Client Dining Room Before and After Reveal! Part 1

My mama is a very classy and typical southern woman. She loves gorgeous colors, glitzy and glamourous accessories and adores anything with character and charm. She has always talked about changing her dining room color to something more neutral like grey or beige but never quite had the kahuna's to do it. Of course, my love of decor didn't fall short from the tree. You can see from my mama's house just where I get it from. 

The "before" dining room was a very strong and "look at me" red. A very statement color. Here is a before picture for you to look at. The table seats 8 and has TWO different leaves to go all the way to 7ft! That's me in the left corner from one of my bridal portraits. I like to call my mama's house my shrine since there are so many photos from our wedding everywhere! The ceiling is painted a goldish brown color to really bring out the tray ceiling. She added little vinyl sayings to the part by the hutch as you can see. The hutch is HUGE and very HEAVY by the way :) I always forget to take great before pictures but I guess that just makes the after photos that much better, right?!

So, are you ready to see the transformation yet? Are you on the edge of your seat? Let's take a new tour of the *almost* completed dining area but first here's a few more photos be

fore I was about to take on her dining area. Did I mention how heavy that hutch was?

I also snapped a few photos during the process. 

If you are unsure about what tape this is, it called Frog Tape. BEST painting tape there is in my opinion and well worth the extra few dollars. If you haven't ever heard of it, you can find it here. Once you use it, you won't use anything else! I promise you! I highly recommend it!

Drumroll please....

Here she is! We painted the dining room a pale grey. I didn't think to get a darker grey for the tray sealing but that will be next. She already had a beautiful set of dining room furniture here in prestige condition so why even think of getting rid of it? She was... but says she's fallen in love all over again now that we've painted and completely made the room look brand new!

Everything that you see in the photos was found in my mama's house. She really didn't want to spend a lot of money and I mean, who really does? So we worked with what we have. But we do plan on getting her two new buffet lamps, two photos, each of which to go on either side of that window and something for the wall to the right of this photo. She also needs a new china set. Maybe that'll be a present from that awesome daughter of hers, what do you think?

The table is gorgeous! Solid cherry wood with two leaves as I stated before. Two captains chairs flank her buffet which had the hutch on it in the old dining area. The captain chair's arms I LOVE with their monkey tail shape. I threw two small jeweled pillows on each chair for a pop of color. 

After I took this photo, I took the black tiny lamp shades off the chandelier. We will be looking for a new chandy as well! I think my mom has one that we can use so I need to drag that out of part II of this before and after! The round mirror which I keep trying to steal from her and obviously can't now because she would notice is from Kirklands awhile back. Isn't it gorgeous? It really softens the room as there are many straight lines in the room with the crown, trim, ceiling and tables as well as floors.

The china I stole from mom's cabinet. It is beautiful, done in black and white roses. The vase in the middle of the table mama got awhile back from HomeGoods. I LOVE it. And want it. She'd notice if I took that too, dang it...

I decided to take the hutch off the buffet because the buffet was crowding the room and the red, although pretty, wasn't helping either. I wanted a lighter feel with more of a neutral feel with POPS of color. A good thing to remember while decorating is to always create a neutral backdrop. Beige, greys, light greens, etc. and use colors in your accessories. If you're going to do a bold color in a room, use minimal accessories. The lamp I stole from my old room upstairs but she and I both are on the lookout for two buffet lamps so that is something that will change.

Here's a better view of the chandelier. Beautiful right? Timeless right? She needs something a little more updated but for now, this is still pretty! I don't hate it and neither did she!

Again, here is the chair. Beautiful right?

I really do think I'm going to steal that candle holder. Those are antlers and they are totally in right now. I want it. Like yesterday. The other two little Christmas trees I stole from her entryway. When I decorate and do a grouping like this or with candle holders or picture frames, always do odd numbers... 1..3..5.. the groups look much better!

These little pillows are so cute and are from a local pottery place here in North Carolina.

Again, everything you see she HAD. Can you believe that? We literally spent about $40.00 for paint as well as painting supplies including my handy Frog Tape for a transformation this awesome!

Just for kicks, I snapped a photo while I dimmed the lights and the sun was setting. I love the mood it creates and lamps just make every home seem cozier.

