Long gone are the days when tourists relied solely on large printed foldout maps. These 2D tools may once have been the standard for adventure seekers, but today’s tech-savvy travelers have a variety of 21^st century aids at their fingertips thanks to the Internet and ever-advancing mobile and satellite technology.

One tool that I have found to be especially helpful in planning travel excursions, particularly when you may not speak the native language of the locality, is the My Maps function on Google Maps (Note: you must create a Google account to use My Maps). After you’ve located the city you plan to travel to, it’s easy to create placemarkers for attractions, parks, restaurants and nightlife places that you’d like to visit.

Amazing Lemon Cheesecake Bars

Ingredients

1 package Krusteaz Lemon Bar Mix

8 oz cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup sugar

4 eggs

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/3 cup water

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease 8x8x2-inch pan. Press full pouch of complete crust firmly into bottom of pan. Bake for eight minutes. Place cream cheese and sugar in medium bowl. Using an electric mixer, mix on low speed until smooth. Add one egg and vanilla. Continue to mix on low speed until smooth. Pour cream cheese mixture evenly over hot crust. In another bowl, stir full pouch lemon filling mix, water and three eggs together using a whisk until eggs are well incorporated. Pour lemon filling over cream cheese layer. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until the center does not jiggle when shaken. Cool completely and cut into squares. Store covered in the refrigerator.

Recipe Source: Krusteaz

While some brides and grooms may decide to go the traditional route, selecting a sweet slow song, others may choose a more modern tune or select a pop culture favorite, choreographing a surprise routine for friends and family. So the question is which “first dance” genre is the best fit for you? What’s your best first dance?

Always a popular option, many brides and grooms opt for a song that’s stood the test of time. There’s a long list of these tunes of yesteryear, which are a sweet and sentimental option, especially for couples who may not be interested in investing in dance lessons or coming up with complicated routines. Here are just a few of my favorite classic first dance songs.

Some couples opt for more recent songs, especially if the song holds a special meaning for them. Check out a list of 30 popular picks from the Knot for some inspiration along with a list of my own favorites below. Daily Candy Weddings has a fun first dance tool that can help couples choose a wedding song based on the bride’s and groom’s personalities.

Then there are those who decide to skip the slow dance and opt for comical choreography that’s often a surprise performance. When else is it appropriate to know all the steps to “The Time of My Life” and to do this dance in front of all your friends and family? Among infamous surprise performances are an irreverent “Baby Got Back” routine, numerous adaptions of “Thriller” and other Michael Jackson favorites and a more recent example in which the bridal party didn’t bother holding out for the reception, they danced right down the aisle to Chris Brown’s “Forever”.

Consider creating a dance to a funny surprise song, but be mindful of your audience. Some guests may not share your same sense of humor and may be offended instead of impressed, so choose carefully! Pick dance moves that you’ll easily be able to do in your dress and shoes. Does your dress have a train? Be sure that it’s not going to get caught up and ruined in your fancy legwork. Is your dress a mermaid style? If so, remember your movement may be much more limited than in your practice clothing. These are all questions to consider when planning out a routine.

Some couples may choose to embrace a cultural wedding tradition for their first dance. For Jewish weddings, the Hora is a popular first dance where the bride and groom are lifted in chairs in a symbolic gesture as the two are considered to be the “king and queen of the night.” For Greek weddings, a circle-style dance is often popular whereas an old Italian tradition is a special dance called the tarantella. Consider how you picture your guests in these more communal style dances. Will only one side of the family know the steps? You can always choose to incorporate some elements of your culture’s wedding traditions into your first dance such as a particular song choice or steps without following every rule.

If you and your partner aren’t the most savvy steppers, consider investing in dance lessons. While the cost varies from city to city and is also based on whether you participate in group or private lessons, it may be worth every penny if it will help alleviate first dance jitters. Most people don’t get a do over with the first dance, so lessons can help ensure that you get it right the first time around!

