Perfect Place

Though times have changed and things may seem a little less formal these days, there are still some things that are tried and true. Whether a wedding or a dinner party, it's a good idea to have a grasp on the proper way to present the perfect place setting for your guests.

It's a lot to commit to memory so reference the diagram below.

It's not as daunting or difficult as it looks but it's always easier when things are labeled for you.

Getting Active with Kate Spade

We were already absolutely in love with Kate Spade; but, she just shoved our love for her into a new realm. We're head over heels and there's no looking back. Our darling Kate just wowed us with her "Wedding Belles" collection and she didn't give us much time to recover before announcing her latest endeavor.

Yes, Kate Spade has teamed up with Adeline Adeline to create this seriously adorable bicycle. What better way to kick off your spring? These limited edition bikes and bags will be available starting April 7 exclusively at Adeline Adeline and Kate Spade New York stores.

Big League Love

Being a female who's a fan of professional sports sure ain't easy. Men are always doubting your knowledge and questioning your passion - obviously you can't appreciate a sport without having an attraction the guys playing it. And on top of that, we're expected to defend our love of the game while wearing men's t-shirts and jerseys which are ill-fitting and completely lacking any fashion sense whatsoever.

Lucky for us, Victoria's Secret is playing their part in helping us out (as far as clothing goes, at least). The Pink collection is now offering hoodies, yoga pants, t-shirts and even undies designed for girly-girls who want to show their love for their team in a stylish way.

Now there's no reason for us to not see you all out at the Yard, representing our beloved Baltimore Orioles.

Happy Easter!

Wishing you and your family a relaxing and happy day. Here is a photo of the cute flower arrangement our associate Lisa made for the holiday.

Henderson's Wharf

One of our beloved hotels right here in Baltimore has been named one of the top 25 hotels in the world. Yes, the world.

Henderson's Wharf, an inn and conference center in Fells Point, ranked number 20 in the world and number 2 in the United States, according to TripAdvisor's Travel Choice Awards in 2011. No other hotel in the Mid-Atlantic region was named to either of those lists.

The average stay will set you back $200 a night (that price includes parking, breakfast and internet) but who can pass up the opportunity to stay at a world renowned hotel? Especially seeing as how it's practically nestled in our backyard.

Lisa Anne's

If you're not familiar with Lisa Anne's, we urge you to get acquainted. The boutique shop is known for their decadent desserts so don't leave your sweet tooth neglected!

Usually, an appointment is required for your pre-ordered pick-ups but the boutique is pleased to announce that they are now open on Saturdays from 9am - 2pm for walk-ins.

In addition to their amazing caramel apples, they are also introducing a new line of made-from-scratch muffins and homemade shortbread cookies. We are drooling at the thought.

Yes, the shoe is edible!

Answered Prayers

Who doesn't love Kate Spade? The shoes, the clothes, the handbags, wow! The lovely designer has finally tapped into the wedding world and she just launched her new bridal line and we couldn't be more elated or excited over all the cuteness!

From dresses to jewelry, hair accessories and clutches, Kate's got you (and the bridesmaids) covered.

As if. . .

Cheetos and chocolate chip cookies - they can't get any better, right? Wrong.

Cheesy fingers is the worst part of Cheetos but we put up with it because it's worth it. And though licking the leftover cheesy goodness from one's fingers, it's not exactly attractive or discreet. So what's a girl to do in these trying times? Cover those Cheetos in chocolate, of course!

The Cereal Baker shares her recipes and secrets so the rest of us can divulge in the salty sweetness.

About those chocolate chip cookies? Why not add red velvet cake to the center? Yes, we're doubling up on the desserts, that's just how we like it. Besides, there aren't as many calories if the cake is a part of the cookie, or so we've heard.

Head on over to Cake Derby to get their recipe. Oh, and be sure to stop by our office to drop some off.

No Pressure, Kate

Every bride deals with excessive stress at some point during their wedding planning. Little details have a habit of creeping up on us, and it seems there's so much to worry about - the flowers, the guest list, the dress, oh my!

But let's pause for a moment to appreciate the amount of stress princess-to-be, Kate Middleton must be under.

While most of us plan weddings for a few hundred guests, Kate has to worry about pleasing 1,900 friends, family and world dignitaries. Keep in mind, those are just the ones invited.

To show the true magnitude of this event, we'll give you some numbers.

