Layers on Layers.

Any City girl knows it's all about layering. You go from extreme cold outside to stripping down the second you step inside anywhere. Every store and apartment is boiling hot so you need a tank top for indoors and several layers for the blistering cold outside. I wasn't ready to give up my adorable Rosegal bomber jacket so I decided to layer it up for a day out.

This is one of my everything but the kitchen sink outfits. More is more. My new philosophy is before you head out the door - add one more item. I'm totally over simplicity. There is a reason I'm LeHoarder.

My first layer starts with my $1,495 Elizabeth and James striped Holland fur that I scored at their sample sale a while back for just 99 bucks. I seriously wish I got more because subsequent sales were not as good.

I mentioned Macy's Backstage (their outlet stores) a little while back when I first shared these booties. Right now they have buy one get one free on all their clearance in-store thru 1/2 - totally worth treasure hunting! Both my hat and boots came from Macy's Backstage - thanks again for the giftcard!

From head to toe:

• Hat: BeMine NYC, Macy's Backstage, $12.99 but used gift card they gifted me
• Sunglasses: H&M, $1.50 (sale rack!)
• Coat: Elizabeth and James Holland fur, sample sale, $99 (RV $1,495)
• Jacket: Make Me Chic, gifted - now on sale for $29.90! FYI, I'm wearing a size medium.
• Dress: H&M, $3 (was $49.95)
• Watch & bangle: Daniel Wellington, gifted (Use code LEHOARDER to take 15% off purchases on their website).
• Bag: Mezzanotte Barolo, gifted (RV $195)
• Gloves: Surell, Century 21, $4.50 (RV $99) - back when 90% off was really 90% off...
• Tights: Spanx, Burlington Coat Factory, $13 (RV $28)
• Boots: Betsey Johnson, Macy's Backstage, $49.99 (RV $99) but used gift card they gifted me

I only wear Spanx shaping tights but as you know, I refuse to pay retail. Very few brands still make shaping tights. I've found that the lower end Spanx at Target just aren't as good. I used to find Spanx at Burlington Coat Factory but this year I couldn't find them on the cheap anywhere. Spanx does have an eBay outlet from but right now they were out of my size so I went to the actual Spanx website and they had some great deals in the sale section. PLUS they have a coupon code (N16SK9P) for 10% off and free shipping right now! I ordered this two pack that came out to $13.50 a pair each! Don't forget to use ebates for an extra 3% off! I find that if you get the right size they last for a long time. When you order too small the pull and are more likely to tear.

This amazing bomber is my base layer. They had me sold with the patches. I wore it several times prior to shooting and got so many compliments. My only issue is that it started to pill in some spots. But for less than $30 it packs a punch!

I didn't feel like shooting my favorite Moschino sunnies again so I pulled out these cat-like H&M sunglasses that I found for $1.50. Dress is also H&M ($3 from $50). I seriously love H&M clearance.

Couldn't do my signature red or pink lipstick with the bomber so I'm wearing my new Korres Morello lipstick in Mocha Brown. It comes as a duo with a lip liner but I'm just wearing the lipstick. You can see me wearing the red they sent me here - thanks Korres!

This Mezzanotte Barolo bag is just what I needed. I first shared it with you in a flatlay here. It's the perfect bag to take you from day to night and works as well with jeans as it does with eveningwear. It's so lightweight and better yet, fits my giant phone. Plus the combo of pale gold and gunmetal matches everything. It's available in several colors and on sale right now! I should mention that the buckle is supposed to be flipped up and somehow mine got pushed down for all my pics. Oops. Thank you Mezzanotte!

You can shop my style here:

This round of pictures were taken by my super talented 9-year-old, Ella. Halfway through the shoot she stole my fur coat and hat because she was so cold. She's wearing her favorite Justice plaid shirt and tee again - as a Justice Girls With Heart brand ambassador she's been wearing a lot more Justice than usual. Be sure to follow her adventures on Instagram at @missellasophie. My goal for 2017 is to teach my youngest to shoot as well.

