love and lion

February 20, 2017

It has only taken me 3 months to gather a list of my favorites for baby #3. It truly has taken me all of that time to get my bearings and feel like walking out of my house. Being home and staying in our jammies most days has become all too normal. I am certain that the people that work at our local Target are like, “does that woman EVER shower?” Yes!… I do… once a week. 😉

New baby products are constantly flooding the mama market, and even as close as my second and third children are, there were STILL new things that either I was wanting to try or things that were recommended by other moms. Enough new things for me to go on an amazon.com spending spree! You should really consider creating a registry on there (even if you don’t have a shower), because you get 15% off of eligible products for a one time purchase towards the end of your pregnancy. It saves a lot if you have a cart full, ya know?

Okay! So most of these things are self explanatory, but I do want to touch on a couple of products that I feel like are worth the extra shout-out.

We love everything about these Wash With Water bath products! They smell great, and are super safe for baby skin….even if they have super sensitive skin conditions. A+

We are kind of in love with everything in the “cute” column. I can’t get over the bright colors and designs of the Little Standout teethers! The original milestone cards make it super easy for us mamas to keep track of our baby’s growth and milestones. Does anybody else forget? I always miss their monthly photos!!! These glow in the dark pacifiers are a LIFE SAVER!!!! If your baby takes a paci, then these are a must. You will no longer be digging around in the middle of the night for the pacifier that fell on the floor or got lost in the bed sheets. Hallelujah! Although, we did not have a girl, I still took these little bows to the hospital with me (we were being surprised with the gender) just incase everyone was wrong and we were having a girl! 😉 They are so beautiful you guys!! Little Poppy Co offers a monthly subscription for their bows, and that would make such an amazing little baby shower gift!

Mama needs some stuff too, right? Diaper bag – obsessed!! Best one I have owned… hands down. I tried the New Mama bottom spray for the first time because what the hospital send you home with seems a bit harsh and I wanted something natural. I loved it, and highly recommend. I have tried several different nipple creams also, and this one is by far my favorite! It just does the job right! I apply religiously and it makes all the difference when you are trying to adjust to breastfeeding in the beginning. These maternity leggings were worn every day for the first couple of weeks haha. So comfortable! They hold their shape, don’t fade, and are totally worth the splurge.

We have loved our washable rug! It makes it great to just lay baby down and let the other kids lay down and smother him with kisses and baby talk. Where have washable rugs been all of my life? The little play gym is the sweeeeetest!! So pretty, organic, and well constructed.

Okay, this breastfeeding system changed my life!! I use it with my Medela pump, but it allows our dishwasher to be bottle FREE!!! That cuts down so much time and work for me. I saw a friend using it, and decided to give it a try, and I will sing its praises until something better comes along. I love the idea of a shopping cart hammock (especially if you have other kids). It always makes me so nervous to see moms put car seats in the front of a cart. So unsafe!! This hammock allows for maximum shopping space and allows another kid to be in the cart if needed. Lastly, I am a pretty big lover of the Solly Baby Wrap, however, I feel like it takes a long time for me to get it all wrapped and ready for baby. Maybe it is just me. The sakura is the wrap I choose if I need to be in and out pretty quickly, and baby boy is not having the car seat. It is just easy to get on and get the baby settled in.

Sorry for the lengthy post friends, but I wanted to share my every thought about the things that are helping me get back on track and adjust to being a mommy of 3. I hope this helps you if you are still staying up late reading 1k+ reviews of baby products on amazon like I know I did and Leah is doing right now.

xo!

-J

February 11, 2017

POKÉMON VALENTINES – FREE PRINTABLE

Anyone else’s kiddo obsessed with the app Pokémon Go and collecting the cards? It’s ALL my son, Ari talks about. Valentine’s Day is 3 days away, so obviously he needs Pokémon Valentines for his class. OMG. Hope this helps you last minute parents out too! Scroll down for the download.

Now go CATCH those Pokémon! Get it?

1. DOWNLOAD CARDS HERE

2. CUTTING BOARD: THIS is our fav

3. PURCHASE POKÉMON CARDS HERE

4. Attach cards with WASHI TAPE, or you could tie a small pack on the card

-L

For more free printables, click the links below!

1. JT/Jimmy Fallon

2. Gilmore Girls

3. Nose Pencil Sharpener

February 4, 2017

I LOVE THE **** OUT OF YOU – FREE PRINTABLE

A little somethin’ somethin’ for your GALentines!

1. DOWNLOAD FREE PRINTABLE HERE

2. CARD STOCK: THIS one prints with super bright colors!

3. CUTTING BOARD: THIS is our fav and the easiest to use

4. EMOJI PIN HERE

or you could use other poop emoji items! THIS one is super cute too!

Simply push the pin through the card and gift all your girlies!

For more free printables, click the links below!

