Coucou from Holley

Life lately, Shells are trending, Peony season & Tan-o-rexic

Bonjour Substack!

This is my inaugural Substack post that I will title coucou from Holley. Coucou is an informal was to say hello in French and I thought it would be a fun little title for my posts. If you've been following me on Instagram @byholley, you’ve probably seen the buzz of fun parties, performances, and art taking over Charleston for the Spoleto Festival. This is my third season experiencing it, and each year outdoes the last. We had the pleasure of seeing Trombone Shorty and Yo-Yo Ma perform last week—total pinch-me moments.  I wore this dress to the performance and just found a similar one for under $100 here.  

Peony season is in full bloom at Trader Joe’s, and at $9.99 a bouquet, I’ve been filling my vases with these fluffy, fragrant stems. As a child my grandmother’s yard was bursting with peony bushes, and the scent takes me back to my childhood, sticky buds covered with ants and all. It’s like reliving those moments every day.  I recently got this vase to hold my Summer blooms.

Confession time: I used to be a tan addict in high school and college. From tanning beds (yikes!) to mystic/versa tan booths, I was all in. But a friend’s intervention before my wedding changed everything—who wants to be orange in wedding photos and ruin those fancy new frocks for all the events leading up to the big day? That moment led me to a decade-long journey into skincare (fun fact: I was a dermatology pharmaceutical sales rep). Now, I’m all about SPF and wide-brimmed hats. Living in SC, where shorts season lasts forever, I’m tempted to step back into the spray tan booth. Meanwhile, I’ve been using this self-tanner for my face and body.  

Shells are trending, and I can’t get enough. A super chic friend of mine has been rocking shell earrings forever, and now they’re everywhere. I tease her, saying she started the trend! Here are some shell pieces I’m loving right now including her earrings.

Whether it’s groceries or fashion, i always love hearing about my friends’ latest purchases. Here is my most recent online buy - I think it’ll look fantastic paired together, worn as separates, or with a striped shirt or sweater draped over my shoulders. Plus, these shoes for under $30 are a perfect match!

I’m thrilled you’re here! Let me know how you liked my first Substack—your feedback means the world to me. Ready for more? Subscribe and join me on this journey!