Party on Earth Day, Like it’s My Birthday….
I LOVE Earth Day ~ Not just because we get super cool stuff at work and get a fun catered Whole Foods Lunch, but, because, it’s one day a year that everyone has a chance to think about just ONE THING they can do to be GREENER.
If only we had Earth Month, imagine what we could do to our environment. I have LOVED hearing all the ways you all want to be GREENER this year….For me, it is to NOT USE a single paper or plastic bag but to ALWAYS carry a reusable bag or not buy what’s in my hands if I can’t carry it. I am also trying to used little to NO Ziploc bags.
I carry Chico Bags in my purse for shopping at any store. Do you have one? If not, get one – they ROCK! Or, if you want to have a “fashionable” one, you can check out the Kingdom Magic Bags in My Open Sky Shop.
Both are fun to use whether you are at Target or NY& Co 
Since we are a GREEN COMPANY (voted 2010 Best Green Company– cool, huh?!), we do some FUN Earth Day Celebrating.
When I arrived at my desk, I had a super cute Annie’s Bag waiting for me in my chair.
I LOVE the Bookmark ~ it’s made out of SEEDS you plant
We are so LOVED ~ goodies from Annie’s Friends ~ Clif, Stonyfield, R.W. Knudsen, Santa Cruz Organic, Amy’s and EO ~ *free* coupons for some delicious organic and natural food, as well as eco-information, recipes and more.
Along with an AWESOME letter from Annie, herself.
Have I ever told you how much I LOVE everything the company I work for stands for?! It’s seriously the CORE values and the passion for the environment and the people that make each day worth it….It’s hard not to be passionate about these things yourself!
Ok….There, I finally shared a little about where I work so now you know, if you didn’t know 
Moving on……
My day started with another Grande FF, Decaf, “Caramel Marshmallow” latte (2.5 pts)
Plus a Cheesy, Maple Sausage ~ wich. YUM!
Thomas Double Fiber English Muffin (1 pt)
Morning Star Maple Veggie Sausage (2 pts)
1 Melty Slice Cabot Reduced Fat Sharp Cheddar (1 pt)
The morning flew by with Earth Day Trivia questions and fun Gardening prizes to be won
I actually didn’t mean to miss my morning snack, but, before I knew it, it was time for WHOLE FOODS FRIDAY THURSDAY (in honor of Earth Day!)
Everything we used was from Seventh Generation & 100% compostable or recyclable – I LOVE that!
I started off with a Turkey Pinwheel ~ it was just ok…so I tossed it after a bite.
Plus a TON of the BEST Broccoli Salad ever ~ it had broccoli, red onions, cashews, sunflower seeds, raisins…..Basically it was worth my 8 pt estimate!
Sesame Noodle Salad ~ sounds and looks good, but, it wasn’t really…I tossed this too after 2 bites…life is just too short to waste your points on food that isn’t amazing.
1/2 a Turkey/Ham/Cheese Wrap that had Spicy Honey Dijon on Whole Wheat…..I LOVE wraps (6 pt estimate).
I had planned on only eating half of this cookie, but, it has EVERYTHING in it ~ oatmeal, raisins, craisins, white chocolate chips. dark chocolate chunks, coconut, WHOLE almonds….Um, ya, I ate it ALL (3 or probably more pts)
I was STUFFED all afternoon, but, at least I was stuffed with Whole Foods goodness I knew I needed to lighten up dinner a bit and get in some GREENS.
I decided to clean out our fridge and tossed a bunch of veggies with some frozen potatoes for “O’Brien Hash Browns”.
I used 2 tsp Olive OIl at the start and added 2 tsp more while cooking to make it 1 tsp per serving!
I took the rest of the veggies and sautéed them for my Egg White Scramble….The secret ingredient ~ KALE!
Plus 1/2 cup liquid egg whites, sea salt & black pepper. (1 point per 1/2 cup!)
I turned off the heat and added a small pinch of shaved parmesan and tomatoes.
MMMM….but, do you know what was missing?
SRIRACHA!!! My entire egg mix was only…..1 POINT!
1/2 c of my potato mix cooked in 1 tsp olive oil (2 pts!)
TWO slices of TJ’s turkey bacon for 1 point
Can you believe this entire plate clocked in at ONLY FOUR POINTS (less than 300 calories)?!
Total contentment ~ The Kale in my eggs was AWESOME – it absorbed all the flavors and added a nice nuttiness.
ONE MORE DAY TO ENTER TO WIN A FUROCHIC ~ check it out because I guarantee you will want one – they are SO FUN and if you are like me and can’t wrap for sh*&, this is the solution
Oh, and for those wondering…..THE HUSBAND picked that title….like the song, I think??
Happy Friday Eve all!!!
Pasta “Purses”
Happy Friday Eve all! One more day until the weekend ~ 75 degrees of sunshine…..I can’t wait!
I woke up this morning feeling sicker than I have all week so I figured it MUST BE because I NEED a Cold Buster. So, I made a sorta lame call today ~ I went up to the original (Medium Size) thinking it would only add 2 additional points ~ nope ~ 8 points vs 4 for 24 oz vs 16 oz ~ boo! I guess I can feel good about the fact that I got in my 5 a day in a cup plus an antioxidant & immunity boost.
