daniellericks

[daniellericks]

THE TIG ARCHIVES│BEAUTY│A NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION

“Run a marathon. Stop biting my nails. Stop swearing. Re-learn French. These make my New Year’s resolution list nearly (AKA actually every) single year. The marathon hasn’t happened. The swearing comes in lulls triggered by being overworked or feeling mighty cheeky after a couple drinks. Then there’s the French – a language I studied through high school and then lost as I immersed myself in speaking Spanish with the Argentinians during my stint in Buenos Aires. I have put my little Rosetta Stone headset in my eager ears every year, resolving to do interviews en français, but much to my chagrin, it hasn’t stuck. And when it comes to the biting of the nails – well, it still happens with a turbulent flight or a stressful day. It’s unladylike. But then again, so is the swearing. Dammit.

So here’s my question: what is the goal of a New Years resolution? I often find myself wallowing in disappointment when I set a goal I can’t achieve. Of measuring each day’s triumph or failure as a benchmark of how the year is going. And at 34 years old, I’m over that.

This year I resolve to not have a resolution. If I can’t run a marathon, that’s okay. (I’m getting older – my knees are bothering me.) If it takes me a couple more years to lock down that French tutor and nail the language j’adore oh so much, that’s cool too.

My nails will be fine, and if I toss out a four letter word once in a blue moon, well frankly I think it adds character.

For this new year, the only thing I aim to do is to approach life playfully. To laugh and enjoy, to keep my standards high but my level of self-acceptance higher.

My cast mate and friend, Gina, listened to me rattle on about my plans for the hiatus, bullet pointing the multitudinous events of my schedule and planned jaunts from one place to the next. She stopped me. ‘Meg, I will just say one thing. Make sure you leave room for magic.’

And that is my point. My New Year’s resolution is to leave room for magic. To make my plans, and be okay if they sometimes break. To set my goals, but to be open to change. To let the magic know that there is an open door policy with me in 2016 and that it is always welcome to join the party.

I invite you to do the same.

Have a beautiful, blissful, and incredibly magical 2016. So grateful to be with you on the ride.”

- Meghan Markle, January 1, 2016

[daniellericks]

Someone found Meghan’s old blog. Yay!

THE TIG ARCHIVES│FOOD│CRISPY CHICKEN STEW

“When looking at the endless fads and diet trends, and of-the-moment dining delights meant to dazzle, it’s sometimes nice to get back to basics – to the bare bones, shall we say. Kate and Ryan Harvey do just that in The Bare Bones Broth Cookbook, a certifiable food bible of dishes that please every palate and stem from good old fashioned broth. Beyond the rich flavor that comes from real bone broth, “the collagen, bone, skin, marrow, and fat that is extracted when animal bones simmer in water for hours (or days) are the building blocks of life, containing proteins that help to combat inflammation; boost immunity; strengthen bones; improve hair, skin, and nails; and help a host of digestive issues by promoting optimum gut health.” In that case, sign us up! And when you’re talking about crave-worthy dishes such as this crispy chicken stew – whoa Nelly, you may bring us back to basics (and keep us there) for a long time coming.”

- Meghan Markle, March 2016

From Katherine & Ryan

“We love lemon, artichokes, and olives, so this dish just makes sense to us. We almost always leave the skin on our chicken thighs so we can render out some of the fat and crisp the skin to perfection. If you and your family enjoy Greek flavors as much as we do, then this stew will quickly become a favorite in your household.”

Ingredients (pictured above):

1 tbsp granulated garlic

1 tsp sea salt

1 tsp dried oregano

2 lbs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs

2 tbsp ghee or olive oil

½ red onion, peeled and chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

¼ cup capers with brine

½ lemon, thinly sliced

¼ cup white wine

3 cups chicken bone broth

2 cups canned artichoke hearts

1 cup kalamata olives

1 ½ tsp chopped oregano

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine the granulated garlic, ½ teaspoon of the sea salt, and the dried oregano. Add the chicken thighs and rub the seasoning into the chicken until evenly coated; set aside. You can also cover and refrigerate the chicken thighs and marinate for 2 to 24 hours.

When you’re ready to cook the chicken, heat the ghee or oil in a cast-iron skillet or sauté pan over medium-heat.

Remove the marinated chicken thighs from the bowl and, using paper towels, pat the chicken thighs dry. Place the chicken thighs, skin side down, in the hot ghee or oil, spacing them evenly, and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, until the skin begins to brown. Turn the chicken thighs and brown on the opposite side for 5 minutes. Remove from the skillet and set aside.

