All of my life I have always loved the clean and fresh scent of cedar leaves, the smell of my clothes as they come out of storage at the start of each new season from my cedar chest,  and the beauty of cedar wood that is used in woodworking and furniture pieces.  Cedar is such a beautiful and historic part of nature here in Canada and has always been put to efficient use thanks to its abundance.  But it wasn't until I studied Herbal Medicine as part of my holistic nutrition schooling that I was introduced to the wonderful healing and medicinal powers of cedar leaves.  Now I have an even greater appreciation for this natural beauty, and an extra heap of love for the two big cedar trees I have gracing my back yard.

I love cheese.  Most of the people I know love cheese too.  With holiday season imminently knocking on our doors, we are now entering the time where we'll be hosting and attending family gatherings, get-togethers with friends, office pot lucks and other social events where cheese platters and dips are always a main offering.  But here's the thing with cheese:  as wonderful as it tastes and as versatile as it is, it's not the best choice for everyone. 

When most people think of mushrooms, they either think of the everyday varieties that are found at the local grocery stores (button, cremini, portobello, etc.) or the OTHER magic mushrooms that bring with them some far-out mind tripping experiences.  What they don't think of are the botanical mushrooms which have been around for thousands of years and carry with them a magic like no other herbal remedy.   Whether you love mushrooms or hate mushrooms, there are some forms of fungi that we all cold use a little more of in our lives.