9 Carve-Free Pumpkin Designs

WESTLAND, Mich.,–– If you like to carve pumpkins, but hate how messy it can get, we have the solution for you! These 9 carve-free pumpkin designs are the answer to your Halloween woes. Discover the creatively clever carve-free solutions that will make your front porch stand out this October. Plus, if you're decorating pumpkins with your kids, you won't have to worry about the dangers of sharp knives and cutting tools.

1. Watermelon Pumpkin

If you want to add a little summer flair to your fall festivities, make a watermelon pumpkin to remind yourself of warm months, relaxation, and the deliciously tasty flavor of watermelon!

Difficulty: Easy

Supplies Needed: Paintbrush (large and small), light green paint, red paint, white paint, and black paint

2. Optical Illusion Pumpkin

For a truly eye-catching pumpkin design, this optical illusion pumpkin will definitely attract the attention of Trick-or-Treaters as they approach your doorstep for candy.

Difficulty: Medium

Supplies Needed: Paintbrushes (large and small) Black and white paint, foam pouncers, paint tape

3. Plaid Pumpkin

Give your pumpkins their very own flannel to stay warm this October! With a plaid pattern, your pumpkins will stand out against the backdrop of warm fall colors (and look great doing it!).

Difficulty: Easy

Supplies Needed: Black paint, white paint, grey paint, paintbrush

4. Melted Crayon Pumpkin

Want a great kid-friendly and paint-free pumpkin project? Glue crayons to the top of your pumpkin and melt them to create an amazing kaleidoscope of color!

Difficulty: Easy

Supplies Needed: Crayons, tacky glue, hairdryer

5. Doughnut Pumpkins

Want to make the tastiest looking pumpkins in the neighborhood this October? Paint your pumpkins with this doughnut design and top it off with real sprinkles, or paint them on for an extra tasty effect!

Difficulty: Medium

Supplies Needed: White paint, paintbrush, colored paint (for the "frosting" - we recommend pink, light blue, or dark brown), glue, sprinkles, and colorful paint for the "sprinkles"

6. Ombre Pumpkin

If you want to make a truly one-of-a-kind decoration for your front porch this season, blend your favorite colors together with an ombre pumpkin! If you want to add a Halloweeny touch, use orange and dark purple paints to bring out the spooky side of pumpkin decorating.

Difficulty: Easy

Supplies Needed: White spray paint, enamel paint (we recommend purple and orange to get the Halloween look you want), and cotton balls to blend the colors

7. Eyeball Pumpkin

If you're on the hunt for a truly unsettling Jack-o-Lantern, "look" (get it?) no further than the creepiest carve-free design you'll ever find! It requires a little bit of extra work, but the end result will give you an extra pair of eyes on your home. (The puns stop here, we promise!)

Difficulty: Hard

Supplies Needed: Small, medium, and large paintbrushes, red paint, white paint, green paint, black paint, yellow paint, paint blender, and tape

8. Floral Moon Pumpkin

Want to capture the spirit of Halloween without the spookiness? Create a floral moon pumpkin to pay tribute to Halloween's history with a breathtakingly beautiful decoration. Use a craft pumpkin to keep this perfect centerpiece around for years to come!

Difficulty: Hard

Supplies Needed: Paper, scissors, black spray paint, pencil, drill, fresh flowers, and (optional) craft pumpkin

9. Silhouette Pumpkin

Give your pumpkins a mess-free and stylish look with pumpkin stencils! Create these spooky silhouettes in a matter of minutes with some black paint, creativity, and some patience!

Difficulty: Easy

Supplies Needed: Small paintbrush, black paint, Halloween stencil

Whether you prefer to go all out on Halloween or just want to try something new, these 9 carve-free pumpkin designs are sure to be a hit this October! Looking for more Halloween-themed DIY projects? Follow us on Pinterest! We'll be posting recipes, costumes, designs, and all things Halloween this October. Also, before the snow starts to fall in Westland later this year, schedule a check-up for your vehicle to make sure it will be able to take on the changing temperatures. Use our tips and tricks to keep your vehicle in peak condition through the transition from warm to cold weather, and contact us if you notice anything wrong with your vehicle or have any questions about service.

