Krayl On Instagram ~ Week of August 6th

#friyay 😃

I am ready to wash this week off and head into the weekend!!!👙

Who’s with me?? What are your plans for this perfect summer weekend? 🇺🇸⚓️

The August Calendar is here! This month we celebrate by hosting a BBQ with a gourmet hot dog bar, staying hydrated with herb infused water and creating a pineapple centerpiece to welcome a new neighbor. 🍍

Just a few of the special days in August 2016 are :: My Birthday! #NationalFriendshipDay, #NationalS’moresDay and so many other reasons to #CelebrateEveryday! So come along let’s get the summer celebration started!

Grab yours today + get my free updates :: http://bit.ly/KraylAugust2016Calendar

Happy Birthday to ME!!🍾🍾🍾

Stopping work a little early today to enjoy a little time by the pool.👙⚓️

THANK YOU to everyone for the birthday wishes, love + support over this past year! 😘😘😘

#happybirthdaytome #clink #champagnetoast #champagneproblems

Summertime and hot dogs go together like peanut and jelly. 🇺🇸

To make sure the menu at your next gathering is a crowd pleaser for guests of all ages {yes even those picky little ones}, set up a hotdog bar so guests can choose to make one of your specialty hotdog recipes or dream up their own creation by mixing and matching from a variety of toppings and flavors.🌭

I’m sharing my tips for Setting Up A Hot Dog Bar on the blog! http://2adw1ya

#summerentertaining #anappealingplan #sundaysupper

Grilled summer corn… Is there anything better? 🌽

Well a farm fresh tomato might compete… 🍅

But that’s a story for another day.

In the farm world of yester-year there is a saying “knee-high by Fourth of July”. It means all is well with your corn crop and the growth is on schedule. Well these days you can get fresh corn as early as Memorial Day – or year round in some parts – but the I still believe the sweetest corn is late season corn grown in New Jersey {sorry… it’s the Jersey girl in me that I just can’t shake!}. 😍

Late season Jersey corn hardly needs butter, just a touch of salt and pepper and it is perfect! This weekend we are making regular grilled corn as well as Mexican Street Corn. 🌽

How do you take yours?

See the recipe on the blog :: http://bit.ly/GrilledMexicanCorn

#summergrillin #outdoorentertaining #anappealingplan

Yesterday after a client interior design consult I grabbed an ice coffee and took a stroll down to the small marina in town to check out the boats. {luckily I was in my nautical outfit and fit right in!}⚓️

It took me back to my summers growing up in CT… The sounds of the lines hitting the mast in the wind. The waves splashing against the edges of the dock. The smell of the salt air.🚤

I wish I could have stayed the rest of the afternoon but real life was calling … 💕

Where can you take 10 minutes today to take a break in your day and get outside and appreciate the summer season! Stroll down the street or in the garden. 🌱

#summerlovin #nauticallifestyle #anappealingplan

Rise + Shine!☕️

This week I am working on getting into more of a morning routine… And believe me I am not a morning person. So this night owl is waking up earlier, working out and committing to not letting technology be the first thing I reach for when I wake up.📲

Guess I better get off now….☀️

What’s your morning routine? Or what do you WANT your morning routine to look like?

#ownyourmorning

One pillow. Four ways.

On the blog today I’m showing you four ways to incorporate these summer inspired cabana striped pillow covers into your home!☀️

Fresh from my Seasonal Home Box – Summer 2016 – I love the pop of summertime they add to my bed and to the pool area!⚓️

See them all and find out more http://bit.ly/SummerHomeBoxReveal16

#seasonaldecor #seasonalliving #anappealingplan #seasonalhome

Nothing like a summer stroll along the river to brighten your day! 😍

Make sure to get outside in nature everyday, even if it’s just for a moment! It will keep you grounded and serve as a reminder that the world is so much bigger than we are! 🌱🌳☀️

#nature #feetofinstagram #anappealingplan

This bed. Those tropical pillows. That green paint. The mirror.

Good design makes me so happy! Loved all the special touches in our room for a mini getaway in Naples.🌴

Where are you off to this weekend?

