the art of less online to feel more alive

Hey Friend, 

I gave my brain a break so I could reclaim myself. I am not trying to sound deep, but honey, I was working myself down into the ground. Then, one day, I closed my computer and took a hiatus. Seriously, that’s what I did.

I stepped back from social media and gave my brain a break.

I didn't take a break from my business because I was still creating and making ugly denim bags for Funky Grunge Boutique. But, showing up on this internet was a no-go for me, so I stopped the press on everything. And I must say it felt so freaking good. 

Somewhere between logging off, thrifting, and rearranging my house, I started feeling like myself again.

I look at it this way: I gave myself a much-needed vacation. And during that time of being off-line  I found some discoveries under the life Ive been waiting on, was already there waiting on me. 

It took me slowing down to realize some things that matter the most needed my attention. And the things that didn't I took it off my plate. I feel more alive now than ever. 

I started spending more time behind the scenes, doing little things that made me feel good. I got into decorating and making my space feel funky, cozy, and like me. I moved things around, added touches here and there, and suddenly, my home apartment started feeling fresh again. Not to mention, we just made a big city move. Yes, I will share more on that at a later date. 

I also started getting out more. 

I went sightseeing around my own city like I was a tourist. Sometimes we forget there are cute little places, pretty views, and hidden gems right where we live. I slowed down enough to notice them.

And yes... I went thrifting a lot!

Nothing lifts my mood like shuffling through thrift stores and finding something that I can use in my space or funk up my style. 

Thrifting always reminds me that treasures are everywhere if you take your time looking.

It’s funny how taking a break can bring you back to life. 

Sometimes we think we need to do more, post more, be more. But sometimes the real glow-up is resting, wandering, creating, and remembering who you are when nobody is watching.

Honestly, I do not have it all figured out yet but who does. In life we will continue to learn. Because learning new things in life never stops no matter how old you become. 

Sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is disappear a little. 

Things that have been bringing me joy

Music has been a vibe, and I have been on a track exploring away. So, Ive been on the vibes of ole' school  jams. Lauryn Hill has set the tone for all my cleaning routines. I have Ex-Factor on repeat and if you know you know.

Something I found for a space on my kitchen counter. I recently found the cutest cookie jar, and it was on my wish list for two years. It's an old school Ronald McDonald's cookie jar dated from the 90's. Was this a score or not? I will show how I styled it later. This has to be my greatest find this year. It's screaming childhood nostalgia.

Oh, guys, I have so much to share, ya girl has been eating more..lots of hamburgers. And I have been taking in so much of the outside. If you've made it this far, thank you  and come again soon....BYEEEEEEE:)

What have you been doing to feel more alive?

Drop a comment below.

Here's to living life beyond existing

xo Tangie 

A Funky Goodbye To The Year Ending Happily

Hey friends, no matter where you are in the world right now, we made it to 2026.

I could sit here and drag last year, but honestly, the petty side of me refuses to give it that much satisfaction. Instead, I’m choosing gratitude over anything. I’m thankful to be here, to still be standing, and to be stepping into this new year with new ideas, good food, and family.

This year, I skipped the parties, the crowds from store runs, and overdoing it. I wanted to enter the new year with ease and calm, not exhaustion. So I chose family, comfort, and a quick version of gumbo instead.

I turned my phone off until midnight, and when 12:01 hit, I turned it back on to a flood of Happy New Year texts and calls. That moment texting back, smiling, and feeling connected with loved ones was everything. We officially went to bed around 4 a.m., and somehow, I woke up feeling surprisingly good, without any grogginess, just peace.

Calm Morning Dump : Walking And Talking To Myself

Calm Morning Dump: Walking And Talking To Myself

Part Two of Getting Ready for 2026
Who else is in good spirits and ready for the New Year to pop off? This is part two of getting my mind ready for 2026, and it starts the same way most of my mornings do lately, outside, moving, and getting myself in a good headspace.

This morning I was almost late for my walk. Thank goodness it’s Tuesday and the sun isn’t already beaming hot here in Texas. After enjoying a random week of summer weather smack dab in the middle of winter, the cold decided to show back up. And honestly, I wasn’t mad at it. That little chill in the air already had me thinking, yep, this is about to be a good day.

