Farah Jadran - TV News Reporter/Anchor & Magazine Editor Demo Reel

I'm sharing more than eight years of experience in print and broadcast journalism, public speaking, and also digital and social media platforms. 

This newsreel is a short compilation of my media management roles as a magazine editor, TV news anchor and host, reporter and producer. 

Find out more at farahjadran.wix.com/farahjadran or email me at farah.jadran@gmail.com. 

Until my next post, be beautiful and genuine ― in other words, be you.

Farah F. Jadran is the media spokeswoman for Hope for Heather. She shares her interests on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Vine and Pinterest — @FarahJadran.

Not just a crow... 'Beacon' of hope

"Beacon"

Meet "Beacon"... 

Just before 8 o'clock  this morning, I was leaving the bank drive-through when I came around a turn to see three large crows pecking at something on the ground. 

At first I thought it was some food or trash feast they had found, but after a closer glance, I stopped my car. It was not a piece of trash, it was a smaller crow (which I am now calling "Beacon") and he was still alive. Beacon was moving his head around, trying to get off his back and letting out a desperate caw. 

I was horrified by this sight. 

I must preface that the only reason I took a photo of Beacon while he was lying on his back was because the wildlife rehabilitator had advised me to do so. It was important to her that she confirm it was indeed a crow I had found. Apparently, crows do not usually attack one another – in fact, it's unusual, she said. On my own account, I believe that the three larger crows came upon a smaller injured crow and the commonality of the species was no longer a factor. Again, that's my opinion from what I witnessed.

I noticed right away that Beacon's wing had been broken and he was pinned to the ground by the three other crows. Sadly,  it appeared he would be eaten alive. Inside his bad wing joint I saw blood and some exposed bone from the pecking. 

I parked my car and scared away the crows, and then contacted a wildlife rehabilitation number to see if they took in birds of all kinds, which thankfully they did. The reason I asked is because I didn't want to hear that no one would take the bird because he didn't fit the traditional wildlife categories I found on the website.

I stayed with Beacon for more than 30 minutes while I secured a place that would take him. My fiancé, Niko, arrived shortly after with a box for Beacon's transport. I used a small blanket to cover him before moving him in to the box and making sure he was not on his back anymore. 

Niko drove Beacon to the rescue and since arriving to work this morning, I have learned that he's going to make it. They are certain his wounds and the wing will heal.

Why am I sharing this? Because all animals deserve to be helped and deserve to live until it's their time to pass on. 

I named him Beacon because after a run-in with a road-rager on my to the bank – this little guy appeared to me as a "beacon of hope and life." It baffled me that some people wake up and have that much angst over a four-way stop not "going their way" – or whatever triggered this person (with a young child in the car) to flip me off with an exceptionally "mean" look on her face.

I couldn't just drive by and forget about his pain and suffering while the other crows attacked him.

And the more I look at this photo, the more meaning I see in his extended broken wing...

Again, Beacon shouldn't be viewed as "just a crow" – it's an animal with a life and all animal lives should matter, no matter what.

For whatever reason, I was meant to drive by and witness this, and yes, this out of the ordinary of what I normally write about  here, but I am a lover of all animals and that includes Beacon. 

Until my next post, be beautiful and genuine ― in other words, be you.

For more of my daily posts, follow me on Twitter, Instagram, Vine and Pinterest at @FarahJadran. 

Tell a woman because it could save her life

Tell a woman because you love her. Tell a woman because she means the world to you. Tell a woman because it could save her life.

Ovarian cancer symptoms are all too common. Along with these common symptoms comes our tendency to put others first. We may ignore our bodies and our health altogether. I have been guilty of this many times.

In my nearly three years of working very closely with the organization and its volunteers at Hope for Heather Ovarian Cancer Awareness, I have come to learn the importance of being an advocate for my own health. Also, it's become a part of my everyday life to encourage others to do the same.

These common symptoms include bloating, difficult menstrual cycles, headaches, unusual weight gain, sleepless nights, sense of urgency or higher frequency to urinate, abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly. Sound familiar?

