Celebrate Moms Day and Dont Forget the Potatoes!

Don't forget that Mother's Day is this Sunday. Whether you are staying home and relaxing or hosting a mothers day brunch, check out my new favorite recipe for a tasty treat! No more hash brown, cheesy potatoes in the crock pot! Not to say I don't love a good cheesy potato, these are just a little more elevated. But, they are so tasty and since I am making Brunch for Mothers Day, I get what I want! 
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

Potato Leek Gratin

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, more for greasing the pan
• 2 large leeks, trimmed and halved lengthwise
• 1 ½ pounds peeled Yukon Gold potatoes
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1tsp thyme
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 fat garlic clove, finely chopped
• 1 bay leaf
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
• 1 1/2 cup Gruyère, grated
  

  Preparation

  
  
• Heat oven to 350 degrees and butter a 2-quart gratin dish. Wash the leeks to remove any grit and slice thinly crosswise.
• Using a mandoline or sharp knife, slice the potatoes into rounds, 1/8-inch thick. Set aside in bowl of cold water with a tsp of kosher salt until ready to use.
• Melt the 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add leeks, remaining salt and pepper, and thyme. Cook, stirring, until leeks are tender and golden, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Remove Leeks from pan Add cream, garlic and bay leaf to the skillet, scraping up browned bits of leeks from the bottom of the pan. Simmer gently for 5 minutes. Stir in nutmeg.
• Now layer! I use a round dish and add some olive oil to bottom.  Then in a circular motion I add one layer of potatoes, (be sure the whole bottom is covered overlap the potatoes as you go around the dish and just fill in the middle) then a layer of leeks, layer of cheese, another layer of potatoes, leeks, cheese and one more layer of potatoes.  Pour the cream mixture over all the layers and add the remainder of the cheese to the top. 
• Cover with aluminum foil and transfer to the oven. Bake for 40 minutes, uncover and bake until the cheese is bubbling and golden, 15 to 20 minutes longer. Let cool slightly before serving.
  
  See a photo of the deliciousness below!
  Original recipe here - Mine is tweaked from the original!

Need Help While We Do Updates?

The joy of owning a business with a website is that you are never bored. There is always something to do. For instance constant updates, add new pictures or products, change the code for a product or, go back to school and learn the new and improved marketing strategies for your site! 

Not are we doing all the web work as small business owners but we are also creating, filling, packing and answering emails. Not to mention the book-work that needs to be done....Oh I hate bookwork!

This year I am doing all the above, so if you need help finding something on the site or something is missing, please do not hesitate to contact me!

Text or call - 651.497.9989
de @ mineralsilk.com

Now to work I go!

Ring in the New Year With Mineral Silk!

We want to thank all of you for making 2015 a spectacular year.

2016 will mark Mineral Silk's 12th year in business. We know, it doesn't seem that long, maybe because we have been so busy and we have had so much fun these last 12 years they just flew right by.

We have learned so much from all of you and hope you have learned something new from us as well.  We will continue to strive and provide all of you with great customer service and products that are healthy and great for your skin.

Here is our first coupon code for 2016 and be ready we are ending 2015 and starting 2016 with a great deal!

30% OFF ANY ORDER!

This coupon will even work on sale merchandise!

Code is - 2016ringitin

(Expires at Midnight on January 4th, 2016 )

Not valid on previous orders
Not valid on Gift Certificates
$25.00 Minimum order required
No extensions available for this coupon
Orders that are processed not using the above
guidelines may be cancelled at our discretion.

One Coupon Per Order!

Shop Now at Mineral Silk

♥ Dedicated to Your Beauty,
De Fleischaker
Owner Mineral Silk

 

My Dream Thanksgiving would be outdoors!

I would love to have Thanksgiving outside with a beautiful table set up as the one pictured below. Cozy blankets, warm cider and all the Turkey Day Fixings!  Unfortunately we live in Minnesota and that is never going to happen. So I am going to have to bring the outdoors inside again this year. Pumpkins from the garden, herbs I have saved, some dried and some still hanging on from the mild weather we have been having and acorns and branches of course!

