November in a Nutshell

Oh hey, long time no blog. This month has been absolutely insane so sadly, blogging has taken a back seat. But no worries, there is no way in hey I can let a full month go by without a post, and so, in the wee hours of November 31, I am sitting on my bed inscribing this summary of my month. Did I mention I've given up on that math test I have tomorrow?


FOOTBALL: Well. Mountain Brook football has come to an ending. We made it to round three of the playoffs and lost in triple overtime at Oxford. And let's just say, it was quite a controversial ending, with one ref calling a pass in the in zone good, and the other calling it no good. But with the entire Oxford student section jeering down their backs what do you think they decided to go with? Oh yeah, I'm not bitter at all.


Surprisingly, I handled it well. And when I say "well", I completely shut down and became numb. I didn't cry. I didn't yell. I just walked around and hugged my friends. I stayed that way after the game, on the bus ride home, and even sitting alone in my car at the high school until 1 AM waiting for my brother to get back. Then, on the way home, Wayne and I completely broke down. It was just a lot to process at once: no more football games, dress up days, pre game meals, homecomings, run through signs (HALLELUJAH), face tattoos, after game parties, push ups after touchdowns, or "My Spartan ___ (inset plays, cheers, dances, etc.) for MBHS" buttons. No more running out in front of the football team, getting spinning hugs, congregating at my house after the games (ok, so we will still congregate, but not decked out in our green and gold), walking through the hallways seeing football jerseys or cheerleading uniforms. 


And even though it's hard to handle, we all knew it was going to happen eventually. But I had an amazing senior year. We were undefeated regular season, we BEAT HOOVER, we actually had school spirit, and I absolutely adored every second of it. So yes, it completely sucks that it's all over, but we had an fantastic ride. 

NEW YORK Y'ALL

Hmm Hmmm, can you say Laine, Morgan, Libby, and Allison take NYC? Picture this...traveling to The City during Thanksgiving break, dancing in front of millions at the single greatest parade in the world, and being with three of my favorite cheerleaders/dorian. We went and stayed in a hotel with 2000 other cheerleaders and dancers to perform in the Macy's Day Parade and in addition to lonnnnnnggg rehearsals, we also did the whole NYC scene. So yeah, it was slightly fun. 

Star Trek warriors or cheerleaders. You tell me.

Cue highlight reel:
- First Broadway play! ...and I slept through the first half. #unculturedfailure
- Cupcakes from Sprinkles, Magnolia Bakery (my fav), and Crumbs. Literally ate a cupcake every day.

This is not real life.

- JUSTIN FREAKIN BIEBER. 10 feet from him as he performed at the early taping of the Rockefeller Center Tree lighting. He also had Usher and Busta Rhymes. Totally worth being apart of the 1500 girls trampling innocent New Yorkers on the streets and waiting in line like sardines for 2 hours to get to the front. And I'll confess, I was not a Beliber until the very second he came out. I was "this" close to not even going, but I am so so so so glad I did. He was amazing and I almost cried. Almost. Annnnndd I bought the whole album the next day. Who am I and what happened to Allison Ingram, anti-mainstream hipster? (jokes y'all)

#thatawesomemomentwhen you think you're life can't get any better, then Usher shows up

-Dinner at Ellen's Stardust Diner. Laine, Morgan, and I slept from 7 PM- 8:30PM then navigated by ourselves to the cutest little diner on Broadway for dinner. The waiters took turns entertaining the customers with their amazing voices (they're all aspiring Broadway singers). I had a burger. *Side note: everyday in cheerleading, I say to myself, and sometimes others, "I want a burger." But I never eat any because of fat/carbs/calories. But I sat down, looked at the menu, and ordered myself the bacon and bleu cheese mac-daddy of burgers and I relished every bite. I also had 3 cups of coffee after dinner. Total Marilyn Move. The diner also reminded me of the one in my favorite underrated Christmas movie, All I Want For Christmas. So needless to say, I was in love. Exact quote: "I'm really happy...can we just stay here forever?"
-Thanksgiving day: 6:30AM call time. 7AM-12PM: marched in the parade/froze to death. 1-5: feasted on a gourmet Thanksgiving lunch of Dominoes pizza and Dunkin Doughnuts blueberry coffee and napped. 6: Dinner at the New York Athletic Club. Talk about classiness. We got ballin' Shirley Temples, stalked a ton of Winklevoss Twin lookalikes/ NYC socialites, and all had a good hair night, if I do say so myself. All while overlooking Central Park.

Best Thanksgiving ever?

- Park Avenue with Marilyn. On the way to the Plaza for high tea, we had trouble hailing a cab so we walked in the rain from 5th Avenue to Central Park. This actually turned out awesome because I decided that I am going to be a nanny one summer to a family who lives here even though kids hate me. That is how much I loved this part of NYC...I would even say it's my favorite. It can be in the middle of the hustle and bustle, and still maintain the old New York brownstone feel. I'm in love.

Twinsies.

- The Plaza. Try to tell me I am not Eloise reincarnated. Try, and you will fail. 

You know were absolutely adorable.

- Lunch with our new friends from our group in front of the New York Library (film site of Sex and the City 2) right off 42nd street. Eating my favorite meal of tomato soup and a mozzarella, tomato, and basil sandwich, complete with dark chocolate brownie. We were precious.

New York newcomers.

The Matriarch and I

CURRENT OBSESSIONS:
- Research paper time...and I'm enjoying it? Peace. Love. Chaucer's irony in Canterbury Tales.
- Garden & Gun magazine. I discovered this on the plane from Baltimore to Birmingham. The Vogue of the South AND it's located in Charleston? All I want for Christmas is an internship. And to be Beyonce, but that's a different story.
- Dark Chocolate. 
- It's officially my favorite time of year, CHRISTMAS.
- Alabama vs. LSWho rematch. Stage: NOLA, BCS National Championship. Roll tide Paul.

Halloween part 1: lawn gnomes

Halloween Part 2: Taylor Swift, featured in the music video for "You Belong With Me".

That's all I've got for this very overdue post. I'm still in love with my family, enthralled by my friends, and captivated by my Christ, and reaffirmed in all of this daily. 


To the moon and back,
Ali

It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember

that. –JK Rowling