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!
Parenting

How to Make a CBD Healing Salve

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cbd, cannabis, healing, pain relief, anxiety, health, fitness

Many are dreaming about growing and creating their own medicine and some are relying on organic cannabis that they can grow at home. The CBD salve may be at the top of the list because it can reduce irritation, inflammation, and pain. Know more on how to choose the right creams and lotions in this website. The making can also be a simple process, and much like adding terps to dabs, you can customize this according to what you need.

About the Salve

If you ask about salves, they are simply healing ointments that you put on your skin. They include ointments, balms, lotion, and creams. They are thick in consistency and also gentle to the skin. Most of them can be kept for months on a shelf. The nourishing and essential oils that are commonly used are olive, coconut, and sweet almond.

If you want to make a cream mixture, then you can use coconut oil as you can quickly get this from stores near you, and it binds well with the fats of the cannabis plants. The effect is also moisturizing to the skin. A few drops of olive oil can also make the absorption process smoother.

A salve contains a mixture of butter and waxes that make the ingredients stay in a semi-solid form even if they are placed at room temperature. The binding agent is typically beeswax because it’s easy to incorporate, and it’s available in many places. Adding beeswax will result in a smoother cream. Another thing that you can add is cannabis. Just combine it with the other ingredients and get the full benefits in no time.

Raw or Decarboxylated Cannabis?

Decarboxylation is heating cannabis at an ideal temperature at a good time to transform its potent cannabinoids into their acid forms. The acid is more potent than the raw plant, and it is more active in the process.

The decarboxylation process transforms the compounds CBDA into CBD and THCA into THC. This can occur naturally when the plants are vaporized or smoked, but you can accomplish this by heating the plants in the oven when you are making a salve. The commercial products are often decarboxylated with the use of sophisticated machinery, so the results like the ones in Cheefbotanicals are more potent salves. They are useful in healing lots of skin conditions that many are experiencing.

A lot of studies were able to document the medicinal benefits of CBD. For one, they are able to relieve pain from arthritis, decrease seizures, relax the muscles, reduce inflammation, and suppress the growth of tumors. Many people may prefer mixing a little bit of THC into the salve because of the entourage effect.

When in little amounts and THC is combined with CBD, both can be a powerful pain reliever or have analgesic effects on the person using them. The expansive healing application of the CBD can help with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and seizures.

What are the Uses of the Salve?

The healing properties of the salve can be used to relieve pain or treat the following medical conditions:

  • Rashes, irritation, itchiness
  • Eczema
  • Arthritis
  • Skin cancer cells that result in their irregular growth
  • Sore joints
  • Inflammation
  • Aching Muscles
  • Psoriasis

If you’ve had a long day, you can use the salve to rub your painful neck, shoulders, elbows, knees, and feet. The cream can also act as an appetite stimulant and aids in sleep. The result is that you won’t have body aches after a tiring day at work, and you can sleep better at night.

The Making of a CBD Salve

cbd, cannabis, healing, pain relief, anxiety, health, fitness

In a double boiler, put a CBD-infused oil into the smaller pot. Bring the water to a simmer. Add beeswax into the mix and stir them often. You can get more information about beeswax here: https://www.rxlist.com/beeswax/supplements.htm. When you notice that the beeswax is already dissolved, add shea butter into the pot. Drop some essential oils and lavender scent if you prefer.

Pour the hot mixture into a container and let them solidify. This can take up to a day. If you don’t have the time to make your salve, you can always buy it from legitimate companies. Most manufacturers can provide you with high-quality and premium CBD creams, and they can ship to anywhere in the US.

Make sure to look for the products that have great feedback. You can also use extra resources or ask your friends and family for suggestions on where to get the salve. Search for companies with many positive reviews on your computer and check their CBD topical products.

Life, Lifestyle, Parenting

Best Diaper Backpack Bag for Dad Guide & Tips

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The average man looks forward to the day he becomes a father. This is beautiful. However, not a lot of men understand the responsibilities attached to fatherhood and when the baby finally comes, they are usually left clueless.

When a child is still a baby, he might always have to be with his mother. However, as the baby grows into a toddler, the father begins going around with them. Going around with a toddler is a lot different from going out with a teenager. It is impossible to step out of the house with just your keys, wallet, and phone. You will need to consider the toddler’s needs such as diapers.

