Movie Monday: A Place Beyond the Pines

Direction. Every blog needs direction. You have wedding blogs, photography blogs, craft blogs, food blogs- pretty much there is a blog for everything.

I, on the other hand, have been confronting myself with this big question: "What do I want my blog to be about?"

It really is a big question and I do not really know the answer quite yet. 

I know I want to share my life. I want to share what is true and what is real. 

I also want to share things that I love. 

Like simple recipes (I do not love to cook, but I love discovering a good recipe thats a "keeper!)

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins... to die for.

& decorating tips... I love LOVE decorating. Whether it is a home or a party I love being in charge of decorations. 

Libby threw me a bridal shower and I will never ever forget it. I often think of it and remember how oh-so-loved I felt. She decorated it so well- and she also has a really lovely home!

I love crafts & DIYing <i just made that a word...

I DIYed my entire wedding... of course with the help of many friends & family.

Recently, I have also been loving movies. Josh & I really enjoy watching movies & thinking of the deeper issues and meanings of a movie. We have a membership to the movie rental store down the street; The Naro Expanded Cinema

Insert Movie Mondays. (I mean, who doesn't love alliteration?)

I am going to try and take a stab at this. I am by no means a movie critic, but I love a good film without the popcorn (I do not like popcorn. [Insert shocked, horror faces with scrunchy eyebrows... I know... I know....)

So here is my first Movie Monday.

A Place Beyond the Pines  Click on the link to view the full overview on IMBD

Directed by Derek Cianfrance ( director of Blue Valentine)

Starring: Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, & Eva Mendes

Josh & I saw this movie at the Naro cinema a few weeks ago. The Naro is such a sweet little gem in Norfolk- the people that work there absolutely LOVE movies. 

It is not your typical Regal Cinemas or anything... It is one theater showing one movie at a time. And they usually only show movies that you eiher 1) Have never heard of but always win Oscars & such and 2) Do not play in your standard theater at the mall.

They also sometimes play old favorites such as The Big Lebowski & The Princess Bride side note if you have never seen the Princess Bride, do yourself a favor & watch it.... it is a personal favorite.

Okay back to the movie under review... A Place Beyond the Pines was not what I expected it to be... I honestly thought it was going to be about how Ryan Goslings character becomes a father and starts to do crimes in order to support his new baby. Which is not usually my cup of tea kind of movie, but hey, Ryan Gosling is in it and that is reason enough to see a movie.

Although the movie starts like this, in a quick turn of events, it unravels such a grander theme. The film covers a period of 15-18 years. Ryans character, Luke, is a tough guy motorcycle star who makes his living traveling with a circus. His life is turned upside down when he discovers a past lover, Rowina, gave birth to his son. The first thirty minutes of the film depicts Luke trying to earn the affection of Rowina. In order to provide for his son, he begins to rob local banks using his motorcycle skills. Sadly, Luke dies within the first thirty minutes of the film. And then the film begins to star police officer Avery played by Bradley Cooper, who commits a big mistake in police action but is able to cover up his lies and use the incident to expose & climb the ranks in a shady police department. This event takes an obvious tole on his marriage, and will take an even more obvious tole on his son.

The plot thickens & escalates when two boys meet in a high school lunch room, unaware of how dangerously and sadly close their pasts are intertwined. 

The film is really all about relationships and how past sins and actions can catch up in real life. It exposes the deep wounds that time can often cover up, but only for so long. 

I highly recommend this film and I am going to definitely be watching it again when it comes to DVD at our local video store.

cures for summer boredom

This morning I woke up and the first thing I thought of was what I needed to do today.

Then it hit me... I have absolutely nothing to do today.

side note: Then I noticed Scuttle cuddled up intertwined with his red fish on a string... and it made me giggle. 

 Last week was my fist official week off before graduation but between two bridal showers (one of which I was hosting), graduation, and finishing up those logistics, I had a million and one errands to run.

This week is different.
I am bored.

My only plans are helping plan a few things for my friends upcoming wedding in June and a beach day with a few of my favorite people on Wednesday.

So this week, I decided would be a good time to nail down some of our summer vacation details. We decided last summer/fall that we wanted to take a trip to the NorthEast and we like cities a lot so we are going to do a little tour.

