Kathryn, Author at kathrynegly.com

0 In Family/ Raising boys/ Things to do in Minnesota

An Easy way for a Parent to Invest in your Child

Written by my husband, Ted:

Today I had father-son time with my oldest, George, who is going into middle school next week. I used our time together not only to have fun at the Mall of America, but also started a tradition with my boys who are going into middle school (and in a few years, high school). I was able to capitalize on this transition as an opportunity to invest in him, and talk about leadership and many other topics.

During lunch I shared (or re-shared) with him:

* Picking quality friends. We become like those we surround ourselves with, for better or for worse

* The power of a growth mindset (Instead of “I can’t”… “I can’t, YET”)

* The value of integrity

* The importance of kindness

* Going first (e.g. saying hi…first; smiling first; encouraging first)

* That his mom and I are always here for him (during good and bad times)

* The power of courage and taking action when you are afraid. Action cures fear.

At one point I teared up during our time (I know…I know…a little sappy), realizing I have the wonderful privilege to father him and his brothers.

Cheers to a great year, George!

Ted Egly is my awesome husband and father to our four cowboys. He loves good books and adventure races. He does Executive Development for Target.

August 31, 2019 By Kathryn

1 In Minnesota/ Raising boys/ Things to do in Minnesota

Our Day with the Vikings

Each summer, the Minnesota Vikings invite the public to come and watch them practice. The tickets are FREE. Parking is $10 (if you purchase the parking pass online) and $20 at the door.

They open up the Vikings Practice Field several hours before practice and fill the grounds with games and fun activities for all ages.

Things to do at Training Camp:

Take your kids to play in the Kids Area. This is open before, during, and after practice!
No kids? Find Games for all ages throughout the training camp
Like to show your moves? Have a Dance party with a live DJ!
Take pictures with cool photo ops all over the place
Get autographs from players. A few players come out each day for autographs.
Eat at one of the many concession stands or food trucks
And obviously – Watch the players practice
Click here for more info and ideas on THINGS TO DO

We started at the ‘Kid’s Area’ – it was filled football related games. All kids are invited to participate in a “combine.” They get their picture taken, then are tested in their high jump, their throwing skills, and their speed. They can get a printout at the end showing how they did in each area.

There’s also a space for flag football, corn hole, and other games.

There are also lots of fun spots for pictures.

You can’t bring food in, but the price for food is actually reasonable. (We DID bring in water and Gatorade)

$3 for hotdogs,
$5 burgers,
$1 for a bottle of water.

If you didn’t bring kids, there are other games throughout the arena (for all ages) where you can win prizes and Vikings tickets.

Once practice begins, you can find a spot in the grass or on the bleachers to watch. There is no assigned seating except for those who payed for a ticket or are season ticket holders.

We were super excited to watch #12 – our friend Chad Beebe.

I think he earned the most cheers that day. We were impressed with his speed and ability to catch every ball that came his way!

The last practice for the 2019 season is on Friday, August 16th – so if you can’t make it this summer, plan to attend next year. Click here to get your tickets.

August 15, 2019 By Kathryn

8 In Funny/ Minnesota

Words I learned in Minnesota

Uff da – An exclamation used when overwhelmed or surprised.
Skol – Clark taught me this word after attending his first Vikings game. It’s a word they say during football games after each touchdown. SKOL VIKINGS!
Minnesota Nice – It’s a real thing. In Minnesota, people are known to be just a little nicer than anyone else.
You Betcha or ‘Ubetcha’ – A friendlier way to say ‘Yes!’
Hotdish – A type of warm casserole – usually involving tater tots.
Budge – Cutting someone in line.
Lutefisk – a Minnesota dish that I have not yet tried. Have you?
Dontcha Know – Right along with Uff da, it’s something you may hear in conversation.
Egg Bake – Something the rest of us call an Egg Casserole.
Duck, Duck, GRAY Duck – It’s the Minnesota version of Duck, Duck Goose!
Land of 10,000 Ice Rinks – What do you think happens to all those lakes and ponds in the winter? It’s no wonder every child here loves Hockey!
Pop – All carbonated beverages are POP. Not soda, and definitely not Soda Pop.
Phy Ed – I’ve heard Physical Education referred to as “Gym,” or “P.E.” and even “Phys Ed (pronounced fizz ed), but in Minnesota, I’ve learned that P.E. is called Phy Ed – pronounced Fi (with a long i) Ed
Rambler – A one story house.
Up North – Where everyone in Minnesota goes for the weekend. I didn’t know you could go any farther NORTH from where we currently are…but apparently, you can and you should. Up North is spoken of fondly by every Minnesotan. When I finally get “UP NORTH”…I’ll tell you what the fuss is all about.
Cold – I’ve used the word COLD my entire life, but now I’ve truly experienced COLD. And I lived to tell about it.