You can’t go around with your toddler with diapers in your hand. You will need a diaper bag. While a diaper bag is a necessity, not many dads are comfortable moving around with diaper bags because of their feminine appearance. Well, the good news is there are diaper bags that were made with dads in mind. These diaper bags make it possible for dads to remain stylish while moving around with a baby.

At the moment, there are lots of firms into the production of diaper bags and this has made it a little difficult to know what the best diaper bags for dads are. To save you the trouble of ending with the wrong diaper bag, we have put together a guide that can help you make the right choice when buying a diaper backpack for dads even for the first time.

Buy a Washable Diaper Bag

As a dad, when you buy a diaper bag, you will not be leaving it at home. You will have to move around with it and this can get it dirty. Going by this, you need to buy a diaper bag for dads that is washable. Beyond being washable, it must not get worn out because of frequent washing. Furthermore, you should buy diaper bags for dads that come with top-quality zippers.

Consider Design

The design of a diaper bag for dads might not seem like much. It, however, is a major factor every dad should consider when shopping for a diaper bag for dads. Moving around with a diaper bag that is very feminine will not be very appropriate. Apart from moving around with a very feminine diaper bag, you might also want to avoid going from place to place with a diaper bag that is too masculine. You will get the best from the use of a diaper bag when it is perfectly unisex as dads, as well as moms, will be able to use it easily.

Number of Pockets

A diaper bag might be popular for storing diapers. It, however, can be used to do more than just storing diapers. Going by this, you will need to purchase a diaper bag for dads that has a good number of pockets. Beyond the number of pockets it has, these pockets should also be properly positioned. You do not want to buy a diaper bag for dads that comes with lots of pockets that are not positioned rightly.

Material

It is important to look out for the material a diaper bag is made of before going ahead to pay for it. The right diaper bag has to be made from top-quality materials. This way, it will be able to last a long time and also deal with heavy-duty without getting spoilt.

Capacity

This is one of the most important factors to consider when looking to buy a diaper bag for dads. The right diaper bag will easily accommodate everything your baby might need. Now, this bag might be called a diaper bag. Nonetheless, it should be able to carry more than just diapers. No one wants to move around with a diaper bag in one hand and a second bag in the other hand. When going out with your baby, you should be able to put toys, snacks, bottles, change of clothes, wipes, and diapers in your diaper bag.

When moving around with a diaper bag, it might be impossible to carry a bag for yourself. This way, the likelihood of keeping your things in the diaper bag is huge. Now, the average man will need to move around with a phone, keys, and wallet. Some will also have an iPad and an iPod around. Regardless of what exactly you are moving around with, you should have a diaper bag that can accommodate your things comfortably.

Certain diaper bags are big enough to accommodate baby stuff and adult belongings. Others, however, beyond being just big enough to accommodate adult belongings and baby things have a dedicated compartment to the belongings of an adult. This means you will not need to worry about your belongings getting wet when you keep them in a diaper bag.

Ease of Carriage

Dads are not used to moving things around like women. They, therefore might not be comfortable with moving around with a diaper bag around their shoulders. Going by this, as a dad that is looking to buy a diaper bag, you might have to get one that can be carried conveniently like a backpack.

In addition to buying a diaper bag for dads that can be carried on the back, if you do not want to carry anything at all, you can buy one that can be attached to a stroller. This way, when moving around with your child, you simply need to attach the diaper bag to the stroller and you will be good.

Go Through Reviews

When buying a diaper bag for dads for the first time, you most likely will not know what to expect. So, to avoid making mistakes, you should take out time and go through the reviews of the diaper bags for dads you are considering buying.

Although reviews will never be as real as using a diaper bag yourself, they will go a long way to help you know the features to expect from a diaper bag. Knowledge of the features, the pros, and the cons of a diaper bag will help you make the right choice even if you are getting a diaper bag for the first time.

Life, Lifestyle, Parenting

How to Choose the Types of Baby Carriers for Dads

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It’s hard to argue with the convenience of a stroller when you want to enjoy a walk with your baby. But not every car or home can fit in the bulk of a stroller. And in some locations, transporting your baby in a stroller just isn’t a good idea altogether.

Luckily, you have the time-tested tradition of baby wearing to tap into. And you don’t even have to worry much about choosing the wrong baby carrier, since they’re all checked for safety. All you have to do is navigate through the multiple types of baby carriers for dads out there.