In the same skillet over medium heat, add the onion, garlic, capers, and the remaining ½ teaspoon sea salt. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the lemon slices.

Add the white wine and deglaze the skillet, stirring to loosen any browned bits stuck to the bottom. Bring to a simmer and let cook for 5 minutes.

Add the chicken broth, return the thighs to the skillet, and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes.

Add the artichoke hearts and olives and continue simmering for 10 minutes.

Remove the chicken thighs from the skillet, pull the meat from the bones, and roughly chop. Add the chicken meat back into the skillet and stir to distribute evenly. To serve, scoop the stew into serving bowls and garnish with the chopped fresh oregano. The stew or any leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 1 week, or frozen for up to 6 months!

[daniellericks]

Professor Chronicles: Teaching is Hard But Worth it!

I continue to teach at my alma mater, Howard University, in my beloved School Of Communications, and here is one reason why.

As an educator, particularly as a relatively new Adjunct Professor, there are times when you wonder if you are making a difference. By the time the students arrive on Howard University’s campus, they have already experienced a great deal of adversity in their young lives – school shootings that are far too common, financial hardships, and a pandemic that, according to McKinsey & Company, widened…

[daniellericks]

Using Media Tools to Advance Your Nonprofit's Mission

I was honored to join Montgomery Community Media CEO Jasmine Nykole White, MA, MPA, at the Inaugural Nonprofit Conference at Montgomery College. The theme was “Building Nonprofit Infrastructure to Strengthen Community Services.” Jasmine and I hosted a breakout session on “Using Media Tools to Advance Your Mission.” Are you looking for media tools for your nonprofit? Here are ten tips to get you…

[daniellericks]

Back to In-Person Training

Back to In-Person Training

As a trainer and lecturer, you don’t really know your impact until the evaluations come in. Allow me to share some comments that make me very proud of my first in-person lecture – outside of teaching at Howard University – since the pandemic’s start. I’ve conducted several Zoom trainings, but there is nothing like meeting face-to-face. The personal interaction, the storytelling, filling the room…

[daniellericks]

You can now call me Professor Ricks!

You can now call me Professor Ricks!

In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the distinguished Cathy Hughes School of Communications at my beloved Howard University, I joined the Strategic, Legal and Management Communication Department as an Adjunct. I’ll be teaching a “Social Media and Integrated Marketing” for the Fall 2021 semester and a Programming and Media Planning class for the Fall 2020 session. This appointment is a…

[daniellericks]

Making MOVES

I am happy to announce that I have joined the Peloton Interactive family. Peloton works to empower people through fitness; even more, we work to empower our employees and our community by striving to be the best place to work for the world’s top talent, the best business partner, and the best corporate citizen.

[daniellericks]

[daniellericks]

Happy Black History Month, Tumblr! 

Black excellence should be celebrated 365 days a year—not just during February. That’s why #BlackExcellence365 was born exactly one year ago today. Since then, it’s been a year-round Tumblr celebration of Black artists, politicians, social justice advocates, musicians, and more. 

There is no #BlackExcellence365 if there is no intersectionality. Last year Kawther Inuwa from Muslim Girl Army’s (@muslimgirlarmy) sat down to tell the community about her experiences in being a Nigerian Muslim woman who works as a social activist. 18 Million Rising (@18mr), an Asian American activist group, informed the world how the Asian American community can show solidarity with Black communities. Southerners On New Ground revealed how their pro-Black, pro-queer, pro-immigrant, and pro-worker organization were intent on helping LGBTQ+ visibility and safety in the Southern states in America. 

Why stop now? Let’s kick off #BlackExcellence365 2020!

Black history is every day.

This isn’t just about honoring the past and celebrating the present, it’s about bettering the future, too. That’s why #BlackExcellence365 2020 will feature a number of Q&A Issue Times throughout the year. We’re partnering with a few leading organizations like Black Girls Vote (@blackgirlsvote), Planned Parenthood Action Fund (@ppaction), and 18 Million Rising (@18MR). Stay tuned here for the opportunity to ask these folks a question.

You can also look forward to Artist Spotlights that highlight Black artists on Tumblr who are doing incredible things. Aundre Larrow (@aundrelarrow) will reveal his experience as a photographer whose work focuses on Black bodies. Visual artist Gianni Lee (@giannilee) will give us an inside look at his experience in the art world. 

