Insider Irene

“30 Days of Thanks” Reflection

Published on December 1, 2013 by Insider IreneLeave a comment

This month I participated in the “30 Days of Thanks” where I focused on a single blessing for the entire month of November. I posted daily on my Facebook page and tried to write something new and different each day. Some days were harder than others, as I struggled to find the ray of sunshine through looming dark clouds on those “everything that could have gone wrong went wrong” days. Yet, I survived and successfully completed my 30-day mission. I have my last day to write up and thought I’d unveil Day 30 on my blog. But before we jump to the end, here’s the first 29 days.

Day 1: Jesus, my lord and savior, for loving me (flaws and all)

Day 2: I am thankful for a job that allows me to play a role in kids future as their School Counselor

Day 3: I am thankful for an extra hour to sleep-in, woohoo daylight savings rocks!

Day 4: I am thankful for my strong grandmother. She has a lot of medical complications and it breaks my heart to see her in so much pain, but I’m lucky that I get to spend time with her.

Day 5: I am thankful for Taco Tuesdays. I love fish tacos, and Rubio’s has it for half-off today (after 2:30pm)! Woohoo!

Day 6: I am thankful for my brothers and sisters in my Wednesday large small group. God brought us together, but the food served at all our bible studies, holiday gatherings, and random “I just feel like throwing a party!” moments couldn’t keep us apart! I also am thankful for all the prayers and random acts of kindness. They’ve been there for me in thick and thin and I am blessed to be a part of the family.

Day 7: I am thankful for great hard-working coworkers, because I know they’re hard to come by.

Day 8: I am thankful to K-USC for playing beautiful classical music. It’s the only station I listen to on my daily commute to work. What kind of music do you listen to?

Day 9: I am thankful for youtube and hulu (plus other misc site), because now I can watch (almost) anything anytime

Day 10: I am thankful for new adventures and that I get to spent it with a family member who always has my back- love you cousin Larry!!

Day 11: I am thankful to our troops and all the men and women in uniform who fight to protect our rights. The United States would not be a land of opportunity without your service and dedication. Thank you.

Day 12: I hate shots and going to the hospital, but I am thankful for health insurance. I remember a time period when I couldn’t see the doctor and boy was that a crummy time. I won’t take regular check-ups for granted again.

Day 13: I am thankful to my brothers & sisters who open their beautiful home and welcome me in as one of their own.

Day 14: My kids drive me crazy, but I am thankful that I get to work. Actually, I have a pretty sweet gig- a nice large office, AC, new equipment/furniture etc. Now I just need to figure out how to extend all these college deadline, hmm…

Day 15: I am thankful that I live in a place where I can wear boots and scarves one day and shorts and flip flops the next. Gotta love SoCa

Day 16: I am thankful that my church offers Saturday service. I am definitely in dire need of some rechargin’. It’s been a long day

Day 17: I am thankful that I can fill my weekends with fun activities including book signings from celebrity chefs

Day 18: There were problems galore at work today, but I am thankful that my superiors have my back (at least so far :P).

Day 19: I am thankful for good health and a fast metabolism

Day 20: I am thankful for people who lift me up when I feel down.

Day 21: I am thankful for random acts of kindness from people in my life. (FYI, It involves foods) *smiles* I just feel very loved

Day 22: Even though I get cold very easily, I am thankful for the rain because without it our plants and trees would not be able to grow and bloom. The fresh smell of flowers and herbs not only help me relax when I’m stressed, but they’re beautiful as well.

Day 23: I am thankful that I have become a stronger, wiser person from the struggles I’ve endured this year. While some of the challenges still sting, I’m thankful that God has delivered me through betrayal, abandonment, deceit, and corruption. I am beautiful, because I am created in God’s image and no one can take that away. Thank you God for your beacon of light during those darkest moments.

Day 24: I am thankful for teachers (in and out of the classroom) who invested in me and helped me become the person I am today.

Day 25: I am thankful for fluffy pillows and warm blankets to snuggle up in on cold nights.

Day 26: I am thankful to the woman who carried me for 9 months and selflessly put my needs ahead of her own. Love you mommy!!