#beachweekend #naples #anappealingplan #hoteldesign

Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.❤️Yesterday I experienced a major shift in my perspective that I have had for almost 20 years. MAJOR shift. It’s going to be interesting to see how this plays out in all aspects of my life. Stay tuned🍾What one thing can you shift your perspective on today to make a difference in your life? ☀️

#liveauthentic #anappealingplan #livebeautifully

April 12, 2016March 31, 2023

Krayl’s Spring Entertaining Must Have’s

Some may say that for me, Spring Entertaining is simply an excuse to set a glorious spring tablescape, and they may be right… Who wouldn’t want an excuse to gather up all the prettiest flowers at the market, pop open a bottle of chilled Rose Champagne, and set the table with all your favorite spring tableware. Here are my suggestions for this Spring Tableware Picks to start fresh or to mix into your current collection.

Creative Candles – Taper Candles 12″ :: Don’t store you candles away after the winter, simply change out your colors for a fresh color that reflects the season. These Creative Candles Taper in Lime green is a reflection of the new grass growing outside your window.
Hampton Forge Paris Hammered Gold Flatware :: The gold trend is here to stay. And there is no need to fight it any longer when flatware is available in chic hammered gold patterns. Don’t be afraid to mix metals – gold + silver are a classic tablescape combination.
Spring Garden Dinnerware by Williams-Sonoma :: I can’t get enough of this fun garden inspired dinnerware featuring birds, bunnies and butterflies set on a pure white background. A border of sky blue completes the look and is perfect for Spring entertaining.
Waterford Lismore Essence Ice Bucket :: Can you ever have too many ice buckets? Clear crystal in the timeless Lismore pattern by Waterford compliments any table – chill some bubbly and celebrate!
Fresh Pink Peonies :: I wait all year-long to see that first peony bud open up in the garden and it never disappoints. If you can’t grow your own, find a resource and spend a little extra this month on flowers for the table, I promise their beauty will captivate you like it has me.
Edge Rose Gold Champagne Saucer – Set of 2 :: OMG! When I first saw these saucer champagnes I wondered where they had been all my life! Are they to die for. Seriously.
Ideal Home Range Artichoke Paper Cocktail Napkins :: Yes, 95% of the time I am all about reuseable and sustainable entertaining however, that 5% is left open for festive paper cocktail napkins. Add in bright green artichokes and I will buy out the store!

How are you entertaining this Spring season? What are your top must have’s for your table? Leave me a comment below and join the community by signing up for my newsletter here.

Looking for more Spring Entertaining tips + Recipes – Look Here!

Disclosure Statement

February 14, 2016

A Day Filled With Love

It’s true. When I feel love, I feel safe and when I feel safe I feel brave, like I can go out and be fully me – like I can achieve all my lofty goals, reach all my dreams. Love gives you a crazy kind of brave.

Truly, madly, deeply. Is there any other way to love? Fall hard for those you love. Go all in. That’s were you find the gold.

When you we are young we dream of Prince Charming on his horse coming to steal us away to a magical land. His is perfect. And then we grow up.

We come to love not by finding a perfect person but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly.

Happy Valentines Day to all the lovers, mothers, fathers, children + friends. It’s a day for love – find it in yourself, those around you, nature and give it back with all you have.

XO – krayl

January 25, 2016August 25, 2020

Snowed In. Staying Cozy On A Snow Day.

This weekend as Jonas hit the Northeast and thousands of people where snowed in and homebound beneath 20 + inches of snow, we too grabbed our blankets, cuddled up on the couch, turned on the weather channel and imagined were snowed in. Perhaps its growing up in the Northeast, with the long grey winters broken up by the excitement of a magical snow day, it is one of those few childhood thrills you never really lose – thank god there are a handful left.

We received pictures from friends “back home” of their towns, backyards, and talked about storms from the past. In the midst of the weekend it was finally time to take down the Christmas tree so we brought up the numerous plastic bins, stoked our fireplace, opened a bottle of bubbly and agreed that we would both volunteer for the shoveling program if we were just a few hundred miles closer to the snowfall.

