Best products from r/askTO

All of this, plus:
- make friends who are used to the weather and enjoy winter. They will invite you to do things despite the cold weather, and when you feel like staying inside and know everyone else is out at a party or a bar, you are more likely to succumb to the good peer pressure and won't regret it
- get thick snow sports gloves. MEC sells these, and they're not expensive. Also earmuffs. Keeping your extremities warm will make you feel cozier and more likely to go out

- buy winter gear that looks good so you feel less like a potato sack when you're out. It's good for your self esteem. Think that winter outer wear lasts forever, so when you invest in boots, you're going to wear those for 10 years. You want boots that you're gonna like wearing for 10 years.
- On the boots topic, avoid shoelaces. You want elastics or zippers ;)
- Get a parka that is WARM. For the coldest weather you can find. Splurge on this one. I don't regret for a single minute buying a Canada Goose, but there are other extra warm, more modern winter parkas these days.
- Get a travel mug and make coffee/tea/warm drink right before you go out - sipping something hot makes everything better!


- I like to listen to music on noise-cancelling phones when I'm outside. It distracts me from stuff I find uncomfortable, including the cold :)


- Take warm baths / showers - it feels SOOO GOOD. Invest in bath products. Your skin is going to get very dry and you might get rashes. For the rashes, this is the shit https://www.amazon.com/Aveeno-Active-Naturals-Eczema-Therapy/dp/B01HOHBWOY?ref_=ast_sto_dp - also use their bath thing for your hot baths, since the hot water takes the natural moisture from skin (but feels good so you will want to do it anyway). I would sell my soul to Aveeno and no I'm totally not affiliated with them (I wish!)


- Allow yourself to feel down sometimes. It happens to everyone. Write a journal - and write about the things that made you feel good or special, so when you feel bad, you look back at those and have good memories. Winter is perfect for journalling.


- Get indoor hobbies - knitting, crochetting, drawing, whatever. So when you decide to stay in, you don't spend all your time doing nothing and feel unproductive.


- Resist drinking and smoking pot - they're depressants and you will feel less inclined to do things that actually make you feel good. I'm not saying to not do it, just try not doing it a lot.


I hope those help you. Good luck with the winter. You can do it :)

Hi OP. In response to your edit... I knew it had to be something more than just 'socialization.'


> the adults constant in her life either neglect her growth or are afraid of their own shadows and quite un-encouraging


Here is where you're nailing the gist of the problem. This is likely the root cause of the fear you see manifesting in your child's behaviour. It seems your own influence is currently quite limited, unfortunately. Which means, that the time you do get to spend with her, should be as valuable and enriching as possible.


> I enrolled her in swimming lessons a few months ago (Ultra one), but the instructors nor I could convince her to dip her head below the water. The gist of my question is, how can I do differently, or do more so that she grows up a strong independent.


TONS of kids have a fear of dunking their heads below the water. Yes, even at her age, as I did. This is totally normal, and this specific example I don't think is something to dwell on.


OP, while I don't think anything is wrong with encouraging her physical play time activities, I think you need to target her security and comfort levels on a mental level first. Whenever she exhibits a fear, stop what you all are doing, look her in the eyes and calmly ask what is bothering her. Knowing she has a confident and capable adult around who can address her fears in an objective manner, will do leaps and bounds in helping her understand that the world does not have to be a scary place, even if the home she resides in deems it to be. A very important resource I think for all parents is the book Hold On To Your Kids written by 2 prominent family psychologists.


Bottom line: yes, encourage play time. But please do not feel the need to push her beyond her comfort level (not saying you do). I would also advise against using the words "Be Brave" too much -- bravery is an important virtue, but it is not the prerequisite for an independent person. You could try things like, "I know you can do this if you really wanted to"; "If you aren't ready today, that's fine, maybe we can try next time?", etc. Too often society pressures us to feel if our kids don't do something, they won't turn out to be independent, and I'm here to tell you that's a crock of b.s. As long as you provide a steady, solid support system for her, she will develop into herself in her own due time. (Sorry for the long post!!)

