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Perfect Oven Pork Chops (Keto Friendly)

One of my absolute favorites meals, is the baked pork chop recipe I shared years ago. It cooks in a delicious sauce that I LOVE to dip roasted potatoes in. Nothing makes me happier!!!

Since I still tend to eat lower carb in the evenings, and Chris is still completely Keto…I needed to find a replacement recipe. Enter these perfect oven pork chops! They cook up amazingly well, and you don’t need to light up the grill. These are also Zoe approved. In fact, she constantly requests them now!

What You Need

pork chops (I usually have a package of 4)

Olive Oil or Avocado Oil

2 TBSP Swerve Brown Sugar (you could use regular if you aren’t keto)

1 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp Italian seasoning

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

What You Do

  • Preheat oven to 375
  • Mix together all the seasonings and brown sugar in a small bowl
  • Place pork chops on a baking sheet, and rub them down with the oil on both sides.
  • Rub the seasoning on both sides of the pork chops
  • Bake for 25-30 minutes

A picture of Zoe’s plate. Pork chops and applesauce. Who remembers what show that is from???? Am I dating myself, or what??

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Top 15 Songs

Dani did a post last week with her top 10 songs, and I thought that was a brilliant idea! Like her, I have about 10 songs that would make this list no matter what, and a few that would be based on what mood I was in. Doing this in alphabetical order, just like Dani because you can’t possibly ask me to put them in order. Also, since today is the 15th…I am choosing 15. Do you know how hard it is to narrow these down????

All I Have to Give by Backstreet Boys

I mean come on you guys. You know that an NSYNC or Backstreet Boys song had to make it. If I have to pick only one, this is my absolute favorite.

Blackout by Tritonal

I am not sure what it was about this song, but it soothed Zoe when she was an infant, and I bounced her up and down and sang this to her in the middle of the night. The lyrics were fitting…

Yeah, it was you and me
You and me
Against the world
It was
You and me
You and me
Against the worldDon’t you worry, baby, there’s a fire for us
No, we’re not going down in a blackout
And if the stars above me
Crumble into dust
No, we’re not going down in a blackout

The other song that calmed her down, besides Uptown Funk was I Could Be Stronger But Only For You by Gareth Emery. She liked EDM, what can I say?! I had a hard time picking between the two to make the list!

Far Behind by Candlebox

Freaking LOVE this song. Roll down the windows, turn the radio up and just drive.

Freak of the Week by Marvelous 3

I cannot tell you how many times I have seen Marvelous 3 in concert. Straight up transports me back to high school and college. Butch Walker for life!!!! I love all their songs, I love Butch Walker when he went off on his own. This song can instantly transport me to a better mood. I really love My Way too, and I have to say it was constantly on repeat in my car for a really long time after it came out.

Glycerine by Bush

I don’t think I know a single person that was born in the early 80’s and doesn’t like Bush?? This song came out when I was in middle school, and I just love it.

Hang by Matchbox 20

I love any song by Matchbox 20, but for whatever reason, this one is my favorite. They were the first band I ever saw in concert and I would go to see them again in a heartbeat. They’re supposed to come to Birmingham in August…assuming we can go in public by then. I am too old for a school night outdoor concert in the dead of summer, but I am heavily contemplating still going.

I Miss You by Blink 182

I had a really hard time picking between I Miss You and Damnit. I just knew Blink had to make the list! I love this one a little more, but Damnit is the song I think about when I think of Blink 182. It played on repeat in my Jeep for years!

Love Like Crazy by Lee Brice

This song is how you should live your life, plain and simple.

No Scrubs by TLC

Can you think of a better girl song than this? I don’t care who you are, when this song comes on, you are singing it with all your heart.

Pursuit of Happiness by Kid Cudi

Who isn’t on the pursuit to happiness?

Sail by Awolnation

This song reminds me of the beach. Maybe because we played it a lot one of the trips we were down there. I can easily transport myself back there when the first beat drops.

Simple Man by Shinedown

I absolutely love the Shinedown version of this song. Another song to live your life by.

U Got It Bad by Usher

Freaking LOVE Usher. Ursher. I had a hard time picking which one I wanted on the list. So many good ones. Without You is one that really stands out to me too. I have run into Usher many times when I lived in Atlanta, it was pretty cool. U Got It Bad was in The Sweetest Thing movie. That movie just reminds me of college and always brings a smile to my face.

Zoe Jane by Staind

Pretty sure you know why this one is on the list! If you remember the story of how Zoe’s name came to be.