What’s a word that you only hear in YOUR state?

Other posts about Minnesota that might interest you:

How to fit in as a Minnesota transplant

Gifts that Minnesota Gave the World!

Minnesota Must Haves!

My Top 25 Bucket List

August 13, 2019 By Kathryn

0 In 2019/ Food/ Recipe

EASY 2 ingredient Granola Bar Recipe

Here’s a recipe for the world’s EASIEST homemade granola bars that requires only TWO Ingredients:

·3 cups old fashioned oats

·1 can sweetened condensed milk

That’s it! Pop in the oven and bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

HOWEVER, if you want to get fancy….here are some OPTIONAL ingredients you could consider adding:

·1/4 tsp. salt

·1/3 cup ground flax seed

·1/3 cup sliced almonds

1 scoop of protein powder

·1/2 cup peanut butter

· chocolate chips

·cinnamon

·dried fruit

·coconut

·chocolate (1 tbsp. cocoa powder)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350.

2. Mix all ingredients together thoroughly.

(If using peanut butter, melt in microwave for a few seconds first. Mix in and let cool before adding any chocolate chips.)

3. Spray a 9×9 pan.

4. Pour mixed filling in the pan.

5. Bake for 20-22 minutes.

6. Let cool and cut into bars.

7. Store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Thanks for this yummy recipe Brandi! You can find this recipe and others at the: HelpClubforMoms.com

August 7, 2019 By Kathryn

0 In Family/ Peek into our Week/ Raising boys/ Things to do in Minnesota

A Peek into our Week – Summertime, Part 1

I’ve been so busy ENJOYING summer that I haven’t stopped long enough write about it.

If we are friends on Instagram or facebook – you get a glimpse into our lives…but this week I took a break from social media, so I suddenly had the urge to write down what we’ve been up to!

Sunday Funday:

We went to church in the morning. In the evening, Ted and I went to the adorable town of Wayzata . We had an amazing dinner at Gianni’s Steakhouse. We looked at each other in disbelief that we’ve lived here over a YEAR and haven’t yet explored this delightful little town – right on Lake Minnetonka!

Our family is doing a Twin Cities Burger Challenge. We are trying top ten Burger joints (according to the Minnesota Monthly Magazine) to determine which restaurant in the Twin Cities has the best burger. We decided to visit Gianni’s by ourselves because it’s a little fancy and better for date night. You can follow me on instagram for updates on “finding the best burger #eglychallenge.”

I’ll also write our thoughts on the best burgers when we finish the challenge, as well as how we thought they ranked in the following categories:

Kid-Friendly,
Price,
Ambiance, and of course,
TASTE!

Gianni’s Steakhouse was stop #3 on our Burger Challenge. It was DELICIOUS, with a fabulous patio right on Lake Minnetonka.

Monday at the Mall

#georgewilliam and #clarkwayne discussing their movie

I signed George and Clark up for Apple Camp on Movie Creating and Editing. If you have an Apple store in your area, click on this link – the camps are FREE and lots of fun! Here’s a short movie the boys created (no sound):

Afterwards, we walked around the Mall of America …

Beautiful Butterfly Display made out of recycled products
U Betcha!
#lukewashington

and played at the Lego Store.

#eglyboys hard at work
#paulwalter posing with a Lego Statue

Tales from Tuesday…

We met some friends at the movie theater to watch The Lion King. We loved it. It’s almost identical to the original cartoon, but the real animals make it better!

PS – Tuesdays at our theater is DISCOUNT day. Tickets are reduced and popcorn is FREE. Check your local theater to see if you have a “Discount Day.”

Wandering Wednesday…

We were back at Mall of America for Day 2 of Apple Camp. The boys created another movie. Here is George’s short film:

After camp, I let the boys choose a ride at Nickelodeon Universe. Clark, Paul, and Luke wanted to go on their first BIG KID roller coaster. Luke was an inch too short and CRIED that he couldn’t ride with his brothers. Clark and Paul LOVED it though!

Thoughts on Thursday …

Thursday we went to our local library. It’s been closed for renovations and we were so happy to have it re-opened.