Hey there,

Back in 2009 I started what we considered Canada's first podcast network called Perpetual Radio. We had produced 7 unique weekly shows by mid 2012 with almost 300 episodes in total. We covered technology topics like Apple, cellphones, photography, social media, and we even had a comedy show. I learned a lot about the technology side of podcasting within my first few months and am always eager to pass along the knowledge I gained to those who can use it.


The most important thing when it comes to podcasting is content. If you don't have something to talk about, no one will listen. Even if your episodes are technically flawless, if you have large gaps of silence between thoughts people will tune out. One of the shows we launched was like this, a group wanted to produce a themed show but none of them were prepared in front of the microphone. Every point or thought someone made was responded by silence. It's important that the flow of the show is smooth and quick, dead-air on an audio-only program is very bad.


The next most important thing is the technology you're recording with. If the audio you produce doesn't sound good, people won't listen no matter how good the content might be. Invest in analog gear. Everything we bought back in 2010 seems to still be available for purchase today. I believe this is the main gear we had:


Behringer Xenyx 1204FX mixer

Tascam US-144 USB Audio Interface

Audio-Technica AT2020 Condenser Mics

Audio-Technica AT2035 Condenser Mic

Along with XLR cables, Rode PSA1 Studio arms, a headphone monitor splitter, and cables to record from 3.5mm headphone jacks. That's the basic audio kit we had from what I remember, everything connected to the mixer, then the mixer went into the Tascam interface via XLR, that went to the MacBook via USB. Now you can buy the Behringer 1204USB to eliminate the second interface device making things a little easier. It's a bit of trial and error if you aren't an audio professional, but I wasn't when we started doing things.

We used Audacity to record the episodes, then exported to iTunes for iTunes to export, an audio engineer we worked with for a few months told us it had a better rendering engine that produced better sounding audio. I just listed to it, some of our early stuff is pretty messy but the shows after we used iTunes sound outstanding.

The studio used to be in Mississauga, however I'm out in Niagara now. Probably too far to meet up but I'd be more than happy to help you out in any way I can. You can shoot me an email at nile@perpetualradio.ca or send me a message here, whatever works for you. Hope this helps!

The CH700N's offer fantastic sound quality and comfort. Sadly there's no case included and the noise cancelling is a step below the Bose and more expensive Sony's but they're a fabulous middle ground. I bet they go on sale at Amazon and Best Buy within a week or two for $149-$169. I'm waiting for this to buy a pair for a friend for Xmas I like mine that much.

Edit: if you can't wait these are both on sale and are great deals, I just prefer the fit/comfort of the CH700N's. Also buy from Amazon if possible, you can't return headphones to BB.

https://www.amazon.ca/Sennheiser-HD-4-50-Bluetooth-Cancellation/dp/B01MSZSL4I/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1542579728&sr=8-3&keywords=sennheiser+hd+4.50+btnc

https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/sony-sony-on-ear-noise-cancelling-wireless-headphones-with-mic-mdrxb950n1-b-mdrxb950n1-b/10585772.aspx?

I remember the only time I won at a Midway Game. I was 24 and at a Six Flags for the day. It was one of those midway games with the clown heads where you have a water gun and the objective is to shoot the water into the clown's mouth to fill up his balloon head. If the balloon pops before your opponent, you get a prize. Paid $5 to play

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Guy manning the booth thought I was cute, so he let me pick out whatever prize I wanted.

I won this:

https://www.amazon.com/Stuffed-Monkey-Animal-Registry-Expecting/dp/B07CZNXBWF/ref=sr_1_1?m=A26CYX8WGQZ9L0&s=merchant-items&ie=UTF8&qid=1542159980&sr=1-1

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Now I'm 28, and I still have my monkey to this day, he's one of my most cherished possessions-it was the only time I ever won at a midway game, and I will constantly keep him around as a reminder.

