love & lion

DIY CONFETTI PACK AND THE PERFECT PARTY FAVOR!

We are doing a little NYE project over here to get ready for the festivities tonight! What is a NYE celebration without some confetti? I put together mini confetti packs and taped them to card stock that I printed little phrases on with my ol’ epson printer. Haha! Super easy project, and so fun to hand out to any party guests, host/hostess, or just keep in your bag for your own mini celebration when the clock strikes midnight.
Confetti can be made out of ANYTHING (that doesn’t give you a head injury). I used a lot of leftover materials from Christmas like metallic chip board letters, twine that I shredded, striped straws, gold ribbon, teal and white card stock, and aqua and pink crepe paper. Have fun with it!
This “kiss me under the confetti” card is my favorite! Lucky me, I get two kisses tonight! 😉

Just look at that confetti goodness… sigh…
 Champagne is definitely my drink of choice for a night such as this, but my husband prefers White Russians. Champagne is not always the manliest drink, so I get it. I put together a hostess gift for the couple hosting us tonight. I collected some mini shakers from the Target dollar section along with some chalkboard tags they had. Then, I added the mini drinks with a striped straw. It would also just make a great party favor for any party. You could even buy these items in a normal size and gift it. Confetti and cocktails….yes, please!!
I tied a chalkboard tag onto the mini shaker that read “Just add cream….Cheers!”

Cheers!! Please have a happy and SAFE New Year friends!! Have some of that responsible kind of fun!! 
{cue noise makers now}
-J

NYE AT HOME….WITH THE LITTLES

If you are planning on staying home this NYE, and maybe even have little ones join in the festivities, here are some fun goodies to make the most of your night in. 
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1 Lounge in style in this fabulous thermal set! They will still look great with a red lip 😉
2 We love Knot & Bow!!! They have a new metallic and white confetti bomb that will serve as a little party in your vacuum on New Years Day!
3 We weren’t on the up and up in time to order these, but personalized pjs for your kids?!?! LOVE!!
4 Confetti socks! Enough said.
5 It’s not a party without a noise maker, right? The prettiness of these outweigh the loud noise.
6 Let your littles get their drink on with a sparkling apple juice in a can. Add a festive straw for fun!
7 We are all about wearing some sort of NYE/2014 Head gear. This cute headband is an Etsy find.
8 Canned champs ladies!! Pop, Fizz, Clink Tsssss???
9 Photo props! A must at every party.
10 Confetti with color for your littles to make a giant mess with! yay!!!

NEW YEARS NEUTRALS

Hey friends!! Hope you are all recovering from the holidays nicely. Our tree is finally down, however, the pine needles allllll over my floor are another story. I decided to do a style board for you guys rather than vacuum. You are welcome! NYE is just around the corner, and its time to bring anything and everything that sparkles out of your ( or your friend’s) closet. I honestly have not been out on NYE since the year 2010/2011. I was pregnant with my daughter, Amara, and didn’t even know it yet! Let’s not talk about how many cocktails I had that night. 
Moving on….. New Years looks little different with the littles in the picture. We have just been at home the last couple of years ( happily), but this year, we are going to a friend’s house to celebrate! They are both stylists and one is additionally a chef. It will be a stylish night with great food! I. CAN’T. WAIT. Kids are tagging along, but it was requested that we dress up! Here is a look I am loving for this year.   Neutral with a little sparkle! It is typically hard to splurge on items to wear just for one night, but when you buy things you love that are classic mainstays, then it is not a waste of money. 
What are your plans for NYE? We would love to celebrate with you via Instagram that night. Be sure and follow us!
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1 This French Connection dress is so stunning! Classic, but the way it swings is so sexy! 
2 Bauble Bar will never let a girl down. PLEASE mix those metallics. The subtle gold on this bracelet   would be gorgeous against the silver.
3 The perfect nude color. 
4 Since the dress isn’t extremely form fitting and kind of loose, a dainty, strappy sandal is a must to add that feminine touch
5 My go to nail color. For those of you who are “afraid” of black nail polish…GREAT NEWS! Its really really really dark purple! 🙂
6 I have used these lashes while doing make-up for brides. They are so subtle and natural looking, but still offer that glam factor. Gotta wear lashes on nights such as this.
7 Lodis clutch to keep your necessities. Love that it is leather!
-J

