A woman who blogs about many "women things" send me a link to a video she put on YouTube and her web site about the jade eggs, and how to use them. It's very down to earth, practical, and even fun! I embedded the video at the bottom of the information page about the jade eggs, click here.
May 31

Getting caught up this week, one of the first things I needed to do was deal with a problem with jewelry purchased prior to our cruise. My husband wanted to give me an emerald ring for our anniversary, and thought it would be safer to purchase it at our local jeweler rather than buy it off the streets in Cartegena. Although I would have loved doing that! But am glad I didn't because of the inflated prices. Anyway, I put the ring on the day before we left, and when I was signing my name to check in on the ship, I was horrified to see the emerald had fallen out! We frantically searched the ship terminal, but I think it fell out after we got out of the taxi and somewhere before checking in. I was upset for several days, but assured myself that my jeweler would "make good" on it. When I told him what happened, he told me there is no guarantee from the manufacturer and his store doesn't have a guarantee. It's a small independent business, not a chain store. He said that there is too much "customer variation" that can happen with a gem stone: striking it against something; getting it caught on something; bending the metal setting. Sounds like similar problems with jade bangles, doesn't it! A customer might tell me a few days after receiving their new jade bangle that it has a crack in it. My accountant has rolled his eyes and told me I have been much too liberal in accepting a return/exchange. Now I realize he has been correct because the standard in the jewelry business, for small independent businesses, is that damage after sales is damage that is the customer's responsibilty, and no guarantees on gem stones. I have always treated customers the way I want to be treated, so I've accepted a lot of losses from which was most likely damage caused by customers.
The price paid for the ring was $1000, so of course I'm upset about absorbing the loss. But I learned what other people who sell jewelry and gems do when there is a damage problem. Even though I didn't realize I was damaging the setting to cause the emerald to fall out, it was still my responsibility. I don't like it, but it's not fair to wage a battle against the jeweler for my responsibility. If you get a jade piece and see a damage the day you receive it, we can file an insurance claim with the shipping service. But if you find a crack a few days later, it's no longer YYJ responsibility. May 30

I'm back! It was a very good cruise. When we were passing through the Panama Canal and I was sitting on the balcony of my cabin in Lake Gatun, it was difficult to wrap my head around the idea that I was truly in Central American, in the Panama Canal. I never thought I would be there. One of my favorite shore excursions was in Guatemala, with the trip to Antigua and the fabulous jadeite factory and store there. I have lots of jade stories to tell and photos to share. But first, I need to get unpacked and caught up after being away from home for 15 days. And get some "comfort food" after all that ship food. No, I didn't gain any weight, but that's because I was sea sick for a few days. Hurricane Bud was very close to us, whipping up the seas, and less than 12 hours after our ship pulled out of Puerto Villarta, Bud came in as a category two hurricane. Bud was not much fun. After I get the June (how can it be June already?) Calm Spirit / Ying Yu Jade news posted, then the jade stories will begin. Hope you had a good Memorial weekend, and today is the FINAL day for the coupons. It was supposed to end yesterday, but I made a mistake with the coupon date, so one more day. (THANKS3 for $3 off your order of $35+ or $10 off jade bangles item #BB with coupon code BANGLE10) May 28

I enjoy a cruise vacation best because I am truly "away" from everything. If there's a problem back home, I can't do anything about it. In fact, I might not even know about since I buy just enough internet minutes to get my store back online a couple days before I get home. And I take a few jade bangles with me because there is always someone who comments on my jade bangle I'm wearing, and is thrilled to have the opportunity to buy one for herself. One of our ports of call is in Guatamala, and Guatamala is famous in central America for jade! I don't know much about Guatamala jade, except that it's considered to be jadeite, and am excited to see some and learn more about it. In fact, if I get so excited I just have to share, I might even buy more internet minutes to tell you all about it on the blog. My husband just rolls his eyes when we're vacationing and I see some jade, or hear a great jade story, and tell him I can't wait to blog about it! The stores will close May 11, open again May 25, shipping will resume May 28. If you need to contact me, wait until May 28 because I don't want your email to get lost while we are gone. May 9