According to CostHelper.com, ballroom dance lessons can cost between $55 to $125 per person although I’ve seen advertisements for lessons as cheap as $25 per person in Charlotte. If you live near a university or college, you may even be able to take lessons for free if there is a student or community ballroom dance club. UNC-Chapel Hill offered free lessons every Monday throughout the school year when I was an undergrad, and they taught everything from the rhumba to the tango, the foxtrot and more! Visit BallroomDancers.com or Access Dance to find a ballroom dancing instructor near you. Or, if you think that you only need minimal help to prepare for that big moment, consider checking out some instructional dance videos on YouTube. Bottom line is practice makes perfect!

And don’t forget to be sure that everything is in order with the music! It will be quite a disappointment if you’ve spent all this time practicing but the band turns out to be terrible, the DJ’s sound system doesn’t work or if you’ve left the CD at home in your player. Add this to your wedding day checklist and enlist the help of a family member or friend to remind you of any last minute preparations for music.

Finally, just enjoy the moment! Don’t get so caught up in the routine that you let it pass you by. Whichever song or steps you choose, remember that this is just the first of many dances that you’ll share with your new spouse for the rest of your life!

The restaurant was once a historic flower shop dating from the 20s.

The neon sign was the first of its kind in Charlotte.

Photo Source: PhotoCharlotte.com

The more than 100-year-old restaurant was decorated richly with realist still life paintings and the original Tiffany stained glass windows of Ratcliffe’s Flower Shoppe, which has been a part of Charlotte’s cityscape from the 1920s on. The romantic ambiance of the restaurant is intimate and warm, and the tall spiraling pillars that flank the dining area when coupled with the old-fashioned, over-sized glowing ceiling lights make the main room appear as though it’s a stage ready for a performance that’s been done time and again, so much so that it’s been perfected and one can expect an evening that will impress them time and time again. And really that’s exactly what this room is — a center stage for a repertoire of course after course composed of only the freshest and finest ingredients which are cooked, seasoned and arranged just so for a symphony of tastes that are perfectly in harmony.

While entrees are available separately as a more economical option, I recommend taking the dive and splurging on the chef’s tasting menu so that you’re able to sample several different dishes. For our first course, I selected the scallops, which were cooked in a white wine beurre blanc sauce over sauteed spinach while Kris sampled a trio of mini crab cakes each served with a different sauce – pico de gallo, Korean BBQ and a creamy remolade. The sea scallops were tender and savory, pan seared to perfection, and the crab cakes were heavy on the crab and light on the bread for a pure taste complimented by the series of sauces.

When our main course arrived, we were really in heaven. We both decided upon the grilled lamp chops, which were served with a blueberry port reduction over wilted spinach and baby golden potatoes. Our dish was perfectly presented on plate and in flavor as the buttery spinach and potatoes complemented the tender lamb, which once again was cooked precisely to order.

After these two magical dishes disappeared before our eyes, a third soon arrived — dessert. My crème brulee was simply phenomenal. The sweet creamy custard was slightly cool in contrast to the warm golden brown crackling layer of caramel above. Then, amazingly our waiter divulged the Ratcliffe secret for “world-famous crème brulee” to me — using fresh eggs that are only one to two days old.

Kris’ dessert somehow rivaled my selection, his Grand Marnier Souffle was full of spoonful after spoonful of a delicious and sweet, warm bread pudding-like dessert accompanied by a warm and rich sauce flavored with fine liquor. I simply don’t think our taste buds will ever be the same.

Then, to top off the evening, as we exit the restaurant hand-in-hand, a horse and carriage are waiting to take us for a ride around the city. Kris and I had the night of our lives being escorted around town by Winston, our trusty steed, and Bridger, our driver and incredibly knowledgeable tour guide who filled us in on the history of Charlotte. He even took us for a ride through the Fourth Ward, the original residential district of the city, which has colonial style homes that date back to the 1800s. We were transported back in time by the sight of the beautiful historic homes, that is until you see the skyscrapers all aglow rising stories above this tucked away part of town that started it all.

It simply was an unforgettable evening that will live on as a fond memory to cherish and someday far in the future share with children and grandchildren as the night Kris and I felt like king and queen of the Queen City.