CONFETTI-FILLED LIGHT BULB GARLAND

Hey friends! We apologize for the late start to our week. Holiday travels and sick babies have kept us mamas busy! Christmas day is approaching, parties are still being thrown, and decorating is still taking place. If you are anything like me, the decorating never stops!! I just wanted to share a simple tutorial for the confetti filled light bulb garland I made for our wrap party last week. I love it so much, and I am definitely keeping it around for next year!
^ What you will need: yarn or twine, gold spray paint, clear light bulb ornament (purchased at Joann’s Fabrics) and crepe paper (festive colors a must!) ^
^ Remove top of ornament and begin spray painting. Allow time to dry, and then spray the opposite side. I began working on the steps below in between drying times. ^
^ Cut crepe paper into small strips. I cut roughly 10 strips of each color per ornament. ^
^ Then, cut those strips into small squares. ^

^ Begin filling the bulb ornament with the confetti. I only wanted to fill mine about a quarter of the way. ^
^ String those lights!! Space your bulbs out to your liking, and tie a small knot to hold each one in place. ^

-J

THAT’S A WRAP! [PART 2]


As if receiving a gift from someone isn’t enough to make you feel special already, we think that it takes it over the top when its wrapped with love. Just knowing that someone really took some time to add a decorative ornament, layer some ribbon to make the perfect bow, or even just writing your name out really beautifully makes it feel that much more special to receive. 
We absolutely believe that what is inside the box is made even better by the wrapping. We have some pretty creative friends, and it’s always fun around the holidays to give and receive each other’s gifts! Here are some packages that got a holiday makeover during our wrap party. Believe it or not, postal wrap and baker’s twine go a long way!! So simple, but it looks so stunning. Most of the ribbon we used was found in the Target dollar section, along with some metallic markers and ornament embellishments. We also purchased some clear ornaments to fill with glitter, jewels and snow. They would look awesome filled with confetti too. OBVIOUSLY! Ha! 
We had so much fun, and highly encourage you to get together with some friends or just members of your family and wrap together! Turn on some holiday tunes and sip some hot chocolate (after your champagne) and make some super special memories.

Confetti-filled ornaments, glitter glue, and simple kraft paper makes these gifts pop!
Love this “A” wrap by Rock Paper Scissors!

We topped off this Haute Papier wrap with an ornament filled with glitter and jewels.


Simple washi tape bunting banner- cut triangles and stick onto twine.

Glue jewels to Rudolph’s nose!

A washi tape mosaic!
Happy wrapping!

THAT’S A WRAP! [PART 1]

It is nearly impossible to make it through December without hosting or attending a holiday party of some kind. We decided to be on the hosting end this year, and throw a wrapping party. Wrapping gifts and eating every holiday treat out on the market is truly our idea of the perfect night! 
Cocoa drizzled popcorn cups with peppermint Oreos!

Wrap buffet…
We served Prosecco and peppermint hot chocolate. We are so in love with these drink toppers. Wouldn’t they be perfect for a NYE party as well!?!

Our bestie, Lauren of Rock Paper Scissors, came with these beautiful and tasty antipasto skewers.

No cup of hot chocolate is complete without christmas tree marshmallows. 
We placed mini ornaments (found in the Target dollar section) in shot glasses to add to the “buffet/bar” theme. They just looked so pretty!
You can find these little guys almost anywhere. We got ours from the dollar section as well. We spray painted him gold, and added a festive Santa hat. 

