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, Parenting

Your Little Boy Racer

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little boy, racer, boys, toys, imagination, race, cars
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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.

Lifestyle

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

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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.

Going Healthy, Health, Life

How to Get a Better Night’s Sleep

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There are plenty of things that can influence our day, things that make it enjoyable or a day that you wish would be over as soon as possible. While some of the things that influence the day can be beyond our control, some are very much influenced by us. Take, for example, our sleep, which is something that has a huge impact on how we feel the following day. If we’re well-rested, then we feel good; if we had a rough night, then we’re more irritable. If you often struggle to hit the land of Nod, then take our tips below, which will make it easier to have a restful evening.

sleep, health, bed, bedtime, night
Source: Pexels.com

Improve the Bedroom

You can’t just slump yourself down into a bed, and hope to fall asleep. There’s a big difference between a high-quality and low-quality mattress and duvet, and only one of them is going to give you the comfort you need to drift off. So first, take a look at your bedding, and see if there’s a way to improve it — everyone has their own preference when it comes to their bedding; you’ll know what’s right for you. Elsewhere, you can look at making the room overall more conducive to relaxation. For example, you can adopt a minimalist approach: it’s much easier to sink into that relaxed state of mind if you’re not surrounded by clutter.

Limiting Sound and Noise

Even if your room is comfortable, you’ll find it difficult to hit the hay if there’s too much light and noise in your bedroom. To take care of these issues, you can do things such as soundproof your room and get blackout curtains. If the issue is only minor, then an eye mask and earplugs will probably be enough. If your neighbors are the ones keeping you up, then talk to them — most people are more than happy to quieten down once they understand that they’re negatively affecting other people. 

No More Kicks and Rolling Over

It could be the case that you have no problem whatsoever falling and staying asleep, but there’s another issue: your partner keeps kicking you or rolling you over. If you snore, then this will be a regular occurrence. And you can’t blame them — no-one wants to listen to that sound all night! You can look at putting the problem behind you by working with an ENT doctor. They’ll be able to provide the help that can reduce the issue. If you’re one of those people who struggle to sleep with other people, then look at finding a new bed arrangement that works for you. Or you can sleep in separate beds (it’s not traditional, but studies have shown that couples who do stay together for longer).

Relaxing Evenings
One of the mistakes that people make is that they expect just to fall asleep the second they get into bed. But if your mind isn’t ready for sleep, then you’ll just be lying there, and then you’ll get annoyed that you can’t fall asleep, and everything will be even more difficult. As such, one recommended method is to spend the two hours before you want to go to sleep relaxing your mind. You’ll be more likely to sleep if you’ve been reading, you’ve taken a bath, you’ve taken your cbn for sleep gummies, you’re all-around in a restful state of mind. Also, do your best to limit the screen time in the run-up to bedtime. Those flashing lights and beeping noises and finger activity keep your mind alert when you’re trying to calm it down.

sleep, health, bed, bedtime, night
Source: Pexels.com

Lifestyle Choices 

You’ll also want to see if you’re doing anything that’ll keep you in a state of alertness before you fall asleep. For example, if you’re drinking coffee after 5pm or having a sugary drink in the evening, then you can’t be too surprised if you’re not falling asleep as quickly as you’d like. Also, a word on alcohol — while it might seem like it helps you to hit the hay, it affects the quality of your sleep, so you might wake up tired (even if you think you’ve been asleep for hours, you haven’t been in “deep sleep” mode — and that’s what counts). 

Use Up Your Energy
Finally, take a look at what you’re doing during the day. If you haven’t used up your energy, then you’ll have no need to be asleep! So if this is a consistent issue, look at filling your day with more activities, such as running, or working on creative projects. You’ll soon be ready to crawl into bed.