Fall – Hoots of a Night Al

5 Amazing Lip Balms

November 2, 2016 2 Comments

Every fall and winter, temperatures drop, and we turn on our heaters. For me, that leads to dry, chapped lips. In case that’s you, too, here are five lip balms that never fail to moisturize my lips!

Chapstick Classic Spearmint

Chapstick has been around for years, and there’s a reason for that. This timeless classic has such a great formula that hydrates your lips without making them too slick or sticky. It also doesn’t make your lips look shiny at all for the days you’re feeling a totally natural look.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain

This balm has a dual-purpose as it provides both moisture and a beautiful color to your lips. My favorite colors in this line are Honey and Crush, but they have several gorgeous options. It’s great to wear when your lips need some hydration, but you want to rock a lipcolor as well!

eos Smooth Sphere Lip Balm

Have you ever wondered what “eos” stands for? evolution of smooth. How fun is that? I have always loved the packaging of eos lip balms; the unique shape makes them so easy to find when I’m digging around in my purse. Plus, their wide range of flavors is fun to explore. My favorite is Honeydew, but I love so many of them!

Neosporin Lip Health Overnight Renewal Therapy

I have been using this product every night for the last couple of years, and I love it. On the rare nights I forgot to apply it, I woke up with painfully dry lips in the morning. It soaks in throughout the night, and I wake up with moisturized, soft lips to take on the day!

Blistex Ultra-Rich Hydration

This is my favorite lip balm to apply for instant hydration and moisture. I love that it is scent and flavor-free for times when I don’t want either. The ingredients in the inner and outer cores combine to leave my lips feeling healthy and conditioned. Plus, it has the added benefit of SPF 15.

Did I leave out any of your favorite lip balms or remedies for chapped lips? Let me know!

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!

I was compensated for this post, but, as always, all opinions are my own.

Beauty

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Black Cherry

September 27, 2016 4 Comments

The temperatures are in the 70s and 80s this week, which means it’s FALL! Yes, it’s sad, but that’s about as much fall as we get in Texas. 😂 Regardless, I figured it was time to bust out this Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Black Cherry.

The color name is spot on; this shade is exactly the same as a black cherry. It’s a deep, rich plum, cherry color, as you can see above. It’s perfect for those embracing the berry trend this fall.

The formula is smooth and moisturizing and applied very easily. Apparently, this is formula Revlon has used for their lipsticks for over seventy years now, and I can see why!

This lipstick did apply slightly patchy, but once I went over my lips again, it evened out easily. I was really surprised with the pigmentation. When I swatched it on my hand it looked more sheer, but it definitely packs a punch on the lips.

Based on the pigmentation, I think this would really pop regardless of your skin tone. If you’re very fair-skinned like me, though, I can guarantee it will have an impact. 🙂

I was surprised how long-wearing this lipstick was, considering how moisturizing it felt. I wore it for at least 8 hours (including eating a delicious Chickfila sandwich), and I didn’t need to touch up once! It will definitely transfer, but if you’re careful while eating or drinking, it will last for hours.

I’ve started testing out darker colors for fall, and I feel like this one is the perfect balance of a deep, luxurious color, while still being bright and beautiful. The Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Black Cherry is perfect for someone wanting to go bolder without going darker.

I paired Black Cherry with tan and red eye makeup, and I think it would go wonderfully with any neutral makeup look. I can’t recommend this color or lipstick formula enough!

What other colors should I try out for fall?

Primer: Nivea Men Sensitive Post Shave Balm

Foundation: Maybelline Fit Me Matte and Poreless Foundation

Concealer: Maybelline Fit Me Concealer

Setting Powder: e.l.f. Studio HD Translucent Powder

Eyeliner: Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner in Onyx

Eyeshadow: Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trio in Velour Vixen

Eyeshadow Primer: Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo Metal in Barely Branded

Mascara: Covergirl Super Sizer Fibers Mascara

Blush: Wet n Wild Icon Blusher Pearlescent Pink

Highlighter: Wet n Wild MegaGlo Illuminating Palette

Bronzer: Physicans Formula Bronze Booster

Lipstick: Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Black Cherry

Beauty

wet n wild Matte Lipstick in Don’t Be a Plum Plum

September 15, 2016 5 Comments

WOAH. Today’s lipstick is a LOT darker than one I’ve ever worn! I recently purchased wet n wild’s new Color Icon Matte Lipstick in Don’t Be a Plum Plum. It’s part of their Limited Edition Fall 2016 Collection and is one of 3 shades available.

