I am often asked about the origin of my business name, Brass Tacks. Whether you’re familiar with the saying, “get down to brass tacks” or not, this brief history is a fun lesson in that tireless  and charming chestnut.

Although the specific origin is unknown, the earlieriest attestation to the phrase is from  Texas, USA circa 1863. Back in the 19th century most women made their own clothes, purchasing their cloth in small general stores. The material was kept in large rolls and the storekeeper cut off as much as was needed. Brass tacks along his work table helped him measure the exact length of cloth requested and was the only way to get a precise measurement.

Fast forward 150 years to convenient yard sticks at Joann Fabrics, but we’re still using that evolved phrasing in our daily lives. Think Quentin Tarantino’s “The Wolf” in Pulp Fiction, who instructs his blundering assassins “Let’s get down to brass tacks, gentlemen” while directing an impromptu clean-up crew.

The meaning of the phrase is  “to engage with the basic facts or realities” or “to deal with the important details”.  At Brass Tacks LLC that is what business is all about. From planning vacations to taking care of daily to-do’s, I take care of  the important (and always time-consuming) details facing you so you can live what you love.

So lets get down to brass tacks, shall we?!

1 Gold Stripe Cork Case 2 Lucite Ampersand 3 Jeweled Baseball Tee 4 Coconut Oil 5 The Four & Twenty Blackbirds Pie Book 6 Orange Water Bath Soak 7 Fresco Garden Pot 8 Printed Fabric Slingback Flats

Due to my love of gift guides I’m starting a series on the blog called “show and tell”. I’m always on the hunt for the latest and greatest goods so this new series will give you a glimpse in to my most recent favorite finds. To kick this off I’m bringing you an eclectic mix of fun items sourced on my latest trip to New York.

I’ve been on the hunt for a new iPhone case for quite some time and couldn’t help but snag this option for 40% off sale prices. Cork and gold stripes? On super sale? Yes please! I of course couldn’t make it out of Jcrew without a few other items catching my eye like this and these. While in NY I also made the obligatory stop at C Wonder and fell for this fun lucite ampersand which would be perfect in our new home. Speaking of new homes, I’m anxious to add a kumquat tree to our space and think this gorgeous pot will make the perfect little home for my new plant baby. We will also have a jacuzzi which will be such an indulgence for this bath lover. Locally, Room No. 3 carries this yummy line of bath salts and I can’t wait to get my hands on the new orange scent. Oranges won’t be the only aroma filling my house as I plan to be baking pies from this fabulous cookbook all summer long. With pie eating comes the need for dental hygiene. You seriously can’t go wrong with oil pulling.

What are your latest fun finds? Do share!

It is with great excitement that I introduce to you the new and very much improved Brass Tacks website! This project has been a long time in the making and I’m so proud of the outcome. Hanna from Gadabout Creative is SO talented and is the mastermind behind the new layout. She has such beautiful style and truly knows how to bring a vision to life while providing valuable pointers along the way. Without gorgeous images, the website would look a lot like it did previously. For that I thank Katie Fears of Brio Art who so perfectly brought Brass Tacks to life through her beautiful photographs. Personal assistance and travel planning consume my daily life yet often don’t produce tangible photographable results. Or so I thought! Katie was able to impeccably capture what it is that I do in the space that I do it. I hope these images help you, the consumer, understand what Brass Tacks is all about.

Not only does the new site align with the true vision of Brass Tacks, it also provides a more user friendly interface. The main menu allows you to jump easily from section to section, whether you would like to learn more about my services or myself. You can contact and connect with me through email and a variety of social media platforms. The biggest change is a larger focus on my Brass Tacks blog. You can expect regular weekly content featuring gift guides, fun finds, travel tips, foodie diaries and so much more. Follow along as I share what inspires me to live what I love.

This site was re-designed with a focus on my beloved clients. So whether you’ve worked with me before or are new to my site- or are simply an enthusiastic Brass Tacks supporter!- I’d love your feedback. Enjoy!

xo

New Year, new you. Or something like that. So many of us use January as the time to make “resolutions” we never follow through on. Exercise more, lose weight, eat healthy, use our electronics less, etc etc. The concept sounds good in January but without making real lifestyle changes to enable these adjustments to take place, many resolutions do not make it to the end of the year. While I do think it is important to focus on your goals for the year (I prefer goals to resolutions as they are more measurable at year end), I also think there are many little things you can focus on day to day to make yourself a better and happier person. Here are a few of my favorite words of wisdom for 2014:

Live Simply

With the ability to be SO connected to the world at any given moment, we often forget the simple joys in life. Rather than being glued to your phone all day, spend more time living in the present. The world will seem a whole lot prettier when you focus on absorbing the many simple joyful moments.

Make Yourself Proud

Get that promotion, spend more time being the best parent you can be, give time to others in need…there are so many ways to make yourself proud. Focus on what makes you feel good and get out and do it!

Make Good Use of Today

Every day has a new beginning. You and only you determine how to use it. Outsource time sucking tasks to others so at the end of the day you can feel more accomplished. Rather than working on your laptop in bed you’ll be able to pick up a book instead. Rather than feeling frazzled by your kids at the end of the day, you’ll have the presence of mind to enjoy that fleeting time with them. Make good choices each day and enjoy the outcomes.