Taylor really is an inspiration to all those around her. Even though Batten disease has robbed her of her vision among other things, she continues to participate in Girls on the Run, completing two recent 5Ks with the help of a running buddy (read a post by the founder of Girls on the Run about Taylor here). And she still dreams of growing up and becoming a fashion designer or pop singer – depending on what day of the week you happen to ask her.

A Toast to Taylor is just one of many events that Taylor’s Tale has put on in recent memory to fuel the fight against Batten disease with others including a group exercise class, a poolside BBQ and a springtime celebration. The planning of future fundraising events is in the works, so be sure to check the calendar of events on www.TaylorsTale.com soon! You could also become a fan of Taylor’s Tale on Facebook or follow Taylor’s sister’s blog to find out about upcoming events and initiatives. Or, if you’re interesting in supporting the charity financially, you can make a donation by clicking here. Cheers to the supporters of Taylor and Taylor’s Tale!

Tuesday’s wine tasting benefit was held at Las Ramblas, a delicious Spanish tapas bar in Charlotte. The five wines selected were a nice sampling with each of the blends carrying a very distinct and unique flavor. The line up was as follows:

My favorites were definitely the Pinot Gris and, above all, the Cabernet. The Cabernet tasted of chocolate and cherries; the wine had a very smooth, full-bodied flavor. It definitely would be great paired with a chocolate dessert. The Pinot Gris was lighter, carrying notes of tartness along with a citrus flavor. Even the Chardonnay was good; instead of the traditional oaky, buttery taste, it held hints of green apple, vanilla and peach.

As for the tapas, the Las Ramblas Sliders (skewered marinated lamb with a mint yogurt sauce) and the Crab Stuffed Picollo Peppers were standouts with the Queso de Cabra Frita, fried goat cheese with almonds, roasted garlic and quince honey, as another notable dish. The paella wasn’t quite as good as I’d hoped, but the dessert more than made up for this shortcoming. Testing out my recent infatuation with Tres Leches Cake first experienced at the Jazz Corner in Hilton Head, the dessert passed the test a second time. The sweet, caramel soaked cake was too-good-to-be true although it could have done without the mile-high layer of icing. I also nibbled on a piece of Tosta de Chocolate, a tasty and unlikely pairing of chocolate, salt and baguette, which turned out to be quite good and disappeared right before our eyes!

Verdict: Las Ramblas has a fun, laid-back atmosphere that’s perfect for post-work drinks and appetizers. While the food is an Americanized version of real Spanish tapas, the variety of options, and above all, the company make it well worth the while. Be sure to save room for dessert!

Italian Ice: made with concentrated syrup or fruit purees, Italian ice is made in the same process that ice cream is, but does not contain milk, eggs or cream — only fruit or fruit-flavored ingredients. Unlike snow cones, Italian ice has very small flavored ice crystals giving it a smooth, cold texture.

Juice Bar: just what it sounds like, juice bars are made of fruit juice and/or pulverized fruit, which is frozen on a stick.

Milkshake: dubbed a drink that “brings the boys to the yard”, milkshakes are made with ice cream and milk to produce a delicious, drinkable dessert. Though today malt is an ingredient that’s often left out, this used to be a staple milkshake ingredient of yesteryears.

• Check out this 5-star recipe for Double Chocolate-Marshmallow Milkshakes

Popcicle: a popular American brand of ice pops, the Popcicle was invented by an 11-year-old boy who left his mixed powdered soda pop and water outside with a stirring stick and discovered the next morning that the mixture had frozen to the stick! Popcicles are made of 90 percent water, and the rest is artificial flavoring. Later the Creamsicle was created, a dessert comprised of vanilla ice cream on a stick surrounded by sticky sweet frozen fruit flavoring. Next came the Fudsicle, a creamy chocolate flavored variation of this sticked sweet.

• Make one of these modern twists on the Popsicle including Mint-Melon Pops and Lemon Blueberry Twist Pops

Push Pop: typically made of sherbet, and sometimes ice cream. Push Pops are a similar concept to ice cream cones – the treat is revealed as it’s eaten via a plastic cup and stick which, when pushed, causes the sherbet to rise.

Semifreddo: Italian for “half cold”, semifreddos can include a number of chilled or partially frozen desserts including frozen custard, ice cream cake and fruit tarts. Fortunately for those without ice cream machines, you can still make semifreddos in your freezer! Dried fruit and nuts are popular additions to semifreddos.

