SiscoVanilla Hits The Bricks

So my post Gardein Ultimate Beefless Burgers November 17, 2018 on the Gardein line of vegetarian/vegan foods got some interesting attention. A couple of you recommended the Beyond Meat line of products as a better option than the Gardein line. I was also educated on some of the finer points of ingredients and the need to look closely at the ingredient list of products such as the Gardein line by my good friend Kesia. Kesia is the owner and MamaPreneur of the More Better Brand which creates handmade products in down in Sunny Florida. You can find her products on her MoreBetterBrand Etsy page and on her MoreBetterBrand Instagram feed. Now I am a noob when it comes to ingredient lists, additives and other items used to make some of these processed foods that, in theory, make our busier lives easier. And granted the best way to make sure that you know what you put into your body is to make the meals yourself. But in the busy world we live in, that can be a hard proposition. So I ma...

Having gone Meatless now for over five months, I'm always on the lookout for new products to try. Now I'm not one of these former meat-eaters to crave meatless foods that resemble foods that contain meat. But I believe that I have come across one. Thanks to the iBotta app, I was introduced to the Gardein line of vegetarian and vegan foods. The app gives me .50 cents on each purchase for up to five items of the Gardein line. The first one I tried was their Ultimate Beefless Burger. Here are the ingredients in this particular patty from their website: I have to be honest, I've had a number of veggie and vegan patties from different brands and this is the closest I've noticed a patty taste like a burger. I simply pan fried it on a griddle, added some provolone cheese on a potato roll with mayo and Pace salsa. I closed my eyes, took a bite and it seemed like beef to me. It was pretty damn delicious. Even had that cooked/fried taste that pan fried patties tend to hav...

Sorry for the delay in posting my weekly steps via the Fitbit app. Holiday season is upon us at the café and we are busy. Here are the steps for the period of October 22 - November 4: October 22: 20,285 October 23: 13,400 October 24: 4,785 October 25: 17,451 October 26: 21,581 October 27: 18,197 October 28: 10,869 October 29: 15,545 October 30: 13,522 October 31: 23,759 November 1: 18,984 November 2: 20,111 November 3: 17,686 November 4: 12,814 Hopefully I can get back to being consistent with the posting of the steps. Doing so creates a routine for myself which helps with my keeping track of my progress. Things are super busy and hectic at the moment. I'm all over the place and in serious need of some consistency. Hopefully a couple of things that I am looking at can come to fruition. I'll keep everyone posted. Have a great day folks. Until Then Keep Stepping, #SiscoVanilla #SiscoVanillaIsStepping #SiscoVanillaHitsTheBricks

I just finished my first week using the Charity Miles app that I downloaded and posted about on my post entitled Charity Miles App November 8, 2018 and I wanted to let you know what I think of it so far. Before I go into the mileage, I wanted to give a quick description of the app. After you download the app, open an account and choose a charity to raise funds with your miles accrued by biking or walking, you set your workout and hit the road (or the treadmill/exercise bike.) A number of articles that I've read specify that by using the CharityMiles app , you'll earn 10 cents a mile for biking and 25 cents a mile for walking and running. The money comes from corporate sponsors that back the apps fundraising efforts. The first charity I chose to back is the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (MS Society.) Let's take a look at my progress so far. As you can see from the image, I've walked 28 miles in 21 sessions over a seven day period. Now that is not to say that...

This quote by journalist Molly Ivins stands out to me. How so? Being someone whose staff is predominately half his age and having to  hear them complain about how "old" they are when they are not even 25 years old put this quote in perspective. Age is something I don't complain about. At 46 I'm thankful and blessed to have made it this far. I know a number of people who didn't have the chance to make it to 40 let alone 46. Its through living life and experiences its trials and tribulations that we become who we become. The longer we live the more we learn. We should cherish each and every day we have regardless of how hard it might be. I rather that, the grey hairs, the aches and pains to the alternative. At least I'm getting the chance to feel all that. So don't bitch and moan about your age. Enjoy life and live it to your fullest. Have a great day. Until Then Keep Stepping, #SiscoVanilla #SiscoVanillaIsStepping #SiscoVanillaHitsTheBrick...

