To start, a little disclaimer. I actually wrote this post on Friday evening, but you’re not seeing it until Monday. I know, I’m so tricky. But I knew our weekend was going to be super-busy, so it just had to be done this way. 
So how was everyone’s weekend?? Ours was great! Well, I’m guessing it was great. But since I’m typing this on Friday, I suppose I can’t really say that for sure … 
I can, however, tell you about our Friday afternoon adventure at Stone Mountain!
Stone Mountain Park is actually more of a “theme park” that’s geared towards kids. However, you can just pay the $10 for parking and spend the day exploring the mountain itself!
Stone Mountain is exactly what it sounds like it would be … a mountain made of stone. Granite, to be exact. There’s a 5-mile trail around the mountain, and there’s a 1+ mile walk up the mountain.
Not going to lie, I thought that this hike was going to be a piece of cake. I mean, I’m training for a half-marathon! How difficult can a 1-mile hike up some mountain be??
Obviously more difficult than I thought. 
I kid, I kid!! That photo should actually look like this:
My husband, the jokester.
In all seriousness, it wasn’t that bad, but it was much steeper than I anticipated.
By the time we reached the top, I was breathing pretty heavy and my calves were definitely burning.
The pictures don’t do it justice, but the view was pretty incredible!
On the way back down the hill, we decided to check out a side trail, which took us through the woods.
(Perhaps he was done with my picture-taking by that point … ?)
We ended up walking for almost 2 hours total, so it was a great workout and great together-time. I would definitely recommend Stone Mountain to anyone in the area or visiting the area!
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When we got back from Stone Mountain, we had stew waiting for us!
I made Coconut Curry Kale Stew. I got the recipe from Peas and Thank You, but I made a few changes.
One important thing I learned from making this stew … light coconut milk curdles when heated for an extended period of time. 
I don’t understand how Mama Peas’ stew didn’t curdle, because after discovering what happened to mine, I did a little research and found the same conclusion on multiple websites.
However, the flavor of this stew was awesome, and I would absolutely make it again. I would just use regular coconut milk. And I would wait to add it until near the end of the cooking process.
So when I share the recipe and directions, I’m going to share what I plan to do NEXT time, to make it even better!
Slow-Cooker Coconut Curry Kale Stew
(modified from this recipe)
Serves 4-5
Ingredients:
· 1 cup chopped onion
· 2 medium potatoes, chopped into 1/2 inch chunks
· 1 tsp. cinnamon
· 1/2 tsp. chili powder
· 1/2 tsp. cumin
· 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
· 3 tsp. curry powder
· 2.5 cups vegetable broth
· 1- 14 oz. can diced fire-roasted tomatoes
· 1- 14 oz. can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
· 1- 14 oz. can REGULAR coconut milk
· At least 3 cups organic kale, washed, de-stemmed, and torn into pieces
· salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
- Put all of the ingredients in the slow-cooker, except the coconut milk and kale. Cook on low 5-6 hours.
- After the 5-6 hours, add coconut milk and kale. Stir everything together. Add more salt and pepper, if needed. Leave the lid off and keep stirring occasionally for another 30 minutes or so, until the kale is nice and tender.
- Serve and enjoy!
Can you see how the color looks … muddled? That’s because the darn coconut milk separated from the other liquid. Hopefully you won’t have that problem, if you use the regular coconut milk! 
But don’t let my experience scare you. I’m still learning. And like I said, the flavor of the soup was delicious. Even Brandon ate it, which is always my “gauge” for how good a recipe is!
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And now, let’s talk giveaways! 
The kind people at GoodBelly contacted me about trying out their product.
GoodBelly is a “Probiotic Juice Drink,” which it supposed to promote healthy digestion. The nice thing is, the product is also dairy-free, soy-free, and vegan … so vegans can enjoy it, too!
They have several different products and several different flavors to choose from.
I decided to try the GoodBelly “Plus,” because I wanted the added multi-vitamins. And I chose the “Blueberry Acai” flavor, just because it sounded really yummy.
Here are the nutritional facts on the GoodBelly Plus:
And the ingredients:
I have drank one container every morning for the past several days now, soon after eating breakfast.
I really like the flavor. I was a little worried about what they might taste like, but I’m a fan!
So now it’s YOUR turn to try out GoodBelly!
I have two more coupons for a free item, and I’m going to send the coupons to TWO lucky readers!
(Note: Their products are in most grocery stores. Around me, they were at Kroger, Whole Foods, and Fresh Market!)
To enter …
Check out the GoodBelly website, then leave me a comment, telling me which of their products you’d like to try!
Question for ya …
What did you do this weekend?
Are you a fan of hiking for exercise? Do you have any cool trails where you live?
Do you take probiotics?