North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, and is committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at 888-806-7163, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

Visit our website: http://www.northbrosford.net

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Easy Soup Recipes to Get You Through to Thanksgiving

WESTLAND, Mich.––Thanksgiving is just a little over a week away. Between calls to family members about travel plans and the Thanksgiving Day feast menu and your regular work schedule, you may be feeling like you just want to eat takeout for the next week. If you're not keen on takeout, or just would rather eat a home cooked meal with the family, we've got you taken care of. Try one of these easy soup recipes to get you through to Thanksgiving! Note: these recipes are best enjoyed with a warm blanket, on the couch, with your favorite show on.

5-Ingredient Broccoli Cheese Soup

Chicken Pot Pie Soup

Slow Cooker Potato Soup

Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

Vegetable Soup

These easy soup recipes to get you through to Thanksgiving are able to be frozen, so if you don't gobble it all up before the Holiday weekend, you can save it for later! You could also use these soup recipes as the soup/salad offering for Thanksgiving dinner itself. Either way, we hope you enjoy the simplicity of a one-pot, homemade, warm, and cozy meal. 

We want to help you stay warm and cozy on the road this season, especially when the snow arrives. Make sure to check out our Fall Car Care tips to learn about what auto service and maintenance you should have done before winter, like a heating and ventilation system inspection. To get prepared for winter, you should also consider having a set of winter tires put on your car. You can get a quote and a low price guarantee at North Brothers!

North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, and is committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at 855-739-2023, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

Visit our website: www.northbros.com

Follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube and Google+

Join Ford in Celebrating Detroit Innovation at This Year's Thanksgiving Day Parade

WESTLAND, Mich.––If you'll be tuning in to watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade roll down the streets of Detroit this year on November 24th, you might notice some new things. Ford will of course be there, continuing the tradition of supporting its hometown, but in a more prevalent way. The entire 90th anniversary parade will be powered by more than 40 Ford vehicles like the F-Series trucks, Mustangs, and Explorers. Not to mention, Ford will be largely represented by the new float, appropriately named "Mobility One". We hope you'll join Ford in celebrating Detroit innovation at this year's Thanksgiving Day Parade!

The new Mobility One float will be 90 feet long and will feature a timeline of Ford's history of innovation in Detroit. The float will travel about 3 miles in the country's largest and longest-running parade. If you're watching from home, a large Henry Ford will fill your screen, followed by young student figures, and a vision of the future where cars can fly.

Throughout the Mobility One float will be embedded screens that will be showing highlights of Ford Fund's efforts to better the world. It won't just be figures and screens, but local people you'll see around the float. Allison Schmitt, a Canton native and 8x Olympic swimming medalist will be riding on the float to celebrate her families commitment to Ford. There will also be dozens of Ford Volunteer Corps members walking in stride with the float.

The float, Annual Ford Fireworks, and Ford's new sponsorship commitment of 3 years to the Thanksgiving Day Parade are just a few ways Ford is showing support for the Detroit community this November. Ford is also partnering with Holiday Meals on Wheels this year to get Thanksgiving Day meals out to over 6,000 home-bound seniors. As a group effort, Ford and The Parade Company and Gleaners Community Food Bank are teaming up to help feed 715,000 people! You can make a donation to the Food bank at gcfb.org.

In the past 10 years, Ford has made investments towards a Ford Resource Center, Cass Community Social Services' tiny homes project, emergency vehicle and mobile food pantry donations, the Ford STEAM Lab, and the Bill Ford Better World Challenge grant to University of Detroit-Mercy.

Join Ford in celebrating Detroit innovation at this year's Thanksgiving Day Parade by tuning in on channels WDIV-TV, WJR-AM, and WOMC-FM at 8:45am when the parade begins. We're proud to represent a company that consistently innovates for a better world and safer future, and that assists young minds in making a difference by following their dreams. We're proud to be a community partner to many organizations in the Westland area, and want to help provide community members safe and reliable vehicles. We can help you find the perfect ride, and help you maintain it, too with routine maintenance, and this season, Fall Car Care!

