falling for greeting cards . . .

Here it is - the official first day of fall. One of the seasons that many people either love or hate; both generally based off of changing weather conditions. Personally for myself, after years of dreading fall have grown to embrace what it represents. A time of year to accept the elements of my business and life that are now about to show their true colors before fading and falling aside, leaving open possibilities of what a new year can offer.

Each day of the season I look at all the great things I have accomplished this year as they fall to the ground and wait to be raked up or if the mood strikes me; made into a pile suitable for jumping in. Embracing the season, reflecting on the past and preparing for the challenge of what the future holds.

Enjoy your family with the many holidays ahead and never forget it’s your roots not the leaves of your life that make you who you are each day. Leaf yourself (sorry couldn’t resist) open to bare branches and welcome the buds of what will become yet another chapter in your life.

For those that do not have the wonderful colors of fall that bless us here in New England, please email me your name and address and I will gladly send you a little slice of what you’re missing.

it's about time. . .

One would think that if you’re reading this blog you must already know us. Forgetting that www starts with the world. So for those that have stumbled upon our little section of the web we’d like to say hello and welcome.

I’m Dan, the blogger, creative director, lackey, chief cook and bottle washer. Along with my wife Amy we spend what little time we have from raising five children operating a few different businesses. Our passion (and bread and butter) comes from working here at iZon Greetings.

It would take too much time to cover the rest of the introduction so we invite you to read some of our past blog entries (feel free to comment) and subscribe to this blog so you’ll be sure to never miss a word of wisdom, support, business advice or maybe just something to make you smile.

If there is anything you’ve always wanted to ask us we’d love to know and would be happy to have any subject matter we can get. Little by little we’ll try to unfold the story of our lives. We often feel we should have our own reality show on TV but the good names were all taken, The Amazing Race, American Idol, America's Got Talent, America's Next Top Model (LuLu’s dream), The Apprentice (only for hair style tips), The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Big Brother (if he ever visits us), The Biggest Loser, Dancing with the Stars, Extreme Makeover, Hell's Kitchen, Kitchen Nightmares, Nashville Star (just to be with Jewel), The Real World, So You Think You Can Dance (have you seen our cruise video), Supernanny (we really need her), Survivor (for certain we’d win), Top Chef (hands down), Wife Swap (hmm).

For our friends that do know us perhaps you can help here with your own title suggestions.

memories of DiBellas. . .

Watching some of the footage of Hurricane Ike totally devastating Texas reminded us of how exactly one year ago we were on the Island of Galveston. It was the first time we were ever there and had no idea what to expect. We will never forget the eerie Hobby airport that was like an episode of the Twilight Zone to the numerous black and white photos that lined the hotel hallways, the monuments and the famous “Seawall” erected to protect the residents. This small island seemed to have been set in it’s past never having fully recovered from the Great Storm of 1900, the nation’s most deadliest natural disaster in history killing over 6,000 people.

On a selfish note if anyone has news of how a small family home on 31st Street faired the wrath of Ike. The home of the DiBella Family and their famous italian restaurant. Talk about history; this place brought us back in time and showed generations of family traditions with food that seemed to have been prepared as if we were relatives ourselves.

Hey Galveston, hang in there, never forget and know that we finally get it; family and history is what keeps us going no matter what life delivers us. You are in our prayers.