Sprite 24.7

All good things must come to an end...

2010-10-29T22:50:00.000-04:00

It's been a few years of trudging about on (and off) this blog, but I've decided that it's time to end my Sprite 24/7 blogging days and concentrate on other (more pressing) things. Namely, Rome, school, and Crome Photography. I didn't come to this decision lightly, since I really do treasure my old blog, but this was the first blog that I actually put an effort into maintaining, and it's

Carowinds Theme Park

2010-09-20T17:18:00.001-04:00

Cap'n Rome at Snoopy's Yacht Club J and I decided that Rome's going to grow up loving roller coasters, thrill rides, and amusement parks. Just like his parents. Over the summer, we took a trip out to Carowinds Theme Park, which is dubbed as The Thrill Capital of the Southeast. Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, Carowinds is one of the larger theme parks in the Carolinas, and probably one

Wi-fi emergency & Panera Bread

2010-09-17T00:35:00.001-04:00

Madly typing away on her laptop The other day, I took Rome to his second trip to Panera Bread. Normally, I prefer fresh breads from local bakery and pastry shops, but I had a bit of an "emergency" on Tuesday. Construction workers somehow got into a cable line in the neighborhood, and they knocked out our cable TV and internet, which made the normally viral residents useless and agitated. I

Busy, busy September

2010-09-12T22:58:00.000-04:00

He's outta this world ...and, no, I'm not disappearing for another year, like I practically did back in '07, but I'll probably be blogging a bit less... ...frequently, that is. I've got a few photo shoots set up, which is good, since it seems like my friends are kind enough to start spreading my name through word of mouth. Thanks, ladies. Rome has his 2nd year wellness check-up this month,

Just the Way You Are

2010-09-09T00:39:00.000-04:00

J downloaded this song on my iPod, and now he's got me singing Bruno Mars for the past two days. If you haven't heard of Bruno Mars, check him out. Cute, isn't he? He's part Puerto Rican and Filipino, but that's not why I like his music. Not only is he eye candy, but he's talented too. LOL.

Labor Day Woes

2010-09-08T11:59:00.000-04:00

...and, yes, it is as bad as it looks We headed back home to Florida over the Labor Day weekend thinking that it'd be a quick trip to see family, have a little BBQ pig-out fest, and relax during the long weekend we were home. All that happened...and more, unfortunately. I don't know what it is, but it seems like if anything wrong could happen on a brief weekend getaway, it will find a way to

Saturday's Birthday Bash

2010-08-31T23:23:00.000-04:00

It's Rome's day of birth! Last Saturday we threw a little birthday fete for Rome, and invited a few friends in the neighborhood over for some grub, cake, and entertainment for the kids. My brother and his wife came down from North Carolina to help us prepare the night before, so I was beginning to think that throwing a kid's party was easy peasy... From Murphy's Law: "If anything can go wrong

Happy 2nd birthday, Rome!

2010-08-30T23:44:00.000-04:00

Rome runs around with his birthday balloons Sorry, I've been M.I.A. from my blog for a bit, but that's because I spent all of last week slaving away in preparation for Rome's 2nd birthday here in Columbia. Originally, I was planning to take him back home with me to Florida sans the husband, but he pitched a fit saying he wanted to be with his son on his birthday. J couldn't take a few days off

Palmetto Falls

2010-08-20T22:12:00.000-04:00

My view & Rome hits the water face first Remember I mentioned that it's been ridiculously hot in Columbia? It's so hot that the only way we can cool down is to head to the local pool. Luckily, there's a large water park located at Fort Jackson, and not too far from where we live, so I'm thankful we have a place to cool off. Even though it's on the Army installation, it's open to the public, so

Wordless Wednesday

2010-08-18T21:38:00.000-04:00

Welcome Baby Paige!

