The Vegetarian Adventures Continue...

This was my first official week of cooking from Passionate Vegetarian. First up on the menu - Zwiebel Kuchen (German Onion Tart) and Moroccan Carrot Salad. Don't you know my partner decided he is going wheat-free for awhile immediately after I make the decision! Oiy.

My second issue, after reading the recipes (of course, AFTER selecting them!), was that I don't own a food processor and the instructions indicate mixing the pastry dough in one. So, I immediately launched into researching food processors and then decided I've made enough bread in my life that it's unlikely I would totally mess it up by just mixing it by hand. Food processor purchase tabled, for now.

Third challenge- easily remedied- I was short on cumin. Mental note to self - verify quantities of ingredients before beginning the process!

I might be a slow cooker - it took me the better part of Saturday to make both things, of course I had to make the pastry for the tart, too (does this count as three recipes?). I wonder if I'll become more efficient as time goes on. Both recipes were delicious, although I probably could have done a better job making the pastry look nice.

I  used the pre-cut carrot chips, instead of grating carrots (maybe when I have a food processor I will try it the other way). I am inclined to try it with the 4 épices seasoning we bought at Caravane Epices in Morocco back in February. We've used it on vegetables in the past and it's delicious. So much so that we'll be ordering more of it in the near future! We also bought their 30 spice blend - Ras Elhanoute. I've used that on one of my favorite grilled tuna steak recipes (see below) instead of cumin. I think that spice blend made it even better than the original recipe!  

I started a wine club back in the late 90s in Richmond with a good friend - it was a catalyst for starting LBDC. I barely drank wine at the time, but over the years I’ve learned quite a bit and been on several wine-influenced vacations. I don’t claim to be an expert, but I know what I like. I can generally put together a decent pairing, but I ALWAYS ask at the wine store what they recommend. This time, I got a real winner! Essay from South Africa - a Chenin Blanc with a touch of Viognier - is what they suggested. Not only did it pair very well (recommended with creamy pasta and spicy food), it was only $10 a bottle! I liked it so much I think I would be happy to drink it on the patio sans food.

Ben and I have been trying to use up things in the freezer, so when he saw the leftover buttermilk (why isn't a small container available?) he suggested I choose something to use that up. First thing that comes to mind - biscuits. So, despite his wheat-free commitment, I'll be making Buttermilk-Oatmeal Whole Wheat Rolls with a Salt-Honey Glaze! I think my babysitter will be benefitting from his dietary change!

Cumin Tuna Steaks with Lime Cream and Salsa

Tuna Steaks

Serves 4

4 thick (1 1⁄2 inch) tuna steaks (about 2 lbs total)

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

4 teaspoons freshly ground cumin (preferably from toasted seeds)

Lime Cream (recipe below)

Mango Salsa (recipe below)

1. Preheat a grass grill to medium-high. Position the grill rack about 6 inches from the heat source.

2. Meanwhile, season the tuna steaks on all sides with salt and pepper to taste. Evenly dust the steaks all over with the cumin, patting it firmly into the fish to encourage it to adhere.

3. When the grill is ready, lightly oil the rack. Lay the steaks on the rack. Cover and grill, turning once, until done to your liking, about 6 minutes total for medium-rare.

4. Transfer steaks to plates. Generously drizzle the lime cream onto and around the steaks. Spoon a generous dollop of salsa alongside each steak.

Lime Cream - Can be made up to a week in advance.

Makes 3⁄4 cup

6 tablespoons sour cream

6 tablespoons mayonnaise

2 1⁄2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 garlic clove, crushed through a press (optional)

Pinch of salt

1. Whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl. Adjust the seasoning, it should be tangy. Refrigerate in a covered container. Return to room temperature before serving.

Mango Salsa - I have bought mango salsa or a fruit salsa at the grocery as an easy alternative!

Makes 3 1⁄2 cups

6 long green chiles such as Anaheim or New Mexican, roasted, steamed, peeled, and chopped (about 1 cup)

1 large, firm but juicy-ripe mango, peeled and cubed

1 large, firm but juicy-ripe tomato (about 12 oz) cored, seeded and coarsely chopped

3⁄4 cup diced onion

1 to 2 fresh jalapenos, stemmed and minced

3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

3⁄4 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup finely chopped cilantro

1. In a bowl, combine all of the ingredients

2. Cover and refrigerate for up to 1 hour to blend the flavors. Just before serving, stir in the cilantro and adjust

the seasoning.

