SiscoVanilla Hits The Bricks

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 

I've had people ask me how the donations that I have been collecting are used. Here is an information poster from the American Cancer Society on a number of ways donations are used. As you can see from the above images, the donations, regardless if big or small really do make a difference. Please donate. Here are the links: - My personal page with Making Strides Against Breast Cancer - My Facebook donation page Or you can donate to my team's page: The Pink and Black Attack!!! : Even $1 dollar will help. The more the merrier. Please join us for an amazing cause. I thank you all in advance. Hope to see you all on the 14th of October. Until Then Keep Stepping, #SiscoVanilla #SiscoVanillaIsStepping #SiscoVanillaHitsTheBricks

The month of October is upon us and this month sheds light to the cause of Breast Cancer Awareness. Throughout the United States, there will be many walks and fundraisers held to raise some necessary funds for Breast Cancer research and treatment. As I've mentioned in the last week and a half, I am walking and raising funds for the Breast Cancer Walk on October 14th that will be held in New York City's Central Park. So far we've been blessed with $432 dollars worth of donations. But there is still more to be done. I've raised my donation ceiling to $575 but I know with the help of everyone who follows me on Social Media, we can definitely surpass and eclipse that amount. As I've mentioned in the last week and a half I am walking and raising funds for the Breast Cancer Walk on October 14th that will be held in New York City's Central Park. So far we've been blessed with $432 dollars worth of donations. But there is still more to be done. I've rai...