Much thanks to my friend Elizabeth for sending me this message the other day. This affirmation by Brad Gast encapsulates everything that I do when it comes to trying to improve myself physically, mentally, spiritually and financially. The road is long, twisted and full of obstacles. Its easy to be discouraged when faces with these perceived insurmountable trials. But the key is not to fall prey to it. Keep moving forward, keep improving, and get your shit done!!!! Have a great day. Until Then Keep Stepping, #SiscoVanilla #SiscoVanillaIsStepping #SiscoVanillaHitsTheBricks

Many of you are revved up for the weekend when Friday arrives. For someone who it seems has worked the traditional weekend now for decades, as the image above says, I get fired up about Mondays in the same way that you all get fired up about Friday. Why? Allow me to elaborate. We're in the beginning stages of the holiday season at Barnes and Noble and the BN Café is not exempt from the rush. This was one busy weekend in the middle of a busy stretch. My next day off is Thursday the 15th with the Thanksgiving weekend looming on the horizon. I had all the intentions of sleeping in today before my late shift at the café. But, as we all know, best laid plans and all that jazz. I didn't sleep in, but was able to wake up naturally without the aid of an alarm. For me that is a plus. I detest having to wake up to an alarm. I find it to be unnatural. I hate alarms. Always have. Today marks the beginning of a goal. From now to January 8th, I'm going to try and make enough money...

Hall of Fame pitcher and Veteran of World War II Bob Feller was never shy about voicing his views. Here he is definitely not wrong. Using the analogy of Baseball, every game, like every day is indeed a chance to build on the day before. Regardless if you had a bad day or a good one, the new day that we have been blessed to have is a chance to improve ourselves. Have a great day. Until Then Keep Stepping, #SiscoVanilla #SiscoVanillaIsStepping #SiscoVanillaHitsTheBricks

I posted an article across a number of my Social Media platforms yesterday entitled 50 Ways to Walk More from the Blog at MyFitnessPal . One of my friends Migdalia reached out to me on LinkedIn to tell me about an app called Charity Miles. The way the app works is that after you download the app, open an account and pick the charity of your choice, you highlight a workout and apply the workout to raise funds for the charity. The website for Charity Miles states that the money that is raised through the app comes from Corporate sponsor agreements. Here is a short list of the sponsors that work with the Charity Miles app: Johnson & Johnson Sunniva Super Coffee Blueprint for Athletes Brooks Running Del Monte Fresh Varidesk JackRabbit Thrive Market You can choose from Walking, Running and Biking both indoors and outdoors. For someone like me who is always on the move and wants to do more to help others in terms of raising funds for charities, this app seems like a ...

From the moment we are conceived to the moment we die, we are all works in progress. Not one of us are set in stone for our entire lives. So we will find that we have moments of success and the inevitable moments of failure. What defines us is how we react to both success and failure and how we decide to continue to improve our selves when we succeed and how we change and adapt when we fail. The constant is that we keep moving forward and continue to improve ourselves regardless if we are on the top of the mountain or rock bottom. Never quit. Never stop. Never give up. Have a great and prosperous day. Until Then Keep Stepping, #SiscoVanilla #SiscoVanillaIsStepping #SiscoVanillaHitsTheBricks

Hey, guess what...today is Monday and today is the day that you need to do right by yourself. How can you do that? Follow these two simple words: START NOW!!!! That's right. If there was anything you wanted to get going, now is the point in time that you can do it. Not tomorrow, not next week, not next month, not January 1, not when the planets align...NOW!!! Just START NOW!!! Enough said. Have a great day. Until Then Keep Stepping: #SiscoVanilla #SiscoVanillaIsStepping #SiscoVanillaHitsTheBricks

