Refreshing Poolside Cocktail Recipe

There are few things I enjoy as much as sipping a refreshing cocktail poolside in the summertime. You can just imagine the pool boy serving them up and passing out chilled towels.

This refreshing poolside cocktail recipe came about last weekend when my husband and I were at the pool and found ourselves out of champagne! See Sunday’s at our house is reserved for Mimosas by the pool.

So what’s a girl to do but raid the cabinet and fridge to see what’s available. Luckily I was able to pull a few ingredients together, pop on a paper straw and what do you know, a new refreshing poolside cocktail is born!

I pick up colorful paper straws whenever I see them on sale – they add just the right amount of festive color with out being over the top. I have a stash of them in a rainbow of colors, patterns and various seasonal feel. They come out whenever I am creating a cocktail buffet, hosting a neighborhood gathering or when serving a refreshing poolside cocktail at the pool.

A REFRESHING POOLSIDE COCKTAIL

INGREDIENTS

2 parts Pavan Liquer
1 part lime juice
2-3 parts club soda
Blackberries, for garnish
Ice, plenty of it

METHOD

In a tall glass or cocktail shaker filled with ice mix Pavan, lime juice. shake to chill completely.

Pour into a poolside cup filled with ice. Top with club soda, blackberry and straw.

Serve immediately. Dip your toes in the water and relax.

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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.

June 2, 2015June 12, 2015

5 Things To Grow Now For Your Tastiest Summer Ever

Spring is here and that means it is time for us all to get back into the garden, discover what has made it through the winter, what has not and begin planting for a new season of growth. Ever dream of that perfect kitchen garden, full of all the ingredients you need right outside your door – fresh and ready to be picked and combined at a moment’s notice? We, may not all be able to have this dream garden however with just a little planning and planting these five easy to find favorites – you can make this your tastiest summer ever!

LEARN MY TOP 5 PICKS + READ MORE HERE

MORE ARTICLES + RECIPES LIKE THIS ::

Growing An Herb Container Garden By Seed

The Tastiest Cilantro Margarita

Spring Bulb Centerpiece

I am excited to announce that I am now a contributor to The Daily Basics website :: “the stuff from which good living is made of”. Please head over for a visit and be sure to let them know Krayl sent you! Enjoy!

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

April 17, 2015May 6, 2016

Your Ultimate Kentucky Derby Party Planning Checklist

The Kentucky Derby is an annual horse race held in Louisville, Kentucky, on the first Saturday in May, ending the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds is held at Churchill Downs on a one and a quarter miles {2 km} track.

Also known as “The Most Exciting Two Minutes In Sports” and also “The Run for the Roses”, first raced in 1875 recently celebrating its 140 anniversary, is the first leg of the American Triple Crown and followed by the Preakness Stakes, then the Belmont Stakes. A horse must win all three races to win the Triple Crown.

The attendance at the Kentucky Derby ranks first in North America and usually surpasses the attendance of all other stakes races frequently reaching over 165,000 people! If you are not one of the lucky “few” to acquire a ticket to this year’s race I highly recommend hosting a Kentucky Derby viewing party of your own. Who can resist chilled drinks in fabulous silver cups and a reason to wear a gorgeous hat!

If you are considering hosting a Derby party, the following list can serve as your party planner check list. With just a little prep work your gathering will run smoothly and even better, be stress free!

KENTUCKY DERBY PARTY CHECKLIST

1-3 Months Before – {this is a general timeline – don’t let it stop you from pulling together a last-minute gathering}

Check your local listing for television coverage schedule and timing. Ensure you will be able to view at your home or if you will need to host your party elsewhere.
Contact friends or relatives with a “Save the Date” email or call {or if you have time, surprise your friends with a mailed invitation – the Derby is a fun time to go all out formal}.
Determine attire and other requirements of guests {Dressy or Casual / Hats or No Hats} be sure to include this in your invitation wording.
Shop for your Kentucky Derby hat or wardrobe!
Pull out your julep cups, silver vases and any china or linens with an equestrian theme.
Purchase additional supplies and favors as needed.
Order official Kentucky Derby race day programs to be delivered to your home – believe it or not, this can be done through the official website and adds a fun touch.

