Fall Home Decor at Walmart

I have basically been ready for fall since May, so I am busting out the pumpkins and leaf garland ASAP over here! I made sure to check out the fall decor options at Walmart, since they have been stepping up their game the past year but have great prices. Click on the picture below to find links for all of the items pictured!

https://www.shopltk.com/explore/hootsofanightal/posts/a70b9279-20d2-11ed-92f0-0242ac110003

I tried to gather items that have a similar, traditional autumn feel. You could purchase any combination of these to create a cozy, fun, fall vibe in your house!

The stack of pumpkins would be perfect on a front porch to add height and whimsy. You can also incorporate the hay bales to add height for smaller items like real pumpkins, gourds, or lanterns.

A wreath or garland are perfect ways to dress up your front door for fall! I also love to use leaf garland on my mantel and incorporate fairy lights for a warm glow.

Also, a fun centerpiece is the easiest way to jazz up your dining table or coffee table in an instant. This pumpkin centerpiece is only $12, and it looks beautiful! This cream pumpkin option is only $10, and it would even look cute on a bookshelf, too!

I found some fun Halloween decorations at Walmart, if you’d like me to share those as well, let me know!

Happy shopping and happy (almost!) fall!

Ali

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on these links or make a purchase using these links, I may receive a small percentage of the profit at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Hoots of a Night Al!

Continue Reading

At Home Game Night with Hues and Cues

If you’re anything like me, you’re spending lots of extra time at home these days. For us, that has thankfully led to more family game nights! I was thrilled when The Op Games offered to send me a new game to test out, and I thought you’d enjoy hearing about it as well!

Hues and Cues is a vibrant game of colorful communication where players are challenged to make connections to colors with words. Using only one and two-word cues, players try to get others to guess a specific hue from the 480 colors on the game board. The closer the guesses are to the target, the more points you earn. Since everyone imagines colors differently, connecting colors and clues has never been this much fun!

As you can see, the gradient board is simply beautiful; all of the colors are a feast for the eyes! As someone that loves color, I found it so fun to describe all of the different hues. It was so interesting to see how everyone’s mind works differently. For example, if I say “apple,” do you picture red? Green? Yellow? What about “rose?” Pink? Yellow? Red? You can see how this game leads to fun discussions about how everyone sees the world a little differently!

Hues and Cues is meant to be played with 3-10 players aged 8 and up. Each game takes around 30 minutes, so at only $24.99, it’s the perfect addition to your family game nights! It can be a risk and a challenge to get enough people together for game nights these days. The good thing, is you can totally play Hues and Cues over video chat!

Even though the recommended age is 8 and up, I think this game could still be fun for younger kids who are learning their colors. They could team up with an older player, so the whole family can play together. The word association may even help them learn new colors quicker!

Overall, Hues and Cues is beautiful, simple to learn, and fun to play. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to add a new rotation to their game night! Follow the link above if you want to order your own, and thank you again to The OP Games for this thoughtful treat!

Continue Reading

Homemade 15-minute Chicken Noodle Soup

Brr. It’s been so chilly here lately, which means perfect soup weather! If you want a simple soup that is delicious, easy, quick, and cheap…here you go!

This took me about 15 minutes to throw together, which is about all the energy I can muster on cold weather days. What? Texans are extra fragile when it comes to cold. Check out the recipe below if you want a cozy, easy meal, too!

Homemade 15-minute Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

Ingredients

  • Egg Noodles (8 oz)
  • Chicken Broth (80 oz)
  • Cooked & cubed Chicken Breast (2 cups)
    • I used the pre-seasoned Lemon Pepper chicken from H-E-B, and it added a nice flavor!
    • If you don’t have time to cook chicken, consider purchasing the pre-cooked, shredded rotisserie chicken from H-E-B
  • Sautéed vegetables (2 cups)
    • Add these as preferred. I didn’t add any vegetables this time, but carrots, onions, and celery would all be great additions
  • Salt & pepper

Directions

  • Boil chicken broth. Once boiling, add egg noodles.
  • While waiting for chicken broth to boil, cook chicken fully on medium heat. Cut chicken into cubes.
  • If adding vegetables, chop and sauté them over medium heat for 5-10 minutes while noodles are boiling.
  • Add chicken (and vegetables if using) to noodles and broth. Heat everything evenly for another 5 minutes.
  • Add salt and pepper to taste and serve!

This makes around 6 bowls, so it would be great for a family dinner or for you to make Sunday and eat on for lunch all week. I think the addition of some oyster crackers would add a delicious crunch, as well!

Let me know if you make this recipe, and if there any yummy alterations you make that I should try!

Continue Reading

Lexli: Aloe Vera Based Skincare

This post was sponsored by Lexli, and I am thrilled to share their amazing products with you!

Growing up, my mom had a huge aloe vera plant growing on our back deck. Whenever I had a burn she would cut off a fresh piece and use the amazing liquid inside to instantly soothe my skin. Since I had experienced the benefits of aloe vera first hand, I was thrilled when Lexli reached out to me. Lexli uses a base of organic, pharmaceutical-grade aloe vera (instead of water like many skincare brands), combined with other active ingredients for their skincare line. I have been using their products for over a month now, so I wanted to share my thoughts with you!