Disclaimer: I received a coupon to try the GoodBelly product, but was not compensated beyond that for this post and will receive no further compensation from GoodBelly. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Hey friend! Hiking sounds like so much fun! I love hiking, but definitely don’t get to do it much in FL. I’d love to go hiking with you sometime, though! I hope you had a happy Easter. I enjoyed a traditional Ecuadorian Easter soup that I made with my mom called Fanesca. I also learned my grandmother’s cheese and green onion empanada recipe. Lucas and I dyed easter eggs and we had fun watching him hunt for a few stuffed eggs (with Annie’s organic bunnies of course!) and open up his little Easter beach pail! On the Good Belly, I’m with you. The Good Belly Plus looks the best to me. If you say its good I believe you…
I think I would try out the mango or coconut water! I think I’ve seen these at Kroger before.
Stone Mountain looks so cool – I love the pictures of you and Brandon! Y’all are the cutest couple! We love to hike, but there’s not too many trails in west TN. However, in middle and east TN, there are an abundance of trails!
natalie @ southern fit foodie recently posted..Broccoli Cheese Mini Frittatas
I would love to try the mango! Can’t go wrong with mango:) Stone Mountain looks fun! I’ve actually just started looking into finding some hiking trails myself, found there are some at raccoon state park down past Beaver, PA. I plan on heading down there sometime after work this week!
i’d love to try the GoodBelly Splash!
Ashley @ My Food ‘N’ Fitness Diaries recently posted..Easter Day Shenanigans
jealous of your hike!! that seriously looks like SO much fun!! Im so glad the weather is heating up here so that I can finally put my hiking boots back on
Kat recently posted..Giving into Easter Candy
Looks like a great hike! I’m so excited for the weather to be more springlike so that we can get out there on the trails!
Alyssa @ Fit and Fun in Third recently posted..Scenes from Easter Weekend
LOVE hiking for exercise! cant wait to check out all the trails around here this summer!
Andrea @ Andrea Out Loud! recently posted..Hoppy Easter
That mountain looks awesome! I would def want to do that if I was ever in the area. Great day trip. I can’t convince the boys to eat curry yet, but I’m working on it….
Cinnamon @ eatpraytri recently posted..Movie Monday: The Help
Hiking really IS no joke! A few friends of mine took a trip to the Smoky Mountains a few summers ago and pretty much died transitioning from flat Miami to those crazy inclines!
And I have Good Belly coupons to go use too! Do you feel any different since you started drinking them?
Brittany @ Itty Bits of Balance recently posted..Easter Drivin’
oh, i think i’d go with the good belly plus pomegranate blackberry!
it looks like you guys had so much fun hiking…which i love! unfortunately, oklahoma isn’t known for its abundance of hiking trails:P
kaceyt recently posted..Happy Easter!
I love hiking- we always go when we are going camping!
We are also planning a backpacking trip this summer, Im super excited for it!
Carrie @ Lift Eat Repeat recently posted..If He Brings You To It
I’d love to try the Mango flavor. I love everything mango. Plus I definitely get some digestive problems and would love to try this out to see if it would help!
Elizabeth @ Chocolate Drops and Pearls recently posted..A Very Hoppy Weekend
I would love to try the mango flavor! That is usually a flavor I go for with this kind of stuff
Looks like such a great weekend too, love the pictures!
Tessa @ Amazing Asset recently posted..Maybe It’s Not All About Me
The mango flavor sounds good to me, especially because mangoes have made for some extra awesome smoothies for me lately
I could definitely use this since I have more than a few GI issues and have to take probiotics daily anyway!
Maggie @ Running on Fro-Yo recently posted..Peanut Butter Protein Pancakes
Ah! I LOVE Stone Mountain! I hiked up it two summers ago and have been dying to go back ever since!
Cait’s Plate recently posted..Bubble Babies
fun giveaway! i think i’d try the mango flavor if i won. sounds awesome!
amy @ fearless homemaker recently posted..homemade marshmallow Peeps
The blueberry looks yummy. I’ve never tried it, but I would like to!
I would like to try the Probiotic-Infused Fermented Coconut Water!
I had a Celicious Easter dinner on Sunday!
I love hiking and mountain views…but I see more cacti than big trees on the paths in Phoenix
Baking Serendipity recently posted..Breakfast Quiche with Peppercorn Cured Bacon
I’ve been wanting to try that stew recipe. Love being active outdoors!!!!
Corrie Anne recently posted..Ya Me Voy
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I’ve actually tried the good belly products and I like them all a lot! The blueberry flavor is awesome
Liz @ iheartvegetables recently posted..What I [Balanced] Wednesday
I’ve always wanted to try their products! The mango goodberry splash! But I’d take any, they all sound good! ha
Jentry Nielsen recently posted..Finally A Recipe! Sweet Potato, Peach and Pork Packets
I would go for the Splash because of the vitamins, and I’d take any of the flavors (Blueberry Acai, Pomengranate Blackberry, or Strawberry) except for Mango since I’m allergic. How did you score a freebie? Did they send it to you out of the blue or did you request it? Either way, very cool.
Believe it or not, I have lived in the ATL area for going on 5 years now and have STILL not been to Stone Mountain. Should get there one of these days but may wait until fall so I won’t have to deal with the heat. Glad you had a nice time
I’ve been getting more people contacting me recently, to see if I want to review their products on my blog.
I would like to try the probiotic coconut water! Sounds interesting!
Yum, I would try the coconut water and the Splash! Everything looks great!