I don't usually make New Year's resolutions because they are mostly the same: lose ten pounds, love more, fret less - you know the kind. I usually make a little headway with the heartfelt ones, but the ten pounds seems to be there year after year.
Leading up to New Years, my husband and I usually plan a trip for the week prior to Christmas. By that time, I am ready to escape the final hustle and bustle of the season and go somewhere to have some time just with my little family of four. This year we rented a house on the island of St John's in the Virgin Islands. It is not particularly easy to get there. Lots of driving and ferries even after you land. However, once there, it was idyllic. The beaches are small, romantic and pristine. The water is beyond gorgeous. The house we rented was perfect for us, tucked up in the mountain in the rainforest area of the island, it overlooked a beautiful bay. We were a little surprised to awake the first morning to large iguanas in the trees around us - we got used to it, but it was a little weird at first. We ate amazing fresh fish almost every day prepared with West Indian spices, and we hiked and swam and had a beautiful time.
The very best part of traveling with my family is that we always come back closer - knitted back together, remembering how much we like one another - trusting each other more. The daily grind of school and work and social life and sports doesn't leave a lot of time for keeping a family close. I treasure our trips. They are my gift to myself every year.
So you can imagine that, after an amazing trip, I was in a pretty good frame of mind on New Year's Eve to think about resolutions. We were at a small party and my sister began to prod everyone to state their New Year's resolutions. She said we had to have one tangible resolution and one intangible one.
I hadn't given any thought to resolutions, but my sister is more than determined and she wasn't going to allow any of us to skate away from a thoughtful answer. Her resolutions - she's a writer and speaker - were perfectly poised and spoken - to drink more water, to give more and take less, to memorize a famous spiritual teaching - there might have been one more. I couldn't bear to tell the ten pounds resolution one more year. I do need to drink more water - so I stole that one from her - I also need to drink LESS wine! So added that - Drink more water and less wine. But in reflecting on what makes me better in my world and how I can most influence my cosmos for good, I was brought back to the recent trip. If my little family is better parented, more open, more loved and loving, I believe that how we stretch out into the world will make it a better place. So my tangible resolution is to travel more with my family.
As for fashion, I can feel it percolating inside of me to be an amazing year. I have a sky full of designs in my mind that I hope to bring to fruition this year. I'm excited to see how the market receives our new 'Slice Collection' that got so much press around the holiday. I am working on some prototypes for spring that are beginning to have an edge and feel innovative, wearable and unexpected. I am thankful for the retailers who carry our line and who are so supportive of Jordan Alexander. I am beyond excited to see what this year will bring.
Check out a couple of photos from my trip to St. John's and a selection from the new 'Slice Collection.'
