Betsy and Stephanie talk about some of their favorite summer treats, why creativity and free time is so great for kids, and what you can encourage your kiddo to do this summer if they have an entrepreneurial itch! This conversation is silly, but full of great ideas! There's also a brand-new announcement about Entrusted with a Child's Heart!

Scriptures Mentioned:

Malachi 3:2-3

Recipes We Recommend:

Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes

S'Mores Pie

They're the joyful agains our children shout on the swings, the

2

exhausting agains of cooking and laundry,

and the difficult agains of discipline.

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So much of what we do

as mothers is on repeat.

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So what if we woke up with clarity,

knowing which agains we were called

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to, and went to bed believing we

are faithful in what matters most?

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We believe God's Word is

the key to untangle from the

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confusion and overwhelm we feel.

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Let's look up together to embrace a

motherhood full of freedom and joy.

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Welcome to the again, podcast

from interested ministries.

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I'm your host, Stephanie Hickox.

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And I hope that you had a chance to

listen to our latest two part series.

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On ordering our days well, and making

sure that the Lord is our priority.

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If you didn't have a chance to listen

to that, I'd really recommend it.

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But today we're going to switch

things up a little bit and give

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you some really fun summer ideas,

whether your budget is tight or you're

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looking for a fun dessert to make.

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Or a fun creative activity.

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We're going to give you

plenty of permission.

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And hopefully spark some

creativity for you and your kiddos.

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After you listen, you're probably going

to think that I'm problems with sugar.

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And I think that we need to

have an episode about some

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healthier recipes that we make.

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Like my favorite

chocolate avocado pudding.

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That really would be my go-to, but

I think that it's fun to celebrate.

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And to make holiday special.

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And that definitely comes through.

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In this episode.

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Before we get to that conversation with

Betsy and I, I wanted to let you know

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that we have a very special announcement.

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And trusted with the child's

heart is going to be the lowest

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price that it has ever been.

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Very soon.

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We are trying to make it as accessible as

possible for those that would like to do

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a home group or even for churches to do.

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So please stay tuned.

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That is coming soon.

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If you have any questions.

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You can find us at www

dot entrusted ministries.

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Dot com fill out a contact form.

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And we would be so happy to get

that process started with you.

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Betsy: Here I am with Stephanie.

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This is Betsy and I had the privilege

of having her here with me at my home

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for a few days and we and even the

kids are with Grandma Cheryl and so

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we've had lots of conversations and

she told me a story and I thought

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we it would be fun to share some.

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Fun summer ideas that she's done and not

just that, but she makes the best birthday

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cakes and always has so many great ideas.

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It would be fun just to share a

couple of them because I don't know.

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She doesn't even share the pictures

with me, but then I have to ask

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to see him and when I see him,

I'm like, unbelievable girl.

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Stephanie: Thank you.

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The hospitality and the creativity runs

deep on our O'Malley side, doesn't it,

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so I feel that after years of watching

my mom loves to be artistic, and so

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does Auntie Anne, and Aunt Betsy, I

just have always watched your hosting

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abilities and have been amazed, and so I

want to hear some of your summer things

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that you've done, and I'm happy to have

the inspiration from you always going.

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She's thrown me some pretty epic baby

shower and bridal shower with a cupcake

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Betsy: Yeah, but I don't

make cakes as good.

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That one was got epic, but I definitely

got myself in in trouble there.

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So this cake that I made for Stephanie's

baby shower was a white porcelain pot and

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then I made a topiary out of it by taking

a styrofoam ball and setting it in there.

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There was no extra stick.

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There was just a styrofoam ball sitting

on that fit nicely on top of this and then

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I made cupcakes and frosted them with a

swirly pale blue flower and put a kind

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of a little spike, a little stick, kebab

stick or something, and put them into

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the ball so that this entire styrofoam

ball was one big globe of cupcakes and

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My goodness, I started to make cupcakes.

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I made a couple dozen and then I'm

like this, it took five dozen cupcakes

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Stephanie: Oh, no way.

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But

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Betsy: saying, we need more cupcakes.

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And I, but it was really fun.

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It's a one of a time thing that I did

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I don't think I would ever do it

again, but it was just for you.

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But you do it time after time.

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You come up with such really

great, fun birthday cake ideas.

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But you just told me about something you

did for, with your boys, just go through

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the entire process of it and really,

why did you do it in the first place?

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Stephanie: It started because

my third, Everett, is Mr.

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Entrepreneurial.

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I think he gets that from his dad's side.

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They have this drive and this vision

to scale things and to invent things

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and Everett, he was born with it.

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So he is always just looking

for, what can we do, mom?

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What can we do?

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And my son Ryder is a super great sport

and he loves to help his brother out

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with all of his grand schemes in life.

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And along with that, the kids wanted to

be in some extracurricular activities.

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And as much as I want that for

them, it just really wasn't

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in the budget right now.

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And so I thought, great

let's make that happen.

