Tiny icons circling above sims' heads

[Hope512]

I've noticed this twice. I've got Sims 3 and Sims 3 Pets. The first time was when my sim couple and their dog went out and the dog was selected, the sims had tiny plumbobs circling above their heads. The second time was when I first started a new game and my sim couple had woo hoo'd and they had tiny hearts circling above them (too cute). However I've started a new game with woohooing sims and they didn't get the hearts.

Can anyone tell me what this is about?

[CSquared2]

The regular icons mean those sims are participating in a group outing.  The hearts mean the outing is a date.

What exactly makes those happen sometimes and not other times I've never been able to figure out.  If Sam asks Sue to come over, sometimes it's an outing, even if it's just at Sam's house, sometimes not.  Sometimes it's not even an outing if Sam asks Sue to go somewhere.  Sometimes a "date" starts with just a romantic interaction, even if neither Sam or Sue asked the other out.  You can always end the outing/date by selecting one of the sims and choosing Disband Group (for outings) and End Date (for dates, obviously.)  It might cost you a little of the relationship, however, if the group or couple hasn't had much fun yet on their "outing."

[Ricalynn]

To add to what CSquared already explained -

You can also Form Groups with other people to have an outing and then go to different places together as well as ask another sim out on a date which will also put you in group form.  You can only have one group per household at a time though.     Once you're in one of these groups you can select to go Eat Dinner With Date/Group, Tour Theatre With Group/Date, Watch Movie with Group/Date, etc.

[Hope512]

Thank you both! That explains it.