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!
Life, Lifestyle, Tips

5 Growing Cities to Purchase a Home

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Hey dads, is it time to start looking into a city where you can purchase a home and raise a happy family? Whether you’re a stay at home dad or one who is looking to provide the best upbringing for his kids, you’re probably looking for a city that will offer a variety of benefits for you and your family.

home, family, mortgage, house, moving, growing, finance

As you set about to purchase a home where your family can grow and thrive, consider these 5 cities below that are all growing in one way or another and where you’ll find plenty of top reasons to shop around for the perfect house that you can make a home with your loved ones.

1. Bend, Oregon-A beautiful state, Oregon offers plenty in the way of natural beauty, as well as financial growth. Bend, Oregon may not be as well-known as some other cities like Portland, but it’s fast getting recognized as “the place to be.” For one, the area offers a plethora of fun outdoor activities, from snowboarding to mountain biking and trail running, so if your family is all about being in nature, this could be the ideal location for you.

2. Denver, Colorado-A state that could give Oregon a run for its money, the state of Colorado is gaining popularity, drawing thousands of outdoor loving people on a yearly basis. Denver, in particular, is fast becoming a favorite city for many to move to. This could be because of the proximity to amazing vacation destinations like Breckenridge and Aspen, so if you’re thinking about moving to this popular city, consider VA loans Colorado, which can put you in the position to find a beautiful home for you and your family, whether it’s in Denver itself, or in any of the cities near the front range.

3. Fort Myers, Florida-Found in southern Florida, Fort Myers is an ideal location for anyone who wants to live near beautiful beaches without living in the somewhat expensive city of Miami. One reason many people are moving to Fort Myers is because of the value of living in relation to the cost of owning a home and living there. With its relaxed atmosphere and beautiful nature, as well as gorgeous estates, it’s a charming place to live and could be the perfect place to raise your family.

4. Vista, California-One thing that stands out about Vista, California is both the relaxed environment, as well as the schools in the area. Close to San Diego, you can have the hustle and bustle of big city life at your fingertips while still being able to provide a calmer living experience for your children. With your children’s school being one of the most important things to think about as a parent, if you want to purchase a home in southern California, this could be the ideal city for you and yours.

5. Austin, Texas-There is a running “joke” in Austin about how things have changed since Californians have come in hordes to this south-central Texas city. The thing is that it’s true. Known for the lower taxes and the lively atmosphere found in Austin, many people from other states have taken to this Texan city, both for the live music, good food, and lack of harsh winters. While it is known to be a great place to party and is known for festivals like SXSW and ACL, it’s actually an ideal place to raise a family. Because of its growth, homes are selling for very high prices, but with plenty of suburbs in the area close enough for a quick 20 to 30 minute drive to downtown Austin, there are possibilities, whatever your price range may be.

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In Conclusion

If you want to provide your children with great opportunities and a beautiful place to live, these five cities are growing in popularity and provide a number of benefits, both for you and your children. From Texas to Florida, there are various positives to buying a home in any one of these cities.

Life, Parenting

How to Make Your Wife Feel Special on Mother’s Day

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While mothers should be appreciated every single day, there is only one official day of the year that is solely dedicated to them: Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day is a special time for children to show their mother just how much they love her and for husband’s to treat their wives like a queen. On Mother’s Day, your mom should not be bothered with any tasks, it is the one day a year she gets to take the entire day off. And Mother’s Day is not just for kids, husbands should partake in the planning and gift buying, too! Your wife is the mother of your kids, after all. Get your kids in on an entire day’s plans that are completely devoted to your wife. Go above and beyond this year and follow these tips on how to make your wife feel special on Mother’s Day, because she deserves it:

  1. Do Her Chores

If there is one day a year your wife should get off from doing chores around the house, it is definitely Mother’s Day. Wake up early and clean the house, do her laundry, organize her desk, whatever it is you know needs cleaning but she has been putting off. Take on some more responsibilities, as nothing will put a smile on her face more than waking up to a freshly cleaned house.

  1. Breakfast in Bed

Breakfast in bed is an absolute necessity for Mother’s Day. Make a plan with your kids the night before to wake up early and very quietly make breakfast together. You will want to have a full spread, equipped with pancakes, eggs, bacon, toast, orange juice- the whole nine yards. There’s nothing quite like your wife opening her eyes to a beautiful breakfast spread made by you and the kids, for a change.

  1. Surprise Her with Flowers

After you do her chores and make her breakfast in bed, surprise her with the best flowers for Mother’s Day you can find. Nothing says “Happy Mother’s Day” more than a beautiful bouquet of flowers waiting for her when she comes down the stairs in the morning. Your wife probably has specific flowers that are her favorite, so make sure you subtly figure that out beforehand.

