FURNITURE, FINGERS & FABULOUS FOURS

Is anyone out there obsessed with Ikea as much as I am!??! If there's not one in your area, I am highly apologetic, because it's THE BEST. Period. Believe it or not, I've yet to ever own a coffee table. I guess I liked the open feel of my living room, and in the process from Dorm Room to Home we've never seemed to pick one up. Then Cash came around, and I didn't want him beginning to crawl & pull up and hitting his head, but now that he's mastered the art of running and dodging, I know it won't be a problem. So we finally gave in, and bought ourselves a COFFEE TABLE today! Does it have to be called a coffee table if there's no coffee drinkers in your home? What about Dr. Pepper, Sweet Tea & Sippy Cup Table? Either way, it sure is cute.. and affordable might I add! What J believes is the new home for his car magazines & Playstation controllers will soon be neatly accessorized with fresh flowers & my Martha magazines. ;)

Anyway, aside from a new coffee table, I've also been working on a little project for the last two days. It was super simple and I really think the outcome is FABULOUS. It started when I saw these to-die-for canvas photos that can be purchased online or at speciality copy shops for around a whopping $45 a piece. Yikes.. this may be acceptable for some of ya'll, but not for THIS Frugal Franny.. So with a little paint, sponges and a piece of plywood, I made it a goal to create my own "homemade" canvas's.. Grand total: $24.75! They aren't perfect, but they're close enough for me.. and doing it myself saved me $110. Top that.

Isn't he the cutest? Those pictures were taken when Cash was 2 months, 5 months & 14 months old. Anyway, if you're like me you're passionate about a lot of things. My son. My honey. Cooking. Shopping. Reading. Anything pretty. Traveling. Chicken Tenders.. Say WHAAA?! Does this make me a certified fat girl? I'm not afraid to admit that I have a serious love for all things "chickeny" and "tender." Although I love to cook, I'm guilty of being the one at the Mexican restaurant who orders "chicken tenders." I also make it a point to try them at any new restaurant I come across. I'm happy to share that I've found the perfect at home recipe for chicken tenders, courtesy of Gina & Pat Neely (Love them! I think I'm their long lost daughter!) I tried them out, and I can honestly say they're as good as any restaurants I tried. I tweaked it a little, (so of COURSE I'm sharing MY version. The Perfected Version!) I ate mine with ketchup, but J loved them with this Homemade Honey Mustard.. Hope it works for you, and let me know your feedback if you try them! xo

P:S My blog is fairly new, so if my recipe ingredients/steps are a little choppy or vague, PUHLEEEEZ ask questions! I'll be happy to answer them.

BEST CHICKEN TENDERS. EVAAA.

NEED:

- Peanut Oil

- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts

- 3 eggs

- Dash of Hot Sauce (I used Louisiana Original)

- 1 cup all-purpose flour

- 2 cups panko bread crumbs*

*SIDE NOTE: If you haven't tried Panko bread crumbs, you have not lived life. They are a light and flaky Japanese bread crumb, and you can use them to fry ANYTHING. My favorite is with fried shrimp, and these chicken tenders of course. They make for the biggest crunch EVER.

- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder

- 1 teaspoon Onion powder

- 1 teaspoon Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning

- 1 tsp. Cayenne pepper

- S & P

STEPS:

- Heat oil to 350 degrees (or Medium High Heat!)

- Cut the chicken breasts into long strips, removing all fat. Set aside.

- Beat 3 eggs in a bowl with the dash of hot sauce.

- Pour flour onto a separate dish.

- Measure the panko onto a deep dish or pie plate and season with Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Cayenne, Tony's and S&P. *It's important to season the Panko well because it has no flavor!

- Dip the chicken strips into the flour, the beaten egg, and then dredge them in the seasoned Panko.

- Fry in the hot peanut oil for 6 to 8 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from oil to a paper-towel lined sheet tray, and salt immediately while hot.

HONEY MUSTARD:

-1/2 cup Dijon Mustard

-1/2 cup Honey

-2 tbsp. Mayonnaise

- 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

- S&P

I'll leave you with a fun survey for you bloggers to repost!

FABULOUS FOURS!

1. four shows that you watch:

(1) Housewives of New Jersey, New York, Atlanta, Beverly Hills etc.

(2) E*News

(3) Forensic Files

(4) Anything Lifetime or Hallmark

2. four things you are passionate about:

(1) My family

(2) Cooking

(3) Shopping (not just for clothes.. for ANYTHING!)

(4) Jesus

3. four phrases you say a lot:

(1) Shut up! (as in "No Way!")

(2) JUSSSTTIIINNNN!!

(3) NO CASH!

(4) Hot Mess (in reference to anything tacky, showy, or making a scene. VERY versatile)

4. four places you would like to go:

(1) Back to Belize

(2) U.S Virgin Islands

(3) NYC for Christmas

(4) Cabo

5. four things you did yesterday:

(1) Changed 10+ diapers

(2) Danced around with Cash

(3) Began a new craft

(4) Went to Sonic

6. four things you are looking forward to in 2011:

(1) Converting from home "renter" to home "OWNER."

(2) Mardi Gras 2011 in New Orleans

(3) Trip to Canada in July

(4) Watching Cash grow every single day (sappy but TRUE!)

7. four things you love about winter:

(1) Trench Coats

(2) Scarves

(3) Hot Cocoa

(4) ANYTHING Christmas!

8. four products you can't live without:

(1) Aveeno Moisturizer

(2) Philosophy Cinnamon Buns Bubble Bath

(3) Nars Concealer

(4) Chapstick

9. four books you'd recommend:

(1) Joanne Fluke Mystery Series

(2) "The Shack"

(3) "From the Hips" (Prego Book!)

(4) "The Firm"

10. four favorite "classic Winter staples":

(1) Black Alligator Jacket

(2) Burberry Novacheck Scarf

(3) Thick Black American Apparel leggings
(4) Winter White Trench Coat