GRATITUDES + BREAKTHROUGHS // August 7, 2018

Gratitudes

Biggest gratitude this week is that I’m writing to you from Ireland. Specifically Galway from my bed overlooking Eyre Square from my window while it rains. It is amazing! I’ll be sharing way more with you on my trip in the next few weeks after I get back. I did want to answer a big question I got this weekend on Instagram. What did you pack? I thought I would share with you what I packed for my 2 week trip.

In my Travel Pro Spinner carry-on I packed the following:

3 pairs of pants (jeans, linen joggers and palazzo)

2 tank tops (white + black)

5 t-shirts ( 2 white, 1 black, 1 black sleeveless, 1 white sleeveless)

1 wrap skirt

1 kimono (to double to wear with jeans + bathing suit)

5 dresses ( 1 navy off the shoulder, 1 black off the shoulder, floral, VDDC chambray, green casual,

1 sleep set (romper + cardigan sweater)

1 athletic outfit (black capris, black tank, sports bra + extra t-shirt)

1 rain jacket + umbrella

3 pairs of shoes (tan leather sandals, gold flats, converse sneakers, saucony sneakers)

3 bras (nude + strapless nude + bralette)

4 pairs of panties (2 regular, 2 thong)

1 travel straightener

2 bags of Haribo Sour Gold Bears

20 mini Lara + Kind bars

Toilettries

In my HOF Rucksack I packed the following:

laptop + iPad

converters

Nikon F100 + Nikon D610

35mm + 50mm

30 rolls of Portra 400

camera strap

neck pillow + water bottle

Travel meds, ziplock bags, travel tote + power bank

Purse with wallet + passport

My travel outfit for Sunday into Monday I wore black leggings, a long green sleeveless button, denim jacket, scarf and a straw hat. It was fairly comfortable even though I don’t find denim jackets to be that warm or that soft. My shoes and leggings were super comfortable and I was in an actual outfit without feeling like a slob while traveling.

I hope this helps! I try to travel as light as possible so I’m not weighed down when moving from one place to the next. Also to have the most space to bring back souvenirs or cute finds! I’ll be sharing my experiences while I’m on on Insta Stories so be sure to follow along @krystanormanphotography.

Breakthroughs

I’m telling you the universe looks out for you. Last week I had been chatting with a guy on a dating app, and things seemed to be going well. Similar sense of humor and values, he asked me out to a museum on Sunday but I was leaving for Ireland. I asked if we could instead grab coffee on Saturday and he said sure! We talked a little longer and on Friday I messaged him to confirm our time and place. I picked Clifton Cafe because it looked adorable and also if we wanted we could switch from lattes to wine. He did confirm and I went to sleep.

Saturday I woke up, slipped on my favorite dress from Amazon (you can find that here!) and headed out early as Clifton is almost 40 minutes away. And also because while I’m on time for my business like phone calls, engagement sessions and weddings – sometimes that doesn’t translate to my regular life and I’m on average 10-15 minutes late to everything. I got there on time and grabbed us a table and myself a latte.

As the hostess sat me, a woman 2 tables over gave me a compliment on my dress before I sat down. That made me feel good, especially before a first date. My latte came and then my water, but no date. I sent a text about 15 minutes later saying I had a table and a coffee. No response. The waitress came back and asked if I wanted to order food while I waited, I declined. I sat there and sipped my coffee while sending a text to two friends to tell them my heartfelt suspicions.

I had ordered the biggest latte that they had, with the hopes of me drinking it slowly with bubbling conversation. It went down quick without a partner to converse with. At around 10:30 I paid my bill and stood up to leave feeling slighted and another waitress gave me a compliment on my dress. Just the pick-me-up I needed before heading out to send a final text message to my no-show date.

You see years ago, I would have let this slide or sent a text asking if everything was okay, or if I got the time wrong. Not this week. I send the following:

“If you intentions this morning by not showing up were to make me feel embarrassed or sad,

it didn’t work. I had a nice cup of coffee in a cute cafe. I’m more annoyed that you wasted my time.

Thanks for being a dick.”

The universe sent me to little angels to help boost and maintain my confidence while I was internally trying to fight it from dropping so low I would go home and eat a sad pizza, or I’m not good enough pan of brownies. Instead, I was able to walk out of there caffeinated with the guts to confront a stranger who was unkind to me for no reason.

So while last weeks dating episode wasn’t desirable – and it did remind how + why dating now is really, really hard – it didn’t discourage me from wanting to date again. I’ll be putting myself out there again when I get home, unless I meet a handsome Irishman or an Italian. There is always hope!

p.s. the picture up top is from the Love Wall in Monmartre, my favorite neighborhood in Paris, France. It has “I love you’ written in every language. Seemed appropriate for this week.

 

As always thanks for reading, xoxo.