Who loves Olive Garden?

I love Olive Garden and Olive Garden loves me. I crave Olive Garden Minestrone soup (really you can ask Andy we go there all the time). It is so good and so good for you. I decided I wanted to try to make it so I did. I actually use more veggies than this recipe says ... you can't really mess it up just tweak it and make it how you want to!

Ingredients:
2 T olive oil
1/2 cup minced white onion
1/4 cup chopped zucchini
1/4 cup frozen italian cut green beans
1/4 cup minced celery
2 t garlic
4 cups of vegetable broth
1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans
1 (15 ounce) can small white bean
1/2 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1/2 cup carrots (shredded)
2 T minced fresh parsley
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon thyme (I lef this out when I made it because I was out and it tasted the exact same!)
1 and 1/2 cups of hot water
3 cups spinach
1/3 cup small pasta shells

Directions:
Put everything in crockpot on low for 8-10 hours! How easy is that?!

Make it Matter Monday!

Greetings fellow bloggers! Happy Monday. I would like to share with you something my dear grandparents challenged me to do a couple years ago. As part of a gift one time they gave me money to use on someone else. They said they wanted to start a chain reaction of Random Acts of Kindness. I have started taking every Monday and trying to do atleast one random act of kindness. Most things come naturally and you probably already do but ... I would like to challenge everyone else to do one random act of kindness today! Here are some ideas:

-Write a letter to someone who made a difference in your life
-Return a shopping cart
-Pay the tab for the person behind you
-Hold the door open for someone
-Bring flowers to someone
-Offer someone a piece of gum
-Help someone move
-Leave change in a vending machine
-Send someone a care package

So go out there and start the chain reaction!

I tried to blog and wasn't consistent ... but I have had a lot of changes take place and decided it is time to return to the blog world. So whats new with me:

• Andy and I are no longer LaFollette natives. We made it out without getting addicted to Meth :) LaFollette was a great first home, but we were both very ready to return to Knoxville. It has been so nice to be close to our friends and family. 

Here we are cleaning our new apartment 

 Our first meal in our new home (None other than the tasty Chick-fil-a)

 

• The second big thing that happened is that Andy and I are now official college graduates. Yippee. Andy graduated from LMU with a degree in business. I now have a bachelor of science in Health and Human Sciences from UT.  It doesn't feel like real life yet. I wonder when/if it will! It is such a relief to be finished with school, but the working world is scary. You mean you want me to come to work everyday for 8 hours? But I used to have so much free time. Yikes.

• Another big thing is that we have a new addition to the Fennell family. No we did not have a baby ... but we did get a dog. Andy surprised me for our 1 year anniversary with a new friend. Her name is Colbie. She is a yorkiepoo that is three years old and 2 1/2 pounds. She looks like a bat/rat/dog. Her personality is precious. She loves to be around people, and has a very happy demeanor. She is spoiled. Enough said.

• Our final big change is the we both have jobs. Yay. That is what you do after college right?! Andy is working at the new Chick-fil-a as the director of service. Here he is on his first day of work (What a cutie)

I am working as a legal assistant at a law firm downtown. The Lord blessed me with a great opportunity, and I am excited for this new career. 

So there you have it. Big things are happening in the Fennell fam. I'm going to try to be a consistent blogger. Here goes nothing. Until next time ...

10 things I have learned through marriage

10. It is fun living with my Best Friend
9. I like Cooking, Cleaning, and doing other "wifely" tasks
8. I take great joy in having a color coordinated calendar
7. Laundry triples (yes! triples)
6.  Everyone loves to ask you "How is married life?"
5. It didn't take me long to realize how incredibly self centered I am
4. There is more than one way to do things ... and my way is not always right. Yes it is ok to put the laundry detergent in before putting the clothes in or hanging t-shirts instead of folding them
3. It is HARD to get used to having a new last name
2. Being married doesn't make you feel older. In my head I am still 16 years old
1. Marriage truly is a reflection of our relationship with Christ

Wedding Video

http://vimeo.com/27105077

When it rains it pours

Our wedding day was such a special day. It was so full of fun and excitement. I was looking back through pictures the other day and couldn't help but to smile at all the memories. This post is called "when it rains it pours" because it literally POURED :)! The boys found something fun to do to pass the time ... they had a nerf gun fight (i wouldn't have expected anything less). But no worries the rain stopped just in time for the ceremony. My favorite part of the day was walking down with my dad. I had my 2 favorite men in the world right with me. I loved having my dad next to me, and maintaining direct eye contact with Andy. It was such a special moment, and I will never forget that feeling. The Lord truly blessed our special day. Needless to say it was a fun journey to becoming a Fennell.

Wedding Planning Madness

Ahhh I have been such a bad blogger. But I am going to improve. Wedding planning has been fantastic .... crazy busy, but fun! I have been so lucky to have an awesome support system around me. My mom is like super woman. No Joke, she is amazing. So with less two months until the big day everything is coming together great. A few basics about the big day:

Where it will be: The chapel of CSPC (hints the name of the blog)
Bridesmaids Dresses and numbers: Jcrew short gray. There are 11 bridesmaids. I know that sounds like a lot but I could not have cut the numbers anymore! They are all so special, and have had such an impact on my life.
Flowers: Sunflowers mixed with other bright colors
Band: Soul Connection (Get ready to dance the night away!)
Our First Dance: This will be en Everlasting Love :)
Photographer: Anna Hedges. She's so great! She loves to laugh and she loves Jesus so I love her. www.annahedges.com
Something Unique: Instead of doing a guest book we are going to have a "photo booth" set up by Anna. There is going to be a large back drop and lots of props for people to use. This is perfect because I LOOOVE pictures and I know I am so much more likely to look back through pictures instead of a book of signatures.

58 days left,
(The future) Abby Fennell