UPDATE 6/3/11:
A new patch has been released to fix an issue which prevented digital download users from properly updating their game. By automatically installing this new patch through The Sims 3 launcher, you’ll no longer need to use the manual solutions below. If you have already downloaded the manual patches and remedied the issue, you can still install the new patch via your launcher to update your game to the latest version.

For PC:

Custom content and unsupported mods may also be preventing the game from patching. Uninstall and delete all third-party mods and unsupported content. After deleting all third-party content, you must manually uninstall The Sims 3 to completely get rid of the extra content.

http://akamai.cdn.ea.com/eadownloads/u/f/sims/sims3/patches/TS3
_1.22.9.0110xx_update.exe

For MAC:

For anyone who has been witnessing this issue on a MAC, please download the respective patches below.

US Base Game DVD Version: http://llnet.thesims.cdn.ea.com/sims/u/f/sims3/mac/To-6135-1.22
.9.011001.tgz

Europe Base Game DVD Version: http://llnet.thesims.cdn.ea.com/sims/u/f/sims3/mac/To-6135-1.22
.9.011002.tgz

Digital Download Base Game Version: http://llnet.thesims.cdn.ea.com/sims/u/f/sims3/mac/To-6135-1.22
.9.011017.tgz


After you download the patch, double-click and extract the file. The patch will ask you where you want the patch to be applied and you'll need to point it to the base game Sims 3 app file.

Note: Installing third-party software changes actual files in The Sims 3. Deleting the unsupported content will not erase the modifications to the game that the software installed.

-Big Guy-

http://support.ea.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5269