The big boys also have Sports Camp every Thursday. They’ve had an awesome coach and really enjoyed it.

TGI Friday…

The boys went to their final class at The Apple Store. Then we spent some time fishing and playing at the lake with friends.

Saturday Adventures…

We went back to Wayzata to let the kids play at the beach on Lake Minnetonka.

#lukewashington cheerfully posing for a picture for me
#paulwalter searching for beach treasures
Ted tossing a football with the boys

We are kind of spoiled with all the pool swimming we do, so the kids and I don’t love swimming with all the rocks and muck at the bottom of the lake. We left after a couple of hours and went to the pool to swim.

First, though, we picked up burgers at Lions Tap Family Restaurant to try their “Famous Burgers” in our #eglychallenge. (Stop #4 of 10) Lions Tap is a hole in the wall place, but the boys and Ted LOVED their simple burgers.

That’s a peek into our week!

Leave me a comment to tell me about your week.

PS – you now may have to “sign in” to leave a comment. I was getting a TON of spam and had to change the way comments are made. Sorry for the inconvenience!

August 4, 2019 By Kathryn

0 In Book Review/ Inspiration

5 Fantastic Books for Summer

I’ve read about 40 books so far in 2019. I’ll share the entire list near the end of the year, but highlight a few of my favorites throughout the year. Here are 5 books I’ve read this summer that I would recommend.

(Each book has a direct affiliate link to Amazon. If you choose to buy a book, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you)

1. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

This is the memoir of Dr. Paul Kalanithi and has essentially 3 parts:

one part is his story of growing up, becoming a brain surgeon, and taking care of patients,
the second part is his cancer story and him BECOMING a patient,
the 3rd part is a touching story written by his wife.

It was one of those books that was hard to put down. I stayed up way too late trying to get through the entire story and really loved it. If you enjoy memoirs or have interest in the medical field – I recommend this book for you!

Disclaimer – After devouring this book, I was left feeling sad. It gave me a glimpse into how FRAGILE life can be. As a mother with young children, I found myself awake at night worrying about the future. I’m learning that some books may not be good for me during this season of my life.

2. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

My friend lent me this book and once I started reading, I didn’t want to stop. It made me wish I could skip all responsibilities for 24 hours so I could just READ!

The author is a fantastic writer and made the story and characters, come alive. I’d recommend this book to an adult looking for a great summer read.

Disclaimer – I recommended “adult” because there were a couple parts about the main character and her relationship with a man that were a little graphic. I still loved the book, but felt that a few details could have been left out.

3. Play: How it shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul by Stuart Brown

This book brings to light all the benefits of PLAY! If you are feeling stressed out, overwhelmed and disconnected – take a break and PLAY. The author believes that PLAY is the cornerstone to happiness. He shares the science, and real life stories, to support his beliefs.

As a mom, I’ve found that taking a few minutes to play with my kids helps us stay connected.

What I hadn’t thought of (but the author pointed out) was how play can also bring life and joy back to a marriage. When was the last time you and your spouse played something together? If your marriage needs a little pep, sign up to do something fun together – mini-golf, axe throwing, or an escape room.

I’d recommend this book to any parent or married person!

4. Relational Intelligence by Steve Sacconne

I read this book several years ago, but picked it back up recently now that I’m in a season of meeting so many new people and beginning new friendships.

I pulled out a few of my favorite quotes from the book here:

Relationships have a direct correlation to the quality of our lives… Our day to day human interactions will determine the quality of our lives more than the tasks of work we do.

By cultivating relational intelligence, we can enhance our ability to affect the people around us more positively.

To be human means to be imperfect and flawed, while simultaneously being God’s unimaginable masterpiece and treasure. This journey involves beginning to fully embrace ourselves as God does, in our beauty and our brokenness, in our goodness and our deficiencies, in our light and our darkness.

Self awareness means consistently investing in our internal growth potential …an unexamined life is an ineffective life.

I’d recommend this book to someone who wants to strengthen their relationships with others.

5. The Book of Awesome by Neil Pasricha

This book is a super easy-read filled with stories that will make you smile! The whole book is written about things that are AWESOME. I loved how the author pointed out SOOO many things that I take for granted and forget to be grateful for.

Things like:

free samples,
tripping and realizing NO ONE SAW YOU!
Shopping for a specific item and finding it on SALE!
Your colon, lungs, and other body parts that work hard every day to keep you healthy without you even noticing or having to ask

If you are in a need of a reason to smile … I recommend this book or the blog 1000awesomethings.com

Do you have a book you would recommend? Leave a comment and let us know!

