Hoots of a Night Al

100.

October 19, 2014 8 Comments

100 posts I’ve written here,
Of things that interest me.
100 different posts to read,
And more pictures to see.

The topics that I wrote about,
Have ranged both far and wide.
From city to city and state to state,
It has been quite a ride.

My Beauty Blurbs contain reviews
Of makeup products tried.
I love to share things that I loved!
(Lack of makeup skills aside…)

Sometimes I write of Disney,
My favorite place to be.
The parks, the shows, the rides and food,
Things are better shaped like Mickey.

Occasionally I cook a bit,
Though the kitchen’s not my domain.
I’ve shared a couple of recipes,
Easy enough they didn’t drive me insane.

Here and there I travel around,
Louis is always there, too.
Whether it’s close to home or far away,
I try to share it with you!

Hoots of a Night Al has been fun,
Thank you kindly for reading each post!
I’m very happy to have you around,
I hope I’m an adequate host!

I have some exciting things coming up,
That I can’t wait to share.
Come back soon to read more posts,
Until then, please take care!

See you soon!

Food, Married Life, Recipe, San Antonio, Travel

Night Al Migrations: Black’s Barbecue

September 16, 2014 3 Comments

Hi y’all! Sorry I’ve been MIA for a bit! I started a new job, so that has definitely taken away my blogging time! I’m back today to talk about a mini road trip Louis and I took last week to Black’s Barbecue in Lockhart, Texas. It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon, so we hopped in my Sunfire and drove up, get this, PICKLE PARKWAY. That was the name of the toll road we took! How cute is that? It has the fastest posted speed limit in the United States…85 miles per hour!

We enjoyed the quick drive and wound up in quaint, downtown Lockhart. If we ever make another trip out, I’d love to spend an entire day there. They have antique shops, gift shops, and three other popular barbecue joints. Maybe we can make it back one day to do a “barbecue crawl?” Sort of like a pub crawl, but more our style, since we don’t drink? I’ll add it to our “To Do” list. 😉

When we drove up, there was a line extending at least 20 people out the door! We were starving, but we figured the long line was a good sign. We only waited about 30 minutes, and it was SO worth it.

Once you get inside, the sides are served up cafeteria style and the meats are sliced as you request them. They had all sorts of sides including pinto beans, mac ‘n cheese, deviled eggs, and more, but I just couldn’t resist the green beans. I mean seriously, look at my plate. Our cashier looked at me like I was crazy, but they’re my fave veggie! Get off my back, man.

After waiting in line for so long, we didn’t want to miss out on trying anything, so we got a sliced turkey sandwich, an original sausage link, and a half pound of lean brisket. Oh, and a million green beans (but still not enough for me. Never enough.). The brisket was FOR SURE the best thing we tried. It was so moist and juicy that it didn’t even need barbecue sauce! I loved the sliced turkey sandwich, and (obvi) the green beans were probably my fave part of the meal. Who drives an hour for barbecue and fills up on green beans?? This girl. The sausage was just meh.

Overall, our meal was completely delicious, and we agreed it was totally worth the trip and the wait outside in the Texas heat! If you still need more proof that this is a quality establishment, check out this picture below of the owners…

They’re Aggies! No wonder the food is so delicious!! 🙂 The entire restaurant was filled with memorabilia gathered over the years including countless family memories. Black’s Barbecue is the oldest continuously family-owned barbecue joint in Texas (since 1932!), so it was great to see their family history represented throughout the establishment. It’s nothing fancy, but it serves its purpose by providing tons of checkered tablecloth covered tables for people to sit together and enjoy some delicious Texas barbecue (and green beans, of course).

We loved our mini trip our to Lockhart, and we can’t wait for our next trip out to Black’s Barbecue! Let me know if you’ve ever tried it, or if you know of any other Texas barbecue spots we need to try!

Beauty

Beauty Blurbs: Maybelline Master Precise Ink Pen Eyeliner

July 16, 2014 2 Comments

Hi y’all. You know Maybelline has been knockin’ it outta the park for me lately, so I picked up their Maybelline Master Precise Ink Pen Eyeliner in black awhile ago. I’ve never been the best with liquid eyeliner, so I was hoping in pen form I may have more control and not end up looking like Kesha. Each time I try the winged liner look, my lack of control means I just keep going and going and adding and adding until I’ve got this look going on.

If that’s your goal, more power to ya. It’s not mine. Anyway, the Maybelline Master Precise eyeliner has a super fine tip that allows for thinner and more accurate application.

The black is super rich, and it applies so easily. I have so much control that I think if I was artistic, I could recreate a miniature Mona Lisa on my eyelids. I mean that would be so weird, but you get it. Lots of control.

