Top Knots and Curly Locks

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Year in Review: 2014

It's hard to believe that in a matter of hours, it will be 2015.  What a year 2014 was.  I didn't realize just how much happened until I was going through my pictures for this post.  Here's a brief overview of my year.

January
I started the year off by heading to Los Angeles with one of my best friends to attend the Grammys.  This was my second time going to the show and I was so excited to be able to share it with Kyle this year.  It was also the first time I used Rent the Runway and fell in love!

February
I didn't have a Valentine this year, and my little brother's was out of town so we decided to spend the day together.  He'd been dying to dread his hair, so against my better judgement, I helped him.  Then we went to the movies and saw The Neighbors.

March
I received the sweetest message from Dove naming me their Woman Crush Wednesday.  It really means a lot to me because I've used this brand for years.  Also, their note shows they went through my pictures and took time to get to know me and make the message personal.

April
On April 15th, I went for a run.  It wasn't just any run, it was the first anniversary of the Boston Marathon Bombing.

May
I'd been working at WSAZ for seven months when my mom and little brother finally visited the station and got to see where I spend so much time.  I gave them a tour of the building and Anthony sat behind the anchor desk!

June
It seems like every season on The Bachelor someone goes rappelling down the side of a building, into a cave, something.  Well, this summer, I was given my own chance to rappel.  I was so nervous when the time actually came, but it was so much fun!

July
I had the joy of co-hosting my first ever bridal shower for Mary.  It was such a sweet brunch and the first time several of the bridesmaids met.  I was in charge of the cupcakes and had fun coming up with designs to put them in.

August
Speaking of Mary, we went to Wine and Design in Huntington for the first time in August.  It was so much fun, we laughed the whole night!  Even with our lack of artistic ability, I think our pictures look great!

September
Colbie Caillat brought her tour to Ashland, Kentucky and not only was I lucky enough to go, Mom and I were lucky enough to get tables right at the foot of the stage.  Colbie's voice sounded just like it does on her CDs.  Mom and I both walked away so impressed, not just by her talent, but by how she is such a great role model.

October
It's not every day you have a great hair day so I had to document this one when it happened.  I did my hair the way I always do it, but for some reason it decided to really cooperate.  Now that I know my hair can do this, it has set the bar really high for itself.

November
What a better way to celebrate my 24th birthday than to log into Twitter and see a picture of myself in Times Square!  As promotion for the release of the Sexiest Man Alive issue, People tweeted out for people to send in a picture and they would turn it into a cover.  Then, from those covers, they would select a few to put on a billboard in NYC.  I never imagined my picture would be one of them!

December
My dad and Ella have such a special bond.  He went to China for her adoption after her dad, my mom's cousin, had to have surgery and wasn't able to go.  This picture is from a Christmas party.  My dad had had a tough call week and it was past Ella's bedtime.  We looked over and found the two of them like this.  You know it's serious sleep time when the thumb goes in Ella's mouth.

Thanks for a great year, 2014!  I can't wait to see what 2015 has in store!  Be sure to follow me on Instagram to keep up with me all year long.

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Christmas Traditions

Here in the Pino household, we take our Christmas traditions very seriously.  The tree does not go up until after Thanksgiving.  (Except for that one year my dad had the day before Thanksgiving off so he decided to put it up.  It was not a pretty sight.  Never again.)  Then on Thanksgiving Day, we kick off "The Pino Family Christmas Movie Festival."  We start by watching Christmas Vacation, then continue on until just a few days before Christmas when we watch Elf. Unfortunately, between my dad's call schedule and my work schedule (I work 2 p.m - 11 p.m. Thursday-Monday) we only watched the first and last movie.  We don't just watch Elf, we have a party ... a pajama party to be exact.  My dad dresses up as Buddy and family friends come over decked in their p.j.s to watch the movie.

Like father, like daughter.  I was so excited to have footie pajamas with a hood to wear this year.  You'd be surprised how hard it was to find.  I could only find them with footies or with a hood, but never both.  My mom found these at Sears.

The moms called this picture "Elf Unplugged" 

Aaron's seeing eye dog, Joel, and I are best friends.  At one point, we even held "paws" during the movie.

Pups and pajamas, it doesn't get much better

Remember how I told you we're serious about our traditions?  I wasn't kidding.  If you don't wear your pajamas, you have to wear a pair of mine, namely a dress nighty from Victoria's Secret.  The top picture is from 2009 when Austin didn't wear his and the bottom picture is from this year when Nick didn't wear his pajamas.

What are some of your favorite traditions?  I hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas!

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

12 Cookies of Christmas: Day 12

It's so hard to believe the 2014 edition of the 12 Cookies of Christmas is over.  It's even harder to believe that tomorrow is Christmas Eve.  How is everyone doing with shopping and wrapping?  I have all of my shopping done, but still need to wrap my presents.  Here's one final cookie to get you in the holiday spirit!


Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:
2 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
2/3 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/3 cup granular sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 tablespoon red food coloring
2 cups flour, firmly packed
3/4 cup sour cream
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Melt the unsweetened chocolate in the microwave
In electric mixer, cream butter, brown sugar and granular sugar
Add in baking soda and salt
Mix in egg
Add red food coloring and and mix well
Pour in melted chocolate
Slowly add in 1 cup of flour
Add in sour cream
Add remaining flour
Mix in chocolate chips
On a greased or parchment paper lined cookie sheet, drop tablespoon size cookies
Bake for 11-13 minutes

Missed out on the other 12 Cookies of Christmas?  Check them out here!

Monday, December 22, 2014

12 Cookies of Christmas: Day 11

Here's another one of my Nana's recipes that has been handed down.  You know recipes are going to be good when they're hand written on cards.  You can make these cookies for any occasion.  I made them for Halloween and used themed cookie cutters.  For Christmas, I added in some red food coloring.  The possibilities are endless.


Nana's Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar (sifted)
1 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 1/2 cups flour, sifted
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar

Directions:
Cream butter and sugar
Mix in egg, vanilla and almond extracts
Blend in dry ingredients
Chill for 2-3 hours
Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Press out dough and cut into desired shape
Place on a greased cookie sheet, or sheet lined with parchment paper
Bake for 7-8 minutes

Missed out on the other 12 Cookies of Christmas?  Check them out here!

Sunday, December 21, 2014

12 Cookies of Christmas: Day 10

My mom deserves all the credit for these cookies.  I was at work last night and didn't have a cookie set for today.  Well, my sweet mother surprised me and made these.  (Really, I think she just wanted in on the action and the bragging rights, but I'll give her the benefit of the doubt.)  This is a recipe she used to make with my Nana when she was younger.  Since my grandmother is no longer with us, any questions we had about the recipe had to be taken to the internet, instead, but they're just as good!


Graham Cracker Pralines

Ingredients:
12 graham crackers
2 cups butter
1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup pecans

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Line a jelly roll pan with aluminum foil and top with parchment paper
Break graham crackers and place on sheet
Melt butter on stove
Add in brown sugar and bring to a boil, boil for 2 minutes
Remove from heat and mix in pecans and coconut
Spread mixture over crackers
Bake 12-15 minutes
The graham crackers will appear soft, but will set up as they cool

Missed out on the other 12 Cookies of Christmas?  Check them out here!

Saturday, December 20, 2014

12 Cookies of Christmas: Day 9

When it's cold outside, there's nothing like a mug of hot chocolate.  And now, there's nothing like a hot chocolate cookie.


Hot Chocolate Cookie

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, softened
19.5 ounces semisweet chocolate
1 1/4 cups light brown sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Roughly 30 marshmallows

Directions:
In a saucepan over medium heat, melt together butter and 12 ounces semisweet chocolate
Stir frequently until smooth, let cool for 15 minutes
Using an electric mixer, beat together butter, eggs and vanilla extract until smooth (about 2 minutes)
Pour in cooled chocolate mixture and mix
Slowly add in remaining dry ingredients: flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt
Chill dough in refrigerator for an hour
Preheat oven to 325 degrees
Line baking sheet with parchment paper
Scoop one tablespoon of dough, roll into a ball and place on sheet, flattening slightly
Bake 12 minutes
Cut remaining chocolate into 1-inch squares
Snip marshmallows in half, crosswise, and stick 1 square of chocolate onto the cut side
Remove cookies from the oven and top with the marshmallow and chocolate, chocolate side down
Bake another 4 minutes, or until marshmallows are soft
Transfer to rack to cool

Missed out on the other 12 Cookies of Christmas?  Check them out here!

Friday, December 19, 2014

12 Cookies of Christmas: Day 8

We need to set some ground rules before we get to the recipe.  Spritz cookies are high-maintenance cookies.  They must be put on a chilled, ungreased baking sheet. Even though the cookie sheet needs to be chilled, the dough can't.


Spritz Cookies

Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups flour, sifted
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 cups butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk
2 teaspoons almond extract
Sprinkles (optional)
Food coloring (optional)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
With an electric mix, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy
Add egg and beat well
Mix in vanilla, milk and almond extract
Slowly add in flour and baking powder until well combined
Mix in food coloring (optional)
Fill cookie press with dough and desired disk
Press onto chilled, ungreased cookie sheet
If you want, top with sprinkles before baking
Bake for 8-10 minutes
Cool for 2 minutes on sheet before transferring to wire rack to cool

Missed out on the other 12 Cookies of Christmas?  Check them out here!