 

Happy cooking,

 

Chef Christine, LBDC CEO

 

 

A Vegetarian Adventure

Almost 20 years ago, a friend suggested to me that I make a list of 100 things I wanted to do in my lifetime. Easily done, I thought at the time, but when I sat down to make the list it was more challenging than I expected. Today, I still only have 68 things on the list (many of them crossed out). I've experienced more than what is crossed out in the last 20 years, so the list has been more of a guidepost for living my life. I have it categorized - Educational, Physical, Experience/Travel, and Charitable. Periodically, I review the list, cross things off and add others.

A few months ago, I gave birth to a little boy named Cameron. Having a baby wasn't on the list, but when I turned 40, I decided to pull the trigger before the opportunity passed. After 20 years of being single, travelling, sailing on weekends, and spending evenings with friends, I thought the transition would be more difficult. Being single is great, don't get me wrong, but I did feel some self-imposed pressure to get out and do things. Now that Cam is here, spending Saturdays cleaning the house and messing around on the computer seems perfectly fine.

 

As much as I feel some relief not having to be out looking for things to do to keep me busy, I also realize I need mental stimulation. I've always been an active person - taking classes, exercising, and hosting social events - that part of me hasn't changed just because I had a baby. So recently, I decided to pull out the list again and assess what I might like to do over the next ten to twenty years. There is work to be done here. I want to think about experiences I can share with Cameron that will enrich both our lives and help us create memories.

A few months ago, I had a passing thought that I might like to cook through a cookbook. Yes, like Julie and Julia (although I’m not going to cook 500 recipes in year!). I read the book and watched the movie. Last week, I made a recipe from a book I've had for about ten years, Passionate Vegetarian, and I thought, “This is the book!” I’ve been a lacto-ovo pesco-vegetarian (I eat eggs, dairy and fish) for about the same amount of time. The book has over 1000 recipes, not including variations. It covers a wide range of vegetarian dishes, obviously, and incorporates many things I’ve never used in cooking like umeboshi, mung beans, and mirlitons (chayote - a Caribbean summer squash - can I even get that here?) If I make two of them a week (probably a bit ambitious), it will take me about ten years!

I have spent quite a bit of time thinking about why I want to do this and what my expectations are for it. Surprisingly, it's not just as simple as cooking a bunch of food. I've considered that Cameron is four months old. While I'm doing this he'll be growing up. Maybe he will help me in the kitchen at some point. I hope he will learn something from the experience - maybe about cooking and eating well, and maybe also something about life - setting and achieving goals, commitment, attention to detail. Maybe he won't learn anything. Likely he will learn something I'm not expecting and it may not occur to him until he's older - and it may never occur to him.

For me, it will be a journey. It will provide an opportunity to reflect on some of my travel experiences as the book includes a number of international recipes. I might even come up with some of my own variations on the recipes based on my experiences. I wonder what will happen in my life during this process. Holidays, vacations - for sure - but what else? I’m excited for the challenge of choosing recipes each week, perhaps find a nice wine pairing, and using the experience to track the day to day experience of raising a child.

My first recipe choices are Zwiebel Kuchen (German Onion Tart) and Moroccan Carrot Salad. I'll let you know how it turns out!

 

 

~Christine Zellers, LBDC CEO

Traveling Alone, Part Deux

About a year ago, I wrote a post about traveling alone. One option I didn’t discuss in much detail is taking an organized tour. At the time, I did not have any experience with this type of travel. A couple of months ago, I started getting buggy to go somewhere. I’m seven months pregnant, now, so my normal thoughts of SCUBA diving and skiing aren’t a possibility. Morocco has been on my list since I met a woman who was in the Peace Corps there, so I decided to look into it. Taking a tour made sense to me at this stage because, although Morocco is ranked well above the US in healthcare performance, I decided having a local advocate who spoke Arabic and French might be useful if I actually needed something.

