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!

Fun Run in the Sun and a Pun

Yesterday, Tuesday, we hit 70 degrees and the sun finally poked through after its brief hiatus. Texas hardly had it bad when compared to places like Boston this winter, but it’s been crappy enough to warrant a deep desire for Spring’s arrival.

Truthfully, I was ready for spring and summer back in November, I just prefer sweating over shivering any day! With the better weather, I wanted to get Avery outside to run around a little, but first we had to make a trip to two stores. Luckily, she didn’t mind since it means getting to ride in her new Britax Boulevard ClickTight car seat.

Britax, car seat, safety

Seriously love this seat and it was a breeze to install. We’re keeping her rear facing as long as possible since it’s the safest way, and the Britax seat allows us to continue doing so up to 40 pounds! Plus, Avery’s not complaining one bit.

After making it back from the stores, Avery was hungry and needed to eat before anything else happened. Going Mom and I taught her a few sign language essentials with one of them being “more”. Now the girl ALWAYS wants more!

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Yep, that’s her sign. I’m trying to allow her more freedom in feeding herself if it’s finger foods, so I gave her a few pieces of NuttZo Banana Bread to keep her happy. So much for that, she just stuffed her face with all of the pieces while simultaneously signing for “more”.

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Crazy kid. It took her five minutes just finish chewing everything! Needless to say, I think she spent some time reflecting on her actions….

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After eating, I put Avery in our B.O.B. jogging stroller to go for a quick run to a nearby playground. The kind folks, I mean elves, at Soft Star Shoes just sent me a pair of their Moc3 barefoot running shoes to review, so I figured it would be a great time to give them a test run. <—Would you call that a pun or not? I can’t tell.

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Yes, I wore socks, and no, you really don’t have to. I just prefer to use socks until I am sure I really like things enough to go sans sock. Running in these shoes is so liberating with their zero drop Vibram soles and the fact that they weigh less than 5oz. I actually have been spending all day in the shoes and am only getting more attached to them each day.

Check back later for a full review, and then even later for another review of their kids’ shoes for Avery. I can’t wait to get some on our little girl to keep her feet safe while still “grounding” with the earth. Until then, her Bootzies work fine, they just run the risk of getting holes when worn too much outdoors.

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Yep, like at a playground with mulch and concrete. Probably not the best for cotton, but she didn’t seem too concerned. She was, however, intrigued by the wood pieces scattered everywhere and made sure to inspect them thoroughly.

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Yep, this one’s wood too.

 

Somehow I managed to climb the small play-structure with Avery to take her down a few times. The rest of time I just followed her around as she explored…..and randomly clapped.

Enjoying the #Texas sun with my daughter! #Spring is coming! #Parenting #DaddysGirl #playing

A video posted by RC Liley (@going_dad) on

Outside playtime was over when Avery ran back to her stroller, basically letting me know it was over. Fair enough.

I made another fun run round with Avery in the stroller to soak up the warm weather and get a little extra “go” time in the minimal Soft Star Shoes for the last time of the day. Verdict? Still love’em. I could never find a shoe I was comfortable in wearing around the house that I could also make a mad dash outside at any given moment, but these are it! If you haven’t tried them before, give them a go if you get the chance, and make sure to pick some up for your little one too.

Once back home, I turned on Pandora so Avery and I could dance around the house. And by dance, I mean she brings all of her toys from her playroom into the kitchen as I prepare dinner and make a green smoothie for Kelley and I.

This has been a long, hard week for my wife, actually the past several weeks have been trying, and she was stuck at work again last night. In hopes that it would help a little, I made one of her favorite breakfasts ahead of time to be ready in the morning.

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Peanut butter oatmeal with chia seeds, cinnamon, and a big spoonful of NuttZo. I added a lot of blueberries too, but didn’t take a picture. Trust me, the blueberries are not to be taken lightly around here, and Going Mom has a specific measurement I keep messing up. The measurement? A lot!

She’s probably enjoying (I hope) this right now just as this is live. I’ll let you know if I added enough blueberries. Or maybe she will…….

And before I go, I had a pun to share. It’s nothing spectacular, but as a proclaimed lover of puns, I want to start sharing at least one with each post I write. Today, in anticipation of spring coming up, I have a seasonal pun.

After a rough winter, the trees will be relieved when spring comes.

I know, not the best tree pun, but I went out on a limb here. Maybe I’ll branch out for the next one. 🙂

What’s the weather like where you are now?

Do you like puns or despise them?

How to Hide in the Kitchen + WIAW #3

Welcome to my third post of What I Ate Wednesday, and to the mid-week / Hump Day mark! The weekend will be here before we know it, right….RIGHT?!

I certainly hope so, because we still haven’t watched The Hunger Games: Mocking Jay Part 1 after I posted this on Instagram…

Yeah, never happened. Going Mom took advantage of Avery accepting sleep and fell asleep with her in the nursery. Just watching a movie is hard when you have a little one, huh? But it’s hard to argue with that, it’s not like we’ll always be able to enjoy those moments with our little ones.

I’m actually envious since nap time has been a struggle lately and Avery never just gives in anymore. Instead, I get what I can only assume are death threats to our mat when I mention the word “sleep”.

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Scary, huh?

When she’s not threatening the ultimate destruction of our kitchen mat, Avery has figured out how to fit herself into a slim cabinet in the kitchen. It’s one where I keep baking sheets and other things “safe” for kids to grab at, and also the only one we don’t have child-proofed.

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I’m sure most of us have one, or at least had if your kid took over too. Avery has been hanging out at “The Cabinet” (sounds cooler when in quotes, huh?) for months now, but only recently started climbing all the way inside. Here, she’d like to run you through a quick demo.

