Bye, bye blog!

My time in Hawaii cleared my head, despite the copious amounts of rum consumed. (Whoa!) I had an epiphany there: the time has come for me to re-prioritize myself. I realize I don’t have enough time for everything I want and need to do, so… I need to take a break from the blog. It’s hard not to feel wistful as writing has been such a great release for me. All the trials of moving to Napa and starting Red House - wow, what an adventure! And writing about situations with clients has helped me grow as a business owner. Looking back, over more than a year of blogging, I think I have matured too – losing patience a little less than in my bad old days in New York. Lately though, after the kids are asleep, I find that I’m typing away while Michael watches ESPN. The kids need a mother who is less sleep-deprived, and Michael needs…a wife (!). My work at Red House is even more demanding now, with Michael’s bank projects in Charlotte. And while life will be easier in many ways with Kat, our new au pair around, I need to spend time helping her adjust to our family quirks and right-side drive.

So, if I’m not blogging, then what? I have some ideas.

Pizza Beat-Downs - Once a week, on Kat’s night off, the family will create a signature pizza. I will not fear flour and its tendency to end up everywhere! And, this summer I’m hoping to build an outdoor wood-fired pizza oven to recreate our favorites.

Start “Natalie Nights” - Regularly scheduled evenings out with my niece. I think it’s time we get to know each other better.

Become a student - I will enroll in wine and food courses at St. Helena’s Culinary Institute of America (ciachef.edu/California). No more excuses not to, and I can walk there from my house!

Spend occasional weekends in Charlotte - Surprising Michael when he’s there - with an overnight bag and nothing more! BlackBerry will stay home. You get the idea.

Get a Puppy? - This is my least thought-out and least favorite plan. Maybe I’ll have Nat set up an aquarium for us instead.

Host Wine Blending Parties - With knowledge from the C.I.A. classes, I will invite Red House clients to partake in a little liquid chemistry lab. We may mix up something great!

Read! – Every last airport book I’ve bought and merely skimmed!

Create and innovate – Spend more time on inspiration for Red House. Where will the next ideas come from – India? Australia? Even if I can’t get there I can read, see films and explore art forms. San Francisco will be a great source of material. And speaking of creating, maybe I’ll get the Red House fragrance designed. (If so, can I take a tax write-off for my garage space?)

Live more of the dream – My love affair with Napa endures, and I want to experience more of everything this fabulous region has to offer. The lifestyle is Red House, and our goal is to be the finest customized corporate clothing company out there.

In closing, I especially want to thank my clients for choosing Red House in its infancy and sticking with us as we have adapted and evolved. Stay tuned – there’s much more ahead! Thanks for appreciating our commitment to quality and attention to detail and customer service. I will endeavor to always keep Red House ahead of the curve and leave my competitors to cut corners. (The buttons that break and the fabrics that pill will not be what we are known for.) Keep counting on me - I won’t let you down!

From the heart of Red House,

-Maddie