summer

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

These are some of my favorite things for summer! I am pretty low maintenance and ease is my #1 requirement for most things. Cuteness is my #2 🙂
Click item names for links:
I loooove this Loreal tinted lip balm in Rose Elixer. It is the prettiest pink, sheer, and slightly shiny. Just enough color for day and even a casual date night! 
I wear tinted moisturizer daily, and I love Laura Mercier’s because it has SPF in it! I’m bad about putting on sunscreen just to run out of the house for an errand, and when I put this on at least I know my face is covered. It also gives me just the right amount of coverage while looking completely natural. 
I wandered into American Eagle a couple weeks ago and was blown away by all the cute not-so-teen stuff! I got this fun swingy dress that works well as a swimsuit coverup or dress up for a date night! You guys seriously need to venture in. Just ask for the “non-booty shorts” like I did, and be pleasantly surprised. They have some pretty earring sets for $12 too. I walked out of there with a good haul!
Jenni and I are coveting these Let’s Playground mats HARD CORE. I have a fold up picnic blanket tote from Target, but I can’t find it online anywhere! So you can just drool all over this one. You’ve gotta check out their site- soooo cute! Easy clean up and cute patterns. 
These are my daily sandals. Cute, comfy and they zip up on the sides so they’re super easy to get on and off when you’re holding 50 things in your hands including a squirmy toddler! I’ve gotten so many compliments on these and everyone is surprised when I tell them they’re from Target! 
Spray, people. Spray. I don’t care so much that it’s all natural (which it is) or smells good (which it does). I care that it’s ridiculously easy to apply on the go and doesn’t drip off my kiddos’ hands onto their shirts. 
If you know me, you know I love me some backpacks. You’ve gotta have your arms free, ladies! I constantly have a child and tons of stuff in my arms while pushing a stroller, etc. Target has a million different colors, they’re all light (faux leather y’all), and they’re all around $30! So you wont care if sippy cups spill and make the mashed up crackers in the bottom of your bag congeal into a mystery substance. This served me so well in Disney and traveling for week in San Diego. 
I have super sensitive skin and this is the only shaving cream that doesn’t irritate my skin! Love it.
This turns my winter feet into summer feet if ya know what I’m sayin’. It makes my feet super soft and has aloe that feels so good on tired feet. Necessary for summer sandals! 
Again, spray is the easiest for squirmy kiddos! They actually don’t mind the spray and giggle when it “tickles” them! My kids and I all have sensitive skin, so CeraVe products are best for us, or so my dermatologist tells me! 
Any summer time favs we need to know about?
xo
-L

MOTHER’S DAY WISHLIST | BLACK, WHITE & NEON

Hey you guys!! I am squeezing in a last minute Mother’s day post before the weekend. I just thought I would share a couple of things that I am SERIOUSLY wanting, whether it be for MD or not! I am obviously getting the best gift in the world this year right around this sweet holiday, which is the birth of my SON!!! We are still anxiously awaiting his arrival, but when my hubby asked me what kind of prezzie I would like for Mother’s Day, I immediately asked for a bathing suit. It is super important for me to have a bathing suit that I feel more than comfortable in as I will be diving into the pool with the toddler weeks after giving birth. Ummm….. nightmare? Yes, I think so!
I can’t get my mind off of this one, so that usually means that it will be in my drawer soon! The scalloped edge has me swooning!! I will probably end up with black, although this tan one is soooo lovely!
Have you guys seen this closet DIY? I have had it pinned for quite some time on my personal Pinterest page, and have added to the hubby’s “to-do list”. They did SUCH a fantastic job AND it is super budget friendly. A Mother’s Day gift is made much sweeter when it is handmade, right? ha!
I always have a couple of expensive/time consuming ideas on hand when it comes to gifts for myself. For the more low-key/ budget-friendly requests…. these are mine..
These sandals look super mom friendly (buuuut still stylish), and for every pair purchased, they donate clean drinking water to children. Win Win! I also love this pair and this pair. What is even sweeter is that they make them for little kids too!! You know I love a good mommy/daughter dress alike day. 😉
 I NEED this bag from Target!! It is always good to have a breakaway from the diaper bag that you carry 90% of the time, right? It is so chic, and the quality is impressive! It would make a great date night bag! I am also loving this all white weekender ( for the small getaways I never take) yes, please!!
 I think key chains are super cheeseball ( despite my collection I assembled as a teenager), but truthfully, I need an easy way to actually FIND my keys in my bag. I always challenge myself to put my keys in the same pocket, but that never happens. This neon tassel key fob is perfect!!
I have been wanting a great pair of aviators for a while now, but these are kind of winning in my book right now!
Leah and I both love our Helen Ficalora necklaces! It is kind of a little tradition to add initial charms to my necklace! I am in need of another chain because it feels like a lot to wear all of the charms on the one that I have. I reeeeaaaallllly want this “R” in all diamonds 🙂 Since this is a pricier option, and it may be farther down the road… I would LOVE this one in the meantime to mix with my Helen necklace for summer! Love layering dainty gold pieces.
Gifts are FAB… don’t get me wrong, but just being loved on and served that day is the real winner. Leah and I love a super thoughtful card and a super delish brunch at the very least!! That is simple, right? We hope you all have a Happy Mother’s Day weekend! We love getting to know you all through blogging and Instagram. We truly love being mommies ourselves, and at the end of the day, we just want you to feel celebrated because you are freaking awesome!!!
XO!
  

PAPER FOX L.A. PAPER FLORAL CROWNS

Is there anything more summery than a beautifully made paper flower crown? If your answer is “no”, then there is no doubt in our minds that we could be besties. Lauren and Jess, the lovely (and super talented) ladies of Paper Fox L.A. generously made these incredible pieces for us, and we have been DYING to show them off! Leah and I certainly share their love for a good party with unique decor. That is the root inspiration behind our blog venture afterall. These crowns are the perfect accessory for weddings, parties, photo shoots, birthday parties…… so basically everything! Have you also seen their banners? Everything they create is just so stunning….. the end.
Our kiddos are generally running around somewhere outside of most of the shots that get posted on Love & Lion. We had to grab them for a quick photo op!
If you are in need of beautiful paper products for the celebrations in your life, PLEASE visit Paper Fox L.A. It makes throwing a party that much more fun. 
Thanks again Lauren & Jess! You ladies are amazing!!!
XO!

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

SUMMA SUMMA SUMMERTIME – OUTDOOR DINING

You guys! Its summer, and all I can do is think about outdoor dining. Well…. not literally, but it is kind of my fave! Even when my husband and I are scouting out a place to eat lunch or dinner, my first comment is usually “who has great patio seating?” It truly is one of my most adored thing in life…. dining al fresca.
We have been hard at work on our kitchen (I can’t wait to share), however, that has left us with not much time or dolla bills to whip our tiny little backyard and slab of a patio into shape. I am patiently waiting and dreaming in the meantime. Here are some inspirational pics that I can’t stop staring at. I love that outdoor dining (decor) doesn’t have to be “expensive” or even look a certain way. Globe lights are a must though! I just adore the family feel that comes with dining outside. Don’t you ?
^^ Dying dying dying over this gorgeous pergola with the baby swing attached! ^^
Enjoy your weekend loves! Grab a cocktail, and enjoy it outdoors with great company!
XO