I also recently reviewed another one of these shades, How Fleek is Your Love. I bought both right when they came out, since they looked pretty in the tube. How Fleek is Your Love was a classic red, which I always love.

However, Don’t Be a Plum Plum was a color I’ve never tried before. In the tube it looked like a soft, deep plum color. Even on wet n wild’s website, it looks more cranberry. However, once applied, it looks a LOT darker! As I’m sure you can see.:)

The applicator is a doe foot wand, but it has a divot towards the top. This section gathers more product, which is convenient for application. Since this product dries quickly, it’s nice to have a lot of product available, so you can work fast!

This color is also patchy. I had to apply a few layers to get it relatively even, which made it clumpy in some sections. I think if I apply it quicker with more product at first, it will appear smoother. I may also try a balm and/or liner underneath.

Despite appearing patchy, it is still nicely pigmented. As I stated above, it appears much darker once applied, so keep that in mind if you’re admiring it.

Regardless of the name, Don’t Be a Plum Plum has a brown undertone to me. I would call it a deep, brownish maroon if I had to describe it….which…um, I guess I do. Since I’m writing this post and all.

Since I usually wear more traditional lipstick shades, I was a bit shocked when I applied this color. It has a very dark, almost vampy tone that I usually don’t gravitate towards.

That being said, I do think it’s a flattering shade! It made my teeth look whiter and complimented my fair skin tone. Since it is so pigmented though, I’m sure it would pop regardless of the wearer’s skin tone.

The wear time on this liquid lipstick is impressive as well. I had it on for hours, and it only started coming off when I ate dinner. Actually, it began flecking off so badly that I had to remove it before I finished eating. However, a napkin on its own didn’t do the trick! I had to use my e.l.f. lip color remover to get off every trace of it.

Aside from eating a full meal, Don’t Be a Plum Plum is totally transfer proof. I was able to drink, snack, and even kiss my husband without any lip color wearing off. Very impressive!

Will I start wearing this color every day? No. Should you? If you want to! It’s a fun color to have in your fall makeup selection if you want to add a touch of drama. And by a “touch,” I mean a slap in the face. This lipstick isn’t messing around.

I would recommend keeping your eye makeup light if you’re planning to wear this lipstick, so your lips can be the star of the show. It packs quite a punch on its own, and heavy makeup on your eyes as well may look overwhelming.

I also think this lipstick would be great for a gothic/vampy/witchy themed Halloween costume, so if you’re planning any of those looks, keep this shade in mind!

The entire wet n wild Fall 2016 Collection sells out almost immediately whenever its placed in stores, so if you see this shade and want it, snatch it up! After all, it’s only $2.99, and you can’t beat that!

What do you think? Can I pull off this crazy shade??

Primer: Nivea Men Sensitive Post Shave Balm

Foundation: Maybelline Fit Me Matte and Poreless Foundation

Concealer: Maybelline Fit Me Concealer

Setting Powder: e.l.f. Studio HD Translucent Powder

Eyeliner: Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner in Onyx

Eyeshadow: Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette

Eyeshadow Primer: Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo Metal in Barely Branded

Mascara: Covergirl Super Sizer Fibers Mascara

Blush: Wet n Wild Icon Blusher Pearlescent Pink

Highlighter: Wet n Wild MegaGlo Illuminating Palette

Bronzer: Physicans Formula Bronze Booster

Lipstick: wet n wild Color Icon Matte Liquid Lipstick in Don’t Be a Plum Plum

Monthly Favorites

15 Not-So-Scary Halloween Movies!

October 4, 2015 6 Comments

Happy October everyone! This month, my husband and I decided to make a list of movies to watch together for Halloween-time. The only catch was that I’m not a huge fan of scary movies. And by “not a huge fan,” I mean I won’t watch them under any circumstances. For that reason, we compiled a list of some “Not-So-Scary” Halloween movies to enjoy with each other! Below are 15 movies from our list that I wanted to share in case there are any scaredy-cats like me out there.

The Addams Family

Creepy, kooky, mysterious, spooky…you can’t go wrong spending a couple of hours with The Addams family.

Arachnophobia

Harry from Dumb & Dumber as a doctor trying save a town overrun with spiders…what could be better?

The ‘Burbs

This hilarious mystery involves Tom Hanks spying on his sketchy new neighbors with some eccentric sidekicks.

