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

I Didn’t Have To Write This

05/26/2015 R.C. Liley 10 Comments

Nope, not a single word or post is something I ever have to or had to do. Even when blogging for a campaign, the ultimate decision is always in my hands. Literally.

I recently signed up for and was accepted to participate in a paid campaign that I ended up turning down. I won’t go into details since I have full respect with the entities working with the brand, but if I were to take part, it would’ve taken a huge bite out of my integrity.

I politely declined the offer I selfishly signed up, apologizing for wasting time, and luckily there were no hard feelings, but I still felt bad for even putting myself out there in the first place. It was related to food, something I obviously have strong feelings about, and required me to buy some products. Anyway, nothing about it lined up with what I preach on nutrition, so I am just thankful there are no hard feelings.

But this made me think back to my original intention of even blogging in the first place. When I started, and even in my About page, I state how this blog is to detail my journey as a stay-at-home dad to Avery. I also mentioned that I’ll post on various topics related to healthy and fitness, which I have and do.

Along the way, I’ve been honored to have the opportunity for several great product reviews and become ambassador for a healthy food company, NuttZo, and awesome made-in-the USA minimal shoes, Soft Star Shotes. The products I reviewed and the companies I promote should all reflect my true beliefs, and so far they have. Now I just need to keep it that way!

There are times when I feel lost without a direction on where to go, in life and just in terms of blogging, but only because I over think everything. I stress about what I should make my hard-working wife for dinner each day even though she’s completely happy with black beans, sweet potato and steamed veggies……..and goat cheese of course. And then I get worked up on if I should use a freakin’ plate or bowl. C’mon, really, R.C.?!

Luckily, I have many friends in the blog-o-sphere that can relate and we are able to support each other as well as love from my friends and family around me. Especially my wife who is always supportive and helps keep me in check.

I’m always thinking when going on one of my several daily walks and I try to figure out just what direction to take the blog and future self. But that’s dumb. I have the most adorable little girl with me every day that I get to hang out with and raise to be a strong, healthy person who loves her Mommy and Daddy. That’s my #1 thing; period.

Blogging is and always will be a part of me, though, so it’s time to find a better way to keep true to my roots and not become a slave to what should be my solace.

I will still blog to my heart’s content on my views of health, fitness, and everything between, but want to try to keep it about the daily happenings here at home. I bring Avery to workout with me in the garage almost every day, and want to share that since each time should be cherished.

This blog is meant to be something I can look back on with my family and say “Oh yeah, I remember when we used to do that.” and smile. But no more treating this blog like a job I have to go to, that’s dumb.

There will always be a question of what I should write about, that goes with the territory, but at least I know to keep it simple and just write about life. So, to those reading, thank you, I hope you continue to enjoy the content I churn out and know that it’s my true feelings, campaign or not, all the time.

I’ll still participate in campaigns because we could all use a little extra cash and I have a dream car to save up for.

Kidding, I’ll have to win the lotto or find a high-paying job before I get another car. Since I don’t play the lotto and enjoy being and at-home dad too much, guess it will have to wait. It’s nice to look at though.

But then again, this is world’s better!

Look, she’s already wanting to help me bake something! Add my beautiful wife in the picture and that’s really all I need.

Again, thanks to all who read and hope you have a great week. See you soon to talk about what recently happened in the “Going” household. Hey, my butt is almost better! Cool, huh?

Do you ever get too wound up worrying over things that you should never fret about?

How do you manage stress? Or do you?

Life, Parenting

The Best Way to Celebrate Memorial Day

05/25/2015 R.C. Liley 4 Comments

Last year, for Memorial Day, I ran a 10k that honored our nation’s fallen heroes. This year, I’m not running a race, but I will still pay my full respects to those who died in battle.

I won’t try to act like I know all the ins and outs of how our nation formed to what it is today, because I don’t, but I know that many men and women put their life on the line to make it possible for me to sit here and write this in the comfort of my home. For that, and for everything else they have done, I am forever grateful.

Although I’m not lining up at a commemorative race or have an American flag in my yard (I really need to get on that), I will celebrate Memorial Day the best way possible; with silence.

Just taking a moment of silence to think about the hardships so many had to go through and how appreciative I am to be staring at this precious food covered face every day as a result is the best way I can think of to celebrate today.

Matter of fact, I think that celebrating the heroic efforts of so many should be a daily thing. I know not every day can be a holiday, but we can still be thankful for what other’s have sacrificed, right?

There are many other things at work (like my dear wife) that enable me to stay home to raise our retirement plan Avery, but without those we are remembering today, none of it would be possible.

So as you gather with friends and family over good food and drink, please take a moment to appreciate more than just an extra day off work (if you get that) and think about things we have that truly matter….love, live, and freedom. Unless you have baby gates all over your home which block you just as much as it does them.

Happy Memorial Day!

Life, Parenting

How Do Kids Learn to Dance?

05/23/2015 R.C. Liley 8 Comments

My dance skills can be likened to what you’d see if you filled a burlap sack full of angry cats. Like this one, times ten….

How Do Kids Learn to Dance?

It’s ugly.

Actually, I found an old college photo of me “dancing” with a friend.

Yes, I had a goatee. No, there is nothing sexual about this picture. Yes, drinking was involved (see beer in hand).

Anyway, I’m sure I made my point; I suck at dancing. Sorry, Kelley. I was getting worried that Avery would fall down the same rabbit hole and be stuck with Daddy’s lack of moves, but she’s already better than me. Even a few months ago when she got down with Jay-Z.

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Don’t worry, I was dancing like in the previous photo.

That little stand in one spot and squat move is about all I’ve showed her for dancing, and really it was meant more for the actually squatting exercise. But hey, no matter if you’re good or not, dancing is a great form of exercise!

Lately, Avery has branched from just standing in one spot. I’m not sure if it’s just the “pecking” order of getting older, but both Kelley and I have never showed how to dance like a chicken.

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Sadly, that’s better than what I could do. And she even adds a little twist to her dancing. Again, no clue where it came from, but always fun to watch.

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Not kidding, she’ll press the buttons on that cat to make it play music over and over…….and over again all day just so she can dance. She takes it seriously too, there’s no messing around when it’s dance time! Unless it’s to bust a move, that is.

All I know is that seeing her dance every day is a huge help to keep things light around here. I try not to talk about it too much, even though I have, but this whole staph infection thing is seriously limiting things I normally do. Just sitting down to read books to Avery is a pain in the ass…..not kidding.

I still exercise and go on several walks daily because, stubborn, but I know I’m not performing my best. That and I can tell it affects my mood if I’m not mindful enough. Do you ever get that way about something? Whether it’s physical or mental, you let it show through in your attitude?

We’re probably all guilty of it, but hopefully I can come to terms and better manage this since I still have a while for everything to heal. That said, I’ll end the post here today. Hoping for an enjoyable Memorial Day weekend with Going Mom and Avery. We don’t have a lot planned, just hopefully catching up on some Walking Dead episodes and then going over to Kelley’s parents to have her dad take pictures of Avery.

He has a nice studio setup and always enjoys having such a lovely subject to photograph. The subject, on the other hand, isn’t always the most cooperative…..