It's the end of November already! And we are having a wave of much cooler weather here in central Florida. I went outside to walk by the lake this afternoon, and even though it was party clouder, it seemed brighter than it does in the summer. I noticed that when I lived in Ohio, also. I found myself squinting more in the winter than I do in the summer. I've been lax about using my FrownEase wrinkle reducing program and my frown line has become more prominent and I'm get more wrinkly around my eyes, which I definitely do not want to happen with the holidays coming! I'm going to start using it tonight and know I will see results in a few days because I do use it occasionally. When I'm putting on my makeup and see those wrinkles, I put it on my pillow to remind myself to use it when I go to bed. Natural, and much cheaper and safer than botox. Try one, and get one for a special friend.
November 29

I received a request for advice about what kind of jade pendants to get as gifts for people. I suggest you find out what Chinese zodiac sign they are, and get either that animal or one of the animals that is compatible. You can do a web search for a Chinese zodiac information site to find out what animal they are based on their birth dates. Another suggestion is dragons for males (yang) , phoenix or flowers for females (yin). Darker colors for males, lighter colors for females. Of course all jade has good energy, so use what you know about the person you are buying for, and trust your judgement because all our jade is good quality and the descriptions of the energy may also help with your
deicision. November 28

It's difficult to decide what ot feature for "Cyber Monday" sales. Some stores have extremely low prices on things, and seem to be having sales all the time. But our items are not artificially marked up so when we offer discounts and sales, they are REAL discounts and sales. There are some new items listed, and of course a special discount for jade bangle bracelets. Have fun shopping.
November 27

I recently listed a few more carved jadeite bangle bracelets and while looking at them carefully to write the descriptions, I had a difficult time seeing exactly what the carving was. That reminded me that I had purchased some magnifier glasses set in jade, to be worn as a pendant. I do have a magnifying glass on a jade stick but do you think I can ever find it when I want it? So I put the jade magnifier pendant on a chain, and on my neck, and it was so handy . I could see the carvings much better. In fact, when I'm inspecting jade before I list it, and again before I ship it, having that magnifier handy helps so much. My girlfriends think it's a great idea, which is why I don't have many to sell after they did some early holiday shopping. The jade magnifier pendants are much cuter than reading glasses, so the friends got them for themselves and their friends. Sometimes you online customers are lucky to get any of the really cute jade items by the time I get done with "show and tell" with the girls.
November 26

I'm cooking Thanksgiving dinner for a crowd this year and will be busy all day cleaning and getting things ready, and will really be busy tomorrow! But I want to also do some online shopping, especially for the Black Friday deals. Between cleaning, cooking and cleaning up again, I hope to do some online shopping, and I'm sure many of you will be doing the same. It's frustrating to me to have to wait until Friday to know what the sales are. So I decided that for Ying Yu Jade, I will start the sales on Thursday so you know what to expect. Instead of listing many different items at sale prices, you can make your own sales by using coupons based on the amount you spend. That way you won't have to keep checking back to see if something on your "wishlist" might have gone on sale. We all have too much to do and want to enjoy the weekend! And if you are busy on Friday, don't forget to "Shop Small on Saturday", we are certainly a small business and appreciate your support. By the way, the video voting is exactly split in half! Thanks so much for the feedback. November 23

Thanks for your feedback about the new product videos we have added to the web site. The most recent ones are at the bottom of the carved jadeite bangle bracelets page and the Chinese jade page. We couldn't decide if we should place the video at the top of the page or at the bottom of pages, so let us know what you think! Send an email with your vote to calmspirit @ calmspirit.net with the subject "video vote" and we will reply with a $5 coupon to use on anything this week. Voting is today and tomorrow November 23. Thanks! November 22.