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Only reason I stumbled across my monkey online is because I'm looking for a baby gift for a friend's shower.

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I used one of these while in Mexico and it worked great:
https://www.amazon.ca/Universal-Waterproof-MoKo-Underwater-Cellphone/dp/B00ID1H5N8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487187774&sr=8-1&keywords=waterproof+pouch+smartphone

One thing to remember that I hadn't really thought of is that the touchscreen on the phone won't work while underwater as it detects touches everywhere. I had to start videos before going underwater and use the volume buttons to take photos and it would still do wonky things at times because it detected the water on the screen as touches but overall it worked well.

If you're planning to spend a lot of time underwater the full case is a good idea but the pouch worked fine for my day of snorkeling and I got great pictures and video.

Another thing that might be a good idea even if you do get another case is to pick up a small tube of silicone and put it around the seals before you close it to make sure it is sealed tight. The silicone should peel off when you open it up again but will give you an extra bit of protection.

Enter your postal code to find comm centres and times near you for free drop-in programs geared towards babies.
https://www.ontario.ca/page/find-earlyon-child-and-family-centre


(I'd like to include my 2cents here also: go and expose your baby to social environments as time out of the house, but just don't feel pressured to do so. There is this notion in our culture that we must 'prime' our babies to socialization when nothing could be further from the truth. What they actually need is a long term relationship with a fully attached, fully loving caregiver(s). I think this should be required reading for all new parents: https://www.amazon.ca/Hold-Your-Kids-Parents-Matter/dp/0307361969/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1536941112&sr=8-1&keywords=hold+on+to+your+kids)


OK back to our regularly scheduled program. Have fun out there!

I have this one from amazon for 2 people and I love it. The rice will stick to the bottom but we clean it out each night with water soaking for 20 min before washing and it's easy enough to clean. I used to change rice cookers every yr or two because of the peeling issue. This stainless steel version has been great.

I like to go to the park and chill on a bench while doing breathing exercises. Sometimes I listen to the Rain Sounds app on my phone (with earbuds), as I find the sound of rain and thunderstorms to be calming. Anti-anxiety medication is also very helpful (for me), first few days on them were rough, but it was smooth sailing after that. Eating healthy and getting lots of anaerobic exercise (running, cycling, etc.) is also helpful. I wasn't able to cope with just the natural remedies, and needed drugs to get me out of the rut I was in, but that's just me.

My doctor recommended this book, there's a lot of good techniques in there that helped me (and there's a torrent of it floating around online).

I've had some close calls. You can see in the stats that isn't particularly safe but I enjoy it and do my best. I got one of these for my bike and it helps to blast cabs and j walkers. much more effective than a bell, which I still use for passing etc

Have you considered getting some sort of a canoe, because there's nothing much more Canadian than trying to get laid in one and the immense amount of skill that takes.

All jokes aside, it's a really sweet idea. I'll PM you and arrange to take a quick birthday shoutout video for her. Mailing something from Canada could be on tight timelines depending on when this is going down, but you may be able to find some of this stuff online to be shipped to you. I've tried to find an Amazon Singapore site, but it doesn't appear to exist. As such, I've linked to the Amazon Canada site so you have an idea what some of these products look like. I'd offer to get them for you then ship them over, but I suspect the cost of shipping would make this exorbitantly expensive for you from Canada.

• Maple syrup
  
• Maple candies
  
• Maple Candies (different type)
  
• Maple cream cookies
  
  
  Here's some other thoughts, as kitchy as they may be.
  
  
• Anything to do with a beaver or Mountie
  
• Maple Leaf
  
• Canada Flag
  
• Niagara Falls
  
• Roots Clothing (this would be near impossible to find outside of Canada, but maybe you could have it shipped?). It's not cheap to buy, but the stuff lasts literally forever. It's some of the most well made sweatshirts and pants you'll find, anywhere.
  
