<![CDATA[Tart AF - Always Fun. Always Fabulous.: Everyday AF]]>https://tartaf.substack.com/s/everyday-afhttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!fzG1!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F006ca1d8-029a-4c0d-b4e1-8c34e8e41aeb_256x256.pngTart AF - Always Fun. Always Fabulous.: Everyday AFhttps://tartaf.substack.com/s/everyday-afSubstackThu, 18 Jun 2026 21:35:03 GMT<![CDATA[Tiny Transition Guide: The Messy Middle]]>https://tartaf.substack.com/p/tiny-transition-guide-the-messy-middlehttps://tartaf.substack.com/p/tiny-transition-guide-the-messy-middleSun, 07 Jun 2026 19:32:45 GMT
scrabble letters spelling women on a wooden surface
Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

You do not need to apologize for The Great Recalibration.

The TART AF Guide to Transition:

  1. Cry when you need to. Tears are a release valve, not a weakness. Use them.

  2. Move through it, not around it. You cannot bypass the hard parts. The only way out is through the center.

  3. Find the joy in the mess. There is humor in the absurdity. If you can’t laugh at the fact that you’re sweating in a blizzard, you aren’t paying attention.

  4. Live without apology. Whether you are starting HRT or starting a new business, do it with your head up.

Thanks for reading Tart AF - Always Fun. Always Fabulous.! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

]]><![CDATA[What to Do When They’re About to Leave: A Mother’s Checklist for Staying Present ]]>https://tartaf.substack.com/p/what-to-do-when-theyre-about-to-leavehttps://tartaf.substack.com/p/what-to-do-when-theyre-about-to-leaveMon, 08 Sep 2025 01:09:52 GMT

  • Hug them every time they offer, or when they’re close. Hold them a few seconds longer.

  • Put your phone down. Turn it off. Be fully in the room with them.

  • Look at them—really look. See how they’ve grown. How they walk. How they smile. Their shiny hair.

  • Hear them speak. Laugh with them. Let their voice imprint on your memory.

  • Ask questions—more than they’re willing to answer. Ask anyway.

  • Offer something simple: a hand to hold, a spot on the couch, a quiet presence.

  • Read to them, if they’ll let you. No matter their age.

  • Listen to music together. Sing. Loudly.

  • Walk with them—side by side. Not in front. Not behind.

  • Make dinner for their friends. Feed the ones they love.

  • Kiss their eyelids. Their cheeks. Their hands.

  • Smell their hair. Let it linger.

  • Be enamored by the mystery still unfolding in them.

  • Be amazed that your love—and the luck of the universe—allowed them to be yours for this time.

  • Feel lucky.

  • Be grateful that this love is infinite, no matter the form it takes.

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    ]]>    <![CDATA[5 Morning Rituals to Start Your Day with Intention ]]>https://tartaf.substack.com/p/5-morning-rituals-to-start-your-dayhttps://tartaf.substack.com/p/5-morning-rituals-to-start-your-dayWed, 25 Jun 2025 12:41:57 GMTFor better sleep, less anxiety, and a more connected day. Because how you start your morning shapes how you meet the world. You don’t need an elaborate routine. You need a moment. Your moment.

    1. Stay in Bed. But On Purpose.

    Thanks for reading Tart AF! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

    Before your feet hit the floor, take five intentional minutes to arrive.

    Stretch your arms, your legs, your fingers, your face. Let your body wake up slowly and remember: you made it to today. That matters.

    2. Breathe with Intention.

    Take 3 to 5 slow, conscious breaths. Let your breath settle you.

    Here are a few inhale/exhale mantras to try:

    • Inhale: I am here   Exhale: I am safe

    • Inhale: A new day   Exhale: A new chance

    • Inhale: This breath   Exhale: Is enough

    • Inhale: I trust     Exhale: I let go

    Choose one that speaks to you—or make up your own. It doesn’t have to be deep . It has to be yours.

    3. Claim Your Affirmation.

    Say something that roots or uplifts you. Look at yourself in the mirror. Look yourself in the eye. Say your mantra out loud. It might feel awkward. It might feel tender. But give this gift to yourself. Just speak it - outloud. This is for you.

    A few favorites:

    • “It’s going to be a glorious day.”

    • “I’m happy to be alive.”

    • “I’m a miracle.”

    • “I am already who I am.”

    Or say something else. You can try a new one everyday.

    4. Drink Water Before Anything Else.

    Before coffee, emails, or even a thought about the day—hydrate.

    Pro tip: The night before, pour yourself a glass of water, add lemon if you like, cover it, and leave it on your nightstand. That way, it’s waiting for you. It’s one decision you already made with care.

    5. Do One Thing Before You Pick Up Your Phone.

    Before the scroll, the texts, the feed—do something that’s for your.

    • Make your bed.

    • Sit in silence.

    • Step outside.

    • Stretch.

    • Eat breakfast—yes, breakfast before the phone. Even if it’s just a few bites while you look out the window. Nourish yourself first.

    Sometimes, this feels counterintuitive.

    You wake up tired, behind, overwhelmed—and the last thing you think you have time for is 5 to 10 quiet minutes.

    But that’s exactly when it matters most. Because these minutes? They set the tone.

    They create space for more. More calm. More clarity. More you.

    Which one will you try tomorrow? If you already did one of these today, you’ve already begun.

    You’re doing it.

    P. S. Stay Tart!

    Thanks for reading Tart AF! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

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