Bargain – Page 7 – Insider Irene

Frugal Finds, West Coast Roadtrip -Monterey Bay,CA

Published on July 1, 2016June 29, 2016 by Insider Irene1 Comment

After spending a few hours at San Luis Obispo (click here to read about my SLO adventures) the next destination was Monterey Bay – Home of the World Famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. But before seeing some cute sea otters we drove past Bixby Bridge – a historic landmark with a great panoramic view of the ocean in Big Sur.

For my readers just tuning in, click here to see my original post outlining the finances and pit stops with hyperlinks documenting my journey!

It’s a popular tourist attraction and many patrons parked alongside the road or the mini lot on the side to snap some selfies and obviously I couldn’t resist either. It was also a good opportunity stretch your legs and take a break from driving.

Soon afterwards we headed to Monterey Bay. Both my friend and I had visited the world famous aquarium so we decided to try to see the adorable sea otters in an alternative and more frugal manner.

I got a tip that Schooners Coastal Kitchen and Bar in Cannery Row (made famous by John Steinbeck’s book with the same namesake and footsteps away from the aquarium) oversees the bay and that guests often saw wild otters from the restaurant window. I also read up that the restaurant offered a happy hour (4-5:30; Monday – Friday) – sweet!
My friend and I ordered two items from their Coastal Hour Small Bites, which were split into there categories ($3, $4, and $5). They also had cocktails ranging from $6-$10. The service was polite and the view was breath-taking; however, to be honest I was quite disappointed in the two items we ordered. The calamari was mushy and tasted as if it were reheated in a microwave and the artichoke frittata wasn’t memorable; however from my research many patrons enjoyed the homemade clam chowder. I had a big bowl earlier that day so I wasn’t in the mood to sample theirs. I had also heard good things about their seafood ceviche – next time!

Alternatively, you can consider ordering something from the dessert menu if you happen to be in town when it’s not happy hour. It’s a great way to sample their offering without paying the $$$ price tag for a full entree.

The view at this establishment is hard to beat and while the sea otters didn’t come out to play on our visit, I would certainly return to catch them again

After enjoying the peaceful view we took a stroll down cannery row, which is home to your typical tourist shops and attractions. In some way it’s like SF’s Fisherman’s Wharf but on a much smaller scale. If you walk a few streets up you can find a lovely new bakery called “The Perfect Crumb Bakery” where the owner uses her own recipes to make delicious desserts and treats. The key lime pie sounded amazing, but I wanted something a bit lighter and opted for a traditional chocolate chip cookie. It was soft and just what I needed before heading off to our next destination.

Did I miss a frugal find, comment below and let me know!

XOXO,

Rockstar

Frugal Finds, West Coast Roadtrip – San Luis Obispo, CA

Published on June 27, 2016July 22, 2016 by Insider Irene3 Comments

The first major pit stop for my 8 day roadtrip was San Luis Obispo (roughly 4 hours away from Orange County) and I was famished. Ready for the first foodie stop!

Click here if you missed the original post documenting my journey.

Bookmarked on my list was Splash Cafe, a little hole-in-the-wall mom n’ pop shop that’s known for their clam chowder. My friend and I split a bowl ($5.50), which was essentially twice the amount but only a dollar more. A cup was $4.50 and they didn’t mind giving us an extra cup to share.

The soup was on the more salty side, but it was very flavorful and creamy. The seafood was ample and I can see why this restaurant is a local favorite. I saw a lot of delicious looking pastries in the display case, but wanted to pace myself for all the yummy munchies I’ve planned for this trip.

As a small college town San Luis Obispo is home to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (aka, SLO), one of two Cal Polytechnic schools in California (the other being Cal Poly Pomona) that emphasizes a “learn by doing” educational philosophy. The university is known for their robust engineering program, but also their flourishing agriculture and horticulture department.

A cool and FREE thing to do is visiting the Leaning Pine Arboretum, a 5 acre garden with breathtaking mountain views. The garden features plants from all over the world including New Zealand, South Africa and other Mediterranean climates.