Our guide will help you do just that.

Why Use a Baby Carrier to Begin With?

Opting for a baby carrier instead of a stroller comes with a number of unique advantages. With a baby carrier, you can:

  • Squeeze in a workout When you’re using a baby carrier, you’re essentially doing a loaded carry with the weight of your child. That’s some cardio and core training right there. You can even do squats, good mornings, or lunges – all without spending a minute away from your baby.
  • Keep your baby calm and relaxed According to research, carrying your baby for just a few hours during the day helps minimize crying in the evening. And it also makes your baby a lot less agitated in general. This is clearly good for the baby’s fragile nervous system.
  • Free up your hands Caring after an infant is a lot of work. But it’s not like all the other chores suddenly get canceled. A baby carrier keeps your child close as your hands stay free to handle other tasks. Be it doing the dishes or taking care of other kids, you won’t feel torn apart.
  • Help your baby enjoy more comfort In some places, you may be hard pressed to find a decent seat for your child. After all, infants aren’t exactly capable of sitting on regular chairs. A baby carrier makes for a wonderful alternative to a high chair, making your child feel comfy.

Besides these benefits, a baby carrier allows you to foster a deeper bond with your child. As you spend more time close to your infant, you lay a solid foundation of your parent-child relationship. And this exact bond works magic later, when you face the challenges of raising a child. Let’s take a look at what type of baby carrier is the best fit for you.

Main Types of Baby Carriers for Dads to Check Out

There are several types of baby carriers to pick from that are designed for dads. Each comes with its own pros and cons:

  • Soft structured Versatile and convenient, soft structured baby carriers work well for infants and toddlers alike. Featuring buckles and straps, as well as padding, they are easy to adjust exactly as your child needs. They require tweaking to fit in the youngest babies, though.
  • Hard structured This type of baby carrier may not be as adjustable as soft structured alternatives. But it’s ideal for times that call for a longer trip, such as when you go hiking with your child. Hard structured baby carriers feature a frame that makes them more reliable.
  • Soft wrap In essence, a soft wrap baby carrier is a long piece of stretchy fabric that you fasten around your body. While it’s highly adjustable, a soft wrap baby carrier takes more time than other types to get the hang of. And it also isn’t suitable for older infants.
  • Woven wrap Similar to soft wrap alternatives, woven wrap baby carriers are long pieces of material that you wrap around your body. The fabric they’re made of is tighter, though. This makes woven wrap baby carriers well-suited for larger and older infants or toddlers.
  • Ring sling Much like the previous type, ring sling baby carriers are made of a tight non-stretchy material. Worn on a shoulder, they secure your baby inside a pocket-like opening in the fabric, that adjusts easily. While they’re easy to use, they’re hard to carry for longer periods of time.
  • Meh dai Originally coming from East-Asia, meh dai – or mei tai – baby carriers use a flat piece of fabric with four straps. You tie two straps around your waist and the other two around your shoulders. Though highly adjustable, meh dai carriers suit younger and lighter infants better.

Which one do you choose? It depends on a few key factors.

What Key Factors Should You Keep in Mind?

Before zeroing in on the type of baby carrier, ask yourself these key questions:

  • What carry position are you planning to use? Some baby carriers support no more than one carry position, while others let you tap into a few.
  • How much does your baby weigh? Baby carriers aren’t one-size-fits-all. Some of them only work for smaller babies. Others can fit in larger infants and toddlers. And some carriers are suitable for a range of weights.
  • Is this baby carrier healthy for your baby? No matter the type, a baby carrier must allow your infant’s knees and hips to assume a healthy “M” position.
  • Does it meet basic safety requirements? Most baby carriers are tested for compliance with safety requirements. But these standards are changing all the time. Safest baby carriers meet the most recent regulations.

In addition, remember that more expensive doesn’t always equal better. Checking with the above criteria is more important than looking at the price tag. Imagine your frustration if you broke your budget over a baby carrier that wouldn’t be a good fit.

Finally, make sure the baby carrier that you go with is easy to clean. This one is self-explanatory but many parents forget this point. Some baby carriers may look promising, but only until your baby puts them through a “trial by combat.”

We hope our guide has helped you zoom in on just the type of baby carrier you need.