Banana Chocolate Cake In A Cup - Vegan & GF

We've all seen those recipes on Pinterest for 'Individual Mug Cake'.  They've been going around pretty strong for the past year.  I have my own version that I've been making for a couple years now, except I don't have a cutesy name for it like "mug cake".  I call mine cake in a cup, and I used to torment my husband with my best Austin Powers Goldmember impression, "Would you like a cake in a cup?  How about a smoke and a pancake?" :)  Ahhhhhh the joys of being married to me....

Anyhoo, my cake in a cup version is dense, fudgy and full of chocolate, banana, and coconut goodness.  It's super easy to whip up and cooks in approximately 3 minutes!  Oh, and did I mention that it's vegan, gluten, and refined sugar free?  Thank me later girls.  This is your new go-to for those type of days.  :)

Ingredients

4 tbsp white rice flour
2 tbsp sugar substitute {I use Z Sweet}
2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 tsp baking powder
Dash of cinnamon
1/2 of a ripe banana; mashed
3 tbsp unsweetened apple sauce
3 tbsp almond milk {I use an unsweetened chocolate version from Almond Breeze, but any flavor is fine!}
2 drops vanilla extract
2 tbsp vegan chocolate chips
Large pinch of unsweetened shredded coconut
Almond milk ice cream **optional**


Directions

In a small bowl, combine flour, sugar substitute, cocoa powder, baking powder, and dash of cinnamon.  Set aside.

In another small bowl, combine banana, apple sauce, almond milk, and vanilla extract.  Slowly add in dry ingredients, mixing well to combine.  

Add in chocolate chips, and shredded coconut.  Pour batter into a microwave safe coffee mug, place in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes.

Serve immediately with ice cream on the side.  

How cute are these 'his ice cream & her ice cream' spoons?!  You can find them in the most adorable Etsy ever shop by clicking {here}

Have a great day! xx

OOTD - Oversized Button Downs

Happy Monday beauties!  Lately, I've been obsessed with oversized button down shirts.  Particularly, a perfect little number by Bella Dahl that I picked up from ShopBop a couple months ago.  I wore this on serious repeat during our holiday in Italy, and also during my short getaway in the Bahamas as pictured below.

Shop This Look:

Top - Bella Dahl {available here} //  Shorts - AG {currently out of stock, click here to be notified when available.  Similar style for under $25 here} //  Clutch - Clare Vivier {here} //  Belt - J.Crew {here} //  Sandals - Joie {available here} //  Shades - RayBan

This Bella Dahl button down is absolutely perfect.  It's oh so soft, and features an asymmetrical hemline which makes it a little longer in the back, and a unique split back.  I love how I can be in sloppy weekend mode {no makeup, wet hair in a bun, etc}, but the minute I throw it on I instantly feel polished :)  This will be a staple item in my closet for years + years to come!

Below, I've featured a few casual oversized button downs that I came across on the web this past weekend in price ranges for every gals budget.

Top left - H&M {here} //  Center - Bella Dahl {here} //  Top right - Target {under $25 here} //  Bottom left - AE {here} //  Bottom right - Gap {here}

Happy shopping, ladies!  Thanks so much for stopping by.  xx

Vacation Diary - Part 1 \ Israel

Hi friends!!  I haven't posted in foreverrrrr!  

I'm back from my vacation, and I'm feeling recharged & renewed.  I love how every time one travels, you come back somewhat altered; almost as if just being in new surroundings and exposing yourself to new experiences changes you in the smallest of ways.  Does that make sense?  Hope if does because it's quite difficult to articulate that feeling, but I've experienced it every time I travel somewhere new.

Being that this was my first time traveling to Israel, I wasn't really sure what to expect.  I was a little nervous about the language barrier because I speak zero Hebrew and attempting to read it would be the equivalent of me trying to read Mandarin! Thank goodness Adam speaks & reads enough Hebrew that we were able to get by with ease.  

If you have never been to Israel before, it is impossible to fathom how old some of the architecture is.  I've been all over Europe, and I remember being in awe the first time we visited Rome because everywhere you looked, everything seemed to have so much history!  Then you go visit Israel, and you realize nope Rome ain't got sh*t on Israel lol.  Every building seemed to be from B.C, and every stone told some sort of story.  

Our time in Israel was simply amazing!  I wish that we would have stayed longer than 6 days, but we're already talking about returning later this summer and exploring more of Northern Israel {fingers crossed!}.

Here's a selection of photos taken during our time in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv & the surrounding areas.

The beautiful old city of Jerusalem.

Best falafel ever!

The Western Wall.

Obligatory "looking out into the distance" shot.  So cheesey! lol

Adam w/ our amazing guide!  Hiring a private guide is one of the little luxuries that we always indulge in every time we travel out of country.

Stunning colored mosaics.

I'm obsessed with photographing old doors.

Traditional sides that are served before most meals.

Have you guys ever tried shakshuka?  It's one of my all time favorite dishes, and I was determined to eat as much of it while we were in Israel!  It's so simple, but packed with big flavor; stewed tomatoes, peppers, onions, eggplant, and middle eastern spices, topped with two over easy eggs and usually served with pita bread.

At the ruins of Masada.

View of the Dead Sea.  Those mountains in the background are the country of Jordan.

I wore this dress SO many times over the course of our vacay!  It's the cutest, comfiest tee shirt dress! {View it here}

Where We Stayed

Jerusalem - King David Hotel

Tel Aviv - Alma Hotel

Next week I'll share the second part of our vacay - EATaly :)

Have a great weekend! xx