T H E W I L D | Modern apparel for hip kids.

Hello! So I've been alluding here and there to a project that I've been working on for ever (and ever) and it's all finally out in the open. This has been a labour of love to say the least...what an adventure. I'm so SO happy it's all launched!



So, a little back-story. Years ago I had been painting and had created some characters for Ben's room. People started asking for them and things began to snowball. I had this crazy idea that it would be so wonderful to create something really cool with these drawings of mine. 

Countless sketchbooks and notebooks and months (years) later, this is where I'm starting. And seriously, starting is the key word. For now, we are offering baby clothes, kids clothes and accessories. There are so many more things I will be adding. Stay tuned! But for now, check out what we have!!

















This is just a little peek, you can see more on our website here and our Etsy shop here. Also, you can follow along with us:

✚ INSTAGRAM /// @thewildkidsapparel

✚ FACEBOOK /// facebook.com/thewildkidsapparel

✚ TWITTER /// @thewildkidsapp

✚ PINTEREST /// pinterest.com/thewildkids/

We plan on adding more products, different characters, running some fun contests....eee I can't wait!!

This project was not done alone. I could NOT have done any of this without Billy, who has been my sounding board, my constant support, my photographer, my complete partner. I want to do this for him and for our kids. I want Ben and Sawyer to see that Mommy works hard too, and if all goes well I too can be contributing to our family. Taking these years to be home with the boys has been a DREAM and I feel so completely lucky to have been able to do it. It's all because of Billy. But it's time to really seriously integrate work into my life, and balance that with my mom duties. This balance is something I've been really needing and I'm happier than ever when I have work to do. Ask anyone. I'm strange.

My Mom and Dad. Those two. I can't begin to describe how much they help and support me, encourage me, motivate me. It's because of them that I applied to school again, to this amazing semi-secret program that has helped me make this all happen. They are the hardest working people, both small business owners, and they push me to do things that I normally wouldn't think were possible. You guys. Thank you times a billion.

Ben and Sawyer! My handsome little muses. This is ALL because you exist. Not even lying, before you I wasn't sure that I liked kids all that much. Now, I'm sold. Kids rule. You two most of all.

Don, Norine, Cass, Kurt, the family that I married into who are the best ever. You guys are always there for us every step of the way and I don't know what we would do without you. Cass, I'm totally going to need you at my upcoming markets girl. 

To everyone, my family, my friends, everyone who is sick of hearing about this, ALL OF YOU, I'm so very grateful. Not only for being my cheerleaders, for sharing and liking things all over social media. But just for being in my life and for being AWESOME. I never could have imagined I would have the best set of people in the universe surrounding me. It's the best.

Anyway, I love you guys. Straight up for real. You get it.

xo

Christmas 2015

Christmas is always great, always. I love it beyond words. But I remember one of my least favourite Christmases. A few years ago, the Christmas before I was pregnant with Benjamin. It was lovely, don't get me wrong. 

Billy and I had been married for over a year, things had slowed down from all of that chaos. Things were good. And Christmas was good. 

But it was quiet. Too quiet. It wasn't spoken of, not even between Billy and I, but I knew there were people missing. I knew that it was time to bring little ones into this family of ours. I knew I didn't want another Christmas to go by without them.

The following Christmas I was pregnant, and every Christmas since has been....right. Complete. And it just gets better and better. This year, Sawyer's first Christmas, was the best yet. So perfectly complete. I am so, so grateful to be surrounded by my boys, my Mom and Dad, Billy's family, everyone. During the holidays, and every other day of the year.

Ancaster Fair

We spent our Sunday out at the Ancaster Fairgrounds. This time of year is just the best, right?

All fairs are pretty much the same so I'll spare you the details but, we hit a major milestone today. Ben went on rides all by himself! He actually wanted to do it, and he was so brave! I might have cried a bit. Ya, I'm that mom.









And one with Daddy, so excited about that one!



Uncle Mike and Auntie Emma came out to meet us, the boys were pretty excited to see them!





Poor Sawyer had a few bouts of really bad teething here and there. Billy and I took turns putting him in the carrier, but he was still pretty mad about it.



Bunnies! I want one!!





As Billy put it, this next picture sums up Ben and Sawyer's relationship perfectly. 



