The girl takes after her mother (I sold drawings of the cartoon character Ziggy to people in elementary school for $.10 and then had my own karaoke business in middle school called Kelly Sounds…yup). In an effort to fund a trip to Disney World, more silly bandz (the annoying fad my kids are addicted to along with every other child from age 3-14 in our local area), and a goldfish to go in the free fish bowl she got at a yard sale last Saturday, Ashlyn made pipe cleaner things to sell. Most of them are magic wands, though she also got bold and made some people and a dog or two. She decided to sell them for $.25 each. I suggested also offering some cookies (I was fearful that pipe cleaner things may not catch on as much as silly bandz have). So, we got a pack of refrigerated cookie dough at the store today and made those to sell too.

I even tried calling a couple neighbors. And, Ashlyn knocked on a couple doors as well. I sent her brothers out with a quarter each. They each bought a cookie. Then, I offered them $1 to sit out there with her (apparently, just telling them it would be nice wasn’t motivation enough. Don’t judge me.). They went, and I think they may have already forgotten my offer.

Hooray! Someone came! This lady let her kids pick out pipe cleaner thingies! Yea! They got 2 magic wands and a pipe cleaner dog. Ashlyn was so proud! A few more customers came after them before Ashlyn closed up shop.

UPDATE 4/21/2010

Since Ashlyn’s earnings were about 1/2000 the cost of going to Disney World and since she clearly doesn’t need any more silly bandz (though she may disagree), we are the proud new family to a Beta named Jules.