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!

1 Prada Cat Eye Sunglasses 2 Jcrew Passport Case 3 Cuyana Panama Hat 4 Nike Running Shoes 5 Jcrew Printed Silk Snood 6 Josie Maran Argan Oil 7 RMS Beauty Raw Coconut Cream 8 Cuyana Leather Tote 9 Ugg Brigid Metallic Sandals 10 Jcrew Linen Tee

Happy Saint Patty’s Day! With April quickly approaching, Spring is in the air and so is travel. Many are headed off to warmer climates for Spring Break and others, including Brass Tacks, are knee deep in summer travel planning. I also have a lot of personal travel on the horizon which has me pondering  what new items will be coming on the plane with me. While my upcoming trips are all over the map (literally and figuratively) there are many essentials that I bring no matter where I go. Whether it be a long winter weekend in New York, a spring vacation to Amsterdam, a weekend in Wine Country or a fall trip to Greece- I always have many of the same things packed in my bag.  Here are just a few of my go-to’s.

• A great bag- There is nothing like a great travel bag. Flies well as a carry on, doubles as a daily purse and has enough room to stash your fun finds on the way home.
• Moisturizing skin treatments– Airplanes really suck the life out of your skin. The best way to combat a tired look post-arrival is to fly with premium moisturizing products. Josie Maran’s Argan Oil has become a staple of mine to combat dry air.  Being a bit of a coconut oil addict (hello oil pulling), I’m also loving the look of RMS Beauty’s coconut cream.
• Scarves- I never ever go on a trip without a scarf (or five). They are the perfect solution for getting cozy on the plane, days that get chilly or sprucing up an outfit.
• Comfy shoes- I’m adopting a new policy of always bringing a fun pair of running shoes on every trip. Use them for the gym, a last minute hike or a full day of exploring- you can’t go wrong with something a little more practical and your feet will thank you.
• A cozy tee- I typically fly in a cozy tee and surely bring a number of them to any destination. Throw a scarf over for a casual look during the day or dress one up with a blazer and some heels for an evening out. This option is just too fun for spring travel.
• Stylin sunnies- I never leave home without a pair of great sunglasses. Sunnies are even more imperative when you’re spending your days outside exploring. They’re a perfect way to accessorize a basic outfit or cover puffy eyes after long hours on a plane.

Wherever you’re off to this year, I hope you travel in style and have a safe trip!

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

From top left to bottom right: Vince Leather Scuba Jacket I Russell+Hazel Leather Luggage Tag I Cuyana Tote I Tory Burch Viv Flat I Russell+Hazel Leather Wrap Bracelet I Russell+Hazel Business Card Holder I Jcrew Jeweled Cashmere Lined Leather Gloves I Monogrammed Tip Pouch I Frye Melanie Slip On

This time of year is always hard in Minnesota. The temperatures continue to dip below zero while the calendar starts teasing the arrival of Spring. I always find myself caught in a rut from a fashion perspective- I’m tired of my well worn winter wear but unable to start wearing spring dresses and sandals. This is also a time of year that reminds me how practical quality wardrobe staples are. Items that can be worn from Fall to Spring and still hold up over the years are keepers in my book.

Keeping this “lean closet” mentality in mind, I’ve started to be drawn towards leather. From a gorgeous and classic Cuyana tote to hip yet sturdy Frye slip ons, quality leather pieces are surely worth investing in. Leather is so gorgeous new yet tells a beautiful story as it ages. It is a material that can last a lifetime and only gets better with age. So whether you’re in the market for a new wardrobe staple or are looking for a beautiful gift, these curated finds may just begin your own love affair with leather.

Happy early Valentines Day to you and yours! Since I’ve long felt Valentines Day is a silly holiday that leaves people feeling either loved or lonely, I love the concept of spreading love to all of the favorite people in your life (not limited to your significant others). Whether that means popping a bottle of bubbly with your hubby, sending a valentine across country to a friend, surprising a family member with a special something or treating yourself to those to die for pink shoes, use this day to bring love to those in your life (including yourself!).

Here are my favorite go-to gifts for the lovely ladies in your life this year! xoxo

From Top Left to Right: Comme Des Garcons Stripe Sweater I Embroidered Emblem Baseball Cap I Pink Striped Candles I Hobnail Candle I Gold LOVE Pillow I White Frosting Necklace I Sugar Paper XO Card I Aurelie Bidermann Love Ring I Cat Bird Vertical Bar Ring I  Secco Rose Italian Bubbles I Valentino Rockstud Ballerina Flat I Sugar Paper Gift Tags I ban.do iPhone case

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

Happy 1st Birthday to Brass Tacks! What a wonderful year it’s been. While this is naturally the time of year to reflect back on 2013 (and personally it was a great one), it’s also a time for me to celebrate the success of one year in business!

To say I’ve learned a lot in this past year is an understatement. Starting your own business takes focus, patience, passion and the strength to weather the ups and downs. With that comes immense rewards. The thrilling feeling of your very first client, the “pinch me” moments while working on incredible projects and the awe as the community begins to recognize your name. With clients from California to Chicago (and many places in-between) to projects that span the planning of luxury dream vacations to the nitty gritty of daily errands (and many unique requests in-between)- this year has brought many rewarding challenges, wonderful new friendships and a drive to continue to grow and enhance Brass Tacks.

While we’re only one week into the start of a New Year, there are already some exciting new changes on the horizon for Brass Tacks. The first is a new and improved website! I couldn’t be more excited for this project and can’t wait to share the finished product with you in the coming months. It will include fresh imagery, easy navigation and a cleaner and more contemporary aesthetic. In addition, there will be a new and improved blog which will allow me to offer more regular (and pretty) blog content! I have so many ideas for this space, I can’t wait to start sharing consistent and relevant content with my lovely followers.

From a service perspective, I continue to offer a wide array of services from travel itinerary planning to organization and errand assistance to specific one-off requests. 2013 proved that everyone has their own definition of what they can’t make time for. Because of this I continue to cater to a variety of needs and enhance my offerings based on your important feedback. 2013 also proved that everyone needs a little help during the holidays- from wrapping to shopping to planning for out of town trips- Brass Tacks kept busy! While my holiday offering will continue in 2014, expect to see some fun new offers and a wider array of Holiday Gift Guides!

Reflecting back on 2013 has left me feeling grateful. Grateful for my growing business, my wonderful clients and the ability to do something I truly enjoy. My goal is always to bring simplicity to your busy lives and I am excited to continue to do so in 2014.

So…thank you for your support this past year and cheers to the start of an extraordinary second year!

xo Perris

Christmas has really crept up this year which may mean you’re finding yourself with a lot of last minute shopping, fast and furious wrapping and last minute planning for holiday guests. Surely it’ll all get squeezed into the calendar…but oops! You forgot to plan this years holiday card?! While it’s a little late to start creating a custom card (without exorbitant rush fees), there are so many festive pre-made cards out there that simply need a quick note and a stamp to be ready to go. Whether you’re late to the game with your holiday cards or merely looking for a few less personal options for a couple of people in your life- these gems are sure to spread joy to those near and far!

1. Rifle Paper Co. I 2. Sugar Paper I 3. Rifle Paper Co. I 4. Dear Hancock I 5. Beau Ideal Editions I 6. Paper Source I 7. Happy Cactus Designs I 8. Ferme A Papier I 9. Sugar Paper I 10. Snow & Graham I 11. The Social Type