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Posted: October 8, 2010 11:49 AM

Arianna appeared on Fox 5's Good Day Atlanta this morning with Brenda Carter, whose story was featured in Third World America.

Carter shared her experience of re-inventing herself after an unexpected layoff from an office job. Carter, a grandmother, went on to launch a praline business online.

"What was great about Brenda is that after she cried and was upset...she started trying to rebuild her life. It's important for everyone out there to know that we can rebuild our lives," Arianna said.

Carter says the praline business idea came from her mother, a hard-working single mother in New Orleans who also made and sold homemade pralines in the neighborhood and at a local school to help make ends meet.

"People would knock on our doors at all times of night asking to purchase these pralines," she recalled. "So as I was sitting at home I thought 'Hey I can do this too! This is something I can do and am comfortable doing.'"

WATCH the video here:

 
Arianna appeared on Fox 5's Good Day Atlanta this morning with Brenda Carter, whose story was featured in Third World America. Carter shared her experience of re-inventing herself after an unexpec...
Arianna appeared on Fox 5's Good Day Atlanta this morning with Brenda Carter, whose story was featured in Third World America. Carter shared her experience of re-inventing herself after an unexpec...
 
 
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11:09 AM on 10/09/2010
I'm curently reading "Third World America" and can relate, in a small way, to Brenda Carter's situation. I applaud her for taking initiative and finding something that she could do as a way to generate additional income. People have skills, hobbies, and interests that are beyond what they do for a living and that can be profitable. While looking for work we can all be small business owners or hobbyist in our spare time.
02:13 AM on 10/27/2010
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08:48 PM on 10/08/2010
And where was Suchita during all of this?
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AZterritory
AZ: best taxidermatologists ever-ask Jan
08:02 PM on 10/08/2010
Anyone who has survived being unemployed in this economy and is still out looking for work already shows valuable traits . . . persistence, gumption, and courage. If employers pass them up, it's their loss. There are a lot of unemployed vets home from the wars right now as well.
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Eilis27
The soft minded wo/man always fears change. MLK
05:31 PM on 10/08/2010
The GOP seldom acknowledges the widening gap between the rich and the middle class. However, in a speech, Gdubya declared: "I know some of our citizens worry about the fact that our dynamic economy is leaving working people behind. ...Income inequality is real." Bush Reorients Rhetoric, Acknowledges Income Gap.

For millions of hard-working, middle-class families, life under the Bush presidency grew less affordable and less secure. Gdubya’s record of fiscal incompetence and mismanagement, and Republicans' close ties with special interests, have helped lead to both lower wages on the one hand and skyrocketing costs for basic necessities like gas, health care, and college tuition on the other. Unfortunately, instead of producing solutions to the problems facing the middle class, the republicans have ignored them and are pushing for policies that would make matters even worse.
08:45 PM on 10/08/2010
so true but the many folks still dont get it ...Hypocracy is the hallmark of Repug***thugs** ..they take all the benefits come their way but whine about everything the Democrats do to improve the lives of its citizens .. These tea party hypocrites take all the unemployment checks, the health insurance etc but whine about deficits that GDubya left ...
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justanotherbushhater
I've stopped evolving. Look around: why bother?
03:37 PM on 10/08/2010
The whole of America is now Pottersville! [Obscure "It's a Wonderful Life" reference. meine kinder.]
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twowrongs
Now you say crony capitalism like its a bad thing
02:58 PM on 10/08/2010
Those pralines are addictive as crack. Signed an unrepentant addict.
yappnmutt
humping legs for liberty
02:52 PM on 10/08/2010
this is great stuff. my personal story has the raygun recession as the pivotal time in my life. i am recession proof.

however, not all people are capable of making the necessary change. in fact, most people aren't capable. it boils down to problem solving skills and nerve in tandem. most people have poor problem solving skills hindered by lack of perspective and don't have the nerve to move outside their comfort zones which is why there are many former professionals and degreed people working at menial jobs.

what can be done? unfortunately, not much. young people have a longer timeline to recover. old people(over 50) are more desperate and most will end up working way below their skill level for the rest of their lives.

