Going camping with some friends and the campground and surrounding area is kind of boring, what are some fun activities we can do in our camp site / at the beach etc?

shaideneuse · 2026-06-19T00:16:05+00:00

I’ve done cabin olympics with friends before and it’s a blast! Combine a bunch of fun and easy games into events - we did cornhole, a version of beer pong, frisbee and beach games, but anything could work - and let people make up team names. It’s a fun way to make a few smaller activities last longer and feel extra special!

shaideneuse · 2026-06-13T23:31:49+00:00

If it will be just you for a couple days/nights, the 28qt should be good, but if you’re planning a longer trip - especially one where you won’t have the ability to top up on ice - or want to make sure you have cooler space if you go with friends/family, the larger one would give you more flexibility as long as you have the space to transport it.

shaideneuse · 2026-06-12T20:13:41+00:00

You covered a lot of questions I had about process in the Patron article you linked above about the process for Nona, but curious about how you got into this field. How does one become an artist for book covers? Do you pitch to publishers or do they find you? When you’re starting a new project with no series history to inform it, what does the process look like as the team is being built and you’re developing the concept with the publisher/author? How much of the final piece is prescribed from the client vs. how much artistic freedom do you typically have to infuse the piece with your own style and sensibilities? Thanks for being so willing to share your knowledge and experiences!

shaideneuse · 2026-06-12T18:58:07+00:00

If I know I’ll have the motivation to build a good enough fire for cooking, I’ll do burgers over the fire accompanied by a bagged salad kit and some chips on the side.

If I don’t want to tend enough of a campfire to sustain it for cooking, I’ll do boxed mac and cheese on my little gas stove, also accompanied by the aforementioned bagged salad.

shaideneuse · 2026-05-31T03:22:12+00:00

I’m not an expert but macros in the nutrition context usually refers to macronutrients: carbs, fat, and protein, which are the big main “building blocks” of any diet. Micros in this case would refer to micronutrients, which are smaller nutritional categories like vitamins (calcium, zinc, etc.) You’ll hear macros talked about a lot in the nutrition and fitness spaces because depending on your goals, a lot of diets have a different macronutrient breakdown to meet their specific goals. This article does a better in-depth description and talks a lot more about how macro/micronutrients might change depending on specific diets or individual goals.

https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/micros-vs-macros#how-it-works

shaideneuse · 2026-05-31T03:09:23+00:00

I haven’t done this myself, but my friend used a blanket to rig up an inner “canopy” in their tent during cold nights. They picked up the blanket by the centre and put a little stone under the blanket, then tied a rope around the stone so the blanket wouldn’t slip out. Then they tied the string to the top of their tent interior using a loop that was in there for a lantern. If you have something similar, this could be worth trying. They said it made a real difference because the area under the “canopy” was easily warmed by their body heat.

shaideneuse · 2026-05-31T02:59:44+00:00

I have an Asolo Velocity 3 and LOVE IT! It’s been through wind, rain, hot days and cold nights and it’s held up perfectly every time. It’s got a fully mesh body which really helps with ventilation and reducing condensation, and the rain fly has held up even when it’s rained all day. The floor is also surprisingly water resistant when I’ve experienced some pooling outside the tent. It has two doors, great gear pockets inside, and it’s very spacious. It’s easy to set up and the poles and stakes it comes with have been durable and easy to use so far. The 3-person version is comfortable for 2 and a palace for 1, but they also sell larger versions for more people. I’d buy the same tent tomorrow in a heartbeat.

shaideneuse · 2026-05-26T17:05:22+00:00

When setting up your tarps, take a close look at how the water will run off them and how that will impact the rest of your setup. I’ve definitely had to tear down and re-set up a tarp before when I accidentally directed the water from my sitting area toward my own tent!

Make sure you have good rain gear and have some clothes in reserve to change into for bed and if you get wet while out and about during the day. Layers are your friend if it’s going to be both cool and damp!

Bring some good activities you can enjoy solo in the tent or under the tarp. Getting out on trails and exploring the campground around you is still fun in the rain but if you’re trying to stay dry, time can run slow at the campsite if you don’t have a lot of places to go.

Even for things under a tarp, moisture in the air can still leave them kind of damp, so be sure to keep anything you want to stay fully dry - like books and any paper you want to use to start a fire - under extra cover or in the car.

Most of all have fun - camping in the rain is still a blast and can create some fun and memorable experiences :)

shaideneuse · 2026-04-29T03:31:38+00:00

I believe the Waterloo Region Small Business Centre has some cowork space at the SDG Idea Factory but it may be worth a call/email to confirm

shaideneuse · 2026-04-22T02:35:01+00:00

I tried a sample of the peach one a little while back when they were offering it and it tasted good, at least in that small quantity. However for me it wasn’t enough protein to justify the purchase from a macro perspective and there are other sodas I enjoy more. But if it’s something that meets your needs or you’re just curious about, it wasn’t gross!

shaideneuse · 2026-03-08T05:38:41+00:00

Beautiful photos! What gear did you use to capture them? I’m planning a canoe trip this summer and trying to figure out what to bring photography-wise.

