The Unofficial Start of Fall

There seems to be a reoccurring theme on when I write a new post: Easter, Fourth of July, Labor Day. I guess Halloween will be next. Speaking of which, today is the unofficial start of fall - my favorite time of year! We get a break from the heat and humidity, pumpkin and cinnamon flavors are welcomed back, weekends are spent watching football and I get to whip out my favorite pair of sweater pants. Yes, pants that feel like a sweater. If I could wear them to work, I would. On second thought, I believe I HAVE worn them to work when I was on the overnight shift. That's neither here nor there, though.

Besides weather, food and fashion, I also turn a quarter of a century old soon! Yep, the big 2-5. I know that's still pretty young, but it's a milestone, right?? Looking back, 25 seemed "SO OLD" but looking forward, it seems just the opposite. I still have so much I want to accomplish during this time... but where do I even start? I guess I have the rest of my life to figure that out.

This is the time of year is when I miss my mother the most. She LOVED thinking of creative birthday and Halloween parties for me. One year when I was in elementary school, she made spaghetti for "brains"and peeled grapes for "eyeballs" and let us go through a line blindfolded, feeling all the "ooey-gooey" stuff. I only hope I can be that fun for my kids someday.

As for work, I couldn't be in a better place. Nicole is back from maternity leave and a new format and flow is coming together. After the Fourth of July themed show, I decided our next project would be "Back to School" themed. Instead of doing it in-studio, I wanted to take it outside and do it remotely from a local park. We had cheerleaders, a marching band, healthy lunches to pack for the kids, a fashion show and even some pointers on homework help. Unfortunately, it rained the day of the show! And I don't mean a sprinkle or two, but the bottom fell out! We had to make a lot of last minute changes and had several technical difficulties... but that's the nature of the beast in live television!

So what's my next project? FOOTBALL! The Friday before the Iron Bowl (Alabama v. Auburn) we're going to do an Alabama/Auburn Talk of Alabama. I'm going to try to make it even, but don't be surprised to see a little more crimson than orange!

Until next time!

Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives, is the perfect preparation for the future that only he can see.
-Corrie Ten Boom

 Me and Nicole before the Back to School Show!

What it takes to GO LIVE

Does this even need a caption? 

Too bad they were from Canada....

Had to get creative on how to rep both schools!

July Jubilee

I can't believe it's the middle of July, where has the summer gone? I definitely took the days of being in school for granted and having THREE months off. What did I do with my time? I would probably go stir crazy now. Regardless, I envy two groups of people this time of year: students and teachers. 


As for the weather, I love the heat- but only when I'm laying on the beach with a Pina Colada in tow. That is unfortunately not the case. On the other hand, I did have a wonderful Fourth of July. I had to work, but I worked hard enough that I was able to leave early and spend the rest of the afternoon poolside with some friends! It also gave me the excuse to indulge in an American classic... a hamburger! I don't get to cookout much since I live in an apartment, so I loaded it up and ate way too much. it was totally worth it. 


After getting some sun, we ventured out to a local vineyard www.morgancreekwinery.com for wine tasting, live music and fireworks. Can't get much better than that! Although I'm usually a fan of vino, the Muscadine grapevines down here in the South are just a little too sweet for me. 

Me and my other half, Lynlee, at the vineyard

I mentioned in my last post that I was planning a Fourth of July themed show at work. It ended up going great! We had some holiday trivia, red, white and blue popsicles, fireworks (no, not on set), firecracker flavored frozen yogurt, patriotic party tips and a Skype from San Destin for a fun family getaway! The popsicles and fro-yo were obviously my favorite segments. My next themed show will be "Back to School" and I'm hoping to go live from a local park... stay tuned!

4th of July show! Yummy Sangria Pops with Martie Duncan from 

Food Network Star & Chef Scottie

Charles getting "Slimed" live on the show!

Glenn Guist from "Swamp People" came on the show!