And just for giggles, here is a nice before and after. What do you think? I am loving the transformation and I will be on the lookout to complete the room when minor changes as I stated before like buffet lamps, photos to go on either side of the window and maybe even a rug. She loves the look of a shag rug so that may be an option. She also plans to add panel molding to the lower walls in time which I think will be elegant and make the space feel that much more sophisticated.

So what do you think of our makeover that only cost $40? What is your favorite accessory? What would you have done different? Are you planning on painting a room soon? Let me know what y'all think by commenting below! Thanks for reading and talk to y'all soon!

XOXO,

Ally

Mama's Christmas Living & Entry Tour 2012

Can you believe that it's the 19th of December already? I can't! I've been wrapping up on all of my shopping over the last few days being here with my parents. If you follow me on Instagram @Allyschmidheiser, you might have saw my typical airplane wing pictures from Saturday when I flew in to surprise my parents yet again! I just love surprises, don't you? 

My mom has always gone all out with decor during the holidays and any other day. Although this has been a challenging year for our family, especially my mom who has been battling cancer but successfully had it all removed a few weeks ago and is now in the recovery stages... she insisted on having all of her decorations up this year so I could see whenever  I would arrive home. She just didn't know that I would be a week earlier ;-) 

My mom's style is very traditional, classic and elegant. She loves curved legs, deep stains and glitzy, glamourous accessories. Her favorite colors to decorate with for the holiday season are deep reds, shimmery golds and fresh greens. Her favorite thing about her decor is her stair rail and her tree. She brings natural greens from outside and regular garland on the stair case while tying in glittered faux fruit, white lights & huge ornate bows. Here's a peek into my wonderful mama's home for the holidays.

Her tree is adorned with glittery ornaments, personal touches such as a photo on the right corner of my mama & my late grandmother. She adds that something doesn't have to be a "typical ornament" to be put on the tree. Anything personal will really make you love your tree that much more.

Her stair railing is a gorgeous golden wood color with the accents of black, elegant rod iron that goes to the top of a custom foyer. As you can see in this photo, she used stocking holders not for initials but to spell out "santa." She wasn't much concerned with matching stockings but more so making them personal for each of us. Her bow which meets at higher points on the railing is made of two different types of holiday ribbon, one glitzy while another playful and fun. The garland has fresh greens and regular garland as I stated before and the ends with the bows have pea cock feathers and berries.

You can see more of the detail of her stair railing here. What a beautiful set up on the already gorgeous stair railing. Don't you think?

She says that she loves her beaded pillows, having a total of 6 of them in the living room alone. The one above is sitting on an antique Ethan Allen replica in the living room.

I absolutely adore these little ice skates. They are adorable. As you can see, she has also added some faux snow to her tree for things like these ice skates to sit on. 

To the right, you can see faux hydrangea flowers stuffed into different places and faux glittery gold leaves adorn the entire tree. A small accent pillow is stuffed at the bottom of a small treasure chest at the bottom of the tree. "I am the way, the truth and the life." A personal touch she adds.

We miss my grandmother very much...and each holidays is just as difficult as the next. But it is nice to tie her and our other passed loved ones in the decor so we can cherish their memory every year.

Different types of Ting ting and a spray of beads make the top a statement piece of the tree. She adds that this creates balance to the fullness of the bottom of the tree.

Here is a few coming inside from the foyer. She accented her white fireplace with the same fresh greens and garland as the stair railing. Just beautiful, wouldn't you say?

Here is a better view. My mom has been asked multiple times to decorate grocery stores and small event places for the holidays. I think that she does a wonderful job!

How gorgeous is that stair railing? And now imagine that in the evening. Yes, even more gorgeous.

She has these same lanterns lit at night with LED candles on the front steps to walk up the front door. A perfect addition to the ambiance of the home. She add two small beaded trees for a small, subtle Christmas look.

She has had these snowmen for years. As you can see, there is a hint of blue under the faux snow. Those are blues lights that she turns on at night. Also you will find again, fresh greens behind the look for another subtle touch of Christmas.

I hope you enjoyed just a small glimpse into my mama's home for the holidays! I am so glad to be home and am enjoying every minute with my family. Are you with family this Christmas? Did you decorate this year? What is your favorite detail of your decorations? What colors did you use? Thanks again for visiting Home by Ally! Be sure to comment below and let me know what you think of this tour!

XOXO,

Ally

Home by Ally was featured in the newspaper!