We are so in love with this garland, it pains me to think of taking it down in a couple of weeks!
(Tutorial coming this week incase you would like to make one of your own!)
Remember that large branch that adorned the top of my Thanksgiving tablescape? Well, I kept it around and hung “falling snow” and a couple of snowflakes on it. Just string cotton balls onto fishing line, and voila! So easy, but so beautiful we think!
Our finished products coming up in the next post!
We hope you all are enjoying your holidays and spending time with the people you love so dearly! It truly is the most wonderful time of the year! 

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE SERIES (FOR BABY GIRLS)

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 
(1) A cute little farmer’s market stuffed set. The milk actually has a little mirror inside. Peek – a – boo!
(2) Mini Boden is always a home run in our book. The little reindeers make it the perfect seasonal dress.
(3) We both own these blankets for our kiddos! They are AMAZING and so warm!! 
(4) Every little baby needs a hippo ballerina play mat, right?! We agree!
(5) A bright wooden walker to help those wobbly legs get stronger. Love Hape products. Amara is the happy owner of this walker. It will last for years!
(6) If you love the crafty look of felt hair bows, but don’t have the time or the talents to make them, buy them! 
(7) Keep those chubby baby legs warm all winter long with these polka dot leg warmers. The only downside is that you don’t get to see all of those fat wrinkles, which…hello!?! They are the best.
(8) We love trendy outfits just as much as the next fashion forward mom, but we also want our kids to be comfortable especially when they sleep. These Carters fleece sleep sacks are so warm and come in the most adorable patterns. They also have footed ones for your toddlers! We live in these during the winter months.
(9) The softest little stuffed animals ever. So many different ones to choose from, but we are loving the white owl. “Whoo! Whoo!”
(10) I feel like these moccs need NO introduction, but if you haven’t hear of them or tried them….please do! Not only are they quality shoes that stay on your littles’ feet, but they come in the most beautiful colors. Available in leather and suede. We love Susan and her team too!!
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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE SERIES (FOR GIRLS)

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10
(1) Every little girl can’t wait to get their hands on all of the kitchen gadgets that they see mommy use. This wooden baking mixer set will have you wanting to play with your kids’ kitchen gadgets! Adorable. We love the durability and classic gesture of wooden toys here at Love & Lion.
(2) Such a creative take on the classic memory game. Love the idea of putting family members’ faces on here!
(3) We are over the moon for this Oh Joy Pixie Dust camera from Twig Creative. Why can’t our Canons be this cute?
(4) Pottery Barn Kids anywhere chairs… enough said. We are swooning over the Sherpa!
(5) This is on Amara’s Gift list! A new take on the ole “fort”. We love the colors and patterns on all of the Land of Nod playhomes.
(6) Get your little ready for spring with some stylish boots just made for puddle splashing. Great in the snow also with the fleece lining socks.
(7) Meslissa and Doug never ceases to amaze us! Our kids already love “getting mail”, and this is the perfect gift! Again, wooden toys baby!!
(8) Top off her little holiday outfit with this fab headband. Sure to sparkle!!
(9) A scooter that grows with your toddler/little girl. Comes in such fun colors too.
(10) Take these on the go for restaurants or leave them at home on the dishwasher for endless entertainment. These wooden magnets are so lovely, and come in beautiful finishes.
Happy Shopping!
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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE SERIES (FOR HER)

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 
(1) We are absolutely LOVING this emerald shade suede bootie. It adds a subtle touch of color to any outfit.
(2)  Genius!! Bake a little bit of your batter in this nibble pan so you can taste test without cutting into your cake.
(3) If you haven’t tasted Jeni’s ice cream…. you haven’t lived. We sincerely mean that! We make it part of every girls night. The lovely lady in your life will thank you.
(4) Who doesn’t love a great nail color? With this Advent mani set, you will calm your color cravings all month long. Beautiful!
(5) We all love photos, and using calendars make us more responsible (kind of). These are ALWAYS good gifts for any occasion.
(6) A stylish way to listen to a good audio book or iPod.
(7) We are dying over this beautiful leather clutch that charges your iPhone. Stunning colors to choose from also.
(8) These rings are the sweetest, most stylish reminder of those you love most. Whether it be your kids, spouse, or your imaginary friend… initials never go out of style.
(9) Perfect pair of PJ’s! Classic and comfy.
(10) Rock these with a leather jacket and ankle boots or just around the house when you want to get out of your lounge pants that you have had since college (we all have them… your secret is safe here). They will make you feel cute for sure!

