Ok so the secret’s out, motherhood is messy! You can’t really perfect it and trying to will only make you crazy, so instead I’ve tried to find ways to make mom-life a little easier and not feel guilty about it. Thank goodness the world and shopping malls are on board with this trend.

Mommy life … there is so much I could insert here (it ain’t easy, it’s the best life …) everyday the experience is different so there should probably be a T-shirt for each one … in fact, if there is a T-shirt for every different kind of day associated with mommy life I probably need all of them! Everyday is a new challenge, a new joy and sometimes a success. Shopping with two little ones is something that can feel incredibly stressful; it’s no joke that I probably burn more calories in stress sweat we were are out than in a hot yoga class. But on the bright side, malls like Erin Mills Town Centre are going above and beyond to make this experience more enjoyable and manageable for moms and families, which makes a huge difference!

This is kind of a random side note, but Erin Mills Town Centre was the mall I spent most of my teenage years in, in fact I would often ask my mom if my best friend and I could spend the day there when we had a free Saturday, I loved shopping back then too! We are still best friends and she actually met up with me to shop while she was in town, we took a little trip down memory lane and reminisced about days with nothing to do but shop! While we are a lot busier now with babies and life in general, we both agreed that the mall has undergone some amazing renovations and improvements that make it perfect for moms and families! Aside from the fact that it’s beautiful, as new moms we found that the services, family oriented facilities, layout and variety of stores made shopping with little ones a lot easier! They’ve seriously thought of everything! Here are a few of the ways that I manage shopping with two little ones and how Erin Mills Town Centre made this even easier for me.

Make It Fun

Shopping with a baby is kind of tough, but with snacks and a place to nurse I would say it’s pretty manageable. Shopping with a “take- off- toddler,” well that’s a whole different ball game! I have a runner on my hands, like I’m talking Forest Gump kinda stuff… he just keeps going. And as much as I love his energy, when we are out shopping I have to find ways to convince him that what we are doing is more fun than “I run fast!” Insert double-seated Fire Truck here and ditch the stroller! Yup, seven dollars for your sanity and you can actually get some shopping done! This and letting him take part in what we are doing, whether it’s ordering his own food at the food court or pretending to pay for things, finding ways to have him be a part of the experience helps a lot. He likes to feel like is helping or included in whatever we are doing, so I try to make sure that this happens whenever I can.

Schedule in a Snack Break

Before motherhood, I never planned this part of shopping ahead of time. If I was out shopping with friends (or my husband … he hates shopping so that’s a rarity lol) we would stop to eat if we were hungry. Now that I have two little ones, we always have snacks on hand or make sure to stop for a bite to eat. “Hangry” toddlers and babies make the worst shopping partners! Erin Mills boasts a beautifully renovated food court as well as some great restaurants. While we were visiting the mall, my toddler spotted the New York Fries stand so we stopped for a bite and he did the ordering and ‘paid’ for us.

Functional Family Bathrooms and Nursing Rooms

When you’re pregnant, a new mom or a mom with small children public bathrooms and nursing rooms matter! You will need to use a facility at one point during your visit so it helps if they are equipped for families and a variety of needs. With my first I was so self-conscious about nursing in public and when I discovered that some of my favourite malls, Erin Mills Town Centre included, had nursing rooms this changed everything for me! I wasn’t stressed about pumping beforehand to avoid having to nurse in public so a trip to the mall was something I started to feel very comfortable with. Erin Mills Town Centre has updated their nursing rooms and they are set-up with mothers in mind. I know this sounds funny to say, but it’s honestly true. There are multiple chairs for nursing, spots to warm up milk and change diapers all in one convenient location.

 

Everything you Need in One Place

When I became a mom my shopping experienced kind of changed. Aside from the fact that I am often shopping with little ones, what I want to get done while shopping has also changed … a lot! That’s why I love shopping at malls that offer a variety of stores and services. I don’t know about you, but I am a huge fan of “one-stop-shopping,” especially when your shopping experience includes a double stroller, two little ones and Canadian winters! For example, Erin Mills Town Centre has over 185 different stores and services within the mall and three major anchor stores; Hudson’s Bay, Sears and Walmart. They also have a Shoppers Drug Mart and boutique shops like David’s Tea. So while I was visiting Erin Mills I was able to grab a cute iced tea maker for some upcoming summer gatherings, sip on a delicious tea from David’s Tea, buy some gifts for the kids from Roots, and pick up some diapers for the babies and mascara for mommy at Shoppers Drug Mart. With two little ones in tow, the more I can get done in one place the better!

I love shopping at places like Erin Mills Town Centre because the family oriented nature makes me feel welcome and at ease as a new mom. There have been times when I felt unable to “go-out” as a mother with two babies (not that I wasn’t welcome, but that I would be too overwhelmed to make a trip). Knowing that I will have a place to nurse, a comfortable spot to change/feed my little ones and a variety of options for shopping makes the experience just a little easier.

As a new mom I’m always looking for ways to simplify or make an experience easier. What are some ways that you making shopping with little ones simple?

 

GIVEAWAY!

After such a fun afternoon at the mall, I am so happy to be partnering with Erin Mills Town Centre to offer one of my followers a $100 gift card to the mall! To enter see details below.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

1. Head on over to my Instagram page tonight for full giveaway details.
2. For an extra entry follow Josephine: a Creative Life Blog (follow button on the right hand sidebar).

Good Luck!

xo

Vanessa

*Disclosure: Companies featured often sponsor my posts. If I love the company or products I am more than happy to share them with you!