Get Lost!: At the Farmer's Market

Gorgeous sunny days and enthralling summer thunderstorms mean only one thing: ideal weather for perfecting produce. And the best place to purchase the best local produce is at your local farmer's market.

You'd be surprised at the bounty of goods available at most farmer's markets. Sure, fresh fruits and veggies are expected, but anything from fresh baked goods to locally produced honey and honey-made products are usually available for purchase. Even gourmet dog treats and hand milled goats milk soap can be purchased at farmer's markets!

Although its a bit early in the season for most fruit and vegetable delights, check out PickYourOwn.org for harvest times in your area. My boyfriend can't wait for the local sweet bell pepper harvest to ripen. We're already collecting recipes to try out with the freshest local ingredients available. I encourage you to let the fruits and veggies of the season inspire your next menu. Not only is it cheaper to purchase produce when its in season, but you're also supporting the local economy and you're providing your family with a healthier, fresher option.

For some simply yummy recipe ideas, several reads are now on the market specifically written with the farmer's market shopper in mind. We've been going green and saving a little money by using some of the titles available at our local library. Better Homes and Gardens has a few older books available, but one book I'd love to get my hands on is "Fresh from the Farmer's Market" by Janet Fletcher. Some of the reviews on Amazon claim her recipes are a little too restrantry and sophisticated, but I'd love to read what shopping tips she provides.

Get Lost!: In the City

Great architecture and classic design share a distinctly unique relationship. They can play off of each other, influence each other, and inspire each other much to our aesthetic pleasure. For the cost of a bus fare, metro ride, or parking meter, you too can enjoy the hidden beauty which lies in any urban setting. Grab your camera and capture your favorite shapes, patterns, architectural elements, and design motifs. Challenge yourself to be inspired by them for your next craft project. Or better yet, take some artsy photos, blow them up and have them framed. Give them away as housewarming gifts to new neighbors or present them to old friends that move away so that they may have a lasting memory to cherish and admire.

Check out some of the shots I collected on a recent trek into the urban jungle!

Get Lost!: At the Zoo

Next time the kids are driving you nuts or you're just antsy to get out of the house, why not make a stop at the nearest zoo? (You can even threaten to leave the kids in the monkey house if they really start to get on your nerves!) Check out the Association of Zoos and Aquariums website to find a zoo near you!

The local zoo also makes for a great "stay-cation" this summer if the travel budget is a little tight. Don't forget to bring along the digital camera to capture some great shots of the exotic animals you're sure to come across. Go ahead and get inspired by the bright colors and bold patterns you see reflected in feathers, fur coats, and hides of the animals you encounter. Find your favorite pattern or color combo and let it inspire your next scrapbook page, homemade card, knitted afghan, or painted piece of furniture. Don't stop there. Let it also inspire your wardrobe and home decor too!

My personal favorite are the jewel-toned colors of the peacock. It's inspired me to work in peacock blue as an accent color in my living room. We already have sage green and dark brown in there. I can't wait to get a house of our own and paint an accent wall in Largo Teal from Benjamin Moore or Bosporus from Sherwin Williams. Throw in a few coordinating photo frames, candlesticks, and toss pillows, and you have a regal, nature-inspired living space.

Get Lost!: In a Greenhouse

Wacky Wednesday is once again upon us and I'm celebrating the less-than-warm temperatures of this teaser summer we are having, by inaugurating a new theme for Wednesdays during the month of June. Now, Wednesday's headlines will be "Get Lost!", a series on inexpensive and entertaining destinations for inspiration. What better way to relax, unwind, and recharge those creative juices than to save a little money, support the local economy, and explore some of the hidden wonders of your community!

First stop: the bright and beautiful, independent greenhouse! (Hint: This trip is especially fun for apartment dwellers or black-thumbs who don't have the space or the talent to keep a garden of their own!) Browse to your hearts content among the aisles and aisles of blossoms and blooms in any local, independent greenhouse. The Big Box Stores all have their corporate versions, but those greenhouses really pale in comparison to the variety and the stunning quality of plants at independent greenhouses.

"Where flowers bloom, so does hope." - Lady Bird Johnson

Color: Like a box of 64 Crayola crayons, almost every shade of every color of the proverbial rainbow are represented by the lush foliage and bountiful blooms of the plants and flowers found in any greenhouse. These colors and clashes of colors have forever been inspiration for artists, designers, poets, and writers. Monet had his water lilies. Shakespeare's rose still smells just as sweet. Channel some of this timeless creative mojo and get inspired by the colorful fragrances and fragrant colors you experience!

"The Earth laughs in flowers." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

The only money you'll have to budget for this little creative excursion is the cost of travel: either a few cents for gas or a few hundred calories if you bike or walk to your local greenhouse. If you are ever interested in purchasing any of the inspiring botanicals you come across, be sure to go native! Look for plants that are native to Wisconsin. Using locally grown, native plants is not only an educational experience, it also benefits the environment and saves you money with no need for pesticides or harsh fertilizers! Check out the DNR website for everything you need to go native!

Check back next Wednesday for another reason to Get Lost!