LBDC Has Arrived in Atlanta!

LBDC has just launched a new chapter in Atlanta!

LaTonya Hubbard and I had our first Meet & Greet for the Atlanta chapter and we are so excited!  The event was a luncheon @ Copeland's of New Orleans in Atlanta, GA and there were 9 of us in attendance. I opened the meeting with an introduction of myself and of LBDC, and then we all introduced ourselves and told why we joined this group. It was really interesting to learn the diversity of our group. We had a couple of ladies who were both originally from Brooklyn, NY, we met women with children and without, a few pet lovers and several ladies looking for new friendships and adventures. We played an ice breaker game where they had to unscramble words that were related to LBDC and Sherise Garland won the prize.

 

A detailed list of upcoming event ideas and suggestions were given and the ladies were especially excited about horseback riding, a glamping weekend in a cabin, spa days, movie nights and several others fun and out of the box ideas such as learning to ride a motorcycle and group swimming lessons.

LBDC Atlanta will be planning a bus trip to the Seabreeze Jazz Festival in Panama City Beach, FL April 24-27 and we would like to invite additional LBDC chapters to join us! Email mwrenn@lbdclub.com for more information.

We enjoyed talking and getting to know each other during our meet and greet, phone numbers were exchanged among members and bonding certainly took place.  LaTonya compared LBDC to the sisterhood found in a sorority, Brittany stated that she had never belonged to a sorority but she liked the bond she instantly felt from being a member. Several of the ladies commented on what a wonderful time we had and what a pleasure it was meeting everyone.

We can hardly wait for our next event!

 

Moni Wrenn and LaTonya Hubbard

LBDC Atlanta Directors

 

 

LBDC Is Better Than Ever!

The creative offices of LBDC have been busy the past couple of months, and we’ve got some exciting news to share with our members!

 

After several months of gathering feedback, suggestions and creative ideas from our Directors, members and trusted consultants, the Little Black Dress Club website has undergone a complete overhaul and is almost ready for its big debut!

From the dynamic new home page to the customizable chapter pages and the new event calendar, the new and improved LBDC site is sure to offer a more user friendly, interactive experience for our current members and Directors.

Why? The Little Black Dress Club was founded on the ideas of two women, but it grows on the ideas of many. Our Directors and members spoke up with ideas on a new and improved website and our leadership has worked hard to make it happen. User feedback indicated that our current site needed some major changes in functionality. We needed a home page that was as dynamic as our membership and we wanted site visitors to automatically see and feel the benefit of being part of the LBDC.

 

Here are just a few of the new and improved sections of our new site:

Navigation: With the LBDC website redesign, gone are the days of error messages, delayed page loading, or searching too many pages before finding what you are looking for. Users can expect clean content in easy to find sections, without all the background noise.

 

Content: Our Directors work hard to promote and manage their chapters. Why not show off their hard work while attracting new and potential members and sponsors? We will be showcasing bolder, more current photos from LBDC events and excursions, explaining all the benefits of membership while updating live feeds from our additional social media outlets and blog. These are just to name a few!

 

Segmentation: We have over a dozen active chapters with LBDC – Each chapter will have it’s own customizable page. Event calendars and registration will be clearly defined and easy for users to find what they are looking for.

Here are a few other new additions that you can expect:

 

Live news feeds: Live feeds from the LBDC blog and social media

 

Chapter Pages: A customizable page for each LBDC chapter

 

Video/Picture Sliders: Dynamic, current pictures and videos showcasing some of our most popular LBDC events and featuring some of the perks of membership 

 

The fun won’t stop there. We have lots in store for the new look of LBDC. Expect the first round of changes to happen in early 2014. The Leadership Team of the Little Black Dress Club has listened to what our members want and we aim to give it to you!

Have ideas, comments or other suggestions? Feel free to email us at info@lbdclub.com. We look forward to sharing the new website with you!

Cheers!

The Leadership Team, LBDC

Christine, Jen and Shay

The Hurricane Through NOLA

New Orleans is hands down, my favorite city on the planet.  I could write a book on the sights and sounds of the city but would only scratch the surface of this truly unique place.  The dynamic architecture, the music, the art, and the food…oh my goodness, the food is absolutely indescribable!   Believe me when I say, you have not lived until you have experienced a melt-in-your mouth beignet (French donut) served hot from Café du Monde.  Mmmm…what was I talking about again? Oh yeah!

