Love and Lion

Archives for June 2014

# MyVegasStyle CHALLENGE

Happy Monday lovelies!! We have been dreaming of a vacay getaway…. like errday! Toddlers will do that to you, ya know? Anyway, when Vegas.com approached us about putting together several looks for a day at Aria Resort & Casino, we jumped at the chance. It is fun to dream a little, right?
One of my favorite places to go is Vegas! The last time we were in town, we enjoyed lunch at Aria, and fell in looooove with the property. How could you not? We promised ourselves that the next time we came back… we would stay there! One thing I love most about Vegas is that anything goes! I mean that in a fashion sense personally ( get your minds out of the gutter ladies). Leah and I love a good lounge at the pool, lunches that involve wine, aaaaaaand amazing dance parties. Here are 3 looks that you would catch us wearing if this dream of living it up in Vegas were to become reality.
swimsuit / kaftan / sunnies / flip flops / necklace / tote / hat / sunscreen
Comments: So in love with Seafolly kaftans!! Sunscreen is a MUST!
playsuit / cuff / watch / handbag / sandal / polish
Comments: In love with peach everything! White manis are summer perfection!
lipstick / heels / LBD / earrings / lashes / clutch
Comments: My husband loves the LBD look for when we go out at night, and I fell in LOVE with this piece because it is classy enough for dinner, but sexy enough for dancing at the club. I gotta add my little pop of color with a bright, summery clutch. Don’t forget your fake lashes…. seriously…. don’t forget em!
Hope you had fun daydreaming with us today!
XO!

CUSTOM CAMP TATTOOS FOR THE WHOLE CABIN

My sweet niece and nephew are at sleep away camp, and I wanted to send them something fun that they could share with their whole cabin. Can’t send food (which is always my first thought). Boo. I had just done tattoo favors for the construction birthday party we threw, so I thought… tattoos! For everyone! And wouldn’t it be cool if it said their cabin name? How would I accomplish that? I googled it. Turns out it can be done, it just takes a little time and effort. 
I did these “camo” style ones for my nephew Steven and pennant flags for Julia.  
Friendships are permanent, these tattoos are temporary. True.
Check out these BFF’s here- our little Love & Lion babies!
HERE is the paper I used. If you DON’T have time and effort, we’re selling them in our ETSY SHOP, and we’ll do all the work for you! Just let us know the color and cabin number, and we’ll package it up and send it right to your little camper. Most likely with a Harry Potter stamp because… ya know.
We’re going to be listing more our craftiness and some of our gently used party decor we’ve used over the years in our Etsy Shop soon… woohoo!!
Make your campers happy campers HERE!
-L
AND WHAT YOU’VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR…. 
The winner of our Solly Baby / Mama and Little Giveaway is……………………
Courtney Nestor!
Congrats, you lucky duck!! Email us at loveandlion@gmail.com to claim your stylish goodies! Thank you to everyone for entering! Thank you SO much for the time and effort you took and for your constant support in our little blog-venture! 

RYAN AND CHRISTY’S RUSTIC WEDDING : PART TWO

After the beautiful ( super emotional …. I am a crier) ceremony ended, we headed to the reception space. It was held in an absolutely gorgeous barn. Guests enjoyed a little cocktail hour which also included a nacho bar. The bride loves her nachos! Great way to keep those tummies full while they get their drink on, haha!  

There was a taco buffet set up on the bottom level of the barn. DEEEEELICIOUS, and so festive! 
I had so much fun doing these tables. I had two men ( wedding guests who offered to help set up that morning) channeling their inner florist. It was amazing, and I was so grateful! Christy wanted 3-4 brass candle sticks on each table and beautiful greenery intertwined throughout them. Super simple and elegant. We topped each table off with a few light pink and cream roses to accommodate their color story. I used live moss to add a little something extra to the bridal party/family tables. My favorite touch by far. I didn’t get a picture of it, but I also filled window boxes along the side of the barn with the moss as well. It is such an inexpensive way to make such an impact. So classy and so natural, which is exactly what we were going for.
Our sweet friend, Lori (aaaand her dear hubby), spent the ENTIRE morning assembling these napkins with a letters to their guests with cream ribbon. She worked her little heart out you guys!! These were placed on each place setting. Since the catering was done buffet style, Christy opted for these to make the impact of “plates” if you will. Such a beautiful letter written to share their hearts and express gratitude to their guests.
The dessert table was filled with mostly homemade goods and then some yummy treats from Whole Foods. The dessert table was devoured in no time!! We used custom made tree trunk cake stands, brass pieces and glass to make all of the treats look pretty.

