“My dear girl, the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If when we talk, I repeat the same thing a thousand times, don’t interrupt to say: “You said the same thing a minute ago”… Just listen, please. Try to remember the times when you were little and I would read the same story night after night until you would fall asleep. When I don’t want to take a bath, don’t be mad and don’t embarrass me. Remember when I had to run after you making excuses and trying to get you to take a shower when you were just a girl? When you see how ignorant I am when it comes to new technology, give me the time to learn and don’t look at me that way… remember, honey, I patiently taught you how to do many things like eating appropriately, getting dressed, combing your hair and dealing with life’s issues every day… the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If I occasionally lose track of what we’re talking about, give me the time to remember, and if I can’t, don’t be nervous, impatient or arrogant. Just know in your heart that the most important thing for me is to be with you. And when my old, tired legs don’t let me move as quickly as before, give me your hand the same way that I offered mine to you when you first walked. When those days come, don’t feel sad… just be with me, and understand me while I get to the end of my life with love. I’ll cherish and thank you for the gift of time and joy we shared. With a big smile and the huge love I’ve always had for you, I just want to say, I love you… my darling daughter. “

Early Sunday morning, I heard my daughter Katie let our dog Yoshi outside. Yoshi is 10 years old and the sweetest little 5 pound Maltese you could ever meet. Being that it was a lazy Sunday morning, I fell back asleep. When I woke up, Katie was watching TV and my husband realized that Yoshi was still out. When we called for Yoshi, she did not come. We searched and searched all day, sent emails to our neighbors, and made frantic phone calls looking everywhere for our Yoshi.

When nightfall came, we were convinced that our Yoshi was gone. We didn’t know if she ran away, if she was taken, if she was lost, or if a neighborhood fox had taken her. I could not sleep at all Sunday night, I just laid in bed crying over my Yoshi. I was sick thinking about what could have happened to her.

Monday morning, I came to the Wei East cottage, still in tears and I was so distracted. I would never have dreamed that losing a dog could have affected me so much. It’s true what they say: You never realize what you have until it’s gone. I had completely given up hope that we would ever see Yoshi again. My team saw how upset I was and our designer, suggested that we call the SPCA as a last ditch effort. Sure enough, my Yoshi was found!

By lunchtime I was holding Yoshi tight. My family and I all learned valuable lessons this weekend. Most importantly I was reminded that I need to slow down & pay more attention to loved ones everyday. Life can be so hectic, but it’s also short. Yoshi reminded us all to appreciate the “little” things in life.

Love,
Wei

I remember when I was a little girl in China I loved to celebrate New Year, simply because I knew on New Year’s Day I would have a brand new outfit my mother would hand-make for me for that year. On New Year’s Day, I would put on my new outfit and go running around the neighborhood to show off my new dress. It always made me feel beautiful and fresh.

Today my children and I no longer have only one new outfit a year anymore, however making something special for New Year’s Day is still something I try to do for my family & friends to keep that same beautiful and fresh spirit alive.

So, to kick 2012 off to a good start, I am returning to HSN January 22nd – 23rd! I can’t wait to share my brand new collections, brand new herbal innovations and brand new products, including the launch of my new Nutri-Guard 20 Herb Face Cream to help keep you looking beautiful and feeling fresh all year long.

It’s a great ‘wei’ for us all to start the year right and finish it bright. My warmest wishes for you and your loved ones!

Love,
Wei

There is a Chinese belief that when you focus on positive energy, you will start to collect positive energy all around you. In our daily living, the more thankful you are, the happier you will be.

When I sit at my family Thanksgiving dinner table, I have so much to be thankful for, my family, my Wei East team, and you, my friend who’ve made our community. It is all of you who inspire me to live, to love, to help.

Thank you all for being part of my life. May you have a thankful holiday!

Love,
Wei

P.S. – After all of the Thanksgiving festivities, I invite you to join me on Wednesday, November 30th for the HSN Beauty Report – just in time for the holidays! This season, give the gift of nature and beauty to your friends, family and loved ones. Preview all of our new herbal beauty giftables here and I hope to see you all there!