Day 27: I am thankful for my father for giving me a childhood filled with many wonderful memories and experiences that broaden my horizon. He taught me that spending quality time with the people you love is priceless and that money wasn’t everything. Thank you daddy for teaching me right

Day 28: I am proud to be an American and thankful that I get to celebrate a holiday to give thanks.

Day 29: I am thankful for lazy days so that I can rest and recharge.

And finally…

Day 30: I am thankful to all my readers and fans for supporting this blog and encouraging me to keep going. This blog has been a great outlet to share my strengths and struggles, and I hope that these posts can bring hope, laughter, and tears (of joy… obviously!) from my home to yours. Here’s to a strong finish and to all the adventures ahead!

What are you thankful for?

XOXO

Rockstar

Celebrity Chef Giada De Laurentis Book Signing at Williams Sonoma in Costa Mesa, CA

Published on November 23, 2013November 23, 2013 by Insider Irene1 Comment

I’ve always loved to eat, but I didn’t always love Food Network- now before you come and strangle me on how I could make such an outrageous statement, hear me out! I didn’t grow up with cable television, and I certainly did not know about a station dedicated solely to food. I was young and naive, what can I say?!

It wasn’t until I moved out to New York City for graduate school that I really got exposed to this culture and was drawn into it. On the hours when I couldn’t cram any more book knowledge, I plopped right in front of the TV in our community room and flipped through the channels. I started watching various programs on the Food Network and got hooked. Giada was one of my favorite tv chefs and I especially loved her radiant smile. Her exaggerated enunciation of words is extremely characteristic of her and she just seemed so down-to-earth. I loved her along with her chef buddies Robert Irvine, Bobby Flay, and Alton Brown on “The Next Food Network Star” and “The Best Thing I Ever Ate.”

While these shows were entertaining, I will admit that these chefs helped me momentarily escapes some really difficult moments during graduate school and refocus my energy towards good food and great times. A few years later I relocated back to sunny Southern California and while it’s a far cry from the mecca of eclectic food options in New York, my adventurous spirit still drives me to find some of So Cal’s best finds.

Recently, one of my yelp buddies informed me that Giada was going to be make an appearance at South Coast Plaza to promote her new book. I was ecstatic. This was not my first celebrity chef book signing (I have an autograph of Alton Brown’s Good Eats book!!), but I had no idea what this event was going to be like. I dropped by Williams Sonoma to pre-order my book (approx. $35) and inquired about their past book signings. I was told that though the event started at 1pm, fans start lining up at 8am! Now I wasn’t going duke it out with Giada’s #1 fan, but I’d heard horror stories of fans who came in late and not get to see their idol because the authors were shuffled off to the next book signing gig. Scary thought. Anyways, for my readers interested in participating in a future book tour (William Sonoma does a ton of them!) I decided to compile a short list of tips to help maximize your book signing experience, but minimize your spending. Enjoy!

1) Wear comfortable shoes because you will be standing the entire time. This can help with bunion prevention and future doctor visits. I’d also advise wearing pants because you may be squatting a lot and doing that in a skirt or dress, just isn’t very lady-like 😛

2) Eat breakfast. Not only will your tummy thank you, but you will be much less inclined to make impulse purchases. While promoting consumerism is a noble cause, we want to minimize impulse purchases when prices are high. Yes, the food at the deli next door may look mouth-watering, but your wallet and stomach will be happy if you go to the event full and fully energized!

3) Bring water. You will want to keep hydrated

4) Bring something that can entertain you for several hours. I was able to write up a few yelp reviews for Portos Bakery (Yelp Review) in Glendale, CA, and Bonerts Slice of Pie (Yelp Review) in Santa Ana, CA. Feel free to check it out 🙂 I saw a few other patrons browse around the mall and came back with bags of goodies. Remember, when you’re bored, you’re more susceptible to impulse buying. Don’t do it!

5) Come early. Not only will you essentially be guaranteed a spot, but many businesses are not open yet and you’d be less likely to engage in impulse shopping.

What other tips would you find helpful to save money in an event like a book signing?

