Plan Ahead For a Stress Free Thanksgiving Day

Whether you are a seasoned pro or it is your first time hosting Thanksgiving the number of details to keep track of can be daunting to say the least. You need the Ultimate Thanksgiving Planning Checklist.

How many plates do I need? How will I serve the potatoes? How long do I defrost THE bird? How do I keep track of who is bringing what? What if I run out of forks before dessert?

And the details add up if you are hosting overnight guests.

Where will they sleep? Do I have time to put up the wall paper in the main floor powder room before Thanksgiving?

What fork goes where?

Not to fear. My ULTIMATE Thanksgiving checklist is HERE to make you look like the entertaining pro you know is your real calling.

Avoid the last minute stress of Thanksgiving with my ULTIMATE Thanksgiving Planning Checklist.

When you say yes to the checklist you will immediately receive the first week’s must do list. Then over the next few weeks you will receive a weekly checklist of what you need to accomplish + schedule that week to have a stress free Thanksgiving.

How easy is that?

You can be the hostess you know in your heart you are. Get access to the checklist HERE.

Are you an overachiever? Perfectionist who can’t stand to wait for the weekly updates? My Fast Track planner was created for you. For only $15 you can have access to the entire checklist collection now. Buy yours HERE.

December 3, 2015August 25, 2020

Champagne Selection + Pairing Ideas From My #ChampagneSisters

If you have been around here for any amount of time you know how much I love a glass of bubbly. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner – they are all perfect occasions to pop open a bottle and fill up your flute. However, I find that I have been in a rut lately and am simply grabbing a bottle of one of my go to labels rather than branching out and try new vintages, regions and styles. So what is a girl to do when you are stuck in a rut and heading into the holiday entertaining season?? Ask your friends of course!!

So that is exactly what I did! I reached out to 10 of my favorite Champagne Sisters for their take on Champagne selection tips, the best way to pair champagne and what champagne is currently their favorite bottle to open. I LOVED all their answers and I know you will to! So without further delay… let me introduce to you my Champagne Sisters!!

{NOTE: the list is purely in alphabetical order, no favs here. AND I have provided a live link to their websites in their title, head on over and learn all about these fab ladies. Just be sure to invite me to the next party. I promise to bring a bottle!}

Amanda Reboul of Tasting The Stars

Twitter: @thebubblediva
IG: thebubblediva

What is currently your favorite champagne? It’s so hard to pick a favourite – it’s like asking me to pick my favourite child! I find things to love in every champagne I try. However, lately I have really enjoyed a new grower champagne I have discovered from Vincent Brochet. Their 2002 vintage is exceptional. It’s from a small village in the Mountain de Reims, Ecueil, and the Pinots from there are to die for.

What is your favorite way to pair champagne? I would have to say caviar – bubbles happening everywhere in your mouth! Big bubbles, little bubbles, firm bubbles, softer bubbles – it’s the best experience!

What are your champagne selection tips? Choosing the right champagne really depends on the occasion. If it is for a large party, when it is all about getting together with friends, it is better to choose a non-vintage champagne. If you are having a dinner party with about six to eight close friends, try to be more adventurous with selections. Try a blanc de blanc with a seafood starter, a rosé with a duck breast main, and a low dosage with dessert. Vintage champagnes should be kept for those times when you are with a couple of friends who really appreciate good champagne. It should be savoured and every drop appreciated.

Davon Hatchett of The Bubbleista

Twitter: @TheBubbleista

IG: TheBubbleista

What is currently your favorite champagne? For a bubbly obsessed girl like me, this question is akin to being asked to pick a favorite child (ha). Right now I’m loving anything Taittinger (especially Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blanc when I’m lucky enough to get my hands on it); the Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage Collection; and Laurent Perrier rosé. Also, about a month ago I stumbled across this incredible grower champagne that I fell in love with: Champagne Guy Larmandier Grand Cru “Signé Francois” Blanc de Blancs–so incredibly delicious!