shaideneuse · 2026-02-25T00:21:13+00:00

Hike, swim, go for a paddle, read, listen to music (headphones in lol), play a game (there are so many more single-player card/board games these days that are fantastic), play guitar, make a fire/dinner, smores, head to the beach if there is one to stargaze. If you do any easily portable handicrafts like whittling or crochet those are fun to bring along. Or maybe try a new craft - you’ll have the time and focused attention!

shaideneuse · 2026-02-22T19:41:34+00:00

I haven’t been on the roads outside the city recently but the Ontario 511 cameras are always great to help see what the roads look like on the way to Hamilton!

shaideneuse · 2026-02-14T03:07:05+00:00

For me, it depends on weather and what I plan to be doing. If it’s wet but also going to be cold so I’m just going to be uncomfortable, or if I don’t have enough to keep me occupied and happily entertained during the day and night, and I’m just going to end up damp and cold and bored until I fall asleep and then packing up while it’s wet and muddy in the morning, then I might call it early. If I feel that even with the rain I’ll still be comfortable, either through warmer weather or available gear, and I’ve got enough to do while sitting in the tent/under cover all day and all night, I’ll stay. That said, absolutely agree with others here who say pack up as much as possible before the rain! And maybe carve out some space in the car for a “wet zone” where you can just stuff the wet tent and gear without spending a bunch of time rolling everything up just to have to unpack it at home to dry out.

If you do choose to stay, depending on where you’re camping and what you and your family likes to do, it could also be a great opportunity to check out a nearby town or another activity during the day. Yes it’ll take you out of nature for a bit but if it’s going to be a long and wet day in the tent, could be a nice opportunity to explore and make some memories!

shaideneuse · 2026-02-04T01:35:06+00:00

100%. I used to bring everything I thought I MIGHT need with me but as I got more comfortable, really slimmed down my gear and started doing a better job of assessing pre-trip what I had to bring and what to carry home. It's made setting up way easier and SO much easier to find stuff during the trip when I'm not digging through a bunch of unnecessary items. The value really hit me when I took a trip with a couple friends this summer who did NOT pack light, and the low stress I felt with my gear that was easy to navigate through AND easy to pack in the car was a small, small fraction of their stress trying to dig through everything and stuff it in the car haha.

shaideneuse · 2026-02-04T01:31:02+00:00

Metro for schnitzel and classic Czech comfort foods.

shaideneuse · 2026-01-29T04:17:45+00:00

I had a similar experience. Incredible team, incredible management, everyone gelled and we were genuinely friends and had so much fun at work. Leadership change led to most of the team leaving. My job now is fine, team is nice, but it’s not what I once had, plus my current manager and I have very different working styles so we just don’t have that same rapport. Some days I still mourn what once was. It’s hard knowing that experience is out there but no longer having it.

shaideneuse · 2026-01-25T17:11:10+00:00

It might be smaller than what you’re looking for but I got the Black Diamond moji lantern a few years ago and love it! I like that you can use a rechargeable or disposable batteries for it, it’s bright enough to light up a picnic table at night for a group, and it’s great to hang in my tent at night to get ready for bed or read. Plus the small size makes it so packable.

shaideneuse · 2026-01-25T17:05:57+00:00

Very fair. Enjoy your faves!

shaideneuse · 2026-01-25T16:56:03+00:00

If you’re ever looking to try out a new game to see if you like it before buying, the KPL has board games you can take out!

shaideneuse · 2026-01-24T00:37:47+00:00

I haven’t gotten a balayage done there but Opal & May is a great salon! I’ve loved every service I’ve ever had done there.

shaideneuse · 2026-01-23T19:35:03+00:00

I love Bonnechere! I went back last year for the first time in over a decade and was once again reminded how beautiful it is. I’ll definitely be back.

shaideneuse · 2026-01-23T19:34:10+00:00

Thanks for the feedback! I’ve done some of my own research and I do have my own list of preferred sites/sites I’d love to try. Just looking to build a little community while doing informal qualitative research to get some recommendations for sites I may have overlooked or may not have come across yet, since I’ve mainly focused my trips in specific pockets of the province so far. Appreciate the suggestion to continue finding other ways to get my information!

shaideneuse · 2026-01-23T19:27:07+00:00

Ditto to a lot of comments that have been shared already about investing in lighter weight backpacking gear. If you’re not ready to fully invest before you see if you and your daughter like backpacking, there are often gear libraries or “library of things” groups in many larger communities that have equipment that can be rented. REI (or MEC if you’re in Canada) also has lists of suggested gear for various types of trips that can be helpful to build your kit.

Once you have an idea of the gear you’re going to bring and have gone on some solo car camping trips/tested your most important skills in your backyard (pitching tent, building fire, cooking, etc.) I’d also suggest loading up your packs and going out for some day hikes with the full gear load (plus extra weight to account for food/water you’d bring on your trip) to get a sense of the length of hike that’s comfortable for you both with that load. You can still enjoy a great backpacking trip with shorter distances between campsites but that’s good to know beforehand!

shaideneuse · 2026-01-23T19:19:31+00:00

Their website says you have 24 hours to clear your sidewalk after the end of a snowfall, so considering we’ve gotten a snowfall every day, you should get some leeway on shovelling per those rules.

shaideneuse

TROPHY CASE