first, we have the wedding of all weddings – prince william & princess kate tied the knot this past friday. now we’ve got this year’s MET ball hosted at the metropolitan museum of art’s annual gala. the costume institute gala benefit celebrates the opening of the “alexander mcqueen: savage beauty” exhibition, featuring the late designer’s iconic work.

this red carpet is unlike any other… this is where the best & the brightest come out to celebrate fashion. and celebrate they did! let’s start off with my best picks of the night.

when it’s right, it’s right, and these ladies did it perfectly. first up, my absolute favorite of the night, diane kruger in jason wu. this chic gown accents her old hollywood appeal, right down to the slitted skirt. absolute perfection! next up is young’un evan rachel wood in a maroon gucci premiere ensemble. we don’t see too much of this color anymore, and she’s workin’ it. love the detailing around the bust.

the fashion-forward isabel lucas chose this stunning louis vuitton number – i just can’t get over the color! while i’m not a huge fan of the headpiece, it’s still an inspired look. and then there’s ginnfer goodwin in topshop. are you kidding me? the jewelry, the makeup, the shoes! oh, the shoes! i’m loving everything about this look.

blake lively got it right in chanel this time around. her recently-dyed flowing locks fall gracefully on top of a beautiful detailed bodice. well done, karl lagerfeld! and rounding out the top 6 is model brooklyn decker in michael kors. so simple, yet absolutely out of this world.

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a big theme at this year’s MET ball? it was all about beige, starting with benefit organizer salma hayek in alexander mcqueen. expectant mommy kate hudson seemed to have blossomed overnight! stella mccartney really knows how to dress the preggos, lookin’ good kate.

in comes victoria’s secret model lily aldridge in ralph lauren collection – yea, she’s gorgeous. not many people can pull off the draped silk. that’s impressive! and then there’s another preggo on the red carpet… jessica alba in ralph lauren collection. i would KILL for her upper body – and skin tone, for that matter!

9 times out of 10 renee zellweger is on my “worst” list. but i think she got it right in carolina herrera. featuring quite the plunging backline, renee certainly knows how to draw attention to her rockin’ bod! last up, wearing valentio, is ms. dakota fanning! very age-appropriate and dainty! love it.

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and then there was the worst. there’s always some atrocious picks, and this year was no different. first up to the plate? the usually spot-on christina hendricks in carolina herrera. i mean, did she even look in the mirror? this does NOTHING for her figure and the colors? just plain ugly. i just have to say, what in the world, christina ricci?! we already picture you as your addams family character, why act it out in real life? yuck.

i’ll be the first to admit the olsen’s are quite the fashion-forward pair. but, why must they always wear things 40 times too big? i hate ill-fitting clothes, and mary kate‘s givenchy haute couture choice is no different. argh! modern family actress sofia vergara‘s carolina herrera gown, i’m sorry to say, looks like something i could’ve bought at jc penney on the clearance prom rack. whoops.

a total miss by alicia keys in her givenchy gown. it’s not that bad – take the jacket off and we’ll talk! and one of  these days, kristen stewart may just get it right, but this not one of those times. her proenza schouler number is repetitive, ill-fitting and just plain blah. sorry k-stew!

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this selection is all about… interesting black gowns. creative, i know. first up is model chrissy teigen in chris march. sometimes, chrissy, daring is not always a good idea. this is one of those moments. we see more cut-out fun in leighton meester‘s dress by louis vuitton. i’m like 80/20 on this one… 80% good, 20% not good.

then there’s brunette beauty penelope cruz. choosing the always-glamorous oscar de la renta, penelope looks exquisite. although i would’ve loved it even more if it were strapless! rhianna steps out in a less-than-stellar stella mccartney gown. i’m just not feelin’ the asymmetrical shoulder cut and corresponding hemline.

here comes lucy liu in vionnet. do i even have to say anything? waist-up, i could’ve dealt with. but come on, the see through slit and ostrich-y skirt? yikes! and last on the list we have ashley olsen in christian dior haute couture. ya know, i actually really like this. a form-fitting gown with puffy cream sleeves is a perfect pairing!

i’ll never forget waking up at 2:45am to stare in awe at the events unfolding… the Duchess of Cambridge (kate’s new moniker) was a VISION in her sarah burton-designed alexander mcqueen. prince william, you are one lucky man! 

