Kayla Tornello
Kayla grew up in southeastern Ohio and met her Vermonter husband while in college. They now live in Essex Junction with their two children. Kayla is a stay-at-home mom to her son (born 2010) and her daughter (born 2011). She is also a church pianist/organist. Her hobbies include singing, reading, acting, and coming up with tasty ways to feed her family vegetables. She enjoys spending as much time outdoors as possible.
Fostering Independent Kids – Building Life Skills for the Future
My goal is to raise independent kids.
However, independent kids don't develop on their own. Instead, parents must put a lot of effort into teaching...
Beat the Winter Blues for a Happier, Healthier January
Christmas and New Year's are over. Now it's time for the winter blues to set in.
Every year, the winter blues hit me hard in...
Christmas Cookies – Quick, Easy, and Delicious Recipes
December is a busy month. In the middle of all the shopping, planning, and traveling, I want to bake Christmas cookies.
How on earth can...
Give Your Pets a Happy Thanksgiving! – Our Top Tips
Holidays are stressful times for our pets. So what can you do to give your pets a happy Thanksgiving?
Pets often get overlooked on Thanksgiving....
Sandwich Generation – Caring for your Children and your Parents
With aging parents and young children, I am part of the sandwich generation.
What is the sandwich generation? A member of the sandwich generation is...
Easy Halloween Costumes – No Purchase Necessary
Free and easy Halloween costumes are the best costumes.
My children love Halloween! Mostly, they love candy. They enjoy dressing up in costumes, but they...
Picky Eaters – Dinner Solutions for the Entire Family
I'll admit it. My kids are picky eaters.
I introduce a wide variety of food to my children, but they remain picky eaters. As a...
Sewing Skills – How to Remove Sleeves from a Dress
My sewing skills are sadly lacking.
Honestly, most of my sewing skills came from home economics class in middle school when I sewed an apron....
School Birthday Treats – What to Bring Besides Cupcakes
Growing up, school birthday treats were always cupcakes. Always.
These days, most schools discourage parents from sending cupcakes as school birthday treats. Some schools ban...
Vermont Apple Picking – Our Favorite Places to Harvest the Bounty
Apple picking in Vermont is as good as it gets!
There is something about the chilly fall air, the aroma of apple cider donuts, and...
Kids Camping- What to Bring for an Enjoyable (Whine-Free) Trip
Kids camping. Great in theory, right? It can be a ton of fun, but is also a lot of work for parents.
I am not...
My Secret Mommy Fantasy is to Live Alone – No Children Allowed!
There are many days when my children (and occasionally my husband and dog) drive me nuts. That's when I daydream about my secret fantasy...
Botox – How to Get Rid of those Annoying Frown Lines!
I admit it. I use Botox.
For a long time, I struggled with the decision to use Botox. I mostly worried that it was a...
Tooth Troubles – What to Expect When Your Child Needs Dental Work
Just brush your children's teeth and they won't need any dental work. Right? Wrong!
As a former dental hygienist, I have strict rules about tooth...