What is your favorite way to pair champagne? Champagne is so versatile that I pair it with almost any and everything, but some of my favorite ways include champagne with hot, thin, salty, crispy french fries {salt + bubbles = divine}; with a big bowl of my mother’s Creole Louisiana gumbo filled with crab, shrimp, sausage, and chicken {champers balances the roux’s richness perfectly}; and I definitely believe in champagne with breakfast!

What are your champagne selection tips? Don’t be swayed solely by price alone. You can get really good champagne and all sorts of price points, so don’t presume that a $100 bottle is automatically better than a $40 bottle. Venture into grower champagnes! These artisanal sparklers are often vivacious and charming and can help you expand your palate with their unique flavor profiles.

Bri Seeley of Bri Seeley

Twitter: @BriSeeley
IG: IAmBriSeeley

What is currently your favorite champagne? I love Chandon. My pallet is usually more tied to experiential memories. I toured the Chandon winery a few years ago, and when I drink it now I can still feel the sun on my skin, the laughter with my friends, and the smile I had on my face all day long.

What is your favorite way to pair champagne? With a gorgeous sunset! I live in Los Angeles and usually drink champagne on my rooftop. Sometimes alone and sometimes with company. But usually it’s watching the sunset and filling my heart with gratitude for the wonderful life I’ve created.

What are your champagne selection tips? Drink what works for you and what makes you happy. Everyone has a different pallet, so don’t necessarily listen to what someone tells you ‘should’ taste good – in the end you have to try a variety and decide what you like best.

Emily Ellyn of Emily Ellyn Productions

Twitter: @Emily_Ellyn
IG: Emily_Ellyn

Current favorite Champagne/sparkling wine? I love Iron Horse Blanc de Blanc as well as their Brut Rose! I have always enjoyed sipping on these sparkling wines, BUT they are really spectacular with food. The Blanc de Blanc is 100% Chardonnay and it is like a buttery piece of toast that radiates with it’s effervescence. The Brut Rose on the other hand is bold and vibrant and I like drinking it with food! Ham and eggs to a juicy steak.

What is your favorite way to pair champagne? Champagne pairs with all food and puts all in a celebratory mood! Like I mentioned above a buttery toasty champagne pairs with all foods and looks so festive sipped in a coupe or flute. Cheers!

What are your champagne selection tips? How to buy Champagne, you ask? Remember the words of F. Scott Fitzgerald who said “…too much champagne is just right!” I’m toasting myself for being the hostess with the mostess and never having a dry party 😉

Eve Walkey of Glass of Bubbly

Twitter: @GlassOfBubbly
IG: glassofbubbly

What is currently your favorite champagne? That’s a very difficult question as I have so many favourites, though I did recently really enjoy a glass of Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 1988.

What is your favorite way to pair champagne? I do enjoy Champagne with a selection of vegetarian sushi.

What are your champagne selection tips? I would advise speaking to your local wine merchant and not always thinking Grand Marques unless you are prepared to pay that little bit more for their vintages, sometimes a local wine merchant can have a very nice Grower Champagne which I do advise people to try.

Diana Hasenbalg of Wearing Memories

Twitter: @FrenchyBubbles
IG: FrenchyBubbles

What’s currently your favorite champagne? My favorite champagne is Any ….true brut from Reims

What’s your favorite way to pair champagne? Straight up ….nothing else. Bien frappeé {well chilled}

What are your top champagne selection tips? Champagne is always the answer !

Kiron Barui of Wearing Memories

Twitter: @ChampagneMemori
IG: ChampagneMemories

What’s currently your favorite champagne? I love all champagnes the Belle Epoque 06 would have to be the best tasting prestige cuvee at the moment for a bottle that you can pull off the shelf and just drink — it is fresh and light and perfect for a hot Christmas in Australia.

What’s your favorite way to pair champagne? I have just invented this new game where by you pop some caviar on the back of your hand and lick it, then sip on your champagne and then finally you suck down an oyster. It is like the lick, sip and suck we used to play with tequila but this is the lovely adult version with caviar, champagne and oysters.

