You’re not just buying a house, you’re buying a lifestyle! That means when you’re writing out your list of must have home features and deal breakers, you need to think beyond the “house data” and figure out which features to focus on that will give you the lifestyle you want to live! As a buyer, you might say you’re looking for a 3 bedroom home with a finished basement on at least an acre and with an updated kitchen. An example of what you really might be looking for is a place to raise your growing family, a kitchen that overlooks the private backyard where you can watch your kids play catch while you make dinner, and extra space in the basement for games, toys and movie night! That’s just an example but I think you get the idea. So the lifestyle you are going to have in your new home is something you want to consider when determining which home features are best for your needs.

Number one – LOCATION MATTERS FOR YOUR LIFESTYLE! You hear it all the time in the real estate world – it’s all about the location, location, location, location… and it really is true! Because while you can change paint colors, counter tops and put on that massive deck you’ve always dreamed of, you can’t move your house to a new spot (not without a lot of money anyways).

Think of things like what your work commute will be like, how far of a drive you’re willing to have each day, the features you want in your community, and the school district you want to be in if that is important to you. Do you want to be in walking distance to the downtown? Do you want to be set further back from the road for privacy? What about the size of the city you live in? Do you want the feel of a small town lifestyle or are you happier in a busier city? The location of your home will be something that isn’t going to change so figure out what is essential to you when it comes to the location of your home and the lifestyle it will create!

Now let’s talk about the home features that fit your lifestyle. When you think of home features it’s easy to automatically jump to your running list of criteria such as the size of the garage, how many bedrooms you want, that must have updated kitchen and all of the “house data” like I mentioned. However, you are ultimately buying a lifestyle, not just a house. So I have some things for you to consider when it comes to the type of lifestyle you are ultimately looking for when you make a move! Write down these questions and really think about what your answers are:

Where do you spend most of your time at home? If you love to cook and spend most of your time in the kitchen, you’ll want to prioritize the layout of the kitchen when looking for a home. You can always add in upgraded quartz countertops or that dreamy double oven but the size, layout and location of the kitchen should be a top concern if you don’t want to do any major renovations.

What is something you wish you had in your current home?

What is something you don’t want any longer in your current home? Is your yard a lot to maintain and you want something smaller with a lot less maintenance? Maybe it’s the opposite and your current yard is just too small for the lifestyle you have making one of your top priorities having a bigger yard with privacy.

Which room in your house do you spend the most time in?

How much space do you need to live comfortably and be able to enjoy the things you love the most?

Are you hoping to have enough bathrooms to avoid chaotic mornings?

These questions will help you determine which features could be the most important to focus on when the time comes to look for a new home. Maybe features like hardwood floors aren’t as necessary as having a layout that is perfect for entertaining and hosting holiday parties. You can always swap out flooring later but the layout will be a little harder to change!

Think about how much time you want to put into your house. Do home flipping shows on HGTV resemble your homeownership goals? Many buyers are intent on finding a house they can remodel exactly they want they want which is awesome! However, they often don’t realize how much work, time and money it can take. HGTV can make remodeling and flipping houses look a lot easier than it is in reality. Consider how much time you have to spend on home projects before getting yourself into something that is over your head and potentially over your budget which leads us to…

Your lifestyle budget. Lastly, make sure to budget for your lifestyle, not just your house. It’s important to consider how much you can afford comfortably, not just what you can afford on paper.  Many buyers are pre-approved for a significantly higher amount than what they are actually comfortable spending on a monthly basis. Think about other expenses you have when it comes to your lifestyle – what else is important to you? Do you love to travel or go out to nice dinners on a regular basis? Do you love attending as many games of your favorite football team as possible? What hobbies do you have that cost money every month?  Make sure the amount you spend on your house doesn’t eat up all of your extra funds so you’re glued to the house and can’t have any fun doing the things you love!

There you have it, the top lifestyle considerations for buying a home! Location, home features that fit your lifestyle, how much work you’re willing to do and remember to budget for your lifestyle! If you’re considering buying a new home in the near future and you want to chat more about the type of lifestyle you’re looking for, comment below or send me a direct message so we can set up a time to grab coffee!

Thank you to our site sponsors, Sophia Leece and Scott Boudreaux with LAH Real Estate. For more information on what’s happening in the Birmingham Housing Market, or to schedule a free home buyer/seller consultation, you can reach them:

Sophia Leece, 205.895.9120 | sleece@lahrealestate.com
Scott Boudreaux, 205.835.9787 | sboudreaux@lahrealestate.com

Spare Time Entertainment knows birthdays are a big deal. That’s why they have four epic packages to choose from and customize with party platters and activity add-ons! Craft your custom event and prepare to make memories this year!

All of their party packages include hand-tossed pizza, soft drinks, celebratory decorations, and a dedicated party host to set up, clean up, and ensure your event runs smoothly. They handle all the mess and hard work while you kick back, relax and enjoy the party!

Party package options are as follows:

Bowling Birthday:
our 2-hour BOWLING Party Includes:
• Bowling & Shoe Rental (approximately 1 hour)
• Hand-tossed Pizza & Soft Drinks
• $5 Game Zone play for each guest
• Music, lights & party place settings
• Party host

For the birthday child:
• Souvenir Signature Bowling Pin
• 2000 Win Zone Prize Points!