• 89 = the hours of royal wedding related programming on TLC


• 2.4 billion people , or 35% of the world's population, expected to follow via TV, streaming and radio


• 10 - the number of years networks have had a balcony across the street from Westminster Abbey on reserve


• 400 - the number of CNN staffers working on wedding coverage (just CNN!)

This July marks the 30 year anniversary of the marriage of Princess Diana and Prince Charles. In 1981, TV was pretty much a three network operation, cable was in its infancy, the internet hadn't been invented yet (no Facebook? Yikes!) and cell phones were virtually nonexistent. 750 million viewers tuned in to see Lady Di walk down the aisle, a mere handful in comparison to the 2.4 billion that will watch Kate. Add an additional 800,000 that are expected to show up to Buckingham Palace - all snapping cell phone pictures and videos, tweeting and updating their Facebook statuses - and it's a true testament to the changing times.

So why all the hype? And why are we so invested in this stranger? Because it's the same story Disney has been telling us since we were little girls. Kate is our modern day Cinderella. She is from a family of humble beginnings, she's not royalty and she won the heart of a prince. And just because the man that put that ring on your finger isn't going to be the King of England some day, that doesn't mean you haven't won the heart of a prince. Just be glad you don't have 2.4 billion people tuning in to judge your wedding.

Let's Face it

No matter how much anyone tries to deny it, we all know that we all have a weakness for donuts and we all have a weakness for royal weddings. -pause for excitement-

The lovely people over at Dunkin Donuts seem to be well aware of our weaknesses and they have big plans to exploit them.

From April 24th - April 29th, Dunkin Donuts will be offering heart-shaped donuts filled with jelly and topped with vanilla icing and chocolate drizzle. At 89 cents a piece, you'll want to grab a few (dozen) and grab your best girls to tune in and see William & Kate join as husband and wife.

What better way to mourn the fact that we'll never be princesses than over donuts?

Finally!

It's no secret that not all women are a size 2. It's also no secret that those women that aren't a size 2, have a "humbling" experience when it comes to shopping for our wedding gowns. Most shops and boutiques only carry dresses in single digit numbers because "plus-sized dresses don't look good on the hangers," according to most salon owners.

That quote didn't sit well with Yukia Walker. Because of her own awful experiences trying to fit her size 14 self into a gown that was an 8 or smaller, she decided she was going to take a portion of her own wedding budget and open her own salon.

Curvaceous Couture is located in Columbia, Maryland and they offer dresses from size 14 to size 32. It is their belief that shopping for your wedding gown should be fun and relaxing, free of stress and worry over not being an ideal size. Their motto is "Curvaceous Couture: Because the love of his life isn't always a size 6." We couldn't be more in love with their approach.

For those girls that are a 2 or a 6, never fear. Curvaceous Couture is more than able to help you find the dress of your dreams as well. According to Yukia, "I can't tell you how many young ladies come in and they are just so happy that they can zip the dress up. Even if they are smaller and they have to pin the dress, they are in the dress. That's what they appreciate. Some of them have been to other salons and have been humiliated, and they are so scared and timid when they get in here. When they find that gown -- just their excitement and the family's excitement and the tears -- it just gives me some peace, every day, of what I didn't have."

Childhood Classic All Grown Up

We don't know about you but, from time to time, we miss good, old fashioned peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. There's just something comforting found in two slices of bread with peanut butter and fruit on them. Because they're not always the most convenient thing to make, we'd like to think we found a great (healthier) substitute - and without that pesky crust!

Julie Hession, is the owner and founder of Julie Anne's All Natural Granola. She created a line of granola products that are receiving rave reviews from all kinds of magazines from People to Food Network Magazine. Trust us, it's worth the hype.

And never fear, if you're not in the mood for a PB & J, she offers other flavors too. According to Julie, "Some people enjoy eating the Tropical Bliss Granola over yogurt for a healthy breakfast, the Maple Blueberry over ice cream, the Sweet Citrus sprinkled over fresh fruit, or the Berry Yummy PB&J with a glass of ice-cold milk. Me? I eat them all straight out of the bag!"

Even better news? You can grab a bag from the Fresh Market in Baltimore or Annapolis! Or, if you don't feel like making the trek, products are available for online purchase as well.

These granola bags would also be great to toss in to your out-of-town guests' welcome packages!