2 Weeks Before Your Kentucky Derby Party

Create your race day menu – select recipes, develop your shopping list.

Suggested Kentucky Derby Menu ::

Zesty Pimento Cheese
Bourbon Bacon Deviled Eggs
The Perfect Kentucky Mint Julep
Spinach + Kale Bites with Hollandaise Sauce – {sign up for alerts}

Determine your race day bar offerings and recipes – check your stock and create a list spirits, mixers and garnishes needed.
Check the menu and bar list against your silver, china, serveware and linen collection. Purchase or borrow to fill.
Tally RSVP’s to finalize guest list and count.

1 Week Before Your Kentucky Derby Party

Create a Derby Party music playlist, of course it must include – “My Old Kentucky Home”
Shop for all menu items and bar offerings.
Order flowers to be delivered, if you do not intend to create your own display.

1 Day Before Your Kentucky Derby Party

Arrange your table top the night before – this allows you time to get ready but also to enjoy your display before guests arrive.
Create your flower centerpiece – traditionally Roses are the flower of choice but use what is fresh and available.
Prepare dips or other items that will hold {or improve} overnight.
Stock your bar with spirits, mixers and garnish – ensure you have plenty of mixers, glassware and water available for guests to stay hydrated, or for those not partaking in alcoholic beverages.

Day Of – Kentucky Derby Race Day

Make or Purchase extra ice.
Finish preparing your menu items – place on table when ready.
Print out racing forms for guests to track their wins!
Pour yourself a Mint Julep and put on your party dress… and hat of course!
Welcome guests as they begin to arrive.
Tune in early for coverage of the undercard races and Red Carpet – that’s the best part right!?
Breathe and relax. You did it! Enjoy the race in style!

How are you celebrating?? Let me know in the comments! We love to hear how you are entertaining at home!

March 24, 2015January 26, 2016

Setting An Easy Spring Tablescape

Ah Spring… we smell you in the air, we feel you on our skin, we have waited through the chilly nights and short winter days for you to arrive and finally spring is here. It is time to put away our winter coats, open up all the windows, sweep off the front porch and welcome spring into our homes. Yes, please come on in. First step, setting an easy spring table.

Whether it is a kitchen table or a dining room table, creating a Spring inspired tablescape is as easy as heading to the garden to find colorful bulbs and clipping the early flowering branches. If you have a small garden or can’t bear the thought of cutting back the long awaited color, your local farmers market or grocery will no doubt be filled with the bright colors and flowers of the season. For this spring inspired tablescape a white ceramic bunny is nestled between vibrant purple hyacinths mixed with bright fuchsia and green cuttings.

Pink chargers at each place setting create the perfect backdrop to stack plates for each course. Soft boiled eggs placed in whimsical duck feet holders begin our brunch, followed by a spring mix salad with dried currants to be placed on turquoise scalloped edged Italian stoneware plates. The main course of Green Asparagus Soup with Seared Scallops will be served in a low white china bowl.

Setting a pretty table does not equally a stuffy formal affair. Keep with the informal feel of this brunch table by placing additional hyacinths in juice glasses and group together around our happy white ceramic figurine. Sand colored linen napkins and everyday flatware complete the table.

Once the table is set, continue to welcome spring by placing flowers around the house on any flat surface you find.

Seasonal decorating gives you the opportunity to move items around your home, rotate décor and personalize each space as the seasons change. Be sure to enjoy every minute of this fresh new season by playing around with different colors and textures on your table and throughout the house.

