They say that if life hands you lemons, make lemonade. We all know that this is easier said than done, yet nothing is truly impossible if we set our minds to something and put in a lot of effort to achieve it.
Cara Brookins ended up in a vioIent marriage. She left her husband, took her kids with her, and started over in a new house since she was a mother of five and understood she had to protect her kids from the toxic environment they were made to live in. How was it accomplished by her? by creating her own construction blueprints and viewing YouTube videos that demonstrated various building skiIIs, such as installing plumbing, running a gas line, laying a foundation, and erecting walls. It sounds amazing, doesn’t it?
Now that she’s thinking about it, she acknowledges that it has been impossible the entire time.
Cara, a computer programmer analyst, came up with the idea to build her family’s new home from the ground up because she couldn’t afford to buy a house big enough for all of her children at the time she started building it in 2007.
Cara described the feeling as being that “if anyone were in our situation, they would do this.” “I know it sounds crazy now, but no one else saw it likе this.”
She borrowed about $150,000 for construction and paid $20,000 for an acre of land.
Her children helped build their 3,500-square-foot home; the eldest was only two years old at the time and the youngest was seventeen.
Since there was no running water on the property, her 11-year-old daughter Jada had to use buckets to carry water from the neighbor’s pond. Her son Drew assisted her in creating the plans. After that, she combined it with concrete bags weighing eighty pounds to create the foundation mortar.
The children would visit the site and assist every day after school. This tenacious mother paid $25 per hour to a part-time firefighter with building experience to complete the most difficult tasks. He was “a step ahead of us in terms of knowledge,” she recalled.
The family finally moved into Inkwell Manor on March 31, 2009, which was named in honor of Cara’s aspiration to become a writer.
“We felt ashamed that the only option available to us was to construct our own shelter,” Cara remarked. “We weren’t particularly proud of it, but it ended up being the best thing I could have done for myself.”
“Anything is possible for you if I, a 110-pound computer programmer, can build a whole house,” she exclaimed.
She continued, stating, “Select one goal and stick to it. Choose a big project you’ve always wanted to do, start small, and take the others who also need to recover with you. That has a great deal of power.
This isn’t it one of the most amazing tales you’ve heard recently?
If this family’s tenacity inspires you as much as it does, please SHARE their amazing tale on Facebook with your loved ones!
Toilet Paper in Your Fridge? Here’s What It Might Indicate
Most of us keep paper towels in the kitchen for quick cleanups, but did you know they can also work wonders in your fridge? It might sound unusual, but placing paper towels in your refrigerator can help extend the life of your fresh produce.
According to Reader’s Digest, lining your produce drawers with paper towels is an easy and effective way to prevent fruits and vegetables from spoiling too quickly. Here’s how to use this handy trick:
- Line Your Produce Drawer: After shopping, place a layer of paper towels in the bottom of your crisper drawers before adding fresh fruits and veggies.
- Replace Regularly: Swap out the paper towels whenever you restock the drawer to keep things fresh and clean.
- Add to Produce Bags: For bagged items like spinach or lettuce, slip a paper towel inside the bag to help absorb moisture.
Why does this work? Over time, fruits and vegetables naturally release moisture, which can make them soggy and cause them to spoil faster. Paper towels absorb this excess moisture, keeping your produce crisp and fresh for longer.
This simple practice not only reduces food waste but also cuts down on fridge cleaning since the paper towels help keep your drawers dry and tidy.
With fresh produce becoming increasingly expensive, it’s frustrating to see it go bad before you can enjoy it. By adding a few sheets of paper towels to your fridge, you can extend the shelf life of your fruits and veggies, save money, and make the most of your grocery shopping.
If you haven’t tried this yet, now’s the perfect time to start! A small change like this can make a big difference in reducing waste and preserving your food.
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