  Either way, most of the things I suggested are iconically Canadian. They're not the "true" Canada per say, as really it's the culture that makes us unique. But, the fact you're going to the ends of the earth for her is about as Canadian as it can get.
  
  Good luck!

I highly recommend the Wyzecam. There are two versions:

V2: https://www.amazon.ca/Wyze-Wireless-Camera-Vision-Android/dp/B076H3SRXG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1536075044&sr=8-1&keywords=wyzecam+v2

Pan: https://www.amazon.ca/Wyze-1080p-Indoor-Camera-Vision/dp/B07DGR98VQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1536075058&sr=1-1&keywords=wyzecam+pan

The V2 does a great job and the app is pretty legit. The best part is how cheap it is!

Huge thread about it on RedFlagDeals

i know you said not acer but i bought this laptop last year

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total cost with duties and shipping was $423 USD ($556 CAD), they raised the prices so now its more like $761CAD

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https://www.amazon.com/Acer-E5-575-33BM-15-6-Inch-Notebook-Generation/dp/B01K1IO3QW

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same laptop in canada cost $675 CAD total

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https://www.amazon.ca/Acer-Aspire-i3-7100U-Windows-E5-575-33BM/dp/B01K1IO3QW

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saved like a $125 last year, so it was well worth it then

May not be the cheapest option, but we purchased these SIMs from amazon. https://www.amazon.ca/PrePaid-destinations-including-European-countries/dp/B01FI1JW72/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1ELIWSMEHEKKN&keywords=europe+sim+card&qid=1566398612&s=gateway&sprefix=europ%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-3

We've had two groups of friends use them without issue. One group stayed in Italy only and other group did a cruise and visited multiple countries. We trusted them and will be using it as well on our trip in 2 weeks.

Check out Starting Strength. Best program for newbies IMO. Just make sure you start with light weights and don't start challenging yourself until your form is solid. There are ton's of forums out there for form checks.

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https://www.amazon.ca/Starting-Strength-Basic-Barbell-Training/dp/0982522738

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B074BVJHS5/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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I just bought that one for my girlfriend for her birthday, and it seems really good. She uses it for therapeutic yoga as well as herself. I got the 15lb one, wish I got the heaviest they have though. You can just fold it over on itself to get more weight on you, though.

I ordered mine on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00XBC3BF0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_dVFsDb1PMNHCF

Easy to build, classic exec style, and very comfortable and sturdy

> Same here LOL I was like, did they mean the bikers ringing the bell? That can’t be too loud can it?

https://www.amazon.ca/Delta-Cycle-AH1000-Airzound-Bike/dp/B000ACAMJC/

^^^^^bike ^^^^^airhorns ^^^^^actually ^^^^^exist, ^^^^^just ^^^^^sayin' ^^^^^;-)

If size and collapsibility (I know that isn't a real word!) are important factors for you, this one is amazing:

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B000F1RGBU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I previously had a Fulton collapsible that lasted quite a few years, but when it finally broke, I did some online research and the above model got rave reviews everywhere (in camping magazines, umbrella tests, Amazon reviews, etc.). For the size and price, it is very well-made and it has never given me trouble during heavy rain and wind. I carry it around in my bag every day in case of unexpected rain, and it would even fit in a purse.

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As another option, Amazon has something similar https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07H24YLFS

Although the MEC one posted earlier looks better to me.

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Something like this.

https://www.amazon.ca/AmazonBasics-High-Back-Executive-Chair-Black/dp/B00XBC3BF0/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=executive+chair&qid=1565051217&s=gateway&sr=8-5

As long as the notice complies with Wrona v. TCHC it's valid and it's your choice what is more important - being there or being at work.

What I normally recommend is you pick up a camera so you can monitor from your cell phone. They range in price but even the cheap ones have a cell phone app

https://www.amazon.ca/Wyze-Wireless-Camera-Android-Version/dp/B076H3SRXG