HOW TO GET STARTED WITH ESSENTIAL OILS!

So…you’re ready to take the plunge? You SERIOUSLY will not regret it.

Not only are essential oils amazing for wellness but once you become an essential oils believer you will start to realize just how many toxic, chemical filled products are likely in your home, and that you have the option to switch to safe, convenient Young Living products instead! At least that was the realization I had! In this post, I will cover step-by-step how to get started, and also everything else you might want to know about joining this community!

There are SO many essential oil companies out there, but I personally choose & use Young Living’s oils and products. You can read why here.

So how do you get started?? With a starter kit, of course.

To get started with essential oils, the best and most economical thing to do is to purchase a premium starter kit. This is basically the best way to dip your toes into the essential oil world – you will receive 12 of YL’s most loved oils, a diffuser, and lots of samples & info to get your started on this journey!

How to get your premium starter kit:

  • Sign up to become a YL member. There are ZERO monthly fees, monthly minimums, or strings attached when you become a member. It’s basically like creating a login for any other site except becoming a member gets you access to the starter kit (which is discounted by about 50%, btw!) and it also gives you 24% off all YL products! You can sign up here.
    • There is also an option to sign up as retail customer – as retail you unfortunately do not have access to the starter kit, and you also don’t get the 24% discount. Since there’s no strings attached with signing up to become a member, it’s kind of silly to go the retail route.
  • After signing up, you can go ahead and get that premium starter kit! There are a few different options – most people go with the kit with the Desert Mist diffuser, which is $165. You can upgrade to a kit with a more advanced diffuser, but these are a little more expensive. I personally went for the Desert diffuser kit!
  • Wait patiently for your magical oils to come in the mail! But don’t worry, in the meantime I’ll be shooting you an email with info + tips to get you started. AND I will make sure to get you on the Facebook groups which teach you ALL about how to actually use these pretty-looking-but-foreign-and-confusing oils. It’s basically like having your own little network of awesome, bad ass women who are SUPER knowledgeable when it comes to using these oils on yourself, on your kids, and in your home. Owning the oils is one thing…but being part of the community & gaining knowledge about clean living is seriously PRICELESS!

Okay, I’m obsessed.. now how do I restock my oils & try new products?

  • Great question! The answer for that is all the glory that is the Essential Rewards program. AKA your monthly wellness box! While being a YL member does not require any kind of monthly minimum and is not a subscription service, you do have the option to join ER, which is. And if you’re going to continue to purchase Young Living oils & products, this seriously is the way to go!! Here’s why I signed up:
    • For each ER order you place you rack up loyalty points (anywhere from 10-25%), which can be later used as cash for more YL products!
    • There are promos each month, so when you place your monthly order to restock your favorites, you’ll get FREE oils and/or products in the mail as well!
    • Everything comes straight to your door (with discounted shipping) no running here, there & everywhere to stock up on the products you need.
    • You get loyalty gifts along with your order at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months.
    • You get the peace of mind knowing everything is safe, clean, and free of toxins for you & your family!
  • All you have to do to remain enrolled is place a 50PV order (PV=purchase volume, for most items 1 PV = $1) each month. So that could be a few oils, a few products from the Thieves line, some all natural non-toxic makeup, another diffuser, etc. For me personally, I enrolled in ER to not only keep my oil collection growing, but also to gradually and realistically replace all of my toxic & potentially harmful household & personal care products. As I run out of each not-so-clean product, I will replace it with the safe, natural YL alternative. AKA the ditch & switch!

Do I have to sell this stuff?

  • Absolutely not! When you sign up as a member, you are technically deemed a ‘distributor.’ But that does not mean you are now responsible for selling YL products. You do not have to sell a single oil or kit in your life while being a YL member. Majority of Young Living members just purchase their favorite oils & products (usually through Essential Rewards) and never step onto the business side. No strings attached!

What if I want to share this oily community with my family & friends?

  • You absolutely can! If a friend or family member wants to sign up to get a starter kit of their own, make sure to give them your member # to sign up under, and YL will send you $50 as a thank you! If not, you can always send them my way & I’ll be happy to help them through the process. And if you ever want to get into the business side of Young Living (so many women have actually retired their husbands from it..crazy but that’s my next goal!!) just let me know and I can help to get you started.