I selected a 13 day Morocco Explorer trip through Peregrine Adventures. When I was in Zimbabwe in 2006, I met a travel agent, Tom Gehrels who works for Adventure Center based in Toronto, Canada. Tom has been in 97 countries, so he has good recommendations for travel adventures. He’s also very familiar with the tour companies with which they do business, so I knew I would get good suggestions based on what I shared with him about my interests, energy level, and physical limitations. I appreciate working with a professional who “practices what they preach”, so to speak! When I decided I would prefer not to handle the logistics on my own, I called him, explained my situation and asked for some ideas. After a few email exchanges, I selected the Peregrine trip because of the timing and budget, the accommodation of my inability to ride a camel for an hour in the desert, and the length of the trip -which seemed like it would allow enough time to really see the country.

I enjoyed a number of things about traveling like this. It was relaxing knowing that everything on the trip was scheduled and booked and I didn’t need to worry about any of the logistics. We went places I would not have gone, if I had planned the trip on my own (although we missed one place - that could’ve been added as an extension, we just decided against it). We were taken to some places to shop (I never felt pressured to buy and the guides do not get kickbacks) and I appreciated that the places we went were endorsed by the tour company so the products offered were good quality and fairly priced. If the Berber rug I bought hadn’t shown up, I would have had recourse. I learned things about the culture that I probably wouldn’t have learned planning my own itinerary. For example, the current King Mohammed VI changed many of the laws regarding women’s social and civic equality and there was opportunity to discuss that and how it has changed life with several Moroccans. I was also made aware of some of the challenges women still face in Morocco.

There are also tradeoffs traveling this way, too. Tours can be fast paced and sometimes you are in a new location every night. We had three nights in Fes and two in Marrakech. Overall, I didn’t mind moving around once I figured out how to keep my bags organized. Frequent relocation means that you won’t be doing much hanging around soaking up the sights, especially if there isn’t much free time built into the itinerary. Most of the restaurants were chosen for us. If you like to comb TripAdvisor looking for what other travelers like, that might be a bummer. In this case, I enjoyed the opportunity to have Berber pizza and eat in the home of a guide in Sefrou, which I would not have been able to do on my own. We were very fortunate and had a group of seven who really hit it off. If the group had been larger or there had been difficult personalities on the tour, it would’ve been more challenging.

I was not alone on this trip, but surprisingly, or possibly not, there were THREE single women in our group of seven, even though it was not a women’s trip. They ranged in age from 34 to 60 and came from New Zealand, the UK, and the US. The woman from the UK had more than a few of these trips under her belt. As a single woman, I think this type of trip is ideal, particularly if it’s your first foray into traveling alone. You will likely be connected with the group at the airport when you arrive and will be dropped off there at the end. There will be others with whom to socialize and someone to answer any questions or help address any issues you encounter.

For myself, I imagine I will be doing other trips like this at some point. While reading up on this tour, I learned that some of these companies offer similar tours for families. I mentioned that to our guide in Morocco and he was very complimentary and said they usually limit the amount of driving and search out activities that will entertain and engage children. Given my little man will likely be an only child, this seems like a great way for him to travel with other kids and maybe even make a friend overseas!

Here are a few things I recommend, if you are thinking about taking a trip like this:

·        Take note of the maximum number of travelers; We had seven on a trip that could’ve been 16; Our group collectively agreed that more than 10 or 12 would’ve been way too many

·        Look over the itinerary closely – how often are you moving around? If the trip is more than eight days, being in one hotel for a couple of nights here and there might make things a bit more relaxed

·        Inquire about the demographics of the expected group from the travel agency or tour provider - Is it usually all or mostly women? Are they in an age range that will support the level of activity you would like?

·        Find out if the comfort level is going to be to your liking – do you want posh hotels or a local experience?

·        What physical limitations and interests do you have? Using Tom has twice helped me identify a travel experience that was well matched to what I could and wanted to do and resulted in a travel experience with a like-minded group

·        What is your budget? Is there a single supplement? You may have an option to share a room with another single traveler. Take time to consider how that person’s habits and sleep schedule might affect your own.