February 19, 2015April 12, 2022

The Paloma Cocktail Recipe

The Paloma Cocktail is a refreshing Mexican cocktail with grapefruit juice and tequila! Similar to a margarita but with a sweet tart twist of grapefruit.

Paloma Cocktail (2) - Orange Lime Sugar Salt Setup #AnAppealingPlan @KraylFunch 750x

The Paloma is a tequila-based cocktail, prepared by mixing tequila with a grapefruit juice and served over ice with a lime or grapefruit wedge. The glass may be rimmed with salt or sugar – or in this recipe a combination of the two.

THE PALOMA COCKTAIL RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1 grapefruit
¼ cup tequila
¼ cup fresh grapefruit juice
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon simple syrup
¼ cup club soda
grapefruit wedge for garnish

METHOD

Sprinkle sugar and salt on a small plate, gently combine, cut grapefruit in half, rubbing outer edge of cocktail glass with grapefruit to wet, rub rim of glass in the sugar salt mixture.

In a cocktail shaker combine tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and simple syrup over ice. Shake to combine. Pour over ice into cocktail glass and top with club soda. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge. Makes one cocktail.

Shop these items ::

Riedel Double-Old Fashioned Whiskey Glass
Morton Coarse Kosher Salt
Cocktail Shaker – Brushed Stainless Steel

February 14, 2015February 9, 2016

Pink Rustic Flower Arrangement

In this segment of An Appealing Plan TV I create a pink rustic floral arrangement perfect for a pink themed table, a girlfriends brunch or a romantic valentines meal for two.

Using a combination of pink flowers with various textures it is possible to create a romantic feeling centerpiece for your dining table or to be placed in any room of your home to add a natural beauty.

Allow the colors and textures of the flowers to dictate the feel of your arrangement rather than forcing it – this lends itself to an overall vintage tablesetting.

Using coordinating colors in your napkins, dinnerware and glassware brings a calm feel to the table and draws the eyes to the finer details and textures.

Add easy to make Ombre XOX sugar cookies to your table by placing them on a cakestand to add a visual interest.

December 31, 2014January 14, 2015

Thank you 2014! Happy New Year 2015!

Thank you 2014! What a Year You Have Been!

WOW! That is really the best expression I have to express everything that has transpired in 2014. What an amazing year it has been – I actually can not believe it is already December 31st – filled with challenges, too many learning experiences to count and a few incredible wins!

This year started with a dream of writing and publishing my first book, and with the help of an amazing team and YOUR support it became reality in the final months of the year – An Appealing Plan : A Year of Everyday Celebrations is now on shelves and available on-line!

I won’t go into the thank you’s here as I have in several posts in the Passion to Print category which you can read here, as well as on the acknowledgment page of the book {are you there?… you might just have to buy the book to see!}, I do however wish to say to you all that I hope you see this achievement as a sign that anything is possible, that those dreams of yours that you think are silly, or perhaps too big, are achievable – and not only that, but to stress the importance of reaching them, of knowing you have completed them. If not I promise you, you will always wonder what if. And I can not have that, not after you have been here to support me in achieving mine.

SO – what are we going to do about it? First, I want you to leave a note in the comments below and tell me a goal or dream of yours you feel is silly, too big, not important enough,… that you have always wanted to achieve. Second, write down on paper – right now – the three big steps you need to achieve this goal. Third, write down the date of when you will achieve this goal. {if you are really daring, write them all in the comments and really commit to it!

Next up – my new top three goals for 2015… stay tuned, it only gets better.

Welcome 2015! I can not wait to see what you hold!

Happy New Year 2015!

December 30, 2014February 3, 2015

New Year’s Eve Champagne Cocktails

Whether your New Year’s Eve plans include a large gathering or a more intimate evening for two, Champagne cocktails create a festive atmosphere that will last well past 12:01 am. Here are a few variations sure to add a signature touch to your evening, be sure to click through the links to see the full recipes!