I went to a trade show this weekend. There are usually some Chinese sellers who bring me interesting jade pieces, and the agreement is if I am there first thing, first day of the show, I get "first pick" before they are put out for general sales. But, none of my favorite sellers where there. The other Chinese sellers had some jade, including Chinese jade bangles, but the bangles were all cracked and chipped up because not carefully handled, and they were selling them like nothing was wrong with them. YYJ customers would be shocked if they got jade bangles in that condition. And the "jade" pendants I usually buy weren't real jade, but the price that the jade pendants usually cost. The only jade I purchased were some turtle bracelets on adjustable silk cords, and I had to pick through them to find ones that were in good condition. I put those on for sale as our final Mother's Day special. I was very disappointed in the show. I thought I might buy some sterling silver chains to sell with pendants, but the prices were so high, they sure were not wholesale prices. I usually treat myself and buy something special "just for me" and usually from a seller who specializes in sterling and gemstone pendants, earrings, necklaces. But I didn't buy myself anything, because the pendants were so "common" and not unique like they used to be. Is this what the jewelry trend it? If so, very disappointing. At least jade is unique, and YYJ selections are more unque because I only buy what I personally like. That's the scary thing, because if I don't like it, I won't buy it, and I won't have anything new. May 6

Turtles are a traditional Chinese symbol of longevity. I have seen so many of them in Beijing, especially around and inside the Forbidden City and other dynasty Chinese areas. One of my jade and yoga friends is always checking to see if I have jade turtles on the site. She purchased a small jade turtle carving for her Chinese doctor/friend as a gift, and the next time she visited him, he showed her that he had tied a cord to it, and was wearing it inside his shirt. The jade turtle bracelet that is today's special deal makes a perfect Mother's Day gift. We wish our mother's longevity and want them to have the precious gift of jade, and this adjustable bracelet, at the discounted price, makes a perfect gift. May 5

I'm taking one of today's special on the cruise next week because it will look so good with many of my dressy dinner outfits. I had these pearl and jade necklaces made for me while I was at the pearl market in Beijing, and the pears are so lustrous and beautiful, the entire necklace is unique. I've also worn this necklace with jeans and a tee shirt, so they are versatile. If you want to purchase a jade gift for someone but don't know what they will think of jade, this is a good way to introduce jade. It's like a chameleon you can dress it up, or down. And at 20% discount today. May 4

A girlfriend recommended a jeweler in Kissimmee that does good work to repair the clasp on my favorite ankle bracelet, and that he would possibly fix it while I wait. The first thing I noticed when I entered his store was his Gemology Institute of America certification on the wall. I asked him a lot of questions about the gemstones he had for sale and I could tell he was knowledgeable. He had some really unique jewelry in his store, but no jade. I told him I sold jadeite, and he was impressed with my knowledge, then I asked if he would do certification for some of the more expensive jades I sell if customers request. He said that he didn't know as much about jadeite as I did, but would be willing to do the basic testing and certify the jade piece, although he does the same testing I do for refraction to show it is genuine jadeite and not bleached with acids and infused with resins. But that GIA is the "gold standard" in gem certification. And now I canl offer it if requested on some of those several thousand dollar jadeite bangles you see on the web site. May 3

We have the photos taken in natural daylight to show off the natural beauty of the jade, and not have to edit so what you see is what you get. But I redecorated the porch we use for photos. It was very "white": walls, blinds, decor. And We gave it a colorful paint job, added cinnamon bamboo roman shades, and lots of color. The end result is warm and cheery, but the cinnamon bamboo shades are casting a reddish/brown light color. The photos are taken close to the windows so the light can show the translucence, and give enough light so we don't need to edit. But now it's giving an odd cast to the photos and I'm not sure what I can do about it. And I don't want to take the shades off for photos. We experimented on this latest batch of jades being listed, and the white yin jade and translucence is being compromised. The May 2 Daily Special is a good example of a poor photo. The real thing is glassy and translucent. So it's at a low preview price, and will be a higher price if it doesn't sell and we have to get new photos. I promise it is spectacular, nicer than the photo shows, so if it's your size, you trust YYJ and want to take a chance on a jadeite bangle that should sell for $888+, get it! May 2

The Calm Spirit / Ying Yu Jade complete May newsletter is available online now, click here. This month features Chinese medicine wellness information for May regarding balance of body, mind and spirit. There is information about what kind of jade to wear this month if you wear jade for your health, and more. May 1

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