Homemade cobbler and “strawberry shortcakes”….. oh my gawwwwwsh!

A friend of the couple made this stunning gluten – free cake for the big day! Look at those brass pinwheel cake toppers!!! Love! We simple wrapped the cake in live moss and a few roses.

While the reception was going on upstairs, guests were encouraged to come downstairs and take photos in the photo booth. The props were so fun, and you also were able to leave a video for the happy couple before your little photo session started. Then, the photo booth operator printed out photo strips for each guest….. one for them to keep, and the other to place into a book for the newlyweds.
These people can dance….. alllllll night long!
The lovely sparkler goodbye. Never gets old to me. Then, they rode off into the night on their motorcycle. (yes, I say “their” because it is no longer JUST Ryan’s bike, right?) hehe.
I am sorry, but I have to add some more photos (just because). You don’t mind, right?

Thanks for reading!! Ryan and Christy….. I was so honored to be a part of this day ( both as help and as a guest). You are both such special, giving, serving, genuine and loving people….. and oh so much fun! Wishing you all the happiness this world could possibly give you!
-J
You can see part ONE of Ryan and Christy’s wedding HERE
Photos by: Kristin Sweeting Photography

RYAN AND CHRISTY’S RUSTIC WEDDING

I am so excited to feature this wedding on the blog this week you guys!! I was asked to style the wedding of our dear friends back in April, and it was so much fun. Even if Ryan and Christy weren’t dear dear friends of mine and my husband’s, I STILL would have jumped at the chance because they are incredible people who also have great style already. They are just cool without trying, ya know? 
In talking to the newly engaged couple, they had very clear visions of what they wanted. My job was to just make it come to life. The ladies on Christy’s side of the family had lots of their own creative juices flowing, so I felt like I got to come in and just “touch up” and add to what was already beautiful. The term “rustic chic” is very overused, but that is what we were going for, haha! Lots of brass, peaches and creams, navy and other natural looking textiles. The most important thing to the couple was that they married in the middle of a “forrest”. They wanted nothing but trees and guests attending the ceremony. It was a genius idea, and made the entire ceremony so captivating.
 There are so many beautiful pictures to share, that I decided to break this feature up into two posts! So, I guess you will just have to check back tomorrow to see how this beautiful day unfolded. 
The couple decided to use Nashville postcards for people to write on as their guestbook. 
Christy (along with friends and fam) were on the hunt for months leading up to the wedding looking for brass containers and candlesticks ( which you will see more of tomorrow….eeeeek)!
We decided to use old cigar boxes that the groom had on hand to present the groomsmen with their ties and a pre-wedding cigar.
Isn’t that backdrop stunning? We think so!
Beautiful photos by: Kristin Sweeting Photography
See part TWO of Ryan and Christy’s wedding HERE