Tom has a few additional things to consider:
 

• Environmental sustainability record of the tour operator – Adventure Center offers ways for you to offset your carbon footprint

• Are the tour leaders local or Westerners (locals being the preferred as they are much better informed about the local culture)

• Start and end place of the tour - is it easy to get to from the nearest airport?; Are transfers included or can you book them as add-ons?; Think about that especially in relation to when you are arriving at the destination (late at night - book a transfer!)

• What are the local attitudes towards women? (this can be a sensitive issue, sometimes on the verge of politically incorrect, but perhaps something you may want to address)

• Dress code – for example in Muslim countries it’s often suggested and sometimes required that you cover your knees and shoulders, at least.

Happy Travels!

~Christine Zellers, LBDC CEO

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

New Home, New Friends

I've moved twice in the last year and a half. The first time, I moved to Deep Creek Lake in western Maryland. I hiked, skied, sailed, and kayaked. I was outside every day and I LOVED IT! What I didn't love was my nearly non-existent social life. Yes, I had plenty of weekend visitors who came out from DC. I made a couple of friends sailing and hiking and I did the online dating thing, but it wasn't enough. My second move was a recent one to New Bern in coastal North Carolina. My sister lives here, so it was an obvious choice. I closed on a small house in a military neighborhood about 40 miles from Atlantic Beach at the end of May.

Some background- I work remotely. Moving out of the Washington, DC area where I was born, raised, and spent the last 10 years of my life was a (relatively) easy decision. Paying DC prices just doesn't make sense at this point. Also, most of my friends have transitioned into relationships and having children, so I was at a point of needing to revitalize my social life, anyway. Also, I'm an introvert. Even my close friends are shocked by this. I excel at being alone. I go to movies and dinner by myself regularly. I have bazillions of projects around the house that are constantly in various states of completion. I am much happier being alone than is probably healthy. I think I'm better at change than most people, but change is difficult. So is making new friends. I'm keen not to rely on my sister for a social life here. She's been gracious in inviting me to a few outings and I've attended some. I try to accept all offers- within reason.

Despite my introverted nature, I will make small talk with just about anyone- particularly when they start the conversation. Years ago I read Dale Carnegie's book How to Win Friends and Influence People. I highly recommend it. It turned me into a much better conversationalist than I ever thought possible.

One day a few weeks ago, I was at the beach with a guy I met on Match (no, I'm not good at online dating either - I get cold feet at the last minute and wonder why I'm torturing myself). While waiting for the shower, a woman commented on a dress I was wearing. I offered to let her look at the tag so she could see the brand. Normally, I might have just accepted the compliment and moved the conversation along, but this particular dress was bought on a recent trip to Maine. It's made by a company called Global Mamas , which helps women in Africa. Since I'm passionate about women's progress, I felt compelled to market the dress a bit. As we walked toward the parking lot, I learned that she was also from New Bern. I mentioned that I had just recently moved to the area to which she responded with an invitation to join her and a friend for a wine tasting at a local restaurant! She gave me her phone number and we went our separate ways. Now, I was at a crossroad. I'm not even going to try to convince you that it was easy to just go out and meet this woman and her friend(s??) for drinks, even as sweet as she was. I knew I needed to go because I did move here to make friends, right?? So, I sent her a text message and told her I was interested in joining her thinking (hoping?) maybe she wouldn't respond and I would be off the hook. No such luck. She responded, told me what she would be wearing and when she would arrive. So, I put on the same dress and headed off to the tasting. Guess what? I had a great time! She invited another woman who was also incredibly friendly. Since that evening, I've been to her house for a cookout and visited a Rotary meeting with her.

I'm still working on making friends here, but after only a few short months, I'm feeling good about my progress. Here are my tips, if you find yourself in a similar situation:

·        Take Dale Carnegie's advice - be genuinely interested in other people and ask questions

·        Accept all offers- within reason!

·        When meeting up with a new group, find out who the organizer is, what they will be wearing and where you will be meeting them- get a contact number, when possible

·        Practice going out alone once in a while- movies are great because you aren't supposed to be talking to anyone anyway; sushi and restaurant bars are also good because they are naturally set up to accommodate single diners (bring a book or a magazine)

·        Talk yourself off the ledge- if you are going to meet some people and can't find them, what's the worst that happens? (probably you go home, maybe after you've had a drink at the bar first)

·        Don't be afraid to be a little bit vulnerable- people generally like to help and if you are willing to say you are looking to make new friends many people will naturally step up because it makes them feel good to better someone else's life

MOST IMPORTANTLY - PAY IT FORWARD!