We are ready to start celebrating the start of the holiday season with our traditional favorites, bread stuffing with sausage, sage and chestnuts.  The famous green bean casserole, homegrown squash, cranberries, a huge bowl of potatoes with gravy and of course the Turkey! 


What are some of your families traditions you celebrate on Thanksgiving? Specific foods, putting up the tree for Christmas, serving others, or getting ready for the dreaded Black Friday and pouring over the ads and setting up your attack plan?

Leave a list in the comment section!

  

The Benefits of Fragrance Free Skin Care

If you stop in your local drug store and take a walk down the skin care aisle, there is a good chance that you will see a wide variety of fragrances being used in the different products.  Even if you look at natural products, there is a good chance that some sort of fragrance is being used, even if it is in the form of essential oils.  If fragrances are everywhere, what can be so bad about them?  Plenty.  Here is a look at some of the benefits of fragrance free skin care.

Healthier skin

While fragrances might make the product smell better while you are using it, they could be having a detrimental effect on your skin.  In traditional over the counter skin care products, fragrances are caused by a variety of perfumes and chemicals.  Unfortunately, many of these same chemicals are now being found to have long reaching side effects due to the buildup of toxins.  Some of the chemicals used in skin care products have been linked to serious conditions such as cancer.

Reduce redness and irritation

Do you have a problem with your skin being red, dry, and irritated?  There is a chance that your skin care products are to blame.  For people with sensitive skin, even mild and natural fragrances can be irritating.  Every day that you put the skin care product on, you are exposing your skin to these irritants.  Use the product on a regular basis, and your skin never gets a break, causing it to become inflamed.  In addition, your skin may develop blemishes or become dry and itchy.

Inhaled allergies

Another potential concern with fragrance skin care products is the effect of inhaling the fragrance.  Some people have sensitivities to scents, and smelling their skin care product all day could actually cause them to have a reaction.  While many people think of allergic reactions to inhalants as causing sneezing and a runny nose, allergies to fragrance skin care products can also lead to migraines and flu-like symptoms.

Use only as much as you want

One advantage to using fragrance free skin care products is that you can control the amount of fragrance that you use.  You might like the smell of lavender, but using it as a body wash, a lotion, and having it included in your favorite makeup might be a little overwhelming.  Or maybe your citrus hand soap does not go well with the cooling peppermint lotion that you like to use.  By choosing fragrance free skin care products, you get to control how much, when, and where you use a scent.

Good for the whole family

Another thing to consider when buying skin care products are exactly who will be using them.  It is not unusual for different family members to share the same bottle of body wash, particularly children.  However, your newborn infant’s sensitive skin may not like the harsh perfumes in your toddler’s bubble gum-scented skin care products.  By choosing fragrance free products, you know that the product is gentle enough for everyone in the family to use, regardless of age or skin type.

Mineral Makeup is your all weather, all season makeup!

Mineral makeup is great for beating the heat!


1.     Double as a sunscreen

You know that sun protection is crucial all year long, not just in the summer.  Besides the risk of burning fair skin, long term sun exposure starts to damage skin tissue, making it more prone to fine lines, wrinkles, and even age spots.  A natural mineral makeup foundation will double as a sunscreen.  Plus, it is light enough that you can wear blush and color without completely caking your face.  The zinc oxide in the natural mineral makeup gives you a natural protection of up to SPF 25.  If you are fair skinned, you might also consider wearing a sun protecting moisturizer under your natural mineral makeup for additional protection.

2.     Protect your lips

The skin on your lips is very sensitive, and therefore needs just as much sun protection as the rest of your face.  However, many women find that wearing sunscreen on their lips is not very comfortable or flattering.  Natural mineral makeup allows you to apply a light layer of color to your lips, and you still get to enjoy the benefits, including sun protection, that natural mineral makeup offers.