Pro Tip: Park in the student lot before you hit the horse ranch and pay the blue automated ticket box. Parking is $2 for an hour.

Hours of operation is 8am -5pm, Monday – Saturday; however, I recommend travelers to come early in the morning to beat the heat. 45 minutes to an hour is also adequate time to spend walking through the different gardens, but they do have benches scattered throughout the park so you can definitely slow down and enjoy the scenic views.

After a brisk walk around the garden it was time for lunch and let me tell you if you’re hungry you definitely want to hit up Firestone Grill – it’s where all the hunky firemen eat *wink*

Unfortunately on my visit there were no men in uniform on break; however, my eyes were all on the tri-tip sandwich ($9.25) – yum! The meat was super tender, BBQ sauce was tangy , and the bread was lightly toasted making it a really hearty meal. Two thumbs up! The restaurant set-up is also really conducive for any sports gathering. I can only imagine what this place would be like for the Superbowl or the World Cup. With great food and ample big screen tv’s I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else. It’s a happenin’ place!

But if you’re looking for a more intimate location to enjoy a conversation with a friend or just seeking a great local coffee shop, Scout Coffee Company, is an up and coming cafe simple rustic decor. The environment has a type of zen feel and patrons can enjoy everything from their cold brew to homemade almond milk.

The SLO downtown area has a lot of great cute restaurants and shops and one that caught my eye was the Hep Kat Clothing, a shop that sells new vintage style clothes, which is timeless and very figure flattering. I only quickly browsed through their sales racks, but they had some really adorable items.

Are there places I missed in SLO, comment below!

XOXO,

Rockstar

Highly Anticipated Birth Month Freebies List + Photos- April 2016 Edition

Published on May 18, 2016 by Insider Irene1 Comment

It’s as simple as signing up for their rewards email list, which I conveniently included a hyperlink for each store. Enjoy!

Gift with Purchase

Kiehls: They give you their Lip Balm #1 ($7 value) with any purchase (no minimum – although I purchased the Ultra Facial Cream, which is super hydrating and lightweight) They’re also running a recycling program where if you bring back any 10 full sized empty bottles or containers (including the lip balm) they’ll give you a free travel sized item.

Free Stuff (or near free)

DSW: Complimentary $5 gift card to spend. I hadn’t seen any shoes in that price range, but I can usually find an adorable pair of socks. This year I scored cat socks – yes, I suppose I’m turning into that crazy cat lady 🙂

Victoria’s Secret: Complimentary $10 gift card to spend (excludes clearance items). You can get a pair of bottoms for approximately $.50.

Sephora: Sign up to be a Beauty Insider and redeem a free beauty of skincare deluxe sample. My choices were Fresh Soy Face Cleanser and Rose Face Mask or Marc Jacob’s Beauty kit (Le Marc Lip Creme and Highliner Gel Eye Crayon) I picked the former at my local store and the size is perfect for my upcoming road trip!

Free Food

Baskin Robbins: Free scoop of ice cream. They’re really picky about printing out the coupons, so be sure to do that!

Boston Market: Join their VIP club and get a free dessert or an order of a regular side (no purchase necessary). I absolutely love stuffing and I can usually only get it during the holidays – so I felt festive and thankful.

Brueggars Bagels : Free toasted bagel with cream cheese!

Corner Bakery: Be in the know and sign up for their eCafe list. They’ll give you a free pastry treat. I picked up their cream cheese brownie and it was sinfully good. Yum!

Del Taco: A free strawberry milkshake! and when you initially join you’ll also get two free grilled chicken tacos!

Godiva: Complimentary $10 for chocolate – you don’t have to tell me twice!

Red Robin: I think this is the best deal of them all. A free gourmet beef or chicken burger plus unlimited fries free FREE! No string attached. Just show them your Red Robin’s Rewards Number.

Starbucks: You get a free beverage within two days of your birthday. Must have a Starbucks account.

Food Discounts

Veggie Grill: Buy 1 Get 1 Free (entree of equal of less value) If you’re vegetarian or trying to eat healthier this is a great deal to snag with a friend. Papa’s Portobello sandwich ($9.25) is delicious as is the Quinoa Power salad ($9.95).

