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Kelly
Welcome to the Carpool podcast with Kelly.
Liz
So I'm going to master frying, but I'm also. And I know it's, like, another thing. I'm also setting my sights on a smoker.
Kelly
And Liz, it was ugly. I wanted to redo it. Seeing it fully ripped out, I, like, started to have a panic attack. Seeing your house in that state of disarray. I was not prepared for your mom. Time off starts now. Welcome back to the Carpool podcast with Kelly and Liz.
Liz
And, boy, do we have a show for you.
Kelly
Do we ever. We're back with side Hustle Summer.
Liz
We're back with side Hustle Summer. And it is my. It's probably one of my favorite things we've ever done.
Kelly
No, it is my thing. I think. It is my favorite.
Liz
I love. And we kind of get into it a little bit more in the interviews, but I love highlighting side hustles instead of just businesses. And I know, like, just. I. I just feel like there's a lot of space for businesses and, like, now there's a lot of space for, like, female entrepreneurs. Mom entrepreneurs. Like, there is that space. I am really interested, though, in, like, finding the people who aren't necessarily wanting to take this thing to the moon, but, like, just to do it as a side hustle to make some extra income. Because I know that's not always an easy decision. Like, it can be hard to say no to opportunities, but, like, I'm just inspired by these women who are saying no to some opportunities so they can say yes to their children. But while still. It's just. It's. I'm. I'm. I couldn't be more inspired.
Kelly
And it is. It's always just, like, such tangible takeaways. Because it's not like, you could do this if you want to. Like, no one had. No one just, like, has the market.
Liz
Any person in the world could do both of these things that we have.
Kelly
Any person in the world. Well, any person in America could do the two things that we have on today's episode, and they could not be more different and they could not be. And I bet exciting to talk about.
Liz
I bet a lot of you start doing them after the. After this episode.
Kelly
I'm. I kind of want to. And, like, I do want to.
Liz
And Elizabeth, I have a lot on my. And I'm like. But there's always room for a sweet treat on her place. We would kill that. Let's not. Let's not spoil. Except I already spoiled it on my Instagram. But not everyone maybe saw it.
Alexis
All.
Liz
To say, those are the interviews.
Kelly
Yeah.
Liz
I'm actually though, coming at you from vacation.
Kelly
Yeah. Kind of tells on vacay.
Liz
I'm on vacay. We're at the lake just for a couple of days mainly. Well, we wanted. We love coming to the lake, but also our pool got finally put in. And what I don't love about getting a pool installed and this is like someone play a small violin for me because I know this is like crazy. I know. I get it, I get it. But as soon as when you do a fiberglass insert pool, which basically we did a bathtub, we got a giant bathtub and put in our back and fill the hole that we ripped out, like, that's all we did. But they, they have to fill it with water right away because, like, it has to like set in the ground.
Kelly
Oh.
Liz
But we bought like a retractable hard shell cover and we obviously are putting a fence around. I mean, it's gonna be Fort Knox. My pool's gonna be Fort Knox. But those things can't get installed until this week. So I was like, I'm not going to be at home with my four kids in a pool that's filled with no cover and no fence. Like, no, thank you. We're out. Respectfully, we're gone. So it kind of worked out to just leave while that's getting taken care of. And we're having a blast. Except we've been here two days and it's rainbow.
Kelly
It always seems to happen that way.
Liz
I know. But I'm not gonna let it get me down because sometimes, you know what? We're making the most of it.
Kelly
Well, and that's what you have to do. Did you listen to mine and mom's episode on family vacations?
Liz
Yeah, we did. And I do have mom and dad, so it's just my family and mom and dad are here. It is so I don't know if everyone feels this way. It is so I find it so fun to come to the lake or to go on vacation with my parents because they are the adults. I'm still in charge of my kids. Like, I'm still in charge of my kids. I'm getting up with them. It's not like it's a vacation for me. But I don't know what, where we're going for lunch. I don't know. I don't know how.
Kelly
Like if you leave your coffee cup out, you know, you don't come back at 8pm and it's still there. Maybe mom's picked it up. And has already started the dishwasher.
Liz
And maybe she hasn't. And maybe she hasn't. But there's a chance. And, like, I like to live in that chance.
Kelly
Totally.
Alexis
So totally.
Liz
But anyway, I did want to say that we made the most of our rain day yesterday because we did a really fun dinner, which I. I know this isn't, like, ditch the drive through, but, like, I just kind of. I want to get this off my. Off my chest because I. I know I've spoken about this before, but I feel, especially in our new house, I'm very passionate about hosting because I think just, like, inviting people over and, like, community and friends and having meals together. I just think it's a really important part of culture, of my religion, of my community. Like, I just think that's very important. It's. I'll be honest, it's not. It's not that I don't enjoy it, but it is something that's hard for me to do because for so long we lived in a house where just hosting wasn't really possible. Like, we just did. We simply did not have the room. And so. So I feel like I have a lot to learn. And I maybe, like, maybe in, like, a couple of months, I'll do like a. How to be ready to host anybody at any time, because that's what I'm really trying to do. Like, I want to be able to invite people on a whim. And my husband kind of already does that. You know, he'll be like, oh, by the way, I told so. And so they could stop by. And I'm like, well, they're bringing their kids. Are they coming? You just never know. So I always want to be prepared. So anyway, I have. Maybe I'll do an episode on it later. But part of that is you got to be able to feed a crowd. I'm able to feed a crowd in a fun way. And, you know, I've got the Blackstone, which I love. Like, I really do love my Blackstone. But I wanted to dabble into frying. Yeah, I wanted to dibble. Dabble into frying, because I think that frying is a fun thing. And it's a thing where you can tell people, hey, come over, we're frying tonight. And then it feels casual, and then. Then they don't feel like you're putting them out. I also don't want it to always be this big, like, oh, my gosh, you went to all this trouble. It's like, no, we're frying. Come if you can. Potatoes.
Kelly
You know, hey, bring something to fry.
Liz
We'll throw it in the fryer.
Kelly
Yeah.
Liz
And it's also like kind of a thing in like Missouri. You know, we like, obviously hunt and fish and then we like, fry a lot of the food. Like that's just like, it's part of the cuisine in rural Missouri. If you will.
Kelly
If you will.