July 26, 2019 By Kathryn

2 In Family/ Motherhood/ Raising boys

3 Cheers for Chores

Getting things done around the house is a dilemma for EVERY parent. It’s especially challenging for those of us who are (ahem)…messy.

From the time my oldest son George could walk and hold a broom, I started having him help around the house. He was DELIGHTED to help me when he was a toddler. However, the DELIGHT soon wore off and he’s no longer excited about holding a broom.

Sometimes, I’ve wondered if it’s really worth giving my kids chores because of the CHALLENGES that come with asking my kids to help.

Challenges with kids doing chores:

It can leave me with a a bigger mess,
It takes more time than if I just did it myself,
It usually involves some whining, crying, and complaining about how HARD life is because of ALL.THE.WORK.

However, when I step back and re-evaluate, I know that the benefits FAR outweigh the challenges.

Benefits for kids doing chores:

Children learn how to contribute to the family,
They learn how to keep things tidy
Their future spouse will THANK YOU,
They learn that they can do HARD things – which builds their self-esteem,
Chores help them mature,
Doing something with their hands releases feel-good chemicals in their brain that protect against depression.
Many studies show that kids who help at home are more confident, compassionate, resilient, and grow up to be more successful!

Chores are one of the best mediums we have for teaching kids about being part of a family, and about belonging, significance, and teamwork.
Lynn Lott

You aren’t just giving your kids CHORES, you are teaching them LIFE SKILLS – things they benefit from the rest of their lives!

How you keep track of chores is up to you. There are chore charts of every size and every price available online … and I’ve tried several of them!

Here’s a simple chore system that’s working for us this summer.

Find one container for every child in your family.
Write your child’s name on the container.
Take several clothes pins and write 1 chore on each one.
Clip the chores your children need to do on their cup
When your child has completed the chore, they can put their pin in the cup.

I didn’t come up with this system, it’s just one I found on Pinterest!

My sister started this simple system, and then sent me this picture of her girls (ages 4 and 7) cleaning their bathroom!

She said, “My girls love this visual and tactile system.” They see what they need to do, then get to put their clips in the cup when they are done!

When my boys ask to do something, I can just look to see if there are clips on their cups, and I say: “As soon as your chores are done, sure!”

Here are some ideas of chores your kids can do:

Do you have a system that’s worked for you? Leave a comment and share it with us.

And to everyone reading – Best wishes for you getting things done in YOUR house!

July 21, 2019 By Kathryn

3 In Motherhood/ My Journey/ Raising boys

The struggle with housekeeping…

Oh how I wish I were tidy.

I love it when my house is clean. I feel more relaxed and enjoy my home more when I see clean surfaces and organized rooms. What I want and what I have (most days) seem opposite.

Housework can make me feel like I’m drowning. If I stop and reflect on all that I need to do to have a spotless home (from a clean fridge to clean closets), I feel overwhelmed.

When I cook, my kitchen is a hurricane. I was mortified the other day when a neighbor walked in and saw the mess. I was too humiliated to even apologize.

I feel guilty hiring someone to help – I shouldn’t need to because I don’t have a ‘job.’ I should have time to keep up with it all. But I’m struggling.

If any of you text and say, ‘I’m coming over in an hour’ … I will spend the next hour cleaning because I want you to think I always keep my house clean. I don’t clean to be hospitable, but for my own darn pride.

I visited a friend in Nashville once and when I walked into her house she said, ‘It’s not always this clean, I just had a housekeeper here.’ Her honesty was refreshing.

Another friend invites me into her home anytime …messes and all. She doesn’t apologize for it or expect me to have my house clean when she comes over.

Then there are the friends who always seem to have SPOTLESS houses. How? I want my house to look like that too!

I realize that I’m in a season of life that is busy and messy. My kids will grow up and (perhaps) I’ll miss the fingerprints, crumbs, and dirty socks.

I’m a person who would MUCH rather play than clean. If there’s a choice between a game or a chore – pass me the cards. If I have to choose between an adventure or dishes – Um, bye!

I can go from one activity to the next without cleaning up first. I think: ‘I will do it tonight.’ But then I’m too tired at night! I’m (slowly) learning to pause between activities and allow time to clean up. I’ve recently found an easy way to implement “chores” so that my boys carry some of the load. Click here to read about it.