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What can we do to pave a way?

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And I'm just trying to channel my

Proverbs 31 woman, and it was also

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inspired by my sweet neighbor Dee

and she makes incredible egg rolls.

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One of her sons had come

around maybe six months ago.

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And he said, I am, I'm trying to help.

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My parents pay for some sports.

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Would you consider helping support me?

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And would you buy egg rolls?

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And so they did a very smart form

where you would pre order because

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they wanted to deliver them hot.

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So you pre ordered and then

they deliver them a couple of

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days later, right at dinnertime.

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It was really brilliant.

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And I thought I can't make egg

rolls, but I can make cupcakes.

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And so I offered that to my

kids and they loved the idea.

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Betsy: Now these weren't

any ordinary cupcakes.

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They weren't out of the

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box cupcakes.

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Tell us how you came up with the recipes.

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Stephanie: Searched on

Pinterest for a little bit.

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And I said, let's pick out some

different flavors and what do

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you think people would like?

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Let's have a nice variety.

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Betsy: All 60 of mine were the

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same

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Stephanie: were the same.

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But they were what I like.

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Chocolate with buttercream.

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I had them look up the

ingredients on a grocery website

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so they looked up the cost of the

ingredients and I also, had them

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create a Google sheet with the

prices and then the quantity That is

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Betsy: you've lost me

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already, But this is amazing.

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Stephanie: so

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cake flour has about seven cups in a box.

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Then we had to figure out, okay, what

is the price per cup for cake flour?

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Then we took each type of cupcake that we

were considering and we broke down what

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would be the cost to make this recipe.

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And it makes 30 cupcakes.

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how much does it take to make

a lemon blueberry cupcake?

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Betsy: And how much does it take?

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Stephanie: It was about 53 cents.

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Betsy: 53

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cents a

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Stephanie: cupcake?

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Yes, for that flavor.

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And that turned out to be

pretty consistent, about 50

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cents when you're making from

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scratch.

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Okay.

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We had to think about, based

on that, which recipes do

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we want to go forward with?

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And I had them pick four favorites,

and then we threw in a gluten free

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Betsy: nice of you!

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Stephanie: From a cake mix at the end.

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Betsy: What is the best

gluten free cake mix?

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Stephanie: I don't, You

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Betsy: You don't have a

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Stephanie: favorite?

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I don't.

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I will say this I have found to be

interesting, if I'm making chocolate

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cupcakes, I will often use a dark

chocolate mix because I like that

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it's not too sweet and it evens

out the sweetness of the frosting.

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And when I use a cake mix, everyone still

thinks it's made from So there have been

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times, many times, where I have made it

from scratch and I just feel oh, people

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liked it just as much from the box.

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We did make some Magnolia

copycat cupcakes.

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Betsy: Make, oh, okay.

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From,

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Stephanie: I haven't tasted her

cupcakes, but I've heard they're amazing.

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It's a vanilla cupcake with a, It's

still a buttercream, but it's a

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little bit whippier and lighter.

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That was from scratch,

and they were really good.

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That recipe only yields 12 The Lemon

Blueberry, that's the most time intensive.

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But those were great.

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And then used our secret family

buttercream recipe that I've adapted

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a little bit, people were very

intrigued by mom's secret butter cream.

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That one sold a lot.

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Then we did an Oreo cupcake and

that one, you put pudding in the

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mix and you put Oreo crumbles.

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So that had a mix.

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But then a lot of alterations to it.

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And then you actually make a

buttercream frosting and you put

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Oreo, crushed up Oreos in the

frosting and the kids loved that one.

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Then you had to teach them a

little bit about marketing because

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of course everybody's going

to say, what's your favorite?

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And

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Betsy: I'm like,

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Stephanie: yes, but you guys, we

have the most lemon blueberry when

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we saw the price break down, we had

to decide what will be the cost?

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And then are we going to package these?

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We bought boxes of a four pack on Amazon.

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That had the little nice dividers so they

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Betsy: would transport

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Stephanie: well.

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And we decided to charge 3 per individual

cupcake if someone wanted to just buy one.

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But we would charge 10 for a

four pack of the same flavor.

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Betsy: Then they're 2.

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Stephanie: And I found boxes at HomeGoods

that were really cute and confetti

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And then we did a six pack variety pack.

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And those we charged 15 for.

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They helped me make the order

for all of the ingredients.

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And, I just got to show them, okay, we're

buying a pack of butter, but how many

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recipes will we use that for and to make

all the tally marks and place that order

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Betsy: And how many did

you make all together?

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Stephanie: It was almost 300.

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I think 286.

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Betsy: We're going to

have to put a picture up

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Stephanie: picture up.

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Yes, it was so many.

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By the time we had all the ingredients,

I started at 11 in the morning.

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Okay.

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And I went all the way, I

think it was 9 at night.

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Betsy: Now they need to be

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Stephanie: Yeah, and that was just baking

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Betsy: them.

