In the alley

I have always wanted  to take pictures in a grungy alley. I don't why but there is something about beauty surrounded by ugly that interests me. I finally got my chance to take these pictures while visiting Amsterdam this weekend. I will have a post about my experience there soon.

So this is my last post of the year :( but I have so much in store for 2013 and I am just super excited. Speaking of 2013, I will be in Berlin for New Years Eve so look forward to a post on that but if you can't wait, follow my experience on instagram @according2trisha

I hope you have a wonderful New years eve and a fabulous New Year!!

According to 2012: Top 18

Hello beautiful people. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and got everything you wish for this year.
With Christmas 2012 behind us, the new anticipation is for the year 2013. Beside surviving the end of the world (ha) , this year was full of some very great moment and achievement and I would like to share with you my top 18 (in no particular order). Why 18? Well simple because it's my lucky number. Enjoy!!

Greetings from Deutschland

Hello all. I hope you all a ready for Christmas. As I told in a previous post , I am in Germany visiting my beau and thought I'd share some of our adventures with you. Yesterday, he and I, went to a German Christmas Market, which unfortunately was being packed up until next year :( . We did, however, get to grab a bite to eat from the food vendors that are still there and I was able to try some local treats, one being Glüwein, a warm wine beverage. I am so happy to be here and can't wait to share more with you all. Have a very merry christmas everyone!!

Twelve Sixteen

Hope everyone had a great weekend. I spent the weekend with the family because I wouldn't be able to do so for christmas because of my European trip. I also did some christmas shopping and went to my companies holiday party. This is what I wore for that occasion. It was a lunch so I didn't want to be too formal but it was still a holiday party so I wanted to be slightly fancy.

All I want for christmas....

Sleigh bells ring are ya listenin'..... That's right people, my favorite time of year is just around the corner and I am super excited. I love the holiday season but this year is going to be even more special for me because I'll be spending christmas in Europe! I'm super excited for this trip and even more excited to see my boyfriend who is playing pro basketball in Germany. So with this super trip that's coming up, I've been trying to find cute,warm, fun piece to wear and I thought I'd share some with you all just incase you needed some help finding the perfect gift for the foodie-fashionista in your life or you just wanted to get yours truly ;) something special. At any rate, here are some of the fab items on my christmas list.

1. Zara Dress
2. Asos fit and flare coat
3.Long leather gloves
4.Strappy Bow Sandals
5. Stand Mixer
6. Pigalle Spiked pumps
7. Statement Necklace

Want more of......ME??? Be sure to follow my instagram @according2Trisha and my Twitter @According2Trish

876 cafe

Being from caribbean descent , I have been forced fortunate to eat a lot of west indian cuisine. With all of this wealth of West indian cuisine knowledge, you can imagine my excitement when I was asked to come taste the food at a relatively new caribbean restaurant off of Connecticut Ave in DC, I was more than happy to lend my expert taste buds.

White Out

If you haven't heard, that whole "no white after labor day" saying is so dead. I wear what I want, when I want and no labor day rule is going to stop me.

Fur Vest

Love taking a piece and wearing in a completely different way. This top was seen last here.

Red Sparkle

This past wednesday I had the pleasure of attending the Red Sparkle pop-up beauty lounge event. Red Sparkle is a organization that encourages entrepreneurship in creative careers (like fashion and beauty) amongst young women in the DC metropolitan area. They held this event to celebrate the diversity within the fashion and beauty communities and to raise proceeds towards their worthy cause. The event was held at the beautiful La Petite Marmoset's show room  (my second home in my head) and was filled with fabulous bloggers and beauty lovers. I had an amazing time and even won a pair of crux NYC earrings in a raffle. Here are just a few pictures I was able to take at the event.

My boo Yvonne of the Pink Doll House

Naja of From combat boots to Stilettos  and Nife of Skinny Hipster , our host for the evening.