North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, and is committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at 888-806-7163, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

Visit our website: www.northbros.com

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Fun Activities to Do in November Around Michigan

WESTLAND, Mich. –– As Halloween is over and fall is winding down, you may find yourself just wanting to pull out the Christmas lights already. But don't mentally skip out on the the rest of the fall. November in Michigan has a lot to offer! Now, while we won't disagree with you that the Holiday season is something to look forward to, here are some fun activities to do in November that the whole family can enjoy.

Take a Color Tour

There's truly nothing as beautiful as the turning of the leaves in the fall. Our state has number of gorgeous areas to take a color tour but we recommend a route that right in our backyard. Follow this Pure Michigan color tour through Jackson, Ann Arbor and Monroe for a weekend ride filled with splendor and history. Or, create your own route!

Visit an Apple Orchard

In our opinion, there is no better way to spend an afternoon than walking through one of Michigan's many apple orchards. Wander the rows of trees picking yourself a bushel of delicious apples and afterwards enjoy some donuts and cider. You really can't ask for a more perfect day.

The East Lansing Film Festival

(Nov. 3-10)

Held on Michigan State University's campus, this film festival offers features, documentaries, and shorts from around the world.

See a Play

There's a number of terrific performances being held across the state this month, and a few that will get you in the mood for Christmas if that's what your looking for.

Wicked: Wharton Center in East Lansing, Nov. 9-27
Elf, The Musical: Fox Theatre in Detroit, Nov. 15-20
How the Grinch Stole Christmas: Midland Center for the Arts in Midland, Nov. 18-19

America's Thanksgiving Parade

(8:50 AM, Nov. 24)

Take in one of the largest and most spectacular Thanksgiving day parades in the country. In its 90th year, the parade boasts more than 75 floats, marching bands, and with actor Tim Allen serving as the grand marshal.

Silver Bells in the City

(Lansing, Nov. 18)

Experience the 32nd annual parade in the state capital the friday before Thanksgiving. The event has a number of attractions including the Silver Bells Village for holiday shopping and refreshments, the electric light parade, fireworks, and lighting of the Official State Christmas tree in front of the capital building. Silver Bells in the City is magical night not to be missed.

So get out there and enjoy all the fun activities in November around Michigan before Winter sets in. You're bound to make memories that will last a lifetime. Do us a favor though, check out our Fall Car Care tips before the weather begins to turn for the worse. We care about your safety on the road and those tips will help keep you out of harms way. Or, schedule your auto service online to make sure you're ready for whatever Fall and Winter have to throw at us!

North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, and is committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at 888-806-7163, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

Visit our website: www.northbros.com

Follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube and Google+

Halloween Party Food

WESTLAND, Mich.–– Halloween is officially Monday, but there will be plenty of Halloween parties, get togethers, and happenings going on this weekend. Are you ready to host a party? Even if you're attending someone else's Halloween party or get-together, it's common courtesy to bring something to snack on. Don't panic, you still have plenty of time to get something ready. And if you're planning on spending Halloween weekend or day at home, then feel free to whip something up for yourself to get in the spooky spirit! Check out these Halloween party food ideas that you can scare and satisfy guests with.

Nutter Butter Boos

Caramel Apple Nachos

Marshmallow Mummy Pops

Spider Web Nacho Spread

Peanut Butter Monster Munch

Hot Dog Spiders

Graveyard Pudding Cups

Eyeball Caprese

We hope these cute and creepy Halloween party food ideas give you inspiration to impress your guests, or impress yourself. Whether it's a party you're headed to, or a party you're hosting, we want you to be safe. Finding a safe and sober ride home is important before heading out, and if you're hosting, making options available to guests to stay the night is just as important. One easy way to stay safe on the road and keep your vehicle running well is with routine maintenance. Check out all our Fall Car Care tips and schedule your auto service online!