A PEAK INTO LOVE & LION

Just a little bit about us and our families!
JENNI…

What inspired you to start a blog?
Leah and I share our ideas, inspirations, and pictures of things we are working on weekly. I knew I wanted to have a blog where I could share these things with others, and it just made sense that we do it together. I am in awe of so many creative bloggers, and I only hope that Leah and I can be just as inspirational… not just as bloggers, but as moms and women in general. We have to support one another!
What is your favorite thing to do as a family?
My husband travels a lot, so whenever we’re together we are usually playing “catch up” on family time. We love being out of the house… dining out (our favorite), going to the park, or even just running errands. We are a pretty on-the-go clan. However, every now and then we love a good lazy day of lounging in our pjs from morning to evening.
What is your favorite type of party to throw?
Kid’s parties!! Probably because I am a mom now, I have so much fun with it. I feel like the sky is the limit creativity-wise. I am also styling a wedding in a couple of months, and I couldn’t be more excited! Weddings are always so beautiful.
How did you and your husband meet?
I was a nanny for his current employer, and Gabe was over at the house a lot for business. I thought he was funny, super talented, and charming. We hit it off immediately, and I knew after our first long conversation (followed by a sweet hug) that I was going to marry him. It scared me, as I was only 20, but I knew my life would be better with him in it. He is honest, hard-working, caring and loves the Lord. He is certainly my “prince charming.”
What is something people may not know about you?
I love to sing! My car is my concert hall… often. My daughter also gets her share of serenades. I grew up singing and “writing songs” and use to think I would actually become a country singer (sigh….. oh the innocence), but one day something inside me just clicked and I became extremely nervous to be on stage or sing in front of people.

LEAH…


What inspired you to start a blog?
Love & Lion is my creative outlet. I love making crafts and recipes for friends and family. Celebrating a birthday or baby or bride with a handcrafted party and making that person feel special is extremely gratifying. Jenni and I hope we will inspire you to celebrate the special people in your lives. We would love to hear about your ideas and events too! 
What is your favorite thing to do as a family?
It’s a tie between morning cuddles and evening dance parties. My three-year-old, Ari, is so squishy and sweet, and my newborn, Max, with his happy demeanor and chubby cheeks fits right into the cuddle-fest. We end many nights with a dance party in the kitchen. Max is asleep in our arms even though the music is blaring and Ari is dancing his little heart out! Pure joy!
What is your favorite type of party to throw?
Simple décor and food I can make ahead of time, so that I can relax and enjoy the party. And any event that ends with cake is okay by me!
How did you and your husband meet?
Jeffrey and I met at Indiana University freshman year. The second I saw him, I knew he was the one… so I stalked him. Totally normal thing to do, right? Stalking paid off, and we dated all through college and married in Carmel, California in 2006. Almost eleven years later, and here I am with three wonderfully sweet, silly, stinky boys!
What is something people may not know about you?
I’m a HUGE Harry Potter nerd. I’ve read every book multiple times and will watch the movies every time they come on TV. Literally. Every time. I dressed my then one-year-old as Harry Potter for Halloween with a hand knit Gryffindor scarf, and my husband and I went to Harry Potter World for our 7 year anniversary and bought a wand (wood for 7 years!) I’ve said too much, haven’t I?! 
*Photos by the talented Shara Katerberg-Hsu