Category: Life Seasons

Life Seasons, The Monthly Tea, What's New

The Monthly Tea — July 2020

Featuredby Angela ThomasLeave a Comment on The Monthly Tea — July 2020

I have seen people on Twitter talking about how August equals fall, cooler weather, and pumpkin decor. Well, in the south that is definitely not true! It just keeps getting hotter here and I can’t even imagine shopping for a sweater right now 🙅🏼‍♀️

The turn of the month does mean something over here at Choose Joy though! It’s time for another edition of the “The Monthly Tea.” So grab a glass of tea (or cup if hot is more your style) and let’s get started!

Dress: This chambray shirt dress is on SALE! Woohoo! Lips: Liquid Matte Lipstick in “Berry Sorbet”(Only $6!!)

Products I Am Loving & Loathing

  • In case you couldn’t tell, I am a fair-skinned gal and while I love spending my entire day on the beach, my skin does not. I am also not interested in aging my skin any faster or having that worn-in vintage leather look with premature wrinkles. Instead, I self-tan! Self-tanner has come a long way from that orange glow streaky look. Bondi Sands gives you the perfect golden brown color and the application is effortless. Take my word for it and order a bottle today. You will be amazed.
  • I don’t self tan my face, so I have to make sure my make-up matches up with the rest of my body 🤪 I use this bronzer for a warm glow. When I’m going for a lazy but pulled-together look, I also use it as eyeshadow and give it a quick swipe it in the crease to pull the look together.
  • I think I’ve mentioned this before, but podcasts are one of the best things on earth 🙌 . I either listen to sermons or true crime, there really is no in-between lol! After receiving a recommendation for Wine & Crime, I was initially thinking, I am not sure I am going to like this. I could tell by the description it was much different than my normal Criminology or Dateline episodes. But I was dead wrong! These gals are hilarious and they cover crimes weekly based on topics while also recommending some really great wines. 10/10 would recommend.
  • While I do love listening to a good pod, I also enjoy sitting down with an old fashioned hardback book! Right now I am reading The Wife Between Us and my lord! I made it all the way through part one thinking I knew what was going on and then I flipped the page and I was mind-blown! 🤯

What’s In My Cart Right Now

  • Oversized Studded Sunglasses. Hello Louis dupe 😎
  • Velvet Hangers. I have to swap all the hangers in my closet over to velvet, I just haven’t committed the time to it. P.S. these often go on sale, add them to your Honey droplist so you will get an alert when they do!
  • Gold Silverware Set. I have these already, but another set would be nice to cut back on how often I wash dishes! Great quality and make you feel fancy when eating! 💅🏼

Going Green Necessities

  • This month I decided to try a new non-toxic all-purpose cleaner from Better Life. So far it works great and smells amazing. If you normally have a sensitivity or dislike the smell of “natural” cleaners, this one is very light and won’t overwhelm you. It’s also on sale right now!
  • Having a night routine is very critical to how well I sleep! I was using Bath&Body Works sleep spray, but we all know their ingredients aren’t the best! I made the swap to this relaxing spray and I look forward to spritzing it on my pillow at night because it calms my mind and helps me fall asleep faster.

In true “tea” fashion, I want to take a moment to talk about our ~feelings~. Life is pretty hard right now for everyone. Really difficult for others. Everything is uncertain and a lot of us are faced with doubt, weariness, and fear. So I want to leave you with two Bible verses that I have been praying over and believing in. John 12:26 and Mark 10:50. Read over these words and cast aside these unhealthy mindsets. May you be consumed with His love and unexpected blessings. There will be favor everywhere you go and if you have been waiting on a break-through, even for a prolonged period of time, don’t give up. Before you even see the manifestation of your prayers and answers, begin to walk toward the life you’ve been believing for!

I am believing in blessings for you as well! Can’t wait to chat again soon, but in the meantime, choose joy.

Health, Life Seasons, What's New

takin’ it easy

Featuredby Angela ThomasLeave a Comment on takin’ it easy
takin’ it easy

Between work from home life and post-operative recovery, I haven’t worn pants that actually button in quiteeee some time. Raise your hand if you don’t even want to think about putting jeans on again.

