I do not like shopping. I especially do not like shopping with large crowds and overly cheery tunes of saccharine joy ringing in my ears. Yeah, I know. Bah. Hum. Bug. Throw a 3 month old infant into the mix and I'm a HumBug with heart palpitations!
That said, I'm not a complete curmudgeon. I do like the festive season - food, friends, family, and yes...I even enjoy exchanging gifts, I just wish the process of getting to the 24th was easier!
In anticipation of this years shopping horror I started early and discovered a few things to make the whole experience easier...
Online shopping - it really doesn't get any better than browsing and shopping in your PJs with coffee in hand. The Bay is charging $8 for delivery which I think is ridiculous but at least I knew exactly what I wanted upon arriving at the store. (Spent $10 in parking so in hindsight that $8 doesn't look so bad)
One of a Kind Show - I've always thought it a bit cheeky for a tradeshow to charge admission so I can shop from its vendors. Now I get it. In one afternoon I shopped a lot of unique stores all in one spot. Since my dear son hates the car seat this saved me from driving all over town with a screaming infant - worth every cent of that $10. Plus the nursing/changing room is pretty darn nice and very convenient. Only a few days left so hurry if you want to hit this show!
Yorkville area - A few specific stores I wanted to hit in the Bay/Yonge/Bloor area. I can't name names (in case family is reading this) but most stores had an elevator so it was easy to maneuver with the stroller. And come lunch time I hit Holt's - the bathroom on the second floor is bright, clean, and has a decent mother's room for nursing and changing.
I'm 90% done with the dreaded shopping and I haven't set foot in a mall. I'll raise my glass of eggnog to that!
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