Buca De Beppo: $20 off with a minimum purchase of 2 pastas. They will also sing happy birthday to you and give you a cool chandelier to blow your candles.

Johnny Rockets: Free hamburger with purchase of entree and drink

Medieval Times: B1G1 Free tickets. Can be redeemed anytime during the birth month, but must be reserved by telephone (they won’t accept online reservations). Alternatively you can do standby and save a $6 per person processing fee; however, you do run the risk of not having a seat. I feel like you don’t have to sign up, but in case you want a reminder email about this opportunity it could be helpful.

Whats your favorite birthday freebie to redeem? Are there freebies that I missed? Comment below!

XOXO, Rockstar

Back to the Basics

Published on January 16, 2016January 16, 2016 by Insider Irene1 Comment

2015 was a year of high highs and low lows. Change ran rampant throughout the months and boy was it exhausting. This year I’m hoping to go “back to the basics” and revive things that I’ve longed neglected including this blog – hooray!

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Cheap Eats: I’m a huge foodie and I hope to do a better job this year in sharing some of my delicious adventures. I recently moved to LA, so I’m beyond excited on what hidden gems this dynamic city has to offer.

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OOTD: Towards the end of 2015 I was better at reinventing myself and expressing my creativity through fashion as it was a therapeutic outlet. I felt greater confidence and loved the way it made me feel when I dared to explore different apparel combinations even though it doesn’t come naturally to me. Thrifting cool pieces and finding alternative ways to mix up a favorite garment is a challenge that this frugal fashionista is going to make it work! *snap snap* Tim Gunn would be so proud 🙂

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Entertaining Events: I’ll take you along some the different free events as well as exclusive private functions. Many will be local, but I’m also hoping to also travel to find some of the area’s best kept secrets, so stay tuned!

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Shopping Sales: What girl doesn’t love a good deal? I for one belong to that category and will share with you some of my awesome finds.

What type of posts are you most interested to see?

Love,

Rockstar

P.S. Some of you may wonder why shorted YuBargainRockstar to YuRockstar and it’s pretty simple – it’s short and sweet like me 🙂

P.P.S. I haven’t figured out how to update the facebook page. If you’d like to follow me here’s the link – https://www.facebook.com/YuRockstar-448554395192041/?fref=ts

The FREE Entertainment Resource Capitol of the World is…

Published on June 30, 2015June 30, 2015 by Insider IreneLeave a comment

*Drumroll*… the library!!

I recently started to go to my local library on a weekly basis and as an educator so I picked up a few books to learn more about students with special needs. It’s always good to sharpen your skills and of course knowledge is power!

But… did you know that in the county libraries you can rent dvds? I somehow knew this, but it only hit me recently that this means that I DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR MOVIES! WHAT HAVE I BEEN DOING?!

For the Orange County Public Library system, patrons can borrow movies for up to a week and return the item to the same or any of the 30 branches in the system. However, given the nature of the exchange, the movie selection is a bit more sparse and they tend to be older movies – think 80’s, 90’s (which didn’t bother me, but I can see some patrons being disappointed) .

Some other library (such as the El Segundo Library in Los Angeles) has an amazing dvd collection that’s reminiscent of a mini Blockbuster or Hollywood Video, but they charge $1.50 for a 2 day rental – still better than getting one from Redbox or going to the theatre to see a film and the money goes to buy new dvds for the libraries collection.

What’s one of your favorite frugal activities that can help you save money? Comment below!

XOXO

Rockstar

Photos and List of Birth Month Freebies!

Published on June 3, 2014June 3, 2014 by Insider Irene1 Comment

Who doesn’t love free? I certainly do and when it’s your birthday you bet that you have ample opportunities to maximize special perks just for being born! Some items are date specific (meaning you have to redeem it on your birthday), but many can be redeemed anytime during your birth week or birth month. Check out my list!