So, if you follow me on Facebook [{here} you know that I had said I had a "small" announcement to make in a few weeks! Many of you thought that my husband and I were expecting...Nope! Not yet :) No little Ally yet. 

But I did however get featured in our local newspaper! Yay! Clap your hands, stomp your feet...can I get a yaaaaaayuhhhhh! Haha! But seriously I was totally excited about this and although it isn't a huge deal to most, it was a HUGE deal to me and I felt proud of my little article! It was even on the front page! The writer definitely did a great job on the article...and I am just so happy to share this with y'all! 

Here are some photos of the article. If you would like to read the article, you can find it here! Be sure to leave a comment telling them & me how you felt about the article! :) 

I really enjoy my blog and I am happy to be in this new community sharing it with everyone. My hopes are to help as many people as I can create a home out of house, no matter where they may be or their budget. I believe in helping and supporting each other. 

Sorry to all of you who thought there was a bun in the oven, there is indeed NOT a bun in the oven :) 

Anyways! That's my small news...and I just wanted to post it quickly for y'all! Back to working on furniture & signs I go...

XOXO,

Ally

How I clean - Have a clean house in 7 days!

HI! Welcome to Home by Ally! Today we're talking about how to keep a clean house in 7 days!

Do you struggle to keep your house clean? Maybe because of pets? Or kids? Or both? Or a husband that is a second, third or fourth child? I'm Ally from Home by Ally and I've decided to share my tips on cleaning and how I clean OUR home...in high hopes that it will help each one of you! As we all know, there are many different ways that people clean, a lot of which you can find on Pinterest so I just decided to make my own list! Follow along with me in the post to a clean house in just 7 days!

I will break down all that I do in order that I do the cleaning. I do not pick certain "days" of the week to clean certain rooms or clean certain items. So here goes! Be sure to remember that you can customize this to what fits your life and family the best! And also remember as my mama has always said "Rome was not built in a day." Your home will not sparkle, shine and be model ready in a day. It takes time and work everyday! Do as much of these as you can each day and you'll be surprised how much you get done! You can also print this out and check off each as you do it!

First thing is first... open your windows. If you have your air on, open your blinds. If your air is off, open those bad boys up. Turn all of fans on for circulation and let the sun in! It is proven fact from the vitamins in the sun that it is good for us and can in an instant, make you feel better! 

Here are the four cleaning products that I use THE most around my home.

Windex MultiSurface- I cannot rave about this product enough. I buy at least three of these every time we go grocery shopping! This is definitely my go to cleaner for windows, countertops, doors, you name it, I use it on it! 
Goof Off Wipes- Be warned that GoofOff is VERY strong and will easily take off paint but also can eat up a finish, etc. I only use this if I have a nasty stain on the counters or if I accidentally get paint on something. It happens around here y'all, a lot.

Woolite- Oxy Powershot- We have dogs. Furbabies. Our children for now. And they sometimes like to test mommy on rainy days by charging into our house from going potty and get those muddy paw prints all over mommy's nice and clean carpet. This is a LIFE saver. And a little goes along way. Every stain I've ever gotten on my carpets, it has gotten out. Muddy paws. Spaghetti, you name it.
Lysol Wipes - I use this when I am wiping down things such as doors, handles, refrigerator, freezer, sink & anything else where there is constant contact of germs. LOVE IT.

I am not being paid to support any of these products. These opinions are all my own. 

These are my recommendations for cleanings. These all do NOT have to be done in one day. I recommend printing this list off and doing at least 3-5 of these a day if applicable. 

Wash a load of laundry. 
*Wash your bed linens once every one-two weeks or at your discretion*
Wake up. Get ready to start this process! It will be fun! At least I think that cleaning is fun...haha! It's the end result people, it WILL be worth it! OK! Drag yourself out of bed. And bring those sheets with you. Be sure to get the guest bedrooms & all of the kids too. Don't forget the pillowcases as well. Put them in the washer and start them up. Yawn. No need for pretty makeup or fixing your hair. Just throw it up, put on some old clothes and let's get to work. Do you have a favorite playlist? Put it on and DON'T turn the TV on unless the kiddos are  watching cartoons or something :) If you have kids and can't just jump out of bed and do this, try starting at nap time... or when you have a free moment, do it. If you find that you have a lot of laundry, try putting a load in every time you are near the laundry room or right whenever you hear it go off. Be sure when your linens are done washing and you hear the "BUZZ" to go ahead and go put them in the dryer. Do not put it off or it won't get done and then they'll sit in the washer and smell yucky in a few hours. Yep, I'm guilty of it too. I really didn't want to admit that :( Get yourself in the habit of doing this everyday no matter what. If you don't have a load to do, then you can scratch this off your list for the day.

