Decided to go with the solution of adding a class on load to the element and then manipulating it in the css.
$(".lifted").addClass("on");
CSS
.lifted.on:before,
.lifted.on:after {
opacity: 1;
-webkit-transition: opacity 1200ms cubic-bezier(0.25, 0.1, 0.25, 1);
-o-transition: opacity 1200ms cubic-bezier(0.25, 0.1, 0.25, 1);
transition: opacity 1200ms cubic-bezier(0.25, 0.1, 0.25, 1);
-moz-transition: none /* Removed until FF4 hang bug is fixed */