Or maybe we would create a backyard fire pit on the sledging hill like Happy Little Messes did a few storms back… that actually sounds like the best idea so far,

All this winter talk got me thinking… what are my favorite things about winter and snow days. What little touches around the house and home make them special to me…

Getting Cozy On A Snow Day

This year I bought a cozy cable knit blanket for our bed and although I knew I would love it, I was surprised to hear how much we both love it! Goes to show you, everyone loves to get cozy. Grab your own blanket from Crane and Canopy and add it to your bed for the winter.

I like to continue a theme through a room or through the house. Choose a cable knit throw pillow for the bed or couch for laying your head on while watching a movie marathon. Urban Outfitters has them in two snowy colors to pick from.

Cozy In The Kitchen On A Snow Day

Why is it snow days bring out the cook and baker in us all. It is either the fact that you know you can’t go anywhere so you better start creating in order to eat, or perhaps it is a hidden memory of mom’s cooking ready to warm and sooth you when you came in from a day on the sledding hill. My Copper Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer is always ready to do the job rain, snow or shine.

Of course you know I am going to have an opinion on what bowls, plates and mugs should be used on a snow day at home! One of our favorites around the house is our Jasper Conran mugs. We have them in white china but for a wintery day… love the casual collection in Blue + Biscuit. Actually it is perfect for all seasons but we are talking cozy on the couch with a warm Navy Bean + Kale Soup kind of bowls, and these do not disappoint.

Cozy In The “Home Spa” On A Snow Day

Over the weekend I took several baths using a few of my favorite essential oils, soaps and products. Is it me or does it seem extra special to take a bath in the middle of the day?

Lavender is my go to essential oil for my baths and luckily I have a resource that I know is farmed by two gentlemen who care about their products, the earth and running a quality small farm. Carousel Garden Lavender Farm in Bucks County is a very special place that grows it’s own lavender, has it’s own honey bees – and honey – and could be one of my favorite places to stroll on a spring or summer day. Since I can’t always make it to the farm when I am in the area, the lavender oil and culinary lavender take me there in spirit.

Is there anything more cozy than a warm robe… I think not. I realized this weekend that mine needs to be replaced and I am eyeing up this cozy Faux Fur Robe from Pottery Barn as my new version. Which color do you think goes best with my couch?

What To Read On A Cozy Snow Day

Two of my favorite books to re-read on a winter day are

Julia Child, My Life In France – I have read it several time and can assure you it is a true pleasure to read about Julia’s time spent in France. It will have you back at the kitchen mixer in no time!

My second suggestion is The Paris Wife by Paula McLain. Truth be told I just opened this one up however, it comes to me from a friend who says it is a good easy read – just want I am looking for this time of year when I have little time to read but still looking for an occasional escape.

And there you are, just of my favorite ways to stay cozy in doors during your next snow day.

December 1, 2015March 10, 2016

A Lustrous Holiday Event at West Elm

Join us for a Lustrous + Festive Holiday Event at WEST ELM

co-hosted by Krayl Funch of An Appealing Plan + Tabitha Blue of Fresh Mommy Blog

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10 | 6-8pm

WEST ELM HYDE PARK, TAMPA, FL

WE WILL BE SHARING TIPS FOR CREATING “A LUSTROUS SEASON”

FOOD, DRINK, CRAFTS, GIFTS AND MORE!

SPACE IS LIMITED! RSVP TODAY at http://bit.ly/FreshEvent4!!

You won’t want to miss this fresh MEET + MAKE event before your Christmas plans get into full swing!

WE’LL BE SHARING TIPS FOR CREATING “A LUSTROUS SEASON”

How to Create a Lustrous Gold Tablescape

Preparing a Modern Relish Tray {with recipe creation demo}

Make + Take Your Own Lustrous Votive

And MORE!

All for just $10 {earlybird rate}! Plus take advantage of some great West Elm special deals just for this event!

SPACE IS LIMITED! RSVP TODAY at http://bit.ly/FreshEvent4!!

Join us in the Facebook Event Group

November 12, 2015November 21, 2015

Krayl’s November 2015 Printable Calendar #AnAppealingPlan

Download + Print Your

November 2015 Calendar Here!

This month we celebrate ::

Thanksgiving, Entertaining At Home, Gourds + Spending Time With Loved Ones

I hope it inspires you to celebrate everyday of this wonderful month!

