Happy July 4th!! “Summertime and the living is easy”…or it should be anyway! I have an easy coffee table refresh idea using a big tray, a simple fresh fig appetizer, a breezy summer romance book, and more. I look forward to what Annie and Cindy have in store for us too!
What To Grill
Prosciutto and Goat Cheese Wrapped Figs
I picked up fresh figs at Trader Joe’s and made this easy recipe. You could serve it as an appetizer or on top of salad greens with a light dressing for a first course. Expand the recipe as needed. This makes 12 individual appetizers.

- 6 medium figs halved
- 2-3 oz. goat cheese
- 1 small pkg. prosciutto
- 2 tbsp honey
- course ground pepper
- basil leaves for garnish
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Place 1/2 teaspoon goat cheese on top of each fig half. Drizzle with honey. Wrap each fig with 1/2 slice of prosciutto (it can be a little messy but still tastes great).
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Spray grill with non-stick spray and heat to medium high. (We used a grill pan). When hot, place figs cut side up and grill for about one minute (until you have grill marks). Then turn over and cook the other side for about 15 seconds. Remove from grill, sprinkle with pepper and basil and keep at room temperature until ready to serve.
You may also like Summer BBQ: Grilled Steak With Delicious Chimichurri Sauce.
Skincare For Jet Lag
This product feels like a drink of water for your face. I’ve been using it even before our trip!
What To Watch
The Love Punch on Amazon Prime
This is funny and set in the French Rivera…a nice little escape!
“Divorcees (Pierce Brosnan, Emma Thompson) enlist the aid of a married couple to get their stolen retirement money back from a corrupt French businessman.”
Easy Coffee Table Refresh
We’ve had our coffee table for 15 years and I sometimes feel like a change. This large wicker and grasscloth tray isn’t cheap but it’s a lot less than a new coffee table! And it streamlines the look for Summer by grouping fewer accessories.
This is the white-striped heavy vase.
Light Summer Read
I ordered this book through the library not knowing it was in the Young Adult genre. But I was easily hooked by the sweet/funny 18-year-old main character and visions of Japan. If you liked the Princess Bride movie, you will like this!
“Tokyo Ever After” by Emiko Jean
“Izumi Tanaka has never really felt like she fit in―it isn’t easy being Japanese American in her small, mostly white, northern California town. Raised by a single mother, it’s always been Izumi―or Izzy, because “It’s easier this way”―and her mom against the world. But then Izumi discovers a clue to her previously unknown father’s identity…and he’s none other than the Crown Prince of Japan.”
And that’s an easy coffee table refresh, Prosciutto and Goat Cheese Wrapped Figs, “Tokyo Ever After” and Summer Friday’s Jet Lag Mask.
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Other News…
Next Thursday we are featuring travel wardrobes and I’m showing “What To Pack For Two Weeks In Europe.” And speaking of which, we leave next Saturday for our Spain trip! So excited. Our daughter and her fiancé are going to be married in Madrid! Anyway, after this Thursday, I am going to be limiting my posts to just the Sunday Faves for a few weeks.
Now let’s check out what Cindy and Annie have for us!
Safe travels to Spain…and what a happy occasion. Love the rattan tray…I definitely need a new one as my tole metal tray is looking a bit banged up. Happy Sunday!
Cannot wait to see your posts from Spain & the wedding!!! Lots of us have missed traveling this past year & will be traveling vicariously along with you!
I will try to not disappoint you!
Hi Mary Ann,
We’ll be thinking of you during your hiatus. Enjoy your daughter’s wedding in Madrid. As always you provide me with such great ideas and inspiration.
xo,
Karen
Thanks so much, Karen.
Hi Mary Ann,
I will be awaiting your ideas for packing for Europe since I will be doing the same in Sept. I think I will be able to do a capsule wardrobe fairly easily. My problem is the space taken up by lotions and potions, shampoo/conditioner, etc. Even though I use travel sizes or put things into smaller containers, I still have 2 cosmetic bags about 11×7″ and a couple of inches thick. If you have any hints on how you minimize or deal with these types of articles, I would be grateful for your suggestions. Also, what size suitcase you usually use.
It sounds like you are doing the same as I am with the travel sizes…I need all those things too.