After returning from a girls-only trip to New Orleans for the Essence Music Festival last July, I immediately booked a weekend for just the hubby and I for our 14^th Wedding Anniversary.    Then wouldn’t you know it, the very next day I received a Facebook notification that The LittleBlack Dress Club Gulf Shores was launching.  Talk about fate!  I couldn’t email Shay fast enough to get the contact information for the director, TyraBrown.  After emailing back and forth, the plans were set to meet with Tyra upon my arrival.

Our second day in the Crescent City, Tyra chose to meet us with her husband at Mojito’s Rum Bar and Grill located in the Frenchmen area.  My husband and I arrived a bit early and were escorted to a very quaint patio with a trickling fountain, and down-home blues band on stage.  As we were absorbing the vibe, Tyra and her husband, Carl approached us.  Once hugs and handshakes were exchanged, we sat and talked for the next couple of hours about everything from careers to how our husbands swept us off our feet.  Of course the food did not disappoint, and I had an authentic hand-poured (not to be confused with one from a mix) Hurricane.  

Unfortunately, we had to cut our evening together short, due to a forty-five minute drive back to their home in Mississippi, and Tyra had to put on her “Event Planner hat” for an 8 am appointment in Baton Rouge.  We parted ways with more hugs and our newfound friends promised to visit us in Nashville. 

The evening was still young but unfortunately we aren’t. So after a stroll down Frenchman Street (a local’s hideaway) and watching the spectacle of Bourbon Street, we crawled to the bed of our hotel room, while the rest of the city cried out, “Let’s Get This Party Started!” 

 

~Bridget D. Flowers

LBDC Goodwill Ambassador and Nashville Charter Member

 

 

 

 

 

LBDC Is Blowing Through The Gulf States

The Little Black Dress Club train continues its way around the US. Our latest chapter is in the Gulf States and being led by Tyra Brown. Read on to learn about Tyra and see all the fun she has in store for her new chapter.

I was on a mission for about a year to find a women's only social club that had a national presence.  After extensive research via Internet, word of mouth and through my travels I came across the Little Black Dress Club. 

 

The LBDC platform met the goals and mission I'd envision for a club. It offered a great foundation for women to connect and share common interest. After that massive gulf coast storm a lot of women, including myself, were so busy rebuilding and realigning our lives until we'd gotten used to the hamster wheel of going through our daily routine and put our social needs to the side. LBDC sparked my interest as a great way to have those girlfriend round tables, support network and add FUN back into our busy schedules.

 

I love the gulf coast because of its diversity. There's a wonderful blend of cultural that keeps me intrigued. It's very European in some areas and others just down home southern living at its best. Every woman needs a girlfriend. And I feel the LBDC in our Gulf States will become that hub to create long lasting friendships. 
 

Our goal is to have at least awesome events each month; one hosted in Louisiana and one in Mississippi. We want to make an impact in our community so our focus will be on volunteerism opportunities and community initiatives at least once per quarter. We will enjoy wine tastings, cooking classes, painting with a twist, cultural driven activities; especially a few of our famous festivals, as well as an annual international trip such as a cruise. 
 

As for me personally, I try to walk by faith and not by sight. Early in my career I had the opportunity to meet and get to know Jimmy Buffett's mother, Mary Loraine "Peets" Buffett, prior to her death.  I fell in love with her easy going attitude and more so her philosophy of life.
 

-Read often, including the classics.

-Accept everyone for who they are, not for what they do.

-Be well traveled.

-Learn to be a listener.

-Live by the sea.

-Listen to your spirit and find joy.

-Education, like money, doesn’t make you happy or successful, but it sure helps.

-Love and family are the best things.

 

I have so many favorite quotes from being an avid reader but my top pick is one by Mahatma Gandhi; “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

 

The importance of enjoying life as if it’s your last moment and the equal importance of advancement in knowledge and growth in understanding is very powerful to me.

 

I enjoy traveling and indulging in the entire cultural experience especially the music, food and arts. Reading and painting is my go to when I cannot feed my travel bug.  I love to meet new people as it always opens up new adventures. 

 

I look forward to serving the Gulf Coast as their director and welcome feedback & suggestions from all. Make sure you follow us on our Facebook page by clicking here.

 

 

Here's to new lifelong friendship....Cheers!

 

~Tyra Brown

Gulf States Director, LBDC

 

 

 

 

LBDC Has Arrived In Lexington, KY!

The Little Black Dress Club continues to grow and move its way across the US. We are so excited to welcome Nikki Harvey as our newest LBDC Director in Lexington, KY!

 

Nikki first learned about LBDC when she was invited to participate in a vendor event by our Sevierville, TN Director Kim Beal.