Zombies by The Cranberries

Chris and I have spent hours and hours of our lives listening to this song, and any song ever performed on The Voice, America’s Got Talent, etc version of this song.

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Books

It’s book day! Linking up with Steph and Jana. These are all books from my kindle (except one audiobook), and some are actually Netgalley! I am trying to clear my shelf! You know, so I can go request 30 more that take me a years to read through.

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

Maybe Someday (Maybe, #1)

I have read a lot of books surrounded by music lately. This book will punch you in all the feels!!! The relationship between Sydney and Ridge is so complicated, beautiful, heartbreaking. It is such a roller coaster! I don’t really want to say too much more and give things away. This is Colleen Hoover, she really knows how to tell a story. If you like her writing, you will enjoy this book.

Bottom Line: Read it!

Hot as Puck by Lili Valente

Hot as Puck (Bad Motherpuckers, #1)

Yowza. This is a true romance right here. Old friends, turned into friends with benefits. But we all know how that turns out, right? I loved the characters in this book. I really loved that Justin is a knitter! You would never except something so nerdy from a professional hockey player, but he definitely has a cute, crafty, dorky side. This book pulled me in right from the start, and had me entertained the whole way through. I am not going to say anything about the very ending, but it was a bit much. I mean it ended like I thought it would, but the last chapter I was sort of like really???

Bottom Line: This was a great story, and if you are into romance I would recommend it. I will say, it has a lot of intimate time…so if that isn’t your thing…I would probably stay away.

The New Guy by Kathryn Freeman

The New Guy

If typical romance books aren’t your thing because you don’t love a good love scene, then this book might be for you. Any romantic moments are fade to black in this book.

I think we all want the next Hating Game, and this book isn’t it. It was a cute story though, I really did like Sam and Ryan. I felt like the author repeated a little too much the reasons why they were both scared to be in a relationship. We get it, lets move on. What did work for me, was the app development company/IT guy. I also really liked that Sam was the strong female CEO, Ryan the “underling.”

Bottom Line: This was a cute read. It passed the time just fine.

**I received a copy of The New Guy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.**

What You Wish For by Katherine Center

What You Wish For

If Katherine Center writes a book, I am there for it. And you guys, this is a good one!!!! I don’t even know where to start. First of all, the main male lead in this book was apparently in Happiness for Beginners, which I haven’t had a chance to read yet. So you definitely don’t have to read it to read this book at all.

Without giving anything away, this book touches on different illnesses, both physical and mental. It deals with a very heavy, prevalent subject matter, and you get a love story. But not the light, steamy kind I usually read.

This book made me laugh, and cry, and the whole message of the book is something the world needs right now more than ever!!!! To find joy in life, no matter what sorrows you have been through. To come together as a community. The school and community that surrounds Sam and Duncan sounds incredible and I want to be there right now!

Bottom Line: I highly recommend you read this book!! Especially right now!

**I received a copy of What You Wish For from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.**

If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane

If I Never Met You

I absolutely loved this book! I will say, in the beginning, it drags a little bit because Laurie is so devastated and blindsided by what happens with Dan. But it was very realistic and not rushed at all. So I appreciated that. And it was totally worth reading through to get to the rest, because the rest was gold! Of course, you can guess how the very end is going to turn out. But watching Jamie and Laurie grow as characters and getting to see their families and backgrounds and everything, I just loved it. I loved how British this book is too. And how it hit right on the nail how society wants to paint what happiness is supposed to look like for women.

This is more a story of growth and love, this isn’t a true romance. There aren’t any “romantic scenes” in the book, so if that isn’t your thing and you want a love story…this might be the book for you!

Bottom Line: Read it!!! This will most likely make my top 10 list for the year. I couldn’t put it down.

** I received a copy of If I Never Met You from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.**

The Allure of Julian LeFray by R.S. Grey

The Allure of Julian Lefray (The Allure, #1)

I haven’t met a R.S. Grey book I haven’t loved. I know what to expect from her; likable characters, witty banter, LOL dialogue, great chemistry. This book is no different. I loved the fashion blogger aspect of the book. I really liked both Julian and Jo, and their dynamic was on point. I liked Jo’s determination and strong work ethic. Also, this book had my name in it and my grandmother’s (Josephine), so that was fun!

Bottom Line: Read it!