Entertainment

Medieval Times: So here’s the catch, you cannot make a reservation online, you must do it in person. Also, I was told that you can redeem it anytime during your birth week/month? Though I did it on my birthday

Food

Daphnes: You get $5 to spend! I got a BBQ Flatbread. Sign up here. ttp://www.daphnesgreekcafe.com/enroll-now.html

Denny’s: You get a free original grand slam or you can build your own! No sign up necessary, just show up and tell them it’s your birthday. Valid on your birthday.

Del Taco: Just for signing up you will get two chicken soft tacos and on your birthday you will get a premium shake (choices of vanilla, strawberry, or chocolate). You will need to sign up at least 48 hours in advance since they tend to process their requests slowly. Sign up for their fan club here. http://www.deltaco.com/connect.html

Farrell’s Ice Cream: No sign up necessary! You just show up! The birthday boy or girl will get an ice cream sundae and a parade of servers tooting some variation of a birthday song for the special person.

Godiva: Sign up at get $10 to spend during your birth month! I bought three bars of chocolate! Mmm… chocolate https://www.godiva.com/register

Red Robin: You can get any free burger (excludes premium burger) plus fries anytime during your birth month! Just show them your rewards club number and sign up here. https://royalty.redrobin.com/

Wienerschnitzel: Free chili dog! Fan club sign up here http://wienerschnitzel.fbmta.com/members/UpdateProfile.aspx?Action=Subscribe&InputSource=W

Veggie Grill: Free Entrée for your birth week! I didn’t get the chance to use this one but their entrees are healthy and tasty. Sign up here! http://veggiegrill.fbmta.com/members/UpdateProfile.aspx?Action=Subscribe&InputSource=W

Shopping

DSW: Sign up to get $5 to spend. Now you’re probably thinking what can you get for $5 at a shoe store. Well…. I bought a pair of socks and they are adorable. Booya!

Sephora: Sign up to be a Beauty Insider and you will get a free makeup sample during your birth month. This year I got a sample size lipstick and mascara from Make-Up-Forever

https://www.sephora.com/profile/beautyInsider/

Ulta: Sign up for a free makeup sample during your birth month. For my birth month they were giving out Calvin Klein mascara.

I will admit I spent like 3 days redeeming all these freebies and it’s actually a lot of work, but I’d have it no other way. What birthday (week/month) freebies do you enjoy? Comment away!

XOXO,

Rockstar

Wonderful World of Comics (WonderCon) at Anaheim Convention Center – April 2014

Published on April 28, 2014April 28, 2014 by Insider Irene1 Comment

I’m a cartoon enthusiast and while my interest for thoughtful storylines is nowhere near the obsession of the TV show characters from Big Bang Theory, I’ve always wondered what attending a Comic book convention would be like. I’ve heard horror stories from friends who had attended the world famous San Diego Comic Convention as tickets are near to impossible to attain and that the venue itself is overwhelming to say the least; however, its concept continued to peak my interest as its mysteriousness attracted me.

This past Easter weekend I was informed that there WonderCon, a sister comic book convention, was being hosted in Anaheim, CA – just a hop, skip, and a jump away! I took the initiative to investigate this event as it appeared less known, but was excited about getting my geek-on!

Here are some tid-bits about the event

-Started in SF and was called “The Wonderful World of Comics” but shortened to WonderCon
-Moved down to Anaheim due to SF venue remodeling
-3 day event is held annually during Easter Weekend
-Parking in the designated convention parking is $12 a car
-There were about 12 or so food trucks lined up outside
-Most participants come in costumes
-Hundreds of Vendors that sell comics, collectibles and clothes galore

When I first stepped foot on the Anaheim property, I was blown away by some of the cosplayers (amateur costumed characters- though many could pass as the real deal!) and overwhelmed by the amount of vendors in attendance – easily over 100 booths. I dressed up as Misty, a water Pokemon trainer and friend of Ash Ketchum for my cosplay debut – all items that I already own, with the exception of the red suspenders. Dressing up is all part of the
fun! I was even able to buy a livesize Pikachu at the event – I choose you! Haha…

The energy at the event was intense and I definitely wanted to make the most of this first visit. This year marked the 75^th anniversary for Batman. Rumors have it that Robin/Nightwing will celebrate next year. *swoons* Anyways there w 042714 Wondercon 3 ere various panels (discussions on comics, movies, the latest and greatest etc and of course the panels featuring people involved with Frozen or original Batman voice actors maxed out. So, to all you future Wondercon visitors, I would camp out at least an hour for popular panels. Gone are the days when you can walk in right at the start of a panel.