XOXO,

Rockstar

Celebrity Chef Giada De Laurentis Book Signing at Williams Sonoma in Costa Mesa

“Fall”ing back to blogging! – Locks of Love, Operation Xmas Child, & Great Thrift Finds!

Published on November 4, 2013November 4, 2013 by Insider Irene1 Comment

Goodness gracious!! It’s been months since I last blogged and I am so sorry that I’ve been gone for so long. It’s been kind of crazy juggling daily visits to the hospital (grandmother’s not doing well) during the college- application season (I work in a HS) among other challenging obligations. But enough with the excuses… here’s the 411 on my frugal adventures!

photo (6)

1) I chopped off all my hair for $20 and donated it to Locks of Love– a non-profit that provides wigs for children with cancer. For all my local readers out there, I went to Bebe Salon (Yelp Review) in Garden Grove and got my hair washed, cut and styled for an Andrew Jackson. Yes!

2) Today I dropped off two Christmas shoeboxes (Instagram photo) for Operation Christmas Child filled with hygiene products, school supplies, and toys for one special boy and girl in a “to-be-determined” country. I paid for shipping online, so my box will be tracked. Can’t wait to see where it ends up I only wished that I had stocked up during the various Back-to-School sales in September. Next year!

3) Shopping: To be honest, I haven’t really gone shopping or even thrift shopping in a while. I’ve been extremely consumed by work and extremely exhausted, but in October I was invited to two private shopping events at Deja New in Costa Mesa, CA and boy did I really hit the jackpot.

On both visits There were special discounts on boots, dresses, and pants. In addition if you made a $10 purchase you automatically qualify for a $5 discount, say what?! Yeah, I was completely shocked by the merchandise available. They had some amazing outfits and the prices were seriously hard to beat. In the first outfit I scored this rockin’ Cynthia Steffe dress with a front exposed zipper and chunky pair of Burgundy BCBG shoes. This is such a fun outfit for a night out on the town.

My second outfit was actually one that my mom picked out. This adorable drop waist olive dress paired with these high Naturalizer chocolate riding boats is such a girly Fall look that is reminiscent of what an anime character might wear, or perhaps I’m watching too many Sailor Moon episodes, haha…

photo (5) Fall Pairings On my second trip I made it a priority to arrive early to snag as many jewelry pieces possible, since I saw a “All jewelry is $1” on their website. Sweet! And my second visit to Deja New was no less stellar than my first. I scored a girly Betsey Johnson necklace, Cookie Lee pieces, and items that could have easily been returned to Macy’s (tags still on!). These are definitely accessories that would easily glam up any outfit.

In the third outfit I am wearing Calvin Klein from head to toe. The rich eggplant one shoulder dress paired with the classic black pumps make for an elegant and sophisticated evening attire. I just hope that there’s a classy event to showcase this little number. I also scored a pair of Ed Hardy jeans and a pair of Alice and Olivia slacks (not pictured), but they need to be shortened as well as a pair of Stuart Weitzmen tortoise heals- super adorable (instagram photo)!

I’m thinking about hosting my own private Deja New Party as the proceeds help put women back to work and the items they sell really is top notch. And of course all good parties have rockin music and light Hors D’oeuvres to entertain the savvy shoppers.

Are you game for a Deja New Party (in Costa Mesa) with Yu Bargain Rockstar? If yes, when should I host? Sound away below!

Your Truly,

Rockstar

2013 D23 Expo Teaser @ Anaheim Convention Center, CA

Published on August 17, 2013August 17, 2013 by Insider Irene1 Comment

I love Mickey and friends, so when my girlfriend invited me to tag along to check out the D23 Expo this past weekend, I couldn’t resist. Photos and write-up are still in progress so you’ll need to wait in eager anticipation for a bit longer. Expos are never cheap, but they’re a great way to see new products and launches for your favorite brands/business- Disney is no different. With the mouse in charge of the Avengers and Star Wars you better believe that they have a ton in store for the upcoming year.

Stay tuned for the full review!