Even though I have had surgery for my endometriosis previously, I scoured the web for tips and tricks for my second recovery. I wanted to feel as prepared as possible! Honestly I thought I was overbuying and wouldn’t use half of the stuff I had packed away in my bag. But I was wrong! Today, I am going to cover some must have necessities for tackling the tough days (and weeks) after surgery so you can take it easy!

  1. Ice packs: I had three in rotation! I used my largest one the most but I do recommend buying them in various sizes if you can so you can target specific areas when needed.
  2. Pillow & blanket from home: Nothing is as comforting as having your own pillow and blanket when you wake up for recovery. If you are recovering at home, this won’t be a problem. But if you are traveling out of state, make sure to put these items on your packing list! Also, using a pillow over your stomach on the car ride from the hospital is crucial to lessen the pain of all the bumps along the way.
  3. Hard candies: The breathing tube from being under anesthesia will really give you a dry, scratchy, terrible throat. I was under longer than I anticipated and whew my throat felt terrible when I woke up! Thankfully I had some mints in my bag and they helped so much! The IceBreaker sours are my personal favorites!
  4. Mesh/high waisted undies: These are not that fashionable. Okay, they aren’t fashionable at all. But, they are necessary. You will not want to wear normal undies due to your incisions and these are comfortable and will not cut into your skin! Trust me, you need them (and you might just continue to wear them after you recover)!
  5. Pajama dresses/oversized shirts: PJ dresses, oversized t-shirts, whatever they’re called, you NEED them – as long as it isn’t pants! I’m linking one a girlfriend sent me from Target, but I also found a few at Walmart for less than $10. I would also recommend a comfy robe to throw over your lazy pjs if you have anyone over to visit or just to make yourself feel more put together in general!
  6. Loose fitting sweats/joggers: Since I did eventually have to travel several hours home, I had to find pants that wouldn’t be uncomfortable on the ride but would also let me look put together when we had to stop along the way. Highly recommend the ones I linked here!!
  7. Baby wipes: You can use these for a multitude of things, obviously! But I kept them bedside to wipe my hands before/after eating, to take quick “baths” when I didn’t have the strength to shower, etc… You get the idea!
  8. Notepad/Pen: I gave a notepad & pen to my dad to write down notes from my nurse in recovery because I knew I wouldn’t remember anything. I also used it to write down when I took medications so I knew when to take the next dosage
  9. Slippers or another slide on shoe: You’re going to need a comfortable shoe that you don’t have to put effort into when putting them on. I wore mine to the hospital (no one will judge you, I promise).
  10. Socks with grip on the bottom: When you get to the hospital and have to give all of your personal belongings up (including your glasses when you’re as blind as me), it is nice to have one thing that is yours. I wore my own socks with grips on the bottom, but they will give you some if you forget them! Also, if you are required to stay in the hospital after surgery, they require you to wear something with grip on it!
  11. Abdominal binder: I had never heard of one of these and there is no way I could have worn this the week after surgery, but it has been nice to have it as I am moving around more!
  12. Heating pad: For the love, don’t put this on/near your incisions. But for back pain and shoulder pain from the gas, you will be glad you have a heating pad nearby.
  13. Books: I got tired of watching television and it was nice to have the time to fully commit time to read. I recommend reading & watching Little Fires Everywhere!
  14. Large cup or water bottle: Pictured below is a huge cup I picked up at Target for $10. Works just as well a Yeti without spending all the coins!
  15. Small basket: I used this small basket from the Target dollar section to keep everything I needed together and close to me so I wouldn’t have to get up so much. I put my medications, the tv remote, lotion, you name it!