my advice, realize you have nothing to lose and a lot to gain by taking a chance on yourself. now is your chance to do what you really want to do for a living. you don't have to be a walmart greeter. take the time you have collecting your unemployment check and take control of your life.
03:26 PM on 10/08/2010
I agree. There was a point where I actually applied for a home depot job as a stop gap. I got home and said to my wife, what the eff am I doing? Ten months after that home depot interview, I was having meetings with the heads of state agencies, and contributing technical expertise on legislation (very insignificant, but my contributions are there in black and white). Folks, step out, find the courage, and retool.
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02:49 PM on 10/08/2010
Wow...that's awesome and gives me inspiration.

I am quitting my job at the end of this year and am launching a healthy and natural food product line, featuring wild edibles, wild mushrooms, oils, pestos, meat and poultry rubs, tapenades and seasonal specialties. My friend and I are avid organic gardeners and food lovers... so we figured, why not? Why not feed the world with the healthy things WE enjoy.

I will have natural beef AND venison jerkey, fresh ricotta stuffing made with spinach and wild mushrooms and oils infused with only the best herbs. Going to look for some land to see where I can grow my ingredients.

We are so excited and I'm starting production as soon as my venison comes in this hunting season.

I think the decade of healthy eating is coming if it hasn't arrived already, and from what I've been figuring, it doesn't have to be expensive. Why should only Californian's enjoy farm market fresh food?

This is really an inspirational story!
03:37 PM on 10/08/2010
I remember wild blueberries, saute'ed day lily buds, and fried cattail roots from my youth in the Adirondacks.
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02:40 PM on 10/08/2010
wow, what a story....congrats to Brenda Carter....:)
02:29 PM on 10/08/2010
No comments about how "FAUX News" made this story up....where is all of the outrage?
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Johnagain
WTFWJD?
02:54 PM on 10/08/2010
This wasn't on Fox fake News. It was on a local Fox network affiliate. If you don't know the difference between the two, you need to find out before you post here.
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iam7545 r
02:03 PM on 10/08/2010
Is the book out yet? I cant find it in the book stores and its not on the bestseller lists for a discount ? Anyone know>?
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marshel1969
Fan of the President and the First Lady!
02:03 PM on 10/08/2010
Why do people act like Obama started the recession, the job loss and etc. We never said that he was the messiah the one's that didnt vote for him did!
02:30 PM on 10/08/2010
solar back on the white house!
he just may be on the side of good
now bail out main street and lets party
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05:55 PM on 10/08/2010
Wake up you are just another piece of collateral for the baggers
02:00 PM on 10/08/2010
If I could shout "you need to reinvent yourself" from the mountaintop, I would. Here's my story:

I had a good run up until 2008, and then the wheels came off the tracks. My career came to stop when the industry I was in basically stopped spending money the winter of 08/09. I scratched and clawed to put food on the table in 2009, then I decided, I'm getting no where fast and I need to retool. And believe me, this was going on when the mortgage default notices were piling up, the old cans of food were being eaten, and my atm card was being rejected in the supermarket line, warrant for my arrest for unpaid tickets (and I have multiple college degrees). Rock bottom for me was went I went out of state for tech training that I had bartered for. Ran out of money the last week, and basically lived on water and coffee at the training center the last 3 days. But I parlayed that bartered-for training, sat for an exam, got a state license, and I'm working for myself 7 days a week now. Mortgage is caught up, working on the last 2 credit cards, and by spring I should be saving again. People, you need to get up, shake it off, and retool yourselves. But I know from experience that it's easier said than done. It took the absolute bottom to get me going.
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02:10 PM on 10/08/2010
F for your fabulous courage. Good luck and God Bless
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MNTom
02:46 PM on 10/08/2010
Thanks for sharing.
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lemmyk73
Foxy Shazam!
01:47 PM on 10/08/2010
See folks- Obama is NOT the answer. You all have it within you to succeed.
02:09 PM on 10/08/2010
Maybe you need to leave your moms basement, and see the real world, instead of finding blame, how about you talk about her accomplishment, being a bagger is not very becoming of one self, it only speaks of low self esteem, you think.