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I know,

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you understand how much work they

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Stephanie: And then I had each of the kids

pick a type of cupcake to help me with.

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Adeline helped with the lemon blueberry

because she really wanted to be involved.

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Betsy: And she's six

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Stephanie: had sticks.

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And Lincoln.

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He was in and out.

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He has a shoe customization side

business, so he wasn't sure if

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he was gonna raise his money

that way or through the cupcakes.

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So he went with the easiest one.

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Betsy: So we're going to

have to come back to that

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Stephanie: And

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Betsy: And

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come back to

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Stephanie: that yes,

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Betsy: in a second.

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Okay.

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Kids businesses

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too.

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Stephanie: All that day I was just

baking, but then, I still did laundry.

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I cooked for everybody, but you know that

baking process takes a long time, but from

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start to finish that's how long it took.

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And then the next day I woke up early

and started making the frostings

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a lot of it you just wanted to be fresh

and the lemon blueberry have a lemon

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cream cheese frosting and that had to

be done right before we went out, so

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I tried to do it as much in advance

as possible, but also keep them fresh.

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we had debated, do we do a stand?

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Do we go door to door?

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Do we let people pre order?

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We think the visual of having the

cupcake right there in front of you is

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going to be more effective than a little

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Betsy: So did the boxes have a

cellophane lid so you could see through?

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Stephanie: see through?

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Yes.

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Then they took grandma's nice wire

organizer that fit the boxes very nicely.

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So they took that door to door with

a clipboard that had the flavors and

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they explained why they're doing this.

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And I took the car with

cupcakes all packaged in the

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Betsy: trunk.

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So they could refill the

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Stephanie: Yes, with some, ice

packs and things for some of them.

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And I would park and then walk a

little bit behind them and watch them.

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It was funny those little lessons

the sales pitch was so good in our

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home then you get to the front door.

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You're like, oh, we're losing a

little spunk here or Hey guys, if

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we're arguing on the front step, I

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don't think

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they're gonna want to support our

business it was interesting those

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little lessons that snuck in.

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Betsy: So how long did you

actually go out there and sell?

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How long did it take and how

many did you sell that first day?

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How many hours did you

put into selling them?

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Stephanie: Two of the boys had a

youth group party that night, we

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went out maybe three hours initially,

and then we came home for a while.

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Sent the older two off and then the

younger two and I went out again.

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Betsy: But the three hours was enough

to say, for your boys to be really

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charged up like, people want these

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Stephanie: cupcakes.

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Yes.

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We did definitely sell the most that

first day, but then the second day They

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set up this cute little stand that we

have and I said let's not go door to

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door Like I have invested a lot of energy

in this project and I had some other

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things I needed to be doing at home.

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So I just they set up the stand

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right And continued to sell and it was

cute, we, they made a big sign and I

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could not believe how many people pulled

over and a lot of people gave more.

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that was really surprising to me,

but Ryder was a very determined.

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Sales line with his sign

and he was not giving up.

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So he drew a lot of people

to their little stand.

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Betsy: Yeah.

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Stephanie: They did it

a couple hours that day.

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It was a very rainy day.

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So they just used that window and

then the next day they finalized.

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And, I said, let's have a price decrease

cause they're not quite as fresh.

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And then they said, Oh mom, we're sorry.

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We forgot to do The discount, but

people still bought them at that price.

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Betsy: That's awesome.

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Stephanie: there were some cupcakes

that I had set to the side, like

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we will absolutely not sell these.

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These are, I called them casualty

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cupcakes.

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Some just didn't look beautiful

when they came out of the oven and

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I just threw a dollop of frosting

on them and then company came over

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because it was Memorial Day weekend.

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Company came over on Monday And I opened

my fridge because I had planned that

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we're gonna serve cupcakes for dessert.

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I had an apple pie backup too, but

then I opened my fridge and I realized,

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or I see my boys taking the last of

the cupcakes out and I'm like, no,

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like those, you can't sell those.

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And there was a woman

saying, oh no, I want them.

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It was just a very funny experience.

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What was interesting to me, I almost

felt a little bit embarrassed.

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Are people going to think, I'm

trying to figure out how to pay

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for my kid's extracurricular.

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Why should I pay for your kid's?

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And I just wondered if that was

what they were thinking deep down.

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But one, one woman actually chased me

down and she said, I just want you to

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know my husband said, what a good mom

that you're teaching them this lesson.

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Betsy: Didn't somebody else say something

like they came back to say, Oh, I'm sorry.

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I said, I

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Stephanie: didn't

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want them.

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Betsy: And

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now I want the cupcakes because

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Stephanie: yeah, so she was trying to eat

healthily and she was just gardening as

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we walked by and she said, I'm so sorry.

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I can't eat that, but I'm, I think

what you're doing is wonderful.

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So then we had parked in a nearby cul de

sac and all of a sudden she comes around

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and she honks and she's I'm so sorry.