A lot of info, right? HA! I was kind of overwhelmed when I delved into this whole secret world but that is totally okay! If you have decided to sign up & join this healthy community, just know that it is seriously going to be one of the best decisions you’ve ever made. And I’ll be here to help you get acquainted & start your oily wellness journey!!

Talk soon!

xoxo, Taira

Premium Starter Kit Oils Benefits

Hi guys!

I’ve gotten so many questions about the benefits of the oils that come in the starter kit so I thought why not blog about them! The Premium Starter Kit brings 12 oils, the Desert diffuser, two sample packs of Ningxia Red, a Thieves hand sanitizer and a Thieves spray.

Lets start with the 12 oils and what can you do with them:

  1. Lemon: Research has proven that drinking lemon water is beneficial to one’s overall health. Adding a drop of Lemon EO to your water daily promotes hydration, is a great source of vitamin C, supports weight loss, improves skin quality, aids with digestion, helps prevent kidney stones and freshens your breath. Can you believe all these benefits from just a daily drop of EO? Every morning I fill up my water bottle, add a drop of Lemon EO and start my day!
  2. Lavender: Research suggests that it is useful for treating anxiety, insomnia, depression and restlessness but thats not all. Lavender improves skin quality (soothes eczema and helps with acne and dry skin), and helps with hair growth. Lavender actually has anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antidepressant, antiseptic, antibacterial and antimicrobial properties! Say what? This little oil basically does it all. No wonder it was the first I ran out of. The best part is that you can add it to hot water and make tea! #winwin
  3. Frankincense: or Dear ol’ Frank as I like to call it! This oil is le creme of the creme. You see Frankinscence is one of the oldest recorded oils ever, all the way back to Biblical times. It has over 10,000 uses so clearly it is a MUST have. Frankinscence is known for it’s ability to regenerate skin cells and reduce the appearance of aging. It also acts as an anti-microbial activity for skin and surfaces. It helps stimulate, protect, and maintain the health of the immune system. Additionally, Frankinscence deodorizes and purifies the air from harmful bacteria, it helps relieve discomfort of inflammation (redness, swelling and itching), and it soothes physical and emotional discomforts caused by headaches and anxiety. Clearly the benefits are endless!
  4. Citrus Fresh: This was the very first oil I diffused because GOOD BYE sweaty dog smell! This oil is a YL blend that includes Orange, Tangerine, Mandarin, Grapefruit, Lemon and Spearmint. If you guessed that it can be added it to your water– YOU ARE RIGHT! Citrus Fresh is rich with the powerful antioxidant d-limonene, and it supports the immune system. Citrus Fresh can be added to lotions and moisturizers (night routine) to support the appearance of healthy-looking skin. Note: Citruses tend to stain the skin when they come into contact with the sun. The best part is that it truly is the perfect replacement for chemical-based home fresheners + they are totally safe dogs!
  5. Peppermint: Okay so let me just admit that this was my least favor oil until I saw how much I really use it! I recently had my wisdom teeth removed and not once did I ice my face, instead I massaged peppermint oil along my jawline. Ditch the icey hot and switch to Peppermint oil, you will NOT be disappointed! Any who, peppermint has a warm and cooling sensation and relieves itching, inflammation, sunburn and muscle aches! The most common use is to relieve headaches and coughing but wait there is more! Pepper helps soften skin, aids in the treatment of greasy hair AND improves memory and focus! Last, add a drop of Peppermint, Lemon and Grapefruit to your water daily and get a killer weight loss trio!
