13 Dozen Cookies.

That's what I did this weekend. I baked 13 dozen (or more) cookies. I didn't count exactly, but I know it was at least that. My back hurts. My feet hurt. And to make up for all of the cookie-tasting I've been doing, I hit the gym. Which might also be why I feel like my legs might fall off.

For someone who prides myself on my baking abilities, it had an ugly start. Very. Ugly.

Saturday was a rainy day, perfect for finally getting a start on my Christmas cookies. My mom, aunts, and grandma were getting together hundreds of miles away to make one of my favorite cookies, lady locks. I was bummed I couldn't be there to taste test help so I got started on my own assortment:

Buckeyes

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Oatmeal Cookies with Almonds

Sugar Cookies

Chocolate-Covered Pretzies (not included in the cookie count)

Typically my family makes a lot more cookies than this (see more about our wedding cookie table) but with my lack of time and patience, a picky husband, and someone who has no self control because she works 10 feet from the refrigerator... I stuck to the easy ones.

First, I was grossly unprepared for the cookies I planned to make. I ran out of almost every ingredient, at different times, prompting several trips to Publix within two days. I'm pretty sure the employees there thought I had some sort of problem.

My brand new flex-edge beater for my mixer didn't fit. Not a game changer, but it would have been nice. Then, I knocked over my vanilla extract and about a fourth of the bottle (everything that was left) ended up on my kitchen counter. The sad part is, I did the exact same thing this summer while baking. What the?!

I also tossed the entire first batch of buckeyes because I didn't like the peanut butter mixture.

It was at this point that I started drinking.

My setup.

Luckily, I have a fantastic husband who helped decorate the sugar cookies. When I do them myself, they usually start out really cute and by the end it looks like a sprinkle container barfed on them. Actually, it kind of still looks like that... but I still love you for helping, hubby!

In the end, I am so happy to have these cute little boxes to give to our friends and neighbors.

Printable Gift Tags.

Today I embark on my last baking spree: pizzelles. My recipe makes hundreds of the damned things, so that should be approximately 534 hours of fun. But they are worth it. Wish me luck! Has anyone finished their holiday baking? What is your favorite recipe?!