 

~Christine Zellers, CEO

 

The Windy City

You think you know someone pretty well, but then you spend two 9-hour bus rides, two nights in a hostel and walk 20 miles with them, and you see a whole other side of that person…the good, the bad, the ugly and the fabulous. For three days in June, the Nashville, Columbus and Detroit Chapters traveled to Chicago for a multi chapter event with the Little Black Dress Club ladies of the Chicago Southland Chapter to explore The Windy City.

For the Nashville sisters, the trip started late Thursday night when they boarded the Megabus for an overnight excursion through Louisville and Indianapolis before the final destination of Chicago. I’m pretty sure that time paused on that trip, and the trip was much longer than 9 hours. If customer service is a high priority for your experience, then Megabus is not for you!

 

Since the trip seemed to be all about new experiences, the Nashville ladies didn’t go for just any regular hotel experience, they took a chance on a hostel experience (not to be confused with a hostile experience) and stayed at Hostelling International Chicago. It was like summer camp all over again with 8 girls stacked in bunk beds in one room. There may or may not have been some falling out of bunk beds, some indiscriminate videos and snoring. We all took the Full Moon Vow again, so we’ll never tell!

Just about every mode of transportation was used when traveling the city, including bus, cab, train and trolley. The ladies quickly discovered that there are many interesting characters that can be encountered when using public transportation, which usually lead to humor more so than fear. Of course, there is usually safety in numbers.

Friday and Saturday included lots of shopping on Michigan Avenue and State Street, including visits to Water Tower Place and Marshall Field & Company, the second largest department store in the world with 12 stories, including the 5 story Tiffany & Co. mosaic-capped ceiling.

 

Our sightseeing adventures included visiting The Cloud Gate (better known as The Bean) and Crown Fountain in Millennium Park, a walk along Lake Michigan to Lincoln Park and the Lincoln Park Zoo, a Chicago Architecture Cruise on the Chicago River, a trip to see Wrigley Field and an evening of ferris wheels (not carousels) and fireworks at Navy Pier. There was also much walking done on the weekend, and by the time the Nashville ladies arrived home Sunday night, they had taken over 47,000 steps, which is about 20 miles. Several of the ladies had well-deserved pedicures and massages the following day.

 

The weekend was not without lots of great food. We dined at Ed Debevics, where the servers are over the top and rude…on purpose. We also shared delicious Chicago-style pizza with the other chapters at Lou Malnati’s in the historic Gold Coast district. Saturday evening we got our Cajun fix at Heaven on Seven where several sampled some of the most delicious grits on earth. Our last meal together in Chicago was at the Grand Lux Cafe and included sharing Mimosas, Bellinis and some very large portions of French Toast.

 

Shortly after brunch on Sunday, the chapters bid farewell to each other and went back to their respective cities. It was a fabulous weekend spent making new friends, experiencing new adventures and capturing great memories. Plans were already discussed for future gatherings of the chapters, and I know I am looking forward to more trips together!

~ Tonya Overstreet
Nashville Chapter Member, LBDC



Here’s what a few others had to say about the Chicago trip with The Little Black Dress Club:

"After the Columbus chapter did Pilates in Millennium Park they went to the bean. Who did they run into but Nashville ladies! Columbus was very into shopping and collectively got 6 pairs of shoes, 5 purses, and too many dresses to count!"
~ Suzy Hicks, Columbus Chapter Co-Director

“I loved seeing Chicago for the first time and what a wonderful group of ladies to do it with. I'm ready for our next LBDC adventure!”
~ Beth Holt, Nashville Chapter Member

"I loved having LBDC members from Nashville, Ohio and Detroit join us in the Windy City for an amazing weekend! LBDC provides us with these unique opportunities to meet fabulous ladies, who we may otherwise never cross paths with. I'm already looking forward to our next road trip."
~ Richelle Schneider, Chicago Southland Chapter Director

"Meeting lots of great new people, sightseeing, EATING and shopping shopping shopping!! What a blast!"
~ Jenny Smith, Columbus Chapter Member

