The Buerglers

As most of you know, I am on running restriction due to my sprained ankle .  This has really put a damper on my goal to run the Disney Princess Half Marathon.  While the girls are still hard core training to run the half marathon, I just got cleared to start walking 1-2 miles a day (not 13.1).  Boo.  Last weekend the girls participated in their first Atlanta Track Club race, the Resolution 5k.  It was a good break for them, since most Saturdays have been upwards of 6-8 miles this month.  Also, it's fun to get out and race, especially on a cold hilly course when you've only been training on a treadmill. At the start line Pumped! And off they went!  I sat in the car for a few minutes to stay warm, but before I knew it the "really fast guys" were finishing.  Ever since my day on the taping of Biggest Loser , I've fallen in love with cheering at the finish line.  So, off I went to the finish line.  It was awesome to cheer for li...

As promised , one of our new feature segments is going to feature a most requested recipe, or perhaps a custom recipe debut.  This segment will be posted around the beginning and middle of each month. My first recipe to share is one I found on a blog back in December.  I wanted something fun to make for a baby shower dessert instead of cake or cupcakes (sooo over done).  That same weekend I also needed a dessert to share for my staff Christmas potluck.  This recipe was the perfect match - something i could make ahead in bulk and plate up as needed for the two parties.  Unfortunately, I did not record where I found the recipe and when I tried to look it up again, I couldn't find it.   So take note - this recipe isn't mine . I will, however, share some tips and variation at the bottom are are my own creation. Oreo Cheesecake Bites Makes: 30 42 Oreo, cream-fill chocolate sandwich cookies (30 left whole, 12 coarsely chopped) 2 pounds cream chee...

Over the last year or so Eric and I have been learning more about the food industry.  It's overwhelming.  A few friends have been writing about their shift to whole foods, organics, fair trade, and grass fed.  No doubt it's pricier than buying just anything at the grocery.  But when you do a cost/value analysis it makes it obvious that eating more naturally is the affordable way to go. So, today's question to answer is " How do you afford whole foods? " First let me tell you that before we started eating healthier, I was at the doctor about every six to eight weeks.  Time that by a $25 co-pay and often a $10 or $20 prescription or OTC medicine on top of that.  I also suffered from severe headaches (add cost of advil here) and bad acne (add cost of several skin care products here).  We are easily talking $300-500 a year on just my health alone! I was also nearing needing cholesterol and blood pressure medicine. Yes, at 28. Now,...

I had an entirely different post ready to write today, but I read my friend Caitlin's post about the surprise conception of her nephew and the death of her mother.  By no means am I attempting to "one up" her. She honestly inspired me to tell my family's story that is very similar.  And it all began... In January.  I remember it like it was last week.  I was at Saint Brigid, leading the youth group in a closing prayer and made the announcement that the next week were starting our Pro-Life service project and Life Night, and that we'd be going to the March for Life at the Georgia Capital in downtown Atlanta. That night I walked in the door of my parents' house, where I was living at the time.  Two of my siblings, Alex and Katie, were still home on college break.  There was a weird, almost eerie quiet in the house.  I went straight up to my room and was on Google chat with some friends.  Suddenly, both Alex and Katie appeared...

First I want to say that Eric and I have nothing but the greatest respect for those working through more difficult financial and housing situations than we are.  We know we are very blessed. Eric and I have been married for over a year now.  Surprisingly, the question we get more often than when are you having kids? is when are you buying a house?  Many assume that just because it's a buyers market, and that we're married we should be house hunting.  Well, here's our situation, and we why have chosen the apartment life.  But really it's a bit of our financial story and our steps to become DEBT FREE! This story begins a few years back.  When Eric and I first met neither of us owned our cars, in fact I totalled my car and had to replace in early in our dating years.  We both lived at home.  Because I lived at home I felt like I didn't need to have a "budget".  Boy was I wrong.  Budgets are for everyone! I did not keep track of my mo...

