Riding a bike 200 miles over the course of two days is no easy feat.

This year, our very own Paul Ingalls, Jason Bodie, and Carl Tydingco, as well as their friend Keith from Portland, spent July 8-9 completing the Group Health Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic.

Smileboxers Fed Johnson and Wayne Rambo also got involved, driving a support vehicle to keep our riders supplied and motivated.

The adventurers from our development and quality assurance teams were happy to share a few photos and videos so you can get a peek into their trip. Make sure to check out the Smilebox of their journey at the bottom of the post!

The Trek

After departing the Emerald City of Seattle, the four riders burned some rubber while the support vehicle did a fantastic job keeping phones charged and transporting the camping gear for the night. But that’s not the only way they contributed to the cause. Fed, the driver, shared the following story about how the public address system in his truck helped inspire hundreds of riders:

“We were listening to ‘Eye of the Tiger’ by Survivor, and while we were at a street light, some random biker told us to ‘crank it’. So for about five miles we drove by the bikers with ‘Eye of the Tiger’ playing over the P.A.  All the bikers were raising their arms and cheering.  You could tell we were pumping people up big time.  I think I listened to ‘Eye of the Tiger’ eight times in a row.”

With the help of the tunes and a few rest stops, everyone reached the halfway point and set up camp for the night.

Waking up early once again on Sunday, the bikers mounted their rides once again and completed the journey through southern Washington and over the sparkling Columbia River that marks the Washington-Oregon border. After a final burst, they found themselves in the city of Portland. The journey was over.

After catching their breath and stretching out their tired legs, the Smileboxers surprised their friend Keith with a party for his 35th birthday. It was a great way to relax after the two day trip and, needless to say, there were smiles all around.

What is STP?

The ride, organized by the Cascade Bicycle Club, starts early Saturday morning outside the University of Washington’s football stadium. According to the Cascade Bicycle Club website, the event had 10,000 registered riders representing 43 states and 3 countries. Most riders rest at the midway point, in Centralia, WA, then resume the ride to Portland on Sunday morning.

If you are interested in more information about the STP Bicycle Classic or statistics from the 2011 ride, head over to the official Cascade Bicycle Club STP page.

Click the Smilebox to play:

Also check out this awesome time-lapse video of the REI rest stop outside their company headquarters in Kent, WA. Have a great day!

Watch this inside edition newsletter to see what summer is like at the Smilebox office!

Click on the image to view

Still located in Redmond, Washington, our new abode, overlooking the lovely Sammamish River, has an open and welcoming feel, complete with glass-walled conference rooms, and more floor space to accommodate our growing company.

While preparing for the move last week, we had a lot of fun doing some late spring cleaning and packing up the old office. Now it’s time for a fresh start at our new space.

Watch the Smilebox and see the move for yourself!

We at Smilebox Customer Service are available to help you with any questions or issues you may have with Smilebox.  We answer questions on a range of subjects including “How Do I give a gift?” to “Why isn’t my music playing correctly?”  We also love to hear your suggestions for new designs!  Customer Service is available via the HELP button located in the upper right corner of the Smilebox program, or you can email us at support@smilebox.net.  We look forward to hearing from you!

Laura Wilson
Customer Service Team Lead

One of the things I love most about working at Smilebox is the focus on delighting the people who use our service. As a part of our ongoing efforts to improve the Smilebox experience, we’re conducting focus groups next Wednesday and Thursday in Kirkland, WA.

If you are in the Seattle area and are interested in a fun and exciting opportunity to help Smilebox improve our service, please call our research partner, Fieldwork Seattle, at (425) 822-4862 and ask to speak with Abigail.

Your input will help us to make the Smilebox experience even better!

Ann was kind enough to answer some questions about her gingerbread-making process, so read on and check out her masterpieces in the slideshows below.

How long did the construction take? 15-20 hours. In past years it’s taken more. What was the most difficult part? Every year I try something new – a different challenge. That’s the most difficult part. This year I tried baking curved gingerbread. It took 4 tries until I got a barrel that would work.

Past gingerbread creations

Do you make them yourself or do they come in a kit? I make them myself. I start by planning how they, will look on the computer (each side and an aerial view). From that, I make a pattern and mock them up with cardboard. I use the pattern to cut out the gingerbread pieces and then I assemble them all with royal icing. How many years have you been making gingerbread houses? I’ve been making gingerbread house for nine years. I make one every Christmas… It’s become a family tradition! Can you eat them? Yes, my houses are edible (except the lighting and the base). Although, they don’t taste very good and you’d probably break your teeth eating the gingerbread. It’s a very different recipe from the cookie version of gingerbread. What do you do with them when Christmas is over? I tried saving them from year to year, but the royal icing I use as glue dries out and they fall apart. So now I let my boys knock them down. They have a great time doing it.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Well we’ve been listening, and that’s why we’re pleased to introduce the new recipe book design, Sweet Dreams. Use this design to create a recipe book with your own home-made concoctions, or keep the recipes that come with the design.

Naturally, we thought we’d take this opportunity to share some of our favorite seasonal recipes with you all. Click on the Smilebox below to see this great new design and to nab some tasty Smilebox recipes for the holiday!

Make a Smilebox recipe

Brian Smiga is our new Vice President of Business Development and Retail based in New Jersey who comes to us through our acquisition of Preclick Corp (he was formerly founder and CEO of Preclick).  Julie Flahiff has recently joined Smilebox as Creative Director and is located in our offices right here in Redmond.

Since we’re all about sharing memories, we thought it would be fun to ask our two newest co-workers about their favorite memories of the Fall season.  Enjoy!

Brian Smiga

What are your favorite memories of Fall?

I grew up on the Jersey Shore, where I live now, so the fall was a time when the beaches would be empty, but Indian summer and warm ocean temperatures still gave you that bonus beach time.  I also fondly remember apple picking, scenic driving with the top down and high school football.

Do you have any favorite Halloween memories?

When I first moved to a new town my MOM made me a home-made space-man costume. All the other kids had store-bought costumes, so I was certain it was would be a bust, but thanks to my Mom’s creativity we won first prize.

How do you celebrate fall now?

We celebrate Thanksgiving on the Chesapeake with family.

What are your favorite activities to do in the Fall?

Growing tomatoes, corn, lettuce and peppers in our garden until late October and making tomato sauce!

Julie Flahiff

What are your favorite memories of Fall?

I absolutely adore this time of year. When I was younger my father and I would always say that we could smell the day that Fall arrived –there was just something different in the air. And though we live many miles apart now, sometime in late September we’ll still call each other to say, “Did you smell Fall today?”

What do you remember most about your Halloweens as a child?

The area I grew up in was fairly rural. By the time you finally arrived at the next neighbor’s house, they certainly made it worth your while. Popcorn balls, caramel apples, apple cider and homemade cookies–yummy!

What was your favorite Halloween costume?

One year my then-boyfriend (now husband!) and I went as Cyndi Lauper and Billy Idol. Hmmm, I wonder whatever became of those pictures…

Do you have any special traditions to celebrate Fall with your family?

Thanksgiving is the biggie for us. It starts as we wake up and eat bagels and watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade while still in our jammies. Pretty soon the house is full of wonderful smells and the noise and laughter of our family and friends. Then we eat–what could be better?

If you’re a perfectionist like me, then you’ll definitely benefit from watching this video and gaining a new perspective on learning from your “failures.”