Liz
We all remember the squirrel story. Yeah. So anyway, I. We had a fryer at the farm. I wasn't ready to commit to the bit, but we had a fryer at the farm and I brought it to the lake and I'm like, I think it'd be fun to fry fish and potatoes. So I went to I. Between chat C and tick tock, I looked up a couple of recipes and tutorials and then I simply figured it out from there. And we spiralized potatoes. First of all, fun thing for the kids to do. I mean, you got to be careful because it's sharp. But like, you know, that was, you know, they just, they're just cranking the spiralizer. Like that's fun for them. I. I just bought some fish, patted it dry. I bought a, a mix and I put a beer in it. So it's a beer batter, which just also gives it a little bit of edge. It's like, oh, we're doing a, we're doing a beer batter.
Kelly
Like I just say, I just made some beer battered fish.
Liz
And let's be clear, I'm telling you, it was two ingredients. I bought, I bought a fish fry mix. I didn't know they sold that. Maybe everyone knows this. I didn't know that. I bought a fish fry mix, Louisiana style fish fry mix, and I put a Michelob ultra in it. That's all that I did.
Kelly
It sounds so much more impressive than it is.
Liz
And so then we fried. And then I got, I had the fryer, I bought canola oil and I filled it up. I had a little temperature thing. It said to get to 300. I said, okay, I can get it to 300. I fried the chips. Like, you know, when they're done, they float to the top and they're crispy.
Kelly
Okay, why aren't we frying more often?
Liz
So then. So we fried fresh chips and fish last night. The fish, I have some notes. You have to pat it very dry. And I did some. And then my husband tried to help and he so half assed the padding. I was honestly. So I was like, trying not to be like. I was like, oh, I wonder why the first ones turned out so much better. Than the ones that you did.
Kelly
I was like, huh. I wonder where that could have been.
Kim
Wait, they weren't.
Liz
He's like, it's fine.
Alexis
It's fine.
Liz
It'll fry up fine. I'm like, no, I just think it's interesting that, like, the batter did stick, like, won't stick on these ones. So mad at it.
Kelly
Do you have any ideas of what that could have been?
Liz
I'm like, I made a beer batter. Like, he doesn't know. It was two ingredients. I was like, I work so hard on my batter. Anyway, it still did turn out, and he still did turn out fine. But the fish did have to be dry, like, so the batter would stick.
Kelly
Okay.
Liz
And now. Now we have this oil, like, because you can also reuse the oil, you know, like, a couple of times. And we have this oil in the fryer still. Like, the fryer's off. We have the oil. You know, you turn it back up, it cleans itself. I don't know, apparently, But I'm sitting there being like, what else can we fry? Mom's looking up donut recipes this morning because it's just like, we have a fryer ready to go.
Kelly
Now. Do you have to have a fryer, or can you, like, heat, like, a pan on your stove and fry it?
Liz
You could totally heat a pan on your stove, but that's just, like, a little bit harder for a crowd.
Kelly
And then it splashes everywhere and sounds messy and sounds kind of painful. No, it's just good to know. I've just never fried anything. But I'm so inspired.
Liz
No, I'm so inspired. And it gives grill. And the problem is, like, my husband.
Kelly
As casual as grilling.
Liz
I wish Tyler would. Like, he thinks he can't. I'm going back and forth, because, don't get me wrong, like, I like him thinking I'm doing something impressive.
Kelly
Yeah.
Liz
But I also wish he would just, like. I'm like, this is such. This would be such a fun thing for you to learn. Because, like, I'd rather actually be prepping the sides, like, my use.
Kelly
Right.
Liz
Any idiot could do it. I mean, let me be clear. I'll batter the fish because you can't figure that out. Yeah.
Kelly
But you fear your husband did. Couldn't figure it out.
Liz
But, like, you could stand. You could stand there with, like. I'm just thinking, like, in the future, if we have people over, it's like, you stand there with the guy. You guys are drinking a beer. You're frying the fish. I need to be inside with the Children making the coleslaw. So I'm having a little bit, because they can't be, like, I can't be in two places at once.
Kelly
No, no. Okay. So that's good.
Liz
I do feel as though I'm gonna have to pass the torch to Tyler.
Kelly
Okay. Just don't let him know how. How complicated it is to make the beer battery. Keep that close to your chest.
Liz
He was so. And he was so impressed. Like, it just feels so. Not that he doesn't compliment my cooking, but, like, he's just had. This was something new that I made. Like, I was so proud of it. And he's like, kel, this tastes just like the fish fry. And you guys know I love a fish fry.
Kelly
Yeah.
Liz
So I'm feeling super accomplished, and I'm gonna be in my fry girl era. It's fun. It's fun for a crowd.
Kelly
Okay, love. Well, what am I doing?
Liz
Send your fry tips and fry recipes.
Kelly
Send Kelly your fry. Your fry tips. I have had a lot of life change since I last recorded a podcast. I moved out of my house because we're renovating our kitchen and main floor, and it just seemed like we're ripping out the floors. Like, we're doing everything. So I was like, I just have to move out. And my parents so graciously are letting me and my family, my two dogs, stay at their. Which is so, so kind of them. I didn't realize the emotional toll it was going to be. Hear me say this. My kitchen was from the 80s. I did not like it. It was ugly. I wanted to redo it. Seeing it fully ripped out, I, like, started to have a panic attack. Seeing your house in that state of disarray, I was not prepared for. And I don't know if this is a common. A common thing that other people have experienced, but just, like, it truly feels like we don't have a home.
Liz
Well, I think it's. I think it's totally normal to feel like, did you make a mistake?
Kelly
Well. And there's no going back.
Liz
And there's. And it's no. And it's a lot of money. I would say if you didn't have pause, I would think something was wrong with you.
Kelly
Yeah. Yeah.
Liz
I mean, some would argue your time.
Kelly
No, please go ahead.
Liz
And some would argue your timing on this is interesting. Is stressful.
Kelly
Why is that?
Liz
Just because the kids are so young.
Kelly
Okay. Yes. But my thought was we could push this down because everything was fine. Like, our kitchen. We love our house. It was fine. But I was like, why would I go years of not having it the way I want it if I can't afford to do it right now.
Liz
No, I agree. I, I, I, I understand that it's. But I'm saying it's, it's a trade off. So many years.
Kelly
But it's like, also, okay, what? I'm gonna wait until I'm pregnant and have another kid.
