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!

Dads! How Can You Have A Great Wedding After Having Kids?

wedding, marriage, kids, family, relationship, fatherhood
Pixabay – CC0 Licence

It can feel like you’ve got enough on your plate as it is! Whether you’ve welcomed a new baby into the world recently, or you’ve already got a brood of your own, having that talk about getting married after having children can seem to get away from us, even with the best of intentions. But when it comes to getting married, some of us don’t care if we do or if we don’t, but others very much do! And from the perspective of dads, we might have enough on our plate, but how can we make sure that we have a great wedding, especially after having children? And is it even feasible?

Start Off On The Right Foot (Or Knee)

If you have both been talking about getting engaged for some time, it’s important to give her the ring she deserves. Getting everything started on the right foot means that you can both talk about it like you doing something for the both of you are not necessarily for the sake of the “family unit.” So many people used to get married because it was supposedly the right thing to do, and now as getting married after having children means you have to re-register those children born out of wedlock, it can seem like a little bit of a headache. But, if you are doing it for any reason, ensuring that your children can get your estate after you pass away is a good reason. But the fact of the matter is, you both have to want to do it yourselves. So treat it with the respect it deserves, and give it that sense of occasion. Make sure to capture the occasion with photos to always remember the moment. If you’re in the area, wedding pictures Cape Cod has numerous photogenic areas.

Give It The Time It Needs

You have more financial obligations, and you’ve obviously got to ensure that your children are happy, so why bother rushing into getting the ceremony done and dusted? There is no time limit, so why don’t you give it the time it needs, not so that you can plan the perfect ceremony for the both of you, but also ensure that your children are past teething, jabs, and all of those issues that can be a veritable nightmare for the first year or so after a child has been born. Planning a wedding, or meeting caterers the day after you’ve been up with the child all night means that you aren’t fighting fit, and it’s likely you might make a few decisions you’ll regret later on. It’s far better to give yourselves that space and time so you can both decide, with a clear head, what you want. After all, the day is for the two of you!

You Can Still Have A Stag Do!

It just might be a more sedate occasion. You may have friends who don’t have children or aren’t in a relationship, and they have something incredibly messy planned for you. But you have to be firm and tell them you’ll have to function like a proper human being in a couple of days’ time! Perhaps a meal followed by a few pints in the pub may be all you can realistically get in. And, if you feel you deserve a massive stag do, be it on your head! Just keep in mind how terrible you might feel come Monday morning, especially if your child hasn’t decided to sleep the night you get home! That said, if you are in the mood for a more memorable celebration, you might want to Celebrate Your Bachelor Party at Treasures, or a similar establishment closer to you, for an experience that’s a bit more exciting than just a few pints.

You Are Marrying A Great Parent!

Some people don’t know what they will be like as a parent until they have a child, and once you’ve got married to, and then you decide to have children, you might both be in for the shock of a lifetime. But you already know what kind of parent the other person is. And, perhaps more importantly, they already know what type of parent you are like. This means that the marriage doesn’t begin on a foundation of question marks, but you already know a lot about the other person, have already been through the thick and thin and ups and downs of being a parent, and yet, if you still want to both marry each other, then that is fantastic!

And, perhaps the most important thing in the run-up to the big days that you both have to be on the same page, communicate, and discuss everything. It can be like you are passing ships in the night, but remember, because of the stress and strain of having children, make sure the doors of communication are even more open than they were before. They can be a lot to pressure put-upon yourselves even without a date set, so give yourself the time, and remember, it’s so you can all feel like it’s one of the best days of your lives (and the children can still get involved).

Your Little Boy Racer

little boy, racer, boys, toys, imagination, race, cars
Pixabay License
Free for commercial use 
No attribution required

A ride-on is a toy which has achieved a ‘must-have’ quality amongst all young boys. When growing up you will see that one little boy has a ride-on tractor, another has a ride-on fire engine, and then there are those with ride-on race cars, and so on and so forth. These toys are highly popular because they look exciting and they possess a great deal of fun. 