• Surprise your friends with a decadent and impressive Chocolate Espresso Semifreddo

Sherbet: sherbet is similar to sorbet, except that sherbet contains dairy products like milk and/or eggs while sorbet does not. Sherbet has a smooth texture that’s more similar to ice cream, and in the U.S. it contains between one to two percent milkfat.

Smoothie: a recently popularized drink that typically, although not always, has a fruit base. Smoothies can be made with any combination of fruit juice, milk, yogurt, frozen fruit and other ingredients. Many smoothie shops have popped up around the nation in recent years with some of the most popular being Smoothie King, Jamba Juice and Planet Smoothie. These shops often offer mix-in nutritional supplements such as caffeine, vitamins, fiber and more.

• Check out this collection of 150+ smoothie recipes for some smoothie inspiration!

Snowcone: crushed ice served in a paper cone with fruit syrup flavoring in varieties such as cherry, grape, blue raspberry or the iconic rainbow snowcone.

Sorbet: made with sugar, fruit and ice rather than cream, milk and eggs, sorbets are a tart and tasty fat-free frozen treat. Occasionally egg whites may be used for body.

Sorbetto: often used interchangeably with sorbet, sorbetto is more strongly flavored than sorbet but is made using the same process.

• Sample this recipe for a Sweet Cherry Sorbetto

A la mode: French for “with ice cream on top.”

Astronaut Ice Cream: the popularity of ice cream has literally taken it out of this world! Freeze-dried ice cream, also known as “astronaut ice cream” was first tasted in space in the 1960s during the Apollo missions. Typically this unique take on ice cream comes as a dry, chalky neopolitan-style block of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry flavors.

Blizzard: a Dairy Queen ice cream treat that’s been an American favorite since the 80s, the Blizzard has the consistency of a very thick milkshake and is made with a variety of mix-ins including Oreos, Reese’s, Snickers and Heath bars to name a few. Newest flavors include Cheesequake, Brownie Batter and Chocolate Dipped Strawberries, which were introduced in 2004.

Freeze Pop: also known as an ice pop, freeze pops are frozen ice with artificial fruit flavoring packaged in long plastic tubes as a cheap summer treat popular among children.

Frozen Custard: similar to ice cream, frozen custard is made with eggs, but is made using a different process from ice cream making it thicker, creamier, and more prone to melting. Frozen custard typically comes in simple flavor offerings such as chocolate, vanilla and strawberry.

Frozen Yogurt: also known as “fro yo”, frozen yogurt is a healthy frozen alternative to ice cream typically containing less fat and calories than the traditional scoop. While ice cream must have at least 10 percent milk fat to be considered authentic, frozen yogurt has a maximum of six percent milkfat and some varieties can have less than one percent.

• This Cinnamon Pear Frozen Yogurt recipe has only a little more than 100 calories per serving!

Gelato: an Italian frozen dessert made with more milk than cream, making it a less fattening than traditional ice cream. This frozen treat is made via a process that causes it to have less air than ice cream, giving it a denser, smoother texture. Another key difference between ice cream and gelato is that the ingredients of the latter do not undergo homogenization, which causes it to melt more quickly.

• Indulge in this Pistachio-flavored gelato recipe
• Try making 5-Star Strawberry Buttermilk gelato

Glace: French ice cream, which typically is made with eggs and cream to give it a fuller, custard-like taste.

Ice Cream: the treat that started it all! Well, almost. Historians dispute the exact origins of ice cream, but references trace back to at least 4th century B.C., and many believe that the Chinese invented ice cream before bringing it to Europe. Ice cream began as a treat for royalty and well-known historical figures such as Nero, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Catherine de Medici who were among the early adorers of then called “iced cream.”

With the invention of hand-cranked freezer in the 1800s followed by advances in modern refrigeration in the 1900s, many more people could enjoy or make the treat, which became less expensive and more readily available. Next came ice cream concoctions such as the ice cream sandwich, ice cream cake, ice cream floats, the ice cream sundae, milkshakes along with an explosion of flavors from Fried Ice Cream to Cherry Garcia.

