Credit: Chelea Handler’s Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang via Pinterest Millennial Reads

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

Animals Make Us Human by Temple Grandin
Who Could That Be at This Hour? by Lemony Snicket and Seth

You might be surprised to see the Amanda Beard and Temple Grandin books on this list but these women make their points in very compelling ways because of their funny delivery!

Photo Credit: Olympian Swimmer Amanda Beard via Pinterest

Yes, my list of 7 is a combination of memoirs, juvenile fiction and scholarly writing. You can send me your mash-up too. Now that I’ve shared my list, what’s yours? Comment below.

I’m still waiting for my friends X, Y, and Z to reach their funding goal on Kickstarter. Yes, I’m looking at you because your book is awesome-face!

In addition, I’d like to see the following 3 titles on Amazon as ebooks or physical coffee table books. Instead of imaginary, I hope they are in the making as humor books.

7 Best Safety Can Openers by Anthony Bourdain
Standing by My Guy (Fieri) by Alton Brown
Last 11 Days as a Luddite by MythBusters Grant Imahara
Baby’s First Bento Box by Bear Grylls

Photo credit: My Small Potatoes Baby Bento via Pinterest

Take a cue from Comedian George Carlin, “Have fun. Be difficult” this Thursday!

Best wishes,

SGL Editor-in-Chief Renee

SmartyFella Humor: 3 Things Men Wish Women Knew about Dating a Soccer Player

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Sarah Silverman describes a Perfect Night in a music video she and Will.i.am created for YouTube Comedy Week. Watching Netflix with your dog is a perfectly understandable way to spend an evening but not every evening so here’s some dating advice from SmartyFella Ryan Kozonis. 

Photo Credit: Soccer Celebrity David Beckham and Wife Posh Spice via Pinterest


3 Tips for Women Dating or Wanting to Date a SmartyFella Soccer Player:

Rvp
Photo Credit: Mashable.com Twitter Dutch Soccer Star Robin Van Persie

1)      Know the difference between Club versus National teams

a.      Club teams anyone can play on no matter their country of origin (think NFL or NBA)

b.      National teams can only have players who are citizens of the country they are playing for (think Olympics)

Photo Credit: Free Football TV Lionell Messi Smarty Fella Ryan Kozonis calls him a class act


2)      Know your team


a.      Know the players strengths and weaknesses on both your team and your opponents if you are playing the sport

b.      If you are dating someone who likes your rival team,  that is not a problem as competition between couples can be a fun addition to the relationship (as long as it’s healthy and respectful)

3)      Don’t only talk about sports together

Photo Credit: Gamer SmartyGirl Amanda “Mandi” Ruhlman Lonas and Son
Photo Credit: Infographic Gamer Women via Pinterest

a.      It’s possible for to a SmartyFella to bond with a SmartyGirl over their shared love of football (though they like rival teams); the issue with this is that if they only did football related activities and didn’t seek out other things in common-eventually the relationship will end. 

Grid2bacmono
Photo Credit: Mashable.com The Bac Mono Grid 2 The World’s Most Expensive Video Game

Afterall, don’t SmartyFellas pay attention to the hobbies of SmartyGirls. You bet. Visit again in June for SmartyGirEntertainment’s interview “5 Ways That Being a Gamer Prepared Me to Be a Better Mom” with young Gamer Mom Amanda “MandiRuhlman Lonas and how she and her husband bond with their new baby. 
Photo Credit: Gamer Mom Amanda “Mandi” Ruhlman Lonas’s Hubby, Baby and Pet


Make sure that though you initially bond over one mutual activity, don’t let that be the only thing you bond over.  Talk about other things as well.

How strong is a man’s love for Futbol? Crazy Chicks (Chicas Locas) offers this scenario. Hear it in Spanish. Read the subtitles in English. Watch it to laugh your ass off.

Who is Ryan? He was the SmartyFella behind Valentine’s Day humor article Convince Me You’re Desperate. Visit again SmartyGirlEntertainment again on Friday for Associate Editor Erica Tyler’s interview with Ryan, our resident soccer expert and all ’round SmartyFella.


An Easy Community Service Project in 3 Steps to Observe Memorial Day Weekend: SGL at Pleasanton Annual Memorial Day Observance 2013

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Will you be attending a ceremony to honor our fallen servicemen/servicewomen today? What is a leadership community service project that you can do with only 3 hours of leadtime? 

Imagine family and friends of the fallen who attend services today. How might you show your appreciation in a small but kind way? Provide complimentary coffee, donuts and fruit as refreshment.

Photo Credit: Pink Donuts by Krasey Noms

You can do this in 3 easy steps if you already have volunteers, a table, decorations, food safe equipment and a pop-up tent.

Photo Credit: Psycho Donuts of Campbell, CA on Fanime Weekend 2013

1. Order 2-3 dozen of your favorite donuts from a local shop. If it’s too late to get a fundraiser discount from Krispy Kreme, tell the donut store owner your mission of the day and let him/her decide if the donuts will be purchased at a bargain.