His favorite meal? Squirrel n' Dumplins...

Besides fireworks, food and fine wine, I'm still making headway on my apartment. I painted over a wall that I previously painted blue (I think it reflected how I felt at the time) and painted 3 other walls. I went with "City Scape" grey. I can't decide if I chose the color because it's all I've seen on Pinterest lately, or if it has to do with a certain book I'm reading. Either way... it looks great! I also repainted a table, put up new curtains and rearranged a bit. It's a slow process, but it's coming along. I would post pictures, but my iPhone camera just doesn't do it justice!


As for myself, I've been reflecting a lot on just how much can change in a year's time. It's scary... but good. People don't always like change, or like to venture outside of their comfort zone, but you risk the chance of missing out on something if you don't. It takes trust in yourself, trust in others and most importantly, it takes trust in God.  


"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
-Mark Twain 

Just Call Me J-Lo

It's been a few weeks since I've taken time to write a new post... but when you write for a living, sometimes it's the last thing you want to do when you have free time!

I've been back at ABC for a little over a month, and it's still going great. I've gotten more comfortable with the flow of things and have a few projects in the works...One being a 4th of July themed show. Even though it falls on a Wednesday, we still go live! You're either employed in television or in the medical field when working on a holiday isn't given a second thought. So far we're going to have a red, white and blue fashion show, of course some holiday-themed food and I'm hoping to get the green light to play with some "baby" fire crackers and sparklers for one segment. As long as I'm not handling any explosives, nothing or no one should catch on fire... seriously.

Although it would be nice to have the holiday off, I've learned that taking a day off work is MORE work than not. Last Thursday I flew out to Oklahoma City for one of my best friend's wedding. I was her Maid of Honor... and if you've never been one, it's a big, huge, ENORMOUS responsibility! Once arriving in the Windy City (yes, I realize that's the nickname for Chicago, but it's WAY more fitting for Oklahoma City- or all of the state for that matter) it was non-stop. From arranging table arrangements and bouquets, to transforming a basketball gym into a reception hall, it was no easy feat! This is also where the title of the post comes into play. When taking on my M.O.H. duties, I quickly earned the name J-Lo. At first I thought I was being mocked for my "rather large" backside, but then came to find out it was because of Jennifer Lopez's movie, The Wedding Planner. If only I had Matthew McConaughey by my side... 

Back to reality: I was able to spend a lot of one-on-one time with the bride, Nicole, before the big day, and most importantly, was able to be a part of the wedding itself. It was a full Catholic Mass ceremony, and it was absolutely beautiful. Although it was more detailed than most, with lots of sitting and standing, singing and praying, it went off without a hitch! Well I take that back, the bride and groom got hitched! Corny, but you know you laughed.

The reception was of course my favorite part... since that's the part with the wedding cake. I also gave my Maid of Honor speech. I was really nervous since there were so many people there, but it went well. I was also able to catch up with a lot of good friends and sorority sisters from college. It's like I never left! Last but not least I caught the bouquet! I would say I snatched it fair and square, but when when all the other girls back up to let you catch it... well maybe not so much.

After a long but wonderful weekend, I finally made it back home. My flight was delayed THREE times. I really thought I was going to miss my connecting flight, but after Home-Aloning it through the Atlanta Airport, I actually made it on board to Birmingham! If only "Run, Run Rudolph" was playing during my sprint. 

That's enough writing for one day... I can't get burnt out when it's only Monday.

Until next time!

Gym to Reception Hall Transformation

Hand Made Bouquets & Reception Cups

Nicole's Last Night as a Single Lady!

Right Before the Ceremony

Survived Week 1

I'm mentally and physically exhausted, but I made it through my first week on the job! Although each day presented a new challenge, each day also became a little more manageable.