  6. Stress Away: My favorite YL blend thus far! It is a combination of Copaiba, Lime, Cedarwood, Ocotea, Lavender and Vanilla! Stress Away is one of those oils that you rub all over and fall asleep within 10 minutes (this happened to me). Stress Away promotes relaxation and a calming environment. The blend’s aroma is so inviting that it really does help calm the mind. Also, everyone I’ve shared this one with love it the most! Personally, I love to diffuse it at night, rub it all over my pillow and wear it as perfume!
  7. Peace and Calming: This blend has similar benefits to that of Stress Away. It contains a combination of Tangerine, Orange, Ylang Ylang, Patchouli and the famous Blue Tansy! Peace and Calming can be added to the vita flex points of your feet and back to help sooth and relax the body. It can also be rubbed under your feet to promote a good night’s sleep. It can even be diffused during the night to help with teeth grinding. The best part is that because if has Blue Tansy it helps promote the appearance of skin. Since Peace and Calming is a more gentle blend, it is most commonly used to help get children into bed!
  8. Valor: Liquid courage as I like to call it! This is another YL blend that includes Black Spruce, Camphor, Blue Tansy, Frankincense, and Geranium. I truly adore how Valor smells, it really does give this courageous “let’s do something” type of vibe. Valor can be used to heal a stiff neck, ease anxiety, improve spinal alignment, relax leg muscles, ease jaw pain and alleviate joint pain! Other benefits include relieves back pain and headaches, boosts memory, treats burns and even helps with snoring! Valor is one of those rub all over, wear as perfume and let all the benefits kick in at once!
  9. Panaway: a.k.a. pain away! I did not think I would be using this oil until I got cramps at 5AM and refused to take 800mg of Advil so I rubbed this all over my ovaries instead and within 15 minutes I was dead asleep! I woke up to go to work and was honestly shocked and quite frightened at how ridiculously well this oil worked it’s magic. The Panaway blend includes Wintergreen, Clove, Helichrysum and Peppermint and therefore it cannot be ingested (Wintergreen is poisonous to the human body if ingested) and of course thanks to peppermint it has a cooling sensation. This blend is so potent that it is suggested to be diluted with a carrier oil! Panaway is known to alleviate sore muscles, joint pain and arthritis. Note: It has photosensitivity so when being used, avoid direct sunlight!
  10. Raven: PSA- I had no idea what this was when I got it in my kit but say hello to my new VaporRub! Raven is a blend of Wintergreen, Lemon, Eucalyptus Radiate, Peppermint and Ravintsara. As you might of guessed, it cannot be ingested due to having Wintergreen! This oil also created a cooling sensation and provides a comforting aroma when applied to both chest and throat. Raven is known to support the respiratory system. YL has a similar oil known as R.C., but Raven is the more potent big brother! I don’t know about y’all but I despised having congestion and a stuffy nose so of course Raven is the go to! Since Raven provides a refreshing respiratory experience it can be used during exercise routines to help promote the sensation of deeper breathing.
  11. DiGize: All things digestive. This is the one oil that gets all men to become believers. DiGize is all about supporting and cleansing your digestive system. It’s antioxidant properties make it a great supplement to support your wellness regimen! DiGize is a blend of Tarragon, Ginger, Peppermint, Juniper, Fennel, Lemongrass, Anise and Patchouli. Some people don’t like the smell of it so they prefer to either ingest or use topically. Personally, I don’t mind the smell especially because it’s benefits are highly necessary with all the chemicals found in food.
  12. Thieves: This is Young Living’s gold. This blend has a combination of Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus Radiate, and Rosemary. If you want the smell of Fall, this is it. BUT wait, Young Living has an entire cleaning line of Thieves products so ditch and switch can’t get any easier. Thieves can be added to your toothpaste, spice up apple cider or made into wellness tea. Thieves is known for it’s amazing preventative properties and support of the immune and respiratory system. This is a must have oil!

