All posts by R.C. Liley

I'm an ex-mutual fund accountant who left the cubicle world to be a stay-at-home dad to my beautiful little girl, Avery, who entered our life on 11/15/13 and handsome little boy, Wes, who joined our family on 11/19/17. Also happily married to my wife, Kelley, as of 8/17/07. Sorry ladies... :) Fitness and nutrition is of the utmost importance in our family and we strive to reflect this in our daily life. I always prepare our meals at home and only go out if it's a special occasion, and even then I tend to not get much. Food should be fun and a joy to eat, not something quickly consumed from a fast food chain or scarf down before the next meeting. I have come from strictly logging high miles to train for the next marathon to keeping exercise varied and focusing more on strength. I still enjoy going for a run when I can, but nothing crazy, and I prefer hill sprints while pushing my daughter, Avery in the stroller. She loves it and I get a great workout! I want to show the world how to appreciate their body and feed it real, wholesome food while moving more throughout the day. In doing so, everyone would be healthier, happier, and we'd all live in a better place as a result. I blog mainly about my life as a stay-at-home dad and frequently include reviews, participate in campaigns, and share my thoughts on fitness and nutrition. If you ever have any questions or thoughts to share, please reach out as I'm always open to listening or helping others however possible. That is, when I have free time since Avery is and my wife are the number one priorities!

Going Green, Health, Lifestyle, Tips

4 Ways To Leverage Renewable Energy For Your Home

09/17/2021 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

Renewable energy is any power generated from natural sources like water, sun, wind, and biomass. It was estimated that renewable energy sources accounted for approximately 12% of total US energy consumption in 2020. These renewable energy sources emit little to no greenhouse gases in their production, so they are worth considering over traditional energy sources to combat climate change. Please take a look at these points if you wish to learn more about using renewable energy for your home.

Install solar panels

renewable energy, solar power, eco friendly, earth

Image Credit

Solar energy accounts for a meager 1.6% of total electricity generation in modern-day America. Nevertheless, it remains one of the popular and effective ways to generate and leverage renewable energy for your home’s needs. You can fix photovoltaic (PV) panels on your roof or in your yard. These panels harness the sun’s energy and convert it into electricity you can use to power your appliances and warm your home. Depending on the orientation and latitude of the panels, you can generate at least 10 watts of electricity per square foot for your home. Solar leasing and outright ownership are the two common ways to obtain a photovoltaic solar system for your home. Also, the question “How much are solar panels?” is a top concern for many homeowners considering solar. Although the panels’ type, size, and location can influence installation costs, you will pay anywhere between $3.30 to $4.50 per watt.

Install tubular skylights

Tubular skylights don’t generate electricity, but they produce free natural light, which you can leverage to slash your utility bills. A tubular skylight has a round metal tube, ceiling diffuser, and a roof-mounted dome. The interior of the tube has a reflective coating that reflects more than 90% of sunlight and delivers it via the diffuser, which produces a bright and soft glow of natural light. These skylights are worth considering for your roof over their traditional counterparts because they are quicker, cheaper, and easier to install.

Wind turbines

Turbines are typically found floating offshore or on huge tracts of vast land called wind farms. However, if you have enough land, you can install a small wind turbine to power your home. Wind energy is more stable and efficient than solar, and the right size wind turbine can generate most or all of your power needs easily. Nevertheless, it is critical to note that you will require sustained winds of 10 miles per hour or more to generate enough power for your home. Also, zoning regulations, local laws, and HOAs may forbid wind turbines, depending on where you reside.

Hydro power

Image Credit

Hydropower is an option that won’t work for many people. However, you are in luck if you have water flowing through your property. You can divert some or all of the flowing water through a hydroelectric generator to produce electricity for your home. Consequently, find the largest vertical distance the flowing water will travel and divert it, so it flows through the generator in a regulated manner. You can produce substantial power this way, depending on the vertical distance and the amount of water. In addition, you may need to hire a professional to install your hydroelectric generator if you have no engineering knowledge. Nevertheless, hydro power’s relative stability over wind and solar makes it an excellent option to consider for your home’s energy needs if possible.

Health, Life

How Long Do Braces Take to Straighten Teeth? Duration, Tips, And More!

09/16/2021 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

Wearing braces or aligners is the standard treatment for straightening misaligned teeth. Yet, how long one has to wear braces to get that perfect smile is not fixed. It usually varies according to the treatment requirements and the patient’s lifestyle.

Moreover, the orthodontist often gives instructions about oral hygiene, which promotes faster treatment. So, make sure that you follow them.

The Average Amount Of Time For Braces

Usually, it takes between 1 to 3 years for misaligned teeth to get straightened. However, the time can get shorter or longer as per the patient’s circumstances.