On the stuff showing up in my mailbox front, I received the December Popsugar Must Have Subscription Box. This month it as filled with odds and ends that were gift worthy - though you know I just kept them all for myself LOL. Code SHOP5 (which never expires) will get you $5 off your FIRST Must Have Box! Thank you Popsugar for sending me this box to try!

Influenster sent me their Loreal VoxBox Ever Pure VoxBox. Be sure to sign up for Influenster here to get your free boxes of stuff! People always ask me how to get the good campaigns - my tip would be to link up all your social accounts and share with friends. Plus they have "snaps" and reviews you can complete - these all help your standing.

The candy canes were not included. It was really hard to even find Kosher ones but my kids were begging for them.

I actually use (and swear by) Loreal Pro hair products that I get for free when I hair model.  I hoped these would be as good - but I still prefer my Pro line products. My scalp is super dry and itchy this time of year and Loreal Pro is the only thing that sooths it. What do you use if you have this issue?

Stella and Dot (and Octoly - sign up here) sent me this amazing feather statement necklace (RV $159)! I've been meaning to style it and shoot but I've been a little under the weather lately. Instead I've put together a little New Year's inspo starting with a pair of $250 Louboutins from Nordstrom Rack, My $20 thrifted vintage Oleg Cassini sequin dress (complete with giant 80s shoulder pads which are right on trend) and my Rebecca Minkoff Cleo WOC for a sparkly pop of color. This is the one night of the year that it's socially acceptable to sparkle like a disco ball. Not that I haven't glittered up on a regular Tuesday LOL.

If you haven't already done so, be sure to enter win your own, new with tags Rebecca Minkoff glitter wallet on a chain! You can enter my giveaway here. Just 4 days left!

Happy holidays! Chanukah is still in effect and other than some cash no gifts so far. My friend Morgan of Between the Racks got a Chanel pin for Christmas and I'm totally dying. Traditionally Chanukah is more about gelt (money) than presents thou. My mom always taught me to buy my own gifts - it's easier than being disappointed. And I'm a much better gift giver than most of the people around me so at least I know I'm gonna love it LOL. Actually I take that back, Ella got me a pair of hot pink boot shapers at the dollar store. Cute, useful and thrifty. My girl knows me well.

The good thing about this time of year is that everything is on sale and it's the perfect time to score some great deals at retail. Target hit 70% holiday clearance off today so I spent the morning Target hunting - check out my Insta stories to see what I found! $.89 EOS and $1.50 giant rolls of gift wrap - yes please! In case you missed it, I'm uploading some pics to my @shoppinggalscloset Instagram account. That's more of my personal account where I share more deals, and less polished cell phone shots.

This coming year I plan on being more consistent with my branding and dropping my nickname, Shoppinggal. Right now it's probably a little confusing that my Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook is Shoppinggal, while my Insta and blog are LeHoarder. I hope to transition to my name (Michelle Blashka) and LeHoarder across the board in 2017.

I hope to share my New Year's resolutions and a roundup of my best 2016 deals in my next post. But for now, what are your hopes for 2017?

XO
Shoppinggal

Short and Sweet - and a Giveaway!

So when I say short and sweet, I'm referring to the cutest Rosegal floral embroidered dress, not this post because by now y'all know that I talk too much. I love a good LBD with a twist and the embroidery on this dress is beautiful. While I do wear a lot of black, I always look for a cheerful pop of color.

One day this week I awoke to 15k on Instagram and I couldn't believe it. I'm so grateful for everyone who takes the time to like and comment on my work - be it here, on Insta or any of my social media. Over the past couple years I've made so many new friends (and reconnected with old) who share my passions and I just wanted to say thank you. I appreciate you.