Lanes and Laser Bash
Your 2-hour BASH Party Includes:
• Bowling & Shoe Rental (approximately 1 hour)
• One game of Laser Tag
• Hand-tossed Pizza & Soft Drinks
• $5 Game Zone play for each guest
• Music, lights & party place settings
• Party host
For the birthday child:
• Souvenir Signature Bowling Pin
• 2000 Win Zone Prize Points!

Laser Tag Blast
Your 2-hour LASER TAG Party Includes:
• 3 Games of Laser Tag
• Hand-tossed Pizza & Soft Drinks
• $5 Game Zone play for each guest
• Music, lights & party place settings
• Party host

For the birthday child:
• 2000 Win Zone Prize Points!

The Gamer
Your 2-hour GAMER Party Includes:
• 1 Hour of Unlimited Gameplay
• Hand-tossed Pizza & Soft Drinks
• 400 Prize Points for each guest
• Music, lights & party place settings
• Party host

For the birthday child:
• 2000 Win Zone Prize Points!

For more information or to book your party, visit their website

Minimum of 10 children. $50 deposit required to reserve.
To book weekday parties, or large parties of more than 20 guests, please call us at (205) 655-4500!

• Red, circular rash that looks like a bullseye
• Flu like symptoms
• Fever
• Headaches
• Muscle aches
• Joint pain

Thespians in Birmingham have an opportunity soon to try out for the next youth production at Red Mountain Theatre. The theater company will hold auditions for “Addams Family Young@Part” July 31.

Auditions for the show will take place on from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with callbacks from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., at Red Mountain Theatre’s Arts Campus at 1600 3rd Ave. S in Birmingham.

Those who audition will be asked to sing 16-32 measures of a song from memory, participate in a dance, and perform a cold read from the show’s script.The song can be one of the performer’s choosing, or Red Mountain Theatre can provide one for them. A backing pianist will be provided.

Performers are encouraged to wear comfortable clothes to dance in and to bring a water bottle.

Those who are chosen to participate in the show will have rehearsals from August 23 – Sept. 23, with four performances between Oct. 1 -3. The Addams Family Young@Part is the authorized 60-minute edition of the Broadway musical for youth performers.

Summer is a time for outdoor fun, and a few tips from Dr. Alicia Webb of the Children’s of Alabama Emergency Department can help kids stay safe in the heat and humidity.

Heat-related illness and dehydration are two primary concerns.

VIDEO: Keeping Kids Safe in Summer Heat

The UV rays from summer sun are strongest during the hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. “Try to avoid being out in the heat during those peak summer high heat hours if possible,” said Dr. Webb.

Staying hydrated is key. “Encourage your children to drink plenty of fluids both before during and after all outdoor activities.” Plain water is preferred.

During vigorous exercise, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children from 9-12 years of age generally need to drink about 3 to 8 ounces of water every 20 minutes to stay hydrated. Teens need to drink about 34 to 50 ounces per hour. If vigorous exercise extends beyond one hour in a day or your child is sweating a lot, electrolyte-supplemented beverages may be necessary.

And sun protection is important for all ages. The AAP provides the following guidance for protecting your family from sunburns:

• Keep babies younger than 6 months out of direct sunlight. Find shade under a tree, an umbrella, or the stroller canopy.
• Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 (up to SPF 50). An SPF of 15 or 30 should be fine for most people. More research studies are needed to test if sunscreen with more than SPF 50 offers any extra protection.
• For babies younger than 6 months: Use sunscreen on small areas of the body, such as the face, if protective clothing and shade are not available.
• For babies older than 6 months: Apply to all areas of the body, but be careful around the eyes. If your baby rubs sunscreen into their eyes, wipe their eyes and hands clean with a damp cloth. If the sunscreen irritates their skin, try a different brand or sunscreen with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. If a rash develops, talk with your child’s doctor.
• Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours and after swimming, sweating, or drying off with a towel. Because most people use too little sunscreen, make sure to apply a generous amount.

For more summer safety tips from Children’s of Alabama:

• Fireworks Displays Can Be Dangerous When Not Left to Professionals
• Kids and Hot Cars: Preventing Heatstroke Deaths
• Heat Illness
• Injury Prevention
• Playground Safety
• VIDEO: The Truth About Dry Drowning
• VIDEO: Water Safety Tips

Crumbl Cookies is holding their grand opening in Birmingham today, July 1st!

If you’ve been following our social media you know that I allowed my teenage daughter to talk me into driving to the location in Madison about a month ago to see what all the TikTok hype was about (as if you have to really twist my arm to go on a cookie adventure) after tasting everything on the menu that day, we were hooked and so excited about the location coming to Birmingham. We’ve been stalking the progress almost weekly and finally scored our first batch yesterday at their soft opening. In addition to warm, yummy cookies, make sure to try some of their crumbl cream ice cream in flavors like Biscoff (our favorite) Buckeye Brownie, Hot Chocolate, and of course Vanilla.

If you’re not familiar, Crumbl Cookies started in Logan, Utah back in 2017. Since then, they’ve expanded to more than 91 locations across 15 states.

The gourmet cookie chain is known for its weekly rotating menu of over 120 specialty flavors, while flavors like milk chocolate chip and chilled sugar cookies are always available.

They also offer curbside pickup and local delivery as well as nationwide shipping.

Their new location is located in Vestavia at 708 Montgomery Hwy Suite 116.