Well that’s a wrap on the 12 oils that come in your kit!

The only other thing I must mention are the Ningxia Red samples:

NingXia Red got its name from the providence of NingXia in China. Dr. Gary Young decided to research what helped people live longer and he found that in this small providence wolf berries were a fundamental part to their daily diet. I mean these people were living well into their 100s! The NingXia Red is an antioxidant drink made of wolf berries and essential oils including Lemon, Orange, Yuzu, and Tangerine. The NingXia and Chinese wolfberry have been used for thousands of years to support the immune system, promote longevity and naturally detox the body. A daily short of 2 – 4 ounces will help support overall wellness with it’s powerful antioxidants. Can you believe that drinking 1 ounce of Ningxia Red has the antioxidant equivalent to eating 4 lbs of carrots or 8 whole oranges?!

Best Practice: In the morning, drink one ounce of NingXia Red alone or mix it up and add one drop of Thieves Vitality or Frankincense Vitality. In the afternoon, drink one ounce and add one drop of Tangerine Vitality or Longevity Vitality or any oil from the Vitality line.

8 Reasons To Drink NingXia Every Day:

1. Balanced ingredients make it a whole-body nutrient infusion for health and wellness support.

2. It is helpful for energy support.

3. It supports normal cellular function!

4. It contains powerful ingredients that are involved in many natural antioxidant processes.

5. It supports normal eye health.

6. It delivers citrus essential oils containing d-limonene, a powerful component in citrus oils.

7. It helps prevent against oxidative stress– WOOT!

8. It is a healthy daily supplement that fortifies and revitalizes the body.

If you have any questions, comment below or follow and message me on instagram @taira.delgado for more information!

xo, Mrs. Delgado

Happy Wife, Oily Life

Hi Everyone!

I started my journey with essential oils a little over a year ago. I love having a clean house that smells like heaven. I mean who doesn’t right? Soon after I bought a set of 32 essential oils and diffused them all over the house.

How I Started: I recently took a photoshoot and was introduced to Young Living essential oils– talk about mind blown. I had heard about the benefits of essentials oils but nothing close to what I’ve learned this past month. Truth is, I wanted to jump right into this fabulous world of healthy living and nontoxic chemicals! Most individuals first question is “Why so expensive?”, but my first thought was “How is this so underrated?!” Also, don’t be discouraged if your husband is skeptical at first– mine was too! Except now he’s ordered his OWN kit to make perfumes!

Why Essential Oils?

Fun Fact: First prescription “medicine” ever recorded was frankincense oil! Not to mention peppermint oil? Most of the medication we use is derived from a plants– natural medicine has been at our disposal for years! For example, some of the first aspirin medication used was an extract of White Willow Bark! Essential oils don’t just mask symptoms,  they also bring therapeutic change to the body at a cellular level, dealing with the root issue and supporting your system as a whole. I’m not here to state that oils “cure, prevent or treat” illnesses, but they are truly life-changing.

Background on Young Living: They are the first every essential oils company, and they’ve been around for 25 years! Young Living has a Seed To Seal promise– basically stating they provide quality through extensive testing. They seed, cultivate, distill, test and seal each bottle of oil at their very own farms!

November Special!

Young Living is offering BOGO (ends November 15th) on certain essential oils when you buy a Premium Starter Kit ($165) and become an Essential Rewards member. This is a huge deal because Young Living has NEVER had a BOGO sale, especially when stacked with my freebies for you– $10 Amazon gift card, a special roller and access to our exclusive support groups– Clove & Arrow!

To enroll with our team, click this link and my member #20966002 should be in the ‘Sponsor’ and ‘Enroller’ spots. Choose ‘Member’ to sign up. This doesn’t mean you’ll ever have to sell anything, it just makes you a wholesale member and gives you 24% off retail prices! Kinda like Costco, but you get an entire Premium Starter Kit with your wholesale membership and not just a plastic card tehehehe! 

I believe so strongly in the power of essential oils that I want everyone to have them, when you enroll with me as a wholesale member you’ll get the following perks for being part of our supportive Essential Family community:

  • $10 back in cash as Amazon gift card!
  • Access to our exclusive sweet + supportive community groups on Facebook!
  • I’ll also add in a special roller made by me! (De-Stress, Head Tension, Breathe Easy, etc)

As an added bonus to being a wholesale member, you’re eligible to earn an income (though there’s never any pressure!) We offer free business mentorship and one-on-one coaching to anyone on my team who wants to do this as a business– whether your goal is to earn enough to pay for your oils or earn an extra monthly paycheck!

Whether you want to detox your home and wellness cabinet or earn an income from sharing about the oils, I highly recommend getting started with the Premium Starter kit for $165 because it’s packed with so much value (it’s worth over $400 retail!)

What’s Inside the Young Living Premium Starter Kit

Here’s what you get in the kit:

  • A diffuser of your choice (the Desert Mist or Dewdrop are the options in the $165 kit)
  • 12 bottles of oils
  • 2 fitment rollers
  • A Thieves Spray
  • Thieves Waterless Hand Purifier
  • NingXia Red (2 sample packs)
  • 24% off retail prices and distributor status if you’d like to earn a paycheck (Not Required!)

Business Shenanigans!