When I was just getting started I seriously felt like I was talking to myself. It's so gratifying to have so many people listen and identify with aspects of my life as a mother, fashion addict and bargain hunter. Or maybe some of you just like to hear my crazy stories? When you become a mom you lose a piece of yourself. It's easy to get lost in the newness of it while you are caring for little ones. Because as any momma can tell you, kids literally suck the life out of you. You give because you love them, but at some point you need to remember who you are, and what you love. My blog gave me my voice back. I truly feel like I'm finally on track - doing what I was always supposed to do.

This glittery Rebecca Minkoff Cleo wallet on a chain retails for $145, but I scored it at the sample sale for just $10! It's been a while since I had a personal giveaway so as a thank you, I grabbed an extra for you guys too! Tis the season! To enter scroll down to the Rafflecopter widget below. It's fun and sparkly - and perfect for this time of year.

But let's talk about my adorable Rosegal floral embroidered smock dress. When I order anything online I look at the measurements several times. I selected a size medium based on the measurements knowing it would be a looser design. So you can imagine my surprise when my beautiful floral embroidered dress...turned out to be a beautiful floral shirt. And I'm 5'5" - not even that tall. This would probably best work on someone petite unless you plan on layering it. When I was editing my pics I noticed that I was tugging on the dress in every single frame LOL. I knew the dress was on the shorter side and that it dipped in the front but it didn't occur to me they were giving the measurement for the longest point, not the shortest. Back in the day I wore lots of minis but these days I'm more of a midi girl. Regardless, it's a really cute dress so I just put on some tights and went for it.

My shearling jacket is actually a men's sample from the Reiss sample sale. Sometimes it pays not to skip over the men's racks!

From head to toe:

• Sunglasses: Moschino, Century21, free with rewards (RV $295, their price $60)
• Jacket: Reiss, sample sale, $125 (RV $1,495)
• Dress: Rosegal, gifted (RV $40.90)
• Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Cleo, sample sale, $10 (RV $145)
• Watch: Daniel Wellington Classic Black watch and cuff, gifted (RV $259 for the set with 10% off right now) - use code LEHOARDER to get additional 15% all purchases on their website.
• Tights: Spanx, Burlington, $13
• Shoes: Charlotte Olympia Bisoux, sample sale, $100 (RV $695)

I've been dying for a pair of Charlotte Olympia's kitty flats for ages. When I was cut from her sample sale VIP list I was a little sour about it so I planned on skipping the sale. Previous sales weren't all that great so I didn't think I would be missing anything. Then I saw a message from my friend that they had $100 flats at the sale and I literally ran over there in heels (luckily I was already in the City at another preview). I'm sure VIP cleaned out a bunch but I managed to snag the last pair of these $695 Bisoux in my size. While I would have liked some kitties, I was more than happy to walk away with my lips.

I need to thank my husband who took this round of pics. He hates being an Insta-husband but every so often I guilt him into it or bribe him with food.

Here's another close up of the glittery goodness. It's a regular wallet that has a strap that is removable. So cute!  I forgot to snap a pic of the inside so check it out online here. Yours will be NWT :) Giveaway is open to anyone with a US shipping address.

Linking up my look for you to shop. I included a midi version of my dress for those of you who can't do minis either.

Happy holidays to all! How exciting that Chanukah and Christmas starts on the same night this year. Who else is looking forward to all those New Years sales??!! I've been staying away from sample sales as the ones right before the holidays tend to be overpriced and geared towards people buying gifts. I like my stuff off-season and super cheap!

Also, congrats to Shayna G @polishjinx winner of my Baci Outlet giftcard giveaway!

Have a great weekend and good luck! Be sure to enter my Rebecca Minkoff giveaway just below...

XO
Shoppinggal

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dress of My Dreams.

At the first Teri Jon sample sale I attended, I saw a woman walk away with the previous version of this dress and I died a little. I did score this amazing number but it just wasn't the same. For months I dreamed of this breathtaking dress. From the high-low hemline, to the teeny tiny flowers, right down to the perfect lace. This past sale I got there over an hour early and was first thru the door...and they didn't have anything like it. Again, I died a little. In my head it was the most beautiful dress in the world and I neeeeded it.