I received a notice from Google Health that I was eligible for a discount if I joined the Kind Snack Club. If I followed the link provided to me by Google Health, I could get everything that the Kind Snack Club offered for 50% off my first order. I like many of the Kind Bar offerings, so I decided to take advantage of the offer. Maybe you're wondering what is actually in the Snack Club. We'll wonder no more, here is the description from the Kind Snack Club website: What's in the snack pack? Enjoy 20 delicious snacks with our online-exclusive Snack Pack! This perfect mix of KIND favorites is ready for all your daily snacking needs. Like to start your day with whole grains? Try KIND® Breakfast bars or KIND Healthy Grains® clusters. Need to snack healthy while on the go? Enjoy KIND® bars, KIND Healthy Grains® bars and Pressed by KIND® bars! Looking for plant-based protein? Try KIND Protein™ bars. Plus, all of our snacks are crafted with delicious, wholesome ingredients like ...

Sometimes people get caught up in what so and so has and what so and so wants to get aka "Keeping up with the Joneses." You know what I think about the Joneses? Fuck them and all their stuff. Let them have it and all the drama that comes along with it. We need to be grateful for what we have in life. There are many people who have much less and are fulfilled. The proverbial statement of "The less is more" is definitely true. I'm at the stage in my life where I'm content with what I have. And I'm grateful for that. Have a great day. Until Then Keep Stepping, #SiscoVanilla #SiscoVanillaIsStepping #SiscoVanillaHitsTheBricks

Stepping, posting and just trying to live life are getting harder these days with the holidays on the horizon. Between the cafe and the bar, shit has been hectic and busy. At least I've been able to keep up with the walking at a consistent clip. Actually, this is the first time in a long time that I hit my step goal for the entire week. Check that out, 140,592 steps. Why? That was in the middle of a nine day stretch without being off. That's the way the schedule plays out sometimes. Whatcha gonna do, right? Here are the steps: October 15: 16,310 October 16: 18,927 October 17: 21,505 October 18: 23,284 October 19: 20,265 October 20: 19,156 October 21: 21,145 The week after this one was also full of steps though not to the degree of 140K steps. I actually had two days off that week. 🤪🤪 Anyways, have a great day folks. Until Then Keep Stepping, #SiscoVanilla  #SiscoVanillaIsStepping  #SiscoVanillaHitsTheBricks 

With yesterday being Halloween, a number of my staff members were dressed up as characters from the Harry Potter line of books and movies. I, as usual, didn't dress up at all for Halloween. While I can appreciate the effort people put into their costumes, I've worked enough Halloweens where I don't ever want to celebrate the day. This curmudgeon over here would rather leave that to others. But a couple of interactions with customers got me thinking about something. About two or three customers asked me "Where's your mask/costume." To which I responded "I wear a mask every day, I can't add another one to the costume." After the second or third time responding in that manner it got me thinking. I work in a corporate environment where you can't say this and can't do that or speak in this manner...blah blah blah. Keeping that in mind, the person who I am while working as Café Manager is definitely not the person I am when I am working ...

With the end of Baseball season upon us, I just wanted to post this little nugget of motivation. As in the game of Baseball, life will indeed throw you a whole bunch of curveballs. Often these curveballs will keep you unbalanced. But as with the game of Baseball, when you finally make proper contact with one of those pitches, you must be ready to take advantage and score. Don't let life's curveballs keep you from being the superstar that you are. Anyone else sad that Baseball season is over? 😪 Winter is indeed here. ☃️ Guess Hall of Famer Rogers Hornsby and I feel the same way: I'll be here sitting at the window waiting for Spring... Until Then Keep Stepping (and waiting for Baseball's return), #SiscoVanilla #SiscoVanillaIsStepping #SiscoVanillaHitsTheBricks

Monday's here. Pick up whatever tool you use to create and make something. Do something. Live life. Make today worth living the life that you've been blessed to have the opportunity to live and enjoy. Have a great day. Until Then Keep Stepping, #SiscoVanilla #SiscoVanillaIsStepping #SiscoVanillaHitsTheBricks

Ah, the bane of many a person has once again arrived: Monday morning. For those of you who are complaining that Monday is here and are lamenting the end of your weekend, keep in mind you had a weekend. I'm currently on my eight work day in a row with one more tomorrow night before being off for ONE day on Wednesday. It could be worse. How so??? I could be unemployed and have NO jobs. So realize when you complain, that it can always be worse. But instead of viewing Monday through a negative lens, look at it positively. As a day that you can start whatever it might be that you have wanted to begin. It could be a work project, school assignment or a personal endeavor. You can start it today, building on the rest and relaxation that you had during weekend. While Monday's are just one of seven days we have available to us, it could be as valuable (if not more so) as Friday, Saturday or Sunday. You just have to look at it the right way and use it to your advantage. You do you. ...