Now available to download + print, the November 2015 calendar with holidays.

Full of seasonally inspired reminders for your home, garden + gatherings.

get your monthly calendar sent to you today!

July 30, 2015April 12, 2022

Peach Simple Syrup Iced Tea with Mint

Sweet Tea is a truly Southern tradition, not only during the summer but year round, you will find people sipping it on the porch or serving to friends gathered around the kitchen table. A wonderful alternative to serving pre-sweetened tea is to create a simple syrup and allow guest to add to their taste preference.

Simple syrup is just as the name says, a simple syrup. It is equal parts water and sugar gently heated until the sugar dissolves – and perfect for using in cold beverage as the sugar is already in liquid form it quickly mixes into the existing liquid. I love to create new flavors of simple syrup to be used in iced tea, cocktails or to be poured over berries for dessert.

For a recent event at the West Elm in Hyde Park Village with Tabitha Blue, of Fresh Mommy Blog, – here we are before everyone arrived – I made up a double batch of Georgia Peach Simple Syrup to serve alongside iced Earl Grey tea, fresh mint sprigs and additional peach slices. The attendees enjoyed it along with a Fresh Herb White Bean Dip while they made Personalized Rosemary Napkin Rings {DIY feature coming soon} – both perfect for Summer Entertaining!

Ingredients

2 cups sugar

1 cup water

1-2 peaches, sliced

Instructions

In a medium sauce pan bring water and sugar to a boil.

Add peaches and stir slowly.

Reduce to simmer after sugar is completely dissolved in the liquid.

Crush peaches when soft to release more flavor into the syrup.

Reduce to simmer, cover and cook for 20 minutes. Be sure to monitor temperature to avoid browning or burning the sugar.

Syrup will be very hot. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

Using a fine mesh metal strainer, strain peaches from syrup.

Bottle. Gift or Enjoy!

Peach Simple Syrup is wonderful in iced tea but also try it to add a touch of sweetness to any favorite beverage – I know I will be testing a few new recipes with weekend with the pretty pink syrup – stay tuned for more!

Thank you Tabitha for sharing your pictures with me!!

* * * * * * *

And, if you are looking for even more ways to celebrate everyday check out An Appealing Plan the book.

Call it a trend or a return to the past, but I believe we are bringing back entertaining at home, lingering over a table after a lovingly prepared meal with friends. It has been a way of life and passion of mine my entire adult life, and I am thrilled to be able to invite you on this journey with me through a year of celebrating every day. Filled with recipes, tablescapes, floral inspiration and seasonal entertaining ideas An Appealing Plan :: A Year of Everyday Celebrations, is a dream come true for me a true honor to be able to share it with you. To learn more about An Appealing Plan :: A Year of Everyday Celebrations here. And of course, share how you are celebrating everyday.

July 28, 2015July 28, 2015

Fresh Herb White Bean Dip + #WestElmTampa Event

This past week most of us living in Tampa have been stuck inside by storm filled days and frequently flooded roadways, so I have to admit I was a little concerned about how the turn out would be for our West Elm “Summer Entertaining” workshop. To my delight, the room was filled with excited guests there to sip on Iced Tea with Peach Simple Syrup + Mint {recipe to follow}, whip up a batch of Fresh Herb White Bean Dip, create personalized napkin rings and learn how to make the most of the last weeks of the summer entertaining season – all while being inspired by the newly launched early fall decor and accessories surrounding them at the West Elm Tampa Hyde Park location.

For this #FreshEvent with Tabitha Blue, of the Fresh Mommy Blog, I wanted to keep it fresh of course and focus on entertaining with herbs as the star of the show, so I created a unique recipe using the fresh herbs growing in my patio garden containers – Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano + Parsley – and to weave the theme through out the entire event, I also tucked them into the centerpieces filled with Sunflowers, Stock and Cornflowers.

If you follow my blog, you know I was in tabletop heaven to have an entire store to pick bowls, plates and trays from! I just couldn’t resist these fun colorful bowls to set up the recipe demonstration table with. How great do the lemons and parsley look against the bright patterns! You must head in to see them out yourself.