I hope you enjoy reading and utilizing these tips! And most of all, I hope you enjoy your summer!

Love,
Wei

Lifestyle Tips for Summer
• The element Fire is associated with summer season and with heat. According to traditional Chinese medicine and the zodiac, the summer of 2010 will be a VERY dry summer. That means it’s crucial to stay hydrated and to try to sweat as little as possible.
• Sweat is considered to be the “fluid of the heart.” Excessive sweating can scatter our “heart-chi” and can cause symptoms such as being easily annoyed, low spirit, restless, and sleeping difficulties.
• In traditional Chinese Medicine, summer is seen as the apex of our bodies’ energy. We should be our most active in summer, full of life, and able to reach our maximum potential. It’s a time for playing, enjoying nature, and rediscovering your inner child.
• Yang energy (considered the bodies’ most active energy) dominates during this season, so use this energy to its maximum capacity and replenish yourself.

Skincare Tips for Summer
• Hot weather means more humidity and our skin needs less moisture than it does in the winter. Switch to a lighter moisturizer to keep pores clear. It makes the skin less likely to experience blemishes.
• As we spend more time in the sun and sand, it’s best to exfoliate our face (and body) regularly to get a fresh, natural glow and prolong our summer tan.
•If you commonly experience rosacea, be mindful during this summer season. This common skin condition can be aggravated by heat and cause skin to swell, increase redness, and break out in little pimples. If you’re prone to rosacea, keep cool by taking cold showers, misting yourself with a spray bottle, and drinking plenty of cold water. Also, seek refuge in air-conditioning and wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothes. Try our Jujube Age Control Serum as the perfect solution for rosacea-prone skin.

Diet Tips for Summer
• Be sure to eat plenty of “cooling” foods like fruits (especially berries), vegetables, whole grains, seeds and nuts, and a small amount of lean meat, poultry or fish. The best summer diet consists of fresh fruits in the morning and plenty of leafy, green vegetables later in the day. Minimize your intake of dairy, fried and processed foods. Here are some “Do’s and Don’ts” for Summer Recipes.

o Do’s in summer recipes (try to include “cooling” foods during Summer )
mung beans, dark plum, sugar cane, strawberries, mulberries, grapes, coconut milk, lemon, persimmons, water chestnuts, bitter melon, winter melon, sweet potato, cucumber, tomato, Chinese spinach, lotus roots, Chinese wolfberry leaves

o Don’ts in summer recipes (try to avoid these “heating” foods during Summer):
lamb, longan fruit, dried longan, lychee, Chinese chive, onion, kale, Sichuan peppercorns, cinnamon, stir fried peanuts, stir fried cucumber, rice crackers, congee, cold rice

Summer Recipes
Cold Chrysanthemum Tea
This is an ideal drink for hot summer days and an excellent thirst quencher.

Ingredients:
60 – 80 White Chrysanthemum Flowers
3 teaspoon of Jasmine Yinhao Green Tea
Rock sugar or honey
4 liters of water

Instructions:
1. Wash the chrysanthemum.
2. Put chrysanthemum and tea into a cooking pot.
3. Pour in 4 liters of water and bring it to boiling.
4. Reduce heat and continue to cook for 20 minutes.
5. Put in rock sugar or honey.
6. Remove pot from the heat and allow it to cool till room temperature.
7. Strain the tea and put into refrigerator.
8. Serve the tea chilled and enjoy!

Bitter Melon Drink
To help prevent summer acne and breakouts – Bitter Melon can be found at any Asian supermarket or grocery store.

Ingredients:
1 to 1 1/2 bitter melon (depending on how bitter you like your drink to be)
3–4 sticks of celery
1 apple
1 green pepper
2 carrots

Instructions:
1. Peel off the skin of the apple and carrots.
2. Cut all the veggies into long, thin sticks.
3. Leave veggies in water for 4–5 hours so that they will be clean, and soaked with water.
4. For the best effects, put the veggies into the fridge for 2–3 hours before juicing them.
5. Juice the veggies with electric juicer. The amount of veggies mentioned above could give
2 big mugs of juice. Stir before drinking for better taste.