If you’re serious about getting started with the purest essential oils and products on the planet, sign up for our Essential Rewards (ER) program by checking the box that makes the kit your first ER order when you enroll with your starter kit. Essential Rewards is our ‘easy button’ for getting a monthly box of wellness delivered to your doorstep full of products that you choose each month! You’ll earn 10% back in points to spend on whatever your like for every ER order. In month 4, that percentage jumps up to 20% back in points! You can cancel at any time, you’ll get reduced shipping, free gifts at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months, exclusive PV promo freebies just for ER members, has a low ordering minimum (only 50PV a month) and your monthly wellness box is totally customizable so you can change your order every month. WIN-WIN!

Once fill out your information and finalize your order email me at: tairaxmedina@gmail.com with the phrase ‘ESSENTIAL FAMILY’ in the subject line and I’ll email you back within 48 hours asking how you’d like your $10 and free gifts delivered!

We look forward to welcoming you to our Essential Family!

xo, Mrs. Delgado

Don’t Be Disloyal

W A R N I N G: this post may cause for some reformation in your heart.

disloyal:

failing to be loyal to a person, country, or body to which one has obligations.”she felt that inquiring into her father’s past would be disloyal to her mother”– Synonyms: unfaithful, untrustworthy, two-faced, deceitful and one we here in the bible often– adulterous. 

# 1 — Person: as I focus on the word obligation, I think of when an individual makes the decision to get married, they are now obligated to be faithful to that other individual for the rest of their lives. Yet one of the highest causes for divorce is infidelity… A.K.A. adultery. As I’ve been reading through the old testament, I’ve come upon several moments where there have been disloyalty vs. loyalty.

For example, in 2 Samuel I came across the disloyalty of Absalom to his father King David. Not only does Absalom kill his brother, but now that David has forgiven him and allowed for a second chance — Absalom flat out decides to turn against him. Can anyone imagine how betrayed David must’ve felt?

On the contrary, we have the example of Ruth. She stayed with her mother in law Naomi without having any obligation. Naomi even insists that Ruth to go back to her people and her gods, yet Ruth gave the reply of true loyalty. “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” – Ruth 1:16.

As I dwell on disloyalty, I’ve come to understand that people allow their hearts to be stolen. By money, by a certain lifestyle, and definitely by other people. What we need to understand is that disloyalty leads to far worse sins.. like adultery and murder. Look at David when he saw Bathsheba. Being the beautiful woman she was, he slept with her and got her pregnant. Turns out she has a husband fighting in war. Yet instead of confessing and turning to the light, David ordered to have Uriah killed in battle by placing him first in line.

God is very clear on the matters of sexual immorality. 1 Corinthians 6:18 tells us “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.“ That whole ‘love yourself” phrase doesn’t mean go do what you want and what makes you happy even if it means sleeping around, etc.– it means respect yourself. Sexual immorality is a sin against yourself,  what happened to real self-respect? 

Hebrews 13:4 states, “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” I promise whenever I read ‘God will judge’ I cringe because of my fear of the Lord. 

# 2 — Country: America is on a downward spiral straight to doors of Hades. We as a nation have become DISLOYAL to the God who blessed us and our ancestors. From the very beginning, Genesis 22:17 says “I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sandon the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies. And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” Because what? Because we have OBEYED his voice. Yet we no longer obey God. We have gone off in lawlessness like Israel in the days of the judges.

The worst thing that ever happened to America was forget God’s existence. The God who brought Israel out of Egypt, who led the way for them in the wilderness. This once great nation, under God is living it’s last days before the second coming of Jesus. Rather than being loyal to the roots and foundation on which it was built on, we have turned to lawlessness. We murder babies in the womb and allow for sexual immorality as though it were a game– we even call it PRIDE. “Pride leads to destruction, and arrogance to downfall.” – Proverbs 16:18

But here me, God’s wrath is coming to judge the world.

# 3 — Body: to which one has obligations. All I can think of is Jesus. The one who willingly came to die on a cross, to die the worst possible type of death imaginable — that is whom I have an obligation to. How many times have you turned from him? Have you knowingly refused his love, the very words that give life. I definitely lost count, have you?

This body we live in, it’s not ours to play Instagram celebrity with. It’s to go out and proclaim the gospel of Jesus. This body needs to work hard to help others whether it be the poor, the widowed, the lame, the weak– the point is to HELP them reach salvation. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 takes me back to loyalty to the one true God — “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

We are not perfect. We make mistakes. That is why there is such thing as grace and mercy — but they are not free passes to do whatever we want and expect forgiveness. Loyalty is a lifestyle.