to prince william whispering “you look beautiful” to kate as she arrived at the altar and his precious stolen glances at her during the “serious” parts of the ceremony, i just couldn’t get enough! i think we all turned to jelly while watching the two of them, so obviously in love, become man & wife.

all the best to the newlyweds… and as the priest conducting the ceremony said, “what God has brought together, let no man put asunder.” AMEN.

honestly, i had about 80 favorite pictures and simply could not narrow them down. what whimsy! what fashion! what romance! so, enjoy a small sampling of my faves (below).

and now… let the countdown to the Royal Baby begin!

someone asked me yesterday why i was so excited for the Royal Wedding. i can’t really put my finger on an exact reason. maybe because girls my age grew up with prince willy… remember when he looked like this? so dashing.

but regardless, i’m excited like SNL’s sue at surprise parties. the wedding of prince william & kate middleton is upon us, and oh my gosh it will be AMAZING. whether you plan on staying up or getting up early to watch, it’s going to be one spectacular event.

just in case the sleepies get the best of me, i’m DVR’ing NBC, ABC and TLC’s live coverage. oh yes, this is serious business. see below for a rundown of Royal Wedding events… and let’s get this show on the road!

* 8:15am (3:15am ET/12:15am PT):  the general congregation arrives at Westminster Abbey.

* 9:50am (4:50am ET/1:50am PT): foreign leaders, dignitaries, and distinguished guests arrive at Westminster Abbey.

* 10:10am (5:10am ET/2:10am PT): prince william and his brother prince harry leave Clarence House for Westminster Abbey.

* 10:20am (5:20am ET/2:20am PT): members of foreign royal families arrive at Westminster Abbey.

* 10:20am (5:20am ET/2:20am PT): kate middleton’s mother and brother leave the Goring Hotel for Westminster Abbey.

* 10:25am (5:25am ET/2:25am PT): members of the extended Royal Family leave Buckingham palace for Westminster Abbey.

* 10:35am (5:35am ET/2:35am PT): members of the direct Royal Family leave Buckingham palace for Westminster Abbey.

* 10:38am (5:38am ET/2:38am PT): the Prince of Wales (prince charles) and the Duchess of Cornwall (camilla) leave Clarence House for the short trip to Westminster Abbey.

* 10:40am (5:40am ET/2:40am PT): the queen and the Duke of Edinburgh (prince phillip) leave Buckingham Palace for Westminster Abbey.

* 10:48am (5:48am ET/2:48am PT): the bridesmaids and pages leave the Goring Hotel for Westminster Abbey.

* 10:51am (5:51am ET/2:51am PT): kate middleton and her father leave the Goring Hotel for Westminster Abbey.

* 11:00am (6:00am ET/3:00a.m. PT): the marriage service begins at Westminster Abbey

* 12:15pm (7:15am ET/4:15am PT): the newlyweds carriage procession departs Westminster Abbey for Buckingham Palace, followed by the queen’s.

* 12:40pm (7:40am ET/4:40am PT): the Royal Family and guests arrive at Buckingham Palace for the reception.

* 1:25pm (8:25am ET/5:25am PT): the Queen and the newlyweds appear on the balcony with their familes. this is when the highly anticipated kiss will take place.

* 1:30pm (8:30am ET/5:30am PT): fly past by the Royal Air Force.

now YOU can own this hilarious and unnecessary piece of royal wedding memorabilia – GE distributor GDHA has just put this on the market!

i’m laughing at this AND secretly wanting one all at the same time…

the prince william & kate middleton deluxe side-by-side 2011 wedding edition fridge is perfect for one thing: crushing on the royal couple. so, next time you grab the milk or crush some ice, you can “ooo” and “ahh” until you’ve had your fill.

david garden, commercial director for GE at GDHA, happily announced the limited edition item with a statement, saying:

“as expected, the royal wedding has really captured the U.K.’s imagination and it was no surprise that a william and kate commemorative fridge was a popular choice. it certainly wipes the floor with your usual commemorative tea towels and mugs and is most definitely one of the most novel royal wedding products we have seen.”

pre-order yours today! just leave one for me. thanks.

yikes, mariah carey! i never thought pregnancy could look so… (excuse me for saying this)… TRASHY!

