I pulled into the parking lot, found the perfect parking spot, unbuckled Little One from her car seat, grabbed a shopping cart and off we went!  My heart started racing as we entered the store. The familiar swoosh of the automatic doors, the smell of rotisserie chicken wafting through the air, and so many objects to stimulate the senses — all part of every Loblaw shopping experience for me.  Sounds a bit crazy, yes?

Of course, with a little one in tow, it always makes for an interesting shopping experience.  Though Little One is generally really great when out on shopping excursions, she’s still a 4 year old. She sometimes gets it in her head that she wants something and has to have it. I sometimes let her pick one thing that she absolutely wants. Most of the time, it’s something like a certain kind of yogurt or fruit. That’s fine with me. Sometimes, it’s something like ‘fruit’ gummy candies that I know she won’t eat and will just end up wasting.  Still, she sometimes won’t relent. This is when I wish I had my husband with me so he could take Little One down the grocery aisles and go through what I have to endure…while I go about and get all our groceries done.

Like I said, Little  One’s pretty easy, but sometimes shopping takes a bit longer with her.  At least she’s good with the “Look with your eyes, not with your hands, please”.

Here are some shopping tips that make shopping easier for me.

Shopping Tips to Keep You Savvy:

1. Before you leave your house, take a look at what you have in stock. This sounds really obvious, but how many times have you gone shopping and when you returned,  you realized, “Oh, man! I didn’t know we were out of [butter, cheese, milk, whatever]!”?
2. Make a list!  I know from personal experience that if I don’t make myself a list, I tend to buy a whole lot of things that I didn’t intend on buying.  Though I love perusing all the aisles to see what’s exciting on all the shelves, I am also capable of doing a quick in-and-out/get-what-I-need-and-head-to-the-cashier. Lists are a good thing.
3. Shop with a friend! I love going shopping with friends…even if it’s grocery shopping! Time passes quickly when you’re having fun. Plus,  you can do the divide-and-conquer thing if you need to. One of my girl friends and I do that. I’ll say, “Can you look for the PC Organics Quinoa for me while you’re in that aisle? I’ll head to the dairy section. Do want butter?” For us, this works extremely well and we’re super productive!  The only thing is that I like choosing my own produce!
4. Menu plan!  This kind of ties in with tip #1.  If you make a menu plan, you’ll know what you need to buy. Check what you have in stock, and if you don’t have it, it’s easy to just add to the list. If you know what meals you’re making for the week, you’ll know what you need to have in your fridge and pantry.
5. Bring reusable bags!  Forgo the plastic grocery bags and having to pay a few cents per bag. Bringing your own bags saves money in the long run and is easier on the environment.
6. Check online flyers for sales before you head to the store.  If you have the chance, it’s always good to see what is on sale. This way you can plan your shopping trip. I know that if I’m going grocery shopping and I quickly leaf through the flyers, I can form a strategy for shopping and mentally map out which sections and aisles I need to go to.
7. Choose at a store that has everything you need. If you shop at a store where you can cross off items on your check-list, it saves you time. Think of all the time you’d save if you didn’t have to drive from store to store, find parking, go shopping, and head to multiple stores. I love stores that have groceries, household items, clothes, personal hygiene items, and everything I need…all  under one roof.

One of my not-so-big secrets is my love of Loblaw stores.

It’s my one stop shop for all things family.  I can get the food items I need, items for the house, for cleaning, for gardening, and yes…clothing for the family!

First off, I’m a huge President’s Choice fan!  If you follow me on Twitter, you know how much I love my President’s Choice Memories of Thailand Fiery Chili Pepper Sauce (and all the other PC products I am a vocal supporter of).

Ever since I found out I was pregnant with Little One (*gulp* She’ll be turning 5 years old next month!), I fell in love with Joe. Not just Joe for babies and little ones, but for the entire family!  I’ve found so many beautiful pieces for all the members of the family and there are always great prices.  I get Little One’s socks and lots of her clothing there. The best part is that I can do my grocery shopping and find clothes for my daughter all in one store. When you’re a busy mom, you know that time is not something we have much of.

Thinking back, I realize that most of Little One’s baby items are from Joe.  Even her favourite fuzzy blankie is from Joe Fresh!  Her first pair of Winter boots were also from Joe.  Boots,  hat, mittens, coat…all from Joe.

Her raincoat is also from Joe.

I simply cannot shop at a Loblaw store without checking out the Joe Fresh baby and kids section.  When Little One was a baby, I used to get her onesies and sleepers there.  Because the prices were always so good, I’d often pick up a few extras and save them for gifts for friends’ babies.

Here is another reason why I love Loblaw…

The Mommy of all Baby Events at Loblaw Stores

It’s a known fact that when shopping, moms look for a store that has everything they need for baby,  their family and themselves. Loblaw knows that we have so much  to juggle, so making smart decisions on where to shop means we can cross things off the to-do list, ensuring we have more time to spend with our kids. At Loblaw, you can shop for quality food, baby necessities and at some locations, even clothes for the entire family!

To make shopping even more convenient, Loblaw is launching a new program perfect for moms – The Mommy of all Baby Events. From October 10 –24, Loblaw store will offer fabulous promotions and events from cooking classes, dietitian demos, special sales and fun contests. Check out your local Loblaw store to find out more, or go to themommyofallbabyevents.ca! Also available at Dominion stores in Newfoundland & Labrador only.

What are some of your shopping tips for moms?

Disclosure: I am a P&Gmom/mamanP&G. As part of my affiliation with this group I receive products and special access to P&G events and opportunities. The opinions on this blog are my own.