XOXO, Rockstar

Yelp Review of the Day: REPOST Gourmet Sandwich at Deli-Licious @Huntington Beach, CA

Published on August 14, 2013 by Insider IreneLeave a comment

Hi YuBargainRockstar Fans!

I’m excited to announce that my Yelp review on this Deli-Licious was selected as today’s ROTD (short for Review of the Day) for the Orange County spotlight. Woohoo! It’s a great honor and as my first ROTD, I thought I’d also repost my original entry for your enjoyment. This restaurant truly deserves all the credit in serving excellent food and outstanding customer service. Check it out if you haven’t done so already! – Irene

Sandwiches are the quintessential lunch food and while mom’s sandwiches are made with love, there’s something special about eating a gourmet sandwich from Deli licious (Yelp Review) in Huntington Beach. With over 300 reviews and a staggering 4.5/5 average on Yelp, I had to investigate the validity of these positive endorsements. And yes this definitely lived up to the hype.

I was looking for a cute shop, but after only seeing rows and rows of boring gray buildings I stared down at my GPS and realized that I missed the shop. Hmm… that’s peculiar. However, unlike many restaurants, this small mom n’ pop shop was located among the rows of gray buildings. This is definitely not the type of shop that you’d casually drive by and stop to check it out, because it was not visible from the street! Nevertheless the restaurant was pretty busy for a weekday afternoon. So I thought that it must be good if next-door-neighbors are frequenting this shop.

Upon looking at the chalk menu I decided to order their top seller “Sue’s Chicken-Avocado Caprese” while my girlfriend tried the same sandwich with a ½ southwest salad. Mmm… The ingredients used for the salad were fresh and crisp it was a solid choice for a mid-day meal. And the sandwich, wow… tender roasted chicken with sliced avocados, fresh mozzerlla, plump roma tomatoes, and a light lemon caper mayo all between a ciabatta roll. Mmm.. makes me hungry just thinking about it. I wonder if my mom could replicate this masterpiece. Hehe…

Additionally, I loved that it was also a nice sunny day and we had a lovely conversation out on the patio. Good food, great company, you really can’t ask for much more.

What’s inside your favorite sandwich?

XOXO

Rockstar

From Sad to Glad- Quick Tip to Brighten Your Day!

Published on July 25, 2013July 25, 2013 by Insider Irene2 Comments

Hi Yu Bargain Rockstar Fans! So sorry that I’ve been out of the loop for so long! I’ve been sick for the past two and a half weeks and my pup passed away during this time, so it’s been an extremely difficult time for my family and me. I miss Boomer and while I know that he’s lived a long life, I’m sad to come home and not have him follow me around (even though it’s only because he wants food- I still miss him).

With so much sadness and illness around in Casa De Yu, I decided to add a pop of color to brighten up my mood and from the looks of it I think I actually got carried away. What do you think of my masterpiece?

From Sad to Glad- Quick Tip to Brighten You Day! Vibrant colors are a simple and easy way to help elevate your mood and painting your nails with fun colors can add personality to an even a gloomy day. As you can see from my very apparent rainbow thong-tan, these toes definitely show!

But this trick works for apparel as well! So for all you gents out there, consider wearing a bright shirt or tie or. You’d be surprised at how a simple change in garment choice can help lighten your mood. I think fuchsia and warm colors (like yellows and orange) are great! But I know it’s not for everyone

What’s color helps you put a smile across your face?

Rockstar

$6.95 AYCE Lunch Buffet @Vishnu in Irvine, CA

Published on July 9, 2013July 10, 2013 by Insider IreneLeave a comment

India is such an exotic country and their food is just as (if not more) intriguing. The bright colors and different spices make this culture’s food a fest for the eyes and stomach. So when I stumbled upon this little AYCE lunch buffet in Irvine on yelp, I could not have been more ecstatic, although the drive there was an adventure in and of itself! After driving loops around the industrial complex we finally found the restaurant- Vishnu (Yelp Review). It’s definitely a no frills joint, and we helped ourselves by loading up our sectioned styrofoam plate!

