Wahoo! I’m all caught up with blogging– thanks to the help of Ecto! Yep, that’s right. I got Ecto fixed yesterday afternoon. I visited the Apple store where the Mac Geniuses worked their magic and cured my defunked blogging software.
Those Geniuses are an amazing bunch! Obviously, they are super smart, but they’re also wonderful people, especially since they didn’t even have to fix a third party program like Ecto. But, they chose to help me out of the goodness of their hearts, and I’m ever so grateful!
If you’re having the same Ecto issues, take your computer to the Genisuses Bar at the Apple Store. (You can even make an appointment online so you don’t have to wait around.) Most likely the issues are caused from the recent WordPress update (that also wipped out my blog).
After getting my laptop fixed and doing some Christmas shopping, Mal and I were starving for lunch, so we stopped into Panera to grab a quick bite.
It was a chilly afternoon, so started with a cup of Orange Ginger Mint tea.
And then I ordered a cranberry-orange-walnut bagel with cream cheese.
The meal hit the spot and fueled me through a few more hours of Christmas shopping and weekend errands.
When we got home from shopping, Mal and I took Murphy for an hour-long walk around the neighborhood. It was nice to get some exercise together as a family.
For dinner, Mal and I had leftover Thanksgiving sandwiches complete with turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and sweet potato on raisin bread from French Meadow Bakery that the company sent me. My sandwich was so delish! I love Thanksgiving leftovers!
And then it was time to make Christmas COOKIES! 
Making cookies, right after Thanksgiving to kick off the holiday season, is a little tradition for Mal and me. Last year, we baked cookies on the exact same day as this year. However, this year, we skipped the refrigerated sugar cookie dough and made our own cookie dough from scratch.
Not surprisingly, I used a Real Simple recipe for Sugar Cookies, and then we decorated them with red, green, and multicolor sprinkles.
Murphy snoozed while we listened to holiday music and baked cookies.
I guess he was too tired to get into the holiday spirit.
Even still, we made him a pug cookie!
Mal and I had a blast making cookies last night. It’s such a nice tradition that we have together. 
Hopefully, I don’t eat all of these delicious cookies in a day or two!
It’s breakfast time here. I think egg sandwiches and iced coffee on are the menu.
See ya later!
{ 43 comments… read them below or add one }
Awww those cookies look so pretty! What a great tradition to have!
Your pug is soooo cute hehe. Love that you made a pug cookie
:)
I’m glad you got your computer issues solved! Makes things so much easier I am sure!
Have a happy Sunday!
nice! i can’t wait to start baking cookies. only have 19 days to get everything done!
What a sweet tradition to have
Glad you have your Ecto issues all fixed up now too.
Those are adorable!
I can’t wait to create traditions like that with Adam. It’s our first Christmas married, and figuring out what traditions we’re keeping and creating is a blast. One that I am excited for is getting our tree the weekend after Thanksgiving. We’re getting it today! YAY! I cannot wait. I love the Christmas cookie tradition as well.
Also, my Ecto is fine whenever I restart it. Is it only self-hosted that would be having problems? I have issues when I post from it a few times without restarting..oy!
Gosh sugar cookies I remember those so well- I used to have an American neighbour and one year when I was younger she invited me round to help her with her sugar-cookie making! I had such a blast with the decorating especially! Hope they’re yummy!
P.S. – I just downloaded Ecto. Thanks for sharing. I love it! =]
Aw, your cookies look great. I still love the tradition of making Christmas cookies — and remember leaving a plate out for Santa when I was younger. Memories…
Cute cookies!!
making holiday cookies sounds like such a fun time and a great tradition! i love the pug cookie!
hehe
those cookies look awesome!!
My nana always bakes sugar cookies for christmas!
Aw! I giggled out loud when I saw the pug cookie, soo cute! I saw that recipe, that’s a contender for the cookies I’ll give out for the holidays!
I love the pug cookie
Possibly a dumb question but what’s the red one that looks a bit like pacman?
You’ve inspired me to get out the christmas decorations!
Those sugar cookies look so nice!
hehe, the X’mas cookies looks VERY holiday!!
I’m glad you were able to get your ecto issues fixed!
That pug cookie is adorable, Tina!
I just started using ECTO and love it! Thanks for the recommendation!
Those cookies are super cute! I have been thinking about getting Ecto for a while, but I have been hesitant since I have heard a a couple of people having problems with it. I guess I should give it a try. Mac store employees are always super helpful, which is really nice.
@Runningwriter: It’s Pac man!
I love making sugar cookies – it is so Christmas-y!
Glad you got your Ecto fixed. The cookies are adorable!
I love the pictures of the cookies! We’re doing the same thing here in Montreal today!
Cute cookies!
I can’t wait to start the Christmas baking!
glad all your blog problems are fixed. Looks like you had a super fun night makin cookies:) that is my favorite time of year!
Wow you’re such a good baker!
I suck at making sugar cookies, they always loose their original shape…doesn’t seem to be your case, obviously.
Ah! I’m trying to hold out for all my Christmas stuff until December 1st but you may have just convinced me to break it out early
Christmas cookies are just the best! I love the Murphy one. Haha
your cookies are so cute. love the pug!
The pug cookie is adorable ! We haven’t started our cookie making yet. Maybe next weekend, we have to do them with my niece, she is really proud of them when we serve them on Christmas Eve !
The cookies look yummy! We did that growing up – I love making holiday sugar cookies!
The christmas cookies look great!! One of my favorite things to do is bake xmas cookies
Haha, I love the pug cookie. There really is nothing as much fun as decorating cookies, I recently did the same with the kids I babysit the other day and felt like I was 8-years-old again.
I agree, the geniuses at Mac are incredibly helpful. I’m a total techno dunce, and those that work the genius bar have gotten me out of many computer jams for zero dollars. Glad you Ecto issues were remedied!
Yay for technical geniuses getting the probs fixed! Gotta love those savvy people, tech problems can be so stressful sometimes!
I’m in such cookie baking mood now that the temperatures are really dropping and December is only a couple days away! All I want to do is bake!
Glad you’re back in blogging action!! That dog cookie is too cute!
Oh I LOVE holiday cookie decorating!!!! So much fun.
Oh those sugar cookies LOOK amazing. Almost too pretty to eat!!
That is such a cute tradition!!!!! I can just imagine the music playing while baking cookies! Ahhh….I love the holidays!
I love family walks. I think Hunni and I are taking one this afternoon with the pups
I love your pug cookie too. Almost too cute to eat…almost
Glad you got everything sorted out! Love the cookies
Aww, cute! It took me a while to figure out how that cookie was a pug
I LOVE Christmas cookies…they are one of my biggest weaknesses. Just can’t get enough of ‘em
I love baking with my husband but I don’t think it’s nearly as fun for him. I’m going to try to talk him into it this weekend, though!
what a fun tradition! i trimmed my tree today – feeling x-mas in the air!
perfect! just in time for the holidays!
Yay for the Real Simple Giveaway!!
My mom and I love that magazine and I’d so give her the subscription if I won — and your cookies look pretty dang good, too!