“Never let go of loyalty and faithfulness. Tie them around your neck; write them on your heart. If you do this, both God and people will be pleased with you.”

– Proverbs 3:3-4

xo, Mrs. Delgado

Unanswered Prayers

Have you ever prayed for something really hard? So hard you’ve put all your faith into it? Ever had one of those prayer’s go unanswered? You can feel the anxiety crawling in as your wait went from weeks to months to years.

Waiting isn’t exactly described as “fun”. Truth is, with the society we live in now- waiting is barely an option. Nowadays it’ll all about getting things on the spot and the only things we give ‘wait’ the option is when we’re too lazy to get up and do them ourselves. Like being hungry yet ordering Post Mates because there’s no way you’re about to cook up the 4 course meal you think you deserve, much less go pick it up.. helloooo delivery! *yup, I am so guilty!*

But waiting goes far beyond. The reality is we may sit around waiting for prayers that will never be answered. God has unconditional love for us — and yes that includes tough love too. He loves us way too much to allow our own destruction. And I know you might think well I’m not praying for myself, I’m praying for healing of others, etc. Believe me, I understand. I remember the days I prayed for my grandmother’s healing from brain cancer. The worst thing I ever experienced was watching her deteriorate right before my eyes. I also remember the day I stood over my friends casket and asked God to bring him back. What faith right? I literally thought “Lord, if you brought Lazerous back you can bring him back too.” Yet, my prayers still went unanswered. Not because God wasn’t listening, but because HIS WILL and HIS WAY are greater than my own.

“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.” – 1 John 5:14

I think I can write a good ol’ list of unanswered prayers but I am certain I can write endless books of answered ones. How many times did you pray for something and it not follow through for your own good? Ever been like “Woah! Thank God he never answered that prayer!” I for sure have, in many occasions — most of which involved love and guys! *phew, dodged a bullet there*

The unanswered prayer I hold the closest was when I asked God to let me die. I sobbed for hours in my bathtub, repeatedly saying “Just let me die.” Can you imagine what life would be like had that prayer been answered? What would that have done to my family? I mean there is so much grey area in that matter– I mean who know’s the endless possibilities of how that could’ve turned out. Point is, embrace the answered and the unanswered. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

God is constantly saving us from ourselves. “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” – 2 Peter 3:9 Some of you may find yourselves praying for all the wrong things and God speaks clear about our iniquities and the separation from God that they cause– Isaiah 59:2 says “But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.” and Isaiah 1:15-16 states “When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil,” and finally 1 Peter 3:12 tell us “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Search your heart when you pray to God. Ask for forgiveness and repent when necessary. Only then will the God of all heaven and earth hear you prayers.

The Lords Prayer

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.”

Matthew 6:9-13

xo, Mrs.Delgado



Cliques are Cliche

According to our dictionary or should I say Google, a clique is defined as: a small group of people, with shared interests or other features in common, who spend time together and do not readily allow others to join them.

“Not allowing others to join them”… yup, sound about right. Admitting so, I use to be part of a so called C L I Q U E — thank goodness those days are over. Honestly, they ended the minute I traded private school for public. & truly, I don’t regret it one bit. There was a certain freedom from starting fresh in a new school and being a nobody. I remember going to school and being happy with just being ME– no need to please or impress anyone. I could be my nerdy, happy go lucky self.

Above all, I really got to learn who my real friends were and still are — ya’ll know who you are! The experience truly humbled me as an individual, I made such great friends, some of which are still around and others whom no matter the distance of life, I still care about.

I truly learned to love people unconditionally. I learned that being normal was okay, that there was no need for masks– I am loved just the way I am. A friend asked me today “How can you invest in people if they don’t invest back?” The answer was simple: Why did Jesus invest in us when he already knew that many would deny him? I mean God literally knew that the people he loved and created would turn away from him, would deny him completely. We invest time but Jesus invested his LIFE for us.

For all those who feel alone and or excluded, even through anger and bitterness never forget the Golden Rule, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” – Luke 6:31.

