living local // what to do this weekend in bham

Happy Thursday everybody! The weekend is almost here and it’s going to be a good one. There has been no shortage of summer fun here in Bham and this weekend is definitely one for the books. With so many great events happening in the ‘ham I wanted to share with you a list of weekend adventures to be sure you don’t miss a thing! 

Don’t miss Secret Stages which kicks off Friday night at 7pm at Easy Street on the Bham Mountain Radio Stage. Secret Stages will feature over 60 bands and will be rocking Friday and Saturday nights at great neighborhood venues within a 2 block radium in downtown Birmingham. Want to know more? Check it out here.

Alabama Theatre’s Summer Film Series is still in full swing and this Friday will feature The Breakfast Club at 7pm. The Alabama Theatre is located in the heart of downtown Birmingham Alabama on 3rd Avenue North. Since 1927 the Alabama Theatre has been the home to shows and performances ranging from movies, concerts, beauty pageants, silent films and even the Mickey Mouse Club! This beautiful theatre is an amazing piece of history that defies the imagination and must be experienced to be truly appreciated. 

CityFest is back at Railroad Park on Saturday night with food trucks, drinks, children’s activities, local art and beerfest starting at 3pm and music starting at 4 featuring The Roots at 9:30. Last year was a hit and this year is expected to be even better! 

The Freshwater Land Trust’s 7th annual Land Aid is Friday at Avondale Brewing Co. at 8pm featuring Nashville- based group Kopecky. Enjoy good music and good brews while supporting the Freshwater Land Trust’s efforts to conserve and protect open space and waterways throughout Central Alabama. Tickets are $25 in advance and $35 at the door. Doors open at 7pm. For more information, please visit www.freshwaterlandtrust.org.

The Birmingham Barons face off against the Mississippi Braves at Regions Field this Thursday, Friday and Saturday! Tonights game features a pregame concert and Thirsty Thursday $2 beer and wine specials. Friday night’s game will include fireworks and tin lunchbox giveaway and Saturday is Breast Cancer Awareness Night and Regions Field will be Pinked Out including the Barons wearing Pink Barons Jerseys that will be auctioned off with proceeds benefiting the Susan G. Komen Foundation. 

Happy (almost) weekend everybody!

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how to :: decorating and where to start

When it comes to design, I forget that it's not something that comes naturally to everyone. For me, decorating has been a hobby since childhood. Redecorating my bedroom was a summer tradition, I spent my allowance on accessorizing my room, and rearranged my furniture as a weekend hobby. After pursuing interior design as my career, I have learned the ins and outs of the technical side of design however, it's still something that comes from my gut. When I have friends ask for decorating advice, I am quick to give them direction or suggestions however I recently realized that I tend to skip the big picture. So, here are a few tips for where to start when decorating (or redecorating) your space.
1 :: Decide what feeling or vibe do you want your space to have?  Do you want your space to feel vibrant, colorful, and lively? Do you love a clean, neutral palette that feels soothing and sophisticated? Do you want your space to be an eclectic mix of pieces that tell your story? Do you want it to be soft and serene? Layered and colorful? Comfortable and warm? Defining your style sets the groundwork for decorating your space.
2:: Identify what's working and what's not?  Depending on what you decided from question one, determine what in your space fits with your style and what doesn't? Don't work around existing pieces that are inconsistent with your desired style. For example, if you have a bold red sofa but your going for a neutral, soothing design style, ditch the sofa! It will only hold you back and force you into other decisions that go against your style goals, leaving you (and your space) unhappy.
3 :: Pick a starting point and prioritize.  This is something that can be tough to do. It's easy to become overwhelmed and begin purchasing miscellaneous pieces, avoiding the big decisions and derailing your design goals. A good place to start is with something you REALLY love. If you find a rug, a bedspread, a piece of furniture that you truly love, buy it and base the remaining decisions around that. Buying something that speaks to you is always the best place to start.
4 :: Stay inspired!  With so much great inspiration out there these days it's easy to get carried away pinning and saving beautiful interior images but try to be realistic and objective. What about that interior, room, or decor drew you to it? Why? Do you love how they styled the bookshelves? The mix of color and texture? How they layered the bedding? Staying inspired will help you to stay on track with what you specifically want and how to get it! 
5 :: Don't rush.  It takes time. I beg you, please do not go to rooms to go and buy a set of furniture. Just have patience. When in doubt, ask me! Seriously, email me at laurendelshaw@gmail.com. I love helping people pull their space together!

// images via Homepolish here, here, and here //

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Weekend Adventures / Sloss Fest

You know those moments in life that you wish you could just bottle up and remember forever? I had one of those moments this weekend and it couldn’t have come at a better time. 

After a crazy 12 day work stretch for Max and me trying to balance the pressures of work, life, and wedding planning, we were excited to have a weekend of fun together. Saturday afternoon, we hopped on our bikes and made our way to Sloss Fest. We couldn’t believe the incredible turn out! The music was amazing, we ran into tons of friends, and did some epic people watching. It was a great day! We woke up Sunday morning to realize we’re not as young as we once were so decided to take a trip to the dog park and lounge around the house before heading for Sloss Fest day 2. That evening, we hoped on our bikes to head to the festival. We grabbed a seat among the crowd to hear the amazing St. Paul and the Broken Bones, had the most delicious Gyros ever from Efes, then crammed into the Shed stage for some electronic music from Purity Ring, complete with crazy lightshow. We decided to call it an “early night” and as we rode our bikes over the bridge, with the music still playing in the background, the summer breeze blowing and cicadas chirping, you could see the Birmingham skyline lit up in the distance. In this very moment I felt so grateful for my youth, for summer nights spent bike riding home from a music festival, for adventures with Max, and for the memories we’re making together. It was the moment I’ve been needing. Thank god for the weekends, am I right!?

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