What are your top champagne selection tips? Always choose what you like to drink. Rose is perfect with donuts, blanc de blanc is perfect with seafood and vintages should always be drunk in a more open glass and allowed to breathe. But most of all enjoy what you like, for there is a magic memory in every bottle popped.

Laurie Delk of Promiscuous Palate

Twitter: @100Beers30Days
IG: @CaliWineGal

What’s currently your favorite champagne? anything from Egly-Ouriet. They just blow me away.

What’s your favorite way to pair champagne? oysters and sushi

What’s your favorite way to pair champagne? talk to your Sommelier and wine shop about what style you like for the perfect pick! Do you like dry and lean? Yeasty, biscuity, and full bodied? Citrus driven? There is that yes bottle for every style and price point.

Mella Noir of Clink And Chat

Twitter: @ChampagneChat
IG: clinkandchat

What’s currently your favorite champagne? My current fave is Tendil et Lombardi Hyménée as it pairs perfectly with virtually everything yet is delicious alone as well…

What’s your favorite way to pair champagne? What ISN’T?! I love it mixed with liqueurs, fresh juices as well as just crisp and cold all by its’ beautiful effervescent bubbly self! To pair with nibbles — I adore fruit, nuts, any kind of seafood, cheese (side note: MMMMMMM… Cheese!) As well as salty chips and caviar.

What are your top champagne selection tips? Try new kinds and ask your friends what their faves are! I find social media to be a great source of new brands to find, taste and then pass onto others!

Ro Davis of Traveling Flute

Twitter @TravelingFlute

What’s currently your favorite champagne? Perrier Jouet

What’s your favorite way to pair champagne? I love to pair my champagne in a decadent beautiful flute, of course along with something sweet and something savory. My favorite Perrier Jouet, pairs well with beautiful cheeses and marcona almonds. For something savory, I like smoked salmon with a pairing of roasted root vegetables.

What are your top champagne selection tips?I would recommend that you always serve champagne in its proper flute. Never serve champagne in a wine glass, water goblet or paper cup. It takes away the flavor and effervescence of the bubbles.

** Thank you Mella of Clink And Chat for providing the featured image for this post as well as creating a fabulous Champagne community! Be sure to head over to Bubbly Talk Radio to listen in to our chat! CHEERS!!

October 2, 2015November 12, 2015

The October 2015 An Appealing Plan Printable Calendar

Download + Print Your

October 2015 An Appealing Plan
Calendar Here!

This month we celebrate ::

Cool Weather Grilling Outdoors, Fall Foliage + Flavors and Halloween Decorating.

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

Now available to download the October 2015 calendar with holidays. Full of seasonal inspiration + monthly reminders to create the home, garden + gatherings you dream of. Simply click on the image above to

get your monthly calendar sent to you today!

September 1, 2015September 1, 2015

September 2015 Printable Monthly Calendar

Download + Print Your

September 2015 An Appealing Plan
Calendar Here!

This month we celebrate ::

The Final Weekends of Summer with Friends, the First Day of Autumn, Fall Decor Must Haves
and Autumnal Recipes Celebrating the Bounty of the Season.

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

Now available to download the September 2015 calendar with holidays. Full of seasonal inspiration + monthly reminders to create the home, garden + gatherings you dream of. Simply click on the image above to

get your monthly calendar sent to you today!

March 24, 2014April 12, 2022

We Want You! …To Tell Us a Story.

For the last few years An Appealing Plan has provided articles and tips on seasonal entertaining and design solely from the voice of our founder Krayl Funch. We have loved building our community and learning all about your lifestyle goals, dreams and personal way of expressing yourself through entertaining and design. We are honored daily with your comments and feedback and just the fact that you are here amazes and inspires us to continue daily.

It is with this in mind that we have decided to open up our blog to you! Yes, beginning in April we will be featuring one guest post a week from someone in our community that is celebrating life, the season and creating gorgeous environments.

All articles will be accepted, reviewed and approved by our team prior to being published to ensure the content is in line with the style and topics that our readers have come to expect.

We know this is a big change for some of you but we feel this is the next step in journey and we hope you will enjoy this addition to our site. We all look forward to hearing more from you regarding your favorite contributors and topics and fine tuning this creative process.