{image + recipe courtesy of Kitchen Konfidence}

ST. GERMAIN + CHAMPAGNE

INGREDIENTS

St. Germain, chilled
Brut champagne (or any other dry sparkling wine), chilled

See full recipe :: Kitchen Konfidence

{image + recipe courtesy of Something Turquoise}

RASPBERRY SPARKLER

INGREDIENTS

Fresh raspberries
Raspberry liqueur
Brut champagne {or dry sparkling wine}, chilled

See full recipe :: Something Turquoise

Eager for more Champagne cocktail recipes? See Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail and Champagne Selection Tips

Looking for New Years Eve decorating or tablescape ideas? See How to Decorate for a New Years Eve Party and A Posh Table for New Years Eve.

October 16, 2014October 16, 2014

The BooK has Arrived! An Appealing Plan Book Launch Video.

I am super excited to share the news with you…. the book arrived. It is real and in person!! We are in the process of updating the official book page with information like event dates, local purchase locations, shopping and planning lists to download for each occasion, An Appealing Plan book clubs and much more to come so be sure to check back often but in the meantime…

I was doing a little fall decorating around the house and my monogrammed white pumpkins inspired me to create a launch video! It is quick and to the point check it out and let me know what you think!

Signed copies can be ordered by visiting the

An Appealing Plan :: A Year of Everyday Celebrations book page here.

Today’s Tweet: “Celebrations are meant to happen everyday, not just at the holiday’s. Be sure to #CelebrateEveryday with Krayl Funch and An Appealing Plan”

Spread the good word by commenting below, pinning to your boards or tweeting to the twitterverse. Cheers and Thank You for all your support. I can’t wait to hear what your favorite section of the book is and how it has inspired you!

September 25, 2014April 19, 2023

Passion to Print: The Final Day

book planning meeting 1.10.14 500x

It is has been almost a year since I sat down for a casual lunch simply to catch up with Heather Stalker, of Crave Creative Group, when during our conversation the spark of an idea of partnering to write a book came about. We scheduled another coffee date and we where off! Little did either of us know what the next 10 months would hold.

Today the final edits are taking place to the book, thanks to Nicole Wayland, of Ford Editing in Washington D. C. who has recently become part of the dream team, and tomorrow if all goes as planned the giant file will be uploaded to the printer. I have a black and white copy sitting on my desk with blue, red and black ink edits on most pages, but we are saving the color version for the real deal. It is hard to believe this part of the journey is almost over.

Over the last 10 months we have met almost weekly to either talk through the schedule, set up and shoot content or work on the layout, it has been an incredible journey requiring much time and patience for all parties {including our families}. But now today, the day before all those hours of work will be sent to the printer feels strange. Perhaps because there is still the unknown. Will the image colors look the same in print as they do on the screens? Will the layout translate the same in print? Will the paper and print quality we hope for be accurate in the final printing? Still so many unknowns. Still so much to learn about the next stages of this book’s life.

And yet even with all these unknowns looming out there, there are things that I know for certain on this day. I know with out a doubt that all of this has been worth it. I know more than ever that I love what I do and even more importantly – I have a much clearer vision of why I do it. I also know I could not have made it to this point with out a wonderful partner with me to set deadlines and pull back the reigns when the book needed it.

“Writing a book takes your message from the wide area of a funnel to the narrow. There it is concentrated, packaged + shared with the world.”

{click above to tweet this quote}

In the next week I will have the first copy of the book in my hands and begin shipping out the pre-orders to all of the amazing supporters, and kickstarter supporters who believed in this vision and then open the sales up to the retail market. I think that is when it will set in, the reality of this dream coming true.

There is much to plan in the coming weeks; a video launch series, live launch parties, and hands-on book workshops, I will still be a busy girl but I couldn’t be happier. Stay tuned!

Interested in learning more about the launch, video series or the workshops? or just want to stay in touch? Sign up for updates and connect with me on social media: Facebook + Instagram + Twitter using #CelebrateEveryday