Additional small luxuries to have:

  1. Wedge pillow: This thing was so great to lean on in bed since it was painful to be completely flat. You can also use it to prop your feet up. I can’t get enough of it!
  2. Sheet face masks: It was nice to be able to pamper myself a bit to lift my spirits. There’s no mess involved in these, just apply to your face for 20+ minutes then toss in the trash!
  3. Lip balm: My lips always feel so dry after anesthesia and it was an additional little luxury to have on-hand.
  4. Silk scrunchies/hair ties: I have been wearing my hair up so much since I haven’t the ability to do much with my hair (including washing it). These are comfortable and lessen the damage to your hair caused by normal ponytail holders.

Things you need that no one wants to talk about

  1. GasX/Phillips Milk of Magnesia/Miralax/ Senokot S (Actually all of the above)
  2. Vaseline
  3. Peri Bottle (listen you can literally use one of those reusable condiment bottles. I promise it works just as good as the $15 name brand ones)
  4. Flushable wipes
  5. Overnight pads: Try these HoneyPot ones! Once you try them, you will never go back to normal pads again!

If you’re preparing for surgery or just coming out of one, I wish you the best! You are stronger than you could ever imagine and you can get through this! Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with questions, I am happy to help!

Date night — but make it pandemic friendly 😷 hi friends, it’s been a longggg time! I have much to catch you up on but for now I’m still recovering from an amazing meal @bridgemanschopch. Time to rest and get ready for the week! Get in the habit of asking yourself, “does this support the life I’m trying to create?” 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Hello Friday afternoon, I’ve been waiting on you 💋 I crossed a ton off my to-do list today and I’m ready for the weekend. Something about my new @eyebuydirect glasses makes me a little more productive when I wear them 🤓
Health, Life Seasons, Style, Travel, What's New

strong, but exhausted

Featuredby Angela Thomas3 Comments on strong, but exhausted

It has (unfortunately) been a few months since I sat down to write. It was completely unintentional.

I’ve honestly just been too tired to devote my time to my small corner of the internet. It sounds like a very lame excuse, but my body and mind have been too tired to do much of anything outside of my day-to-day responsibilities.

My endometriosis has flared back up even though I had surgery a little over a year ago. It has been back with a vengeance and my symptoms continue to affect my day-to-day life. I feel out of touch with my body, I get nauseous to the point of vomiting at least once a week, and I am exceptionally tired more often than not. I feel like I am constantly cancelling plans and trying to explain to friends what’s going on. I always feel like I’m bringing everyone down when I do push myself to follow through with plans even though I am feeling bad.

Late last year I realized how terrified I was of not being able to live my life and goals to the fullest because of my health. I needed to pursue other options and I started seeking doctors out-of-state. This can be especially scary because we all know surgery in general can be expensive much less possibly going to someone outside of your insurance’s network and all the other associated costs with traveling to seek treatment.

After some thorough research, I realized how uneducated and naive I had been when it came to my first surgery and the things my then doctor told me. I soon concluded I would need an excision surgery next. The previous surgery essentially cauterized any small areas my doctor could find. This can cause many issues, but as endometriosis grows back, it grows over that burnt scar tissue, making it even more painful. Excision cuts out the endo and any other tissue under/around it that could be effected by it. Alabama actually has no endometriosis excision specialists. It feels like we are always behind.

So my next best option was a well-reviewed surgeon in Chattanooga, Tennessee! His next available appointment was a whopping five months away. While I wanted to just give up because that wait seemed unbearable, I planned a much needed birthday celebration trip around the appointment and it ended being such a wonderful time. Chattanooga is modern and progressive, but not quite as crowded as somewhere like Atlanta or Nashville. I can’t wait to be back for a multitude of reasons!

The number one reason is my scheduled surgery for May. Because this is a more intrusive procedure, I feel like I should be more nervous or fearful. But I have so much hope for a better quality of living that I can’t be anything but excited.

While I was there, I was able to visit Beast + Barrel (pictured above), a rustic-chic gastropub where I had one of the best charcuterie boards ever. I highly recommend a meal (or two there) if you are in the area.

I hope my continued chronic illness journey inspires someone else to keep pushing for a well-lived and enjoyable life. If you don’t have any type of chronic illness and you know someone with one, try to learn more about that person and what their day-to-day life is like. Just because you can’t see their illness, doesn’t make what they are going through any less than.