I call them mental morning dumps and unloads that help me set my mood before the world gets my attention. You know those things like being a wife, mom, friend, co-worker, etc. Although I love being those things to everyone else, there comes a time when I have to have my moments to laugh and talk to myself. 

Who else gets up early and takes a “morning dump” outside before starting the day? And no, not that kind of morning pooping. :)

I’m talking about self-talk, that’s the kind that puts you in a good mood before dealing with the person who cuts you off in traffic or that boss who woke up choosing chaos.

Those are my morning dumps, and I love them. I get up, hit the street, and have myself a good old-fashioned talk with myself while walking through my neighborhood. Sometimes I will drive to other places for a different city scenery, but it is a bit too cold for that now.

Also, one of my favorite things to do now is walk past clothing store windows and simply look inside. In the community where I live, I can cut through the park or stroll the streets, and everything is close enough that if I feel like sliding into a café for coffee, I can. I used to get up every day and go to the gym, until I finally realized it bored me, and it never really gave me the satisfaction I thought it would. So, I walk everywhere when I am craving for alone time by myself.

Once I realized I wasn’t trying to lose weight, I started looking for something more fun and enjoyable to do in my mornings. The funny thing is, just from walking and breathing in fresh air, I can already see a slight difference in my body.  

Walking has also helped me notice things I’d been passing by for years. Most days, I just going to work and home, and on the weekends, we usually leave the neighborhood to do something else around the city. But once walking became my new form of exercise, I discovered a new coffee brew spot, a yoga studio, and a corner store that had literally been right under my nose the whole time.

It made me realize how much of life we miss when we’re always rushing from one place to the next.

Side note: That just means I was too busy to notice the small things around me. And yes, I’m working on changing that before 2026.

After a few mornings of hitting the streets, that’s when I noticed my mood start to shift. My mental space feels calmer. I know this may sound strange to some, but walking and talking to myself really helps me. I could never do that on a treadmill at the gym because people are always looking, and I don’t need an audience for my inner conversations.lol #realtalk

My morning dumps on the streets have helped me see the beauty in the things that are already around me. More importantly, they’ve helped me speak life into myself.

Morning dumps consist of the things I say out loud to self-motivate my inner being before the day starts pulling at me.

These are the things I usually say, sometimes before I’ve even had coffee.

1. Today I’m going to speak highly of myself and of someone else.
   

2. I’m going to be on time for the craft studio, so I won’t have road rage. (Seriously, this works.)
   

3. I’ll be moving my studio to an in-home setup this year, and I’m excited about it.
   

4. I am blessed and not stressed.
   

5. Today is a good day, and I’m in control of my own feelings.
   

6. I will excel at all I do.
   

7. I can do amazing things in life.
   

8. It’s not too late to start a new adventure. #realtalk
   

9. It’s never too late to break bad habits. Still working on this one:)
   

10. I’ll be creating new accessories this year for my business
    

11. I am a good mom, wife, friend, and so much more.

I’m at a point in my life where I can’t wait for someone else to inspire or motivate me. Life moves fast, and there are things I’m still learning. Things like how to use the internet, changing career paths, and figuring out what fits me now as I am aging. Yes, a shift has happened, and that means I need to catch up to the new things that start to happen in this phase of my life.

I never thought I’d still be learning new things every day at fifty-something, but hey, that’s life, right? Yep, I was one of those kids who couldn’t wait to become a grown-up because I just knew I knew it all. Only to discover I know nothing and will forever be learning until the day I leave this earth. #realtalk

Morning dumps may not work for everybody, but I promise they relax the mind in a very real way. Try it once and let me know what you think. Anyhoo, that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

Do you talk to yourself, or do you let the day decide your mood? What’s one thing you tell yourself when you need a reset?

Until next time, see you in a bit!

Xo, Tangie Have a great day and don’t forget to Live Life Beyond Existing

Living Beyond Existing: How I Am Entering 2026 With Peace

At this stage of my life, being fifty-something has taught me that peace is worth protecting. So, this is how I will be moving in 2026 from this day forward. #settheTONE

Hey Friends,

Now that Christmas is over, it's time to get down to the real nitty-gritty of ending off 2025 peacefully and not overwhelming. This last holiday of the year, I did something different with my family; we rested, cooked a small meal, fried shrimp with pancakes, and watched movies all day. Actually, the hubs and I have started watching a new series on Apple TV called The Last Frontier, and it’s a mind-bender from the start. Now, I am not into series because I am so impatient. But this one started off from the beginning, jumping, and it hasn’t stopped yet. 

