The Amero vs. The Euro

The Amero

I was standing in line at my local American Express Travel office waiting to exchange my US dollars for that damn Euro. As if I’m not already mad enough because I know that as soon as I had over my little green friends, I’m loosing money. “Ugh, this sucks” I say to the American Express rep as she tells me the exchange rate. Then out of no where this random guy next to me says, “Think it sucks now, just wait until you’re exchanging the Amero!”. “The Amero? What the heck is an Amero?” I asked. He preceded to ramble about the U.S., Canada and Mexico all joining forces to become the North American Union, obviously modeling it after the European Union. I thought either he’s the smartest guy in the world, or a crazy lunatic. So, I did some research and found that currently the Amero is a conspiracy theory with some possible truths.

The opinions on the Amero are so widespread and the topic itself is very controversial. Some believe that if the three nations were to adopt the Amero, it would be able to eliminate the threat of other regional currencies (the Euro, and possible Asian and/or African currencies) and provide stability of the local currency. Also, it’s believed that our dollar would strengthen against the other currencies in the world. Some claim that the U.S., Canada and Mexico would then adopt a similar open border policy as they do in the EU. However, others believe that the Mexican peso will “drag down” the U.S. and Canadian dollars and the Amero would be in a worse position than the the current U.S. Dollar is in right now. And with the U.S. currently building a “wall” between the US and Mexico, it seems that the borders will not have that open border policy.

Hmmmm….So many theories, so little time. What are your thoughts?

Turn Your Dreamline into a Vision Board

You’ve read the 4HWW and you’ve finally made the perfect Dreamline. Now what? For me the answer is a Vision Board. It’s kinda like: Tim Ferriss meets The Secret. The purpose of a Vision Board is to serve as a reminder of all the things that you want to bring into your life. Basically, you’re going to make a collage of things that you want to achieve (i.e. Have, Be, Do from the Dreamline). A Vision Board gives you a visual of your goals and brings them to life because you are actually picturing them as opposed to just seeing words on a paper.

There have been a lot of misconceptions with The Secret and The Law of Attraction. No, I do not believe that just hanging photos of things you want will bring them into your life. And either to the authors of The Secret. The purpose is to help you create intense focus, envision the things that you want, and feel the feelings of having those things before you actually do. However, you still have to take the action steps necessary if you really want to obtain your dreams. Think of a Vision Board as a constant reminder of your dreams, goals and ambitions. You may say B.S., but does it hurt you in any way to try this method? I think not, so go ahead, and turn your Dreamline into a Vision Board.

Here’s three steps to creating the ultimate Vision Board:

#1: Find photos, magazine clip-outs, pamphlets, etc.. that represent the items on your Dreamline. For example, I wanted to get Veneers. I clipped out a picture of Brooke Burke’s beautiful smile and I had it on my Vision Board reminding me of my goal. I worked toward it and about 6 months later, I had a new smile. Also, you should use a cork board (instead of poster board) because as your year progresses you’ll want to add things to your Vision Board and remove those that you’ve accomplished.

#2: Get as creative as you can. Channel your inner Kindergartner and make design your Vision Board inspiring. Example: Maybe you want to have a Porshe. Go to a dealership, sit in one, have your picture taken and use it on your Vision Board. Or use Photoshop to have your image superimposed into the car. If everyday, you see a photo of you sitting in your dream car, eventually you’ll find a way to make it happen.

#3: Hang your Vision Board somewhere that you’ll see it everyday. For us, our Vision Boards are in the bathroom because it’s the first place we go in the morning and it’s the last place we go at night. So, while getting ready for the day or for bed we can see our dreams “come alive” so to speak.

That’s it. It’s simple as that. I’d love to hear your thoughts or experiences with a Vision Board. So please leave me a comment:)

15 Jet-Set MUSTS From Around the World!

Kim @ Anema e Core in Capri, Italy

I often get asked for recommendations on the destinations I’ve been to, but that we don’t currently have on the Jet Set Life website. So, I thought I’d give you a list of some of my favorite places to stay and things to do around the globe.

1. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico: Learn to drive like an off-road race car pro and race your friends at Wide Open Baja. (as seen on The Bachelor- but we were there first!)

2. New York City, NY: Sip a frozen hot chocolate at the celeb favorite Serendipity.

3. Island of Capri, Italy: Dance on the tables with the European elite at Anema e Core Taverna.

4. St. Barths: Party like a Rock Star (and with the Rock Stars) at the famed Eden Rock Hotel.

5. Malibu, California: Shop designer duds and possibly spot Spielberg in the Malibu Country Mart and Cross Creek Plaza.

6. Positano, Italy: Enjoy lunch and limoncello overlooking Positano at the Le Sirenuse Hotel.

7. Florence, Italy: Have your dinner prepared by the Hapsburg Lorena Princes at La Giostra.

8. Marrakech, Morocco: Pop some champagne at Palais Jad Mahal, while watching the house band cover American, French and Arabic songs.

9. Mykonos, Greece: Have lunch at the open air, no electricity restaurant, Kiki’s Taverna on Agios Sostis beach.

10. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Start your New Year right by dressing in white and praising the Brazilian Goddess of the Water, Yemanja, by throwing flowers into the ocean on the beaches of the Copacabana.