Liz
Well, that's true. You're just gonna grow. That is. No, that's true. That's true.
Kelly
If it was just never really an easy time.
Liz
Well, you better be taking us along for the ride because one thing about me is I did not take enough pictures and stuff of my renovations.
Kelly
Yes, I did take some, but yeah, I would like. I, I love renovation content. I mean, I won't be doing any of it. And Tyler did, Tyler and Maddie did like take demo the cabinets and the kitchen and everything. And everyone was like, oh my gosh, is Tyler renovate doing your renovation? Tyler's not doing my renovation. Tyler is helping with a few things here and there. But no, Tyler is not. Tyler's not doing my whole renovation. I just want to make that clear.
Liz
No, just wanted to put that out there. But he did help.
Kelly
So that's what I've got going on.
Liz
So I think you could really benefit from a fish fry and I'd like to invite you guys over.
Kelly
Yeah, that'd be nice. So now I want to make fried chicken. Because don't you think just everyone has. Well, my grandma made fried chicken. And now none of us have that.
Liz
Skill set and none of us have that skill set. And I can't tell you how it's such a destiny if you're a person who likes to grill. And I like to be on my Blackstone too now. And I know it sounds extra because it's like, do you need the grill, the Blackstone, the fryer again? First of all, fryers aren't that expensive. I'm telling you, a fryer is kind of the hack. Like, it's literally just like a metal thing that you attach a propane tank to and put a pot on. Like it's not a big deal. The one that we have, I can try to find. I'll take a picture of it. So I'm going to master frying. But I'm also, and I know it's like another thing. I'm also setting my sights on a smoker. I'd also like to learn to smoke.
Kelly
You just are going to have every cash.
Liz
No, I know, I mean, but I'm telling you, we're going to, like, right now we post at least once a week.
Kelly
That's so weird. I feel like I haven't gotten invited one time.
Liz
That's not true. It's just. No, not right now. But, like, especially, like, once the pool's done in this summer. I don't know. I'm telling you, though, it's something that's really important to me and Tyler. Like, I want to be the house that people come to. I think it's important to invite people over. I think it's important for real people to get together. I just think that's a very important part of, like, my family right now. And I. And I feel like, God, in a way. Like, if I want to get really deep with you, I feel like this, the way we got this house, like, by being able to afford this house because of the condition it was in to be able to fix it up. Like. And it's so. For as much as the house is lacking bedrooms, it's so set up to host because there's so much communal space that I feel like I am supposed to be, like, bringing people together. So, anyway, next I'm going to get a smoker, but I'm going to wait. But I think smoking would be. I mean, can you imagine, like, smell? I mean, that's fun.
Kelly
Yeah. Smoking does less for me. I'll be honest. But excited for your journey. You'll have to tell me how it goes. Yeah, I do. I do. Actually. Your house, the way you just talked about that, it reminded me about. It's just the way that it all happened, too, is like, you wanted to move for so long, and then Tyler was like, I found the house. And you got to see a few photos and they weren't good. And you were like, okay. And it reminded me. This is so random, but it's beautiful. We went recently, went to our great aunt's funeral, and in the eulogy, it was the most beautiful line I've ever heard. They said we were about. Like, they were. They were about to get kicked out of their, like, evicted from their house. Like, they had no money and she. Mary was her name. Mary Bet or Mary had faith in God and faith in Bill Suntrup, and she just trusted him and, you know, he had a business and it was successful and blah, blah, blah, blah. And, like, they lived a wonderful life. But I just. I love having faith in both God and also in. In your husband. And I saw that you. You do that in that moment where I think most people would have been like, you're out of your dang mind if you think I am. This is gonna work. Like, we know nothing about this house and we're just gonna move. And you were just like, okay, yeah.
Liz
No, I really did trust my husband. And, I mean, we bought this house, like, at an auction site unseen. And we knew the square footage, and we knew how big the lot was, and that's all we knew. We couldn't even really see the front because it was so grown up with trees. And I was pregnant with her. I was pregnant with Libby. And then we get in there, and it was so bad. It was in such bad condition.
Kelly
It was worse than you could have imagined. But it had such good bones.
Liz
It did have such good. It had such good bones.
Kelly
Worked so, so hard on it. And it's a beautiful house. It's a great house. You would have never gotten the house for the price that you got it. No one, not many people would have taken that project on. And it's great, and it's. It's so good. And I love your house and I love the size of your house. Just to say to, like, host people. Yeah. I also think that sometimes big houses are overrated because as someone who's living in one right now with two toddler or a kid and a toddler and a baby. I miss the size of my house so much. I love knowing where everyone is. And there's only three spots that anyone could be at one time.
Liz
Yeah, yeah. No, I. Yeah.
Kelly
Let's just, like, love our family being close and, you know, sharing bedrooms.
Liz
Well, so that's that on that. And I think that's enough because I really just want people to hear these interviews. Like, I. I'm inspired.
Kelly
I'm inspired. So let's get right into side Hustle Summer. Everyone say hello to Kim and Alexis.
Liz
Okay. Carpool podcast. Welcome back to side Hustle Summer. We have two more very exciting guests who are going to break down their very unique side hustles. We have Kim, who is an Amazon deliver driver that she, like, picks up shifts. I'm excited to hear all about that. And then we have Alexis Cooper, who we go way back with because she is a vendor at the Car Mom Auto show and she has a mobile cotton candy business. So two totally different ends of the spectrum. We're going to dive into both. And we are going to start with Kim.
Kim
Hey, guys.
Kelly
Thanks for joining us, Kim.
Kim
Thanks for having me.
Kelly
So, Kim, let's get right into it. What made you choose Amazon Deliveries as your side hustle? And how did you get started the.
Kim
Main reason that I got into Amazon Flex Delivery is I knew I could take my son with me. I've got a 17 year old son who has autism and is my ride or die. He's with me all the time. So if I was going to make any kind of side money, free spending money, I was going to have to do it with him. So when this opportunity came up in our neighborhood, they built a warehouse. I think it opened early November, late October of 2020. We signed up and started right away and have loved it ever since.
Liz
Can you break down kind of like what a typical delivery shift will look like? Like how flexible is the schedule? Is it like pick up your shifts, you have a set, like just kind of give us the, the nitty gritty, right?