Nevertheless, I was able to catch a few and my favorite premier of “Son of Batman” an animated movie featuring Batman’s romance with villainess Talia and their son Damian (and future Robin). The voice actors came out afterwards to discuss their role and it really helped complete the VIP experience.

I was exhausted after the full day, but I would definitely return next year! I purchased a one day pass for $25- which is ¼ of anime expo and substantially cheaper than SD Comic Con. It’s a great alternative to the mass chaos at Comic Con, but allows visitors to experience the wonderful world of comics.

Who’s your favorite comic book hero and villain?

Black, White, and Red all over – 2014 February Outfits and Events

Published on February 16, 2014February 16, 2014 by Insider IreneLeave a comment

Happy Lunar New Year everyone, albeit late, but better late than never! February has been crazy busy with events galore and all with red themes. So today’s post will feature a few of my favorite ways to wear this “not for the faint” color. Hope you enjoy the post!

Every girl should have a red dress in her closet and this little Betsey Johnson number is one of my favorites – purchased at a trunk show in New York for $20 new (crazy I know!!). It’s a showstopper number and I absolutely love the layered tiers and the crinkled texture of this dress. I paired with piece with pearls and nude heals, making it the ultimate girly ensemble (but with a classic twist). Photographer David Lin did a great job in capturing this dress in all its glory. Check out the rest of his work here.

Yet, a skirt can also be a stand-alone piece as well. I recently wore this beautiful Asian designed lucky skirt at Yelp’s Sweet Social event in downtown Buena Park, CA. I decided to wear it with tights and a slick black blazer to pull the entire look together and keep warm as the event was held outdoors in the Krikorian Metroplex courtyard. The Sweet Social featured local businesses from around the area and yelpers and guests had the privilege to sample various food and beverage items. My favorite items were the dole whip Berrysweet (yelp page) and the salted caramel ice cream made from liquid nitrogen from Poof Ice Cream (yelp page). Mmm… yummy, delicious dessert indeed! Splendid photobooth was also present and we all enjoyed poising for the camera. It was a great event.

The next day I attended a Matthew Morrison concert in Costa Mesa, CA. Name not ring a bell? Matthew Morrison is a broadway regular, but most people know him as the High School Choir Teacher – Will Schuester – on Glee. Ah, yes… it all makes sense now. He serenaded the audience with a range of show tunes and blue grass music that was to die for! Such a talented artist and you bet he gave us an incredible performance.

The concert was hosted at Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall (yelp review), so it was definitely a dress to impress type of soiree. As I looked into my closest to find the perfect dress, I pulled out this sparkly Cynthia Steffe number – it screamed “pick me!” so naturally I obliged. I paired it with a white tuxedo blazer from Aidan Mattox that I purchased for less than 1/7^th of the original price (retail $350, Loehmanns $50) and my favorite red Revlon lip butter (in the color wild watermelon). I also accessorized my nails with my 1^st high-end nail polish purchase from Deborah Lippman‘s glitter line (in the color Ruby Red Slippers) to help add a pop of color. Red is such a statement color and it could easily be one that completes an outfit.

I love the color red as it symbolizes good fortune and can help anyone exude confidence.

How do you wear the color red?

XOXO

Rockstar

13 Moments in 2013

Published on January 1, 2014January 1, 2014 by Insider IreneLeave a comment

2013 was a year of extremes – the highs were high and the lows were extremely low. It was a roller coaster this year, and while a lot of changes happened I felt that I’ve grown tremendously from them. Here are thirteen moments of 2013

1. Spotted celebrities in the Golden State! I attended KLG and Hoda’s (The Today Show’s 4^th Hour) on location shoot in Hollywood, CA (blog post) – yes that’s Jaleel White otherwise known as Steve Urkel (!!!), Alton Brown during his “Edible Inevitable Tour,” Youtube make-up guru Ben Green (blog post) at the LA IMATS (blog post), and Giada De Laurentis at South Coast Plaza for her book tour (blog post). It was a star-studded year!

