Tag Archives: health

Welcoming Naturepedic Into Our Home

We got a new Naturepedic organic mattress and our excitement can hardly be contained! After having to deal with getting uncomfortably hot in our old mattress for years, the time has finally arrived to improve an all too often overlooked aspect of health; sleep.

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Not only was our old mattress uncomfortable, but it, like most mattresses, was plagued by flame retardants and a host of chemicals like phthalates that easily spread throughout the house. Basically, lots of nasty stuff that can pose harm to us and our little ones. Even during pregnancy, studies have shown mothers exposed to phthalates have been linked to their children having an increased risk of asthma.

Having grown up with asthma as a kid (luckily I don’t have it now), I know firsthand that it sucks, literally. It’s true, having asthma usually involves sucking wind when you exert yourself too much and have an attack or close to it. It’s not fun and I don’t wish it on anyone. Lets just say my childhood days of playing soccer had me clinging to an inhaler like Frodo Baggins with the One Ring.

Point is, there are things I never even considered to pose a threat to our health, but now know otherwise. One very big thing is the mattress we sleep on. After doing our research, Going Mom and I knew it was time to upgrade our sleep and health by getting a new mattress.

Our last mattress was a queen, but my wife, always thinking ahead, said we need a king for when someone *cough* Avery *cough cough* starts venturing into Mommy and Daddy’s room to join us. I guess the kitchen floor (note the picture above) doesn’t work so well.

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Please let me sleep with you, Mommy and Daddy.

Thankfully, the super generous people at Naturepedic provided us the value of their queen mattress so all we had to do was make up the difference to buy a king! I can picture us now…

Naturepedic EOS Campaign_2

Except we won’t have the ocean as a backdrop and Avery will surely be in between or jumping us. You know, standard toddler. Speaking of, they do have crib and kid mattresses too.

Happy doesn’t even begin to describe how we feel about our new mattress. I think flabbergasted or elated would serve as a better word. Avery was excited the day the mattress arrived in, get this, several boxes.

Naturepedic mattress, organic, flame retardant free

That’s right, a king mattress in several boxes. We haven’t opened them since we’re waiting to set it up this weekend, but there are warnings to be careful when opening. I can just picture a giant snake-in-a-can effect happening from trying to be too quick to open! SURPRISE!!! Actually, they provide detailed assembly instructions and have a YouTube video.. It seems easy peasy to me, what do you think?

I guess that means no snake-in-a-can surprise. But seriously, watching that video gets me even more pumped up to set it up this weekend!

Anyway, I’ll be working hard (aka sleeping on this awesome mattress) to write a review post. Over the coming months, look for update posts and please feel free to ask any questions you have anytime. If I can’t answer them, Naturepedic’s website is packed full of useful info.

A big thanks to Naturepedic for allowing us the opportunity to sleep on their high quality organic mattress. I can’t wait to share with everyone how great it feels and why being free of flame retardants and other chemicals is so important.

To see why we’re so excited to welcome Naturepedic in our home, be sure to keep up to date by following them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+, and their blog.

Are you in the market for a new mattress?

Have you heard of Naturepedic?

Our Crazy Awesome Future in Blogging

When I first started blogging, it was for Just Add Cayenne , where I went about sharing my life along with healthy recipes, fitness tips, and other health related topics fit in. Then I started this crazy awesome blog, Going Dad (I won’t deny that I’m biased), to basically do the same thing.

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But instead of life as an accountant who really really really is into health and fitness, I shared life as a stay-at-home dad wanting to have a way to capture life as my daughter, Avery, and wife, Kelley, all learn and grow together.

I’ve enjoyed writing about all of the memories we’ve already had in just the 2 years of Avery’s life, but I’ve also been trying too hard to write about everything which is becoming increasingly hard. This little girl is doing more than I can keep up with to gather and share on the blog anymore. Even she’s getting tired of my usual memory “tracking” method.
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Normally, I jot down the things she does/says on random pieces of paper I have around the house, but it got to where I was trying to write down something new every other minute. Which meant I was totally losing track of just enjoying the freaking moment/entire day!

I could go on, but I’m sure you get the drift. So, here’s my new plan for the blog….

As Avery gets older and can actually communicate with real words, I’d like to have her help to do product/service reviews. I will also do reviews that only parents/health-minded people would be into since I obviously take a major interest in the health and fitness world.

Why should you, the reader care if all you want is to see our darling daughter and hear what she’s been up to? Well, hopefully you’ll find what I review of good use in your life and you’ll gain insight on things you may never have known existed otherwise.

I’ve already performed several reviews on here, but now I can focus on doing more. In addition, I plan on sharing recipes I create, workouts I love or put together, healthy lifestyle hacks, or just favorite foods you can buy online. Yes, that means I’ll have more affiliate links that will earn me a whopping few cents if you click on them.

I have nothing to hide, I’m hoping to earn a little extra cash if possible because, lets face it, we could all use more. Right?

This most likely means less blog posts, but I do enjoy sharing random facts/funny things I find entertaining, so be on the lookout there. Damn Pinterest really knows how to suck you in, and before you know, you have eleventy-billion new pins when all you wanted was a picture of a cat!

On the topic of social media such as Pinterest, I’ll still be sharing plenty of life happenings with Avery and my wife on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, so be sure to follow these if you don’t already to keep up to date if you care. Seriously, why wouldn’t you  want to see this crazy-haired cute kid?

If you’re some creepy guy, I’d rather you not, but I hope everyone else will follow along and will find what I have to offer useful. Be on the lookout for reviews covering a multitude of things from items for kids and parents, to anything surrounding the world of health and fitness. Just know, I WILL NOT try products I feel are not safe or worth even using, and will give my honest opinion on what I do try.

As the days, weeks, and months pass, I’ll be making updates to the looks and other aspects on here, so check back often. Please?

What do you think of this new blogging approach?

Is there anything you’d personally like to see reviewed first?

International Babywearing Week: Reap the Benefits

This week is International Babywearing Week, and our City Dads Group has teamed with Baby Bjorn to celebrate all across the U.S. today.

Here in Texas, our Dallas Dads Group will meet at Klyde Warren Park to wear their babies as they proudly get active outdoors. Any longtime reader should know I’m a huge advocate of babywearing and have shared my feelings as to why I wear my baby and the numerous benefits.

Since it happens to be Thursday, I’ll take this Throwback opportunity to share an old pic of me wearing Avery and a few of my past posts.

How to "wear" in style in Texas.

Ha ha, okay, I’ll show one where you can actually see Avery and not my flying saucer covered head.

Bundled up for a cold walk
Bundled up for a cold walk

This is from my babywearing progression post I did last October. Yeah, she’s changed a little… Here she is just last month while helping me mow with our EGO.

For a little babywearing motivation, check out these great sites.

Don’t just take part for the 7 days, you can and should wear your kids year round to reap the numerous bonding and health benefits both you and the kiddos receive. Speaking of health, you can even turn babywearing into exercise. Here’s a video I put together with Avery a long time ago….

I even turned mowing the lawn into a babywearing sprinting workout with her! The possibilities are endless!

Again, celebrate International Babywearing Week this week and ALL YEAR….and the next to keep your kiddos literally and figuratively close to you.

Make sure to follow these hashtags and give a little retweet/like love if you can:

#IBW2015

#citydads

Do you plan on celebrating by wearing your baby?

Do you already wear your baby or are you interested in starting?