And, to end, a pretty sky. Because I have a thing for skies. 

Supercrawl 2014

Over the weekend we took a little stroll through Supercrawl, a really great local art/fashion event. So much fun! We have a few interesting ties to this amazing event, my Mom is an organizer of the fashion events (and a pretty cool photo exhibit) and Billy's sister Cass is one of the models (the BEST model, if you ask me). So it was definitely something we couldn't miss.



Perfect weather! Is there anyone who doesn't love September? No. No there is not.





Does anyone remember/miss the local graffiti contest that they used to have on top of Jackson Square? It was so cool.





There's no mistaking this girl for Ben's aunt. She looks more related to him than I do. 





Food trucks. The true keys to my heart.

Supercrawl, see you next year! 

Arcade Fire!

I happen to know this pretty amazing girl named Rachel who I love and adore and who recently invited us to see Arcade Fire. As if I didn't already have enough reasons to love this girl.

We went early and popped in to the CNE. So much fun!!



And after a terrifying ride on this thing and a lot of very bad-for-you food it was time for the show!!



Couldn't have had a more fun time. Here's a little picture of us and our handsome bearded men. Not a bad looking group I'd say.



I'm ashamed to admit that I forgot that Arcade Fire prefer a more theatrical dress code. Whyyyy did I forget this? Do you know how amazing I would have dressed if I had remembered? Needless today, I have since purchased a fancy mascarade mask for the next time they're in town. True story.

Mothers.

I know there are about 768765 posts on all the blogs about the meaning of motherhood, but I have to add my own, because I want to remember what this time felt like when I'm old and grey and sobbing because my boys never call me. So.

Mother's Day was this past weekend, and we were lucky enough to spend some time with my Mom, Billy's Mom, and both of our lovely Grandmother's. We had a little present for each of them and drank lots of tea, it was really great. I don't see my Grandma nearly as much as I would like to. I love her so, so much.

Anyway, the day is all about appreciating Moms for all that they do. And a lot of the time, I admit, I think about how being a Mom makes me sleepy. But no, being a Mom is really everything. I remember working with Moms over the years and they all gushes nonstop about their kids and I thought to myself that one day I would be a mom and I would not do that. Because people without kids don't care nearly as much as you do about how cute it was when your kid said that word in the cutest wrong way or when he drew a circle for the first time. BUT. It all changed. I'm that Mom all the way. I take seven billion pictures of my boys each day and being a Mom has put my entire 'other' life (you know, career, interests, and whatnot) on hold. And some days I get frustrated by that, but it's all so, so worth it.

One day I'll be back at a job and I will miss these days. I will miss fixing us breakfast each morning, filling up cups of milk all day long. Going to the park, the library, washing hands and faces over and over and over. Reading books about bears and trains and dinosaurs. Bathtimes and storytimes and rocking little ones to sleep. It's all SO good.

My Mom and my Grandma are my heroes. I mean, they've done it all. They are both such good examples for me to follow, to strive for. My Mom is the most driven person I know, she is such a hard worker and she never gives up on anything. She has such a positive outlook on things (not my strong suit) and always encourages me to try things again, or to try things differently. Just to try. Because that's all you can really do, right? 

Happy Mother's Day to everyone out there, current moms, future moms, pet moms, everyone. It's such a special thing to be, and we are all so very lucky.

Benjamin's Third Birthday Party

Earlier we had friends and family get together to celebrate Ben turning three (THREE!!!) years old. The weather was supposed to be horrific but turned out not too shabby. Cool but no rain, so we can't complain. Such a fun day!



The four of us in a photo together...this never happens!



This picture seriously warms my heart. Little children holding hands and running through a field is the best thing you can ever see happen in real life. And when one of them is your own little one, no less. Ugh, my heart!!!!













Spoiled rotten, yes he was. But very very grateful for all of it, I promise!







Was it a Thomas cake? Of course it was!







Selfies with my mom and boys, the best kind of selfie!

After everyone left we stayed a bit and Ben played in, well, the dirt for a while. But I couldn't complain, he was pretty into that dirt.



Thank you SO much to everyone who joined us, Ben was over the moon! We are so lucky to be surrounded but such cool people. 

And here is proof that Ben had a thoroughly fun and tiring day. Dirty knees and all. <3