Kim
It is super, super flexible. I do drive my own vehicle so I don't have to drive a big van or one of their big delivery vehicles. I get to drive my own vehicle. We have an old, my old minivan that we laid all the SE in. So that worked out perfect. I can start planning and seeing offers the day before, several days before, and see how much they're going to pay per delivery block. And then if I want more excitement in my life, I can wait to day of and the price goes up and I can really like roll all the dice and hope that I make a lot more money grabbing a shift day of or an hour before the shift starts. So they just throw out blocks of delivery time, like 1 to 3 or 5 to 8 and they have prices attached to them and you just accept that block of time. You have no idea where you're going, you just know the time requirements and you sign up and show up at the warehouse at the time time of.
Liz
So that's, that's so interesting. So, but it's a specific area street, like block of your town. Like you're not driving all over the place. It's a pretty condensed area.
Kim
No, no, no, no. We have no idea where we're going. Listen, I have no vices in my life. This is, this is how I live on the edge. I just accept a block of time. I show up and when we get to when they like literally they bring a rack of packages to the back of my van and that's when. And we're not even allowed to get out until they tell us for safety reasons, we all get out at the same time. And I look at the boxes and that's how I know where we're going. And so my living on the edge as I find out Then where we're going. But we usually finish early almost every time and we're in a rural area. Most of our routes are going to be in rural areas. So we, we've enjoyed. That's part of the adventure. My son loves like driving and trips and he loves trains and looking at train tracks. We, we are not stay at home people anyway. So this way we're going out and exploring and making money doing it and, and I love getting to deliver the packages too. Like that's fun. Like, oh, this one's, you know, there's two stops here, two stops there. So I enjoy that.
Kelly
Well, you know, not all heroes wear capes and my Amazon delivery driver truly is a hero to me. So totally, so, so appreciate that. Let's talk about. You said that there are certain price points attached to the shifts. What kind of price range are we looking at that you might get paid?
Kim
Right. So it starts in our area. I believe areas are different too. So if you're in a bigger city, maybe your rates are better or different, I don't know. But in our area the shifts will start at about $15 an hour. So you might go out three hours, you might take a four hour block, you might want three and a half hours. But it starts at $15 an hour. And then it goes up to like, I think the highest I've had is $26 an hour. So I usually try to take 22 to $25 an hour. But now out of that money I have to buy my own gas. Responsible is my vehicle. So upkeep, things like that. So I'm a 1099 employee, so I'll have to take taxes out of that. So there's things to consider. I don't know how lucrative it is, but it is some fast, easy, very flexible side money. You get paid the day of. Usually you can set that up in your account if you want the money sent right to your. Or if you want to get paid once a week. So all those are really, really great for us.
Liz
That is so interesting. So I just, I want to. Just so I understand that like so you don't know where you're going but like once you get your shift, like you're in a neighborhood for the most part or you're in like a, like a, like a square mile, like you're taking like the east side of town or something.
Kim
Yes, I won't run all over, all over the country usually, Usually I will go to again we're very rural and so it really opened up two day delivery for Our area. And so many people say, like, I can't believe I could get this in two days. Because we were having to come out of bigger cities and so we never got the quick delivery. So we will go to a general direction, a general kind of town, but then from that town, we usually are in the outskirts of that town.
Kelly
So how can someone get started? And I know you said this is in your rural area. Is this opportunity everywhere for anyone? Like in any city?
Kim
Do you know it's in a lot of cities. I don't know.
Liz
I don't know how many Amazon. They do it at my house. Like I have a different. And at first I like, I kind of freaked me out because you just had this like random car pull up to your house and like walk to your door. I mean, and it was a different car a lot. But yeah. So I live in a rural area too and I have noticed, like, I am surprised. They must have just done it for us too because even since we've lived in our house now, I can get next day delivery on a lot of stuff that I used to not be able to get.
Kim
Yeah, yeah. It's in a lot of places. And it was super, super easy to join. I loaded an app and you followed all the prompts through that app. Everyone that I know that's applied has been put on a wait list. I think I was on there maybe two weeks. And then you get called up and go into more details and do the background check and stuff and then they just, the app just starts sending you offers and there you go. You take them or you don't take them. Another point is you don't have to be consistent. I like to do two days a week probably. My daughter is in college and she is an athlete, student athlete. So she, during her season she's not available at all. But on her breaks, on weekends that she's not in season, it's great for her just to grab, grab a couple of shifts and make some money.
Kelly
Love that. Love the flexibility.
Liz
Yeah, it's the flexibility to choose your hours to not work that long of a shift. Because I think a lot of people are after, like, hey, I don't have eight hours, but I have a couple hours that I'd like to do something to be able to like bring your son with you. I mean, I think that it's, it's such a unique and I, I feel like some of these other like, you know, work when you want opportunities have come out like the Uber and things like that. But that's a Lot harder to do, you know, with, if you have a child with you and it's not quite. Probably as flexible and I mean, you know, it just very easy to just like drop off at the front door, you know, you're not like running into. I mean, that sounds, that, that sounds like I'm, I don't want to say it sounds like less work, but it sounds easier than some of those other pickup shift apps, you know?
Kim
Yes. You don't, you don't have to see anybody. It com. It takes zero brain cells. I prom. The app does everything for you. It gives you street directions. You just have to follow your navigation and, and lift maybe, I don't know, £40 or something. Like, maybe that can get awkward sometimes. But I mean, that's, it's, it's fine. I'm, I'm an old weak lady and I've made it this far.
Liz
I love it.
Kelly
Okay, Kim, I have probably the most important question for you. It's been a long day of, of dropping off packages and you, you're tempted to go to the drive thru but you say, no, I'm going to go home. I'm going to make what we home. What is your ditch? The drive through?
Kim
My ditch, the drive through that everyone loves is a shredded pork in the crock pot. So it starts before I've left the house and I can use that recipe to make like barbecue sandwiches, barbecue sliders, stuffed baked potatoes, or recently I've had the leftovers add a little like barbacoa sauce or whatever and turn it into kind of like tacos that for later on in the week. So it's a recipe that's lasted me. So you just take a boneless pork shoulder roast and add one and a half teaspoons of garlic powder, one and a half teaspoons of onion powder, one and a half teaspoons of black pepper, and one teaspoon of salt. Plop it in the crock pot and you're good to go.
Kelly
I literally made that last night.
Kim
Yeah, it's such a.
Kelly
You can do anything.
