Archive for the ‘Special Smileys’ Category

• Celebrate Independence Day with Fireworks History

  Date: 2012.07.04 | Category: Special Smileys | Response: 0

  Happy Fourth of July to all the Smiley Central readers! We know that many of our fans will be outside today, enjoying parades, barbeques and fireworks as the evening draws to a close. But did you know that the use of fireworks dates back thousands of years? The first recorded use of fireworks can be traced backed to China during the Han dynasty, around 200 B.C. Historians believe that the first firecrackers were probably pieces of bamboo that someone tossed into a fire to  use as firewood. After the bamboo turned black, it would explode (thanks to the pockets of air and sap that are trapped in the plant’s rods as it quickly grows). This explosion would frighten any people or animals who were nearby, so the Chinese hoped that it would also scare away evil spirits. Soon, people in China were using the exploding bamboo to mark special occasions like births, weddings and coronations.

  Sometime between 600 and 900 A.D., Chinese scientists discovered an early form of gunpowder. The Chinese then began stuffing bamboo shoots with the powder to create even more impressive explosions. These scary firecrackers then evolved into the first rockets that the Chinese would use against opponents. Eventually, gunpowder and fireworks made their way to Europe, where the fireworks continued to be popular to commemorate military victories, public celebrations and religious ceremonies. It wasn’t until the 1830s that Italians began incorporating metal and other additives into fireworks to create the colorful, multihued sparks and sunbursts we see today.

  

  So there you have it. Happy Fourth of July; have fun and be safe!

• Show Dad You Care With a Father’s Day Smiley

  Date: 2012.06.13 | Category: Special Smileys | Response: 0

  Hey everyone, this is your reminder to take some time this weekend to tell your dear old dad “Happy Father’s Day.” While Memorial Day seems to be the official start of summer, it always seems to us like Father’s Day is the real start to summer — probably because it is usually accompanied by grilling out and playing baseball, two of a dads’ favorite things to do. We can all thank our pops for a lot of things. We asked around the Smiley Central office what people could attribute to their dads. Some people mentioned religion, a sense of family pride, a hard work ethic, how to cook, how to fix things, how to play baseball or tennis or football or swim, how to ride a bike, how to fix a flat tire… the list goes on and on.

  Still looking for a great Father’s Day gift? How about a tie? A new pair of socks? Just kidding, we give you permission to give him something he really wants — a smiley from Smiley Central. Download the smiley below for free and send it over to dad. It’s guaranteed to make you his favorite son or daughter.

  

   

• Use Yoga (and Smileys) to Reduce Stress

  Date: 2012.05.10 | Category: Special Smileys | Response: 0

  Ommmmmm. It’s Thursday and at the Smiley Central office we’re a little stressed out — the weekend is just out of reach and we’ve been working super hard to bring you even more smileys than ever before. We know our hard work will pay off when we hear from our adoring fans (you) how much they like our new smileys, like the Potty Pack now available for download on Smiley Mobile. Until then though, we need to take a few minutes and relax.

  Yoga has been around for centuries, but has re-surged as a fad in recent years. Here in New York, you can’t walk through most neighborhoods without seeing several people in workout gear carrying a yoga mat to their local studio. And we don’t know exactly how the Downward Dog and Child’s Pose make us feel so much better, but they really do! In addition to reducing stress, yoga has been promoted as a way to lower blood pressure, encourage better sleep, reduce anxiety and muscle tension and slow the aging process. Right on!

  

  What do you do to de-stress during a hard work week? In addition to yoga, we recommend checking out our smileys at Smiley Central. They’re always good for a laugh! Even better, share some smileys with a friend who’s having a bad day.

• Share Easter Greetings With Egg-citing New Smiley Pack

  Date: 2012.04.04 | Category: Special Smileys | Response: 0

  Here comes Peter Cottontail, hopping down the bunny trail, hippity-hoppity Easter’s on it’s way! Don’t mind us, we’re just celebrating one of the happiest and most colorful holidays around here at Smiley Central. There are several very unique traditions that come only around Easter: dying eggs, finding eggs and huge Easter baskets. Not to mention, the giant chocolate bunny rabbits — Yum! Actually there are a lot of delicious foods around the holiday: deviled eggs, ham and jelly beans! And you know that the Smiley Central crew never passes up a chance to eat.

  Now that Easter is approaching (it’s THIS SUNDAY), it’s time to start sending out your Easter greetings. Of course, Smiley Central has some very  special smiley Easter greetings — our Easter Smiley Pack! All you have to do is head over to the mobile store and you can send pictures of adorable chicks, bunnies and smileys to all your egg-cited friends and family. Time’s flying, so get your Easter Smiley Pack today and let all your friends and family know just how egg-cellent they are. Hoppy Easter!

  

• Scare Your Friends with Horror Movie Smileys

  Date: 2012.02.08 | Category: Special Smileys | Response: 0

  If there’s one thing we love at Smiley Central, it’s scary movies. Mostly just because we like to laugh at other people when they get scared (hey, some people’s scary faces are hilarious!). But as much as we love going to see horror films as a group, we have to admit that sometimes we get a little frightened, and may even sleep with the lights on. During lunch today, a group of us were trying to figure out what scary movie we wanted to go see tonight after work. Even though most of the scary movies come out around Halloween, there are some pretty good looking ones in theaters right now!

  Devil Inside — This horror film follows a woman (played by actress Fernanda Andrade) who travels to Italy, accompanied by a documentary crew, to investigate rumors that her mother was possessed by the devil as a young child.

  The Woman in Black — In this myster/thriller, Daniel Radcliffe (star of the Harry Potter films) plays a lawyer who travels to a remote village where the ghost of a scorned woman is terrorizing the locals.

  The Innkeepers — Although this movie has a limited release, it still sounds like something we’d want to see!The inn in question is called The Yankee Pedlar Inn, which is shutting down its doors after 100+ years of service. As very weird guests start checking in during the Inn’s final days, a pair of employees set out to uncover proof that the Inn may be one of New England’s most haunted hotels.

  Are you a fan of scary movies? Or just want to scare someone in your office? This Jason-esque smiley (complete with a terrifying chainsaw), will certainly do the trick! Head over to Smiley Central for more free smileys to download for your computer or iPhone!