We are so beyond excited for this mid-summer excursion! We do not have much of an agenda, but the cities we are visting will prove to be thrilling I am sure. NYC, Boston, & Montreal, Canada, here we come!

Yesterday I decided to write down some things to do over the summer to help cure my boredom.... I am open to suggestions (please?)

1. Running/Ballet. I had a weid visit to the dentist yesterday that involved me fainting. If anything it just proved to me that I need to start taking care of myself. So I am going to start a running regimen and ballet work out. (i would LOVE some suggestions on how to go about doing this... I hate running.)

2. Craft. I have not been able to craft in so long so this summer is the summer of crafts.

3. Take Scuttle for walks. Josh laughed at me when he saw this on the list.... and maybe it is lame/weird/hysterical or whatever but I want him to get used to the outdoors.

4. I joined a French conversation group! I am nervous about this but I am SO rusty on my French and I do not want it to fade.

5. SEW. I have sewn before, but I want to continue working on my skills. So Josh's grandmother (a former wedding gown seamstress  is going to give me a few lessons and then I am just gonna take a stab at it. She also gave me an old sewing machine table so now I have two!

6. Build/Re-finish some furniture. Josh and I are going to work on this together. I cannot wait to spruce up the home with a few new pieces!


I am sure this summer will be filled with joy, laughter, & heat.
Any summer plans for you?

my (almost) one year hiatus

One of my good best friends ally (shout out to her and dan on their engagement!) asked me what happened... why don't I blog anymore. I have heard this a lot this past year actually. My answer? I kept saying "I know, I know..." and honestly there is no excuse (Well this past spring semester I was student teaching and that was just crazy town working 60+ hours a week) 

But I do not really know what started the lingering silence on this blog. To be honest, I have not been really "talkative" the past year, not only on this blog, but in life in general. But I have realized how detrimental that has been for myself and my life.  So I have been slowly trying to break that silence in my life and this is a big step. More on the detrimental part when I figure it out for myself...

So for now let's play catch up, shall we? just a few "big" moments from the past year...

1. We got a kitten. Oh man, oh man. On July 24, 2011 I was not sure the day would ever come but Josh agreed and we got King Henry Scuttle Henderson IX. A little excessive on the name? Why yes. but if you know me, you know that I love cats. It took a while for Josh to like him but it happened. We are both smitten with Scuttle and he brings us a lot of joy... and anger... but mostly joy. 

2. I started and finished student teaching. It was hard. I cried. I laughed. I graded, graded, and graded. Man it made me want to go hug all my teachers from grade school. Teaching is really hard and there is so much time and effort put into it. Please let's all be aware that teachers really do put forth so much time and get so little in return. I am so thankful I was placed with such a wonderful mentor teacher. 

I am hoping that the getting on the nerves thing about learning means I was doing my job... 

3. I graduated from college! After a dramatic 20 minute walk/run around the Ted Constant Center Friday night asking everyone & anyone where I was supposed to be (a question in which no one seemed to know the answer to), a minor melt down that is was 6:10 and I needed to be in line by 6:15 (where that line was, was what I could not figure out), I found two hooligans running late themselves and I joined them on the long trek across campus to the Webb Center. Whew my feet were BURN-ING! I put on my really attractive gown (I am fairly certain 10 Ally's could fit inside), walked across the University seal whilst walking back to the Ted, turned my tassel, walked across the stage, and I graduated! I am so thankful my family was there to see this monumental moment in my life. 

(I got some photos done my Daytona to put in a scrapbook for my parents- it was a big deal for me to graduate because I am the first of their three children!)

Now what? Well Josh and I are going to take the summer off to relax and just be together. We are excited for a trip to New England and to visit with family and to just be home together with no worries to plan lessons or grade papers... at least not until September. Praying God will open and close doors for me this upcoming year. 