Liz
It's a classic. It's so versatile. You. It's so good. It's like my go to. For a crowd too, or not even a crowd, like if we're having any friends over. It's like just. And to your point, like, it's the, it's the best leftovers. It freezes. Yeah, I love it.
Kim
Exactly. Yep. Yep.
Liz
Good one. All right, Kim. Well, thank you for joining.
Kim
Well, thanks for having me.
Liz
And now we are going to move over to Alexis from Coops Cotton Candy.
Alexis
Hey, everybody. Let's feel like talking to friends. This is really, really quite wonderful, I think.
Kelly
So excited to have you on.
Liz
Yeah. So I think when we were doing an auto show, you know, I just love when people come across my desk, and I think that Coop's cotton candy just came across my desk because it.
Alexis
Was when we were.
Liz
When we, you know, put out the. The want for vendors, it's just so much of the same thing, you know? And so then it's just kind of sifting through, like, you know, who's doing, like, the best of that. Like, who's the vendor I want to have. And I would say after looking at hundreds of vendors, there was only one girl spinning cotton candy. And I'm like, I want that girl at my auto show. And. Well, let me shut up, because this is not about, like, people don't need to hear me talk about you. Let's hear you talk about you.
Alexis
No, no, I like hearing that because I. The Car Mom Auto show was. That was my first, like, real big event. Like, I took a huge step.
Liz
I did not know that.
Alexis
Oh, my goodness.
Liz
You would have never known.
Alexis
Thank you. Fake it till you make it is my life motto. I think it's a lot of people's life motto, but particularly mine. So I was. My husband will attest to this. I was a ball of nerves before that event because I thought, I don't feel like I've practiced enough. Like, what if my machine breaks? What if something happens? What if I get cotton candy all over their cars? Like, I'm going through every worst case scenario possible in my mind and going. And I was like, I almost backed out, like, two different times. My husband was like, no, you have got to do this. Like, this is a crazy opportunity. You're gonna have so much fun. Like, it will be fine. You're gonna be with moms. You're a mom. Like, this is. This is your crowd. And so I'm so glad that I did it. I had so much fun. It was such good feedback. And I like, the time flew. I was like, wait, we're done. I. I'm just getting started here, guys.
Liz
Okay.
Kelly
But it was. It was so fun. You were such. You were such a place to go. Like, everyone had cotton candy. It's delicious cotton candy, too. Well, and you had the cute little.
Liz
Pink jumpsuit on, and you've got, like, it was the. The branding stunning. And your cotton candy is dye free, right?
Alexis
Yes, it is. Yes, it is.
Liz
So it's healthy.
Alexis
Exactly. So I Like to tell people that my cotton candy is everything but sugar free. So there's no dyes, there's no artificial colors or flavors. It's gluten free, it's nut free, it's kosher, it's vegan. So you still have to have sugar because that's how you make cotton candy. But it tends to be a really good treat for a crowd because if people have allergies or aversions, 99% of the time, they're safe with me.
Liz
And you have fun flavors.
Kelly
And you have fun flavors.
Alexis
Very fun flavors.
Kelly
Alexis, what inspired you to start a cotton candy business specifically, and how did you take that first step?
Alexis
I've always worked for small businesses and meaning very small businesses. I'm the only employee or I'm one of two employees. And when you're with a team that small, you have to do everything, and no day looks the same. And so I just always loved that. I love that I might be, like, deep in admin work, admin work one day, and then I'm like, putting on an event the next day, or I'm talking with sponsors the next day or something just to kind of like, break up the day. And so when I was thinking about starting a side hustle, and truly, I just thought it was going to be like, oh, I'll just do something, like, on the weekends, right? Like, I have a baby, I'm pregnant with my second. And so I made a list of like 15 just kind of fun, playful ideas. Because if it was gonna be something that I was gonna do, I had to look forward to it. And so cotton candy just happened to be on the list. And so as I did market research into what were the businesses around me, what were people looking for, the lane just kept narrowing and narrowing towards cotton candy. And I'm kind of looking at myself going, am I about to start a cotton candy business? Like, really? And I did secret research behind my husband's back for, like, seven to nine months. So he didn't even know that this is what I was pursuing. And so I was. It was February 23rd of 2023, and I essentially presented like a PowerPoint presentation to my husband and said, I would like to have a side hustle. This is what I would like to do. Here are already ways that I feel like I could make money off of it. Here's the startup cost, all of these things. And I thought he was gonna, like, say no or like, this is probably not the right time. Like, you are 40 weeks pregnant with our second child, right now. And instead he took about an hour. And then I remember he's sitting on the couch, I'm sitting at the dining room table. And he said, you can do this, but you have to launch it right now. You have to just put it out into the world. And so I did. And I like go back and like cringe looking at that Facebook post and the Instagram post. But I'm glad that I did it because, you know, when's a great time to sort out marketing issues and figure out people you should reach out to when you're up all night nursing a child.
Liz
Yeah.
Alexis
And so no, I just would sit there and like, make notes on my phone.
Liz
You've got downtime.
Kelly
Yeah.
Alexis
I'm like, well, I'm gonna sit here for the next 20 minutes. So as ideas would come to mind, I just, you know, put them down on my phone. And then when I was clearer headed the next morning, I'd make sense of them.
Kelly
So what does a typical event look like for you?
Alexis
Yes. So my. I've completely shifted this year. So I just had baby number three eight weeks ago.
Kelly
Congrats.
Alexis
Thank you. And so Now I do 95% private events, weddings, corporate things, birthday parties. Because I spent the first two years really slugging it out at farmers markets and festivals and things like that. And I'm really glad that I did because it created a really good just web of people that I know now and can lean on. But as a mom of three kids, I don't really want to go to an outdoor festival from nine to six every weekend, and one, be away from my kids, and two, hope that the weather is right for cotton candy, and three, hope that people come to my booth. And so at this point, I've transitioned to just private events because if I'm going to leave my kids, I want to make sure that it's worth it for me financially to do that.
Kelly
Right.
Alexis
And that may sound like kind of calloused or mean, but I love my kids. I do not crave being away from them. And so, yeah. And I know that you guys feel the same.
Liz
And that's one of the reasons why we really wanted to highlight side hustles instead of just entrepreneurs. Because I do think it's that, what can I do to make a little extra money? But I don't want to girl boss that close to the sun. Like, I don't. I'm not after this, like, really big crazy career. I want to go all the time.