3 bottles of Lexli skincare products lying on a white blanket

I have combination skin with T-Zone oiliness and some dry patches. I also have redness in my skin. I shared this information with Lexli, and they sent the following products for me to sample. If you’re unsure of which items would benefit your skin type their website has a quiz you can take and a chat box available for any questions you have!

4 skincare products from Lexli skincare lined up on a granite countertop

First up, was the Cleansing Lotion. This product was amazing at getting all of my makeup off with just one or two pumps! I really enjoyed that it has a moisturizing component since some cleansers tend to try out my skin. My skin felt soft and clean after using the Cleansing Lotion, and it has become my daily face wash. I love that it is safe for sensitive skin!

The next product I tried was the Tone & Balance Toner. This is like the Swiss Army knife of skincare products! It has SO many uses! A makeup primer, a burn soother, a body lotion, a midday skin “pick-me-up”…the list goes on and on! I love using this right after the Cleansing Lotion to get off any remaining traces of makeup to prep my skin for my moisturizers and serums. I also use it in the morning to help cleanse and prep my face for the day. As I mentioned above, I have a lot of redness in my skin and this helps calm my skin and even out my skin tone.

A hand with long, unpolished nails holding an open, green skincare exfoliant

Possibly the star of the show is the AloeGlyC exfoliator. It is such a unique product! Smooth the product onto clean skin and allow it to sit for 10-15 minutes before continuing with your skincare routine. You don’t need to wash it off, just let it sink in! It uses aloe vera and glycolic acid to smooth skin texture, reduce hyper-pigmentation, and diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Lexli does recommend easing into use of the AloeGlyC exfoliator by starting with every other day use or diluting the product some with a moisturizer. I followed their suggestions, and my skin has adjusted perfectly! I also love the scent and packaging of this product! It smells so fresh and crisp, and the tub is perfect for scooping out product for application.

A bottle of moisturizer laying on a white towel next to a jade roller

Finally, I sampled the Moisture Intensifier Serum. This serum can be used as a spot treatment, but I prefer to slather it all over my face! I can’t resist the scent or how smooth and moisturized it makes my skin feel. It helps calm any irritation in my skin, and it works perfectly under any of the moisturizers I use.

I have been so impressed with everything Lexli sent me, and I can’t wait to try more of their products! Whether you suffer from sensitive, redness prone skin like me, issues with acne, or just want to prevent aging skin, Lexli has a huge array of products for all of your skincare needs. Let me know if you give any of their items a try, and I will review any new products I purchase from them in the future for you!

Continue Reading

How to Perfectly Match Your Foundation with NYX Pro Foundation Mixer

Do you ever fall in love with a foundation’s coverage, but the shade range isn’t perfect for your skin tone? I’ve found a solution for you: NYX Pro Foundation Mixer!

NYX Pro Foundation Mixer laying next to IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Foundation Full Coverage Moisturizer

One of my favorite foundations is the IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Foundation. The coverage is amazing, it’s perfect for my combination skin, and it has a built in SPF! The only issue I have is the color selection. The lightest shade is a smidge too light and the next shade is a smidge too dark. What’s a girl to do? Enter NYX Pro Foundation Mixer!

NYX Pro Foundation Mixer in white being mixed with foundation

Grab your foundation, foundation mixer, a small plate, and something to mix the foundation with. You could totally do this on the back of your hand and use your finger to mix it all up, but I think that would end up wasting a bit of product. Feel free to give it a whirl, though!

NYX Pro Foundation Mixer being mixed with IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Foundation Full Coverage Moisturizer to create a lighter shade

As you can see I pumped a few pumps of foundation, squeezed out a few drops of NYX Pro Foundation Mixer, and mixed it together with the back of an eyeshadow brush. Is that the most sanitary tool to use? Nope, but who cares. I would suggest only adding a small amount of the foundation mixer at first. You can always add a few drops if it isn’t light enough! Don’t worry if you add too many though, just add another pump of foundation to darken things up.

NYX Pro Foundation Mixer partially mixed with IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Foundation Full Coverage Moisturizer

I find it helpful to have a foundation that matches my skin nearby for comparison to ensure I get the desired shade just right. For me that’s Covergirl Outlast All Day Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation in Classic Ivory. As you can see, I think I got my mix spot on…hooray!

Mixed foundation that matches Covergirl Outlast All-Day Stay Fabulous Foundation

I wanted to mention there appear to be NYX Pro Foundation Mixers that allow you to darken foundations as well. I haven’t tried these personally, but if that’s something you need, I’d give them a try!

I’m happy to say, this doesn’t change the consistency or wearability of whatever foundation I’ve mixed it with so far. As we head from summer into fall, you may lose a bit of your tan, but no worries! Now you won’t waste that half-used bottle of too dark foundation waiting for the sun to come back. I hope this helps you get some use out of the products that aren’t the perfect shade for you!

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on these links or make a purchase using these links, I may receive a small percentage of the profit at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Hoots of a Night Al!

Continue Reading
1 2 3 43