 

After meeting Kim and so many other new people at the Sevierville event, Nikki decided she really wanted a way to meet fun people in Lexington as well. Being new to her area, she thought starting her own LBDC Chapter would be the perfect way to do just that!

 

Hosting a local happy hour and working with a local shop on an evening of wine tasting and shopping, Nikki has jumped head on into her new role as LBDC Director and is busy spreading the word. Make sure you find her new chapter on Facebook to stay up to date on other upcoming events!

 

“The people here in Lexington are very friendly and laid back,” says Nikki. “I think as we get older and start families it gets harder to make genuine friendships. As women we have so many things that keep us busy, that we sometimes can’t spend a lot of time building relationships with other women. I think having at least a friend or two in our lives that we know we can count on in the good times and bad, that won’t judge us but is close enough to show us tough love, is so important.”

 

In her free time, Nikki volunteers for a non-profit organization called Nellie’s Catwalk 4 Kids. The mission of NC4K is to raise funds and awareness for pediatric cancer. Nikki is not all work and no play; she also loves spending time with her family at their farm, reading a good book, traveling and playing volleyball.

 

Nikki says, “I try to live my life by Proverbs 31:10; “A wife of noble character who can find. She is worth far more than rubies.” Nikki also believes everything happens for a reason and people always deserve second chances. “I am very excited to get started with the Little Black Dress Club and I can’t wait to make many new girlfriends!”
 

Welcome to the team, Nikki. We are so glad to have you!

 

LBDC Has Arrived In Metropolitan Detroit!

The Little Black Dress Club is rapidly growing across the US. With chapters in California, Nashville, Chicago, Columbus, Alabama and more, our national club is getting noticed! We are so happy to introduce Michelle Barrett from Detroit, Michigan to our family of LBDC Directors.

Energetic and very enthusiastic, we think Michelle is going to do a terrific job in bringing our women’s social club to the Metropolitan Detroit area.  In her spare time Michelle enjoys reading, comedy shows, shopping, funny movies, getting pampered, just about anything near big body of water, learning new things, her family and cats!

Michelle believes in working hard so she can play hard and laugh until it hurts! Read on to learn more about Michelle, learn what she has in store for her new chapter and then take time to welcome her!

~Shay Ashcraft

National Director, LBDC

 

I heard about LBDC from one of my best friends, Bridget Flowers.  She grew up in the Detroit area, but relocated to Nashville where she learned about and joined the Little Black Dress Club.  Bridget knows that I enjoy being around fun loving, positive and purposeful women and thought it would be a good thing for me to look into.  She shared a lot of information about the Nashville chapter and what she knew about the organization and I really liked what I heard.  We knew there wasn’t an active chapter in the Detroit area, so after many lengthy conversations & hours on the national website I decided to pursue becoming a director.

I decided to become a LBDC director because I am surrounded by amazing women.  I know some of the women from my children’s school activities, from work, from my neighborhood, church, etc.  One of the common threads we all share is the fact that there are very few of us who feel as though we have enough time for ourselves; we certainly do not take time for ourselves on a regular basis.  I find it interesting that this seems to be a common thread amongst many of us whether we are married with children or single with or without children, and so on.  With that being said, becoming a LBDC director was a good way for me to take a more proactive approach to finding time for myself, while encouraging other women to do the same.  Sometimes a simple happy hour with friends is just what we need to relax & unwind in order to be at our best when we get home.

Our first event will likely be a happy hour in either Ferndale or Royal Oak since those cities are pretty central and accessible from major highways & freeways.  We are in the process of planning the first event now.

Our goal is to have at least two activities each month.  One would take place during the week (i.e. a Happy Hour) and one on the weekend (i.e. brunch, or something cultural like going to the Detroit Institute of Arts).

Some of the other ideas I have for us are:

·       High Tea at The Townsend Hotel

·       Dinner & a movie

·       Wine Tastings

·       Cooking Class

·       Something fitness oriented like a Self Defense Class, a Zumba Class or walking along Detroit’s beautiful riverfront.

I love the people here.  I am originally from Cleveland, Ohio and also lived in Oak Park, IL and miss both of those areas.  I have lived here for almost 13 years and can honestly say I have met some truly amazing people here.  Living in the Midwest part of the country is great because we get to truly experience each of the four seasons!  With that in mind, I hope to plan activities that are season appropriate.  The Detroit area has a ton of rich & cultural history like Motown, all things automotive and architectural.   As a result, the options for us to play and learn are numerous!