After the Snowcation 2011 fiasco last week, the weekend was pretty status quo.  I went to my parents, Eric went backpacking.  I think he should post about it, but will he? Probably not. Anyway.  My ankle.  The story is REALLY uneventful, but everyone's been asking... About two months ago I was in Jazzercise and landed some hip hop jumpy maneuver perfectly normal, as well as you can a hip hop jump maneuver. However, a sharp shooting pain radiated throughout my foot.  It felt funky, but I finished class and the pain went away. A few weeks later a nagging ache was still there. A few more weeks late the ache was still there. I talked to a friend who had the same type of pain, and she ended up needing surgery on a tendon. Yikes! My pain wasn't THAT bad.  So I kept working out and the ankle kept hurting. With the Disney Princess Half Marathon just 8 weeks away I thought it was time to have the doctor take a look at it.  Fortunately, it's just a spra...

I grew up in a house where food = love.  Both of my parents cook.  My paternal grandfather was an incredible Italian cook, and even owned two restaurants. My maternal grandfather is also an incredible cook specializing in Mid-Western fare, family favorites, and Southern Living delights.   Everything I know about cooking I've learned from my grandparents and by helping my parents.   With four kids, my mom always utilized us to help cook and bake. For my 4th grade birthday I received my most prized possession: A cookie scoop.  My grandfather gave it to me because he said my cookies were the best.  He even labeled it "Elizabeth's Fabulously Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies"  One of the chefs at the family restaurant bought me a restaurant grade cookie sheet when I was in junior high, with the agreement I'd have to make him an occasional double batch. And for my 21st birthday I wanted nothing more than a...

In reflecting on this blog about Eric and I's (awesome) life, I've met my goal to "report" on all the big happenings in our lives.  However, that doesn't help you get to know us much past what we've DONE.  I typically don't like to write too much about the future because I had a stalker for a few months and writing about where I will BE is still frightening.  Stalkers aside, there are still things we can write about for you to get to know us better. I've decided to add two new segments to this blog. Before I give the new bits away, I promise I will continue to do a regular weekly update on Tuesdays that includes pictures and videos of our past week or major events. New Weekly Segment:   Your Questions Answered  Many of our friends ask the same questions about our life style, so I want to write about them! Some of the starting questions will be: How/Why do you buy organic? Isn't that expensive? How do you plan your weekly meals? Why are ...

I'm not exactly sure where this originated.  It's been passed around via email all day. Ahhhhhh.

Call it what you will. Its awful out there.  For three days. Here's how Snowcation 2011 has gone down for the Buerglers. Sunday. The forecast for the 4-11 inches of snow called for the weather to turn around 9pm.  However, running a youth group that ends at 8 pm, could potentially be dangerous.  Around 1pm we decided to cancel youth group incase the snow came early, especially for our parishioners that live far away. So a good percentage of the adult volunteers went to Taco Mac for beers and queso!  It's always fun to bond with them, especially when the teens aren't around :) We all left around 9pm, when the roads were still dry as a bone.  By 10, however, we'd had over an inch of snow. I went to be around 1 am.  I'd earned my s uper duper and epic swarm badge   on foursquare.com for checking into Snowcation Hothlanta 2011.  The nerd in me was satisfied (it was like geeky Christmas!) and the ground had a good 4 inches of snow. ...

I know this is a bit late, but I saw it today for the first time and wanted to share with those of you who are out of town or maybe missed it on the news too.

Our two week Christmas story left off with the first week with the Corsetti's  and picks up with the second week of Christmas with the Buergler's in Vieques. Let me start by saying that ever since Eric was in junior high, his family has gone somewhere tropical for Christmas.  I believe that their tradition was to alternate Caribbean with Hawaii.  The last trip they went on was the first year Eric and I were dating.  After that there were two weddings to plan. This was the first year both spouses were invited. We had the choice to apply birthday and Christmas money to the trip, which we did.  And then had all year to supplement the trip with our own savings.  It was a way to feel both spoiled, but also ownership of the trip. Anyway, on to the fun stuff.   Also, let me say that I took all the beach pictures from various websites.  They are not my photos. Day One - Sun, Dec 26 Eric and I left snowy Atlanta and flew to Sa...