Now it is your turn, we want you to let us know what TWO topic categories you are most interested in hearing about.

Interested in learning more about submitting articles or DIY features? Have a story or project to share with our community?

Click here to submit your information: Go To Form.

December 5, 2013December 9, 2013

Pantone Color of the Year 2014: Radiant Orchid

Pantone picked a purple hue for its color of the year for 2014: Radiant Orchid (Pantone 18-3224).

An appealing {we love that they used this word!}, versatile shade, Radiant Orchid has wide applications for both fashion and home.

“While the 2013 color of the year, PANTONE 17-5641 Emerald, served as a symbol of growth, renewal and prosperity, Radiant Orchid reaches across the color wheel to intrigue the eye and spark the imagination,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “An invitation to innovation, Radiant Orchid encourages expanded creativity and originality, which is increasingly valued in today’s society.”

“An enchanting harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, Radiant Orchid inspires confidence and emanates great joy, love and health. It is a captivating purple, one that draws you in with its beguiling charm.”

In interiors, Radiant Orchid complements olive and deeper hunter greens, as well as when combined with turquoise, teal and light yellows, Pantone said. It also can liven up neutrals, including gray, beige and taupe.

Check out my Radiant Orchid Pinterest Board here!

What two ways will you use this color? Let me know in the comments below.

September 18, 2013January 21, 2021

4 Years and You Are Invited to Celebrate!

In one month I will celebrate my 4 year anniversary of my move to Tampa, Florida. FOUR YEARS. F-O-U-R YEARS!

I honestly feel as though it was only a few months ago that I starting packing up my home, choosing which set of dishes would stay {ironically leaving my favorite white ones in New Hope…} and which would come along for the ride, hosting a farewell gathering, hugging everyone goodbye with teary eyes and pulling the overloaded Uhaul onto the road.

Over the last four years I have been lucky enough to build my business, and friendships, in Tampa Bay as well as maintain a strong presence with clients in the Northeast. However, each market’s growth is limited by my time and my geographic limitations. Certain projects warrant, and budgets allow, for my personal one-on-one services while others understandably do not. SO, the technological-age-old-question rears its head. How do you take a business solely based on personal one-on-one services and make it accessible to those clients that are looking for solutions on a regular basis, who are also not in my geographic market at that particular time? While I am pretty sure Sir Richard Branson is soon to announce the “Virgin Time Machine”, you need an answer in the meantime. As I wait for his invention to arrive at a price point under $1,000,000, I am looking to provide you with other choices and invite you to help me develop them.

Of course my personal services will always available for you, but I want to also offer you another option when it comes to entertaining. A perfectly presented plan that arrives at your door. A real solution, not just another project, or addition to your too long to-do list.

This week’s video provides more details, I hope you will consider watching and provide your input. I truly want to develop products and services that work for you, that create environments you feel inspired in and that allow you to enjoy the life you are working so hard for. Click here or the image to learn more.

Thank you for your support & feedback during this develop stage. Click here to learn more.

Krayl

September 4, 2013September 2, 2016

Are you ready for overnight visitors? How to prepare your guestroom.

An experienced host knows that entertaining doesn’t just happen around the table. The guest experience begins the moment you decide to invite visitors to gather. As it relates to the physical environment, it may include spaces away from your home or spaces around and in your home you may not at first consider such as the entranceway, the powder room and your guest room, just to name a few.

Click to Tweet : “Entertaining doesn’t just happen around the table.”

In many homes the guest room is also an office, craft room or a place where everything lands until the next knock on the door occurs and you run to clean and stock it to welcome an overnight visitor.

The good news is that with a little preparation you can whip that spare forgotten room in to a space worthy of AAA rating.

In this video I am discuss my top 9 {see it is so easy I didn’t even need #10!} items every guest room should have to ensure your guests are right at home during their stay. Check out the video by clicking the image below.

