a weekend in PDX with some special peeps

Jul 13, 2012 | Life in Progress

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.
_MG_9198
(here we are in the studio)

Backyard bliss

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….

My man took us paddle boarding today. Love him

John snuck away one morning took us all paddle boarding. Love! Major workout.

Photo booth fun with @matirose
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).

Lovebomb reunion with @matirose @brenebrown @andreascher @hulaseventy @aliedwards

The highlight of the entire weekend was our meeting up with Brene + Hula – a mini Lovebomb reunion.

@matirose @hulaseventy @aliedwards in the house.

We gathered in our backyard all afternoon and evening. John made us a delicious meal (seriously, I adore my husband).

_MG_9218

Backyard yum with @aliedwards

_MG_9221

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:

_MG_9211
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?

_MG_9213

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.

More sweet peeps.

Sweet peeps

_MG_9216

@missviv @leahcreates @jessicaswift in the studio!

@tiffanycmoore @rachelwcole @florabowley adore these ladies.
Fell in love with this beauty @hannahmarcotti

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

Sending much love,

Show/Hide Comments (21 comments)
21 Comments
  1. Hannah Marcotti

    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.

    Reply
  2. flora

    Connectress! That's right. Your superpower…

    xo

    Reply
  3. sue dixon

    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

    Reply
  4. hoy y siempre scrapbooking

    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.

    Reply
  5. Anonymous

    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!

    Reply
  6. Jessica

    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!

    Reply
  7. Miss K

    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.

    Reply
  8. Tracy Verdugo

    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 ♥

    Reply
  9. Daniele Valois

    Connection is wonderful. Loving all the short bangs in these pics! hehe.

    Reply
  10. kass hall

    I'm so glad it is not just me who's a little cray-cray about this life!

    xx

    Reply
  11. cathi

    this is wonderful! I've missed hearing about your
    love bomber retreats!!

    Reply
  12. Marianne

    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

    Reply
  13. Dana Barbieri

    I love it Kelly and love that you are a connectress and have such a beautiful heart! Makes me wish to have been there.

    Reply
  14. Rose D. Frenchtown, NJ

    Sounds like a wonderful time!!!

    Reply
  15. Theresa Lummer

    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

    Reply
  16. S. Kim Henson

    I read about that! Amazing sounding. So happy you got to be there. On my bucket list!

    Reply
  17. Stephanie Lee

    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

    Reply
  18. kelly rae

    kass, i have defintiely overdosed on crazy 🙂

    Reply
  19. Kass hall

    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.

    Reply

Leave a Reply to kelly rae Cancel reply

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Don’t want to miss a post?

Get my posts sent to your inbox as soon as they’re published!

Hello + welcome!

I’m Kelly Rae Roberts

Before I picked up my first paintbrush at the age of 30, I was a medical social worker. I followed my creative whispers, and today I’m an artist & Possibilitarian. I’m passionate about creating meaningful art and experiences that awaken and inspire our spirits.

Get the FREE

Possibilitarian Manifesto

+ a 20% off coupon!

 

Name(Required)
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Blog Categories

Recent Posts

Featured Freebies

VIEW ALL