Photo Credit: SGL with closed eyes. Surprise assortment by Psycho Donuts Nurse.
Photo Credit: Psycho Donuts Nurse & SGL Renee in Campbell, CA

While you are placing your bulk order on the phone, make certain to arrange for the pick up time (for freshness), confirm the name of the clerk responsible, and verify the amount of cash required.

Photo Credit: Psycho Donuts of Campbell, CA Standard Donuts Memorial Day 2013

2. Select the location of your refreshment stand and send out your volunteers 45 minutes before you arrive with the donuts to set up the table, food safe supplies (hand sanitizer, tongs, napkins), and shade for your customers.

Photo Credit: SGL admires these SmartyGirls and this SmartyFella. (Left) Chaplin Captain Kerstin Hedlund. 
Photo Credit: SGL SmartyGirl National Anthem Singer CatherineNguyen, her daddy and lil’ sis at 2013 Pleasanton  Annual Memorial Day Observance
Photo Credit: SGL Pleasanton Annual Memorial Day Observance 2013 Colonel Watts

Photo Credit: SGL SmartyFellas Led by Jeff Biehl Boy Scouts of America Troop 998 in Pleasanton

These SmartyFella youth planted 100s of American Flags for the Memorial Day Event 2013. Oliver Heiman, who was also at the San Mateo Maker Faire Bay Area 2013, led the pledge of allegiance today. 

As a thought-starter, look online for local event for today. For instance, you can go to The Seattle Times or your local events calendar to find an appropriate place to set up your gift to attendees.

Photo Credit: SGL Psycho Donut neighbor Heroes Comic Store. Excited to meet real American Heroes today on Memorial Day. 
Photo Credit: SGL SmartyFellas in Pleasanton who planted the American Flags for the Annual Memorial Day Observance. SGL asked the youth leaders for maximum silliness after the ceremony. 

Photo Credit: SGL USAF ROTC UCB at Pleasanton Annual Memorial Day Observance 2013

In another example Patch announced the Pleasanton Annual Memorial Day Observance that welcomed SGL’s show of appreciation with Psycho Donuts as refreshments.

Photo Credit: SGL USAF ROTC UCB 21 Gun Salute to Fallen

3. Use a transparent plastic table top stand to display your signage so that people will understand that you are not selling items but rather doing a community service project.

Photo Credit: SGL SmartyFella Pleasanton CA Annual Memorial Day Observance 2013 Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6298 and American Legion Post 237

Train your staff to listen to families of soldiers who want to share their story of Memorial Day.

Photo Credit: Amy Margaret’s Memorial Day Book

Thank you for your sacrifice.

Best wishes,

SGL Editorial Staff

*SGL Editor-in-Chief Renee Marchol has been a contributor to Shoeboxes for Soldiers for 3+ years and has fond memories as a former Brownie Girl Scout. She would like to show appreciation for our servicemen and servicewomen with this small gesture. Disclaimer: This service project is not an expression of SGL religious or political views.

5 Fun Things to Do on Memorial Day Weekend: Part 2 of 3

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1. Prank your friend with a surprise funeral. WTF? This is inspired by Impractical Jokers and the recent SNL hosted by Ben Affleck. Memento mori seems so-wrong yet so-hilarious. Being reminded that YOLO can motivate your buddy to open that restaurant (have a melt-down on twitter like Amy’s Bistro) and venture some audaciously awesome risks that make life worth living. Right?

Photo Credit: Day of the Dead DIY by Cassie Stephens

We’re all thinking it on Memorial Day and BBQ-stuffing our faces not to address the elephant in the cemetery so why not Day of the Dead-treat it? It’s also a low-risk way for SmartyGirl and SmartyFella to express, “I love you, bro” without getting all mushy serious-style. Music suggestions? Robbie Rob’s “In Time” from Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure.
2. Be your opposite for 45 minutes. This can mean if you are usually the king/queen of kidding, be earnest for a fraction of an hour. In other words, instead of being a showstopper or master of improv you can sit still and just be a listener. Non-judgy listener and non-advice giver, of course. Not fun? Trust me, friends and family will think it’s a treat.

Photo Credit: Dog Listening via Pinterest

3.Choose to be receptive to advice from an unlikely source.
4.Find a way to get in free at a major event. Volunteer.
5.Host a complimentary throw-down refreshment stand at your neighborhood block party. Chilled cases of bottled water, a cooler full of Chobani or a veggie buffet can be spark the Mister Rogers in the most Grumpy Cats in your zipcode. How is this a throw-down? Have fun. Be difficult.

Photo Credit: Veggie Buffet via Pinterest

Why not make it entertainment as well as a punch bowl and cookies on cocktail napkins? Duel with another tabling team of 3 and see who can serve the most sunburned parents and antsy toddlers.

Photo Credit: Bridesmaids via Pinterest

Only request? Keep everything food safe because who wants to be responsible for a Bridesmaids-level sh*t in the street?