2010-08-15T22:47:00.000-04:00

Sleepy lil' girl & her mommy Aren't newborns just...so...breathtakingly adorable? Little baby Paige is no exception. Our friend's daughter decided to break out of jai...I mean, her mommy's womb a tad bit early, but I don't blame her. She's just so scrumptious, I couldn't help but head over to the hospital (with another girlfriend in tow) to meet the little angel. No one can resist the power of

Wordless Wednesday

2010-08-11T15:44:00.002-04:00

Columbia eats: Doc's Barbeque & Southern Buffet

2010-08-06T17:11:00.001-04:00

Doc's menu One thing that J's a total sucker for (besides Rome and I) is B-B-Q. He can win a gift certificate to a nice, expensive, high-end restaurant, but he'll be quick to trade it in for some simple, good ol' fashioned BBQ. Luckily, in the South, it's not hard to find a couple of local favorites advertising J's beloved BBQ. The best ones in Columbia are found in the most rural, least trodden,

Wordless Wednesday

2010-08-04T09:44:00.002-04:00

Happy birthday to a stand up guy

2010-08-03T23:35:00.000-04:00

Today's my younger brother's birthday, and what like any older sister would do to their younger sibling, I rubbed it in his face that he's another year older. "Please don't put my age up on Facebook," he pleaded on the phone when I called to wish him a happy birthday. "I won't, dude," I promised, but I also warned him not to stick any more goofy/geeky/grotesque pictures of me on his wall, so

Life isn't always pretty

2010-08-02T16:58:00.000-04:00

Life isn't always pretty. Rome is starting to learn that he can't always get away with everything. Unfortunately, he also learned that he doesn't like the word NO too much. He pouts, he pulls the corner of his mouth down, and then the tears start to come out. He doesn't make that kind of face too often, but when he does---I have to break out the camera. After all, it's fun to capture Rome's

Wordless Wednesday

2010-07-28T15:46:00.002-04:00

Sizzling Summer

2010-07-26T20:22:00.000-04:00

...and it keeps on rising Last weekend was a scorcher. I mean it---it was so hot, I swear the rubber started melting off my flip-flops the second I went outside on the cement. I remember meeting a few Columbia natives, when we first arrived here last November, who told us that the summers here were especially hot, but I thought it couldn't be as bad as those in Florida. Well, they're not so bad,

Food meme!

2010-07-23T10:25:00.000-04:00

Nilaga for dinner Food meme! I borrowed this meme off someone's blog in the internet, and since I don't have too much time to come up with long, drawn out blog posts, I'll just post a quickie. What did you have for dinner last night? Nilaga (Filipino stew), rice, and some patis (fish sauce). Who cooked? I did. I usually do, anyway. J's limited to grilling and cooking rice. What's always in

Wordless Wednesday

2010-07-21T11:09:00.000-04:00

Old School Memories: Mt. Fuji

2010-07-17T23:04:00.000-04:00

Near Mt. Fuji, Japan This old picture shows me, my dad, and my younger brother right by an ice-skating rink at the Mt. Fuji area in Japan. It's an old school pic, and I really don't have any memory of this. I had to call my mom and ask her about the picture (which, incidentally, my brother posted on damned Facebook). My mom's pretty good, even methodical, in keeping track of old pictures, putting

Wordless Wednesday

2010-07-14T12:06:00.000-04:00

Great Wolf Lodge Pt. 2

2010-07-12T11:32:00.000-04:00

The bucket dumping water & the kiddie pool area The Great Wolf Lodge sits right off the highway in Concord, NC, amidst a handful of trendy shopping plazas, restaurants, and a huge outlet mall. We didn't drive around too much, since J was anxious to check in and start the water park fun. The thing is, we'd be sharing the water park with everyone and their mommas---literally. It's summer, so why is

Wordless Wednesday

2010-07-07T09:00:00.002-04:00

Great Wolf Lodge pt. 1

2010-07-04T21:59:00.000-04:00

Decor outside in the hall A few weekends ago, we took a little trip out to Concord, North Carolina for a stay at the Great Wolf Lodge, a resort chain known for its trademark outdoor lodging and indoor water park. J's co-worker had mentioned that he took his family one weekend, and had a blast, so he recommended it to my ever-seeking-fun-and-adventure husband. Always willing to try and see