It glides on very smooth and doesn’t snag on my eyelid at all. The eyeliner stays on all day long regardless of the heat or humidity. I haven’t experienced any smearing or irritation each time I’ve used it. Also, apparently I refuse to properly shape or groom my eyebrows, so y’all can just deal with that in these close-up eyeball pictures. I’m very pleased that the eyeliner hasn’t started to dry out at all, as well. I was worried with the marker-like tip it would dry out quickly, but I haven’t had any issues.

I’m so happy I purchased Maybelline’s Master Precise Ink Pen Eyeliner, and I can’t wait to try a winged line soon! Maybe I’ll wait until Halloween though in case I do end up looking Kesha-like. Then I can just throw on a leotard and some body glitter, and I’ll be on my way!

Anyway, buy it, love it, let me know what you think!

Food, Recipe

Homemade Pizza in Less Than 1 Hour!

July 15, 2014 7 Comments

Hey y’all! This easy homemade pizza has quickly become a favorite in our home. A few weeks ago, Louis and I got ingredients to make a pizza together, and it turned out so tasty we’ve made one once a week since then!

Here are the ingredients we use:

1 pack Weisenberger Pizza Crust Mix

1 jar Mezzetta Authentic Pizza Sauce

HEB Cheese – Pizza Blend

Hormel Original Uncured Pepperonis

Feel free to add any other toppings you enjoy on your pizza! Duh. The Weisenberger Pizza Crust Mix is awesome because it gives you a homemade pizza taste without having to make it totally from scratch and wait around all day for the dough to rise. You simply add hot water and let it rise for at least five minutes (we usually give it around 30 minutes). The Mezzetta pizza sauce was recommended by my parents, and it is YUM-O. One jar lasts for about three pizzas, and I even dip my pizza in it because I love the taste so much! I think these two ingredients are really what make this pizza so delicious. Feel free to branch out on the cheese and toppings as your little heart desires, but don’t say I didn’t warn you if you stray from Weisenberger and Mezzetta and your pizza tastes like Italian turds.

Another optional ingredient is a handsome sous chef. (To help in the kitchen obvi…not to chop up for your ‘za.)

Follow the ingredients on the Weisenberger pizza crust mix by adding 1/2 cup of hot water to your mix and stirring it up. Then, cover it in a little oil and form it into a ball. I cover my mixing bowl with a kitchen towel and set it outside to let it rise in the miserable Texas heat.

Once your dough has risen, spread it out into a circle (or a different shape if you’re feeling jazzy) on your greased pizza pan and add your selected ingredients. I also usually add some melted butter and garlic powder to the crust because we are oh-so fancy. Set your oven to 500 degrees, and bake your pizza for 10 minutes.

Just like that you’ve got a fresh, yummy homemade pizza! This pizza is the perfect size for Louis and I to split. If you’re cooking for more than two, then um…buy more ingredients, obviously.

From prep to plate this pizza takes less than an hour to make, so it’s perfect when you’re craving homemade pizza but don’t have all day to wait for the dough to rise! Hope you enjoy this simple, homemade pizza soon!

Beauty

Beauty Blurbs: Physicians Formula Bronze Booster

July 9, 2014 10 Comments

It’s summer, which means tan, tan tan! If you aren’t blessed with naturally tan skin and you’re wise enough to protect your skin from the sun it means bronzer, bronzer, bronzer. I am naturally super pale (verging on blue), so I totally understand the necessity of bronzer to warm up my skin. My newest favorite bronzer is Physicians Formula Bronze Booster.

I bought the shade Medium to Dark because I was worried the Fair shade wouldn’t give me enough color. This drugstore bronzer is mostly matte with just a hint of shimmer. I like that it isn’t 100% matte like my NYX Matte Bronzer because that one is so easy to get heavy-handed with and look streaky.

The medium to dark shade worked great even though I’m so fair. I wear MAC foundations in NW20 and drugstore foundations in Buff Beige for comparison. This bronzer blends out really well, so it works great for contouring, also (if you’re into that sort of fancy schmancy makeup application…I’m still nervous to delve into it!). I mostly just use it sparingly in the hollows of my cheeks, my jawline and neck, and some on my forehead.

I think it gives the perfect amount of bronzed color without appearing too orangey, which is always a struggle for me with bronzer. Another plus is that Physicians Formula Bronzer Booster comes with both a safety seal and packaged in a box. I love this because it helps guarantee that no one has been swiping their fingers through your bronzer before you ever get it home.

At around $15, it’s a little pricier than other drugstore bronzers, but I think it’s worth it. The color and formula are great, and it’s a perfect summer staple! Hope you like it too if you give it a try!

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