If you’re a Black creative who wants to get featured in a reblog on one of our official Tumblrs like @art, @music, @fashion, @entertainment, @books, @gaming, @kpop, and @staff, let us know! Just tag your post #BlackExcellence365 so we can find it. This celebration means so much more if it includes you and your work.

Make sure to stay tuned on @action to see all of the upcoming highlights we couldn’t mention here yet. There are 52 weeks of #BlackExcellence365 2020 left, after all. ✊🏿✊🏾✊��

Oh, and follow the #black history month to engage with what the Tumblr community is creating. Seeing the selfies, art, music, and everything else created by all of you is a real treat.

[daniellericks]

BET Celebrates 40 Years of Black Excellence

BET Celebrates 40 Years of Black Excellence

BET is celebrating its 40th anniversary. I got my start in media communications at BET. The network just went 24-hours. BET corporate offices where Georgetown in DC. The production offices, where I worked out of, was in a TV studio in Bethesda, Md. I was an aspiring producer, and BET gave me all the space I needed to develop my craft.

Soon the network expanded, and we ended up leaving our…

[daniellericks]

What's YOUR Story?

What would you say if someone asked you to tell them your story? We all have a story to tell. We all represent our own brand. But when it comes right down to it, are you able to tell your brand story. I have to admit, it wasn’t easy for me!

Everyone has a story… here’s mine.

Since primitive humans painted the first images on cave walls, storytelling has been around as one of the most…

[daniellericks]

Danielle Ricks - My Brand Story from Danielle Ricks on Vimeo.

What happens when the storyteller can't seem to tell their own story? That's precisely the situation I found myself in. I needed to obtain clarity on my BRAND and the services I offer. So I turned to none other than Nick F. Nelson of Brandprenuer to help me with my superpowers on my her BRAND DAY. Check the video from my BRAND DAY. It's time to tell MY STORY and I'm ready to tell YOURS!

[daniellericks]

Electronic Press Kits An Electronic Press Kit (EPK) can tell your personal story or promote a particular marketing campaign. EPKs also offer those who are seeking media coverage a dynamic way to tell your story, introduce yourself to the public and capture the attention of media outlets.

[daniellericks]

Digital Media & Video Production Portfolio

Digital Media & Video Production Portfolio

https://www.slideshare.net/DLRicks/danielle-ricks-digital-media-video-production-portfolio

[daniellericks]

I worked out for 48 days straight! No breaks. No time off. No excuses. My workouts totaled 109 sessions, 44.59 hours and 11,550 calories burned. Read how I did it and what I learned along the way here: https://link.medium.com/e4cePVLXhW 
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw2dMilh5LX/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=10a0zvpzdy0oa

[daniellericks]

I worked out for 48 days straight. Here’s what happened.

[daniellericks]

I Worked Out for 22 Days Straight: Here’s what I learned

Day 23 of 22 Days of Exercise— I worked out for 22 days straight and I’m not done yet.

The assumption is that all you need is 21 days to form a habit. According to ScienceAlert, the 21-day number comes from “the 1960 book called Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz, a plastic surgeon who noticed his patients seemed to take about 21 days to get used to their new faces.”

However, Science Alert adds, “according to a 2009 study, the time it takes to form a habit really isn't that clear-cut. Researchers from University College London examined the new habits of 96 people over the space of 12 weeks, and found that the average time it takes for a new habit to stick is actually 66 days; furthermore, individual times varied from 18 to a whopping 254 days.”

For my part, I decided that I was going to work out for at least 30 minutes every single day of Lent. That’s right; I am committed to working out every day for 40 days. I didn’t share my intentions earlier because, to be honest, I wasn’t sure that I’d be able to keep up with it. But now that I am at the halfway point, I thought I’d share my workout journey with you thus far.

Working out for 22 days straight does NOT mean I worked out at full capacity each day. On average, I worked out hard 4-5 days a week with a combo of indoor biking and running, outdoor swimming and hiking and resistance weight training a minimum of 3 days a week. On active rest days, I walked or practiced yoga. I was able to knock off 8 pounds, add lean muscle and get my BMI down 1.7 points. Right now, I’m stuck at a weight plateau, but I’m sure I’ll break it in the next week or so.

By the way, working on my physical health is not the only thing that I’m doing for Lent; I am also doing an environmental challenge by minimizing and in many cases eliminating the use of plastic- NOT easy - along with a food challenge. More on that another time.

For now, know that I’ve exercised for 22 days straight for at least 30 minutes and most days much, much longer! Just 24 more days to go! I’ll report back on April 19th. But right now I need to get my workout in.