• Learn how to make homemade ice cream in 7 easy steps
• Sample this delicious melt-in-your mouth Coffee Butter Almond Ice Cream recipe
• Try a modern twist on the root beer float

Check back soon for the rest of the ice cream alphabet along with more recipes for frozen treats!

I recommend dropping in at Amelie’s whether to sample a croissant or colossal muffin for breakfast, a tartine or cup of hot soup for lunch or dinner or for a late-night pastry, fruit tart or torte. If you live in the SouthPark area, a Slice of Amelie’s, a smaller albeit still delicious version of the beloved bakery, has opened in Cafe Monte Bistro near Phillips Place.

And as for CakeSpy, those with a sweet tooth should be sure to surf around their site as they offer a wealth of resources on bakeries across the country in addition to fun cupcake art and cartoons, delicious recipes and more! I myself have drooled over many a CakeSpy post, including the following Cookie Cake Pie recipe that I made recently for my fiance’s birthday. It was a tasty and indulgent treat combining the best aspects of cookie, cake and pie!

Not just any shoes will do. You’ll need to carefully select several pairs that not only fit with your itinerary, but more importantly, are also functional, comfortable and broken in. Believe me; I’m speaking from experience when I say it’s safe to pass on the cute shoes you’ve spotted during a last-minute shopping trip. Skip on them even if they’re flats. By the end of my first two hours walking around London I didn’t look so cute limping from the large blisters on the back of my feet! Within five days I was resigned to wearing the flip flops I had packed for the shower since every other pair I had brought had given me blisters. As my fiancé so kindly put it, “Your feet make you look like you’re homeless.” Ouch.

Fortunately you can learn from my fashion faux pas and save yourself the pain and trouble of trying to explain to a non-English speaker in broken French and charades that you need Band-aids for les pieds. All you have to do is follow my Should These Shoes Make It into My Suitcase Test to ensure that you will have happy feet for the duration of your trip!

Should These Shoes Make It into My Suitcase Test

• Have I worn these shoes regularly for at least two weeks to a month or longer? Did I walk for long periods of time without developing blisters, cuts or rashes?
• Are they easy to walk in? Can you walk in them at length without slipping or wobbling?
• If they do have a heel, is it shorter than two inches? Flats and ballerina shoes are best, but short heels can be an option. Cowgirl boots are another trendy style that may be appropriate depending on their fit and your comfort level.
• Do the shoes have a good grip or tread? London rain makes for slippery streets and well-worn shoes can be a tripping or slipping hazard.
• Do I have at least one to two pairs of closed-toed shoes packed?
• Do the shoes match outfits I’m bringing? Do I have too many pairs of blacks or browns?
• Do I have a good balance of casual versus dressy shoes that fits the activities planned?
• Should I bring tennis shoes? Maybe and maybe not. While I decided to forgo bringing sneakers to better blend in when abroad, there are obvious situations when you may need tennis shoes, hiking boots, water shoes or other specialized feet wear. Use your own discretion to decide what is most appropriate and when.

This book is all about passion. Whether that’s a passion for food, travel or her photographer, main character and writer Meg Parker discovers the joys of each while exploring the French countryside in a quest to finish her first book. This delicious tale is a page turner, and author Nancy Coon’s descriptions will whisk you away to a land of toile and tartines.

The Discovery of Chocolate is the mouth-watering fictional tale of the evolution of chocolate throughout history intertwined with a love story (think Tuck Everlasting meets Chocolat). The story is told through the eyes of a young Spainard who comes to the new world and falls in love with a beautiful native who gives him a chocolate elixir drink that will forever change him. Romantic, compelling and exciting, The Discovery of Chocolate is a fairy tale for adults.

This New York Times bestseller is an autobiographical narrative of “one woman’s search for everything across Italy, India and Indonesia.” Author Elizabeth Gilbert sets out to fulfill some of her lifelong dreams after her marriage falls apart by traveling the world. She indulges in delicious food and language lessons in Italy and searches for God in an ashram in India. Finally, she finds balance and unexpected love on the Indonesian island of Bali.