The USA government wanted to punish the Burma government with political and economic sanctions, and decided the best punishment would be to ban purchasing oil from Burma. But you know how government works: by the time the lobbying ended, the ban was only against jadeite and rubies! The Lantos law went into full effect in 2008. The jadeite ban includes jadeite that is sent to China for carving. Most of our jadeite was purchased 2002-2006 not because I knew about this upcoming embargo, but because prices were dramatically increasing and I had a special connection to the jade carvers. I made major investments, spent thousands of dollars, and purchased hundreds of jadeite bangle bracelets and pendants. Sometimes you will see in the jadeite descriptions "lao pit old mine jadeite". This is the best quality, and purchased directly from the jade carvers, some lots were carved exclusively for YYJ. A result of the embargo has been some of the best mines closed, many people out of work and suffering financially. Another result has been the increase in color treated jadeites. Most of the jadeite available has been lower quality, the color gray/white and very spotty, and jade carvers have learned excellent process to remove the colorings with acid bleaching, and add color that looks so natural, it's extremely difficult to tell that it is not natural color, even with testing. So that's why you see lower priced jadeite bangles that look very natural and have Chinese certificates that they are "A" when they are not. If you purchase jadeite outside USA, and it is opened and inspected in customs, it will be confiscated. Imagine all the favulous energy in Burma from all the jadeite in the ground! I certainly hope our country restores relationship with Burma. The every-day people are spiritual, energetic souls. And we would love to get our jadeite legally again. November 21

For the past few weeks I have been reading about the amazing political changes in Myanmar (Burma) and how Aung San Suu Kyi is helping to move the country away from the military domination to a more democratic country. I have been hoping and praying that our government would also see this movement and make efforts to reach out to Burma at this time. I am very pleased to know that they have, and Hillary Clinton will make a visit there soon. I hope our USA government also has the good sense to realize the cultural differences between America and Burma and understand what a remarkable progess has already happened. If you want to read non-USA news about this, go to the BBC web site. I think their reporting gives a more international perspective to what is happening in Burma than USA news does. If you have an iPhone, there is a National Geographic app, photos from Burma, and it captures the people and places of Burma. Of course you know that's where our Burmese jadeite comes from, and more about that in the next blog. November 20

Thanks to readers who are taking advantage of the $100 coupon today good for orders of jade bangles regular price $800+ on Ying Yu Jade or JadeBangleBracelets web sites. Check out the Daily Special page for details. Get something special for yourself before you start your big season of gift buying for others. It will make you happy, bring you luck. November 19

Readers have requested more information referring to yesterday's blog regarding the Chinese "metal" element, and why we need to be aware of our metal body qi in November. In Chinese medicine, metal is related to the lung meridian. The energetic color for metal is white. If you do healing meditation, use the imagery of bright white light filling your lungs. Hold or gaze at white jade for the qi energy to your senses, brain, eyes. Damage to the lungs and lung meridian manifest themselves in grief, sadness. If you have experienced a loss, or a death, your lungs are more vulnerable at this time. Healing emotions include acceptance, peace. Chinese medicine belief is based in body-mind-spirit connection, that is the "Dao" and being in harmony keeps us happy, healthy and brings good fortune to us. During weather when the temperature fluctuates from cool to warm, err on keeping warm, which is why the scarves are helpful. You wrap it around your neck, throat to keep cold from affecting you, and you look fashionable while keeping healthy. Then when the weather warms, wrap your scarf around your waist, or loop it through your handbag for a fun fashion statement. Imagine that! Practicing ancient Chinese medicine wellness while being in high fashion! November 16

Why are we featuring the hand knit fashion scarves on Ying Yu Jade? One reason is that some come with a small natural Chinese jade bangle to wear as an accessory, like a scarf holder, and it is a really unique way to wear your jade to get the energy during the day. In Chinese medicine, the element to be concerned about in November is metal. Metal is related to the lung meridian which is vulnerable when the weather starts to get cooler. In China, traditional people err on the side of keeping warm when the morning starts out cool but then warms up, while we Western people often "tough it out" while it's cool and dress for the warmer part of the day. According to Chinese medicine, you need to protect yourself during the cool mornings and evening, and a scarf around the neck is one of the best ways to do this. Add a little jade bangle to your scarf, and you also have the healing qi of the jade. November 15

