Author Archives: Perris

Welcome, Carly!

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Carly BrassTacks Intro

Hello, fellow Brass Tacks lovers! It’s Carly here for my first post of 2015. As Perris mentioned last week, I will be sharing posts once a week, and I couldn’t be more excited! I thought to kick things off, I would tell you a little bit about myself.When I’m not actively posting on Instagram and attempting to make a #whitewineemoji appear on your keyboard {but really, where is it?!}, I can be found working in Milwaukee, WI, spending time with family & friends and planning my upcoming wedding in September.

A few fun facts about yours truly: I don’t think you can have enough paper products {Rifle Paper Co. & Sugar Paper are my personal favorites}. I order chips and queso from Qdoba more than I would like to admit. I make multiple to-do lists a day and occasionally write down a task {or two} that I’ve already completed just so I can check it off. I believe fresh flowers and handwritten notes can make any day better. I love
 birthdays and birthday cake and just desserts in general. I’m addicted to chai tea {no coffee here}. I like cookie dough more than cookies. And last but not least, I don’t think you can ever have too many LBDs.
I’m looking forward to sharing organizing tips and tricks, party inspiration, fashion favorites, product round ups and so much more!
xoxo,

Happy Belated Birthday, BT!

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2015 birthday

My business baby is two! Another year has flown by so fast I nearly forgot to celebrate. The good news is it’s never too late for a little cake and bubbly. So here we are, a few months late, looking back on a wonderful 2014 and celebrating all that is to come in this new year.

Brass Tacks continues to grow and evolve in ways that challenge and inspire me on a daily basis. I’ve continued to be blessed with the BEST clients. People come to me through an array of avenues but ultimately have one thing in common- they’re people I now consider close friends. I count my lucky stars every day being able to work with people I so admire and love. They are individuals who are doing unique and interesting things in their lives. Pursuing their dreams- whether in the form of opening a small boutique or traveling the world. They’re people who, like me,  have big plans for life. Utilizing Brass Tacks to help them execute their plans is what makes my line of work so fulfilling.

The more clients I add, the busier life gets, which is great news for me, not so great news for the blog. The hustle and bustle of work, holiday and a little (big) remodel left my favorite little blog rather quiet for the past few months. One of my primary goals for 2015 is to utilize this space to bring you new and unique content that may help simplify your life or inspire your every day. With that in mind, I’m so excited to announce the arrival of a very fabulous guest blogger, Carly Haslee! PR girl, fashion maven, and soon to be Mrs.(!), Carly is a total sweetheart who will surely entice you to check the blog often. She’ll be posting on a weekly basis about everything from fun finds to how to stay organized. We’re grateful to have her and I know you will be too!

As always, there are a few other exciting projects up my sleeve. While I continue to focus on the service side of the business I can’t help but continue to pour my heart into the brand side. My goal is to better bring the Brass Tacks lifestyle to life by offering shop-able items that will simplify your every day. Keep your eyes peeled for a fun new product offering later this year which will hopefully be the first of many!

Before I’m off to that cake and bubbly I want to say a sincere thank you. For your continued business, support and general interest in my concept and mission! Being a small business owner is rewarding because of YOU! Now cheers to 2015 and whats to come.

xo Perris

 

 

2014 Holiday Gift Guide: The Foodie & The Cook

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2015 Gift Guide- Foodie

Shop the Guide: 1 Olympic Provisions Salami Bouquet 2 Tangerine Print 3 Poppy Ring Rolling Pin 4 Indigo Wood & Bone Servers 5 Handcrafted Pizza Cutter 6 Laguiole Steak Knives 7 Brass & Walnut Pour Over Coffee Stand 8 Askinosie Peppermint Bark 9 Tina Frey White Champagne Bucket

To me the holidays are all about family. And food. The meals that become traditions and the wafting smells that bring you comfort. The kitchen is a special place to be during the holidays. Whether you’re shopping for a treat loving co-worker or a friend with a new kitchen, these goodies are sure to please (and look beautiful while doing so!).

For the beverage connoisseur I recommend a beautiful handcrafted coffee stand or a sleekly sculpted champagne bucket. Surprise a foodie friend with a creative and divine salami bouquet (Olympic Provisions is responsible for the one time I’ve eaten an entire salami in one sitting- it’s that good) or a box of delectable peppermint bark from craft chocolate purveyor Askinosie. Surprise your favorite cook with a too-pretty-to-use rolling pin or a set of classic Laguiole steak knives in bright colors. When you’re really stumped, just about everyone can use some beautiful servers and a swanky pizza cutter but save the gorgeous tangerine print for someone extra deserving of some beauty in their lives.