Thanks for reading... more to come. I promise.

wow.

it has been since the end of july since my last post.  no i do not want my blog to die. i am pressed for time and am actually working on something new... do not fear. i have a growing list for future posts and i promise i will write them all. i love blogging. i love writing. i feel ultra connected to myself, to God, and to people when I write. its when i feel most genuine and honest.

so this long over-due post will start with a little recipe i found that seriously is going to be added to my routine list of goodies to make. home-made chickfila sandwiches. oh so yummy & really do taste the same. except no preservatives, all natural, & they are not fried!

okay i know what your thinking. not fried? no way. but yes way. these suckers are good.

i got the recipe from food babe. i did not vary the recipe at all. do not be alarmed by the marinating in pickle juice- josh hates pickles but these were one of his favorite meals in a long time. tenderize the chicken! it is important!

oh i may also add that these were super easy to make? i did the marinade in the morning and just battered the suckers up, popped em in the oven and voila. chickfila. on a sunday if you wish.

the waffle fries? freezer aisle if you wish... meanwhile ill be hunting an easy recipe for those.

okay last thing: the blog. i will be moving it soon(ish) just perfecting it for now. the question is, what should the name be? lets take some votes shall we?

1. ally henderson- simple. easy. me.

2. a dream for us- our song. we love it. we work on our dream every day. its our life. oh and also google this and my blog may or may not pop up in images as well.

3. white as snow- no not like snow white and the seven dwarfs. this comes from my favorite passage in psalm 51:7 "purge me with hyssop and i shall be clean; wash me and i shall be whiter than snow."  i love the idea that God has given me life and washed me clean and i am pure.

4. the lions remorse- this has been an evolving thought for me. i continually think about this world and everyone struggles with doubt and "what if" and "what about ______" questions pertaining to God. but these things always take me to the nature of humans. we act as if we are big bad tough lions ready to pounce on every thing that makes us wince or stur inside. but in the end we are completely different from lions. because lions have no remorse for their kill. they simply survive off of it. we shrivel in our pride and weaken in our fears. we, humans, are not lions at all. we have guilt and pain and feelings. i am learning more and more that God has really made us so uniquely and set us far apart from any other species.

5. im open to suggestions. any particular post ive written that has stricken realness within you? let me know.

well i am done procrastinating on this paper.

xoxo
ally

one year!

well it is official. as of last tuesday josh and i have been married for one year!!! we celebrated this day at a young life camp- loving high schoolers & sharing the gospel. it was not ideal no, but it was still a good day. lets start with camp as a whole:

my high school girls were sweet- i tubed with miranda. to be clear i do not tube... dont get me wrong i love the thrills but i have back issues. so sweet mir let us go pretty slow. the whole week was great- camp is always different. it always holds new treasures. this year i had a bunch of seniors in my cabin- along with some ragtag other girls. it was great- all 22 of us in one cabin. 8 beds on the floor. crazy. sara cross led in my cabin- thank goodness for 2 leaders. the girls were crazy. they were all in very different places in terms of their relationship with God. but for the most part they were all honest. and cared for one another. and had deep questions. the seniors especially were considering life- and what it means to live life to the full. it was great. i loved being with miranda. "my first yl girl." it makes me tear up thinking how far we have been together. she is literally the most mature high schooler ive ever seen. she loves the Lord. she loves her friends. oh and how i love her. shell be off the VT this year and she will do amazing things. i know it. absolutely no doubts. excited to visit her and some other girls in the fall.

camp. all that matters is that God did the work. not me. and that is what i trust in.

anniversary. like i said not ideal to spend it at camp. but we met at 4 to be with each other and look at some pictures of our wedding together. to just relax and be with each other even if it was only for a bit. we even headed over to the snack bar for some anniversary treats courtesy of Will Cox. josh enjoyed is mega mocha cookie milkshake. and i always love a good fountain coke with a warm chocolate chip cookie. i felt loved that day. by the other leaders. by my high school girls. even sloop & fetz (program team) mentioned it in their skit that night. everyone sang happy anniversary to us at dinner. we weren't forgotten. thank you everyone for making it a special day.

as for josh & i- we are headed out tomorrow. josh surprised me with a little overnight trip to manteo. we will be staying at the burruss house inn where we spent last july 24th at. what a sweet husband i have. i feel so very loved. cant wait for our time together to relax and just be. currently, i am a little sick- sore throat and such. but nothing will stop this mini-moon to be anything but wonderful.

its been a while...

so i have been m.i.a. in the blogging world for a while. i think its because a lot of things but a lot to with the fact that i am just so angry about not being able to put pictures up on here. so i am sorry about a long break from posts.

