Christmas, Cupcakes, and Presents! :)

So, this past week has been the craziest week. OF OUR LIVES.

If we weren't baking, we were studying for finals. If we weren't studying for finals, we were babysitting. If we weren't babysitting we were making sock monkeys for NAHS.

First let's tackle those cupcakes I was talking about.
On Wednesday night, Olivia and I knew that we had a mission. And after just making two batches of Candy Cane Cupcakes the night before, we weren't that excited, especially with finals the next morning. However, our class was having a potluck so you know, cupcakes.
We decided to make some Apple Spice Cupcakes with Cream Cheese FROSTING! AKA: Yum in a wrapper. These "Sinful" cupcakes fit right in with our AP Literature's Heart of Darkness Potluck. (Apples= Sin... Get it?)

Those were tasty to say the least. However the real job began on Thursday. After spending five minutes at the potluck, Olivia and I had to get changed into our COSTUMES!

For the past few weeks we have been spending each Saturday or Sunday for 4 hours at school. (I know, crazy right?) Making sock monkeys.
Although each day after spending about 3 hours staring into the eyes of a plush toy, I never wanted to look at the sucker again, last Thursday we finally got to see the result of all our hard work.

NAHS/ Art Club of 2013, made a special donation to our local Good Samaritan Hospital's Children's Ward. Even though we only caught a glimpse of the children's reaction to our Christmas gifts, it was well worth the hours we spent making these children's Christmas' special.

And yes. That is me in a full-blown Santa costume. You should have seen the faces of the cars next to us as we were driving down 85 in our matching Santa Claus and elf costumes. Priceless.

And of course what is Santa without her little helpers?

By the way, I did not ask my friend Jackie to make that face, that was ALL HER. Leave it to her to make me crack up in a children's hospital... -_-'

And then on Monday.... CHRISTMAS ARRIVED!
Although when growing up, Christmas begins to lose the same magical quality it had as a 5 year old waking up to presents Christmas morning, this one was pretty great. :)
With everyone arriving at around 1:30, after 3 hours of non-stop cooking in the kitchen, we still had our own little concoction to whip up. And what else would it be but OREO TRUFFLES!

Sorry for the bad quality picture, but the taste of these bad boys sure made up for it. While I couldn't eat more than one at a time, Dad was popping three... That guy. Having to go to the store 3 times for some decent melting chocolate after burning 2 batches, these ending up tasting purrrty great :)

After everyone left for the night it was PRESENTS TIME! I knew what I had been asking for for the last few weeks but I never imagined we'd get it....

Yep. You saw it here first buddys. Rachel and Olivia got themselves a KITCHENAID STAND MIXER!! Can't wait to bust this badboy in!

Merry Christmas to ALL and to ALL a good NIGHT! :))

-Rachel and Olivia :) :)