I had to relearn how to work ENPS (Essential News Production System - the computer program used to write, format, make graphics and produce a newscast) which was a task all in itself. Imagine not getting on facebook or Microsoft Office for 6 months, it would probably take a while to remember how to navigate it! I also had to get comfortable in the control room again. Also known as the booth, it's where the producer watches the show and makes sure everything runs smoothly. While in the booth, the producer is responsible for giving constant time cues to anchors, making sure the show stays on time and hits commercial breaks, as well as giving direction if and when anything doesn't go as planned.

Here's a shot of ENPS from Thursday's show. 

This was taken in the booth from where I sit!

Besides the technical side, there's a lot of booking involved. Each day, I have up to eight 3-4 minute segments to fill. They can be interviews, performances, cooking, you name it! Regardless, the show depends on OTHER people showing up. A lot of my time is spent finding, asking and confirming guests to come on the show. Luckily, I have several "regulars" that appear weekly. 

The whole week I had another producer helping me relearn the ropes, Thanks Candace! But come Monday, I am SOLO! It's a little awkward timing, because Nicole, the co-host that has been on the show the longest, left for Maternity leave this week. Not only is she gone for the next 6-8 weeks, but a new co-host just joined the show, so everyone is brand new! At least this way we can all learn together. 

I have a lot on my plate, (literally, there's a chef on the show everyday... it's next to impossible not to indulge in whatever food they whip up), but I'm ready to get creative and implement some new ideas.

I want to thank everyone at the station who helped me out, as well as everyone's support! If you live in the area, and happen to be home from 9-10am, please tune in!

Oh, and here's a link from today's show! Charles Daniel, the morning meteorologist filled in, so we got a little creative on his introduction! I also may have made a cameo! 

http://www.abc3340.com/video?clipId=7298551&topVideoCatNo=192263&autoStart=true

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-19

First Day Back

This is my third job in the news business... and I must say, it's a charm! My first day back at the station went really well. Despite a few butterflies, I felt like I fit right back in as if I never left! It was so strange seeing the morning crew walk out as I was walking in. That used to be ME! Everyone was very welcoming and it was great to catch up with some faces I hadn't seen in a while.

Me with Sarah Snyder!

Me with Candace in the booth!

Best perk of the job: FREE FOOD! 

Shrimp and beef burgers from Flip Burger Boutique! 

Because this is a new show for me, I did more observing today than producing. Hopefully by the end of the week I will be back in the swing of things. When working on the morning newscast, all the stories were written on a very tight deadline, but with this show, majority of the content is produced days or sometimes even weeks ahead of time. 

Besides getting familiar with a new show, I'm also having to adjust to a new schedule. Getting up at 5 this morning was a little bit of a stretch, but I would MUCH rather get to work early and be able to leave early. I'm not sure how Pixie felt about taking her morning walk at the crack of dawn, but she sure was happy to see me when I got home!

I could write more, but the Bachelorette is about to come on... I know I know, judge all you want! I'm also about to crash, so falling asleep to 25 desperate men trying to win over 1 woman sounds like a plan.

One more thing, I am absolutely blown away by just how many calls, texts, facebook posts and Twitter mentions I received today wishing me luck. It truly shows just how many people really do care. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!

As always, I will keep you posted as the next few weeks move along.

Happy Monday!

"With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts."

Eleanor Roosevelt

The Time Has Arrived

Tomorrow is the big day! I will be walking back into the news station for my "second first day" on the job. Although I've worked there before, I am still pretty anxious. I will have a whole new set of responsibilities to take on, as well as a whole new show to produce. The format will be completely different than what I'm used to, but I think the change will be right up my alley.


Starting a new job can usually be stressful, but luckily I've had a WHOLE week off to relax and regroup. During my temporary unemployment, I took a road trip to visit a friend. I had the time of my life and got to explore a new place that was absolutely beautiful with a great atmosphere. I also indulged in WAY too much delicious food... The best part of any vacation! It's been great to have time off, but I am the type of person that does better busy. When I have too much down time, I get stir crazy. I'd much rather be on the go all week, then have the weekend to recoup. I say this now... I'm sure I'll be begging for a vacation in no time!