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I said, I didn't want them.

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My son said, hey, just because you

can't eat them doesn't mean we can't.

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And she said, my husband said, what a

great thing that mom is teaching them.

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A lot of Especially, senior citizens,

I noticed that they were very impressed

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by it, that they were learning that

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Betsy: Yeah, and it's fun to just make

those contacts, too, with your neighbors

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and get to know them a little bit.

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Introduce yourself.

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I think that's really a great idea.

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And for them to see your kids,

who are these kids running around?

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Stephanie: Everett said, I think we

should say, hi, we're your neighbors

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from down the road at blah, blah, blah.

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It's just that born salesman where it's

very natural and it doesn't feel salesy.

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He really thinks this

cupcake's good for you.

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And he's going to let you

know, he's going to sell it.

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It was a great experience and I

would definitely make it an annual

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thing, although Everett would

like it to be a weekly thing.

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Betsy: Yeah, he wanted to

do it again right away.

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Stephanie: But they were very happy

to give their portion to church

337

Betsy: And now you saved up

enough to enter the kids in

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some sports activities . Yes.

339

Yeah, that's great.

340

Stephanie: It was a really great

learning lesson Supply and

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demand, it was helpful for them

to see, and the value of a dollar,

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Betsy: so I had one of my grandsons

over recently and he is 14, almost 15.

343

So he, I was doing something in the

kitchen and he looked up on his phone.

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I didn't know exactly what he was doing.

345

He was looking up a recipe,

but he wouldn't let me see the

346

recipe.

347

And he said, Grandma, do you

have All these ingredients and so

348

we went through the whole list.

349

It was quite a list and I said

yes I have all those ingredients.

350

So we're gonna make this mystery thing

that he didn't tell me But of course,

351

I know it's some sort of obviously it's

some sort of chocolatey dessert And

352

I'm guessing that it's baked and all of

these things So I know it's some sort

353

of cake and it was a chocolate cake But

my goodness, that recipe was pages long.

354

It was quite involved

and really fun though.

355

He would read the instructions to

me, and then I would do the steps.

356

And there was this one point where we

were making frosting, and I've never

357

made frosting like this before, where

you have egg whites and sugar, and

358

you're beating it on the stove till

it reaches a certain temperature.

359

And I needed five hands.

360

Stephanie: So

361

Betsy: was holding it, the, oh my

goodness, and I'm getting out the

362

double boiler and everything and we're

whipping it till it gets to that certain,

363

and we had to throw out one batch

because I had to let go of it a second

364

and what happens to the egg whites?

365

They,

366

Stephanie: separate

367

Betsy: They harden.

368

So we had to start over on that,

but there was so much butter in that

369

Stephanie: frosting.

370

Betsy: It was delicious though.

371

It was really a delicious cake.

372

That was just a really fun kind

of crazy thing that we did.

373

Then we print off the recipe and we say,

what occasion did we make it for and

374

how we rated it, that kind of thing.

375

Stephanie: When eating lunch, you

said, We're eating the salad so

376

that we can have those cupcakes.

377

And that is my Philosophy

378

Load up on the vegetables and

enjoy a little cookie dough later.

379

Betsy: actually we did

eat a cupcake before we

380

Really good ones.

381

Stephanie: but I do, it is so important

for me to give my kids healthy

382

food and to set them up for life.

383

To love the foods that God made,

but I do feel you know what?

384

It's fun to have a little

treat now and then and Yeah

385

Betsy: yeah, I like my

treats a little too much.

386

Stephanie: Speaking of cakes an

incredibly easy cake that I made recently.

387

I couldn't believe how easy it was.

388

I'm talking from start to finish.

389

10 to 15 minutes and I only say 15

minutes because I let Everett help.

390

He wanted to help, but he loves ice cream

so much he didn't really want a cake.

391

So I found this recipe where you take

ice, you use a springform pan and line

392

it with saran wrap and then you take ice

cream sandwiches, you cut them in half

393

and then you line them around the exterior

sorry, the, yes, thank you, the perimeter.

394

So it's fanning out around the

pan, and then in the center of it,

395

you're gonna fill it with ice cream.

396

So we did half vanilla, half

chocolate, I think, in the center.

397

And then on top of it, you

take, you form a couple balls

398

of ice cream in your favorite,

399

Betsy: How big?

400

Stephanie: Just large

401

Betsy: Okay.

402

Stephanie: And then you take ice

cream cones, like sugar cones, and

403

put them on top of the balls of ice

404

Betsy: cream.

405

But there's only two balls of ice

406

cream?

407

Stephanie: of ice cream?

408

Three to five.

409

Then you just put those cones on

top, almost like a little castle.

410

Betsy: Okay.

411

Stephanie: And I think I used three cones.

412

And then you take some

of that quick freeze.

413

I know it's

414

Betsy: Yeah, it's like a

chocolate syrup that freezes at

415

room temperature or solidifies.

