Shop the Post: Happy Easter Egg Card / Wildflower and Fern Candle / Jolie Napkin Set / Phoebe Egg Platter / Burmese Blue Vase / Mixed Double Old-Fashioned Glasses / Striped Candles / Golden Rabbit Vase

Spring time. Sunday dresses. Deviled Eggs. Treats galore. These are just a few of the reasons why I adore Easter. I have such fond memories of childhood Easter’s spent hunting for eggs with my sister, masterly crafting beautifully dyed creations and digging into my dad’s delicious easter egg salad. Now, as an adult, I get excited by decorating the house, picking out an easter dress and whipping up a tasty family brunch. Each year I seem to approach my table setting with a new vision. Having just moved back into our newly remodeled house (see #deppahaven here) I am even more excited to host loved ones for a delicious feast this year. I’m all about fun and bright colors in our new digs and my Easter picks this year reflect the same. Vintage inspired glass ware for cocktails and deviled eggs. A modern bunny vase with a touch of gold, napkins that speak for themselves and candles that sneak in an everlasting love for stripes. It’s going to be an eclectic table this year and I just can’t wait!

What are your Easter traditions? Do tell!

xo

Perris

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

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

At Brass Tacks my goal is to bring simplicity to your life. A large part of that mission is helping people slow down. For many of us, slowing down starts with getting the necessary amount of sleep our body desires.

As I navigate the wonderful world of remodels and am faced with daily purchasing decisions, I’ve been reminding myself to slow down as well. The older I’ve gotten, the more conscious I’ve become of my body. What I feed it, what I put on it and how I rest it. I’ve broached this topic here and here and now it is coming full circle as we hunt for a new king mattress. It is no secret that mattresses are often filled with nasty chemicals, regularly off-gassing VOC’s and other toxic fire retardants.  I’ll spare you the scary details but the more you look into it, the more alarmed you’ll be about that cozy memory foam bed you’ve been sleeping on. In my never ending search for the best brands and products, I stumbled upon Hästens beds. The most beautiful all natural bed you could ever dream of (and you’ll definitely be doing a lot of that when you sleep on one of these gems). Scandinavian born and dressed in gingham- I think it’s a relationship that’s meant to be…

For over 150 years, the Swedish based Hästens has been making beds by hand from only the finest ingredients nature has to offer. Horsehair, flax, wool, cotton and slow-growing Swedish pine are just a few of the elements included in these stunning beds built to last a lifetime. I won’t lie, the price is absolutely aspirational. But when you think about the most important purchases in your home, your mattress should without a doubt be one of them. Why? We humans spend one third of our lifetime sleeping. Yes, sleeping. We spend more time sleeping than we do eating or exercising.  And the quality of our sleep not only affects our energy levels but ultimately our health and happiness. When you consider the fact that these beds have a 25 year warranty (and are built to last far longer), it becomes frighteningly easy to consider owning one.

First I need to win the lottery but then I plan on embracing my passion for sleep by aligning myself with a company that feels the same way. In the meantime I’ll gladly become Hästens Minnesota brand ambassador (hint hint)!