11. Boston, MA: Enjoy the crisp fall weather, shop the high-end shops and unique boutiques of Newbury Street from the chic XV Beacon hotel.

12. San Diego, California: Watch the vibrant sun set over the Pacific from Tower 23 on Pacific Beach.

13. Ravello, Italy: Enjoy a romantic dinner for two overlooking the Amalfi Coast at the Hotel Caruso.

14. La Barra, Uruguay: After a long night of partying, head to the after-hours hot spot, Medialunas Calentitas for a hot, buttery croissant.

15. Scottsdale, Arizona: Get a VIP table and watch super sexy burlesque show at Jack Rabbit Supper Club & Lounge.

I’d love to hear some of your favorites from around the globe too! To share, just leave me a comment.

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On a completely different subject…

Obama? McCain? Only you can decide. The beautiful part about being an American is we have the right and in my opinion the obligation to vote for who will best lead our country for the next 4 years. Regardless of who you like, make sure you get your %$& to the polls and make your opinion count! If you’re not registered yet, need an absentee ballot or just want to find your polling location, I found a great site that takes the chaos out of the “registration” process, called Vote For Change.

Learning to live your life on your own terms.

The back of the uniform shirt of a hair stylist in Florence, Italy.

Europe stole my heart many years ago. It’s what excites my heart and fills my soul. It’s hard getting back into life in the States when you’ve been overseas for a while. It’s hard re-adjusting to the American way of life. This eating dinner before 8pm, fast paced, goal oriented and never stopping to smell the roses, American life. I love America and I love being an American, but I just wish we adopted more than espresso and a few foreign actors. I wish we adopted their passion for life, the ability to truly admire beauty and the desire for life-enrichment without materialism. That last part probably sounds like bullshit coming from a girl who’s blog is titled “My Jet Set Life”, but it’s not. I’ll take family, friends and culture over Prada and I’ll choose  traveling 10 times a year over the big suburban house with a giant mortgage any day.

A few days ago I went to see the new Woody Allen film, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, which describes this difference between American and European cultures amazingly. Without ruining the movie, let me just say you’ll watch a dance between the two cultures through a typically Woody Allen love-octagon. You can feel the passion of the foreign born actors, Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem, cut through you like a knife. The American actors such as Scarlet Johnasson were wonderful, but couldn’t get to the same depth as their European counterparts. Watching this film made me miss Europe. It made me miss the deep culture and fiery passion that is just innate on the other side of the pond. It made me miss their desire to truly live each and every day filled with passion.

Sadly, the closest thing we have to Europe in the States is Starbucks. It’s one of the only places that’ll give you even a slight feel of the European culture on a day to day basis. I’m not fooled by the Italian drink names and thought of a Barista making my tea; it’s still very American with it’s sugary venti frappa-whatevers. (Did you ever notice the people drinking a venti anything are usually a little on the venti-side themselves?) But I do enjoy the sudo-relaxed culture that Starbucks creates. I’m actually in Starbucks now as I type this blog. I’m wishing it was filled with the lovely sounds of ceramic cups and saucers clinging and locals chatting passionately over the topic du jour. Instead, I’m overhearing the latest Multi-Level Marketing presentation at the next table, watching a frustrated man type feverishly on his laptop and the Barista pushing the latest “no sugar added, no fructose but still full of fat muffin”. I want to just scream, “Hey people, there’s more to life than working non-stop and satisfying a sweet tooth”. I want to walk around handing out Tim Ferriss’s 4HWW to everyone in hopes that they’ll develop a muse to fill their bank accounts, so they can stop living the deferred life plan. But, instead of being the crazy lady in Starbucks, I choose to vent (not to be confused with venti) through my blog. I just wish that more Americans would forget chasing the typical American dream (which usually ends in high debt and preventable illnesses) and start living their life now.

Here are my 5 favorite life lessons that will truly help you LIVE:

1. Steve Jobs: If you wake up and don’t love what you’re doing on that particular day and that happens too many days in a row, then you are doing the wrong thing.

2. Will Smith: The Key to Life is Running & Reading. Running – because learning to defeat the little voice inside that is telling you to stop, will teach you that you can overcome anything. Reading – because any problem you have has been had, solved and written about by someone else.

3. Tim Ferriss: Find a muse to earn the income you need to do what you really love to do and get off the deferred life plan. (You’ll know you’re on the deferred life plan if you find yourself saying this sentence to yourself “I will finally be happy when ______”.)

4. David Deida: Masculine & Feminine energy have a place in each of us. Learn to balance them in yourself and stay true to your core (example: women stay feminine) and learn to understand this energy in others (example: allow your man his time in the cave).

5. Tony Robbins: Gratitude & Laughter. The first thing you should do when your feet hit the floor each morning is give gratitude. You get one life, how you live it is your choice. Learn to laugh in the face of adversity. Know that everything happens just the way it’s supposed to, so learn to enjoy it. Be grateful for the gifts you are given, especially the bad ones because they always come with a good lesson and a silver lining.

I look forward to your comments. Ciao!

Kimberly