416

Stephanie: Yes.

417

And pour a little bit of that

over the balls of ice cream and

418

then throw some sprinkles on

419

Betsy: in

420

no sparklers

421

Stephanie: That would go great with it.

422

Then, I put it in the freezer

for a little bit because the ice

423

cream sandwiches are so soft.

424

And then, brought it out, took the

saran wrap and the springform pan off.

425

It was just so simple, and it looked

really cute, and I thought, wow, that

426

was easier than the hours it usually

takes me, and he's pretty happy

427

right now that's a great summer one.

428

And, it held the candles

really really well.

429

Oh, the funny thing that,

happened recently?

430

That was with the s'mores pie that

Lincoln wanted for his birthday.

431

He had a bunch of boys

over for his birthday.

432

And I was like, what is

happening to the candles?

433

They were just melting, but it's

because I had taken the pie out of the

434

oven,

435

just stuck the candles in and all of

436

Betsy: a sudden Imagine that.

437

I

438

Stephanie: it just took

a second to register,

439

Betsy: so a couple of desserts that

are fun for this summer are, of course,

440

everybody likes to make popsicles with

441

Some

442

gelatin in so they're not too icy hard

and all that and but we like, and this

443

isn't just for summer, but a fun thing

to do is, I mean you can just buy the

444

cheesecake from Costco if you want to,

but to find some rock pop rocks, and put

445

them on top of the cheesecake just before

you're serving it and it just makes this

446

little crackle in your mouth and it's fun

for you know fourth of july or whatever

447

Stephanie: That's very fun.

448

Betsy: We always had, everybody makes

ice cream floats, or I'm surprised that

449

people don't make, I always said, have

you ever had orange pop in ice cream?

450

And people will be like, what?

451

But no we made ice cream with any kind

of flavor pop, even Green River, which

452

is fun, so for a particular holiday,

but it's fun to make volcanoes, so

453

you put the ice cream in and then you

pour the pop on top and of course it's

454

foaming up up, and kids do love that.

455

I suppose everybody here listening

now is going to be baking cupcakes

456

tonight,

457

Because

458

it's making me want to bake cupcakes.

459

So that's just a couple of things here

and there, but also kids do other fun

460

ways to earn money for the summer.

461

Our granddaughter yesterday has

been babysitting a lot while her mom

462

does Bible study with her friends.

463

It's a lot of work, but she's

earning money to buy a Bible.

464

Clothes for herself

465

and

466

Stephanie: and it was interesting when

she came out of the dressing room because

467

we thought we said, oh, that's cute and

she said Yeah, I don't think i'm gonna

468

get it and we said why not she said

because i'd have to pay for it And so she

469

all the differently right all of a sudden

if mom was paying Yeah, that's cute

470

enough to get but if it said why Dime.

471

I'm gonna think a little bit harder about

472

Betsy: It's interesting how

their dollar has more value

473

than your dollar.

474

But going back to some of the things

that kids do just to earn money, because

475

it's difficult when you're not old

enough to get a job, but you just want

476

to make a little money, maybe you're.

477

I don't know if kids deliver

newspapers so much anymore.

478

Maybe they rake yards or mow and

all that kind of stuff, but there's

479

some fun things that kids are doing.

480

And one thing that your son

is doing is customizing shoes.

481

So explain that a little bit.

482

Stephanie: He, Lincoln is such an artist.

483

He's just from the time

he was very little.

484

He sees things clearly

that he can draw so well.

485

And he has been Purchased Posca

markers, so P O S C A, and

486

Betsy: they're like a paint

marker with really vivid

487

colors.

488

Stephanie: And they last well.

489

So he will use those,

and they are expensive,

490

Betsy: You can

491

get a good set on Amazon, 50

for several colors but smaller

492

Stephanie: sets.

493

Betsy: when they dry, are they waterproof?

494

Stephanie: Yes.

495

He does

496

do some touchups too with

alcohol markers on Crocs.

497

Okay.

498

And I'm like, have we tested

those enough to make sure?

499

And he says he has.

500

Betsy: These are the kinds of shoes he's

501

Stephanie: or tennis

shoes and it's a thing.

502

And the youth group

503

Betsy: Those athletic slides.

504

Stephanie: Yes.

505

And even, he did this recently for a

birthday present, which was really neat.

506

He actually did it for Jen's son.

507

Betsy: oh,

508

Stephanie: I

509

asked Jen what would your son like

for his birthday and she said,

510

Oh, he is going to love anything.

511

Lincoln thought I would really love

to customize a pair of shoes for him.

512

And he knew that he likes Mario and Luigi.

513

And we found out his shoe

size and we went and bought.

514

Just a basic black and white

tennis shoe, but it provided a lot

515

of room for Lincoln to draw on.

516

And so he made, the question mark

block that Mario pops up on and

517

the mushroom pops out of and some

different characters around it.