I also got to spend some time with my parents. We had dinner to celebrate the last day at my old job and the start of a new one! A home cooked meal and champagne was plenty... But of course my mom and dad had to outdue themselves... They surprised me with an iPad! I was absolutely shocked! They figure I will get a lot of use out of it. They also said they were getting tired of me saying "Everyone at the station has one!" They even went as far as to personalize the back of it with:

 SAMANTHA A. RUSSELL 

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER 

It also came with a cover in my signature color... PINK! 

As for today, we celebrated Mother's Day of course! I baked my mom a Mandarin Orange cake with Pineapple frosting and bought her a new tennis outfit! My dad just celebrated a birthday as well, so I went with the always "safe" gift: an Alabama shirt. I have a lot to be thankful for today. I may not be a mother, but God has blessed me with THREE. Who can say they have three moms?! I have my birth mother, who chose to give me up for adoption versus the alternative, I have my adoptive mother who will always be "Mommy" to me, and then I have my Godmother, Linda, better known as L. Each woman has a significant role in my life, and I can only hope I can do the same for my children some day. 

 Mandarin Orange Cake

(Can't take credit for the cookie...it's from Panera!)

I also took time today to stop by my mother's grave site. It was a long overdue visit. I knelt down and just talked to her for a little bit. I told her how much I wish she was still here, how a day doesn't go by that I don't miss her, and that even though she chose to leave this earth on her own terms, I don't hold it against her. The anger and guilt have all been forgiven. I know she looks down on me everyday and watches me grow. I see her everywhere I go. Whether it's the car she used to drive, or even just the smell of the lavender perfume she wore. She was a great mother, and I will always love her. 

Rebecca Conger Russell

Loving Mother

On a lighter note, I feel like tomorrow is the first day of school... I even have my outfit already picked out! It's going to be a very early start, I have to be in at 7. Good thing I have my new Tassimo to whip up a latte to go! As for now, it's time to wind down, thank God for the continuous love and blessings he has brought my way, and get a good night's sleep! Wish me luck and have a wonderful week!

"Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother."
Oprah Winfrey

A Big Month Ahead

Happy May Day, everyone! This year is flying by! It seems like just yesterday I was decorating my Christmas tree and figuring out a New Year's resolution. If you have stuck by yours, good for you. I haven't been so loyal! 


The next few weeks should be interesting. Thursday will be my last day on the job until starting back at the station. I don't begin until May 14th, so I have a whole WEEK of freedom to get stuff done! I'm still working on a better work space in my apartment. Luckily my parents are lending a hand in the process. My mom is a great decorator, and my dad is an organization whiz, also known as a "Type A" personality. Between the 2 of them, the place is coming along! Check out my new rustic / vintage chair:

We also reorganized my living room. All this time I had it backwards due to the TV cable being on the wrong side of the wall! I have a ton of wall space to fill, but my mom whipped out these old, framed pictures of Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield, which definitely added a touch of "Old Hollywood Glamour" to the place.

Besides some apartment therapy, I finally clicked the "PURCHASE" button on the Southwest website for a Bachelorette trip in Dallas this June. Luckily, I was able to find a pretty good deal... but it looks like the flight to Oklahoma for the actual wedding is going to cost a lot more! I also mailed out the party invites, which was a task all in itself! When I walked into the store to pick out invitations, there were only about a million different designs and layouts to choose from. If and when the "Big Day" ever comes for me, I'm going to close my eyes and just point at the wall of invitations! As for now, I think I'm set with being the Maid of Honor. 

Here's a picture of the invitation I finally decided on. I thought it was sweet n' sassy!

Thank you again to all my readers out there! A lot is going on this month, so expect more posts coming soon!

"But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."

Romans 8:25