Launched in February 2010, Sweet Southern Prep continues to be an outlet to share my love of fashion and family.
I’m a classic prep with a side of laidback beach vibes. To help with sizing, I’m 5’6” and wear XS/S. When I’m not shopping, you can find me spending time with my four (ages 13-17), enjoying the best eats in town with good friends, playing tennis, attending concerts and traveling when I can find the time. My fave spot is anywhere near the water, but love the mountains too.
Background
I graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill and earned my degree in Communications. While in college one summer, I interned as an event planner at a local country club in Charlotte, NC and realized after a month in, that the hospitality industry just wasn’t my calling. After graduation, I decided to go back to school and get my teaching degree in Elementary Education. I loved teaching first grade, but after five years and a new baby on the way, I decided to stay home with her. After my second daughter arrived seventeen months after my first, I was spending a lot of time at home with both of them. While I loved being with them, they were napping both mornings and afternoons, and I wanted something else to do to bide my time.
I didn’t think too much of it at the time, but my friend and I both attempted to enter new accounts on blogger. Blogging was a fairly new outlet at the time. Keep in mind, until this point, I’d hated writing all of my life. It began with standardized writing tests in 4th grade up until class essays in college. Dreaded all of them. Initially, my mindset for my blog was lifestyle and some fashion. More pictures, less words.
Entering the blogging world I had no idea what I was doing. I would spend hours while the girls napped trying to google how to post content with pictures, change fonts, research html codes, etc. I watched lots of ‘How-To’ videos and started to figure it out. Until this day, I’ve still never taken a blogging class or ventured into Photo Shop. One day, maybe that will happen. But not yet. All I remember is that I went into it to have fun. I wanted to enjoy doing what I was doing, and I wanted my readers to enjoy it too. I loved sharing the latest sales (because I clearly loved to shop), outfit inspirations, cocktail recipes and pics of my family with my audience, which I still continue to do to this day. A true dream job, all from the comfort of home.
I still find it hard to believe that I’ve kept SSP going for all these years. And I’m especially loving that now my kids can look up certain birthdays, holidays and events and read a little glimpse of certain times in their lives. It’s how I started this blog in the first place.
A Little Bit More
I’m a mother blessed with four wonderful children (two girls and two boys) and a 3-year old Boston Terrier. I’m an eternal optimist with a sunny disposition, who is energetic and runs on little sleep. When I’m not at home, I’m playing tennis or running, spending time with my family, usually near the water (pool, beach, lake, etc), or eating at one of my favorite restaurants – so many good ones here in town! Lucky to call Charleston, SC my home. While I do love fashion, I’m a guy’s girl too and love watching sports (who I pull for: Carolina Tar Heels, Georgia Bulldogs, Clemson Tigers, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Braves). If there’s sun, I’m in it!
Most importantly, I want to thank those of you for following along. Your support means the world. As I’ve always said, my hope is that what I’m loving lately, you are too!
xx, Ashley