518

Betsy: For the person

519

who has everything, get them some

520

Stephanie: words.

521

Betsy: Actually, he did

a pair for my husband.

522

. And he wore those.

523

He still wears those.

524

Yes.

525

He just slips 'em on and walks

around the house and they're

526

so comfy and really cute.

527

Customized,

528

Stephanie: Also likes to do

things well, but he really is

529

like, Nope, Mom, they're done.

530

They're good.

531

They're done.

532

I'm like, Oh, really?

533

Don't we just want to add this

little, do you think we should

534

straighten that up a little better?

535

Nope.

536

Betsy: That's a true artist because

I always overdo and it's when you

537

know when you're done, even in

writing, oh slap my hand, like

538

Stephanie: You're done.

539

Betsy: done.

540

But I appreciate that

about him at his age.

541

He's no, it's done.

542

I look, I was looking at an abstract

painting yesterday and I was thinking,

543

how did that person think they were done?

544

But

545

they were done.

546

Stephanie: Yes.

547

I, I

548

Betsy: would have just kept adding

stuff till I completely ruined it.

549

Stephanie: There's something to it.

550

Once someone was cutting my hair

and she was telling me that she

551

had recently gotten engaged and

she went wedding dress shopping.

552

She's yes, I found my dress.

553

And I said, how many did you try on?

554

She said, two.

555

And I'm thinking, how could you stop at

two, I'm like, is there territory to be

556

Betsy: explored?

557

Stephanie: I can't finish.

558

And she, I, all of a sudden I said,

that's why you're so good at your

559

job because you know when to stop.

560

Because you think when you're

cutting someone's hair, the worst

561

Betsy: is Oh yeah, I would cut the

hair for two hours and not be done.

562

And it would be shorter and shorter.

563

Stephanie: I do think that's such an

innate quality that some people have,

564

some people don't, but then as his

mother, just guiding him because I really

565

want the customer to be pleased too.

566

So it's been an area of

restraint for me that I'm.

567

Just wanna transition.

568

Yes.

569

Just wanting to encourage him

and, because I do think he's

570

Betsy: age 13 Making some money doing this

because he's been doing it for a year.

571

. Stephanie: Yep.

572

And it's, he's, his generous

spirit is coming out so much and

573

it, because often it'll be like,

oh, it's your birthday this week.

574

I'm not gonna charge you but

575

But he's having to replace the

markers and they do add up.

576

Then all of a sudden I'm

like, Oh, sweetie, I'm sorry.

577

I think we need to be a little bit less

578

Betsy: generous.

579

Well, it's a, good lesson to learn

the cost of making goods, right?

580

Yes.

581

It's, and even when we were

talking about the cupcakes, it

582

pretty much cost you about 150

in supplies to make the cupcakes.

583

The kids need to know,

hey, that's not just.

584

Pure profit.

585

There's always that good

little lesson to learn.

586

Stephanie: One thing, as long as

we're mentioning Posca markers, they

587

are fantastic for writing on glasses.

588

Say you're having a party, and

you want to mark the glasses.

589

You can write a really beautiful script.

590

You can write the ladies names,

or the kids names, or anything on

591

the glasses before they arrive.

592

And it washes off very easily, but it

stays well, even through condensation,

593

Betsy: It doesn't get on your hands.

594

Stephanie: your nails.

595

I've had a couple parties recently

where that's been, they're

596

just like, How did you do this?

597

And

598

it

599

Betsy: he can decorate their glasses.

600

I've seen people tape their, their patio

doors or whatever with masking tape.

601

And then I'm not sure they would

use Posca markers for that,

602

but certain sort of chalks and

603

Stephanie: Yes,

604

or I think you can use acrylic or tempera

605

Betsy: paint.

606

Oh,

607

Stephanie: yes.

608

Betsy: And then you peel off the tape and

you have a beautiful stained glass window.

609

And the light shines through

and that's a really fun thing.

610

Especially, I think that's

a great Easter activity.

611

Stephanie: I agree.

612

That's really beautiful.

613

a very vibrant, fun thing.

614

But that could be a fun thing.

615

4th of July, maybe, you

616

Betsy: Fourth of July we made a cake that

was, we have a couple of Fourth of July

617

desserts, but one of them is you make just

a vanilla cake or whatever flavor and with

618

white icing, and then you put some you

put little circles, of dark blue icing

619

and dark red icing and you want to make

sure they don't taste bitter or whatever.

620

Then you take a knife from the center

or a toothpick and you can have the kids

621

just pull them out and it looks like,

622

Stephanie: Firework Store!

623

Betsy: like fireworks on top

of the cake and you can do

624

that on individual cookies too.

625

So That's

626

real like

627

Stephanie: Oh,

628

that's a really fun one.

629

I mentioned the s'mores pie earlier.

630

That's my neighbors know I'm

Guaranteed I have to bring the s'mores

631

pie to the 4th of July events and

Everybody likes that and it's again.