Finally got to meet the fab Nife she's such a sweetheart.  My two favorite Haitian bloggers,  Shella of The everyday catwalk (to my left) and Jennifer of Comme Coco (to my far left).
Outfit deets-
Top: Old
Skirt: Asos
Necklace: TJmaxx

DJ had us jamming all night

My Blogger Twin Waverly of Pich and Roor talking to Naja's beautiful intern

The Crux NY earrings I won

Snake Skin

Hello all, hope you enjoyed your weekend. I did a lot of shopping and a lot of eating which I will be paying for today in the gym. With that being said I think I will be doing a new video on my Youtube channel. Oh you didn't know I had a Youtube channel? Well I do, I only have 1 video right now and it was my first one so it's kinda funky but I do want to do more and do anticipate better quality. You can check out my first video and my future video's, under the video tab above.

Ok now to my outfit. It has gotten so cold here in the DC area and I don't like it. I am a "cold blooded" person so if the weather is anything under 75 degrees I am freezing, so this 50 degree weather and I are not getting along. But any who, I'm trying my best to get these pictures taken with minimal teeth chattering but as you can see, a picture of me shivering did get taken.
Ok so I have to gush about this super fab coat I got at H&M this weekend (I know, I couldn't wait to wear it). It was only $20 on sale! It was originally $65 so it was a pretty great deal. I find myself being quite the thrifty shopper these days (which usually isn' t the case). I must say that the responsibilities of adulthood may have a bit to do with it. Any way I have a few pounds of Mac and Cheese to burn off so I'll see you later.

Coat: H&M
Cardigan: NY&Co (similar here)
Skirt: H&M (Love this one)
Tight: via Marshalls
Boot: Nine West (Very similar here)
Bracelets: Vintage

Thanksgiving Chic

Hello wonderful people, I hope you all had a wonderful thanksgiving (if you celebrated). I myself, had a wonderful time catching up with family and eating yummy food and  was even able to get some picture of my outfit.
 I wanted be comfortable yet still chic and to wear something that would hide my food baby lol.
I love taking items and turning them into thing that are unexpected. When I found this scarf in forever 21 last year, I knew that I could make it a multipurpose item. I've worn it as a scarf, a skirt and now as a cape. It's great when you can take a piece and make it something different every time  you wear it.

Curried Butternut Squash Soup and Garlic Mash Potatoes

As I shared with you all yesterday, I am here with 2 of the four recipes that you could make for thanksgiving. The first recipe is a Butternut Squash Soup which tastes like a dream and would be a great way to start off any thanksgiving meal.

Peacock

As the temperatures start to drop, I find my self gravitating more and more towards leather pieces. This leather skirt was another great thrift find. It's 100% leather and it is soft as butter. 

If you're wandering what the name of this posts comes from, it was inspired by the gorgeous statement necklace. Please don't hate me for featuring this again and again. I just love it. 

So is any body else as excited for the holidays as I am? I have been a big holiday fan since I can remember and it is something I just won't shake. If you all all are a lost for what to cook for this up coming thanksgiving, don't worry, I'll have 4 (yes 4 ) new recipes on the blog this week that should help you out. Any way, I think it's time for me to peel myself out of this bed and get ready for work, so I catch you on the flip side. 

Jalapeño Popper dip

So this past Sunday, I was so grateful to attend a quint potluck at my blogger twin, Waverly's, house. As with all potluck, everyone was asked to bring a dish and I decided, after scoring pinterest for recipes, to bring this one. This recipe was so quick and easy to make and tastes even better than a real jalapeño popper. Everyone at the potluck seem to agree with me because they ate the whole thing.

Oxblood and Fur

I have recently been obsessed with fur. In the past couple of weeks, I ordered three different fur pieces from ebay (and am currently bidding on a fourth. Shame on me). This fur stole was a lucky find on the sale rack at Macy's. It was only $9. 

Oxblood is the color of the season. It is everywhere. Though I do enjoy a good trend I don't like spending too much money of styles that will be out in a few months, so I thrifted this cute skirt for only $5. Two great pieces at great prices. 