These symptoms have happened to all of us. I know I've experienced a few here and there. If you have experienced these, did you think anything "more" could be happening? I've had many women tell me, "I thought it was just common to go through these things...we're women. Isn't that normal?"

At times, it could be "nothing" ― but at other times, it might be "something" more.

I have lost track of the number of women who told me that a symptom card from Hope for Heather saved their lives, or that hearing testimony from a survivor gave them a push in the right direction.

Inspiration is powerful. I know firsthand that inspiration has prompted many women to finally take a look at their own health and maybe even recognize some lingering symptoms. Regardless, they took charge. I took charge.

We only have one body. We only have one life.

For all of us, there are many people who are counting on us and people who care about health. It is important to pay attention to our health the way that our loved ones do and we must be ready to fight if we are sent to a battle.

Tell a woman because she has one body. Tell a woman because she has one life. Tell a woman because it could save her life.

Until my next post, be beautiful and genuine ― in other words, be you.

Farah F. Jadran is the media spokeswoman for Hope for Heather. She shares her interests on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Vine and Pinterest — @FarahJadran.

Bridal Shower DIY: Coffee Beans, Burlap & Brooches

There are countless options for beautiful bridal shower decor and favors, but like anything else — there's far more satisfaction when you DIY. 

After much internal brainstorming, I found the inspiration for a beautiful shower that would be made possible on a budget.

Centerpieces

I wanted the centerpieces to be simple, pretty and inexpensive for my bridal shower at the Craftsman Inn. 

Touches of gold will be featured in my wedding day ensemble and throughout the entire wedding, so I also wanted to incorporate this into the shower's theme. 

Less is more. Since the brunch being served during the shower was the top priority, I didn't want the centerpieces to clutter the tables.

Monograms are big in the bridal scene and this was a fun opportunity to feature one gold "F" on each table. I rounded up 10 cardboard craft letters ($2.49 each) and one can of gold spray paint. A little bit of powdery glitter and six bags of clear crystals and jewels ($2.99 a bag) and the centerpieces were ready to go!

Favors

Have you ever gone to a party — a wedding, a shower or even a birthday party — where you received a favor that you knew you wouldn't use? With my focus on pretty and practical for the favors, I knew that I wanted to provide something that would be a useful keepsake. 

In addition to the useful coffee mug (100 mugs for under $100) that would feature a simple design, the favor would include one of my favorite things — coffee! The coffee was not only a "must" because it's one of my favorite beverages, but it was purchased from Cafe at 407, which benefits a non-profit (Ophelia's Place) that I support as a body image advocate and also as a board member.

I bought five pounds of Guatemalan coffee beans ($64.95) from Cafe at 407 to fill burlap bags. Since I couldn't locate any cost-effective bags — a few rolls of burlap material (Buy 1 Get 1 at $4.99) were transformed into burlap bags...after a very motivated bridesmaid sewed them!

Enough coffee beans for a couples cups of coffee were placed in each burlap bag and then tied with some tan and gold ribbon (a few rolls totaling $6) with a "thank you" tag personally stamped by yours truly. 

The coffee not only looked great in the burlap, but it smelled divine and of course, it was delicious!

Brooches

OK, so I did not make any brooches, but I did include my bridal shower guests in a very special wedding moment.

Along with the shower invitation, guests also received a little instruction. I asked each guest to bring either a jewel or a gem, a pair of sparkly earrings or a brooch — all pieces that will eventually be used to create my wedding day brooch bouquet. I also specified a few colors to keep in mind: gold, tangerine, fuchsia pink and light yellow.

Many guests surprised me with their heartfelt gestures by bringing me a grandmother's brooch, a jewelry piece that they wore to a special occasion, and many others that included a personal message or a note that explained why the piece was "meant to be" for my wedding day.

In the end, this will become a DIY project that will truly hold a special place in my heart when I walk down the aisle on May 2, 2015.


Until the big day...

I look forward to the final months of planning, and also the anticipation.

Most of all — I am grateful to have my loving family and friends surrounding me as I approach the day I will marry my wonderful husband-to-be.

Until my next post, be beautiful and genuine ― in other words, be you!