Oh, hi there. Welcome to my cabinet.

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Now you see me….

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….now you don’t. Oops!!!

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Okay, NOW you don’t.

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Boo! And now I’m back!

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Yep, that’s been going on a lot over here lately. She might prove useful when I’m looking for that hard-to-reach pan some day. Until then, if it keeps her entertained, we’re happy! And it’s quite entertaining to watch! Here she is climbing in..

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Then she tries to keep from being seen.

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Rinse and repeat. Fun times as an at-home parent. I actually mean that too.

And now it’s time for another round of WIAW. Thanks to Jenn, for hosting this fun link-up for foodies everywhere!

what I ate wednesday, WIAW

We’ve been starting the day out with a new recipe I made using NuttZo. See the recipe here and let me know if you make it.

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That’s my wonderful work of microwaving in a bowl. Beautiful, huh? Oh yeah, and I always have coffee on hand. Today was the extra free refill of black Pike Place I got at Starbucks. Love the gold card!

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My lunch is a combo of all things I cooked recently or have in the fridge that need to be eaten.

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Here I had steamed beets, cauliflower and broccoli, slow-cooker salsa chicken, sweet potato with black garlic, and homemade sauerkraut. Lots of randomness, but also lots of goodness!

For dinner, I made a sweet potato and spinach frittata with NuttZo and it was deeeee-licious!

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Yes, another one of my fabulous ways to make something in the microwave. I tell ya, it’s a useful kitchen tool and I’d be lost without it. The final product…

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We’ll be having this again for sure. Maybe even extra NuttZo next time.  And, as if it’s hard to believe, after dinner snack time was some of my homemade chocolate bread with, yep, NuttZo!

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Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out other tasty eats from foodies that linked up on Jenn’s WIAW party!

Do your kids have a special hiding place in the kitchen? Somewhere else in the house?

Have you tried NuttZo? Seriously, it’s awesome! If you go to their website and enter code liley15, you can save 15% off your order. 😉

Brilliant blog posts on HonestMum.com

Quick & Healthy NuttZo Banana Bread Recipe

Oh boy, do I have a treat for you! Peanut butter and banana sandwiches used to be my staple snack, but they can be a bit messy when out and about. Plus, I’m too good for regular ole peanut butter; we’re a NuttZo loving family now!

NuttZo makes excellent sandwiches on its own or with a banana, but I still wanted something that travels well so I could feed Avery and myself when away from home. Then the light shone down upon my jar of NuttZo and I suddenly had a brilliant healthy recipe idea; use my favorite ingredients to cook them right into a bread!

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I quickly removed the jar from the light and the windowsill after my epiphany. Too risky!

We can’t get enough of NuttZo in our house lately. Avery, Kelley, and myself have been wreaking havoc on each delicious jar that comes our way. This recipe had to impress my lovely ladies or I risked breaking the “Happy wife, happy life” motto along with the lesser known, “Happy kid and you still live” motto. Scary, huh?

I used the microwave to make this bread, but have provided instructions if you want to bake it instead. Microwave cooking is my top choice, and while not gourmet, it still turns out tasty, healthy meals for any time of day.

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Batter in and ready for the microwave!

 

Make this bread, then cover it with more NuttZo and have zero regrets as you enjoy every last bite.

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Until you realize those bites were for your kid…..oops!!

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Healthy NuttZo Banana Bread

by RC Liley

Prep Time: 10 min

Keywords: bake microwave bread breakfast dessert snack nuttzo

Ingredients (12 thick or 16 thin slices)

  • 1 cup whole grain spelt, whole-wheat, or brown rice flour (I used whole grain spelt)
  • 1 cup unflavored or vanilla protein powder (I used an organic plant protein powder, but other types should work fine); if not using protein powder, just add another cup of the flour you used above
  • 1/4 cup peanut flour (or another nut flour of choice)
  • 4 tbsp NuttZo (any flavor); warm in microwave to make sure it mixes easily
  • 1/4 cup mashed ripe banana (applesauce or pumpkin puree would be good, but you’ll have to change the name)
  • 1/4 tsp liquid stevia extract (or use 1/4 cup sugar/honey/agave if you don’t have or like stevia)
  • 2 – 4 packets of stevia powder (I used Pyure Sweet Stevia)
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 ½ tsp cinnamon
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 1/4 cups milk of choice (reduce by 1/4 cup if using honey or agave)
  • Optional: Add 2 egg whites for extra protein and to help bread rise. I did not do this and the bread turned out fine though.

Instructions

In the oven

Preheat oven to 375 F. In a large bowl, sift the dry ingredients to combine well, and then mix in the wet.

Pour into a lightly oiled or non-stick loaf pan (a muffin pan would be great too!) and bake 40-45 minutes.

Let cool on a wire rack for 10 to 20 minutes.

In the Microwave

Coat a microwave-safe bowl with cooking spray, coconut oil, or good quality butter. You will need to do this in two batches for this method.

In a large bowl, sift the dry ingredients to combine well, and then mix in the wet.

Pour half of the batter into greased bowl and microwave on high for 7 minutes.

Let cool in bowl at least 5 minutes to allow bread to pull away from the sides, and flip over to allow it to fall out. You might need to give a little tug if it doesn’t fall right out.

Powered by Recipage

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What I love about this recipe is you can swap out the banana for applesauce or pumpkin puree for a totally different, yet equally delicious bread. Give it a try and let me know how you love it!

Now, excuse me as I make another batch to make Avery happy again. Remember that motto…..

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Phew, crisis averted!