632

It's not the healthiest, But that's

633

Betsy: a pretty much, it's an easier

634

Stephanie: It is

635

Betsy: easy

636

Okay, so explain that one.

637

Stephanie: That one It's similar

to a sugar cookie crust, but you're

638

mixing graham cracker crumbs in

it And then you do roll it out

639

between two sheets of wax paper.

640

Otherwise, it would be way too sticky

So you put Half of it on the bottom

641

of the pie pan, and then you take

marshmallow fluff, which I know

642

is, you're a big fan of, right?

643

Yeah.

644

Okay.

645

I'm gonna say

646

Betsy: I got

647

Stephanie: over that addiction.

648

Betsy: That was when I was probably a

649

teenager.

650

Stephanie: teenager.

651

Sorry.

652

that should not proceed you anymore.

653

And then after the marshmallow.

654

Cream or fluff.

655

It really, it's so sticky.

656

And then you can just break up

Hershey bars and I use those.

657

I, when you break them into the

rectangles, I kind of use that

658

to spread out the cream and I,

and then you're going to put.

659

It's called, the recipe I use calls for

six bars, but I always find first of

660

all, Six butter?

661

Oh,

662

sorry.

663

six bars

664

of butter?

665

Oh,

666

no.

667

And that's the money for Hershey.

668

No.

669

They have the Hershey bars.

670

And I usually use four and a half to five.

671

They're expensive, and and my

kids always want a little taste,

672

and I always give them one.

673

And I find it doesn't taste as good.

674

Quite neat that it's already sweet enough.

675

Then you put the other half of the crust

down and bake it and you serve it warm.

676

And if you serve it too

warm, it's definitely not

677

pretty coming out of the pan.

678

It's so ooey and gooey.

679

But it's a s'more in a pie form and

it's a little bit easier to eat.

680

And it's just it's funny because it's

like you make it for people once, then

681

you're expected to keep You know, nobody's

ever had it before, so they expect

682

you to bring

683

Betsy: it.

684

We've done one at our house,

which is much simpler.

685

I just take a low baking dish,

like a quiche dish almost.

686

It's got a lower side on it.

687

And then I just put a bunch

of marshmallows around in it,

688

regular huge marshmallows.

689

And then break the Hershey's

bars up just in little squares.

690

And that's it.

691

Just scatter them on the top.

692

Put it in the oven like that

for 10 minutes or so until

693

the marshmallows get bubbly.

694

Brown, just browned, then pull it out

and then everybody just sits around

695

it and scoops in it with graham

696

crackers.

697

Stephanie: Wow.

698

Betsy: And you have to eat it pretty

quickly because otherwise the marshmallows

699

tend to, they get really gooey and harder,

700

that's really fun if

you don't mind sharing

701

germs you know.

702

Stephanie: I went to a wedding

once where they had s'mores.

703

Oh, really?

704

It was this fancy home in

Charleston, South Carolina.

705

It was her parents home and they had

a fire pit, you could make s'mores,

706

but they also had a donut truck come.

707

But they were really fancy donuts,

708

like

709

bacon bourbon donuts and sriracha,

honey, and it was pretty neat.

710

But then you made your s'more, you

put it in foil, and then you put it

711

in the fire, and then peeled back

712

Betsy: foil Oh,

713

Stephanie: a little bit.

714

It's interesting, cause I'm,

it's very important to me that my

715

chocolate is melted on my And so I

always stick it in the marshmallow.

716

Betsy: Oh, okay.

717

Stephanie: But it's, that's

718

Betsy: So this may be more than

you ever thought you'd learn about

719

s'mores or wanted to know, but we

must be craving s'mores or something

720

because we're going on and on about

721

Stephanie: It's like the

quintessential summer dessert, right?

722

Recently my Bible study, we were going

through Malachi and I'm like, I want to

723

Betsy: s'mores.

724

There's s'mores.

725

in

726

Stephanie: s'mores.

727

Because when it talks about Jesus

sitting as a refiner's fire and he

728

sits and it made me think about how

729

Betsy: You roasted that

marshmallow so perfectly?

730

Yes!

731

Oh,

732

Stephanie: and he's not going

to let you stay in that trial

733

any longer than you need.

734

And when you think about silversmiths,

they hold that silver in there

735

until just the right time.

736

And when is the right time to pull it out?

737

When they can see their reflection in

it that you can't do with a marshmallow.

738

But I just thought about the patience.

739

And I just was like, oh girls,

I want to make you s'mores

740

Betsy: want to make these right now.

741

Oh, never

742

think about that

743

Stephanie: I don't

744

Betsy: know.

745

Well, that's fun.

746

And I'm sure everybody has lots

of Fun ideas that they're doing

747

with their kids, and I hope you're

enjoying those kids and making

748

the

749

most of

750

it.

751

And it doesn't have to

be all about making money

752

Stephanie: can do it for your sports.