I can fill a large trash can from general "office debris" every day. And I feel guilty about doing it. I often rummage through the trash can at the end of the day to make sure there isn't anything I can recycle, use again. If you are a regular customer, you have probably noticed my recycled packing materials, including using clean crisp catalog pages used to pack and fill corners of boxes, popcorn or bubble wrap that looks slightly used. A couple of businesses in the area save their packing materials, like bubble wrap, small boxes, popcorn for me because they know I ship daily, and recycle. Jade is a beautiful and natural stone, readers know my love for the natural qualities in our wonderful jade. And I respect nature, which is my reason for recycling. How do I recycle broken pieces of jade? I bury them in the ground near plants that look like they need some help. And they thrive. November 13

One of the most popular jade carvings is the dragon. And if you love jade dragons, you will be thrilled to know that the Year of the Dragon starts January 23, 2012. There are already a variety of jade dragons on the Ying Yu Jade web site, including jade carvings, pendants and dragons carved on jade bangles. I'm working on getting carved deep deep green Chinese jade bangle bracelets carved with two dragons made exclusively for YYJ. Actually, I've been working on this project for several months already, but when they get made for me in China, they have been getting sold to someone who sees them, then the price goes up to get more made. The ordeals I go through to get unique items for Ying Yu Jade! November 11

When I have a yard sale, I put out a box of jade bangle bracelets that have chips, cracks, nicks with "flea market" prices, and neighbors are thrilled to get a real jade bangle at a low price. I caution them that they are not perfect, and they look at them and ask "what's wrong with this one?" because they regard nicks, scratches, cracks as part of owning a hand carved natural stone. These women neighbors know I sell jade, but they are not jade experts, yet they understand the beauty of a natural stone (jade) bracelet. Just like mainland Chinese women. A crack is damage, but lines, and other "imperfections" are natural part of jade stone. Polishing and waxing after carving help make them look cosmetically better, but if you really look at your jade, you will probably see "something". That's proof that your jade bangle is truly jadeite, or jade stone, and not "something else. November 8

I'm still resting up from my "vacation", although I felt quite relaxed while I was gone, so why do I feel like I still need a rest? Having fun is hard work! Keeping a low profile this weekend I've been cleaning up the office and finding odds and ends of jade things to put on the web site, rather than put away. So watch for some odds and ends of jade, mostly jade bangles, this week as Daily Specials. .
November 6

I have a drawer full of small jade bangle bracelets, sizes 50-53mm, that I purchased for myself. So of course they are very good quality and extra pretty. But if I kept all the small jade bangles for "me", I wouldn't have any to sell, and many YYJ customers have tiny wrists like mine and love special jade bangles. The Weekend Special is a pair of two "sisters" I purchased, they are the same size inside diameter and width, and I'm offering them either individually, or as a set. They are discounted for the Weekly Special AND if you purchase both you can take off another $25 with coupon code BANGLE25. If you wear a small size and have always wanted a "sister set" of beautiful jadeite bangle bracelets, this is your only opportunity to get them together at a discount price. November 4

We're back! We went on a 9 day charter cruise on the Carnival Miracle, departing Ft Lauderdale and going to Half Moon Cay, Carnival's private island, then to Fantasy Fest in Key West October 28 and 29, Grand Turk and a few days at sea. I wore black jade and gave a girlfriend a black jade bangle to help protect us physically, mentally and spiritually. We both stayed healthy, although some of the others traveling with us got quarantined because of virus, there were accidents and the sea was rough because of the hurricane near Mexico. I "opened the store" a couple days ago and am getting all the orders shipped, and a Daily Special. There always so much to do to catch up after a vacation.

The Calm Spirit / Ying Yu Jade complete November newsletter is available online now, click here. This month features Chinese medicine wellness information for November 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. November 2

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