Do a load of dishes. 
Next, make your way around the house. Pick up any left over plates, glasses, snacks, boxes, bottles, diapers, whatever it may be and bring it to the kitchen. Whether you have a dishwasher or not, put all dirty dishes in the sink and throw away any waste around the house. If you have a dishwasher, load it full and hit start on that baby! If you don't have the luxury of having a dishwasher, go ahead and do a load of dishes and put them up to dry. Do this until all your dishes are done. Be sure after you do all of the dishes to wipe down your sink thoroughly. I use Windex Multi Surface and let it soak on the surface for about one minute then wipe clean with hot water.  Get yourself in the habit of doing this everyday no matter what. If you don't have a load to  do, then you can scratch this off your list for the day.

Take the trash out.
Next, grab a trash bag. Go to every room that has a trash can and empty the trash into the garbage bag. If you use grocery store bags like we do in small trash cans, be sure to bring new ones to put into the cans. Finally, take out all garbage to your garbage cans. Remember this includes in your cabinets as well. If your husband leaves empty boxes of products or he keeps throwing those empty rolls of toilet paper behind the toilet like no one will notice. Yeah, we notice.  Get yourself in the habit of doing this everyday no matter what. If you don't have a load to  do, then you can scratch this off your list for the day. Do this at least once a week.

Wipe down countertops & declutter the countertops.
Wiping down your countertops everyday can really make a difference in how you feel about your kitchen. Remove any excess food or trash from the countertops and put all utensils and handheld appliances away in the proper places. Do this everyday.

Wipe down all appliances & furniture.
I literally do this about twice a week but this is totally up to you how frequently you do this. I start with my kitchen counters. Lift any pictures, canisters, cutting boards or utensil holders and wipe under them. Continue to wipe down the stove, refrigerator, dishwasher and any other appliance you may have. Head over to your dining room table and give it a good wipe down on the top and the seats. I find it more satisfying when I have a cleaner with a nice scent so it also "SMELLS" clean after you wipe it. During this time, I also make my way to the living room and wipe down the top of our t.v., our t.v. stand, coffee table & end tables. No complaining here! I have glass and I do it just about everyday :)  Do this once a week.

Sweep.
As simple as it is, sweep. Sweep any floor that can be swept except restrooms. That is covered under "taking care of each restroom." Do this every 3-4 days at least.

MOP.
If you are going to sweep, you should really mop right afterwards. Go ahead and get it over with. Don't let the kiddos or fur babies run in where you just mopped. Let it dry completely and enjoy a nice, clean floor. Do this once a week.

Make all the beds.
Pretty self explanatory right? A freshly made bed can do wonders for a room. Fluff pillows. Everyday. That is make the bed everyday. Not wash linens everyday.

Clean all mirrors and windows. 

Pretty self explanatory. Do this before you wipe baseboards & window ledges so no excess dirt will get on the ledges or baseboards. Do this every two-four weeks.

Wipe down all baseboards & window ledges.

So much dust and yucky stuff gets trapped on all baseboards and ledges. Wipe them down once every month. Remember to wipe down the top of your appliances, doors and stair railings as well. Do this every month.

Take care of each restroom.

Ensure all restrooms have at least 1 extra roll of toilet paper under the sink or near the toilet. I wouldn't want to be that house guest panicking because you forgot something! Bring your trusted cleaner (Mine is Windex Multisurface & Lysol in this case) and begin to wipe down the sink, toilet, shower including the shower head, knobs, etc & countertops. Put all hair & makeup essential away under the cabinet. Close the shower curtain and hang the towels up. Remember to wipe down the sinks, cabinet doors & countertops. Also, be sure to wipe down the doorknobs and doors in here! Be sure there are hand towels readily accessible for guests and plenty of towels under the cabinet for guests as well. This includes Sweeping & Moping each restroom.