By focusing on these basic concepts I guarantee your resolutions and goals will seem much more do-able. Sometimes you simply need to slow down to allow everything else to fall into place. If slowing down means outsourcing time consuming projects and errands, contact Brass Tacks for assistance today.

Happy New Year!

xo

There’s no better way to perk up a snowy SPRING day then by helping plan a fabulous Parisian inspired bridal shower. So many fun options to play with I can’t wait to see how this event turns out!! For now here’s a sneak peak at a few of the mood boards I pulled together.

You earned that promotion but now you’re learning a new position causing your stress levels to sky rocket. You scored a big account but are stressing over all of the new details. Or life is just simply a little hectic and it’s not helping that we just got a foot of new snow.

When left unchecked, stress can affect your body, your thoughts and feelings and your behavior. It can even lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes. Whatever the source of your stress, find comfort in knowing there are many ways to prevent and reduce it.

Here are 5 simple tips:

Take control of your diet– While you’re probably attached to your ten cups of am coffee, reducing the amount of stimulants you take in will help calm you down and allow you to focus. Often stress causes us to lapse on healthy eating- going for easy comfort foods such as pastas and microwave meals rather than healthy veggies and proteins. Make an effort to purchase your fair share of health foods so you can easily snack on an orange rather than a hot pocket. For great options visit the new Whole Foods in Edina.

 Aromatherapy– This is one of the most effortless yet effective ways to reduce stress. The combination of both scented candles and oils is known to increase the effectiveness of anxiety reduction. If you can, purchase a yummy candle in your favorite scent to have at your desk. Ampersand at the Galleria has a wonderful selection of candles and oils to meet all of your aromatherapy needs.

 Exercise- Virtually any form of exercise can act as a stress reliever. Not only will it pump up your endorphins and take your mind off of the burdens of your day but it can also improve your sleep, making each day brighter. For a wonderful place to relax and strengthen your body, sign up for a class at the fabulous Kula Yoga in Edina.

 Maintain social support- Sometimes venting and talking through things is the best way to make yourself feel better or bring something to light that is bothering you. A regular coffee date or drinks with girlfriends may be just the thing to make you realize others share your worries and everyone can get through them.

 Massage- When all else fails, pamper yourself with a delightful massage or body treatment. Spalon Montage provides a peaceful setting complete with a cozy fireplace and heated neck wraps. From hot stone therapy to reflexology to a soothing body wrap, every service will leave you feeling relaxed and blissful.

Let Brass Tacks take some “to-do’s” off your hands so you can focus on the above!

“Time is money.” – Benjamin Franklin

Think about how much time you spend per week running errands, grocery shopping, spending time on the internet trying to plan a vacation, make a reservation or simply attempt to just check item’s off of your to-do list. Imagine having a go-to person who could take care of your day-to-day “time suckers” for you. What tasks would you choose to pay someone to do? And how much would you be willing to pay?

Ian Walker of the University of Warwick in England came up with a formula in the early 2000’s to help assess the exact monetary value of your time. In his formula, Walker takes into account your gross hourly wage (W), the tax rate you pay (R) and your cost of living (C) to determine the value of your time (T).

T= [ W (100-R) ] / C

The value of your time= [Wage (100- Tax Rate) ] / Cost of Living in your area

Let’s say you’re a bachelor living in Minneapolis making $200,000/year. Your gross hourly wage is roughly $96 assuming you’re working a 40 hour work week, 52 weeks a year.

Your combined tax rate (federal and state) would be approximately 40.85% and your cost of living index would be 112 (according to area vibes which calculates cost-of-living indexes).

Based on Walker’s formula above, the value of your time is approximately $50.70

While this formula is a neat tool to give yourself a ballpark of how much your time is worth, there are a few things it does not take into consideration such as your pleasure (or displeasure) in doing certain tasks and your skill level at completing them. At the end of the day you are your own judge about what luxuries you’re willing to pay for and which services are worth the cost of giving you back a few hours of your day. That said, I hope this formula will help you determine if you’re getting the most out of your dollars and your time.

Brass Tacks can bring simplicity to your life by assisting with everything from errands to home check-ups to itinerary planning to party ideas and general personal assistance. Whatever your need is don’t hesitate to contact us for our affordable rate information and a free consultation.  

Work-life balance. Many individuals lack it while other companies provide plenty of it. No matter what your “work-life balance” situation is, many American’s are overworked. So if you’re finding it more challenging to juggle your full time career with your kids and everything else life throws at you, you’re not alone.

Resist the burnout and bring a little more balance to your daily routine by following these helpful tips:

Build downtime into your schedule

Make a concerted effort to schedule time with your family and friends doing activities that help you recharge. If a date night with your spouse or a happy hour with your friends is on your calendar, you’ll have something to look forward to and an extra incentive to manager your time at work well. Don’t forget that a little “me time” is just as important. Whether that means a yoga class or the couch and a good book, take time to relax and focus on yourself (even if it means getting up an hour earlier than you usually would).