The rain continued outside most of the evening, but our spirits were high as we mixed up bowls of the Fresh Herb White Bean Dip and served it on West Elm‘s hammered silver bowls and gorgeous over-sized white lacquer trays – perfect for serving a large group inside or out on the patio.

Stylist Tip :: Don’t be afraid to place additional decor touches on the trays to add visual interest to the display – their silver star piece is perfect for a summer gathering.

[yumprint-recipe id=’5′]With so much going on during the event I just had to write more than one article to feature all the fun – be sure to check back to read about Peach Simple Syrup + Mint Iced Tea and Herb Napkin Rings {both coming this week}. Or keep it simple and sign up for our newsletters so you don’t miss an update!

{Thank you Fresh Mommy Blog for sharing a few of your pictures!!}

* * * * * * *

And, if you are looking for even more ways to celebrate everyday check out An Appealing Plan the book.

July 2, 2015

West Elm Summer Entertaining + Book Signing Event #WestElmTampa

Join me at a very special Summer Entertaining + Book Signing Event at the Hyde Park Village West Elm in Tampa on July 23rd 6-8pm.

During this MEET + MAKE event, hosted by Tabitha Blue of the Fresh Mommy Blog, Tabitha and Krayl will discuss fun ways to make the most of the season in the kitchen and around the table! Every guest will walk away with a handmade reminder to celebrate everyday. Food, Drink, Crafts, Gifts, and More….

Early bird pricing is just $10. PLUS get a signed copy of my book An Appealing Plan for just $25 with the advanced purchase of an event ticket.

Learn more and order your tickets here! {please note – you must register in advance for this special event}

May 6, 2015

The Mother’s Day Gift to Inspire Mom to CelebrateEveryday

Mother’s Day is Sunday May 10th, 2015, give the Mother’s Day gift sure to inspire mom to celebrate everyday, give her An Appealing Plan the book.

Your mom is your inspiration, doesn’t she deserve a Mother’s Day gift to inspire her to live everyday to the fullest and in the most beautiful way? Every day is a gift, so let’s celebrate it!

Each section of An Appealing Plan features season-specific menus and design ideas. Apart from being inspired by the seasons themselves, I also find inspiration for my recipes from my childhood, travels, and favorite restaurants. Some featured recipes are: Baked Brie with Almonds and Rosemary Syrup, Spinach and Gruyere Quiche, Savory Herb Waffles with Smoked Salmon, Cheese Fondue with Assorted Crudite, The Perfect Roast Turkey, Winter Squash Soup, Citrus-Marinated Olives, and Seared Scallops with Sage Brown Butter, as well as some of my favorite cocktails and desserts, including Fresh White Peach Bellini, Fall Fig Harvest Cocktail, Summer Fresh Berries, and Wine-Poached Pears.

An Appealing Plan is about “feeling so inspired by the beauty of the season that we are compelled to redesign our entranceways with containers overflowing with greens or other elements of the season or rushing home from the market to create a meal using fresh herbs and set a beautiful table with the season’s most bountiful flowers.”

April 28, 2015April 28, 2015

The Crazy Marketing Ladies Guest Interview Feature

Ever have a crazy marketing idea? Well then you are going to love this feature because I have the honor of introducing you to a new podcast called The Crazy Marketing Ladies Show, and it is all about business, website, social media and ways business various owners are using marketing to grow and expand their businesses.

For my interview I sat with Lynn Van Meter to discuss my process of creating, launching, marketing, fully funding and executing my Kickstarter to publish my first book An Appealing Plan – A Year Of Everyday Celebrations.

Listen into The Crazy Marketing Ladies Show podcast here.

In this interview we talked about fears that can hold you back, knowing your message is important, how the Kickstarter crowd funding program worked for me and my ~~obsession~~ passion for dishes. I hope you enjoy the show!

Listen into the Crazy Marketing Ladies Podcast here.

Links mentioned in the interview ::

The Book :: An Appealing Plan – A Year of Everyday Celebrations
My Kickstarter Campaign Page

What is your favorite podcast to listen to? Or do you host a podcast? Let me know in the comments below so we can all listen in.