Bride-to-be Farah F. Jadran shares her wedding plans, interests and other delightful happenings on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Vine and Pinterest — @FarahJadran.

Six months from today, we say... "I do"

In exactly six months we will say, “I do,” and we all know this time will fly! Luckily, Niko and I are in very good hands when it comes to planning. 

Niko and I have happily landed on a beautiful reception venue in Syracuse, N.Y., that has limitless options — The Oncenter. Thus far, we have had the pleasure of working on our reception vision with both Jody Harris, the director of convention services, and Juliana Filippi, the event and sales manager.

Photo Collage via @FarahJadran - Instagram

The crew has been attentive to details, from décor and design to helping create a menu. Speaking of food — we are just a few weeks away from doing our first dinner tasting with Chef Gerald “Jerry” Bolton, The Oncenter’s executive chef.  Recently, Niko and I attended a summer event at The Oncenter exclusively dedicated to the savory tastes of the venue’s signature dishes. Needless to say, we love food and we know everyone will enjoy the dinner they sit down to have at our reception.
   

Speaking of what’s on the menu, we also have quite the creative mind behind the dessert tablescape. Gina Brown, the owner and baker at DivaLicious Desserts LLC in Manlius, not only makes a tasty treat — she also has an eye for unique displays. We have done some tasting (with a few more to come) and we also look forward to seeing her ideas on how to present the beautiful dessert tablescape. We might have one or two small cake tiers, but this wedding will be all about the creative and mouthwatering cupcakes. I have been vying to have my reception seat at the dessert table, but nobody has taken this request seriously. However, I won’t give up on that dream just yet.

I know that one dream has already come true… I found the gown! I have made my wedding dress selection at Bliss Bridal & Formal Wear in Baldwinsville. Owner Gina Bush made the experience incredibly special. She truly took the time to learn about my bridal style and she even helped me come up with some ideas to make my gown a one-of-a-kind selection. I can only hope all brides have an experience like this one. My bridesmaids will be dressed in elegant floor-length gowns, also from Bliss Bridal!

Sometime soon, we will take part in a wonderful tradition and have our engagement photo shoot with Rick Needle of AlterImage Photography. Rick is also our wedding day photographer. We are extremely lucky to have him behind the lens. His work is beautiful, unique and memorable. We will be part of the memory-making that day, of course, but Rick will be the one capturing those special moments.

On the runway at a charity fashion show when Niko proposed!

Since we are only six months away from the big day, we had to really buckle down and get down to business! I know a few people that planned their weddings in less than six months and one that always stands out — the wedding that was planned in three weeks!

Niko and I are happy to have a two-year engagement (to the date) and if anyone knows us well, they know we need the extra time to plan. As members of the media, our schedules never match up and we are very aware that we have limited time to plan together. Although a wedding is one day and a marriage is a lifetime, we want to enjoy the planning process and know that we had fun with the minute and major details with our wonderful guests in mind.

So, will everything be perfect? Of course not! But, will our hearts be happy and will the plans be pretty and practical? You better believe it!

Our exceptional planners in Jody and Julianna, along with a dedicated friend and bridesmaid (Rebecca Shiroff), we know that no matter what the day brings — it will be perfect.

It will be perfect because it will be the day we always wanted. Our wedding ceremony will be a traditional Catholic mass and our reception will be elegant, unique and oh yes, it will be unforgettable!

Bride-to-be Farah F. Jadran shares her wedding plans, interests and other delightful happenings on Twitter, Instagram, Vine and Pinterest — @FarahJadran.

Running on an angel's wings in the Philly Marathon

It’s been a long time since I last blogged, but I did not want this final day of the year to pass without sharing my last marathon experience.

Farah Jadran's Philly Marathon finisher's medal!

While this was not my fastest marathon or my best overall experience, it was one of the most powerful ones I have ever run.

As you might remember, my last marathon, San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll on June 2, was a fantastic run. I ran a 3:33:33 and felt strong even after a hilly course challenged every part of my body and mind. However, the next marathon would not go as planned…

I began preparing for the 2013 Philly Marathon in late July, only to find myself injured after a triathlon and missing more and more training runs because I was so busy with work. I was sleeping less each night and feeling less confident in my ability to break 3:30 with every week that passed.

