Kirsten Captures

Happy Friday the 13th! I love Halloween, scary movies, and all that jazz so today is an exciting day. My plan is to watch a horror movie later tonight. Is that weird?

What’s not weird is that I am already getting in the fall spirit. Fall is my favorite season EVER and I am keeping an eye out for the nonexistent season change here in Florida. Thankfully I am traveling to Boston and Pennsylvania later next week to visit my sister and I am hoping to see some autumn leaves and wear some pants without sweating. Is that too much to ask?

I can’t complain much though because the weather in Florida has been AMAZING. Hot and sunny in the mornings and intense thunderstorms in the afternoons make way for breezy evenings and spectacular sunsets. I freakin’ love it. You know what I really love? America. Oh my goodness. 5 months in Malaysia has made me a flag waving patriot who often goes off on declarations of love for this wonderful country. For real though. America is the best.

During this brief yet open-ended time at home before returning to Asia, I have been juggling work, business classes, and some of my favorite Florida activities.

Here is what I have been up to the past few weeks while living it up in my favorite country of all: 

1. Indulging in one of America’s favorite past times, baseball! The Rays were on a winning streak for a while and for a couple games I had a great view of the action when I wasn’t face deep in ice cream and peanuts. Maybe it’s just me but my favorite part of baseball is the food. Hands-down!

2. Capturing some incredible sunsets. This never gets old. If you check my Instragram you have probably figured out that my backyard is my favorite subject. But how can you resist when the sky becomes this?

3. Spending lots of time with family. 3 weeks ago my Mom and I enjoyed lunch at the Oxford Exchange in Tampa before visiting the Florida Museum of Photographic Museum. The museum was sort of a letdown, lunch was not. I have also been hanging out with my grandparents and some extended family that has been in town. My grandma insists on feeding me endless amounts of German and Hungarian food. I am not complaining.

4. Riding my bike. It is practically impossible to ride a bike safely in Penang and I have missed it so much. I try to get out at least twice a week and ride alongside the ocean. It makes me so happy (and sweaty)!

5. Indulging in another one of America’s favorite past times, drinking beer! I am especially excited to sample all the amazing pumpkin beers out there already. Actually I am actually excited to sample all pumpkin everything, anytime, anywhere. Next up? PSL at Starbucks. Gimme.

6. Boating and BBQ on Labor Day Weekend. On Sunday we took the boat out to Egmont Key, along with the rest of Tampa Bay. We walked along the beach, went swimming, and ate some grilled meat. It was really fun, except when we tried to eat lunch on the rolling boat without getting sick. Big boats are definitely more fun when you’re cruising.

7. Busch Gardens with Carina. This Florida girl had never been so I just had to introduce her to my favorite amusement park from my childhood. I know Busch Gardens inside and out and we had a blast screaming on roller coasters (hello Cheetah Hunt!) and petting kangaroos. Yes that’s right, we pet kangaroos!!! We also hung out with some gorillas, ate enormous dishes of ice cream, and got stuck in the rain. It was a lot of fun. Howl-O-Scream is coming soon too! Now excuse all the photos of us with giant stone gorillas. It’s a Busch Gardens thing.

8. Beach time, pool time, ocean time, not in that order. Yes I have done it all. Carina and I spent time roasting on St. Pete Beach which reminded us a lot of Lamai Beach in Koh Samui. Except there were no mountains in the distance, or pina coladas, or spicy thai mango salads. Gosh we are such travel snobs.

9. Trying new fitness trends and workouts. Lately my workouts have been a mix of heavy lifting (love), yoga, and Orange Theory classes with my mom and sister. OT is a new group fitness class that is part treadmill running, indoor rowing, and weighed circuit training while hooked up to a heart rate monitor. I love the cardio intervals and being able to see just how hard I am working. It is challenging but feels good… after the workout is done haha!

I am also attending an ACE Movement-Based Exercise Workshop tomorrow and the ACE Symposium East Conference in Orlando next month! I am so nervous but excited to attend my first fitness workshop and conference ever! Now that I finished my Nutrition courses, I am ready to refocus on my ACE Personal Trainer certification. Time to be inspired! I’ll be sure to update you on how it goes.

10. Ok here’s one more picture of a sunset. 

This is Florida. This is the United States. This is home. Can I stay for just a little bit longer? Please?