Midyear Check-In Featuring Destiny’s Child + Birmingham’s Newest Culinary Hotspot
This past weekend reminded me just how much inspiration can find you when you slow down and pay attention.
One morning, while eating breakfast and listening to The Friend Zone podcast, I glanced over at my bookshelf and noticed Andrè Leon Talley’s ALT 365—a massive photo diary curated in the early 2000s. The combination of the podcast episode and Andrè’s visual storytelling sent me into the weekend on a high note.
The Friend Zone’s latest episode asked a simple but powerful question: How is your year going? Their mid-year check-in, especially Hey Fran Hey’s words about feeling in the middle of a transition, hit home for me.
That’s exactly where I’ve been lately.
This year has been filled with uncertainty in many areas of my life. And yet, somehow, God has given me peace. He’s also been working on my patience while I wait for the “open door” to reveal itself—something I’ve been meditating on through Revelation 3:7, which says: “See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.”
While I’ve been waiting, I’ve also been writing. I’m excited to share that I’ll soon be announcing my first book, Purpose Day—a project that’s been growing in my heart for some time now.
Food & Fellowship: A New Birmingham Favorite
To kick off the weekend, I had the chance to attend a private tasting for a new restaurant in downtown Birmingham: JOHIN’NA. It’s an Asian fusion spot with what I think might be the most beautiful interior design in the city. The food matches the vibe—absolutely delicious!
If you're in Birmingham or planning to visit, add JOHIN’NA to your must-try list. They officially open on August 1, and I highly recommend making a reservation.
After the tasting, I did something I haven’t done in a while: I went out with friends. A full-on, stay-out-late kind of night. And while I had a blast, I also learned that those nights take a little more recovery time than they used to! Let’s just say, Saturday was a recovery day.
Destiny’s Child and Cowboy Carter
image from Beyonce.com
On Saturday night, Beyoncé wrapped her Cowboy Carter tour in Las Vegas. And to top it all off, Destiny’s Child—my favorite group of all time—popped up as surprise guests. Instead of feeling FOMO, I felt pure joy. It’s been almost eight years since the ladies shared a stage (Bey’s Coachella performance), and their reunion felt like a warm hug to my inner teen.
Their music has scored my life—from adolescence to adulthood. This year alone, I saw Michelle Williams star in Death Becomes Her on Broadway, experienced Cowboy Carter live in both Chicago and Houston, and I’ll be seeing Kelly Rowland later this year on The Boy Is Mine tour.
It’s wild to think these women are now in their mid-40s. Michelle just turned 46, and I’m endlessly inspired by their creativity, discipline, and the fact that they’ve remained relevant and powerful in an industry that doesn’t always make space for artists as they evolve.
They’re not just icons—they’re reminders:
Of purpose.
Of hard work.
Of friendship that endures.
Of what’s possible when you stay the course.
Faith and Sight Are Opposites
During her sermon at One LA, Dr. Anita Phillips shared a powerful insight. While many people believe fear is the opposite of faith, she pointed out that sight may actually be faith’s true opposite. After all, Hebrews 11:1 reminds us: "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
You can check out the clip of Dr. Anita sharing that word above.
In Closing
Whether it was through music, scripture, friendship, or food, this past week reminded me that God is still speaking, still moving, and still opening doors. And in the waiting? There’s joy, creativity, and inspiration everywhere—if you take time to look.
Thanks for reading.
Stay grounded. Stay open. Stay tuned.
— LaBrandon
