She was frequently beaten by her husband, so she left the house with her kids.

Cara Brookins was left emotionally broken when her second abusive marriage ended. She got well by building her own house, which she did after seeing YouTube videos on how to do it.

The mother of four started looking for a new house in 2007 after being forced to sell the Bryant, Arkansas, home she and her soon-to-be ex shared. At the moment, though, anything the computer programmer analyst could afford was too tiny. Brookins too felt obliged to take action to bring her family back together. She admits, “But I had no idea what that should be.”

Brookins, therefore, came up with the idea to build her own house from the ground up. According to Brookins, 45, “If anyone was in our situation, they wouldn’t do this.” “No one else viewed it this way, and now that I think about it, I understand it sounds crazy.”

One acre of property cost Brookins $20,000, and she obtained a building credit for about $150,000. She then started watching YouTube tutorials to learn how to do things like run a gas line, build a wall, lay a foundation, and install plumbing.


Her children, ages 2 to 17, helped her throughout the nine-month construction of the 3,500-square-foot home. At the time, Drew, who was 15 years old, helped Brookins make the preparations. Jada, who was 11 at the time, transported water from a neighbor’s pond using buckets because there was no running water on the property. She then combined the water with 80-pound sacks of concrete to create the mortar for the foundation.

It felt impossible the entire time, according to Brookins, who worked when the kids were in school. After school, Brookins drove her family to the five-mile-away construction site where she worked late into the night on the new house.


YouTube videos previously were vague and provided numerous solutions to a task. Brookins employed a part-time firefighter with building experience for $25 per hour to help with some of the more challenging tasks. She remembers, “He was a step ahead of us in knowledge.”

On March 31, 2009, Brookins and her kids moved into the five-bedroom home. She gave it the name Inkwell Manor in recognition of her desire to become a writer.

In the years afterwards, Brookins has written numerous middle grade and young adult books. She has also written a biography titled Rise: How a House Built a Family, which will be released on January 24.

Building the house helped Brookins emerge from her depression. We were ashamed that our best option was to construct our own shelter, Brookins adds. “We weren’t really proud of it,” In the end, it proved to be the best thing I could have done for myself.

She says, “You can do anything you set your mind to if I, a 110 pound computer programmer, can build a complete house.” Choose one goal and stay with it. Find the big thing you want to do, move slowly in that direction, and take those who also need healing with you. That has a lot of influence.

Don’t Toss Those Eggshells!

lf you’re constantly using eggs in your home, you’re not alone. Eggshells, often seen as waste, actually offer numerous benefits. Here are 7 reasons to keep them:

1. Natural Pest Control: Scatter eggshells to deter slugs, worms, and snails from your garden.

2. Repel Deer: Sprinkle eggshells around plants to keep deer away.
3. Bird Feed: Birds love eggshells, so scatter them in your garden to attract feathered friends.
4. Soil Health: Eggshells are rich in calcium and nutrients, benefiting your soil and plants.
5. Protect Veggies: Prevent calcium deficiency in tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers by burying eggshells around them.
6. Balance Soil pH: Eggshells help neutralize acidic soil, creating a better environment for plants.
7. Easy Composting: Crushed eggshells make a great addition to compost, reducing waste and enriching soil.

Next time you crack an egg, consider the potential benefits of those shells for your garden and the environment.

“This is what drugs and alcohol can do!” Heather Locklear’s recent outing sparked reactions

American actress H. Locklear was recently photographed by photojournalists in Calabasas, California. Her appearance caused a stir – with a slightly disheveled appearance, a swollen face and pale skin. She was seen accompanied by her dog Mister and enjoying a walk in the lovely weather.

What many of her fans may not know is that Locklear has reportedly pleaded not guilty and received a 30-day sentence that she must serve in a rehab facility. Although no illegal substances or alcohol were found in her blood, she was charged with drunk driving.

In March 2008, a purported doctor called 911 concerned about Locklear’s well-being, leading to a police and emergency responder response to her home. A drug overdose was discovered there.

Locklear made her television debut in 1980 in an episode of ChiPs and later rose to prominence in the role of Sammy Jo Carrington on the series Dynasty. It was reported that she wasn’t wearing her engagement ring, fueling speculation of a split from Chris Heisser.

From 1994 to 2004, the iconic actress was married to Motley Crue musician Richie Sambora before entering into a relationship with Jack Wagner, which ended shortly after their wedding.

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