I was starving but managed to hold off for 3 hours for my mid morning snack ~ 1 slice TJ’s Sour Dough Wheat Bread with 1/2 Tbsp Cashew Butter (3 pts)
I brought a BIG salad today, but, I really wasn’t feeling it and I had to run to Trader Joe’s to pick up a few things for dinner. I couldn’t resist stopping at Whole foods for SOUP ~ it’s been awhile
Today’s mix was FANTASTIC as always ~ 1/2 Southwestern Chicken & White bean with 1/2 ey Chili……..Thick, chunky and good. I had 1/2 for lunch that I scooped into my CUP (3 pts)
With Corny Corn Bread (3 pts per 1/2)! You have to have sweet corn bread with bean soups, dontcha think?
I crumbled my half on top of my “chili soup” and mixed it in ~ SOOOOO GOOD!
For dessert and for good measure, a little Dark Chocolate wiht ALMOND and SEA SALT ~ CHOCOLOVE! (2 pts because I put one square in my mouth as I broke off 3) 
I had two of the COOLEST packages waiting for me when I got home. I was going through NUT BAR CRUNCHY ALMOND BUTTER WITHDRAWALS. I discovered this local almond butter last year at the Farmer’s Market and couldn’t wait any longer for the market to start to get more. I ordered up one jar for me and one for one of my FAVORITE friends in the world
THIS is why it’s so good ~ nothing but 100% home grown California Almonds!
The 2nd package you all will get to check out this weekend ~ It’s everything I need for my FRIDGE MAKEOVER. Get ready to see the BEFORE & AFTER’S of our Fridge and WIN a MAKEOVER YOURSELF!!! I can’t wait to do it and share in the fun!!!
OK ~ that was a lot of !!! because I really don’t feel all that energetic LOL. I was planning a new dinner tonight with some fun TJ’s products, but, I somehow forgot Bell Peppers when I was at Whole Foods (it might’ve been my A.D.D when I saw the SOUP!)
So my fancy Pepper Pasta turned into a modified version of my Mushroom Ravioli’s A La Kale!
I pulled out these funky dried Mushrooms from Trader Joe’s that I’ve had sitting in the pantry waiting for me to decide how to use them.
Lots of crazy mushrooms I’m sure I’ve never eaten.
Plus BACON PROSCUITTO PERLINE PASTA
8 points for HALF the package is a pretty good deal for PASTA!
Plus more Shroooms!
I LOVE THIS RECIPE because the longest part is chopping/slicing all of the produce ~ it goes together in less than 20 minutes.
Cute little pasta “PURSES” filling with bacon. Ok, I have to say that I couldn’t taste bacon/prosciutto/a smoky flavor at all. They just tasted like herby ravioli’s that belong in pesto, but, I still really liked them.
Like I said ~ 1/2 a package of mushrooms, plus 1/2 a head of kale plus 1/2 a package of Perline Pasta = a lot of delicious eats for 9 points!
TODAY’S SCORE ~ An A- Thanks to Jamba Juice and 1/2 a head of Kale I am sure! I am over on my calories and am a total CARB addict LOL ~ good info to know so I can improve on it!
Hasta Manana ~ just one day!!!
Butter Bean, Sausage & Kale Soup
This Butter Bean, Sausage & Kale soup can be made in less than 30 minutes. It is loaded with flavor from the STAR ingredients ~ Spicy Turkey Sausage and Italian Tomatoes. This recipe was inspired based on all the delicious soup recipes I saw in my new Weight Watcher Classic Comforts Cookbook. I LOVE idea of taking flavored sausage, plus beans plus VEGGIES to create a soup that gets better with each bite.
Butter Bean, Sausage & Kale Soup
INGREDIENTS:
2 links, 7 oz total, Lean Spicy Turkey Italian Sausage, casings removed (I used Jennie-O)
1 red onion, chopped
1 carrot, peeled and chopped
1 celery stalk, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups water
1 15 1/2 oz white beans, drained and rinsed, (I USED BIG Butter Beans)
1 14 1/2 oz can diced, Italian tomatoes
1 can or small box Organic Chicken Broth
1/2 Kale bunch, roughly chopped
A few pinches of crushed red pepper flakes
Freshly Ground Pepper to taste
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Spray a large saucepan with nonstick spray and set over medium-high heat. Add the sausage, onion, carrot, and celery and cook, stirring frequently to break up the sausage until the sausage is no longer pink, 8 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
2. Add the water, beans, and broth; bring to a boil. Add the Kale, reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.
Makes 4 LARGE servings, 4 Weight Watcher Points Each!!
Nutritional information per 1 HEAPING cup serving:
230 Calories,6 g Fat, 1 g Saturated Fat, 0 g Trans Fats, 46 mg Cholesterol, 820 mg Sodium, 24 g Carbohydrates, 7 g Fiber, 21 g Protein, 120 mg calcium
STEP-BY-STEPS:
Add your lean spicy turkey sausage plus veggies and cook over medium high heat.
Add your garlic and cook 1 additional minute.
Add your beans, tomatoes, water and chicken broth.
Add your kale, cover and cook until kale is cooked, about 10 minutes.
Tadah!!! Super fast, super easy! Add crushed red pepper flakes.
Sprinkle with freshly ground pepper and additional crushed red pepper flakes or hot sauce!
This soup freezes well too so why not double the recipe to have some now and then later for the nights you don’t feel like cooking.
Enjoy!
Sponsors
MY OPEN SKY SHOP
Just a few of my favorite things