Cheers to a holiday season filled with love, laughter and delicious food!

2014 Holiday Gift Guide: Stocking Stuffers

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2015 Gift Guide- stocking stuffers

Shop the Guide: 1 Jersey Knit Stripe Stocking/Pom-Pom Charm 2 Cocktail Muddler 3 Mast Brothers Chocolate 4 Loren Hope Earrings 5 Kate Spade Wine Tote 6 Beauty Counter Lip Sheer 7 Ray-Ban Clubmaster Sunnies 8 Sugar Paper Gift Tags 9 Swedish Dream Sea Salt Candle 10 Nautical Wine Opener 11 Holiday Fabric Fresh 12 Double Pearl Studs 13 Ashley Brooke Designs Mug 14 Scotch Naturals Nail Polish 15 Jcrew Trouser Socks

Let’s be honest…stockings are the best. There is something so special about this old Christmas tradition, no matter what fills your stocking. The mere act of unpacking my stocking from storage each year brings back the warmest childhood memories. As adults, my husband and I have started a new tradition by only giving each other gifts that fit within our stockings. This leaves me in a “stocking state of mind” for much of the year. In my opinion, the perfect mix of stocking stuffers includes some tasty treats, a touch of whimsy, a bit of practicality and at least one wow-factor surprise. Let’s start with a fabulous pom-pom adorned stocking and a Mast Brothers bar of chocolate followed by a nautical wine stopper and a cheeky bag for a bottle of bubbly. Continue onto the practical with a holiday fabric freshener, warm winter socks and a handmade muddler for those ever so necessary winter beverages. Practical never looked so good. Onto the wow-factor surprises with a pair of beautiful baubles or a new pair of shades. The options are endless which is why this game is so fun! While we all love an overflowing stocking, the most important thing is who you spend these precious holiday moments with. Wishing you all a warm and happy holiday season as we kick things off with a day of thanks this Thursday! xo

 

 

 

2014 Holiday Gift Guide: Plaids

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2015 Gift Guide- Plaids

Shop the Guide: 1 Buffalo Check Quilted Vest 2 Buffalo Check Mug 3 Perfect Plaid Bowtie 4 Ferme A Papier Card 5 Plaid Trouser Socks 6 Lambswool Plaid Scarf 7 Stewart Wool Throw 8 Pretty Smitten iPhone Case 9 Plaid Cocktail Napkins

It’s officially gift guide season! My absolute favorite time of year. To kick things off I’m starting with a fun collection of goodies in one of my favorite prints. Plaid! We all have someone in our life who loves a preppy plaid whether they disguise it with a layer of socks or flaunt it with a festive phone cover. Spoil your loved ones with a fabulous Faribualt throw or simply brighten their day with a heart felt note. Dress up your cocktail party with these pretties or cozy up on the couch with a mug of hot cocoa. No matter how you wear your plaid, these items are sure to add a little festive flair to someone’s life this holiday season!

Healthy Fall Quiche Recipe

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fall quiche

I don’t know about you, but Sundays always seem like the perfect time to plant myself in the kitchen and fill the house with yummy aromas from the oven. There’s something so gratifying about waking up your loved ones with the smell of freshly baked goods and a hot pot of coffee. This delicious quiche is so easy to whip up and is a healthy alternative to the usual cream filled pie crust bottomed recipe we’re used to. More healthy recipes like this can be found in the Against All Grain cookbook (my new fav!).

What you’ll need:

  • 1 medium sweet potato (or butternut squash works too)
  • 1.5 lbs breakfast sausage, casings removed, cooked and crumbled
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
  • 10 eggs
  • 3 tablespoons coconut milk (or regular)
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt (plus more to taste)
  • 1/8 teaspoon cracked black pepper

Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees. Grease the bottom and sides of a pie plate with a thin layer of olive oil. Peel your sweet potato and use a mandolin (or sharp knife) to thinly slice the potato into very thin disks. Arrange the sweet potatoes in a circular pattern, covering the bottom of the pie plate completely. Layer the sausage evenly over the potatoes, covering the entire surface. Sprinkle the rosemary gently over the sausage layer. Place the eggs, milk, salt and pepper in a bowl and whisk to combine. Pour the beaten egg mixture into the dish. Back for 30 minutes or until the center is set and the eggs have puffed up.

Serve with a side of hot sauce and a steamy beverage of choice. Enjoy!