FINN’S CONSTRUCTION PARTY

There’s nothing we love more than throwing a party, and this time we were so excited to design a construction-themed party for sweet Finn’s second birthday. He (like so many little dudes) is obsessed with diggers and trucks, so naturally, his mom came up with a construction theme. We wanted to keep the look simple and modern like we do for our own parties, so we took out orange and kept the main colors kraft, black, and yellow.
To direct guests into the house, we set up a detour sign and lined the walkway with cones HERE. We bought a raw wood saw horse at Home Depot and painted the legs in black for that “dipped” look.
 Here’s the birthday boy, Finn! Isn’t he gorgeous? 
FOOD & DRINKS:
Because we peer pressured Finn’s parents to serve their guests alcohol at their kid’s party like WE do… 
a “Site Managers Only” sign was needed!
 The “road” backdrop in all of these shots is just black wrapping paper with yellow card stock lines stuck on with double stick tape.
FAVORS:
Teeny toy trucks HERE.
 We found these goofy tool tattoos at Hobby Lobby! A little stereotypical… but fun, right? 
Teeny treat bags HERE.
 Toddler crack bubbles from the dollar store.
Construction hats HERE.
Dirt Pops AKA jumbo marshmallows dipped in white chocolate candy melts, rolled in crushed graham crackers. SO GOOD you guys. You can display these bad boys in extra graham cracker crumbs.
Tip: dip the lollipop sticks in the candy melts FIRST, push that into the marshmallow and let dry- this will secure the marshmallow to the stick. Then you can dip the marshmallows in candy melts, shake off extra chocolate, and roll in the crumbs. You can keep these frozen for a week or so before the event.
We packaged the goodies up in THESE boxes and personalized them for each child.
FUN & GAMES:
 We made the photo booth by simply painting a flattened cardboard box!
 Photo booth props: We hot glued the paper props we made to dowels, vest HERE, hats HERE.
 Finn’s big sis, Annie.
Awwww yeah, every little boy’s fantasy, every parent’s nightmare. Finn’s parents are troopers! 
 The kids ate lunch picnic-style on tarps because… duh.
Happy Birthday, Finn! We had so much fun dreaming up your construction party and hope you got your fill of digging, dirt, and sweet treats!

GIVEAWAY! SOLLY BABY / MAMA & LITTLE (CLOSED)

We are constantly amazed by you, readers, for supporting us, reading every little post, following us on social media, liking, commenting, and just being totally sweet in general. To celebrate YOU….
It’s giveaway time again! Any mamas or soon-to-be mamas out there? Two of our FAV lifesavers / sanity savers are Solly Baby Wraps and Mama & Little teething jewelry. I personally could not get through the day without these products. 
Max wants to be held a lot and having a very busy 3-year-old doesn’t really allow me to do that all the time. Baby wearing is not only super convenient, but it’s also super important in establishing that bond between mama and baby. I’m not sure how I’d get anything done without wearing Max…dishes, laundry, dinner, the list goes on! Here’s what I love about SOLLY BABY: The wrap is light weight, so you can wear this running errands from store to store and just tuck baby in when you’re in need. It’s stylish and most importantly comfy for mom and baby. I also love that Solly Baby donates $1 of each wrap to Every Mother Counts. Read more about it HERE. Elle is now the mama of three and created the Solly Baby wrap out of need when she had her second child. Head on over to her instagram feed to see her gorgeous family and a whole army of Solly Baby fans! 
I am SO grateful to have found Mama and Little teething jewelry. It’s a (fashionable) life saver! I’ve had other teething jewelry before but the beads would always pull my hair out every time I moved or the baby pulled the necklace- OUCH! Also, the styles were not very exciting. Mama & Little jewelry is genius in that there’s a silk cord by the clasp so as not to pull your hair out. Also- have you ever seen those geo beads before on a teething necklace? So. Freaking. Rad. Max is teething (without even having a tooth yet), and he’s also very A.D.D. when drinking his bottle. The Teresa necklace is the perfect distraction for Max while I feed him. He loves to feel each bead and look at the bright colors. Also the perfect height to entertain him when wearing him! I layer it with my Olivia teething necklace because I’m matchy like that and Max just chomps on it- he really goes to town. He also loves my Deila necklace and it happens to go with everything. All of the jewelry is of course completely safe for your little. Read more about it HERE. Arleene created her line of teething jewelry for her sweet little son, Archer. Check out her instagram feed… super excited for her new styles and shapes coming out soon! 
Here’s my (not so little) Maxie!
I’m currently coveting all of the black and white pieces:
Want to own these ridiculously stylish and functional baby goodies?
TO ENTER:
1. Visit SOLLY BABY and MAMA & LITTLE and comment on this post what your favorite colors/products are from both sites. If you’re on your phone/ipad, you MUST be using the WEB version in order comment on our blog. For some reason Blogger doesn’t support comments on the mobile version! Just scroll down to the bottom of the home page and click “view web version”
2. Follow all three of us on instagram: @sollybabywrap, @mamaandlittle, @loveandlion if your account is private, please comment on our instagram (@loveandlion) that you did so.
Thassit!
GIVEAWAY DEETS:
*Winner will receive the Teresa Teething Necklace in Mermaid by Mama & Little AND 
one Solly Baby wrap in the color of your choice
*Contest ends Thursday June 26th at midnight PST
*Winner will be announced Friday, June 27 right here on the blog

Good luck, friends! Your life will be so much easier and way more stylish!

