Hi, I’m Ashley! + Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale Details and Dates Announced!

As promised, today I wanted to share a little bit more about me.  If I remember correctly, I think I started this blog in February of 2010.  Still so hard to believe I’ve been blogging that long!  Whether you’ve just started reading or have been for a long time, you’ll know that family is everything to me.  While I still can’t commit to videoing myself talking or taking lots of selfies, if you’ve met me, you know I love to talk.  It’s hard to describe that on here, but my hope is that through my writing, you’ve probably figured out that I do.  And here’s a little bit more about me.  You can always find this description on my ‘About Me’ page too.

Launched in 2010, Sweet Southern Prep continues to be an outlet to share my love of fashion and family.

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.  All I knew then was that I wanted a really cool blog name (which by the way, it took me forever to come up with it), but I still absolutely love it to this day!

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 always told Lanier that if I ever got burned out from posting meaningful content everyday, that I’d stop.  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 love 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.

As for myself, I’m sure that you’ve figured this out if you’ve been reading for a little while, but I’m a wife and mother, blessed with four wonderful (yes, I’m a little biased) children (two girls and two boys) and a 12-year old Boston Terrier.  I’m an eternal optimist with a sunny disposition, who is energetic and runs on little sleep.  I clearly love to shop!  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 Tarheels, 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!

xoxo, Ashley

I clearly love bright colored shoes, so when I was hunting for a new pair, these bright orange ones definitely fit the bill.  I still love my pink ones in this same style, but they’ve had lots of love this past year.  For fit, they’re true to size.

Got in a spin class yesterday.  It’s the first one I’ve done in a week and it’s crazy that in just one week of not doing it, how out of shape I am.  This ride was tough!

Wore this top out last night for our final date night before the kids come back tomorrow.  Love that it’s a versatile top that you can dress or down.  Super comfy and a little flowy too.

We’ve bowled three times in the past week.  It’s been fun, but when the kids come back tomorrow, I have a feeling it’ll be another six months before we get to do it again.  But it was sure fun!  And boy, do I miss the kids!  Cannot wait to finally get them back today!

Our final date night!  We went to trivia and came in second place!  These flats are the silvery color called Perfect Sand.

Alright, y’all!  It was just announced yesterday!  The Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale will be on Monday and Tuesday next week and I cannot wait!   Be sure and check back here tomorrow.  I’ll be sharing all the details on how to shop the sale and what all to expect.  One thing’s for sure, just know that if you love Lilly, they’ll have some awesome markdowns!

Still one of my favorite Lilly pics this past year!  Meeting Joel Berry II on the beach at Pawley’s!  In case you’re wondering who he is, he played for the Tarheels and led them to a National Championship in 2017!  Anyway, back to the sale.  The most important thing you need to do right now is create an account.  And if you already have one, make sure that it’s up to date.  The last thing you want to do when you’re checking out quickly is having to stop and update all of your info.

As for my blog, if y’all ever have any questions or comments, feel free to ask away.  I always love feedback and it honestly helps me cater to you, as my readers too!  Even if it’s to ask me about sizing or telling me you loved my post or even something you think I should change and something to post about, I’m all ears!

And as I’ve said before, thanks for reading!