I was weak, slow and scared. A marathon is not a 5k or 10k that can be “eeked out” with some general mileage base and heart and soul. You can’t cheat a marathon and all that it has in its power to play with your mind.

Like my San Diego run, I was raising awareness and funds for Hope for Heather Ovarian Cancer Awareness of CNY for my Teal Mission to Philly. The mission was going strong and we again raised a lot of money for a great cause.

Raising funds is one part of the mission. After that, raising awareness leading up to the marathon and also during it, is the next part of the mission. Finally, completing the marathon itself rounds out the mission. I knew that that final step was going to be tough.

Within six weeks of the marathon, I only hit 18 miles and 20 miles once each and managed a 16-miler on a few occasions with time and energy dictating those runs.

The date of the Philly Marathon was set for Sunday, Nov. 17, and it was meaningful because it would fall only a few days after the anniversary of the passing of Heather Weeks. Heather was the inspiration for the start of the non-profit organization. It was her hope to find a cure for ovarian cancer and to raise awareness among women for this silent killer.

As Heather’s mother, Frieda, would say and remind me… “Heather got her angel wings on Nov. 14.”

Knowing that I would run this marathon three days after Heather’s angel anniversary made me hopeful that I could actually complete this marathon and that I would complete the Teal Mission.

About five days prior to the race, Frieda told me not to worry and then she told me, “You’re running on angel’s wings.” She meant that Heather would be there with me.

On the morning of Nov. 17, someone asked me, “Are you ready for your marathon?” Without hesitation, I broke down and I began crying. No, I was not ready. In fact, I could have gone back to sleep.

I thankfully slept for seven hours the night before the marathon, but when I woke up at 4:30 a.m., I would have gladly gone back to sleep for seven more. But that is not what the mission is about. I was tired. But that didn't matter. I was there to fight. I was there to raise awareness and turn the city of Philadelphia teal.

I continued to feel scared upon arriving to the starting line in downtown Philly. I was worried that I would not be able to finish the race once I started.

Since I was there with a goal to PR, I ran stubborn and went out at the pace I wanted to keep to break 3:30…but, I did this knowing that it wouldn’t last. I knew I would most likely fall off this pace. Nevertheless, I wanted to try.

By the time I made it to my starting corral, I already felt more scared and apprehensive. 

The gun went off, and I began to pray, literally. I probably said more than 500 Hail Mary’s and Our Father prayers during the marathon.

Each time I made it to another mile, I said, “Thank you,” out loud.

By the time I reached mile 8, I knew I was in trouble. I was going to have to power through 18 more miles with no gas in the tank. My mind was tired and my body was farther gone.

With all the running chips stacked up against me, I knew I had to continue fighting for the Teal Warriors and to bring the Hope for Heather mission across the finish line. I passed out ovarian cancer awareness symptom cards to spectators and at water stations, too. This was my focus.

The Philly Marathon also has a half-marathon, and this factor did not help me. When you are about to hit mile 12, the half runners go to the right and the marathoners (and me) go to the left. I could see the finish line and I looked at my watch… I could PR my 13.1 time, but that’s not going to happen. I am going to run 26.2 miles and knowingly get slower and not PR at all.

I continued on my path and said goodbye to the finish line.

The feet that completed the feat.

It’s at this point that I started to notice that there was one familiar name being called out very often as I was running.  

Everyone has their name printed on their official marathon bibs, so every now and then I hear a cheer with my name in it, but more often than anything, I hear another name being cheered for…

“Go Heather!”

The first time I heard it, I looked to see who it was. It was a woman in red that I was passing. Then, a few miles later, I heard it again, but this time it was a different woman. 

After that, I continued to hear many cheers for different women named Heather for the duration of the marathon.

It gave me chills the first time because I knew I was hearing this name for a reason. But when I kept hearing it, I knew that it was happening so that I would keep pushing forward.