And then an opportunity popped up - I accepted a project with Teri Jon in exchange for any dress. It was kismet. Let me tell you, in person it's even more spectacular. I got it right in time for my Nephew's Bar Mitzvah party.

I've been looking for the perfect choker for months. At the AV Max sample sale last week I finally picked up a bunch! It's seriously my go-to sample sale for jewelry - and the best part is that everything is under $25.

Unfortunately I forgot my bag and I was over 200 miles from home...so I went to Target. Found this clutch for less than $20. Seriously, where else can you go at 9am on a Sunday? Target to the resuce!

My mothers requests that I have a head covering at religious gatherings so I brought along my favorite fascinator. Married orthodox Jewish women cover their hair and for the longest time I struggled with it. This hat is more of a token covering (as it doesn't cover much LOL) but I've made my peace and I'm okay with that. I grew up in a pretty strict household and you can say I'm a bit of the black sheep. I like to think of myself as a little more modern orthodox and I do modest-ish at best.

These days it's more my vanity than religion that motivates my covered up looks. Your body changes when you have kids. Add being over 40 and it's an uphill battle. Right now I'm the heaviest I've ever been. Sigh. But it's so important to have beautiful clothing that you love - even when you've put on weight. Last time I was this heavy I hid. Literally. I didn't recognize myself. I refuse to hide anymore. In full disclosure I'm 5'5" and 176 lbs. right now. By some miracle my dress is a size 8. I've always looked lighter than I weighed (heavy bones?) so numbers don't bother me. I may not feel my best right now but when you look like crap you feel like crap - so I put on a pretty dress. Some days even a little lipstick can go a long way.

From head to toe:

• Fascinator: Scala, Century 21, $25
• Choker: AV Max, sample sale, $10
• Dress: Teri Jon, gifted (RV $1,420)
• Clutch: Merona, Target, $16.99
• Shoes: Shoes: Jimmy Choo Swarovski Whistler heels, sample sale, $100 (RV $2,450)

My eye makeup was all thanks to my Lancôme Voxbox from Influenster. (Be sure you sign up here to get your free boxes of stuff!) I wanted to try something different so instead of using a colored liner on my top lid I used it on bottom. I love this Drama Liqui-Pencil - I often play with blues, golds, greens and purple to set off my hazel eyes. The Définicils Mascara was not my fave thou. It clumped and didn't give me the long fanned out lashes my Korres mascara does. The lipstick is actually by Korres - it's the Morello Lipstick + Cotton Seed Oil Lip Liner Duo in Classic Red. I was very impressed. It's the perfect shade of red and it stayed on for hours. The company Octoly gifted it to me. If you have over 10k on YouTube or Insta you can apply to Octoly here.

For my girls, I used my giftcard that Macy's Backstage sent me to purchase these dresses for $15 each. I layered them with $1.50 H&M shirts and $1.50 tights from a sample sale. The hair accessories were also sample sale scores. The shoes were sent to us from Nina Kids Shoes - they seriously have the cutest shoes! These are the Alicea ballet flats. LOVE!

It was actually freezing outside but the lighting in the restaurant was terrible. The girls were huddled together in most of the pictures I took of them LOL. I really wanted to find a prettier location to shoot but as always we were running late (and it was 20 degrees out) so we had to quickly shoot in the parking lot.

Nina Shoes sent me these Idabell pumps and let me tell you - they are gorgeous! Even my flats wearing mom wanted to try them on. I should mention they run a little big. I tried sizing down but they were too small in 8.5 so I took the 9 and figured I'd pad them. For some reason I thought they would match my new dress but the color was off. I still needed to take a picture with them anyway. Check out the beautiful crystal heels!

My pics were taken by my son and teenage nephew B. Thanks guys! If you have kids, train them young!