I think I like it more because it’s a grown-up's real-action TV series that the whole family can watch. So, yeah, that was my Christmas in a nutshell: fun, relaxing, and not overworked. I’ve learned some lessons this year about being in my kitchen cooking for days just to eat on one day. If I cook a feast for Thanksgiving, I am not doing it for Christmas, and vice versa. 

While I was watching The Last Frontier and talking with family, I got out a piece of paper and started rearranging my goals. Because I wrote down enough stuff that was actually going to have me doing more.

Spoiler Alert: I just read Apple Tv has canceled The Last Frontier Series. Nooooo, this series is so good. :(

So, here’s my 2026 goal list. Not everything will be listed because not all ideas should be shared, not even with friends. :) #nopunintended

Goal Number 1: Doing Less Is Being Productive: This year, I am not over working my self in everything I do. That includes my business, Funky Grunge Boutique, writing on my blogs, Aging Notes, Wear What The Funk You Want, my personal life, which includes my marriage, friends, and co-workers. This 2026 will be slow and steady, so I can enjoy my steps and milestones

Goal number 2: I will be treating people the way I am treated. Peace over everything, that includes me watching what I say, do, and where I go. Some places will drain you, some places will inspire you, and those are the pieces of my life I will be paying close attention to. This will be a year of time unwasted. 

Goal number 3: Visit my hometown more in 2026. This last visit home to visit my mother and father in law made me realize we are aging and now is the time spend laughing and enjoying life in this present moment.

Goal 4: Stick to a healing journey, at the end of the day, I know what makes me sad or cry. It’s time to not just pray but close the doors on mindless behaviour. Seriously, tears of joy are all I will be seeking in 2026. I want to hear good news, be around people who can go through something but still find joy in the situation. We are not sitting down long, over life just lifing. Life happens in stages, and it’s time to roll with it by keeping on moving.

come lollygag in my hometown, coffee, weird sightings. finding me again!

In My Hometown: Coffee, Weird Sightings, Me Lollygagging Again, Seeing Old Places, Having Old Feelings and Memories I Didn’t Expect!

Hey friend, happy Sunday,

Things in life are changing for so many people, and lately I’ve been realizing that going back home to visit is more vital now than ever. Time feels different these days; people feel different. And the places that raised us seem to matter in a deeper way than they used to.

Today, I’m lollygagging in my hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana, the place where I was raised. The place that shaped me in ways I probably didn’t even notice at the time (back in the day). It’s a place I don’t visit often, but that’s about to change. Although this road trip is mainly about visiting my mother-in-law and father-in-law, before settling in, I wanted to see the city. The old parts we left behind, and the new parts that are worth seeing when visiting. I want to see and feel the things I may have missed over the years simply by being gone.

Turn Off Phone, Go Outside, Put Yourself First!

Hey Friend,

It's almost the last Saturday of 2025, and wow, it’s officially one Saturday of the year left. I’m feeling nervous and happy at the same time about what’s coming in 2026, but today isn’t the day to get lost in all of that. Today is about enjoying what’s left. I just wanted to hop on here and say I hope you’re having a good weekend, or at least giving yourself permission to slow down. Do something nice for yourself: yes, for yourself. Unwind a little, sip some wine if you’re grown. Go see a movie, turn the stove off, order pizza. Listen, life is moving fast, and it’s okay to pause. Give yourself an early Christmas gift by putting yourself first. I’ve been a little low-key here lately, closing out things with Funky Grunge Boutique, and I’m truly grateful. #beenbusy

But now it’s time to wind this year down and relax. So, I’m sending good energy into the remainder of your weekend. As for me, I’m outside with family, wandering my city, sipping hot cocoa with cotton candy on top, just being a simple woman, living life beyond existing.

Thank you for being here. Come back at 12:00 A.M Sunday morning for a special read. Byeeeeeee for now:)

Leave a comment because I love this community. This is where I talk and hang out the most.

Eight And Done: Weekend Bits And Favorites!

 Oh, hey, guys, it's me again, Tangie, and I am back with another weekend bits and favorites. Don't you love it when you can find something to do on the weekends, even if it involves