Sweep each restroom and ensure all dust and particles are gone by sweeping twice. Once going in the length of restroom. The second time by sweeping the width of the restroom. Mop here afterwards. Repeat this step for each restroom. Do this every week if possible...but it's at your discretion really.

Put all clothes away.

I am guilty of it too. Trying to find something to wear and throwing everything everywhere. Go in each bedroom and put all clothes away where they belong. Do this every week.

Go through all mail. 

Most of us have a "DROP ZONE" that we tend to throw junk, mail, keys, etc. Go through it all. Pay bills if need be. But get rid of it. 

TIP: Get a wall organizer with a key holder to put near where you come in everyday. Hang your keys up instead of throwing them down and put all new mail here.  Do this every week.

Go through each rooms clutter. 

Get rid of what you don't need! Period. Donate it to a shelter or store. You're helping someone else by doing so! This includes old clothes, shoes, old books, etc. Most people consider also having a yard sale for these items but a way to get them out faster is to just donate them and you're also helping someone else, remember?! Do this every month.

Clean the desk (office.)

This means clearing off all paperwork from the top of the desk. Go through it. Throw away what you need and file what you need to as well. Push in the chair & shut down the computer. Do this every week.

Vacuum all "living" areas aka anywhere you 
can see from the front door.
If there are clothes or items all over the floor, put them all in a pile and vacuum around them. Maybe this seems like a huge task but every time that I vacuum it instantly tricks me to believe that the room is cleaner. Even if the room isn't exactly how you want it to be, vacuum any ways. Here's the vacuum I use. It is a Shark Vacuum Professional Series. I LOVE it and have no complaints! It's cute because it's white too :) Do this every other night at least.

I am not being paid to support any of these products. These opinions are all my own. 

Straighten (Tidy) up every night:
Fluff the pillows on the couch, pick up any shoes or clothes hanging around where guests can see if they were to pop over, etc. Put all toys away. Vacuum if need be. I usually vacuum every night but I'm a little OCD.

These are some things that I do everyday during the week to ensure that my house stays clean. It is never spotless although I do have people ask me is it ever dirty? The answer is yes. We do live here and we do function here. Food will get on the counter and floor. And the dogs will get hair everywhere. And kids will spill milk. 

Hope you enjoyed my tips on cleaning!

XOXO,
Ally

Liebster Award to Home by Ally

Hey y'all! Last night I was informed by the blog "Dogs don't eat pizza" that I was receiving a "Liebster Award." How cool is that? Here are the deets about the award: “Liebster” is a German word meaning dearest, beloved or favorite.  The Liebster Award is given by bloggers to other bloggers – intended to showcase exceptional blogs. 

Well that obviously made my night better, instantly! I wanted to say thank you to "Dogs Don't Eat Pizza" for nominating me for this award! Thank you so much! Everyone be sure to stop by at www.dogsdonteatpizza.com and let her know that Home by Ally sent you!

Here are the stipulations that you must follow for this award! 

How It Works:

1. Add the award to your blog page! (Check!)

2. Link to your nominator to say thank you. (Check!)

 3. Each blogger should post 11 facts about themselves. (Check!)

4. Answer the questions the tagger set for you, & create 11 questions for your nominations to answer.

5. Choose 11 bloggers with less than 200 followers, go to their blog, and tell them about the award.

Simple enough... here's the 11 facts about Ally :)

Eleven Questions to be Answered by My Nominations:

1. Why did you start blogging?

I started blogging by the encouragement of my family and friends to put myself out there as well as my painted furniture, my DIY tricks and tips and my projects.

2. What is the most important thing you've learned since you've started blogging?

Market yourself. Always.

3. What are you most proud of in your life?

My family. The person that I have become. And my marriage.

4. If you could start blogging all over again, would you change anything and what would it be?

I wouldn't change a thing. No regrets. Although I wish I may I have started sooner then I may be farther today... but you can never regret! It's a waste of time!

5. Dog person or cat person?

Definitely a dog person. Definitely. 

6. What is the best piece of advice you've ever received (about blogging or otherwise)?

It's always something that I say to myself but...Stay true to yourself and what inspires you and what interests you. Don't be something you're not. And most importantly, support each other. There is no room for drama or negativity here. Especially from hateful people :)

7. What is your favorite food?

Anything with cheese! Lasagna, Mac & Chz, Chz fries, Pizza... yikes :)

8. What is your favorite movie?

Forrest Gump. I'm obsessed. Romantic & a drama. I still cry every time.