I honestly don’t want to publish this post because it’s making my heart race putting this out there. However, I want to be more real and less prideful. I need to invite you into the mess.

I want to clean for the sake of hospitality, and with gratitude for the beautiful home God has blessed me with..not because I want you to think I’m a superwoman.

Feel free to come by un-announced. Walk into the kitchen, scan the fridge and ask to use the upstairs bathroom…it will humble me. Or, ask for a cleaning rag. I’m happy to let you help make my house as clean as I want it to be.

If you are a mom who’s figured out the secret to keeping the house tidy…send me all the tips!

PS – Since writing this post, I have found a housekeeper that comes once a month. She’s way better than the previous one (me).

Click here to read: Three Cheers for Chores

July 19, 2019 By Kathryn

3 In Family/ Finding our place/ Moving/ Things to do in Minnesota

ONE YEAR in Minnesota!

Today marks ONE YEAR of living in Minnesota. I knew nothing about this state except that it gets really, really cold. However, in spite of the cold, we still really, really like this place!

So far I’ve crossed nine items off my TOP 25 Minnesota Bucket List. I now want to add AT LEAST 50 more things to that list. I’m truly surprised at how much there is to do and see in Minnesota!

This morning, the 3 big boys and I went to breakfast and talked about the things we’ve loved most, the things that have been hardest, and the moments we remember most.

What we love most about Minnesota:

The people who have welcomed us! We also enjoy living close to the Mall of America. They boys could fish every day – so living in the Land of 10,000 Lakes comes in pretty handy! George’s favorite restaurant is Portillos and he was thrilled to find it here. Ted is thriving in his role at Target. I’ve enjoyed exploring a new state and discovering all the beauty and history here. We are also thankful for our new church.

Moments we remember:

Our neighbors intentionally stopping by to say hello and new friends inviting us into their homes or onto their porch for a drink.

The hard part:

Moving is hard too. The hardest was saying goodbye to beautiful Colorado Springs, our amazing friends and a church we loved. Clark said, “I miss walking into church where everyone knows my name.” (He and I are the SAME. We love to know and be known.)

I’m thankful to have discovered that Minnesota NICE is a real thing. I’m grateful for this journey with Ted, and the brave and courageous #eglyboys. Living a life of an adventure with them is more than I could ever ask for!

What a difference a year can make!

July 16, 2019 By Kathryn

2 In Colorado/ Colorado Springs/ Faith/ Inspiration/ Joy/ Memories/ Moving/ My Journey/ Peek into our Week/ Things to do in Colorado/ Traveling

My Volunteer Vacation

One year ago, New Life Church was hosting an amazing children’s/family ministry conference called The Gathering. It was during this conference that my husband accepted a job with Target, which meant we’d be moving to Minnesota.

I love Colorado, and I also loved working with this team at New Life. I was struggling with the idea that this chapter would be ending soon.

On the last night of the conference (last year), each person who helped lead the conference was given a box of cereal from Dr. Michelle Anthony – my (former) boss and Family Ministry Pastor. She gave me a box of S’mores and told me that she would like S’more of me. It took everything in me not to burst into tears right then. Just a couple days later, I’d be sharing the news that we’d be moving and she’d be getting S’less, not S’more.

I went home from the conference and shared how I was feeling with Ted. He encouraged me to come back to the conference in 2019 and volunteer.

So this year, I went to Colorado for a Volunteer Vacation! I came to assist, learn, and connect with my New Life friends!

When I first arrived in Colorado Springs – tears filled my eyes. This city has such a special place in my heart, and I was so happy to be back.

The morning of the conference, I drove over to New Life Church with my friend Holly, and helped with the last minute details. All morning I was greeted with love and hugs from friendly faces. It was pure joy.

Because my kids weren’t with me, I got to focus my whole week helping wherever needed … AND catching up with SO many dear people. I loved every minute of it.

In a season of all things new, spending several days in a place that holds so much familiarity & treasured relationships, felt like a well-timed gift.

Though I didn’t sleep much, I came home from my Volunteer Vacation refreshed and full.

If you have some vacation time coming up and aren’t sure what to do – consider a “Volunteer Vacation!” Take the opportunity to go somewhere and help with something. Every non-profit organizations can use an extra set of hands. And when you make time to bless someone or something, you always get blessed in return!

Here is an (affiliate) link to a book filled with ideas on short term adventures that will benefit you and others!

July 9, 2019 By Kathryn

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