FASHION FRIDAY!

It’s Friday!!! Totally throwing my hands up in the air like I just don’t care…. and spilling my cocktail while doing so. Leah and I are wrapping up party details, and helping a sweet mama set up for her son’s special day on this lovely Friday evening. We can’t wait to share details on za bloog next week! We worked hard this week, and I think we are both ready for a little relaxation.
Anyway, I had my lovely husband shoot one of my favorite looks right now! He was able to come off of the road today for a couple of hours, so I showered, and did my hair (btw, when it is 95 degrees out, creating a bun is considered “doing your hair”)….. ya know… stuff you maybe DON’T do when your man is gone. No? Must be just Leah and I. I wanted to look nice for a lunch out with him and the little, so I went for the super comfy boyfriend jeans ($20 bucks!) and a new top I also picked up at Forever 21. I personally loved the idea of a black cami underneath the white. If you are bold, and want to go there….rock the black bra. Not this girl! I don’t want all of the old southern women staring me down at the local mexican restaurant.

I paired it with an old clutch and strappy wedges from last summer, but I am really loving this pair right now… drool! Also, I have been rocking my gold hoops almost everyday! They are super lightweight, and go with everything. I can’t find them online, but any pair would do. My go to Michael Kors watch is on repeat as well. I know everyone has these watches it seems, but I sure do love them! They don’t break the bank, and they are practical and stylish. Mine is not available anymore, but this one is stunning.
Still love love loving my bright pink lip (NARS in Schiap). I only do a super thin liner and mascara when I do the bold lip. I hate feeling too “overdone”
SIDENOTE: I read an article the other day about things you should give up at 27. It made me laugh, which I loved, but among those things was Forever21 and Urban Outfitters. I am sorry, but I just can’t. I seriously think you can shop ANYWHERE as long as you are picking out the right things for your body and lifestyle. 
Enjoy your weekend ladies!! We are so grateful for your readership and support…. can’t say it enough.
XO!

JENNI’S PINK POM POM BABY SHOWER

I’ve been waiting (impatiently) to share one of my favorite events… Jenni’s baby shower! Almost three years ago I co-hosted this charming fete for my bestie along with two incredible and important women in Jenni’s life, Lori and Amanda. Although it was a couple’s shower, we decided on a pink pom pom / chevron theme to match Amara’s nursery (scroll down to see) and just told the boys to get over it! Plus I guarantee 99% of the guys never noticed the girly theme when there was plenty of drinks, great food, and lots of late-night dancing going on! And Jenni and Gabe’s friends can DANCE, people. Actually the dance floor was my favorite area strung with tons and tons of pom poms!
The dessert table laden with all pink desserts and a garland of little tissue paper squares.
Gabe and Jenni! Youngin’s…
I found this pink box in the office section at Walmart!! and filled it with teeny treat bags full of Gabe’s favorite candies, Reeses Pieces. Gotta give the dad one thing, right?
Lori made the BEST oreo truffles…omg 
We wrapped the vases and tables with ribbon – simple!
Late night s’mores around the fire pit were the perfect way to end the night!
My favorite thing to make for baby showers- a diaper cake! To fit with the pom pom theme, I just made tiny ones and stuck them in with floral wire.
To give the cake an ombre look, use matching tissue paper and ribbon: two fuschia tiers, one light pink tier, and two white tiers. Normally I use Pamper Swaddlers diapers since they’re all white… but honestly I had these on hand and didn’t mind the touch of green.
More of our diaper cakes HERE and HERE.
We asked Jenni and Gabe’s parents to send us pictures of them when they were little for the centerpieces, so we could imagine what Amara will look like! (Spoiler: exactly like Gabe).
We even anchored some poms in the pool to carry the theme throughout the yard. Amanda’s home is stunning, right??
I made this chevron photo booth backdrop with just squares of pink and white tissue paper. Just layer the squares- no cutting! I used double stick tape on two large pieces of foam core and Lori’s insanely handy hubby hung them with fishing line. 
Photo booth props: empty barnwood frames from Hobby Lobby, and a baby bump pillow were favorites. We also left a blank scrap book out for guests to write their best advice and wishes!