9. Coffee or tea?

SWEET tea. Even more than that, MY sweet tea :)

10. How would your friends describe you?

Caring. Generous. Dork.

11. What do you enjoy in your free time?

Walks with my husband and puppies, date nights, relaxing on the beach and always being with family.

So here's 11 questions that I just answered because I'm too lazy to make new ones!

Eleven Questions to be Answered by My Nominations:

1. Why did you start blogging?
2. What is the most important thing you've learned since you've started blogging?
3. What are you most proud of in your life?
4. If you could start blogging all over again, would you change anything and what would it be?
5. Dog person or cat person?
6. What is the best piece of advice you've ever received (about blogging or otherwise)?
7. What is your favorite food?
8. What is your favorite movie?
9. Coffee or tea?
10. How would your friends describe you?
11. What do you enjoy in your free time?

Hope y'all enjoyed this sweet post!

XOXO,

Ally

DIY Letter Frame

Hey y'all!

I've been SUPER busy today editing photos from a wedding last month, editing photos of a pregnancy anouncement and working on 8 different custom signs! Shew! This girl is beat!

Tonight's post is how to make a "DIY Letter Frame." I've seen these floating around Pinterest. Sometimes things like this, I never even really try because I think that is too easy. Surely, I don't need to do a tutorial on it for people to know how to do it right? Well that stops today! As much as I can, I will be writing blog posts on how to do certain things, DIY tips, home decor tips, etc! I want the world to know about Home by Ally. And for that to happen, well.... it starts at home :)

Here are a few from Pinterest that I love...

Source: thebaezablog.blogspot.com

Source: Unknown

Source: Unknown

And here is Home by Ally's version....

MATERIALS

So here's what you'll need!

- Letter (Hobby Lobby, Michaels, any craft store) (Mine was 99 cents)

-Paint (Sample size works)

-Picture frame, any size. (Just make sure it can be painted) *TIP* You can get frames SUPER cheap at the dollar store or at any thrift store! (I got mine at Hobby Lobby for $3.99 but used a coupon so got it for just over $2.00)

-Painters Tape (Only if you want to do a frame with stripes)

-Ribbon (if you would like to hang it up)

-Glue (Super glue will work fantastic, liquid nails, modge podge)

-Fabric, any kind you wish!

-Scissors

Everything I for this project I had on hand except the frame & letter so it only cost me $3.00! You could still easily do this on any budget for under $10.00 or $15.00. Easy. This I consider to be one of the easiest projects I've done to date. I got it all done in 10 minutes or less.

 (not including paint drying time)

The first step that I did was tape off how I wanted my stripes to be. I used my painters tape to do as shown. When you are painting stripes, a good tip to get a nice, clean line after you remove the tape is to paint the tape too. Yes, paint the tape.

Below is a photo after I took off my paint. Pretty straight lines :) After this, I simply took the tape I already used (recycle & repurpose), used it again and taped off the already painted parts so I could painted the unpainted sections a cream color.

I sanded the front down for a nice smooth finish but this isn't really necessary. I also slightly distressed it which you also don't have to do if you don't wish.

I took out the back of the picture frame and this was the insert that I had as well a piece of cardboared fit to size of the frame that is not shown. I used it as a guide to cut my fabric to size. I gave myself about an inch all around just to be sure I had enough!



Now, you don't even have to glue your fabric to the cardboard that comes with the frame but I did! As you can see, I had alot of excess fabric but I would rather have been safe than sorry. I had about 2 inches all around. I simply took scissors & cut it down more.

Take the prongs on the back side and put them back down to hold the fabric securely in place. Remember if you're using any kind of fabric to make sure it isn't too loose on the front and to also make sure that it isn't too tight where the fabric is laying uneven.

So, what do y'all think of my DIY letter picture frame? Totally easy right? And it only cost me $3.00! I would love to see if you try this so make sure to show me on Facebook. To "LIKE" Home by Ally on Facebook, click HERE. Also, make sure to click "follow" over to the right! And if you don't have a blogger account, simply add your email over there to the right as well so you can stay up to date on everything "HOME BY ALLY." Talk to y'all really soon!

XOXO,

Ally