3.     Avoid the run

Many women are more active in warmer months, but we all have issues when playing outside all year long. When the weather is nice, allowing you to get outside to exercise, and play sports or just going for a walk too much running around will usually cause you to sweat and your makeup to run.
 

Thankfully, natural mineral makeup can help you look your best without worrying about your colors running or rubbing off.  The titanium dioxide included in natural mineral makeup is not absorbed in water, so you can wear it while swimming or sweating, and you will not lose the fresh-applied look that you started the day with.  This also means that you can wear natural mineral makeup for extended periods of time.  If you are going from the office to the theater, you do not need to worry about applying yet another set of makeup, as your natural mineral makeup supports you for hours to come. 

4.     Be made up – without looking like it

The hottest trend in makeup is to look like you don’t have any cosmetics on your face.  With traditional cosmetics, this effect can be difficult to achieve because you have to put more and more layers on as you strive to hide blemishes and other imperfections.  Natural mineral makeup, however, sits on the surface of the skin.  This means that it does not highlight fine lines and wrinkles, and it covers blemishes and imperfections with only a light layer or two.  Thus, you get the results you want in fewer applications – and with added health benefits to your skin. So get outside and look beautiful doing whatever you choose to do!

Read the Label When Buying Mineral Makeup

With all of the popular press and celebrity support, you are thinking of trying mineral makeup.  But is designer mineral makeup worth the price tag?  Is drug store mineral makeup any good?  What is really in your mineral makeup?

One of the best things that you can do for your skin is to read the labels when buying mineral makeup.  The danger of buying drugstore mineral makeup is that often it will contain fillers.
Or even worse, it could be your basic traditional cosmetics with a few minerals added to the mix.  If you are looking for good mineral makeup, here are some of the things you should seek out:

·  Allantoin – A skin protectant that promotes health skin.  It is thought that it helps to clear away dead skin cells so that healthy skin can grow in its place.

·  Boron Nitride – An anti-bacterial mineral that absorbs oil and helps makeup to glide on smoothly and stay on.

·  Iron Oxide – You know it as rust.  This mineral helps to create the color tones in many mineral makeup foundations.

·  Kaolin Clay – This clay helps to absorb oil and reduce shine, cover blemishes, and give mineral makeup a creamy texture.  You may also see it labeled as China clay.

·  Magnesium Stearate – Derived from vegetable oil, this mineral helps mineral makeup to provide better coverage and improves the texture and consistency of the cosmetics.

·  Oils/Fragrances – These are not necessary in mineral makeup, though some users enjoy the added benefits that essential oils can provide. I personal stay away from them as you need to keep in mind that using oils will cause the mineral makeup to expire, and that some users can be allergic to the oils, so these are not recommended for women with sensitive skin.

·   Pure Silk – Silk is not often found in mineral makeup, especially those marketed towards vegans and vegetarians.  Silk can help moisturize the skin and heal burns.
·  Rice Powder – Unlike cornstarch that is sometimes used as an oil absorber, rice powder does not expire and can be kept indefinitely in an airtight container. Rice powder works well for a variety of skin types and can help give skin a porcelain finish.

·   Serecite Mica – Mica is what adds the sparkle to some mineral makeup.  It can help decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and it is often found in mineral makeup eye shadows. 

·   Silica Microspheres– Silica can help control oil and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.  It can also help your makeup to stay on for longer periods of time.  However, make sure that the silica used in the mineral makeup is not amorphous hydrated silica, as this contains a known carcinogen, crystalline quartz.

·  Titanium Dioxide – This mineral is found frequently in mineral makeup.  It helps give the mineral makeup its natural SPF protection, reflects light, and helps the makeup cling to your skin.

·  Zinc Oxide – This mineral also offers SPF protection.  It is also what allows mineral makeup to help heal irritated skin and rosacea.

Drug store mineral makeup may include some of the above ingredients, but then may also include fillers and/or chemicals.  When shopping for mineral makeup, look for as few ingredients in a product as possible.  Keep in mind that if you don’t know what it is, you probably don’t want it on your face.

Check out our Mineral Powder Makeup!