Crazy for Color

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dash and albert

Clockwise From Top Left: Samode Coral / Bohemian Wool Pillow / Herringbone Swedish Blue / Beckham Stripe Denim / Lucy Moss / Catamaran Stripe Sprout / Tattersall Blue / Nordic Star Indigo

It’s no secret that I’ve long been a fan of Dash & Albert. My adoration started four years ago with a small 2×3 striped rug and has grown exponentially ever since. This love has recently become more apparent during our remodel where I’ve tried to fit Dash & Albert in anywhere I can. “But what about doing a stair runner in Dash & Albert stripes instead of carpet?”.  “Do you think I could cover the ottoman in a Dash & Albert plaid?”. While our stairs will not be striped and our ottoman will not maybe be plaid, I’ve also turned to this wonderful company for my larger rug needs. We’re building our house with a large family in mind. Muddy dogs, grassy kids and plenty of entertaining (i.e. red wine and food spills) to come over the next decade. Now that it has come time to invest in a few rugs, I’m having a hard time justifying an overly spendy formal number that will surely not stand the test of time. Lucky for me Dash & Albert has exactly what I want and need. They offer a happy (and I mean truly happy!) selection of wool, cotton, indoor/outdoor and blended rugs in a variety of gorgeous colors and patterns. These rugs truly stand up to traffic, spills and even the occasional wash. I’m having so much fun mixing patterns and utilizing materials where they’re most practical. Softer wool in the living room, indoor/outdoor in high traffic areas and woven cotton under the dinging room table. Throw in a couple of fabulous pillows like this gem and #deppahaven is becoming one bright happy place!

So tell me, how do you add color to your home?

Pillows with a Purpose

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EyeWill

 

From Top Left, Clockwise: Eye Will / Voir / Eye Do / See / Love

Holiday gift guides are just starting to pop up  (gulp!) meaning the time for present shopping is near! Anyone who follows Brass Tacks knows this is my favorite time of year. While I scour the globe for my favorite finds I always give special extra attention to products that fall into one of two categories. Those that are made locally (Hello MN!) and those that benefit a greater cause. To kick off the 2014 giving season I couldn’t be more excited to highlight an amazing product that falls into the latter. Meet Eye Will Artistry! Eye Will Artistry is the brain child of my talented and charitable mom, Jeanne Aufmuth. At first glance you’ll find an eclectic assortment of bright and colorful pillows. But these aren’t just any pillows….they’re pillows with a purpose. Since her thirties, my mom has lived with a unique eye disorder called Retinitis Pigmentosa. RP is a degenerative retinal disease that slowly eats away at your vision, resulting in peripheral vision loss and ultimately, complete blindness. While most people afflicted with this disorder would wallow in the frustrating effects, my mom as admirably tackled the obstacles she’s faced with a mixture of hope, grace and good humor. Now, she is combining her passion for art with her passion for helping others by raising awareness (and dollars) for those dealing with loss of sight. Eye Will offers a limited edition of her pillow art with all proceeds benefitting RP research. These pillows won’t last long…so take a look and consider gifting with a purpose this year!

Show and Tell- Volume 9

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Show and Tell vol 9

 

Clockwise From Top Left: Gold Task Lamp / Artisan Painted Canoe Paddle / Pastiche Orb Chandelier / Wood Tiled Dresser / Pom Pom Basket / Faribault Stripe Pillow / Faribault Plaid Pillow

What better way to return to the blog than with a show and tell of my latest fun finds! Fall is in full effect in Minnesota resulting in gorgeously colorful foliage, hearty cooking and the beginning of cashmere sweater season. My remodel project is also moving full force ahead so I’m spending these lovely brisk weekends scouring markets, shops and sales for special items to decorate our “new” home. Faribault Woolen Mill has long been a favorite local company of mine so I was elated to hear they are partnering with West Elm this season to bring cozy plaids to a wider market. While their throws are a staple, I have my eye on these stripe pillows. To tie in the nautical theme to our lakeside abode I am loving beautifully crafted goods like these artisan painted canoe paddles and statement lighting. Speaking of lighting, that has been my biggest struggle thus far. I’m finally in a place where I adore each and every one of our light selections and now am focused on the slightly easier task of sourcing table lamps. Sometimes the best finds are in the least expected places…like this gem from Target. And while I’m browsing the big retailers I can’t help but fall for these side tables. Part beachy, part modern and part unexpected. Just like my new favorite basket (minus the modern).

What are you lusting after these days?

Tickled Pink

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BrassTacks MNMO jpeg

I was tickled pink when an editor from Minnesota Monthly magazine approached me wanting to feature Brass Tacks in their September issue. I am so passionate about my little business and nothing makes me happier than seeing it grow and prosper (except for seeing it on the pages of a glossy publication!). For those of you who are out of state, you can read the short blurb here. Thank you Minnesota Monthly for the love and thank you to all of my friends, family and clients for your sweet comments and support! xo