Through the hurt and pain you may be feeling, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” – Colossians 3:13-14

I can’t blame anyone for not including me or wanting to hang out with me. I too am responsible for separating myself from others. When I was younger, I remember all I ever wanted was a best friend. I knew so many people who had one but nope I never got lucky enough. The ones I did consider would betray me, or only last a short time before they found someone better. Certain life situations have allowed me to close myself off, to become socially awkward and I can’t justify myself because it doesn’t make it right- it just make it part of the daily struggles I deal with. Struggles that every day I have to put in God’s hands.

If life was perfect, we wouldn’t need Jesus– and that would be the worst thing that could possibly happen to us. Learn to value quality over quantity and if Jesus is what you’ve got, then consider it joy because he truly is all you NEED.

Above all else, remember that Jesus loves you.

“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” 
– Proverbs 27:17

xo, Mrs. Delgado

Fighting Fruits

Throughout the Bible, we hear about the 9 fruits of the Spirit:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” – Galatians 5:22-23

— I remember thinking I’ve totally got this, until I started to read what they were…

Don’t get me wrong, it was easy at first.. love (check, I’ve definitely got that one), joy (check, yup that too!), peace (hmmm, not sure about this one), forbearance *a.k.a. patience* (yikes, not sure this is even part of my vocabulary), kindness (Oh good! I know this one!), goodness (check, of course I’m a good person), faithfulness (to everything but God?… mama mia!), gentleness (check, check, check), and then there was the one and only — s e l f – c o n t r o l.

I can write all about how I’ve failed on every other fruit of the Spirit, but this particular one, I STILL live in a fight with. #TheStruggle

God only knows how many tears, physical agony and flat out heartache this fruit has brought me. & by this I mean, I have been battling the control of my emotions for as long as I can remember. One particular emotion always comes to mind– anger.

Anger is no joke. I’m am by no means proud of this. God speaks very clear about anger:

Ephesians 4:26-27 tells us “In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”

Do not what? DO NOT GIVE THE DEVIL A FOOTHOLD! I bolded ‘give’ because it’s a choice. The minute you allow anger to overtake you, the devil can do whatever he pleases– I’ve experienced it first hand.

James 1:19-20 says “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”

I have cried myself to sleep every single time I’ve lost my self-control. I’ve cried out to God and apologized, some moments I have even felt unworthy of his love and mercy. Proverbs 25:28 gives us the perfect definition to what lack of self-control looks like, “Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.” If city walls are broken, anything and anyone can get through, specifically Satan. This always brings me back to 1 Peter 5:8 “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” He is patiently waiting for the right moment to attack.

How does one learn self-control? I may not know the exact steps or answer but I know the true answer rests in Jesus Christ. I won’t ever have self-control without the help of God.

“We can do nothing for Him, apart from Him.” -John 15:5

xo, Mrs. Delgado

The Wheel of The Unknown

This has been a hardcore constant struggle for the past years. God has had to really wrestle with me on this one. I have found myself in moments of pure peace and yet before I’ve gotten to fully enjoy them, they are gone like the wind. If I could count how many times a day I think about the unknown, I would seriously lose count.

Constantly asking myself the same questions again and again — it’s annoying!

  • When is this going to happen?
  • What am I going to do to make this happen?
  • What’s going to happen if it doesn’t work?

Then follow the overwhelming threshold of negative thoughts… my life is over, there is no other option, the world will end, etc. My husband just stares at me at this point– he will wait for me to finish and then give me every option known to man and STILL I will say NO, that’s not an option.

If you’ve experienced this, you know how exhausting it can be to your mind and emotions. In all honesty, most days I would crawl into bed and take a nap just so that the thoughts would stop.

Yet, this past month — things have been different. I decided to step out in faith like never before.. and I mean N E V E R before. So… I quit my job. Nothing personal, I simply just wasn’t happy anymore and I felt a calling to more. I decided that I wasn’t going to continue complaining about the position I was in but instead do something about it, even if it meant no money. Next thing I know, I get an adjunct position teaching psychology at a university 5 minutes from my house *blessing in disguise*!

Although this is temporary, surprisingly so, the peace I feel is beyond comparing. The faith I have knowing that God will provide is like never before. The faith shaking fear of the unknown has vanished — and believe me I am in awe.

So what are God’s promises to be about the unknown?

