Let's Celebrate

C&C has reason to celebrate because Today is the blog's 5th anniversary! WOW! Can you believe it? Here was the first post I ever wrote on C&C...May 1st, 2009.

I begin every day (latte in hand) by checking my favorite blogs and websites dedicated to fashion and design. More often than not, I forward photos and stories on to my fashion savvy friends.e 
So, after some persuasion from a fellow blogger (thanks CYT Meredith), I've decided to start my own blog. Deciding on a name was a difficult task, but after some thought I came up with Cardigans and Couture, two things I frequently lust after. . .and only one of which I ever indulge in. Those of you who know me well know that I am the queen of deals; I find them everywhere...Target, e-bay, Marshall's, Gilt Group, and countless others. I am quite proud of my discount shopping prowess and am always happy to share my fabulous finds. My blog will be dedicated to all things fabulous, both those that I can and cannot afford.
And so it begins...

Needless to say, the blog has evolved over the last five years. I still love a good bargain, which we share through posts like Splurge vs. Save. We love to give you rundowns on all the Red Carpet hits and misses, and occasionally we share a summary of our favorite shows from Fashion Week. Those things are the same, while others have changed. In the beginning, every Wednesday was "Cardigan Wednesday" on the blog, and we haven't done that series in years. Here was the first ever Cardigan Wednesday Post.

I used to post regularly on Viviana Volpicella (one of my style icons), and we haven't featured her in a while.

I better get on that because she is still one of my style idols. Here is one of my favorite posts on her "Street Style." It's worth looking at! And, we all have Viviana to thank because she is the reason we found Angela Caputi bracelets. Here is the first post we ever wrote on them. Hard to believe it was over three years ago!

The biggest change to the blog in the last five years was the addition of Katie as a contributor! She has most definitely changed the blog for the better: building our social media presence, contributing great content and sharing her fabulous attire in her "What I Wore Posts", among many other things.

So, what do the next 5 years hold for C&C? That is something only time shall tell. I can promise that both Katie and I will continue to provide you with original content that is real and accessible through posts like Keeping it Real, C&C in the Kitchen, Splurge vs. Save, and What I Wore.

While C&C is a small blog, we have a large number of loyal followers who we appreciate greatly! So thank you for reading. Thank you for allowing us to share our lives and our interests with you.

We would love to hear any nostalgic thoughts you have on the blog...your favorite posts, your favorite C&C inspired purchases....whatever moves you. We don't often get blog feedback or "comments", so give us a little annivesary gift and tell us what you've enjoyed most about C&C over the last five years.

xoxo,
Regan and Katie
Cardigans&Couture

Happy Anniversary

Today my +1 and I celebrate seven years of marriage! Where does the time go?

Yesterday, Katie and Dr. B celebrated their first anniversary!

So, in honor of both of our anniversaries, I thought I would share some advice I gave in my Maid of Honor Toast. I had one piece of advice for every year of my marriage.

1. Don’t keep score. Relationships are meant to be 50/50, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be times when one of you gives more than the other.

2. Don't push buttons. Just because you know what buttons to push to irritate one another, doesn’t mean you should do it.

3. Focus on the big picture.  Don’t let the small things of day to day life let you forget about what matters most, your family, and the love you have for one another. The rest is trivial in comparison.

4. Marriage is work. Your job as a husband and wife is the toughest one you have, so work at it like you would any other job, with conviction, dedication, honesty, love and thoughtfulness.

5. Do it Yourself. If you need something done a certain way and within a certain time frame, just do it yourself!

And most importantly...

6. Celebrate your love.  Remember the love that you felt on your wedding day, and celebrate that love everyday, for the rest of your lives.

And let me add my 7th piece of advice, since it's now been seven years...Communicate! The other day I heard someone say "50% of marriages end in divorce because no one teaches couples how to communicate". I think she was on to something.

So for all of you married people and for those of you in a committed relationship, remember these things. I promise they will help you to have a happy and lasting marriage!

Here's to many more years of wedded bliss for all of us!

Four Years of Fashion- Cardigan Wednesday

Today marks the fourth anniversary of Cardigans & Couture! Wow! Where has the time gone? It is hard for me to believe that I have been writing this blog five days a week (and sometimes more) for four whole years! Just the other day I was thinking...what if we just stopped blogging (it is a lot of work)? Would people miss reading C&C on a daily basis? I am hoping the answer is "yes".

For the last two years, Katie has joined me on this blogging adventure, and while I am sure I could do it without her, it wouldn't be half as much fun. Despite being on opposite sides of the country, it's just another thing that brings us closer together. That may seem silly, but it's the truth.

For many years, every Wednesday on C&C was "Cardigan Wednesday", a tribute to the name of the blog. In recent years we have changed up the content and gone away from that Wednesday tradition. So, in honor of C&C's fourth birthday, I am deeming today "Cardigan Wednesday"!

Since summer is quickly approaching, and both Katie and I love stripes, and navy and white, I thought this would be the perfect cardigan to share.

The French Connection Cotton Dream Cardigan would be the perfect addition to my summer wardrobe!

For those of you who have been following C&C from the very beginning, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your comments, emails, Facebook posts, etc. are what make this labor of love all worth while!