In case you missed them, here is the short list:

1 – Extra Pillows

2 – Extra Blankets

3 – Extra Towels

4 – Reading Material

5 – Clock

6 – Candle

7 – Fresh Flowers or Live Plant

8 – Snacks

9 – A Bottle of Water

Feeling more confident? Ready to set the date and call up that friend you keep saying you would like to see more? Deep breath, you can do it. Looking for more help… consider one of my seasonal home boxes to make sure your home is ready 365 days of the year!

August 15, 2013October 29, 2014

How to Prepare for Entertaining Guests: The Table 101

I am passionate about entertaining. Not only my own entertaining, but your entertaining as well.

In this video I discuss items you should have on hand to set the table or buffet for your next gathering.

“Help! I have a fear of hosting a dinner party and I don’t know where to start! “

If this sounds like something you might say, this is for you. Get ready to send out those invites!

With just a few items in your cabinet you can easily set a beautiful table or buffet for your next gathering. Entertaining doesn’t need to be perfect or stressful. It is about connecting with friends and family. Entertaining should be about welcoming guests; sitting down and talking about your week or your dream vacation.

And you can tweet that one!

“Entertaining doesn’t need to be perfect or stressful. It is about connecting with friends and family.”

In the comments below let me know what you think of these tips and what other concerns you might have about welcoming guests. I would love to answer your questions directly in an upcoming segment. AND be sure to sign up below for my weekly updates direct to your inbox. Until then, see you in the comments!

You Can do it! XO ~ Krayl

July 24, 2013July 24, 2013

Join Us for a #GardenParty Chat.

Join us this and every Wednesday at 8PM on twitter for a #GardenParty chat. The topic will vary each week, all based on Seasonal Gatherings + Gardens and focused on inspiring you to live the life you deserve. I hope you will join me there.

Leave a comment below to suggest topics you are interested in talking more about. Then share the love by sharing this information in your social communities and sign up below to receive weekly updates to your inbox.

~ Krayl

May 30, 2013April 12, 2022

It’s not what I do. It’s what I do, can do, for you.

Thoreau suggests you should:
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams!
Live the life you’ve imagined.”

But are you? Are you living the life you’ve imagined?

Has the pursuit of your career dreams taken a toll on creating a balance in your personal time and environment?
Of course you love your family, just as much or more than your business. But how can you be everything to everyone, and everywhere, all at the same time? You are successful in the workplace, but struggle to get it all done at home. All while still striving to be the best spouse and mother you can be.

Do you sometimes think, if you just had help you might be able to: Entertain more often and with less stress; add those final design touches to your home; properly decorate for each season; have a welcoming entranceway; or perhaps even cook brunch with the fresh herbs cut from your own garden.

You know, live like Martha does.

SOLUTION:

People ask me: “What is it that you do Krayl?”

There is usually a pause.

The problem is, it’s not that cut and dried. It’s not that simple to explain what it is I do.
It is a different project every day. Not one particular project fits everyone’s lifestyle needs. For some it is creating the perfect entranceway for your home. (I call it my gateway drug. Try it sometime, you will love it.) For others it may be planning a dinner party you have been wanting to host for clients, complete with the perfect tablescape, menu, wine and flowers. For some a project entails redecorating a guest room and bath to prepare for their summer guests’ arrival. Other days you may find me styling for a photo shoot.

Every day is completely different in my life and I love it all. It’s not simple to explain because . . .

It’s not what I do. It’s what I do, can do, for you.

I’m not always sure what I will be doing next week. What I do know is that it will be giving you the support you need to let you get out there and be who you want to be.
Essentially, I put the LIFE back into your LIFESTYLE.

While this may seem like a luxury, in the long run, I can save you time and stress. From overwhelming projects to simple tasks, always check with me first, let’s discuss your needs and find a solution. Creating personalized environments for gardens, gatherings and everyday living is my passion, my gift to you.

So go out and create the life of your dreams, everything will be ready when you come home.

If this sounds like exactly what you need, head over to my newly focused website for more information. Or simply email me directly today with your concerns and start living the life you’ve imagined.

If you’re not quite ready yet, not to worry. I will continue to post tips and ideas for you

right here on An Appealing Plan.

XO ~ Krayl