In fact, they are also a toy which parents are fond of, this is because they know that a ride-on will enhance their child’s co-ordination, motor skills, balance, and other key developmental skills, whilst ensuring they get some exercise at the same time.

If the time has come whereby you are looking for a ride-on for your child then the Classic Racer Silver is a toy which you should definitely be considering. Perhaps you have the next Beau Kader on your hands? It is sleek and sporty in style, whilst also possessing a highly innovative and unusual design. It is also manufactured by a highly credibly company in the form of Great Gizmos. And, it is available from all good online retailers for a reasonable price. This toy would certainly make a good birthday or Christmas present because it is one of those toys that have that stand out spectacular feel about it. 

Let’s delve a little bit deeper into the Classic Racer Silver and what it has to offer. In terms of design, this car is silver in style. It has that polished look whereby the silver possesses a stunning shine. The car boasts silver rims with black wheels. Moreover, the seat of the car is an old-school brown color. This is a race car with a vintage feel to it; a look very much popular at the moment. And, there is a big white circle on the side of the car with the number 1 printed inside it in a bold black – showcasing that there is little doubt regarding who is the best racer around here.

This car has been designed to last. This means that no amount of racing will have a detrimental impact on the stunning ride on. It has been manufactured to the highest of standards. This is represented via the strong steel that has been used to build the car, as well as the long-lasting rubber tyres that have also been utilised. Moreover, a lot of people who have already bought this product note that the steering wheel is very easy to use. Your child should have no trouble manoeuvring around. A final factor that is worth bearing in mind is the fact that the Classic Racer Silver is suitable to children who are aged between one year old and three years old. This is crucial for safety purposes.

If you are on the lookout for an innovative and impressive ride-on then the Classic Racer by Great Gizmos is a great option. It is a toy which is definitely going to go down a treat with your little boy.

A Worthy Investment: Car Maintenance Skills You Can Learn At Home

car maintenance, cars, automotive, technician, tech, mechanic
https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-touching-gray-metal-rod-on-vehicle-engine-1266019/

Americans generally have a great love affair with cars. After all, they spend an average of 45 minutes doing car-related tasks per day, according to the US Department of Labor. As cars are considered to be good investments, it makes sense to pick up knowledge that would help you care for that investment. It’s good then that there are car maintenance skills that you can learn at home. 

Tire Replacement

A recent AAA survey found that around 20% of Americans do not know how to replace a flat tire. It’s a fairly simple procedure that will require that you invest in a few other tools such as a jack, a lug wrench, a pry bar, and a spare tire. If you’re not quite sure what to do, you can go online and load up helpful tutorials on popular platforms like YouTube or use an app. If you learn how to do it yourself, you can save up anywhere from $100-$300 per tire. It also saves you from having to call a tow truck service if you get a flat tire on the road.

Small Paint Touch-Ups

Cars are a thing of beauty but they are prone to visible aesthetic damage—otherwise called paint dings or scratches. If you leave any paint chips open, you risk leaving your car vulnerable to rust damage, says Paul Wright of Popular Mechanics. Thankfully, small paint touch-ups can be something that you can learn to do in your own home. The reviews of Automotivetouchup.com recommend choosing as close a match to your car’s paint and apply clear coat afterward. It gives your car’s surface an extra layer of protection. An added bonus is that a small paint touch-up should only take about 30 minutes or so.

Checking Car Oil

Your car’s oil helps protect the engine by keeping its components cool and properly lubricated. It follows that, over time, the oil will get dirty and even low. It’s recommended that you check the level of the oil each week by pulling out the dipstick, wiping it clean, putting it back in, taking it out, and checking the level once again. There are marker lines that should tell you what the proper level of the oil should be. If the level of the oil is below the marker lines, you’d better get the oil changed. Of course, you can change the oil yourself—another skill you can master at home.

Any skills that you learn that can help you maintain your car is a good investment of time and effort. Learning car maintenance skills will give you a chance to be hands-on with your car’s care and save money. More importantly, you’ll also have precious skills that you can pass on to your children.