The selection was diverse with curries and other traditional Indian dishes. I’m embarrassed to say that my knowledge for Indian cuisine is rather limited, but I do know that each dish had it’s own distinct flavors and that the variety was incredible for a whopping $6.95 a person. I can’t even imagine how this is profitable considering the selection and how time-consuming it is to make all the items. I’ve been told that certain dishes take more than 5 hours to prepare, as it needs to simmer to allow the flavors to meld into one another.

I inquired with the owner about his business and was informed that it had only been opened for three months (!!!) but that he’d been in the catering business for well over 15 years. He’s done events as far as Reno, NV and the Bay Area, so I imagine that’s he’s your guy if you want an authentic Indian feast in the Golden State (and surrounding bordering states). The restaurant is only open Monday-Friday from 10:30-2:30 since evenings and weekends are reserved for catering gigs. Ah! It’s all coming together now.

Lucky for me this little shop is not too far away. Muahaha… delicious food for a fraction of the cost, although, I am curious about his catering options. So if you’re in the market for authentic Indian, Vishnu’s Restaurant and Catering’s got you covered.

What’s your favorite lunch special spot?

XOXO

Irene

Date Worthy Dessert to Share @Scraps in Huntington Beach, CA

Published on July 8, 2013July 9, 2013 by Insider IreneLeave a comment

New York has Serendipity3 and Orange County has Scraps. For all you non-chick flick movie goers, Serendipity3 is where they shot the ironic romantic comedy called Serendipi ty staring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale. It’s a must see feature that is the epitome of romantic comedy and there are very few movies that even come close to this classic. The two stars shared a dessert and the rest is history- gosh I miss New York!

Panne Cotta

So for the Orange County hopeless romantic, I found the best substitute! The Panna Cotta ($7) with homemade kumquat marmalade at Scraps (Yelp Review) is amazing and way too good not to share. It’s silky smooth, but with a firmer consistency than pudding. Combined with the tart kumquat, this dessert is heavenly.

What’s the perfect dessert to share?

XOXO

Rockstar

The Great Food Truck Race Season 1 Winner- Grill Em All @Alhambra CA

Published on July 2, 2013July 2, 2013 by Insider Irene1 Comment

I’m a huge Food Network junkie and absolutely love all of the different shows on that channel. One show that I am particularly fond is a reality show called The Great Food Truck Race,” a competition where food trucks from across the country competed for $50,000. The rules were simple, make as much money as you can with a given budget in designated cities from LA to New York.

And what’s crazy was the fact that I was in New York while they filmed their last episode. I remember a girlfriend of mine texting me to come support the Nom Nom Truck (1^strunner-up) while I was studying in New York. Unfortunately I choose not to leave the library, asI was nose-deep in textbooks. *snaps fingers* What a lost opportunity!

Anyways, this past weekend I attended a networking social in Alhambra and noticed a peculiar sign in the theater plaza. It looked vaguely like Season 1 Winner Grill Em All (Yelp Review) and as I stepped closer to check out the store it indeed was! Turns out they actually bought a storefront with the money and publicity earned from the competition. So obviously I had to check it out the local celebrity!

Upon entering I could not help but notice all the rockin’ artwork plastered over all the walls. The setting is definitely home to heavy metal enthusiasts and the menu was presented on an enormous black chalkboard. After carefully examined my options I decided to try the powerslave, a ½ lb burger with brie cheese, bourbon apple compote, balsamic aioli, and field greens. And because the sign said so I ordered it medium rare—good choice!

It was definitely a gourmet burger with the juices goeying all over. I’d never imagine putting an apple as a burger condiment, but combined with the soft brie cheese and field greens it was a tasty treat. It’s a bit on the pricey side at $9 or $9.50 for a burger, but it had all the elements of a Rockstar. Solid!

What does a Rockstar meal look like to you?

XOXO

Rockstar

Gourmet Sandwich at Deli-Licious @Huntington Beach, CA

Published on June 3, 2013 by Insider Irene3 Comments

Additionally, I loved that it was also a nice sunny day and we had a lovely conversation out on the patio. Good food, great company, you really can’t ask for much more.

What’s inside your favorite sandwich?

XOXO

Rockstar