What an extraordinary gathering of gracious, open, kindred souls this looks to be! Everyone looks simultaneously so radiant and so at peace... I am so glad that you gave yourself this gift of friendship; this gift of refueling; this gift of gathering. It is such a wonderful example of supreme self-care -- you are all an inspiration! Welcome Home!

andrea, kelly rae, alex, jen gray, jen lee, hula, tracey

we are all cuddled on the this couch in awe. loving this. amazing photos. missing you.....

BEST SONG EVEr!!!

Wow. Beautiful - inside and out! (i LOVE the music too!!!)

Beautiful!! Sounds grace-filled and oh-so good for everyone!! And the song... as the first bunch of notes crept up i was wondering what song it was? couldnt' place it - then WOW! brandi carlile..ohhhhhhhh.. heard the first word of the song and remembered...i love her! The first time i heard her was in concert - she was not the opener, had never heard of her - tho she'd been lauded (rolling stone performer of 200? maybe) - i think she sang "Follow" - and tears just started pouring down my face..she sings like you write, Brené- heart wide open!

It looks like a wonderful (and priceless) experience to spend time with some amazing women.
I hope you are recharged in spite of the madness of the "real world" that you had to return to.

And the use of the Brandi Carlile.....perfect!

this made me cry, smile and laugh....nothing better!

such beauty!

xoxo

Love it! Thanks for inspiring me today!

WOW! That's amazing. What a beautiful video! Can't wait for your book and love your blog.

What a beautiful tribute and such a good thing you went. don't you think?

WOW!!!!! How wonderful and inspiring. You are so blessed! Love the body painting especially "I AM ENOUGH" That is mine also. : )

AWESOME!!! Glad you went :)

Thank you - you constantly inspire me to be - to be me - to be a better version of me! x

Ack. Ack. Ack. ACK. ACK!!! I need this, what you had. This made me cry and I so want and NEED this. I'm setting up a girlfriends' retreat now for sure... it's been brewing and now I MUST. Thanks so much for sharing, this is beautiful!!

wow - everyone looks so beautiful and joyful, maybe it's gratitude I see on everyone's faces. Glad you had fun and pushed through your list.

Oh, this is gorgeous; love it. Thanks for reminding us that it's okay just to BE ;-).

phew! that was powerful. thanks for posting that.

i heart this video. priceless.

i could learn a few things from your list of reasons why not to go. that took courage.

A friend just referred me to your blog since I "know" (meaning have met and follow but not really friends with) Ali and Kelly Rae. I started reading and then weeping. I am right where you were. I am almost 41 and on the verge of a total collapse. I am not having a midlife crisis. I am having an identity crisis. Who is this person who wears so many costumes? I call them costumes because not one is my full authentic self. I'm always playing a role. How do I integrate when some parts seem so polar opposite? How did you do it? I'm ordering your book.

WOW...very glad you were able to go and be with such an awesome group of women.

The video caused me to grin from ear to ear. Thanks!
Mel

...boom boom....boom boom....boom boom.....my heart is a flutter.

I simply need to visit "Ordinary Courage" more often! I always feel better afterwards :) Happy you enjoyed!

so beautiful. thank you for sharing this.

Glad you had a great weekend away. Looking at your lists for all the reasons not to go, well, I guess this was an indicator of how much you really needed this! It's always great when you thought of all the reasons not to go and then go... It's amazing! Lovely photos oozing energy, fun, laughter and love!

So happy to reading your blog!

This video brought tears to my eyes. Even though I don't know the women in the photos, I can feel the warmth and friendship oozing from each shot.

I've been considering signing up for Artfest in March, but have been constructing a very similar "I really shouldn't" list in my head. Watching this made me want to be surrounded by art and beauty and warm hearts. So that's it! I'm signing up now! Excuses, be gone!

Thanks for being the little extra nudge I needed.

Nothing better :)

Simply stunning! Makes me miss Rockaway Beach and having an intense connection with amazing women. Like everyone, so glad you went...and thank you for sharing a bit of the beauty with us.

wow...inspiring!!

OOOOOOOO, I want to get back to that ocean so damn bad. xoxoxo

Stunning - just stunning. Every woman needs - yes, needs - this experience. How blessed you are to have it. You have wonderful people in your life and it clearly starts with your husband. And by sharing this video, you gave us a little piece of the magic and love that was so clearly in abundance at your weekend. Thank you.

what a beautiful video.
you all are such an inspiration.
that song is so very good too :)

Thank you so much for sharing the moment with all of us. . . you are an amazing group of women who inspire thousands (if not more) by opening up your experiencing through your work, your words and your blogs. You have brought clarity to my life so many times, Brene. Thank you!

bless that man of yours--i hope you told him he was right. :)
brene, you are beautiful. do you have the courage to believe that?

So glad you went. What a lovely post. Thanks :-)

Awesome. Just awesome. I recently returned from a girl's trip and it was so good for the soul...the stories, the laughing, the reconnecting...it was amazing.

That's beautiful, Brene. I'm glad you went. :) It looks like an amazing time.
Thanks for sharing the video.
~K

Ah, could those be hula70 polaroids I see laid out on that table? Missing my wife, but will see her later on today! Glad to see that it was a success this year!

Brene - The trip looked absolutely magical and I'm so happy you went.

The Love Bomb Ladies - I don't know how I first came across the first blog, and subsequently found the rest of you ladies, but you guys have been so incredibly inspirational in my own life. Reading everyone's words, joys, struggles and triumphs have been so impactful to my life. I have added so many wonderful qualitites to my own life and have started to "come into my own" so to speak through this wonderful community of The Love Bomb Ladies. I have found this creativity, acceptance of myself, openness and light-heartedness inside me that has been life changing.

I wanted to say Thank you. Thank you for sharing your friendships, for sharing your own life and for the time that you put into this blog and your books so we, in the blogosphere world, have this place to land and feel safe.

Looks amazing! Jealous. :) I want to come next year! :)

Awesome! I love the paintings.. the song.. and the happy faces. Thank you so much for sharing.

What a powerfull video, I'm so glad Ali linked to your blog in hers,
Watching the video was very inspiring, and was asking to myself "whay am I crying?"
Thanks for sharing it!

Wow! You are all so beautiful!

What an amazing experience for all of you, I am happily jealous!

WOW that just blew me away. I love the feeling of connectedness and love and support, and creativity that your slideshow expressed. My favorite creative part is the body art. As a friend of mine always says, "words matter" and to express creatively words that matter right on yourselves in art is so powerful and beautiful. Thanks as always for sharing these amazing parts of yourself.

Glad you listened to your hubby ...obviously a very wise man!
Beautiful...simply beautiful...and inspiring....
Why don't we all do things such as that more often?

Thanks so much for sharing a little part of your trip. I love the painting of
words on your bodies....way cool....Most of all, thanks for going so that you were able to share and inspire us too...

Looks like the most amazing retreat ever! Beautiful song, beautiful memories! thank you for sharing it with us.

this is so beautiful and so right on! thank you brene. love you and love this so...
jen gray

Thanks for brightening my day with your beautiful video!

Steve was so right. What a wonderful time this looked to be. I'm glad you haad this time. I know it was worth it.

Brene... I clicked on a link to your blog from a friend's blog. That was about two weeks ago. I have kept coming back. It's beautiful things like this that are the inspiration that I seek these (difficult) days. What a remarkable tribute to a blessed weekend!

Incredble! Thanks so much for sharing the video.