First Day of 2026 — The ToxicTeener Way

First day of 2026 and I'm ready.

The first day of 2026 and I’m moving a little slow.

Not exactly the strong, Tina is going to start I had planned but listen… I partied a little too hard last night and I completely forgot I had my RA infusion yesterday. So yeah, my joints are currently screaming like, “Ma’am, don't be RUDE, what did you think you were doing last night?”

For anyone new here, I have rheumatoid arthritis, and I get an infusion called Actemra, and boy has it been helping calm the inflammation that likes to run my body, just NYE and my infusion were the same day. And I couldn't skip either one.

Still… I'm showing up.

Because I made a promise to myself. 2026 is my year.

This year, I’m done with half assing my dreams. No more posting when I feel like it. Or when I get a hit of yeah I'm on this today. I’m giving this my 100% even when my joints are mad, my energy is low, and my brain is trying to figure out how to spell a simple word.

The Work in Progress

My website still needs tweaking.

My personal store needs way more eyes on it.

My Amazon storefront needs attention.

Pinterest? She’s been neglected I see you girl I'm coming to help you help me!

But progress will happen.

My TikTok streaming has actually been going really well. Today is Day 15 of my 50 Streams Until I Turn 50 challenge, and I’m proud of myself for sticking with it. I’ve been consistent. I’ve shown up. And I’ve met some awesome good friends along the way.

My Discord The Sarcastic Sanctuary needs growing too. More members, more laughs, more people who get it. Women and men who love gaming and sarcasm and don’t take themselves too seriously. I want to hit one of my goals and host a private match, maybe I can get that for a stream after my birthday challenge streams.

Who I Am

I’m Tina a middle aged woman (that hurts to type out and read) who’s been gaming longer than I can remember.

Now that my kids are grown, I finally get to game as much as I want. And instead of treating that like something silly gaming session I decided to turn it into something more.

I tried streaming before. I stopped not because I couldn’t do it, but because I got in my own head. I didn’t like what I saw in the mirror. I doubted myself. I talked myself out of my own dream.

So I paused.

And now I’m done pausing.

ToxicTeener.com

I decided to build something behind the scenes.

I built a website. Invested time. Invested money. Stressed myself out. Changed my About Me page more times than I can count. Built stores. Rebuilt them. Designed a poster lets get Woman Gamer viral PLEASE! Designed shirts for me and women. Second guessed everything.

It NOT perfect but it is mine.

Then my friend that owns The Cozy Creator Clubhouse mentioned monetizing with AdSense, and that lit a fire under me. That’s now one of my goals for 2026. If you’re trying to grow something anything that kind of community matters. She helps you achieve your dreams. With free advice and answer any questions you might have. When you are starting out or even if you are far in your journey this is the place to be. It’s free, it’s supportive, and the advice is real… but you still have to do the work. The last part is 100% the truth. No one else will do that for you. Only you can build your own dream. But tools help make the job easier.

Amazon & Slow Growth

I got accepted into Amazon Affiliate and I was excited until I realized it doesn’t magically work overnight.

You don’t just post links and watch money roll in.

I started adding products to my site, linking them to Amazon, writing blog posts, and pushing them through Pinterest. It’s slow. It’s work. But it’s real. And I'm hopeful it will start helping me.

I’m sitting around 1.5K monthly Pinterest views, which isn’t huge but it’s honest growth. Those views turn into clicks. Those clicks build momentum.

I don’t want viral.

I want to last.

I want this to last longer than an one hit wonder from the ’90s.

Pinterest (The Underrated Queen)

Pinterest doesn’t get the respect it deserves.

With the right images, keywords, and work, it sends people exactly where you want them to go your blog, your socials, your Amazon links. People use it like a search engine, and when you treat it that way, it actually works.

TikTok & Streaming Life

Finding content that hits is hard. Some days it lands. Some days it flops. But I keep showing up.

I’m not here for follow party nonsense. I want real people, real interaction, real community.

The 50 Streams Until 50 challenge has been one of the best things I’ve done. I started terrified. My friends helped push me through it. Now I’m genuinely having fun. It doesn't bother me if no one is in the stream. Or if its my friends just supporting. I've challenged myself and that alone to me is a win.

I’ve met some great people. I support them, they support me. That matters.

And yes I still troll in game. If I’m downed and someone pushes, I’m yelling, “It’s my birthday!”

Is it true yet? Nope.

Is it funny? Always.

The Sarcastic Sanctuary

This is my Discord a space for friends, memes, game nights, advice, chaos, and connection. A place to be yourself without the weird energy.

Now I just need to teach some of the oldies how to use the channels correctly. I feel like this is a bigger challenge.

Final Thoughts

So here we are.

Day one of 2026.

Day one of giving it my all.

No half assing. No laziness. No excuses.

Even if my joints are screaming.

Even if I overdid it the night before.

Even if I’m learning as I go.

If laundry is screaming.

Dinner still will be on the table. So what it might be ordered.

I’m here. I’m building. I’m showing up.

And I appreciate every single person who’s along for the ride.