1. JT/Jimmy Fallon

2. Gilmore Girls

3. Nose Pencil Sharpener

January 27, 2017

DONUT CARDS – FREE PRINTABLES

There is very little we love above donuts. Family I guess? A handful of friends? Show your close inner circle how much you love them with these free valentine’s day cards!

Download I love you almost card HERE

Download Things I Love card HERE

These gorgeous and insanely delicious donuts from Five Daughters Bakery!

January 18, 2017

VALENTINE EMOJI BRACELETS – FREE PRINTABLE

If your kids are like us (basically kids ourselves) they communicate in emojis! Here is a new class valentine free printable for the emoji obsessed. My son, Ari, is handing these bracelets out to his class this year!

The bracelet link below is for slap bracelets AND emoji bracelets. If you get the multi pack like I did, you’ll use the download “SLAP HAPPY” for the slap bracelets in the pack and the download “ALL THE FEELS” for the other emoji bracelets. You could do all one or the other if you wanted!

Download Valentine cards HERE (SLAP HAPPY) and HERE (ALL THE FEELS)

Purchase 24 bracelet multi pack HERE

Purchase 12 slap bracelets HERE

Use our favorite and super easy cutting board HERE

Tape bracelets on with black and white washi tape HERE

Download our other class Valentine’s Day designs below by clicking on the titles:

1. JT/Jimmy Fallon

2. Gilmore Girls

3. Nose Pencil Sharpener

January 13, 2017

VALENTINES – FREE PRINTABLES

Here’s a cheat sheet of all of our FREE printables for Valentine’s Day! Click the links below to be directed to the download and links to purchase toys. Be that parent. Do it.

1. JT/Jimmy Fallon

2. Gilmore Girls

3. Nose Pencil Sharpener

November 4, 2016

GIFT GUIDE – UNCOMMON GOODS

Here are a few of our favorite things!

Uncommon Goods literally has something for everyone. Helloooo taco mobile. Anyone having a baby? Can we please get you a whole taco themed gift? Personally obsessed with the light box, and my kids are obsessed with the ice cream truck! Our friends, Haulin’ Oats have their amazing oatmeal on here- and we can testify that the cinnamon girl flavor is to die for!

The best part about Uncommon Goods is that they promote small businesses, emerging designers, and hand makers. Each item has a story behind it and a bio of the artist. As makers ourselves, we SO appreciate that! They also keep sustainability in mind- helping the earth and helping us gift beautiful, handmade items? Yes please.

Scroll down for links.

Love that the ice cream truck is made out of very easily put together cardboard, so it can be disassembled easily when your kids are finished playing. Great for small spaces.

As a blogger/instagrammer, the light boxes are perfect props for styling photos! And we’ve been using this as our shop sign when we do markets.

Here are our favs below, but also check out these easy to shop gift guide links:

BABY

finger puppet blanket

KIDS

balloon dog night lights

ice cream truck

make your own kaleidoscope

FOR HER

wine pearls

taco socks

nesting storage containers

haulin’ oats oatmeal

lightbox

party sprinkles

FOR HIM

bloody mary mix

men’s wooden watch

moscow mule carry on kit

October 28, 2016

ALL DIY HALLOWEEN COSTUMES FOR LITTLES!

Thought we’d put all of our DIY Halloween costumes for littles in one place!

Click the names below for the links. Happy Halloween!!

1. Luke Danes, Gilmore Girls

2. Sadness, Inside Out

3. Dustin, Stranger Things

4. Beanie Boo

5. Harry Potter

6. AC Slater, Saved By The Bell

7. Tinker Bell

8. Marty McFly, Back to the Future

9. Hashtag the Panda, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon

October 21, 2016

DIY HALLOWEEN FOR LITTLES – LUKE DANES, GILMORE GIRLS

Okay y’all, this one is purely for my own enjoyment. Baby Luke Danes.

This was just all pulled from Max’s closet and a Little Tikes kitchen set! NO CELL PHONES!

ALL YOU NEED:

Blue baseball cap, backwards

Plaid shirt. Literally any color- Luke wears a different plaid every single day.

Grey undershirt

Jeans

Coffee pot

Lovable scowl

Gilmore Girls fans rejoice! Only a couple more weeks until the revival!

Oy with the poodles already!

-L

MORE HALLOWEEN COSTUMES…

Lots of ideas HERE

October 19, 2016

DIY HALLOWEEN – ELEVEN’S EGGO WAFFLE PURSE, STRANGER THINGS

Who’s dressing up as Eleven for Halloween? Well you’ll need an Eggo waffle purse to complete the look. Obviously.

This purse actually works!! You can open and close it- probably just put the essentials in there since it’s not too sturdy. It’s easy to make and will be the talk of your party! Don’t forget the bloody nose.

