Monroe Outlet Outting - Outstanding.

You're looking at the blog of the newest addition to the Dental Care Plus Group team. (So much for being concise.) I felt compelled to celebrate by taking a trip to the Chelsea Premium Outlet mall in Monroe.

Although the mall is still probably about 20 percent vacant, I love it. Yes, I'm declaring my love, and I don't just throw around that four-letter word.

Store highlights include:

North Face: most of the store was 40 percent off... including some snow parkas, tents, shoes and plenty of other outdoor clothing. I scored capri hiking pants and a sweater for around $40.

Columbia: some great deals around the store. My favorite? A day pack for $20. Has a laptop compartment that actually fits my netbook perfectly. I also snagged some sorely needed snow pants just in time for the White Death.

J. Crew: a beautifully versatile wool blazer... insanely on sale. $42. Down from $158.

GAP: $5 ribbed tank tops. My base layer piece in nearly everything I wear.

Other items that stole my heart: a sweater vest from Brooks Bros., a Kenneth Cole bracelet and Kate Spade sunglasses from Solstice.

There were plenty of other great deals at Banana Republic, BCBG and SAKS - but the items on here were my items of pride and joy.

I'll also say that the strategic design of the mall prevented a horrifically cold experience. It blocks the elements fairly well. Topping off the day with the Southwestern salad from Chicken Now was surprisingly satisfying.

Two thumbs up.

Ms. Manners on Shopping Etiquette: Digest One

Why hello there, fellow shoppers. Welcome to the first installment of Ms. Manners on Shopping Etiquette. The inspiration for this post comes from a shopping trip that my friend, Mackenzie, and I took to the Hebron GAP outlet on Saturday morning. We intentionally arrived there soon after the store opened because - holy crap - does it get crazy on Saturdays.

For those of you who have been to the Hebron store, feel free to skip the next paragraph.

Everyone else, listen up. This place is chaos on the best days. It's located in an industrial park and resembles a warehouse space, but has the typical white GAP walls. They carry the GAP Inc. brands' (Banana Republic, Old Navy etc.) reject clothes, which equals damaged or last season clothing. The aisles are packed so that shoppers can barely get through them. Searching through the miles of racks is a must because there's no order, and no telling when an item is defective. To add to the issue, they have carts for customers' "convenience" leaving little hip room in the aisles. That being said, shoppers can score amazing deals - amazing enough that the bargains makeup for the hassle.

The space issue and shopping nightmare (in many people's opinion) are the inspiration for this entry. Practice the following guidelines for common courtesy while shopping where ya have to dig, where there's only sucking-in-the-tummy aisle space and mass crowds. (This goes for Black Friday too!!!)

1. Aisles: follow the flow. If someone is going one direction while browsing through an aisle. Don't go down the same rack of clothes the opposite way. It's rude, it's pushy and a little obnoxious. Also, pull carts to the side.
2. Leave the kids at home. I know. I'm not a mom, and it may sound jerky. But I'm not a mom! I don't want to deal with your kids. Shoppings trips with children are stressful for parents. Stressful for kids. AND stressful for other shoppers. Shopping excursions aren't appropriate for them.
3. Fitting rooms: clean up after yourself. Properly put clothes back on hangers. Button them, zip them and tie them. Don't leave gum wrappers, receipts or anything else behind on the floor and benches. Everyone knows outlet stores can be chaotic. Why add to the sales associates' stress or other shoppers' stress for that matter?

Kindly follow these principles when on your next shopping trip to outlet malls - these principles can also be applied to any store but explicitly at outlet malls. Most people treat these trips as an all-day affair. The stores can be tight fits and people involved can be really overwhelmed with the situation. Being courteous is beneficial to all and can keep everyone's day a good one.

I like Old Navy jeans and other reasons I miss my waist

My most recent shopping mission mantra has been "I need pants... must find new pants." Then I buy five new tops and no new pants because I can't find any that fit well.

So last night I went to the Gap Factory Outlet in Hebron, Ky. with that same mission. New pants. And though I still managed to find myself with -um- four new sweaters (in August), I still scored two new pairs of pants.

Pause for momentary celebratory dance.

Then insert hypocracy. My rant about wasting time at discount Old Navy stores... yeah, sorry 'bout that. Last night I purchased pants of the Old Navy persuasion for $4.99 each. They fit beautifully and for that I'm pretty thrilled.

Which brings me to the title of this post, "I like Old Navy jeans and other reasons I miss my waist." Old Navy pants used to never fit me because while I had a small waist, I had/have "muscular" legs (friends' way of saying "nooooo, you're not fat"). Point is, they didn't fit me because if the legs fit then the waist was too big.

Now they fit everywhere. Bright side? My desk job has made me more proportional. Yay, right?

Gabriel Bros = FUN

The first time I went to Gabriel Brothers I was less than impressed - in fact grossed out might be fair to say. Then, when I moved nearby one, I gave it another shot. So glad that I did.

If you know your brands, you can really make out like a bandit there - so much so that it makes the hint of b.o. in the air bearable. Standard brand stand outs include:

• Ann Taylor (Loft too)
• J. Crew
• Kensie
• Betsey Johnson
• Limited
• Anthropologie
• New York and Co.
• Banana Republic
• Nine West
• Urban Outfitters
• Guess
• Calvin Klein
• Lane Bryant
• Delia's

Of course, for some of those brands, options are in short supply, but they're there and cheap. Usually they have Ann Taylor tops two for $10.

Gabriel Brothers also has merchandise from Linens n' Things' liquidation (I'm still healing from that). Chacos had their own display there about a month ago for $20 a pair. At one point, they even had Vera Wang place settings for $40. How nice is that??? Of course, I still couldn't afford even one but eh - it was good to know.
Recently -as in this week - I purchased a Banana Republic denim skirt, two vests from Urban Outfitters, a pair of pants from Anthropologie and a yoga mat - all for just around $50. Not too shabby.

A shipment from Urban Outfitters Inc. (parent company of Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters) must have recently arrived. There are loads of clothes from there right now.

Those in search of jeans should check out their selection of Guess jeans. They have a decent amount of sizes for $30 a pair. Those to the left for example are on sale right now at guess.com for $79.99 a pair and $30 at Gabriel Bros. I sadly couldn't find my size, but anyone who wears a size 30 or smaller are set.

I should specify that my Gabriel Brothers store is the one on Beechmont in Anderson Twp.

In the end, I definitely recommend giving Gabriel Brothers a chance. It's a little messy. A little smelly. Kind of a mess. But if you commit to real bargain hunting, you'll come out smelling like a rose - and looking like one too.