While there are probably more than 12 steps to proper self care, these 12 here are a great starting point. Avoid the bullshit and You Do You. What would you add to this list if you could. Leave a message in the comment box. Until Then Keep Stepping, #SiscoVanilla #SiscoVanillaIsStepping #SiscoVanillaHitsTheBricks

Here are my steps for October 8 to October 14 via the Fitbit app. As you can see every metric (except for average restful sleep) went up from the week before. This was a very active week, including the Breast Cancer walk on Sunday the 14th. Here's the breakdown of my steps: October 8: 24,499 steps October 9: 15,528 steps October 10: 22,420 steps October 11: 19,341 steps October 12: 18,445 steps October 13: 10,717 steps October 14: 21,644 steps For the first time in a while I was able to break the 100K plateau for a Workweek Hustle. I actually placed first in four of the Hustles that I participated in. This upcoming week is also looking like a plentiful step week. With holiday retail around the corner, the step opportunities are sure to be many. Hope everyone has a great weekend. I'll be at work, grinding away as usual. Until Then Keep Stepping, #SiscoVanilla  #SiscoVanillaIsStepping  #SiscoVanillaHitsTheBricks 

Well that's ONE way to get more green in your diet 🤣🤣🤣 Being healthy isn't only based on what you eat. There's so much serious shit going on in the world. So we all need to laugh...a lot. Laughing won't make the serious business go away. But it will help you release negative energy and bad juju. So feel free and let yourself laugh when the opportunity calls. Have a great day and an even better weekend for those of you who have a weekend. Cause I don't. My next day off from both jobs is Wednesday October 24. 🙄 The struggle and grind is real folks. Until Then Keep Stepping, #SiscoVanilla #SiscoVanillaIsStepping #SiscoVanillaHitsTheBricks

Many of us as kids say when "When I grow up I want to be a ..." Now for those kids who did grow up and become what they said they wanted to be as a kid, good for you. But let's be honest, how many of us said that and find ourselves to be on a different path entirely. And it's easy to sit back and say "Damn, I should have kept pushing to become this or that." Its easy to doubt ourselves when we don't become what we pledged to be but what I've found out in life is that there is no preplanned path. We have to make our own. To do so, we must be prepared to shed our preconcieved ideas. We can't start a new path if we keep holding on to the old one. Times have changed. So must we. Have a great day folks. Until Then Keep Stepping, #SiscoVanilla #SiscoVanillaIsStepping #SiscoVanillaHitsTheBricks

Happy 🐪🐫🐪🐫 hump day!!!! Have a great day. Until then Keep Stepping, #SiscoVanilla #SiscoVanillaIsStepping #SiscoVanillaHitsTheBricks

Sometimes we just need to shed what holds us down and let go those who hold us back. It can be painful to do so at first, but holding on to these negative anchors to our progress only prolongs the pain and misery. In the end, we need to do what's right be us, even it if means doing it alone or with a small circle of trusted friends and family. Have a great day everyone. See you on the path. Until Then Happy Stepping, #SiscoVanilla #SiscoVanillaIsStepping #SiscoVanillaHitsTheBricks

Yesterday was the Making Strides Breast Cancer Walk at New York City's Central Park. The pink was prevalent within the greenery of Central Park as thousands walked to benefit the necessary cause of Breast Cancer Awareness. This was my second straight year walking with it being the first in trying to raise funds. As you can see in the picture above, the course is a little more than four miles starting at the 72nd Street Bandshell. The course goes North along the East side before wrapping around to the West side near 100th Street finishing back at the Bandshell. As you can see below, I put together a nice little walk before finally sitting down at the Dunkin on 74th and 2nd Avenue. A great time was had by all. Here are some images of some of the sights that I came across during the Breast Cancer Walk. As of the writing of this post, I was able to raise $723 dollars and my team, The Pink and Black Attack!!! raised a total of $1,260 dollars.  And speaking of...