753

Or eating sugar.

754

I feel like we need to

755

throw

756

Betsy: something.

757

Let's throw in some carrot

758

Stephanie: carrot sticks somehow.

759

Oh, Yes, right?

760

Healthy snacks.

761

Isn't it cute when you see the little

pictures that people can make, with

762

fruits and vegetables or little But

I have to say, do not feel like your

763

kids need that kind of thing every day.

764

Because I don't.

765

I don't think that's a

standard that's healthy either.

766

Betsy: Yes, we do this once a year.

767

Stephanie: and we would both be really

big proponents of letting children

768

have ample time and to be bored

and to be creative and to explore

769

Betsy: I think the way this kind

of came about is because we do

770

something we call making a good mess.

771

And I totally believe in having

a good time making a good mess.

772

Not being messy for the sake of being

messy, but understanding that There's

773

messiness that comes out of doing

something really fun or creative or

774

fantastic and being good with that.

775

And then of course we have to clean

it up, but I did, I was through, went

776

through a phase of poor painting with

my grandkids and I would cover the

777

entire island with this plastic, and

then I would put over it, like paper,

778

brown paper, and tape it around.

779

And then they would each get a

canvas, they would get their cups,

780

we would Fill them with different

paints and different balances of

781

paint and color and all of that.

782

And they would pour them on their canvases

and tip them and make beautiful designs.

783

And then we would name them.

784

We would all decide, what

are you going to name this?

785

And we all have one from

everyone in our entire family.

786

And I look at those and they're so much

fun to me, but really poor painting.

787

You can have a ball with

788

that

789

Stephanie: fantastic.

790

And I remember one night I came

over asking you for some wisdom

791

and you said, would you like to do,

792

Betsy: Oh, you

793

Stephanie: pour paint?

794

And it was so great.

795

That was perfect.

796

You, we should do that for

the podcast going forward.

797

We're just going to do a craft while we

798

Betsy: talk,

799

Oh my goodness.

800

My creative grandchildren love it.

801

They all loved it.

802

My 14 year old grandson has

one framed in his bedroom.

803

It turned out so fun.

804

There's so many things you can do.

805

You can put a little salt on there.

806

You can put a little oil in it.

807

You can just do things to

make different designs.

808

And there's tons of videos

out there and how to do it.

809

And even Hobby Lobby offers the paints

already pre mixed, which is a big help.

810

That's a really fun

activity and it's messy.

811

You only want one person actually

pour painting at one time.

812

The others can be sitting there with their

paints, but you want to see the process

813

for each person's, creation coming out.

814

That is so much fun.

815

We do tie dyeing, soap making, candle

making, we just like to make stuff.

816

And so does Lauren.

817

Lauren is my, one that's

very much into things.

818

Stephanie: so fun.

819

I

820

remember that first summer where my

brother and I were old enough to not have

821

a babysitter and not to go to daycare.

822

And all day long, we would just

build these huge Lego cities.

823

Just build and build, but

we didn't have a playroom.

824

So then my dad would come home

and say, okay, pick it up.

825

Betsy: This is the

826

playground.

827

Stephanie: and be like, okay.

828

And then we'd start again the next day.

829

I think about the problem solving and so

many lessons that are taught through the

830

creative process, some of the greatest

minds in history, were very poor.

831

Leonardo da Vinci, he had nothing.

832

But a pad of paper, growing up.

833

No schooling, nothing, but he

would observe creation and he

834

would draw and he would think.

835

And I just feel that so often we feel

we need to program kids or take them to

836

events and there's a place for those.

837

We were saying what great character

is built through sports, and I

838

agree with that, but I also think

there's a balance to just be, To

839

have your minds develop and to think.

840

Betsy: And to use your hands, there's

something fun about using your hands

841

and getting your hands in bread

dough or all those kinds of things

842

that are just even therapeutic.

843

We know that you've got lots of

ideas that you already do, and this

844

is probably stirring your creative

juices, so we want you to really

845

have fun with those kids this summer.

846

Let them make some good messes,

and we would even love to

847

hear about your good messes.

848

What's your favorite good mess?

849

Stephanie: We know you're busy,

Mama, so we are truly grateful you

850

joined us for this episode of Again.

851

If you're looking for more information

about building your home on the

852

foundation of Jesus Christ, head to www.

853

EntrustedMinistries.

854

com to learn more about our study for

moms, Entrusted with a Child's Heart.

855

This scripture saturated study

has blessed families around the

856

world, and we want it for you, too.

857

Before you go, I want to pray

this benediction over you

858

from 2 Thessalonians 1, 11 12.

859

We're rooting for you.

860

To this end, we always pray for you,

that our God may make you worthy of His

861

calling, and may fulfill every resolve

for good and every work of faith by

862

His power, so that the name of our Lord

Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in

863

Him, according to the grace of our God.

864

And the Lord Jesus Christ.

865

Amen.

866

Until we meet again.