Black and White

Black and white is the classic combo, like peanut butter and jelly. Loving how the combo is played out in this outfit.  With the dropping temperatures, I find my self slowly pulling down more and more cold weather gear from my closet. These boots were the result of my most recent closet pull. There is nothing like a thigh high boot, they add a touch of sexy to any outfit. Expect to see these babies again.

3 for 1

First things first, I have to extended my thought and prayers out to the families that were effected by hurricane sandy. I, myself, live on the east coast but planned a vacation to California which so happen to fall the same weekend the hurricane hit so I was so fortunate and am very grateful.

 Ok now to the fashion. I have been a bad blogger *slaps self on wrist*. I've haven't been particularly consistent with posts for a couple of weeks because life has been happening. Fortunately, I'm getting things in order so I'll be posting on a much more regular basis. I thought since I've been neglecting my responsibilities I would give you three different outfits in one post.

 These first shots were taken about a month ago when the weather was a little warmer. I love this dress. The colors are so appropriate for fall and the silhouette is versatile. Between me and you, I've worn it many a few times and have styled it a few different ways.

Dress: Tobi (similar here)
Boots: Steve Madden (love these)
Necklace: Via TjMaxx
Bracelete: Thrifted

Red Velvet Truffles

When cooking, I find it important to really stick with what you know and then add to that to make something special. I have made many a Red Velvet Cakes in my day (like when I was 16 lol) , be it for high school cheerleading fundraisers or as dessert for a nice family meal but I love the way this recipe gave me a new twist to a classic.  

Now, you have two options when making this recipe, you can make the red velvet from scratch (which I did) or you can by a box cake and make it. Either way it is a dish that you are not going to want to pass by. 

With the holiday season coming up, I thought it would be cool to add a candy corn but then I realized that I should have just made the cake orange. Well, you live and you learn. If I decide to make them again, which I probably will, I will make them orange for Halloween and I'll be sure to let you all know how they turn out. 

Cheetah Print and Blue Silk

This is an outfit I wore to the Worn magazine launch party about a week ago. I want to make sure that I was going to stay warm, as the party was along side a roof top pool and the weather is getting fairly cool at night. Though the temperature is dropping I refuse to wear tights just yet. Love this peplum jacket, I can dress it up, like so, or dress it down with a nice pair of jeans. 

Fall Fashion Favorites (Giveaway Winner)

Hello gorgeous people. Lovely weather we're having. (Well at least if you're in the DMV). As you can tell, from my pass couple of posts, I am too excited for fall. I love the crisp weather, the yummy food and most importantly the fashion. I am currently trying to build up a fall wardrobe but not just any fall wardrobe. One that will last me into winter and be just as chic come next fall. I was checking out the offerings at some of my favorite site (While siting by my new fire pit lol. Yes I am excited about my fire pit) and made a pinterest board out of my picks. I thought I'd share some with you all just in case you're like me and you're building your fall wardrobe as well. 

1- TopShop
2-MissSelfridge (loving this one)
3-NastyGal (Similar here )
4-Mango (Another version here . also love this one
5-MissSelfridge (Similar here, here and here)
6-Zara (Love this here and here)

Tan Cardigan

 Hey all. Just wanted to do a quick post on an I outfit I wore this past weekend on a visit to Eastern Market. If you aren't familiar, eastern market is a farmers market in the capital hill area of DC. It's such a wonderful place to buy fresh produce, arts and craft and much more. I love it there, and thought I would be cosy and comfortable while walking around all of the stalls. Simple outfit for a peaceful day.

Tank top: F21
Jeans: Old Navy
Cardigan: via TJmaxx
Shoes:Steve Madden via Tjmaxx
Necklace: via Tjmaxx
Bag: via Marshalls

Some flower I purchased. Aren't they beautiful.

Mini Cinnamon Cheesecakes with Pumpkin Pie frosting

 In cast you didn't notice, it's fall! With fall comes all of the yummy comfort food that we know and love. One of those comfort food, that can be seen everywhere, is pumpkin pie. I love pumpkin pie, it is just the essence go the winter fall season. Any variation of the dish is welcomed by me and today's recipe is no different.
I found this amazing recipe on pinterest (follow me here). I know I've said this before but I love pinterest, it's a creative mind's playground. As with all of the recipes I find, I always like to put my little Trisha-spin on it so I hope you like my variation of this fall classic.