Writing the article Everything That I Did After Losing My Job which was published by TheBillFold.com on October 2, 2018 made me re-evaluate where I am in my life. As many of you know, I'm on a mission to be Debt Free by 50. I'm 4 years from that goal and on the path to getting there. My next phase is to try to make a difference. I've started doing that with my fundraising efforts for the Making Strides Breast Cancer Walk. Donations can still be made: - My personal page with Making Strides Against Breast Cancer - My Facebook donation page I've also started participating in the efforts that Kiva.org undertakes. What is Kiva you might ask? I'll let Kiva speak for itself via their About Us webpage: Kiva is an international nonprofit, founded in 2005 and based in San Francisco, with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. We celebrate and support people looking to create a better future for themselves, their families and th...

Here are my steps for the period of October 1 - October 7 on the Fitbit app. As you can see by the metrics, the numbers for this walking period are severely lower than the week before. Why? I was on a staycation. I was spending time laid out watching TV and napping. Just trying to recharge my depleted batteries. The 7th (which was my best day) was my first day back at work. The steps for the next upcoming week will be more like the norm. Anyhoo, here's the daily breakdown for the steps: October 1: 11,425 steps October 2: 16,094 steps October 3: 5,369 steps October 4: 5,868 steps October 5: 9,795 steps October 6, 7,421 steps October 7: 21,244 steps Back to regular steppage next week. Unitl Then Keep Stepping, #SiscoVanilla #SiscoVanillaIsStepping #SiscoVanillaHitsTheBricks

I have to be honest, I saw this quote in an article so I'm not sure of the original context of the quote. But taking it at its face value, this is one powerful quote. One of the things that I relearned after my unemployment in 2014 was my discipline. I've worked hard to try to eliminate those things that I had lacked discipline in. Getting up earlier than usual to get a head start on my day is an example. Discipline is what provides the foundation for hard work. I honestly can say that without re-evaluating where I was in terms of my personal discipline, I wouldn't have been able to rebuild myself as I have. Anything you guys and gals do in terms of discipline for yourselves? Drop me a line in the comment box and let me know!!! Have a great day folks. Until Then Keep Stepping, #SiscoVanilla #SiscoVanillaIsStepping #SiscoVanillaHitsTheBricks

Sometimes messages come from the past that make you realize that their words are still relevant today. Take this Facebook post from 2011 as an example of that. We are the greatest resource. We are the catalysts for getting things done in our lives, not others or outsiders. You need to make more money? Get a second or even a third job. You don't have any savings? Get the extra job and cut back on what you already spend. Don't know how to do something? Teach yourself how to do it by reading and experimentation. And so on and so forth. As I've said in the last few posts: You Do You. Have a great day. Until Then Keep Stepping, #SiscoVanilla #SiscoVanillaIsStepping #SiscoVanillaHitsTheBricks.

Its Hump Day Folks 🐪🐫🐪🐫 And it's really easy to lose motivation knowing that the weekend is only two days away over the hump. Just stay the course. Focus on what you want to accomplish and do it. You do you!!! What do you all do to keep your motivation and focus in check. Drop me a line in the comment box and let me know. Until Then Keep Stepping, #SiscoVanilla #SiscoVanillaIsStepping #SiscoVanillaHitsTheBricks

Check out what the image above states: Mindset Is What Separates The Best From The Rest. I firmly believe that this is 100% true. Obviously everyone isn't the same. We don't always get the same opportunities as the next person. Actually, we might have had more go our way than the next person. But at the same time, that next person might be in a better place than you or even me. I attribute that to having the proper state of mind IN ADDITION TO the hard work that one has to put in to get there. Thinking positive is all well and dandy but if you sit on your ass all day and do nothing to improve yourself, no matter what you dream up you ain't going anywhere. On the flip side, you can work 120 hours a week but if you have a shitty mindset and a negative attitude concerning yourself, you won't go as far as you should or could. Set your mind to the right frequency coupled with your blood, sweat and tears to get to where you want to get to in life. It really is that s...