Kelly
I want my kids up from school.
Liz
Yeah. So that was, truthfully, I actually love that. I really love and recite that answer because that's. Those are, those are the stories we're really looking to highlight.
Alexis
Yeah. And it just like it's become so much bigger than I even thought that it could be in the first three years of existence. And like, I don't need to take credit for that. Like, God has been so, so kind to my business and just putting me in touch with the right people at the right times. And it also just doesn't hurt that I have a product that no one else offers in my area. And so if you want cotton candy, all roads are going to lead to me.
Liz
Yeah.
Alexis
At this point. Which is great. And, but any, I mean anybody can do it. It's. You could spend.
Liz
What was the hardest learning curve for you? Like was it the packaging, the branding, the reaching out? Was learning how to spin the cotton candy. Like what's been the hardest challenge?
Alexis
Yeah, so the, I think the hardest challenge is two things. One, since my cotton candy doesn't have any extra like additives or preservatives in it, it's really hard to keep it fresh for people. And so that's created. If I have large orders, I have to kind of pull all nighters to get them done in time because I don't want them sitting for a week before they get to somebody.
Liz
Yeah, that's interesting.
Alexis
And so like I want it to be as fresh as possible and that's.
Liz
What I think I do. Alexis, I want to interrupt you because Yes. I want people who maybe don't if they haven't looked you up yet. So because you, you can spin cotton candy live, but then you also sell pre packaged cotton candy. So like yes, if you're so. And I think that that's why it's. I think that's probably why like you do pretty well at these events because you're not having to sit by and like wait for someone to spin you a stick. Like you, you're just selling the cotton candy at that point.
Alexis
Right.
Liz
Or you're doing, you're doing both at the auto show.
Alexis
Yes. So I do both. And people, they prefer just like the live hand spun cotton candy because they just don't see it really anywhere else. And I enjoy that too because it gives me an extra moment with them to like, I'm such an extrovert, like extreme extrovert. And so I love getting to talk to people and it keeps them at the booth a little bit longer and they can see the process. And I mean people from 0 to 99 years old are consistently amazed at.
Liz
How I'm watching your real stuff.
Alexis
And I'm still. I'm still amazed. I'm still amazed that I put in sugar and out comes these like beautiful spider webs of sugar that I catch on a stick. It's magic.
Liz
It's so fun. It is magical.
Kelly
Okay, let's get into. I want to know startup costs and I want to know what you're charging at an event. And also, I'm curious if that has been more lucrative for you than going to a festival all day. I know you don't like to go to festivals because of the time and everything, but are you making more? Are you making less? Doing it the way this new way?
Alexis
Yeah. So the new way I'm actually making more money than I was going and grinding out at festivals every single weekend. And I'm not. And I'm not booked every weekend right now. And I love that in doing private events that if we have a family weekend scheduled or if I just have crossed off that weekend and said, like, I just need a break, then I'm my own boss, right? I can just say, hey, I'm sorry, I'm unavailable on this date. End of story. I don't have to ask my boss if I can have the weekend off. I just. We just decide like, oh, we're not doing anything this weekend. Okay, we're going to take the weekend off. We're going to just be a family. And so cotton Candy is not an expensive startup at all. You could buy a cotton candy machine for $40, or you could buy one for $10,000. Like, depending on what you're doing, you can find something that's going to fit within the budget that you've set. And the thing that I told my husband I was really passionate about is I said, I don't want to start a side hustle that puts us into debt. And so I don't want to spend thousands and thousands of dollars to get this thing going and then hope that it's good. And so over time, I've just upgraded this and then upgraded that and then upgraded this. And so. But like, currently in my home right now, I have six cotton candy machines.
Kelly
Yeah. Wow.
Alexis
Because sometimes I do events where I need to have me and someone else making cotton candy at the same time or. And each kind of machine has its own quirk. I'm not going to go into that. But so I. My base fee right now is $350 an hour. And so. And that is unlimited cotton. That is unlimited Cotton candy for that hour. And I can spend pretty darn fast. And if I'm not doing an exchange, like, if I'm not having to go, okay, hey, did you. Did you pay me for that cotton candy cone or did you pay me for that tub? You can get through a line really, really quick. And so most of the weddings that I do, they only hire me for one or two hours because I can make sure everybody has cotton candy in their hand and have probably come back for a second one at some point.
Kelly
Right.
Alexis
You know, like in your time slot. So, yeah, so that's what it starts out with. And then, of course, there's, like, travel involved. I live in Mexico, Missouri, which is kind of Columbia ish. And so I travel a lot. I mean, I was in.
Liz
Well, because that's also. If for. Just for context, that's a rural area. So, like, if you're having a successful.
Alexis
Yes.
Liz
If you have a successful business in a rural area, that's also just kind of. I mean, kudos to you.
Alexis
Thank you. I mean, I am not. I'm not afraid of a cold email or a cold phone call. I'll tell you that. Because if they tell me no, I'm right back to where I started, and you never know what it could potentially lead to. So, like, I'm doing a large catering order for a business in Columbia next week, and I emailed them a year ago. They've had my information for a year. And just now is the time that it's like, hey, we're having a Fourth of July party. We want to have cotton candy. So just because you don't get feedback right away doesn't mean that it's not going to happen.
Kelly
I always say sometimes no means not yet.
Liz
Well, one of my favorite quotes is some. Some days you plant and some days you harvest.
Kelly
Oh, so we're all adding value in our own life.
Alexis
And so I just think. I think maybe me five years ago would have been like, oh, I didn't hear back from that wedding venue, or I didn't hear back from that company. And so they don't like me. And it's like, no, they've got to use their budget accordingly. And maybe they've got more money at the end of the year, the beginning of the year or something. So just wait. If it's meant to be, it'll happen, right?
Kelly
Totally.
Liz
What I really like about the business, though, is to your point, it's go buy a machine and go find a small farmer's market and try it out. Or it's very much a business that you can build slowly and test it out, see if you like it, you know, get a small client here, get a small client there, like, and that's. That, that's a lot of vendor type based businesses. But I appreciate you kind of breaking it down on. On how small or big you could really take this.