Red ruffles (&Giveaway!!!)

This is my last outfit post from NYFW :( . Sad I know. I did wear a few other outfits but didn't get good enough pictures to post them so I'll have to do so at a later date.

I am so in love with this top. First off, I found it Nordstrom rack, where it was on sale for $9.75 but was originally $139. Love great deals like that! The top just exudes a certain opulence. The scarlet color is so on trend for fall and pairing it with the leather skirt was perfect.

Top: Nordstrom
Skirt: H&M (similar here, here and here)
Clutch: via Marshalls
Shoes: UrbanOG
Bracelets: Asos
Necklace: vintage

I'm having a fall fashion giveaway with a $100 gift card to Nordstrom!!! 

To enter to win this gift card you must:

1.Follow the blog

2.Like the blog on Facebook here 

3.Tweet this: I have entered the #FA2M fall fashion giveaway here ->> http://www.fashionaccordingtothemenu.com/2012/09/red-ruffles.html
4. Check back here Next Friday ( October 6th)  to see if you are the lucky winner

Good Luck!

Like a boy

Menswear inspired looks are so big this fall, as they have been in the past season. Being of a curvier body type, I was very hesitant to try this trend because I thought I would look too feminine. Well for fashion week I decided to "grow a pair" and try this trend out. The way that I made it work for me is that instead of trying be too masculine, I decided to just take hints of masculinity and incorporate that into my look. This jumper was the perfect piece to help me achieve my goal. Because it was strapless, I kept my very feminine charm but the wide legs and structure gave me the right amount of masculine flare. 

Print Mixing

Is anyone else as excited for fall as I am? I love the summer for all of the fun and warm weather but I really love wearing clothes, so fall gives me the opportunity to do that. I also love all of the wonderful rich colors that fall brings into your wardrobe. The golds and burgundy are my favorites. In this outfit you an can tell that those two colors are definitely influenced the color palette.

This outfit was worn on a cool New York night during fashion week. I must give credit were credit is due, though it was I who picked out these piece, it was the wonderful Krystin who had the idea to put them together. She has such a great eye.

Believe it or not but this outfit was about $10 excluding the shoes. You can find such amazing pieces at the thrift store.

Top:Vintage
Skirt:Vintage
Clutch: Marshall
Shoe: Steve Madden
Bangles: H&M

Cutouts and Prints

The thing about fashion week that know one tells you, is that it brings out your fierceness like no other. Maybe its all of the models or the lack of food but something switches in your brain and you just become an extreme amplified and fiercer version of yourself. I love this feeling and it really has encouraged me to step out of my fashion comfort zone. 

Photo Diary: NYFW, the shows

Hello all. I still have so much more Fashion week content I want to share with you all so today's post is a photo diary of the shows that I was so fortunate to see while in New York.

 Tadashi Shoji SS2013

El Parador Cafe NYC

Though I was on a tight schedule of shows and events and fashion stuff, I was able to find some time to  check out a pretty good Restaurant. El Parador cafe is a quaint restaurant located in the Murray Hill neighborhood of New York City. It's noted as one of the first Mexican restaurant in New York City and for having the best Margaritas. I didn't get a chance to taste the margaritas but what I did have were the lobster enchiladas and they were delicious. The pureed pumpkin seed and lentil sauce around the enchiladas was a perfect compliment.
My dining partner in crime Krystin of Be Loud, Be You, got the fish taco which she said was also pretty good.
As good as our main courses were, I have to note that one of the best part of the meal were the chips and salsa (more so the chips) that they served before the meal. The chips were some of the best tortilla chips I have ever had. You can tell that they were homemade.
Beside the great food, the atmosphere and service were pretty good too. The restaurant is really small so it was kind of packed but I think it added to the charm of the place.
Here are some picture from the evening.

The best tortilla chips! The salsa could have been spicier though.