I often times find myself in this boat, not so much as it relates for my dreams and happiness, but just for expectations in general. A former friend would always say to me that "You expect too much from people." He's right. I try hold people to a certain standard. And I get let down a lot. I find that to be especially so when you are in need. Nothing puts into perspective who you can depend on when you're at the bottom. Let me tell you first hand, that number dwindles SIGNIFICANTLY. Now, bear in mind that you might not be the only one to be doing badly. We're all living life the best we can. I get that. But a kind word, a phone call or a text checking in on someone can go a long way. It can go a long way to help someone's day AND to establish to them who they can truly count on. Ok folks, before I go off on a further negative tangent, I'll finish off saying what I want to say. And this is easier said than done. Don't expect anything from anyone....

Thanks to Momma-San for this beautiful framed message. Sometimes we get so caught up in the big picture that we forget to see the small things that led to the big ones. It really is true that the journey, regardless of how many steps we take, starts with that first integral step. And speaking of stepping, we're 7-days away from the Breast Cancer Walk and I still need your help in raising funds. We've surpassed my prior goal of $550 with $580 dollars raised. I've raised the goal ceiling to $650 so with a week to go, let's try and get to $1000 in funds raised!!!! Want to donate? Here are the links for donating: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/?fr_id=89606&pg=personal&px=48245576 or go to my Facebook donation page: https://www.facebook.com/donate/225231978349534/225231981682867 Or you can donate to my team's page: The Pink and Black Attack!!!: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/?fr_id=89606&pg=team&team_ Even $1 dollar will help. The...

I have regulars at the bar that comment that I always seem to be snacking while at the bar. It's true. During a minimum 10-hour shift (sometimes 12-hours) I do tend to snack often. Hey it takes a lot to power this engine of mine. This is even more so since I'm on my feet the WHOLE ENTIRE time, going back and forth behind the bar. It gets extreme when I have to go up and down to the keg room to change kegs or get beers from the walk in. Add to that, if I'm busy, I can't just sit down and have a meal. So I have to make due however I can. I usually stock my work bag with a variety of nut bars, granola bars and other snacks such as those of the Orchard Valley Harvest brand. Don't know the Orchard Valley Harvest brand? Well, let's let them speak for themselves: When you enjoy Orchard Valley Harvest nuts, dried fruits and mixes, you never have to worry about artificial ingredients or genetically modified organisms because every pack is Non-GMO Project Ver...

I came across this piece of advice on my Instagram feed from @CarterGood . In this image, he gives tips on how you can successfully eat out while dieting. Now for me its not so much about eating out while dieting but its about being frugal and not trying to spend money by eating out. I try my best to always bag my lunch/dinner for work. But that doesn't mean that I don't eat out once in a while. What I try to do is use apps like the Under Armour MyFitnessPal App. This app is awesome at looking up the nutritional information for meals at fast food and chain restaurants. One of the restaurants that I go to near work is Chipotle. Chipotle also let's you build a meal on their website based on the ingredients you want and gives you a breakdown based on what you put in. Then in turn, I add that info to the MyFitnessApp as a meal/recipe. I tend to just order a veggie bowl with the same ingredients each and every time for simplicity sake. Regardless of whether you eat out d...

Sometimes life comes down to celebrating what you have regardless of what you might be going through. It might be rough. It might not be. But celebrate your life folks. Many weren't given the opportunity to do so. Enjoy!!! And while you're at it, why dont you just have your cake and eat it too. What's the worse that can happen 😉 Have a great day!!!! Until Then Keep Stepping, #SiscoVanilla  #SiscoVanillaIsStepping  #SiscoVanillaHitsTheBricks