Here’s the gorgeous Jenni in Amara’s nursery- the inspiration for the whole shower! She and Lori hand painted this wall! To see Amara’s white and modern big girl room, click HERE, though after all that hard work painting, I can’t believe Jenni switched the look!
The invite! Inspired by the pink chevron wall above. By Rock Paper Scissors.
What a joyful night! We celebrated the crap out of these two. Deserving people who created the most special little lady, Amara. Let’s do it again, Jenni! (She’s reading this going, noooo way!)
-L

FATHER’S DAY PARTY

Hey father lovers!! We are getting ready for a little mini Father’s Day grilling session at our house this weekend! We are having a few friends over, so of course I have to do a LITTLE decorating! I put together a little style board of all the things you need for a fabulous (but manly), low-key outdoor celebration. The best part is that most of these items are DIY or printable, which makes it all the easier on us mamas. Sometimes, even Leah and I like to take a break from “creating” and partake in a little printable fun….. thanks to our fellow creative bloggers.
flags / mixers / speaker / card / poster / plates – Target dollar section / liners (also a gingham pattern in Target dollar section) / wrap / labels / banner
We sure are grateful for our baby daddies! Whoever it is that you celebrate on this day….. celebrate him well.

FAV SUMMER SUNNIES: WARBY PARKER

Every summer, we obsess over finding the PERFECT sunglasses- that’s our go-to accessory for summer! Even if we’re wearing basic shorts and a t, our sunnies can totally glam up the look and make us feel put together. This year, we have our eye on Warby Parker’s new collab with Karlie Kloss. Feminine, flirty, understated glam, and we’re pretty sure we’ll look a lot more like Karlie Kloss too, right?
Here’s the best part: with every shade purchased, a pair is donated to someone in need. Karlie has partnered up with her fav charity, Edible Schoolyard NYC. They provide low-income public schools with kitchens and gardens, and students, through a hands-on curriculum led by Edible Schoolyard staff, learn the tools to develop lifelong healthy habits. The donation will benefit two community farm stands in Brooklyn and East Harlem, where kids learn about food preparation in their own neighborhoods. 
 Here’s our fav: The Clara in heirloom gold and copper fade lenses. DROOL. You guys know we’re suckers for gold. We love that The Clara will go from the pool to late afternoon cocktails with it’s elegant color and silhouette. The Clara would look gorgeous on any skin tone!

The Julia

The Marple
If you can’t decide on which one will be your summer staple, did you know you can actually have five styles shipped to you for free to try on? I know, right?! So smart. Learn more HERE. 
We styled our favorite pair (The Clara in gold). This is what we would be wearing with the effortlessly stylish design. We are SO in love!!! Anybody else have these on their summer shopping list?
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 
See all of Warby Parker’s stylish sunnies right HERE! Which one is your fav?

COZY CORNER FOR NOA

My friend, Amy, is having her second child soon (yippee!) and wanted to create a special space for her older daughter, Noa, since the baby will now have Noa’s rocking chair. 
Here are some ideas for a cozy corner perfect for reading and dreaming. 
TENT 1 / 2 / 3
COMFIES 1 / 2 / 3 / 4
FRIENDS 1 / 2 / 3 / 4
PILLOWS 1 / 2 / 3
MAKE IT PRETTY 1 / 2 / 3
READ AND EXPLORE 1 / 2 / 3
GOOD READS 1 / 2 / 3
We love doing inspiration boards- let us know if you have an idea for us!
-L

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