A year and a half ago, I bought a vending machine off Facebook Marketplace and dropped it into our local community center because, apparently, I like turning random ideas into family businesses.

At first, Landon was ALL in. Every week, he was ready to check inventory, restock snacks, and count the money. (Very CEO energy for a fourth grader.)

Now? The novelty has worn off just a little.

He is significantly less thrilled about weekly vending machine maintenance, which honestly feels like a solid introduction to entrepreneurship.

The exciting part was buying the machine. The less exciting part is realizing someone has to go refill the peanut M&Ms every week... or not, because no one is buying them.

Here's how the business actually works:

1. Most of our sales come through the credit card machine.
2. We buy snacks in bulk at Costco, price each item at about 3x what it costs us, and round to the nearest quarter.
3. Each month, the community center gets 26% of everything the machine brings in. We keep the rest after credit card fees and the monthly payment to Nayax for the card reader.

As for our actual profit after a year and a half? I genuinely could not tell you. Not because we don't have the numbers.

I keep handing Landon the P&Ls, and he keeps ignoring them. In his defense, he is 11.

When we finally sit down and read the P&L together, I'll report back. But the real lesson here (because there's always a lesson) is that starting something is fun. Keeping it going is the whole game.

Also, yes, the kids eat our inventory.

Oh, and a writer from Business Insider saw this post on LinkedIn and slid into my DMs, so you'll see more of this in the news soon ;)

THE BOOKISH CRAFT THAT BROKE ME

So I had this adorable idea to make mini book keychains... like, the low-budget Coach version.

I was going to film the whole thing, post the gorgeous finished product on Instagram, and bask in the crafty bookish glory.

That is not what happened.

I failed. Twice. Then I gave up entirely.

So instead of a beautiful success story, you're getting a fail reel. You're welcome. Watch me absolutely butcher this craft here.​

No mini book keychains are happening. Not today... or ever.

WHAT I'M READING

I just finished The Anatomy of an Alibi and loved it. If you're looking for a solid thriller, put this one on your list.

I'm also making my way through the Chestnut Springs series by Elsie Silver on audio after absolutely devouring her Rose Hill series.

And my newest thriller pick? Chosen by my son out of the TBR jar. Because apparently he's running all the operations around here now. Check it out here.​

Christina