Last day to use a FREE premium design

spooky-funTomorrow is the last day to get the premium slideshow Spooky Fun for FREE from Country Living! With a premium design, you get full-screen playback, the ability to print (for you and your recipients), and the ability to add your own music, a $3.99 value.

Got pictures of your trip to the pumpkin patch or the carving session that followed? Did you take pictures of the costumes you made from scratch? Or that crazy neighbor down the street who goes all-out on lawn decorations? They’re probably the kinds of pictures that you’ll be smiling at years down the road, and what better way to preserve these memories than with a slideshow that you’ll have for the rest of your life?

And for the shutter-happy, the Spooky Fun slideshow can handle 1-400 pictures, so go download your free slideshow, start adding pictures, and make this your most memorable Halloween ever.

Welcome Brian and Julie!

We’re happy to introduce you to two new additions at Smilebox!

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!

 Meet the new Smilebox management!

Brian_creative

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_creative

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?

Smilebox sightings in Hallmark stores across the country

If you’re one of those people who has started to think about Christmas gifts already, you should head over to Hallmark and check out the digital scrapbooking kits and DVD greetings featuring – you guessed it – Smilebox!

We’re proud to say that we’ve been spotted in a few stores around the country, including some right here in Seattle! Go check us out at your local Hallmark, take a picture of the display, and let us know what you think.

Keep your eyes peeled for these displays at your local Hallmark!

Will you be gifting DVD greetings or digital scrapbooking kits this holiday season?

Why it’s OK to fail

At demo today, our Creative Director Julie (whom you’ll be hearing more about soon!) shared an inspirational video with the Smilebox crew about failure and what it really means to succeed.

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.”

Does your boss deserve recognition for Boss’s Day?

Tomorrow is National Boss’s Day, so if you’ve got a boss worth recognizing, now’s your chance… This time, you can be the one to buy lunch, bring snacks, or do the environmentally-friendly thing and send a Boss’s Day ecard!

We asked the Smilebox community on Facebook to give us their thoughts on what makes a good boss and this is what they said:

A good boss is…

  • “Someone who takes a personal interest in his team – who knows something about them and what makes them tick.” – Lee Ann
  • “Understanding, confident, and able to see things from all angles.” – Kristie
  • “A good listener.” – William
  • “A great boss is one that is willing to roll up his sleeves with his employees to get the job done and meet a crucial deadline. AND he’s NOT a screamer.” – Monica

When asked “What makes a good boss?”, Smilebox employees had this to say…

  • “A great boss is one with whom you trust, and who trusts you…” – Paul
  • “A good boss is someone that encourages you and supports you, ensuring that you do the best work possible.” – Laura
  • “When his name is Rod. :) ” – Rod

Do you see anything missing from this list? Comment and let us know what you think! And don’t forget to become a fan of Smilebox on Facebook!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Smilebox/6289201895fg