now we will turn to this some updates: this week has been crazy and fun. we celebrated joshs birthday on tuesday- he turned 23. thanks for a few of his closest friends for coming out to celebrate. his first birthday as a husband. oh and not to mention, his first birthday as a teacher! yup that is right.

josh found a teaching job. he will be teaching at Booker T. Washington High School right in the heart of norfolk. He (we) are beyond excited. the school is probably the most urban you will get in hampton roads.  and he loves that. so what an answered prayer.

anddd... tuesday is our first anniversary. wow. i have no words. it is true- it goes by crazy fast. i cannot believe it has been a year already. so much has happened- we have changed so much. and learned and fought and we grew. i love marriage and being married to josh. its easy but not so easy. i am just glad i get to do life with him forever.

we will be celebrating once we come back from young life camp- tonight we leave for lake champion in new york with 122 high school students from grassfield. its the biggest trip we have ever taken. we are excited- this year will look very very different from years past for a number of reasons. but none the less the gospel will be taught and everyone at the camp will be able to hear what God has done for each one of us. i am sad we will not be able to really celebrate our anniversary on our anniversary- but i am glad that the Lord has called us to his mission and I know he has BIG plans for this trip.

have a wonderful week.

ally

thrift finds.

so over the past few weeks i have had a few chances to do some thrifting. i love thrifting and making things new. half (probably more) my home is decorated with thrift finds. so when i get the chance i try to go and rummage up some junk to love. one of my goals is to become really good at clothes thrifting. i love clothes shopping. but im bad at clothes thrifting which isnt good for our wallets. i wish i could be like ally mc. mom- she is the best thrift shopper ever.... one day perhaps.

anyways so some things ive scored in the past few weeks:
- NYC ballet company workout dvd. LOVE IT. ($2)
- You, Me, & Dupree. dvd($3)
- The Count of Monte Cristo. dvd($3)
- a black lace/crochet dress. its pretty fancy. ($5)
- oval gold victorian frame ($3) its pretty big and ive got some ideas up my sleeve...

im looking for a suitcase, like a hard plastic one thats kinda small... for something special :)

anyways. thinking about shutting down the blog... cant seem to get into it currently. and the whole picture thing is really making me angry.

welp, off to write this paper. yuck. im done at the end of this week though- thank goodness!

europe.

there are no words to tell you how much i loved our trip. i loved everything about it. and we seriously cannot thank his parents enough for the opportunity to travel together. what a blessing and amazing wedding gift that was.

our trip was perfect and it is safe to say i was incredibly sad to leave. i love europe. i loved the food. the culture. being able to speak some french. i loved being with his parents. the shopping. the buildings. the churches. everything was just beautiful. mostly i loved being there with josh. i cried when we left. i did not want to leave at all. i do not think josh did either. but this is reality and i know that we will go back soon.

we were able to go to a lot of places! Mons, Brugge, Paris, Versailles, Waterloo, Amsterdam, Dinant, and Brussels. i have about two million pictures so ill post some separately.

so lets start from the beginning. the flight over went smoothly. although i do not like flying... for some reason it jus seems surreal and un-natural. but it wasn't bad. delta airplanes are sweet.

when we arrived in Brussels we were tired. the difference is 6 hours ahead of us so it seemed like the middle of the night. we sleep and when we woke up went straight to the St Feuillien Brewery. If you know anything about Belgium, you know that they make two great products: beer and chocolate. And both are the best of the best. (although im not a huge chocolate fan) the tour was really cool. they still use the same building and method from when it first started. it was much smaller than i thought it would be. Unfortunately i have no pictures because in my drowsy state i forgot the cameras.... but his parents have one ill have to post later i suppose.

that night we had a dinner party to celebrate joshs graduation and us being in europe. his parents Belgian friends came over and it was an affair to remember. there were a few people who only spoke french and it was cool to try and talk to them.... the hard part was understanding what they were saying. great night.

the next day we went to Mons (after we sleep in for a long time) Mons is a city in Belgium near his parents. a cute little city.



and here is where i stopped a few weeks ago to add pictures. and got a lovely message that said my storage space was full and id have to pay monthly to add photos to my blog. what the heck blogger? i seriously may move my blog because this is so ridiculous.