  1. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
  2. “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 1:6
  3. “Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” – Provers 19:20-21
  4. “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. – Matthew 6:31-33

The list can go on and on, all you have to do it open your bible and read the exact words of God. Whenever I think of the unknown, I come back to a song:

P E A C E – Hillsong

You are peace to a restless soul,
Peace when my thoughts wage war,
Peace to the anxious heart,
That’s who You are, that’s who You are.
You are peace when my fear takes hold,
Peace when I feel enclosed,
Peace when I loose control,
That’s who You are, that’s who You are. I’ve found peace far beyond all understanding,
Let it flow when my mind’s under siege.
All anxiety bows in the presence of Jesus the Keeper of Peace!
And peace is a promise He keeps.

xo, Tati!

Wifey Edition Recipe #1

So a recipe has been requested several times and since I’m not much of a cook, I’ve put it off until now. I’ll make this as easy, simple and delicious as possible! Plus it’s totally wife efficient.

Prep Time: 10 Minutes

Cook Time: 20-25 Minutes

Ingredients:

  • Chicken Breast
  • Mayonnaise
  • Shredded Parmesan
  • Panko Bread Crumbs *I’ve been using Italian seasoned breadcrumbs – works the same, Panko crumbs are thicker!*

I did not think you could make a delicious meal with four ingredients, but hey who would’ve known!

Step One: Mix mayonnaise and Parmesan cheese! *Not including measurements since it really all depends on how much chicken you are going to make*

Step Two: Place unfrozen chicken breasts on a baking pan! *Make sure to spray it with butter or olive oil so the chicken doesn’t stick*

Step Three: Rub the mayonnaise and Parmesan mix over the chicken! *Don’t worry about the bottom side*

Step Four: Sprinkle bread crumbs over the chicken *Make sure you over the mix*

Step Five: Pop it in the oven for 20-25 minutes!

You can pair it with whatever you want! Pasta, garlic toast, mash potatoes or steamed veggies! Thank me later!

xoxo, Mrs. Delgado

Sow Your Seed

Yes it’s very true that we will reap what we sow. This isn’t some bad girl quote I got off Pinterest but it is rather found directly in Galations 6:7 “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.“ But this time around, I want to focus on what type of seed are you? The biblical parable *one of my favorites* goes as follows:

“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. – Matthew 13:3-8

So, why are we talking about seeds? Simple. We are all one of these four seeds. So what seed are you? Not sure? Let’s continue… Jesus explains the parable to his disciples for they too did not understand what it was all about. But before he did, he told them “But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” *Mathew 13:16-17*

Anyways, back to the seeds! Matthew 13:19-23 explains it in the simplest of forms: “When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one *Satan* comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.  The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 2But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

so….. What Seed Are You?

Are you the seed sown along the path? The type that hears or reads the word of God but doesn’t understand it? Or simply the one who gives up on the word of God. Satan comes and snatches you into the world, to continue living in sin and making you believe you will be just fine without God. The one who walks around thinking ‘there has to be more’ because once the partying is done, once you’ve drank yourself into oblivion…. the heart God gave you will search for more. Or are you the seed sown on rocky ground? You come to church, you receive the word of God, the blessings but your happiness only lasts for a while. As soon as trouble comes knocking at your door, you run! You question God, you dwell on why he would let such things happen to you. You have no root. God is only good when it’s convenient for you. Are you the seed that’s fallen on the thorns? Many can and may relate to this type of seed.. I know I did. Too many times did I hear the word of God but the worries of life and the deceitfulness of wealth have choked me up making all my progress unfruitful. Instead of sowing good into others, I’ve gotten stuck in the endless wheel of life, the devils circle.

But are you the seed who’s fallen on good soil? Who has endlessly yielded and produced crops in abundance. Your heart had changed in drastic measures, you seek to worship God at all times and through all circumstances. You yern to bring people to the light through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the person who goes above and beyond to help the lost. Understanding what seed I was allowed me to break chains and fight the good fight. We are so imperfect but honestly thank God that we NEED him. Thank God that I need to hear his words of wisdom, of comfort, of love. Thank Jesus that he is the Prince of Peace that in times of trouble, in times of worry he has provided peace in abundance, he has picked me up and carried me, he has given me rest.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30

xo, Mrs. Delgado