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

The Vacation Rental Market is Hot in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, Here’s Why You Should Buy Now

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With all of the responsibilities of the holidays I often find myself needing a vacation from my holiday vacation. Which is why I love the idea of having a winter vacation property to retreat to after the New Year. Now, if you’re like me,having a house you visit only once a year may seem like an unattainable luxury but purchasing a rental property in a winter vacation destination could actually be a wise investment. Especially when you want a place that offers a fun-filled family adventure!

The key to finding an amazing rental property isn’t just knowing the best locations, it’s knowing what locations are up and coming. I discovered a new report from the vacation rental pros at Vacasa that has confirmed something that I’ve believed about the Pagosa Springs, CO winter rental market for a long time.

It’s primed to explode.

Vacasa applied their prodigious data analysis skills to the copious amounts of data they have on vacation rental markets around the country and pin pointed the Top 10 best places to buy a winter vacation home right now.

Winter month occupancy in winter vacation destinations are up almost 25% year over year since 2016.That means that winter vacation destinations are a real trend. But there’s more to finding a truly lucrative vacation property than proximity to skiing and snowboarding.

Vacasa’s Winter Vacation Report identifies the markets with the highest average occupancy increases in the winter months and chose the ones with the best one-year return on investment.

Pagosa Springs, CO was #7 on the list.

Here’s a little more detail on why Pagosa Springs, CO made the list:

Pagosa Springs, CO‘s Stats:

Median Annual Rental Revenue: $21,720

Median Home Price: $287,500

One-Year Return Rate: 4.6%

As you can see, Pagosa Springs, CO’slow median home price and relatively high amount of annual rental revenue offers a very competitive one-year return rate. It’s considered one of the best-kept secrets with it’s devoted skiing enthusiasts willing to travel a little longer for top notch skiing and shorter lift lines.

You can check out the report here. So if you’re in the market for a winter vacation home, Vacasa has the information you need to help you get into Pagaso Springs, CO.

Life, Parenting

Easy Ways For Dads to Bond With Kids

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As a dad, you may find it a bit of a challenge to bond with your children. Whether you’re a stay-at-home dad or a working man, it’s important to carve out time to connect with your child on a personal level. You can bond with your kids through simple ways, so read on to find out how:  

Cook with them 

When cooking healthy food is something you enjoy doing for your family, you’re already on the right track. To instill the importance of eating healthy in your children, have them sit in the kitchen with you and watch while you cook. You can even let your child tag along while you go grocery shopping and show them how you pick out your ingredients. Make black bean burgers that everyone can enjoy. Have them help to measure out the amount of each ingredient you need so that they can have a hands on experience.  

Help with homework 

When your kids get home from school, it’s very easy to get lost in the chaos of getting dinner ready while they do homework. Instead, make this a time where you can be together. Sit down at the kitchen table and ask your child what they’ve learned about in school that day and offer to help. Even if they don’t necessarily need help with completing their homework, they can explain what they’re doing and you can provide tips.   

Watch a movie 

After a long day (or a long week), you and your family might just need a break. You can have a relaxing night at home together, enjoying each other’s company. Choose from a selection of family Christian movies and sit back and watch before heading to bed on a given night. You can make this a weekly occurrence or just something you enjoy together on a family night. Even if you don’t talk throughout the movie, you’re still finding little ways to bond with your kids by just spending time together.   

Let them help with chores 

Instead of going off to complete your chores alone, invite your kids along. Let them assist while you wash the car by layering on the suds or washing it off with water. If you’re fixing something around the house, show them what you’re doing and let them be your little helper. While you may just consider your work around the house a chore, they will likely enjoy spending the time with you and find interest in learning something new.  

Read to them before bed 

A great way to connect with your children is to start and end your days by making time for them. When they get into bed, take a few minutes to lay with them and read a story. You can read free bedtime stories that they’ll enjoy, but most of all they’ll cherish those few minutes before bed when they get to hear your voice and be close to you.

Life

Top Tips To Keep Your Vacation Expenses On Track

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vacation, travel, expenses, money
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International family trips were a hot trend in 2018, according to AAA. They found that 35% of families planning a vacation had set their sights on a trip abroad, with trips to Mexico and the Dominican Republic leading the way. Despite the average American spending 10% of their annual income on vacations, 27% of families opt to take three or more trips per year. Therefore, in order to maintain this lifestyle and enjoy family fun-filled days on the beach, it’s essential that you take steps to keep your vacation costs down. 

Book in advance 

When you’re hunting for a vacation online, you’ll undoubtedly come across endless adverts for low-price last minute deals. However, these deals often mean flying at undesirable times of the night which is far from ideal with kids in tow. Additionally, hidden costs such as baggage fees still need to be factored in. Travel Insider recommends booking your vacation as far in advance as possible and at least one month before you plan to travel. By doing this, you’ll secure the perfect room for your family and will avoid last-minute price increases. This is equally important if you are hoping to secure private jet charters from blackjet.com, or a similar company, as waiting until the last minute can result in limited options or flights becoming unavailable. Ultimately, planning ahead not only saves you money but also ensures a smoother and more enjoyable travel experience for you and your family. 

Prepare your expenses 

On a vacation abroad, you’ll want to indulge and show your kids the wonderful sights and tourist attractions of your chosen location. However, this comes at a cost of $4,580 for a family of four. By planning your excursions and daily itinerary before you go, you’ll know exactly how much cash you’ll need each day. Pop this cash in an envelope and lock it in your room’s safe when you arrive to ensure you don’t go over your daily budget. You should also seek out ways to gain incentives with your payment method. By signing up to a reward credit card, you can earn cashback and rewards when you dine out and shop overseas. This can then cover the cost of a small family treat at the end of your trip. 

Be financially savvy before you go 

74% of holidaymakers fall into debt as a result of overspending on vacation. However, there’s no need to see your finances falter if you meticulously save before you go. Set up a savings account especially for your family vacations and have a standing order in place to top it up each month. This way, you’ll always have cash put aside for your beloved family trips. It’s also wise to make cutbacks before any big vacation. So, be sure to follow in the footsteps of the 50% of Americans who reduce the amount they eat out and the 41% who shop less. 

There’s nothing better than kicking back and relaxing with your family on a joyous vacation. However, to ensure you can cover the cost of this luxury, you should make your booking in advance, prepare your expenses before you go and take steps to cut your spending before boarding the plane.