2. Chopped off my hair and donated it “locks-of-love,” an organization that gives wigs to children with cancer (blog post).

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3. Growing up I went to a language school on Saturdays, so this year I relieved my childhood memories by watching tons and tons of toons (not ashamed of it!) – including (in no particular order) 6 or 7 seasons of Pokemon, All Batman the Animated Series, Batman & Beyond, My Little Pony, and Justice League episodes. I’m up to season 4 for Sailor Moon (I was Sailor Mars for Halloween) and currently… I am on Season 3 of the Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtles! They don’t make cartoons like they use to.

4. A promise was broken. My heart shattered and I couldn’t comprehend the abandonment and betrayal. I felt helpless and naive for believing the best in people and while I was no saint in this marriage, the decision to have it end was already made for me. Divorce is a difficult process, but tackling it all while enduring tremendous health, financial, and family problems during the day and nightmares at night – I just couldn’t handle it. I couldn’t keep it all together and I honestly felt doomed. I’d never felt so hopeless than I did during that month.

I never like asking for help, but I extended my hand out – ashamed – but God was merciful and showered me with love and compassion. He knew that I couldn’t carry the burden myself and sent brothers and sisters to pray for me, hug me, spend time with me. I slowly regained my strength and confidence and while that extremely vulnerable moment could have easily consumed me, my God is good gave me light through the darkness.

5. Visited the “Happiest Place on Earth” twice and attended the D23 Expo (A Tradeshow for Disney Enthusiasts.) There’s something magical about this theme park and while the tickets are outrageously priced, Disney sure knows how to create a moment.

6. Drove across the United States from Boston, MA down to Pensacola, FL all the way west to Orange County, CA. My favorite spots included: Belgium Beer & Mussels from Monk’s in Philadelphia, PA, Coconut Cake from Peninsula Grill in Charleston, SC (Yelp Review), Red Royals from Joe Patti’s Seafood in Pensacola, FL (Yelp Review), Real Rootbeer from Tombstone Sarsaparilla in Tombstone, AZ, (Yelp Review) just to name a few.

7. I’d been a dance teacher for 15+ years, but completely stopped all forms of this art. This year I took it upon myself to learn and teach the iconic Michael Jackson Thriller routine to my most difficult students – teachers, ahh!! But it was a success

8. I had the best meal of my life (and most expensive – blog post) at O Ya (Yelp Review) in Boston, MA. The food is out of this world and while my teacher’s salary can’t justify the bill, it certainly is a once in a lifetime place to appreciate amazing food.

9. Received two “Review of the Day” (ROTD) features on Yelp’s Homepage for my write-up for Deli-licious (Yelp Review) & IKneadLove (Yelp Review); completed “2013 Yelp 100 Reviews Challenge” – just barely; and reached an enormous milestone – 500 reviews!

10. After sending many resumes, cover letters, and enduring “thank you for applying” letters/emails – I finally secured a job as a school counselor. Thank you God for trusting me to help these students.

11. I lost my German Shepard, Boomer. He passed away in his sleep. I miss you!

12. I spent nearly every other day with my grandma who had two major surgeries. She’s getting older and spending time with her priceless. No one every said that they regretted spending time with loved ones.

13. I made the switch over to wordpress, achieved over 90+ “likes” on facebook (facebook page), and hosted my first blogger event at Deja New (Yelp Review).

No one every said that growing up was going to be easy, but I hope that I’ll be able to take on the new adventures in 2014 with more courage, confidence and savvyness. My goals for 2014 include: laughing more, worrying less, and taking every opportunity to enjoy the moment. Here’s to 2014!

What are you looking forward to in 2014?

XOXO

Rockstar

“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!

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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