WHAT YOU NEED:

– 2 empty Eggo waffle boxes

– scissors / exacto knife

– hole punch

– double stick tape

– clear packing tape

– purse chain

– velcro attachement

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. eat all the waffles.

2. using double stick tape, secure the side of the box that you opened to get the waffles out.

3. cut the top off of the first box. You can leave a little border around it but you don’t need to.

4. cut all of the sides off of the second box. Keep the sides to reinforce the purse even more.

5. you have 4 flaps now. Line the insides of the BOTTOM and BACK flaps only with double stick tape. Make sure to leave the top two flaps without tape since that’s where the purse will open. I made that mistake if you can’t tell by the torn cardboard!

6. stick the second box to the first using the tape. Bottom to bottom, back to back. Again the top two flaps should remain tape-free.

7. reinforce the flap of the second box to the first box with clear packing tape. For extra security and some shine, you can line the whole inside flap with tape.

8. For the chain…since your hole punch probably isn’t strong enough to punch a hole through three layers, you’ll need to go one layer at a time. Punch a hole on each side of the box about an inch down from the top. Depending on size of the chain attachments, you may have to make a couple slits on either side of the hole like I did, but you can’t really see it. Using double stick tape, attach the extra sides from the second box on top of the first box sides to make it sturdier. Line up your hole punch and punch a hole through the new side. Put clear packing tape on the inside of the box sides and punch a hole through that. Now you should have three layers (two box layers and one tape layer) all lined up.

9. Now you can thread your purse chain through and attach it to itself. You can adjust the chain strap at this point. Link to purchase the chain strap is below. This one is actually from clutch I own!

10. reinforce any or all sides on the inside of the box with clear tape if you want it to be really sturdy.

11. attach the velcro to the opening.

12. be the chicest Eleven at your Halloween party!

Please tag us on instagram @loveandlion in your costume photos!! We would love to see what you come up with!

October 12, 2016

DIY HALLOWEEN COSTUME FOR LITTLES – DUSTIN, STRANGER THINGS

Dustin, the most endearing character on Stranger Things!! As soon as he came on the screen I was like… bam. Halloween costume. If I had a girl you KNOW she would have been dressed up as Barb. Ummm anyone have a baby I can borrow?

My almost 3 year old, Max, kind of exudes Dustin’s personality. Silly, funny even when he doesn’t mean to be, totally into farts and chocolate pudding and thinking both are awesome… plus the curly hair! If only I had let it grow longer the past couple months! But hey, can’t plan everything.

Everything is linked at the bottom, but the key pieces here are the hat and shirt.

HAT

The hat is from Sweetgrly Designs and actually comes with the A.V. Club button! How nice is that? Love this Etsy shop! Lots of Stranger Things buttons, 70’s/80’s/90’s trading cards. She sent me a Back-to-the-Future card which I obviously love (see Ari’s Marty McFly costume here). Just tons of retro fun! The hat is adult size but fits Max just fine on the tightest setting.

SHIRT

The shirt is from Tattaaboo, retro clothing for all ages! They shipped super fast, so plenty of time for your Halloween costume. They come in adult sizes in case you want to adapt this for yourself!

I couldn’t find the exact jacket, so I layered a plaid shirt on top of this JACKET which is on sale now! I think any pants and sneaks would work. The tooth paint was the best part hahahaha! I’m still giggling about how it turned out, and I can’t believe it, but Max totally laid still while I painted it on there. It just brushes right off when you’re done. Add a backpack and flashlight, and you’re all set! Now to teach him some of Dustin’s famous quotes….

“She’s our friend, and she’s crazy!”

“Mike! I found the chocolate pudding!”

“Why are you keeping this curiosity door locked?”

“I told you a million times, my teeth are coming in. It’s called cleidocranial dysplasia.”

PS….Truth be told, Max will be trick-or-treating as a Ninja Turtle 🙂

LINKS:

HAT & PIN

HAWKINS MIDDLE SCHOOL TEE SHIRT

JACKET

PLAID SHIRT (similar)

TOOTH PAINT

More Halloween costumes for littles HERE and HERE

-L

October 5, 2016

DIY HALLOWEEN COSTUME FOR LITTLES – BEANIE BOO

My kid has a ::small:: obsession with Beanie Boos. Anyone else get asked EVERYWHERE they go to buy one? Because they’re literally everywhere. At Walgreens, at the craft store, at book stores, gah! Those glittery gigantic eyes follow me everywhere! No really, they’re pretty freaking cute, and I must admit I get into when their birthdays are etc. Okay! Okay! He sold me on them!

Naturally his Halloween costume would have to be a Beanie Boo. There are very few animal onesie costumes that don’t already have a face or eyes on them. This lion costume is from Party City- it’s actually the Cowardly Lion from Wizard of Oz with the badge snipped off. So that part was easy.

Scroll down for the tutorial, free printable, and links to purchase supplies!