Alexis
Yeah, it could be. I just don't feel like really anybody offers cotton candy anymore. That's the one feedback that I get that they're like, I did a wedding show yesterday and everyone that walked up said, oh, man, I've not seen cotton candy or I've not had cotton candy in so long, I love it. Or I have great memories of eating cotton candy. So nostalgia, it's so nostalgic. And so it's like my kind of spin now is like, it's the nostalgia that you remember. But now maybe it's like with your dietary restrictions in mind, right? Like, maybe you don't want food dyes anymore. We can make that happen. Maybe you're gluten free, maybe you're vegan, so it can still happen. You don't have to have it with all the dye.
Kelly
I wish I would have known about this when I got married. I think having a cotton candy spinner at your wedding is the cutest thing I've ever heard. And the other thing too, I think that you do really well is Kelly said she shows up in the pink jumpsuit. You've got like, you've got your branding really good. Like, you're not. It's. You're not, you're not to the event. Like you are a theme. Like you are an event. Like you are somewhere to go to. You're not just like in the corner, you know, with a graphic T shirt on in your Nike shorts, spinning cotton candy. Like, yeah, you really show up. And it's also an entertainment, an entertainment piece. And that's something that's cool and unique to cotton candy as well. So, like, you have. Could be like a master class on like cotton candy coops cotton candy on Instagram. Check her out. It's. It's perfectly done. It's perfectly done. Alexis, after a long day of spinning cotton candy, what are you feeding your family for dinner?
Alexis
Okay, so because I'm the cotton candy lady, I took this the sweet treat route. Everyone needs to go buy an ice cream maker because nobody wants to be buying an ice cream cone and hand it to their kid in the back seat for them to destroy the car seat with.
Kelly
Okay, fair.
Alexis
You need to get an ice Cream maker. Because you put your kids down for naps. You can have soft served ice cream in 30 minutes. You can have a slushie in 30 minutes and your kids will think you are the coolest mom or dad there might be. Some dads listen to this podcast as well. Ever when you're like, I made vanilla ice cream while you were asleep. I made chocolate ice cream while you were asleep. I made strawberry ice cream while you were asleep. My kids think I'm so cool.
Kelly
Now what's. What ice cream maker do you have? Because I just had it into creamy and I can't stop talking about it.
Alexis
Yes. Okay, so I have a Cuisinart and it's the 2 quart ice cream maker. You can find it literally anywhere. And you put in milk, sugar, heavy cream and vanilla and 25 minutes later you have soft serve ice cream.
Kelly
That's insane.
Alexis
It's insane. And so my ice cream intake has really increased over the last couple months. I'll be really honest with you. But it's so great because I'm such a. Oh, well, we're out. Let's get a little treat. And so this, this saves me from stopping, getting a little treat because my two oldest are big enough now that like, they know what the drive through is. And so then they'll be like, well, I want something, right?
Kelly
Like, totally.
Alexis
I'd like to request it. So now I can just say, hey, we have ice cream at home. I made you fresh ice cream. And so it saves my car seats, it saves my budget. It's wonderful.
Liz
Okay, love this. We haven't had a sweet treat. Ditch the drive thru. So that was fun.
Kelly
No, we haven't. That was fun. And it's so fitting to come from Coop's cotton candy herself.
Alexis
My husband was like, of course yours would be ice cream.
Kelly
It's fitting. We love it. We just talked about how good you are at branding and theming and saying within your brand and you do it to the end. So we appreciate that. Alexis, thank you so much for being on the podcast and joining us today.
Alexis
Kelly, Liz, thank you. You all are so kind. I just.
Liz
We need to hang out. We're like, we need to hang out.
Kim
Yes.
Alexis
Yes, we do.
Liz
And you always have to come to the auto show.
Alexis
Okay. You tell me the date and I will move heaven and earth.
Liz
Well, we don't have a date, but I. No, we don't have a date, but I don't want to hear, oh, I only do weddings now when I reach out to you.
Alexis
No, no, no.
Liz
Like, I Get a you, I get a permanent spot.
Alexis
Kelly, you do not have to worry about that at all. You're the car mom. And your influence has been so kind to people. So many people have said, hey, I found out about you through Kelly, through Liz, which is amazing. And thanks to you and your car recommendations and me watching you guys just be awesome moms that also have an awesome job. Cotton candy bought me a car last year.
Liz
Sheesh.
Kelly
Awesome.
Liz
What did you get?
Alexis
So I got a 2021 VW Atlas, and I love it so much.
Liz
You're such an atlas girl. I was. I was gonna guess that.
Alexis
I love it. I love it so much. My kids love it. They tell everyone that we have an atlas now. And it was.
Kelly
It was in the atlas trunk can fit a cotton candy machine.
Alexis
It can fit multiple cotton candy machines.
Kelly
Yeah, jot that down.
Liz
You heard it here.
Alexis
I'll take a video next time. I'm load up of the cotton candy supplies in the back, please. But yeah, like, we didn't have to dip into our personal finances because cotton candy bought a car.
Kelly
That's awesome.
Liz
That is awesome.
Kelly
Congrats. That's huge.
Kim
You're doing great things.
Kelly
Okay, Alexis, well, thank you so much for being on the podcast. Thank you. And everyone else, thank you so much for listening to the carpool podcast, and we'll talk to you a in next time.
Liz
Bye.
Kelly
Thank you for listening to the carpool podcast with Kelly and Liz. Make sure you're subscribed so you never miss an episode. And if you enjoyed riding with us, tell everybody you know there's room in.
Liz
The car for everyone.
Podcast Summary: "AMAZON AND COTTON CANDY SIDE HUSTLE SUMMERS"
The Carpool with Kelly and Lizz episode titled "AMAZON AND COTTON CANDY SIDE HUSTLE SUMMERS," released on July 1, 2025, delves into the vibrant world of side hustles tailored for millennial moms. Hosts Kelly Stumpe and Lizz St. John, both seasoned auto-industry experts and devoted mothers, explore two distinct side ventures: Amazon deliveries and a mobile cotton candy business. This episode not only highlights the flexibility and rewards of these pursuits but also weaves in personal anecdotes and practical insights, making it a valuable listen for moms seeking additional income streams without compromising family time.
The episode opens with Kelly sharing her anxiety over her sister Lizz’s home renovation, reflecting the common struggles of balancing personal projects with family responsibilities. Lizz adds her own challenges, mentioning her endeavors to master frying and her aspirations to incorporate smoking into her culinary repertoire. This candid discussion sets the stage for the episode's central theme: finding manageable and fulfilling side hustles amidst the hustle of motherhood.
