The idea for the lemonade stand, Dakari and Milagro’s Famous Lemonade, all started with Pineda and has grown into a potential space in the Dakota Square Mall.

“At first, I was like, ‘I’m bored.’ I did not know what to do, and then I was thinking in my mind, ‘I want to sell lemonade and lip-gloss. That should be a great idea,’ and mom made it happen. We ended up making a lot (more) money than we expected,” Pineda said.

Collette remembered thinking, “a lemonade lip-gloss stand? I’ve never heard of that, so that’s perfect,” when her daughter presented the idea. Collette said she wants to show her children that they can try anything they want, and that not everyone has to go to college or become a doctor.

“My parents, they were more free (and) let us be free-spirited,” Collette said. “I’m pretty much the same way with my kids. That’s how they’re able to express different ideas and stuff like that. I’m okay if my daughter wanted to be a baker, or my son wanted to be a tattoo artist. He kind of wants to do everything. I’m like, ‘That’s cool too. That’s how you learn. That’s how you get experience.'”

Submitted Photo Milagro Pineda, left, and her brother, Dakari Collette, hold up the sign for their lemonade stand. Dakari and Milagro’s Famous Lemonade Stand started last summer when Pineta pitched the idea to their mother.

They set up the stand in June 2021, and the whole family helped out. The recipe for the lemonade has been passed down through four generations. Pineda said that she can never tell anyone the secret recipe.

After a break for the winter, the stand is back up and running in the Pizza Ranch parking lot. Pineda sold lip-gloss at the stand over the summer, but isn’t currently doing so. They offer lemonade, slushies, and “Koolickles” — Kool-Aid-soaked pickles. Collette said that a lot of pregnant women stop by for the sweet and sour pickles.

“I grew up eating Kool-Aid and pickles. Where we grew up at (Los Angeles), we always had a candy lady– a house you could go to buy candy. We would buy pickles and Kool-Aid or pickles and candy and eat it together, so this is a part of my childhood,” Collette said.

Collette is working on securing a space in the mall for the family to lease and sell lemonade, Kool Aid pickles, slushies, and other “carnival food,” as well as gift baskets and lip-gloss. She currently works part time at a hotel, but is hoping to be able to run the party and entertainment business as well as the mall location.

She has already selected the space and is in contact with mall leasing staff. Contingent on installing a sink in the location and approval from the North Dakota Department of Health, Collette plans to open in the middle of April.

As for Pineda, the 7-year-old said she knew that the lemonade stand would be fun. She likes to talk to people who stop by and tell friends about it. The only thing she isn’t a fan of is having to hold the sign, but the experience is giving her confidence in herself for her future.

“I’m already doing something, so I can keep doing it. Later on, when I grow up, I can be a baker,” she said.

Collette also enjoys putting on free community events for kids with crafts, snacks, and games. One was held at Oak Park and another at the 2021 Juneteenth celebration. She hopes to start a non-profit someday to continue similar events and put on workshops to support entrepreneurship in the community.

“We would like to create a fun, safe environment for kids to do activities and to have different workshops to promote entrepreneurship,” she said.

While the kids are in school, Dakari and Milagro’s Famous Lemonade is usually open, weather permitting, from 4-7 p.m. in the Pizza Ranch parking lot on weekends.

“If it’s warm, we’d probably be out there seven days a week. That’s another reason why we kind of want to be inside, so no matter what the weather is, we can continue,” Collette said.

For more information, visit MamaMadeIt3 LLC on Facebook.