Having said that, let’s learn about these circumstances.

How Crooked Your Teeth Are

The most common reason to wear braces is when a person has crowded, stuck out, and space between the teeth. These are different types of crooked teeth. The Orthodontist often suggests getting braces for crooked teeth as it helps prevent gum disease, cavities, and enamel erosion.

Also, the duration of the treatment depends upon the severity of these conditions. In fact, some people even have to remove their teeth to make more room in the mouth. Such a situation increases the treatment duration.

Teeth Alignment When You Bite

It isn’t necessary that your top and bottom teeth align (also known as bite) the way they are supposed to. Generally, there are four types of bite,

Open bite
Deep bite
Underbite
Crossbite

If you are getting braces to treat a bite, it will take much longer than the treatment for misaligned teeth.

Type Of Braces Used

The type of orthodontic treatment also has a significant impact over the duration.

Metal Braces: These include brackets that are attached to your teeth and connected using a metal wire. To align your teeth, the orthodontist will tighten these wires regularly. These are generally recommended for serious correction of misaligned teeth.

Clear Aligners: Unlike metal wires, these are made of plastic-like trays and can easily be removed. It makes it convenient to brush and floss your teeth. However, you need to wear them almost every day. Otherwise, the treatment plan will get extended.

But, these are not recommended for closing teeth gaps.

Lingual Braces: These are aesthetic braces and are more effective than metal braces and clear aligners. Here the metal braces are glued behind your teeth. But these might not be a great option for everyone. Therefore, you must consult your dentist.

Diet And Lifestyle

Eating food after getting braces can be pretty challenging. Therefore, it is essential that you follow your orthodontist’s advice about what you can and can not eat. Otherwise, your braces can break, which will require an emergency appointment.

Likewise, you might also need to make some changes in your lifestyle. Ask your dentist if they can provide you a mouthguard to wear while playing sports or exercising. Also, you must visit them every six months for cleaning.

Wrapping it up!

Braces are essential for teeth and jaw alignment. Plus, healthy teeth also lead to better well-being. The period will vary as per your treatment plan. Even so, it is essential that you communicate with your dentist or orthodontist throughout the process.

Lifestyle, Parenting

4 Skills All Dads Should Master

09/16/2021 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

(Unsplash CC0)

Unfortunately, there is no instruction manual on how to be the perfect dad, so you can be forgiven if you don’t know everything about parenthood! Like most of us, you probably stumble along day by day and learn as you go along.

Still, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take a few skills-based courses now and again, or pick up a few books to improve your learning. You see, there are some skills all dads should master and these include the following.

#1: First aid

Bee stings, wounded knees, burnt fingers… there are all kinds of ailments and injuries that our children can suffer from. Some of them will be minor while others will require emergency treatment. While you can whisk your children away to the nearest hospital or doctor’s surgery, there will be times when you have to apply some kind of first aid yourself. For this reason, the types of courses available at cprcertificationnow.com could prove invaluable to you. They will also come in handy should you have to assist older members of your family, such as your parents or your in-laws.

#2: Carpet cleaning

Children are rarely the cleanest of people! Not only can they make a mess of their own clothes while eating, drinking, and playing, but they can create a mess within the home too. You will know this already if your carpets have ever been hit with food, drink, and paint spills. There have probably been times when you have had to act quickly to remove such spills before they become stains. But if your carpets are currently every shade of the rainbow, it might be that your efforts were unsuccessful. So, let carpet cleaning be one of the skills you learn. There is lots of great advice at this oldhouse.com so have a read and learn how to keep your carpets clean.

#3: Mediation

If you have more than one child in the family, you will understand the need for mediation skills. Siblings have a tendency to fall out, even over the silliest of things, and sometimes you will be called upon to solve any issues. If you say or do the wrong thing, slammed doors might be the consequence, and other things your children might do when they get into a temper tantrum. As a dad, your job is to promote family bonding, so arguments need to be nipped into the bud quickly. So, read any books on the subject of family mediation, look for articles online, and sign up for any classes that are happening in your local community.

#4: Car maintenance

You will understand the convenience a car can bring to your family. You will have the opportunity to go on road trips together, and such tasks as the school run and grocery shop can be made easier. Of course, cars do have a tendency to break down, so life isn’t all smooth sailing. From punctures to engine faults, all manner of things could go wrong. This is why you should learn a few car maintenance skills. By knowing the basics, you could prevent problems from happening in the first place, and deal with certain issues when they arise. So, consider taking a car maintenance course to improve your skills in this area, and sit down with your car’s user manual to get a handle on your vehicle.

After learning these skills you will become Super Dad! So, consider our suggestions if you haven’t learned these skills already.