I will continue to keep you updated on this journey and share some fabulous outfits along the way! Keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I prepare for surgery and the recovery.

Read more of my recent blog posts here:

Health, Life Seasons, What's New

the burden is not light

Featuredby Angela ThomasLeave a Comment on the burden is not light

The girl in the pictures above looks happy, light, and care free. But it has taken quite some time to feel comfortable in who she is, flaws and all.

Talking about mental health and working through those issues is hard. But discussing it in the south, seems even harder.

Almost two years ago I realized my anxiety was something I couldn’t control on my own anymore. No matter how much I tried to remove stressors from my life, practice self-care, or pray about it, I just couldn’t do it on my own.

I was worrying over minute details. I was always exhausted, but couldn’t seem to find any rest in my body or my mind. Concentrating on tasks at work was hard. I became irritable over the strangest things and would allow these moods to ruin my day because they were controlling my life.

I finally decided to do something about this and sought medical help for a prescription. While it took some trial and error with different medications and took my body some time to adjust, it improved my day-to-day life tremendously. I could finally function again.

But oddly enough, I felt embarrassed I needed help. I felt ashamed every morning I pulled my little green pills out to take one. I grew up learning people who sought assistance with something like anxiety or depression basically just needed to toughen up and pray about it.

Many will say, “Oh God is just testing you, He never gives more than you can handle!” or “Your mental illness is a punishment for sinning.” I prayed and pleaded with God for so long. I felt as if something were wrong with me or I was doing something wrong and that is why I couldn’t shake the feeling of anxiety constantly overwhelming me. So why wasn’t God “fixing” me?

The prevailing culture of silence along with misguided attitudes and erroneous expectations often cause suffering believers to feel shamed, blamed and very unsupported. *raises hand*

It look me quite some time. But I finally became PROUD of myself for taking the initiative to do something. Through this journey, I have even found a therapist I love (who I should definitely visit more often.) I know some people laugh that I pay money to express my thoughts and concerns with a “stranger” every few weeks. But whew it is money well spent!

I encounter this stigma around mental health often living in the south. The idea that the disruptions in our brains can be simply solved with prayer. I have to pause and say that my faith is very strong and real and I believe in the healing powers of Jesus. But He also created modern medicine and the will and sense to utilize these resources. We get confused when we think we can’t take a prescription because it would mean we don’t trust God enough.

So friends if you are going through it or have been there before, please know you are not alone. I am so proud to see how progressive the mental health movement has become and the openness a lot of my friends and I have about needing a little extra “help.” Let’s continue that momentum and encourage others to take care of their mental health in whatever capacity they need.

Fall, Life Seasons, What's New, Work Wear

wild one

Featuredby Angela Thomas3 Comments on wild one

I had lunch with a girlfriend today and barely let her talk because I was venting. At the end of my lunch “therapy” session, she said, “you sound tired and burnt out.” Whew, was she right.

I know I have talked about being exhausted, stressed, and anxiety ridden in previous blog posts. But I feel like someone (and myself) needs to talk about it again.

I’ve discovered a great source of stress, exhaustion, and even depression is when I say yes to too many things. I take on too many good things, which causes me to miss my best things. It’s so hard to say no and let go of opportunities that come my way. But if I don’t learn the gift of release, I’ll wrestle with a lack of peace. I think sometimes I’m resistant to release because I fear disappointing someone.

Release brings with it the gift of peace. There are some opportunities I need to decline today. There are some things I need to say no to in this current season. There are good things I need to let go of so I can make room for the best things. When we release in peace, we signal we’re now ready to receive.

There have been many nights where I feel I can’t take much more. When I say, “God help me. It’s all too much. I’m tired and frustrated and so very worn out.” But I remember Psalm 142:3, “When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn.”

I don’t know what you have to release right now. But I suspect you know.  In the violent struggle of trying to balance it all, we will miss every bit of joy each season promises to bring.

So let’s release. With release comes more peace. I see that now. I believe that now. And soon, I pray you will too.

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