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  1. Take Her Out to Dinner

It’s Mother’s Day, your wife deserves to be treated to a nice dinner. Make sure your kids clear their schedules and make a reservation at that one restaurant you know she has been dying to go to. She is probably the one who usually cooks and makes all the dinner reservations, so taking her out will be a nice treat.

  1. Take Lots of Pictures

Something really sweet and subtle you can do throughout the day is taking lots of pictures. Get them all printed out and then surprise her with them as a bonus gift a few days later. Documenting the day is something the entire family will be able to look back at years down the road. Better yet, use a polaroid camera so you can get the photos developed immediately.

  1. End the Day with a Nice Gift

To finish out your perfectly planned Mother’s Day, you will definitely want to get her a nice gift. Get your kids all in it together so it will be really special, just make sure it is something she will actually like. Jewelry is always a safe option, but if you want to get her something more meaningful, a personalized family portrait is a gift she will cherish forever. Do not forget to get her a heartfelt card, too!

Mother’s Day is a special occasion to show wives and mothers how much we appreciate them. While there might be no perfect way to show this, any of these tips should do the trick. Treat your wife to an elaborate day filled with fun activities and gifts. Motherhood is no easy task, she certainly deserves an extra special day.

Life, Lifestyle, Tips

5 Hacks to Make Your Moving Day as Stress-Free as Possible

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Moving day is one of the most stressful times that you’ll face. Although shopping for homes and moving into your new home is fun, the process of moving itself can be difficult. For this reason, it is paramount to prepare as much as you can before the big day. Try and create the most detailed plans beforehand and prepare for all the eventualities so you aren’t caught off guard. Also, hiring professionals like this Brighton removals company will help reduce your stress and allow you to focus on other details that need to be addressed. While you should be excited to move into your new home, it’s understandable to feel stress and anxiety about the big day. So, here are 5 hacks to make your moving day stress-free.

  1. Get Your Materials

Make sure that you have all of the packing materials and supplies you need way ahead of your move. These will serve as constant reminders that you should start packing as soon as possible. Purchasing your boxes last minute will lead you to procrastinate other parts of the moving process, like changing your address.

  1. Make a Packing List

Make sure that you have a packing list before you pack anything so that you can create a system and keep track of everything. While it may be tempting to throw things into boxes at random to speed up the process of packing, you’ll find yourself a lot more stressed on moving day when you can’t seem to find anything.

A good system is to pack room by room so that all of the items for each room are together in the same boxes. You should also make a list of the items that you want to keep an eye on, like family heirlooms, which can easily get lost in the shuffle. As soon as those items are packed, make a note on your list about which box it is packed in. Managing the physical items is only one part of the process. You also have to think about your mail and billing accounts. Many people forget to update their details with banks and utility providers until the last minute. Using a service like Slothmove helps you manage these changes in one place. It saves you from having to call every individual company yourself. This way, you can be sure that your bills and letters arrive at your new home from day one.

If you must, label a few of your boxes so that you can keep better track of them after they’ve been moved to the new home. You may also benefit from numbering every box and writing down its contents on your list. This may seem like a daunting task, but if you start early enough, you can tackle a little bit of your list each day, making moving day a lot less stressful.

  1. Prep the Kids
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Moving is difficult when you’re single, but when you add children to the equation, things can get even crazier. Preparing your kids to move ahead of time can be helpful. This time will also be stressful to them, especially if they’re moving school districts and will have to essentially start over somewhere new.

Get your children involved in the packing process so that they know where all of their belongings are for move-in day. You may also want to invest in some new games for them to play in an empty bedroom during all of the moving day chaos.

  1. Buy New

Something that can make moving day less stressful is to purchase new big-ticket items when possible so that you have one fewer large item to move. If your sleep mattress is overdue for an upgrade, you can order one online and have it shipped to your new home. Selling old furniture or throwing it out can be especially beneficial when moving across the country, as the more items you have, the more expensive it will be for a moving company to move your belongings.

  1. Hire a Moving Company

One of the things that makes moving day so stressful is the fact that you’re doing everything yourself. Packing is easy once you start, but the process of moving itself can be difficult. If you’re moving an entire home with a few trucks, you may run into trouble and extra stress. Hiring a moving company takes the hassle out of moving. You know all of your things will get there safely so that while your professional movers are bringing your boxes and large items inside, you can get started on unpacking. Make sure to seek out reputable companies like https://www.atlantahomemovers.com/ to take care of the big move so you can focus on the smaller yet equally important tasks of moving.

When hiring a moving company, make sure to do your research to make sure that they offer coverage for any items that are lost or damaged during your move. You should also compare pricing to find the best services near you.