Notable Quote:
Kelly [00:13]: “Seeing your house in that state of disarray. I was not prepared for your mom. Time off starts now.”
Kelly and Lizz express their enthusiasm for Side Hustle Summer, a segment dedicated to showcasing diverse side ventures. They emphasize their focus on side hustles over full-fledged businesses, aiming to inspire women who seek extra income without the pressure of scaling a large enterprise.
Notable Quote:
Lizz [00:52]: “I love highlighting side hustles instead of just businesses. There is a lot of space for female entrepreneurs, mom entrepreneurs.”
Motivation and Start-Up: Kim, an Amazon Flex Deliver driver, shares her journey into the gig economy. Motivated by the need to work alongside her 17-year-old son with autism, she chose Amazon deliveries for its flexibility and compatibility with her family life.
Notable Quote:
Kim [19:42]: “The main reason that I got into Amazon Flex Delivery is I knew I could take my son with me.”
Typical Shift and Flexibility: Kim explains the ease of picking up delivery blocks via an app, allowing her to choose hours that fit her schedule. Shifts range from $15 to $26 per hour, providing a substantial range based on time flexibility and demand.
Notable Quote:
Kim [20:29]: “It is super, super flexible. I do drive my own vehicle so I don't have to drive a big van.”
Earnings and Considerations: While the hourly rate is attractive, Kim notes the necessity of accounting for expenses like gas and vehicle maintenance. As a 1099 employee, she also manages her own taxes, underscoring the importance of financial planning in gig roles.
Notable Quote:
Kim [23:13]: “The shifts will start at about $15 an hour... but out of that money I have to buy my own gas.”
Operational Insights: Deliveries predominantly occur in rural areas, making the work less hectic and more manageable. Kim enjoys the unpredictability of delivery locations, which adds an element of adventure to her job.
Notable Quote:
Kim [22:55]: “We usually finish early almost every time and we're in a rural area.”
Ditch the Drive-Thru: Healthy Cooking Hack: Kim shares her favorite recipe to avoid the temptation of fast food after a long day—shredded pork in the crock pot. This versatile dish serves as a foundation for various meals, aligning with the podcast's theme of practical, family-friendly solutions.
Notable Quote:
Kim [28:11]: “My ditch, the drive through that everyone loves is a shredded pork in the crock pot.”
Inspiration and Launch: Alexis Cooper reveals her passion for small businesses and her decision to start a cotton candy venture as a side hustle. Balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, she emphasizes the importance of fun and practicality in her business choice.
Notable Quote:
Alexis [30:13]: “Fake it till you make it is my life motto... I just had to do this.”
Business Evolution: Initially battling nerves, Alexis found immense satisfaction in operating her cotton candy business at events. Transitioning from farmers' markets and festivals to 95% private events, she highlights the financial benefits and the ability to prioritize family time.
Notable Quote:
Alexis [36:06]: “Now I do 95% private events, weddings, corporate things, birthday parties.”
Branding and Marketing: Alexis attributes her success to strong branding, including her distinctive pink jumpsuit and the quality of her cotton candy—dye-free, gluten-free, and vegan. Her interactive approach at events not only entertains but also fosters connections with customers.
Notable Quote:
Alexis [31:55]: “My cotton candy is everything but sugar free. It’s no dyes, there’s no artificial colors or flavors.”
Challenges and Growth: Maintaining the freshness of her product without preservatives is a significant challenge, requiring dedication and efficient time management. Alexis's commitment to quality has paid off, allowing her business to thrive and even finance personal milestones like purchasing a new vehicle.
Notable Quote:
Alexis [38:50]: “My base fee right now is $350 an hour. And that is unlimited cotton candy for that hour.”
Ditch the Drive-Thru: Home Ice Cream Maker: To complement her cotton candy business, Alexis recommends investing in an ice cream maker. This not only provides a healthy alternative to store-bought treats but also ensures quick, homemade desserts that delight her children without the mess of traditional ice cream cones.
Notable Quote:
Alexis [48:21]: “You need to get an ice cream maker. Because you can have soft served ice cream in 30 minutes.”
Flexibility is Paramount: Both Kim and Alexis highlight the importance of adaptable schedules that accommodate family life, a crucial factor for mompreneurs.
Start Small and Scale Gradually: Alexis’s journey underscores the value of starting with manageable investments and gradually upgrading as the business grows.
Strong Branding Enhances Success: Effective branding, as demonstrated by Alexis, can significantly impact customer engagement and business reputation.
Diversify Income Streams: Exploring varied side hustles, such as deliveries and culinary ventures, can provide multiple sources of income tailored to individual skills and interests.
Balance and Prioritization: Maintaining a balance between side hustles and family commitments is essential, ensuring that additional work enhances rather than hinders personal life.
Kelly [00:13]: “Seeing your house in that state of disarray. I was not prepared for your mom. Time off starts now.”
Lizz [00:52]: “I love highlighting side hustles instead of just businesses. There is a lot of space for female entrepreneurs, mom entrepreneurs.”
Kim [19:42]: “The main reason that I got into Amazon Flex Delivery is I knew I could take my son with me.”
Kim [23:13]: “The shifts will start at about $15 an hour... but out of that money I have to buy my own gas.”
Alexis [30:13]: “Fake it till you make it is my life motto... I just had to do this.”
Alexis [38:50]: “My base fee right now is $350 an hour. And that is unlimited cotton candy for that hour.”
Alexis [48:21]: “You need to get an ice cream maker. Because you can have soft served ice cream in 30 minutes.”
In this episode of The Carpool with Kelly and Lizz, the hosts effectively blend personal narratives with insightful discussions on side hustles, providing listeners with both inspiration and actionable advice. Kim’s experience with Amazon deliveries and Alexis’s cotton candy business illustrate the diverse opportunities available for moms to earn extra income while maintaining flexibility and family priorities. The episode underscores the significance of passion, adaptability, and strategic planning in successfully managing side ventures.
Whether you're considering joining the gig economy like Kim or launching a unique culinary business akin to Alexis, this episode offers a comprehensive guide to balancing entrepreneurship with the demands of motherhood. Tune in to gain practical tips, heartfelt stories, and the motivation to embark on your own side hustle journey.