“Spending 4 days with these women really gave me a chance to get to know them all a little bit better. I can't imagine my first trip to Chicago being with anyone else. Laughing, trying new things and making memories; that's what LBDC is all about."
~ Shay Ashcraft, Nashville Chapter Co-Director and National Director

“Seeing my city, the city I was born & raised in, through the eyes of tourists was an incredible event for me. I was amazed at how well all of these ladies were able to navigate our great city of Chicago. This is a testament to what kind of women LBDC women are; independent & fun loving adventurers!! I would love to visit their cities next!!
~ Peg Donnellan, Chicago Southland Chapter Member

"This was a wonderful way to be introduced to the LBDC! It was a great trip!"
~ Renee Jackson, Detroit Metro Chapter Member

LBDC Directors - Chicago, Detroit, Nashville and Columbus

 

Blue Eye Shadow, Denim Mini Skirts and Other Mysteries of the Universe...

After turning 35 last year I soon realized that there were lots of things that I could no longer do. Mainly because I had lost interest, but also because, at some point during the last couple of years, I realized I had become a “grown up.”

On a Saturday night 15 years ago, you would have found me downtown, wearing blue eyeshadow and a denim mini skirt, effortlessly sliding off a barstool to sing Bon Jovi karaoke while trying not to slosh my beer on the guy next to me. True Story.

Yes, that would be me.

Nowadays, not so much. Last Saturday night I had a plate of cake and some Red Stag whiskey for dinner. I was in my stretchy pants by 6 p.m., and it was a struggle to pull myself off the couch at 9 o’clock and walk the 12 steps it took me to get to my bed. Also a true story. 

While the days of line dancing with strangers 'til 2 a.m. and the confidence of wearing short skirts are long gone, and these days I'm more likely to be found spending Saturday nights on the couch with my dog, there is a happy medium.

Fortunately my medium came in the form of the LBDC. Finding a group of girlfriends who still love to have a great time, whose husbands want them home at a decent hour, whose children need to have a good example set for them, or who are single and just want to enjoy a girls night out without being obligated to the bar scene has allowed me to experience some of the most fun and adventurous times of my life. I have made new friends, gone to new places and tried things I never thought I would be interested in.

Because I am the Type-A personality, which my friends and family love me for, I decided to make a list. I’m sharing some of these wonderful adventures in the hopes that there are other 30- and 40-somethings out there in their stretchy pants watching LMN, thinking about the 90s and wishing they could have a bit more fun, without the denim mini skirt and the late nights at the bar.

Set yourself a monthly goal. Once a month, decide that you will call up a girlfriend and randomly select from this list. Put on your sneakers, get a sitter for the kids, and go learn how to can some veggies, give manicures at your local nursing home or attend a fashion show. The possibilities are endless. If you find yourself wishing you had a partner in adventure or a group of girlfriends to meet for margaritas and bean dip, visit our site and join the LBDC. Because as we say, finding friends is as easy as throwing on a little black dress, blue eye shadow optional.

~Shay Ashcraft
National Director, LBDC

Top 100 Things To Do That Don't Involve Going To A Club:

1. Cooking Classes
2. Pottery Classes
3. Painting Classes
4. Groupon, Big Deals, Living Social, Deal Chicken
5. Volunteer in your community
6. Glamping
7. Create a team of girlfriends to run in a marathon
8. Attend a happy hour
9. Snow tubing
10. Wine tasting
11. Attend a musical
12. Cooking demonstration
13. Visit a chocolate expo and market
14. Join a group of girlfriends at your local brewery pub
15. Learn to sail by taking a lesson at your local sailing club or showing up for a free social sail.  For example the Sailing Club of Washington offers Thursday evening Social Sails http://www.scow.org/faqs and Percy Priest Yacht Club in Nashville offers a Learning at the Helm program http://www.ppyc.org/membership/calendar.htm#LATH
16. Learn to ski- Water ski in the south and snow ski if you are up north
17. Pretzel yourself: lulu lemon stores hold free yoga classes both in store and in local studios. http://www.lululemon.com/community/giftofyoga?mnid=mn;community;gift-of-yoga
18. Bourbon Trail
19. Sushi night
20. Rock climbing