As I prayed and heard Heather’s name being called around me, I started to feel a light pressure upon both of my shoulder blades. You can make your own assumption to what that might have meant, but I took it to mean precisely what Frieda had told me prior to this day ― I was indeed running on an angel’s wings ─ Heather's angel wings.

I continued to run with this spiritual power inside me because I definitely had no physical power at this point…which was around mile 15. I still had double digit miles to complete and the certainty that I could finish started to grow.

While I did get slower, more miles than others, I felt that I would make it to the finish line. I was grateful to complete each mile. When I got to mile 16, I said, “Thank you.” And then I said, “Please, just get me to mile 17.” And I did this with every mile marker, until there were no more to be crossed.

I had pain in my legs like I’ve never had before but my heart was filled with hope. During the final mile, I was in disbelief that this horrific battle was almost (and finally) over. I struggled the most I ever have in the final stretch. I had cramps in both legs and I fought past the famous knee-buckling action that hunts down marathoners in the final 800 meters.

But with all my prayers, supporters of the cause and the power of the angels ― I did it. I ran 26.2 miles without stopping, without walking and without falling short of the goal to raise ovarian cancer awareness.

I crossed the finish line in 3:44:33, which is exactly 11 minutes slower than my run on a harder and much hillier San Diego course only five months prior.

I ended up running a solid time despite my lack of training, rest and overall confidence. And I ran a time that still snuck in as my third (out of four) overall fastest marathon times.

If you’re a runner, missing a PR is tough, but I made peace with this “loss” long before the race was over. My goal turned into the desire to finish and stay standing.

When I was finally out of the finishing area, I said this out loud, “That was the hardest thing I have ever done.” And in many ways it was, at that moment. I will have many more “hardest ever” moments in my life, but for now, this one tops them all. I was so frightened by the 26.2-mile feat that I have completed before and I was not sure if I was going to make it.

This marathon taught me that anything is possible, even the impossible.

I wish you all runners and non-runners the best on this New Year's Eve and here's to 2014!

Until my next post, be beautiful and genuine ― in other words, be you!

Missing Boston by 11 seconds

I had a goal in mind when I began training for the San Diego Marathon that took place in June 2. While I ran a solid time and improved my previous 26.2-mile performance by 10 minutes, there was something more that I wanted.

For my current age (and all ages have specific requirements) it is required that I run a 3:35 or faster for the marathon distance in order to qualify for the 2014 Boston Marathon. I did accomplish this. I ran a 3:33:33 in San Diego on June 2, 2013, and so it would appear that I “qualified” for the big race. Good deal!

Because I ran a Boston Qualifying (BQ) time, I decided to give it a shot and register for the 2014 race. Also, I do realize that the upcoming race has much controversy and maybe even fear surrounding it; however, as a long-time runner ― nothing will scare me (not even a cowardly duo equipped with explosives) from the tradition and spirit of the marathon.

That aside, I entered my information and BQ into the system in mid-September only to find out this in the official email at the end of the month:

Thank you for submitting your application for entry into the 2014 Boston Marathon. Regrettably, we are unable to accept your application due to field size limitations and the large number of applications we received from Qualified runners. Entries from applicants in your age group were accepted through and including the time 3:33:22.

Yes, it’s true, I missed the cut-off by 11 seconds! It is painful knowing that at the halfway point of the SD Marathon I was on pace to run a 3:28 and change, but as the race went on ― the hills came, and came…and came! I fell off pace and ran a 3:33:33 instead.

I know I ran my marathon with heart and earned a solid PR and a time I am proud of, but I can't help but feel a slight feeling of disappointment. Being a runner is tough. You're up against you and only you. And when you let yourself down, there is no one else to blame.

I am on to the next marathon, which is the Philadelphia Marathon on Nov. 17. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Philly Marathon. I am thrilled to be a part of this and to be running on a Teal Mission again to support Hope for Heather Ovarian Cancer Awareness of CNY.

So, on April 14, 2014, I will not be running in the 118th Boston Marathon. However, I will be running and I will be running with heart.

Until my next post, be beautiful and genuine ― in other words, be you!