Maid For Love by Marie Force

Maid for Love (Gansett Island, #1)

I have had this one sitting on my ipad forever. I have heard good things about this author, but I am not sure how I feel yet. I enjoyed the book, and finished it in just a few sittings. But with that said, I felt like the love was rushed and I didn’t feel it blossom enough. Also, I really liked Mac, but Maddie was a little flat for me. And she was a bit immature. I understand having trust issues with people, but there comes a point you have to let some of that go. Also, who lets someone into their baby’s life so quick?? That part really bothered me.

Bottom Line: This passed the time just fine. I enjoyed the story, but there was a lot I would have changed about it too. If you are into romance, I give it a solid 3.

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Easter Weekend

Things looked a little different this weekend for Easter. Normally we spend most of the day at Chris’s parents house. We knew we had bad weather coming on Sunday, so Saturday morning…we decided to have our Easter Egg Hunt. I put the eggs outside around our house, the weather was absolutely gorgeous! Zoe had so much fun running around collecting them all.

We also made homemade sugar cookies and decorated them. It is a two day process, as the dough has to sit overnight in the fridge. Best cookies ever. They were always my favorite growing up. My mom always made them every holiday with us. I like to carry on that tradition.

We took advantage of the rest of the day and took two big walks around our neighborhood, and played a lot in the yard.

Sunday morning we got a quick ride in on Zoe’s new bike before the storms rolled in. The Easter Bunny was extra generous this year…

We had a big Easter lunch with ham, zucchini au grauten, green beans, pineapple casserole (lightened up) and sweet potatoes. It was delicious!

The rest of the day was spent watching James Spann’s weather updates on TV and playing 100 games of Lucky Duck and Candy Land.

Luckily, we just got a lot of rain at our house with tons of thunder, lightening and some really high winds. We have tree branches down all over our yard, I heard them hitting the house last night!!! I am thankful we didn’t have to run to the basement at all, others nearby weren’t so lucky. I saw this on a friend’s Facebook page, and it couldn’t be more true…

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter at home. I know it looked different this year, but I also hope that it was a time to reflect on the things that are really important.

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Friday Favorites

How is everyone hanging in? I am not going to lie, I had a few hard days this week. Mostly Tuesday. I don’t know what it was about that day, but I was in a horrible mood and Zoe seemed to be too. It just seemed to be too much that day. But then the sun came back out, we got outside and got our daily walks and fresh air back…and I am feeling ok again.

I have a few recipes that I want to post, and will hopefully get around to that next week. Not to mention, book day is coming!!! I am about 30 minutes away from finishing my second book this week. Both were so good, and I cant wait to talk about them!

We are supposed to have some really shitty weather on Easter. Like we don’t have enough to be anxious about, now we have to worry about tornadoes too! I think I am going to stuff Easter eggs tonight, and do a hunt with Zoe outside tomorrow instead. Spread the Easter fun over two days. I hate that she is getting a lot of outdoor stuff, and wont be able to enjoy it on Sunday.

Favorite Service: I cannot be more thankful for things like Shipt and Instacart. We had used Shipt for our first two grocery deliveries, but decided to try out Instacart this week. Groceries have been so expensive, haven’t they??? I do the majority of our shopping at Aldi, and Shipt doesn’t go there but Instacart does. I placed my order on Tuesday, and it came yesterday. Crazy the wait times! I was so nervous that we weren’t going to get the ham I wanted for Easter. Or much meat at all. But apparently, Aldi has been doing a good job stocking, because we got everything I asked for! (Well, with two substitutions. But MUCH better than our Target and Publix experiences.)

Favorite Purchase: Now that I have my office painted, and a fancy chair put together…I want to decorate! All I want to do is spend an hour in HomeGoods looking around. Why is that too much to ask these days??? Until I get that chance, I decided to splurge and order a fancy candle to burn while I am working. I decided on Tobacco Flower but I really want to try White Rose too.

ANTHROPOLOGIE HOME Cloche Candle, Main, color, TOBACCO FLOWER

How gorgeous is it?! I plan to reuse the packaging for others when it burns down. I also ordered this one because it is pink and on major sale.

Favorite Workout: The one thing I can say about this quarantine, is that I have worked out and moved more than I have in a long time. I have been hitting my move and exercise goals almost every day. (I missed Tuesday this week by 156 calories…UGH!!!!) This week I am back to more focused workouts, targeting different areas of my body. Tomorrow I will probably have a love/hate relationship with myself since I made today leg day. On Wednesday, I did an arms/abs workout that I actually quite enjoyed. There was only one floor move and no crunches. I FELT it hours later and have all week. It only takes 20 minutes, and Anna is my favorite. (I cant believe she is leaving Popsugar!)

Favorite Funnies:

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