It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown

Charlie, Linus, Snoopy and the gang are together again to share some Halloween adventures in a timeless family classic! Corpse Bride

The unbeatable combination of Johnny Depp and Tim Burton means this stop-motion movie gets a little creepy, but it’s still full of fun. Dark Shadows

This remake shows Johnny Depp as an ancient vampire trying to restore his family and their estate to greatness. Young Frankenstein

“No, it’s pronounced ‘Fronkensteen.'” Ghostbusters (1 & 2)

These are some of the weirdest movies I’ve ever seen, and I mean that in the best way. Harry Potter (1-7)

Based on the greatest series ever written, all eight of these movies are perfect to watch any time of year.
Hocus Pocus

Witches, Salem, Halloween night, a black cat…the perfect combination for some not-so-scary entertainment.
Hotel Transylvania

A comedy with Adam Sandler that turns typically spooky monsters into friendly characters? My kind of Halloween movie. The Nightmare Before Christmas

A stellar soundtrack accompanies this quirky love story about pursuing your dreams. Shaun of the Dead

This gory horror-comedy is full of British humor and a few moments that made me jump. Toy Story of Terror!

Our favorite toys are back on an adventure that, as always, leads to them getting in a bind and relying on each other.

Casper

This heart-warming classic was a favorite in my VHS collection growing up, and it still is. Warning: It’s a tearjerker.

I hope this gives you a few alternative movie options to consider during the “month of horror!” I’m thankful Louis is willing to sacrifice watching typically scary movies to watch these with me! Let me know if you have any other Not-So-Scary Halloween movies to add to our growing list!

Food, Recipe

Simple Chicken Tortilla Soup

September 29, 2015 4 Comments

You know those recipes that remind you of home? The ones in cookbooks full of notes, scribbles, and handwritten additions? This soup is one of those recipes for me. It was always one of my favorite things my mom made during the fall and winter when I was growing up. When I got married, she passed her recipe on to me, so I could have a piece of home whenever I wanted. It’s relatively simple and super delicious, so I wanted to share it with all of you!

The “hardest” part of this recipe is all of the chopping. Seriously, everything has to be cut, sliced, diced, minced, chopped….you get it. Once everything is properly chopped, it’s simply a matter of combining it!

The fresh produce you need to cut includes: 2 large carrots, 1 large onion, 6 ribs of celery, 1 jalapeño (seeded…be careful! Don’t get the juice anywhere near your eyes!), and 4 garlic cloves. You also need to slice one pound of chicken into bite size pieces. Any of these ingredients can be adjusted to your liking.

It’s definitely easiest to measure out all of your ingredients before you start cooking the soup because it makes the process much smoother. Plus, if everything is prepared, you can pretend you’re on a cooking show where everything is neatly laid out just waiting to be grabbed and poured in the pot. I’m sorry though, this recipe doesn’t include a pre-made batch of soup sitting just offscreen. Or a hilarious onscreen persona.

First, heat 1/4 cup of oil and 3 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat. Add your chicken and cook until it is no longer pink. Once the chicken is almost fully cooked, add your carrots, onion, celery, jalapeño, and garlic, and sauté for around 5 minutes.

It should already be smelling pretty delicious at this point, but it’s time to add in some spices to take it over the top. Pour in (from your pre-measured bowl!) 1 teaspoon of each of the following: Lemon pepper, chili powder, salt, and cumin. (If you’re still pretending you’re on a cooking show, feel free to grab the spices with your fingers and toss them into the pot with a little flourish. No pressure, though.) Add 1/2 cup of flour as well. This will help thicken up the soup a little. Give everything a good stir to make sure the spices are distributed evenly.

Finally, stir in 42 ounces of chicken broth and 1 14.5 ounce can of petite diced tomatoes. Bring everything to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 1 hour.

After that hour, the scrumptious tortilla soup scent will have filled your house. Well…it fills up our 1-bedroom apartment, but at least the areas surrounding your kitchen should smell like soup? Regardless, get your preferred toppings ready. I love lots of shredded cheese with an abundance of tortilla chips to dip in my soup. My family fills their bowl with chips and pours the soup right on top. Feel free to make it your own! Live your life, you know? This recipe makes 6 to 8 servings depending on how ~~much of a pig~~ hungry you are.

Whip up a batch next time you’re craving some delicious, simple, homemade tortilla soup, and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!

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