4 hours.

Some days there just aren't enough hours in a day. Friday was definitely one of them. Although, it was not the day that didn't have enough hours, it was the 4 hour window Mariah and I had to get our laundry list of things done before Emily's return at 6pm. We arranged a babysitter for her to take her from promptly 2-6 so we could get everything ready for her birthday weekend. Her babysitter was a bit late, cutting into our time, 4 hours quickly became 3.5 hours and Derek had strict rules that miss Emily must be back by 6pm sharp, or else. After we finally got them out of the door at 2:30, the projects began. Birthdays are the perfect excuse to bake, and since it's our favorite hobby and it's a birthday, a 21st birthday at that, we knew we had to go all out. Mariah and I searched for hours to find the perfect recipes, we knew we had to equally represent all of the birthday girl's favorite things. We knew this meant chocolate obviously and nothing fruity, so we went from there. I think we changed our minds five times before we decided on the cake, and the three of us had stumbled across one of the cupcakes forever ago and had been dying to make them.

The Laundry List:

 -Make cupcake 1

-Make cupcake 2

-Make cake

-Make frosting and decorate x3

-Decorate the apartment

-Construct a present
-Wrap presents
-Decorate the infamous birthday cup
-Run to the grocery store for some last minute things
-Have drinks prepared for 6:15
-and dinner for 6:30
-Get ready

We started off strong, pumped out the cake and cupcakes quick, the fact that we have a super oven definitely helped (our cake cooked in half the time!). Then I think we got a little confident and slowed our roll for a bit and then before we knew it we had an hour left. So. Much. To. Do. Panic definitely started to kick in..and we failed. Clearly we thought we could fit more in than we could. What didn't make the cut: frosting the cupcakes, decorating the apartment and getting ready. Good thing it was just us three plus Derek for dinner, the whole getting ready thing was definitely not essential. Cupcake decorating was saved until Saturday which was good because Emily got to help which made her happy. Decorating also got done Saturday while Emily was gone so she got to come home to a nice little surprise!

We left this on the seat of the car for Emily to find.

So, the big question is, just what did we make?! 
Peanut Butterscotch Crunch Cupcakes (minus the crunch)
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Cookie Dough Frosting
Chocolate Mousse Cake with Coconut Buttercream Frosting

We started off with the peanut butterscotch crunch cupcakes which were chocolate-coffee cupcakes with a butterscotch sauce filling and a peanut butter butter cream. The cake was SO good. It must of been the coffee, it was so moist and delicious. As for the frosting, couldn't tell you but from the comments from Mariah and Emily as they made it, it seemed like delicious.

 You take the centers out and then fill them with the butterscotch, oh my.

 

 Finished Product:

Cupcake numero dos:

1. Yes, that is a ball of cookie dough in the middle.

2. Yes, those are flower cupcake holders. Thank you to my father who found those gems.

3. The frosting didn't pipe well so we just frosted and added some chocolate chips for a nice little touch!

Now onto the cake..

1. We may have had a huge crack in the bottom layer, but we just put some glue and it was fine.

2. Mousse= so good.

3. Cake plate with purple ribbon (sparkly of course) such a good birthday present which will be getting lots of use!

4. We eliminated the vanilla and added shredded coconut instead. Oh me, oh my, deliciousness.

 Poor Derek got shafted and his piece fell apart..whoops.

Oh, and dinner: Chicken Scallopine served over whole wheat pasta, roasted vegetables and rosemary- olive oil bread

And, only one casualty..

This wasn't technically our fault..the left side of the stove gets super hot when the oven is on and this was left on the burner and opps..

All the party essentials, obviously.

The amount of butter, flour and sugar we went through this weekend is disgusting, yet so wonderful because everything was such a success.

Not only do we have one 21st birthday this week, but 3!!

1. Puffy painted goblets for the birthday boy and girls
2. Up close
3. Mariah made her famous jell-o shots and made us 3 special ones!
4. Birthday kiddos!

The weekend was a success, I feel like it was over before it even started. This week is crazy for us all, hello mid terms, so we had to go out with a bang this weekend and that we did. On top of everything going according to plan, it was also warm out (until we woke up a blizzard today) and cusey cuse won. 


Andddd..

 t minus 5 days mother bear and we'll be on our way across the country!! I am SO excited to spend the week exploring California with you :)