I love that The World Domination Summit is held in Portland. For one weekend a year, a whole bunch (thousands) of good people descend upon the city. There are blogger meetups, dinners, lunches – many online people meeting one another for the first time, a bubbling of frenetic energy. It’s FUN, exhausting, sometimes even confusing (i.e. social anxiety), but mostly just a whole lot of love and possibility fueled connections happening in seconds upon seconds.
My friends Ali + Andrea + Mati all stayed at my house for a girlie weekend of lounging and fun. I love these girls. They’re family to me.
(here we are in the studio)
We did a ton of lounging around, catching up, eating good food, coffee…
John and True spent the weekend at my parents house, giving us full reign of our house. I am so lucky to have this kind of flexibility….
John snuck away one morning took us all paddle boarding. Love! Major workout.
Mati extended her stay a couple of days and we made it to the photo booth before heading out for a cocktail, followed by a trip to the movies (Magic Mike – super fun movie for girlie fun).
The highlight of the entire weekend was our meeting up with Brene + Hula – a mini Lovebomb reunion.
We gathered in our backyard all afternoon and evening. John made us a delicious meal (seriously, I adore my husband).
We stayed in this very spot late into the night, talking about everything. I am incredibly thankful for these friendships. I just really, really am. They ground me and lift me all at once.
At the start of the weekend, Andrea and Ali and I decided to invite a few peeps to my studio for a quick gathering:
It was so fun, so rewarding, so sweet for all of these AMAZING women to come to my studio for a gathering. As awesome as it is to host a bunch of friends in one place, here’s what I’m learning about myself: I want to be social, and have good conversations and connect, but I find myself having a hard time doing those things when hosting. I’m too worrisome about the collection of hearts: Is everyone ok? Are they having a good time? Is she feeling excluded? Is she nervous? What can i do to make her not nervous?
I suppose I feel responsible for all those hearts. I know how scary it can be to walk into a room and feel alone. And since becoming a mom, my I-must-be-sure-that-everyone-is-ok radar is on overdrive. It happened at this event, and it’s happening in my life. It’s exhausting! And totally my own doing. Crazy making, right?
Meanwhile, all of these lovely ladies are IN MY STUDIO. I want to talk to each of them, sit down with each of them, connect with each of them, have fun with each of them.
In the end, I met a couple of my girl crushes, had a really good time, and felt really good about connecting some special people to one another. I’m learning that one of my superpowers is to connect people both online and offline. I don’t have much to do with the magic that happens when the gathering unfolds but I have a knack for putting just the right people in a room together. Someone told recently that I was a Connectress. A connectress! I am grateful for that role. I really am.
XO,
Kelly Rae
You have slipped into my heart. Let's keep our soul-sister love going. xo
I know exactly what you mean about hosting, oh yes, nurturing, being present and open. You were such a light connectress! I feel thrilled we had a few moments to talk.
Connectress! That's right. Your superpower…
xo
Kelly, you are blessed to have so many beautiful and creative women in your life. I loved meeting you at your studio when you hosted Susannah. I'm the gal who coined, you are the connectress, and yes you are a connectress goddess. Hoping you can connect more of us as we all have stories to tell and want to meet women of all generations to guide us into our next journey.
You are a beautiful soul, Kelly Rae!
xo sue
Kelly, lucky you for having these friends and having the opportunity to be part of a community so creative. Thank you for sharing this weekend.
Hugs and kisses from Spain
Beatriz Pb.
Gathering with friends is always a wonderful thing. I agree, hosting is fun but tiring. I too, feel the need to make sure everyone is enjoying themselves.
I was wondering, in one of the group photos, there is a lady with very short hair, wearing a colorful striped dress. If possible would you please post the link to her blog. I would love to know where she got her dress at. Thanks!
You are such an inspiration! Sounds like a great group of women…think I need to put together a group like this, it's amazing what you can get out of it, creatively, emotionally, spiritually. You all seem to be such beautiful women both inside and out! Keep up the great work!
You are all so lucky to have each other.
It looks like cute bangs were a requirement!
I've missed hearing about Lovebomb retreats and seeing all the photos that come out of them.
Thanks for sharing.
What a gorgeous post Kelly! Such beaming smiles and all of that radiating creative energy in your heartspace. We have had up to 300 people at our home here in Australia for art and music nights and I know that feeling of overwhelm well. I would much rather lounge around, laugh and connect with a smaller more intimate group of friends and find those gatherings kinda crazy and exhausting…but…for months afterwards people stop me in the street and the supermarket to say what an amazing, magical time they had…I guess we just have to learn to open the space with love and then let it be ♥
Connection is wonderful. Loving all the short bangs in these pics! hehe.
I'm so glad it is not just me who's a little cray-cray about this life!
xx
this is wonderful! I've missed hearing about your
love bomber retreats!!
A Connectress! I love that. Thank you so much for connecting me to so many beautiful women. And I 100% know that feeling of the responsibility of hosting. Thank you for taking on that for us, it paid off, I certainly felt very much hosted and held. x
I love it Kelly and love that you are a connectress and have such a beautiful heart! Makes me wish to have been there.
Sounds like a wonderful time!!!
Kelly,
Your blog makes me smile!
Yesterday, I spent the entire day with two of my dearest friends. As I read your blog post I found myself wishing that I had taken photos yesterday. You remind me to take more photos. Thank you!
Terry
Sounds like an amazing time!
I read about that! Amazing sounding. So happy you got to be there. On my bucket list!
What a beautiful gathering of stunning women. I know some of those faces and can imagine the radiance in that room that night. You are blessed to have the "connectress" gift…to be in a place of being able to create connectedness over exclusion. How lovely it would be for that feeling of connectedness to spill into every heart.
It was so nice to see you!
ox
kass, i have defintiely overdosed on crazy 🙂
THIS. This is the very reason I want to open a studio. To have a community. To give my community a place to gather and connect. I wish I could "pin" a blog post- I need this to remind me sometimes when I think I've overdosed on crazy that THIS is what I want to create.