I survived a very serious and scary car accident in December 2012 that changed a lot of my perceptions about myself and my life.  I came across this quote shortly after the accident “Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.” ~Denis Waitley  I love this quote because it is a reminder that we should live in and appreciate each moment.  The past moments are over, and future moments have not presented themselves.  Life these days is often filled with a variety of actions that require multi-tasking.  Doing what we can to be consciously aware of each moment is essential to being a happy and grounded individual.

I think women have the amazing ability to be supportive and protective of one another.  We see this all of the time when a woman is expecting a baby.  I recently read an article in Prevention Magazine that discusses the eight (8) different friendships that every woman should have.  Here they are:

1.     A Childhood  Friend

2.     A New Friend

3.     A Work Out Friend

4.     A Younger Friend

5.     Your partner’s Friend

6.     Your Mom

7.     Your Self

8.     A Spiritual Friend

 

It is my hope that the Detroit Metro Area Chapter of LBDC will be a great tool to help our members establish and nurture at least one of these eight types of friendships! Click here to email me for more information on joining our club!

~Michelle Barrett

Metro Detroit Director, LBDC

 

Little Black Dress Club Welcomes Kimberly Beal!

The Little Black Dress Club is growing more and more each day with 14 chapters across the US. We are so happy to announce our latest edition in Sevierville, TN.

Kimberly Beal was searching online for a social group in her area when she stumbled across LBDC. After eleven years in Sevierville, Kimberly is excited about the challenge of getting out and about and sharing all that her town, and the Little Black Dress Club, has to offer as the new director of our Sevierville chapter.

“I want to plan events that include area attractions, dinner shows, community volunteer work and more, says Kimberly.” With an upcoming Meet & Greet event on May 17^th at a local restaurant, Kimberly has an evening full of networking and fun planned with hopes of attracting more women interested in socializing and spending one or two evenings a month with a group of girlfriends, a cocktail or two and a little black dress...

“The cities of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg have always appealed to me; their exciting attractions, entertaining events and the sense of southern hospitality are a few of my favorite things,” says Kimberly. “Living here encourages me to take each day and make it one to remember.”

Kimberly believes that every woman should have a best friend to call anytime of the day to confide in, a girlfriend she can rely on when things get tough or to share joyful life events with. Someone to argue and disagree with but who will still love you no matter what. She says, “I want my LBDC Chapter to be full of inspiring women of all walks of life. I would like to see LBDC Sevierville grow each year with members that are interested in making a difference in others’ lives while having fun doing it.  I am dedicated, organized and ready to hit the ground running!” Sounds like you are off to a great start, Kimberly!

Aside from directing her new LBDC chapter, Kimberly spends a lot of time with her 4 year old daughter Sienna and her 6 year old son, Jake. When she’s not acting as team mom or going back and forth between cheerleading and football practices, Kimberly is also an enthusiastic race fan, cheering on her husband while he races his late model stock car every Saturday night.  

It sounds like Kimberly has the enthusiasm, will power and excitement to be a great Little Black Dress Club director. We are glad to have her on our team!

For information about joining the new Sevierville chapter, email Kimberly by clicking here or visit the LBDC Sevierville Facebook page here.

 

~Shay Ashcraft

National Director, LBDC

 

The Little Black Dress Club Has Arrived in East Bay, California!

 

After meeting Tracy, CA director, Melanie Dunniway at a Ladies Night Out event, Gwen decided the LBDC needed to be in East Bay, CA as well. “Step out onto a limb…that’s where the fruit is” she said.

“I thought about this for almost a year after meeting Melanie, I kept running across her business card and remembering how fun she was”, said Gwen. “I checked her out online and read up on LBDC.  It seemed like she was always doing something fun.  I absolutely LOVE people and socializing and I couldn’t find enough positive, fun, unique things to do in my area…many of my friends (married & single) were having the same problem so…I researched LBDC more and felt like it was exactly what I was supposed to do…not just for myself but for all the ladies in our area who work hard in and outside of the home.  Once I decided to do it, I was HOOKED on the idea, on the possibilities and it just took me over like some adrenaline fueled networking addiction.  I want to impact the local social community like a tidal wave of synergy.”