You can shop our looks here:

Last but not least, check out my new Daniel Wellington Classic Black watch. I'm all about rose gold right now. It came with a matching cuff and you can get 15% off their website with code LEHOARDER. I'm also wearing my new Carolina Amato leather gloves ($15) and Marc Jacobs scarf ($20) that were both sample sale scores. Can't forget my new Baci Outlet jacket! I'm extending my Baci Outlet giveaway so you too can get this jacket with the gift card I'm giving away on Instagram! Enter here.

This week I took the week off from sample sale-ing. There are tons of great sales but so far I'm resisting the urge to shop. If I cave I'll be sure to share my adventures on my Insta stories :)

And I still can't believe I own the dress of my dreams. Thank you Teri Jon! Can't wait to wear it again!

XO
Shoppinggal

Check out the Baci Outlet + $100 Giftcard Giveaway!

In Brooklyn, tucked under the bridge is a little known secret called Baci Outlet where everything is priced $50 or less! It's like a year round sample sale always stocked full of goodies. Baci is an affordable Italian fashion brand with lots of cozy knits and soft colors. They restock every few weeks so you never know what you're gonna find.

Even more exciting, I'm partnering with Baci Outlet for a $100 giftcard giveaway on Instagram! All you have to do is follow us, like the photo and tag a couple friends. Easy peasy! Head to my Insta for more details!

Their styles have a very relaxed vibe - lots of comfortable fabrics! And how cute is their festive display?

I'm a coat girl so naturally I started there...

More coats - so much texture!

How cute are these preppy jackets? Love that they have a layered look with denim. So unexpected! I decided to choose between the blue and black and two guesses which way I went...

In the end I choose these adorable red booties and the coat in navy!

Baci Outlet
55 Anchorage Place, Brooklyn, NY
Open daily 10-5

I strongly recommend heading to Baci to see what you can score! With code LeHoarder10 you get 10% off your purchase now thru 12/31. Be sure to tell them I sent you!

I realized I do not spend enough time in DUMBO. They are so many Instagram-able walls and gorgeous views that you better believe I'll be back there soon!

Me and my Baci swag!

After shopping at Baci I met up with Shira of A Sequin Love Affair and chowed down at byChloe (again LOL) and then she dragged me to the Colette Miller wings just a few blocks away. I have been dying to take some wing pics, and Shira is the queen of NYC walls and knew just where to find some. We took turns shooting each other :)

Just wanted to note that I got Shira those flats for a penny at the Rack LOL - got myself the same pair too. And yes she's wearing my sunglasses and lipstick. She was bare-faced post workout but still managed to look super cute :)

My look from head to toe:

• Sunglasses: Moschino, Century21, free with rewards
• Jacket: Make Me Chic, gifted (RV $36)
• Dress: H&M, $20
• Bracelets: Rebecca Minkoff, sample sale, $10 each (RV $78)
• Bag: Balenciaga, Nordstrom Rack, 75% off
• Sneakers: Valentino, TJ Maxx, $99 (RV $745)

You can shop my look here:

This was the first time I wore my Valentino Rockrunners that I scored for $99 at TJ Maxx last yellow sticker markdown. They are actually insanely comfortable - I can't believe I didn't pull them out sooner.

I can't even begin to tell you how good things have been in sample sale land. Be sure you are following my Insta stories to see my daily adventures and deals! I have a family affair this weekend and my parents are visiting from out of the country so it's insanity over here. I'll have to have an epic haul post soon. I keep thinking about heading to YouTube to reveal my hauls - what are your thoughts?

Other than popping into Baci check out Racked's listings for all the NYC sample sales right now. This week I went to A.V. Max, Carolina Amato and Alice + Olivia 2x LOL. All the deets are listed in a previous post here. I also started uploading some of the pics to my Facebook page, ShoppinggalNYC in case you miss my Insta stories.

Thank you to Baci Outlet for sponsoring this post and giveaway! Check out their Instagram and Facebook pages for their latest deals and updates. Good luck to everyone entering!

XO
Shoppinggal