when her life & style cover came out last week, i thought, okay that’s a little iffy. the lighting and the pose scream YUCK, but she’s preggers so let her have some fun. then i saw her OK! cover and i about died.

marrrrr-iah. what were you thinking letting hubby nick cannon grab your breasts on the cover of a magazine! pregnancy shots usually focus on the impending baby not how sexy you are!

this is just all kinds of weird. well, to each their own i suppose. mariah’s twins (one boy & one girl) are due late april. if you can stomach it, click here to see more awkward shots of preggo mariah & nick!

can i get a collective, “siiiiiigh”?

every girl dreams of being a princess growing up, and this little lady gets to be one! before prince william and kate middleton say “i do” on april 29th, lifetime aims to give us an inside scoop into their whimsical romance in a made-for-tv movie.

“inspired by true events,” william & kate premieres on the small screen monday, april 18th on lifetime. the flick tells the tale of the couple’s courtship – the ups, downs and their many run-ins with the dreaded paparazzi.

while it may not be the 100% real story, i’m such a sucker for the royal wedding that i’m sure i’ll check it out. what about YOU?

that’s the message we’re all feeling these days after the country’s recent tragedy. those who can give, give. and those who can hold up sign while shopping… will hold up a sign while shopping.

wait, what?

yes, millionaire paris hilton held a “HELP” sign with the japanese flag on it while out hittin’ the shops in beverly hills and stopping for a manicure.

hey, it’s good she’s trying to draw awareness to the situation. BUT, when coupling it with a shopping spree in bev hills, it sort of dilutes the message, don’t you think?

sure her heart is probably in the right place. but drawing attention to victims of a natural disaster while splurging on the latest fashions just seem like a funky combination of activities.

dancing with the stars alum julianne hough is trying her hand in the music industry… but don’t worry, she’s not abandoning her dancing roots just yet!

check out her music video for “is that so wrong,” above. do you notice anything different about it? YES, you spotted it. pirouettes, flips, splits, arabesques and pointy toes. is she trying to score a perfect 10 from the judges or something?

the video debuted amidst rumors that CMT has banned the it due to its racy nature (lingerie bed-writhing). CMT counters that they’re just working out some contractual issues and it’ll be up and running. riiiiiight.

in my opinion, her naughty night escapades are not the issue. it’s the fact that she’s fusing her classically-trained dance moves in the middle of a music video (see minute 1:40, for example). just awkward. but maybe it’s just me?

prince william & kate middleton are engaged! did you hear that? that was the sound of millions of girls’ dreams of becoming a princess wooshing out the window!

second-in-line to the british throne, prince william has put to rest all the engagement rumors with the truth during a press conference you can check out above.

WOW, could you imagine that many cameras?

they are absolutely precious. the prince gave his soon-to-be princess his mother diana‘s engagement ring. “it’s every special to me, and kate’s very special to me, so it was only right to put the two together,” he said.

together since 2003, the royal couple released the following statement:

“prince william and miss middleton became engaged in october during a private holiday in kenya. prince william has informed the queen and other close members of his family. prince william has also sought the permission of miss middleton’s father. following the marriage, the couple will live in north wales, where prince william will continue to serve with the royal air force.”

how romantic! the wedding is speculated to take plan in the summer of 2011 in london. questions are already pouring in on how it will compare to prince charles & diana’s, which is said to be the most-watched wedding of all time. some 600,000 people crowded the streets of london hoping to catch a glimpse, while an estimated global audience of 750 million tuned in on television.

looks like these two have some planning to do!

i’m not even going to pretend i was michael jackson‘s biggest fan. but i can’t deny that it feels really great to hear his voice again!

he’s just so iconic!

press play above to hear hold my hand, a duet sung with rapper/producer akon. the new single will be featured on MJ’s upcoming posthumous album, michael, to be released on december 14th.

“this life don’t last forever, so tell me what we’re waiting for,” jackson sings. “we’re better off being together, than being miserable alone.”

black-eyed peas frontman will.i.am recently spoke up about the release of MJ’s tracks, saying “michael jackson songs are finished when michael says they’re finished.” to go public with them now, he says, is “disrespectful.”

i’m inclined to agree. as much as we want more of MJ, history would tell us he wouldn’t have been too happy about this.