Jumping in headfirst, Gwen has already recruited several new members and is quickly filling up the calendar with fun events. Coming up soon for the East Bay ladies will be a visit to see the WORLD RENOWNED “Alvin Ailey” dancers on Sunday, April 28 at the UC Berkley Campus Theater. Using all her social connections, girlfriends and event planning ideas, Gwen and the ladies of East Bay are planning lots of fabulous mixers, comedy shows, billiards, theater and movie nights, red carpet events, and benefits. The possibilities are endless. Staying in tune with the mission of the LBDC to always give back to their community, LBDC East Bay is working on a volunteer opportunity at the local battered women's shelters and a few local 10K marathons. Being close to Napa Valley, I hear a limo ride to a wine tasting is soon to be in store as well!

Only an hour away from the State Capital, San Francisco, Berkley, and Oakland, Gwen says her city is such a diverse and central location, perfect for a new LBDC chapter. They are far enough  away to enjoy suburbia, yet close enough to slip into a LBD and hit the town!

A huge fan of Marianne Williamson, Gwen sometimes uses her quote “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” Gwen relates to Marianne feeling that it is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.  "We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be", asks Gwen.

Gwen feels that true friendship between women incorporates appreciating what is beautiful about other women and embracing that beauty vs. being envious of it.  We all have something beautiful about us…when we recognize and appreciate that, we are able to build stronger, deeper connections amongst each other, which is important for all of us as women.   

In her spare time, Gwen enjoys jogging with her girlfriends and running her small home-based accessory business. She is a mom, a former US Marine and finds her deepest joy in spending time with her grandchildren. Having served for 4 years in the US Navy and having been in law enforcement for the last 16 years, Gwen loves volunteering and mentoring the youth in her community.  But on the occasional lazy Sunday, Gwen often finds herself watching LMN with her friends and several bottles of great wine!

Sounds like East Bay, California is going to be a great new home for the Little Black Dress Club! If you would like more information on this chapter, have an event idea to suggest to Gwen or would like more information on joining the club, Gwen would love to hear from you all! Email her here and make sure to stop in and say hello on the East Bay Facebook page.

~Shay Ashcraft
National Director, LBDC

LBDC Welcomes Rhonda Watson!

Once again the word about LBDC has started to spread. After hearing all about the exciting and fun events that were going on in our Chicago chapter from a girlfriend, Rhonda Watson has decided to join our team of Directors and relaunch the Washington, DC chapter.

Rhonda expressed interest in wanting to become the Director for DC because she loves
exploring the area as well as meeting new friends. Rhonda believes that this role will provide her with the opportunity to build her social connections and have fun at the same time. With a
heightened passion for bringing others together and wanting to help them grow personally, professionally, and socially, Rhonda says “Women have a special bond and are able to relate on so many topics. We empower each other and appreciate each other when no one else will. With our women friends, we can talk about all kinds of personal things; PMS, families, our daily experiences, our personal growth journeys, our relationships, and just the meaning of life. Sometimes, we just need to vent to a loving ear, and in the process, we arrive at our own insights and decisions.” Who doesn’t feel better after discussing these things with a girlfriend?

In her spare time Rhonda enjoys arts and crafts, cooking, traveling, wine tasting, learning about tea as well as attending Afternoon Tea, and of course spending time with friends and family.
Not wanting to waste any time with her new members, Rhonda already has two events on the calendar for this month. First is a Happy Hour at Zengo at 6PM on February 8th. Rhonda is excited to introduce herself to the DC chapter, get to know the members, and make new friends! For the next event, Rhonda will be hosting the DC Chapter at Chef Geoff’s in Rockville for Sunday brunch on February 24th at 11:30AM. Weekend brunch events are always a big hit with LBDC members!

Rhonda’s goal for her chapter is to schedule events in DC, Maryland, and northern Virginia
so that members can participate close to where they may live or work. She is very excited to give her members a chance to patronize establishments that they may have never heard of.

After moving to the area about 12 years ago, Rhonda says she is still amazed that
she can find new places to explore. “This area is so rich in culture and history. I love everything from visiting new exhibits to trying new ethnic foods. Every activity can be a learning experience” she says.

She says her philosophy is to just try and love life.“I believe this world has so much to offer. Every area has been created beautifully and I want to experience as much of it as possible! I love having new experiences and I do that by always finding something new to learn; new food, new activity, and new culture” said Rhonda. She is so excited to share this passion and enthusiasm with the members of the Little Black Dress Club.

Rhonda mentioned that her favorite quote is one by Judy Garland; “Always be a first-rate version of yourself,instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.” Sounds like you are off to a great start in DC, Rhonda. Good luck with your chapter and welcome to our team!

For more information on the DC chapter, their events, or information on becoming a DC member, please email Rhonda here.

~Shay Ashcraft
National Director, LBDC