North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, and is committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at 888-806-7163, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

Visit our website: www.northbros.com

Follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube and Google+

Pumpkin Carving Ideas

WESTLAND, Mich. –– Halloween is right around the corner which means it's a great time to gather the kids, family and friends and carve pumpkins! Whether you prefer to stick with the traditional gap-toothed grin pumpkin, or are looking for something a little more interesting, we've got a few pumpkin carving ideas to get you inspired!

1. Cookie Monster

This idea is super easy and fun to do. All you need is blue paint, styrofoam balls, a black marker and cookies! This would be a great table decoration to serve cookies, or even look good on your porch with cookies not intended for little hands to eat.

2.  Monsters, Inc. 

If you or your kids are big fans of Monsters, Inc., this pumpkin carving idea is perfect! The best part about this idea is that it actually doesn't require carving - all you need is paint and/or permanent markers! 

3. The Sick Pumpkin

Looking to gross out any trick-or-treaters that stop by? Why not give this sick pumpkin a try! After you carve out the face, pull some of the pumpkins innards out to make it look like a 'sick' pumpkin - gross! 

4. The Owl Pumpkin

This pumpkin is a cute idea for those that aren't looking to spook or terrify. It works best with an oblong pumpkin, however, it's easy with any pumpkin and/or gourd.

5. Pumpkin Inception

If you think you're a master pumpkin carver and are up for a challenge, try this skull pumpkin within another pumpkin! While it might be tricky trying to find the right size pumpkins, this is one idea that will impress anyone that sees it.

When you spend a good amount of time carving your pumpkin, you want it to last as long as possible. That's why we recommend dipping your pumpkin in a large container of bleach and water (1 tsp. bleach per gallon of water). The bleach will kill bacteria and keep your pumpkin looking fresh! If you'd like to preserve your pumpkin even longer, brush a 2 tbsp. vinegar and 1 tsp. lemon juice mixture on your dry pumpkin every other day to keep it fresh for weeks.

We hope these pumpkin carving ideas have inspired you to make some truly terrifying and/or fantastic pumpkins this season! If you need a new ride to get you to the pumpkin patch, stop by our dealership to check out our vast SUV/Crossover inventory and Ford F-150 inventory that'll get you through the winter and beyond!  While you're preparing your house for the colder weather, don't forget to also prep your car for the winter months ahead. If you aren't sure how to prepare your vehicle for cold weather, check out our Fall Car Care Tips that cover belts & hoses inspections, heating system maintenance, weather stripping replacement, windshield damage repair, and emergency kit prep. 

North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, and is committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at 888-806-7163, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

Visit our website: www.northbros.com

Follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube and Google+

Better Fuel Economy is Just an F-150 Away

WESTLAND, Mich.––Finding a great deal on the truck of your dreams may be a priority, but considering the long term cost of ownership should be among your thoughts when going to purchase of lease a vehicle. Ford has been consistently innovating to bring its customers better vehicles, better features, and better gas mileage. Going further on a gas tank is important to Ford, and better fuel economy is just an F-150 away.

The 2017 F-150 models boast EPA-estimated ratings 2mpg higher than 2016 year models thanks to the new 3.5L EcoBoost engine. The 2016 F-150 offered 17/24/20mpg city/hwy/combined, and the 2017 F-150 will get 18/25/21mpg city/hwy/combined. However, this year the F-150's engine will be combined with the very first production 10-speed automatic transmission. This type of transmission will offer more smooth gear switching, enhanced performance, and a quicker 'get-up'. Better low-end and peak performance is what you'll see with the 10-speed pairing.

The all new adaptive-shift scheduling system will provide a more engaging driving experience. This is thanks to the shifting algorithms which take in real-time data from powertrain and driver control signals to ensure the right gear is being used at the right time. This will give towers and haulers more confidence. The weight-loss in the 2017 Ford F-150 is a big catalyst in the improved shifting performance. The 10-speed gearbox uses alloy and other advanced material to help the truck shed some pounds and reduced the overall packaging footprint, which is just one of the thousands of ways Ford is working to reduce, reuse, recycle, and sustain.

The fun of improved performance isn't just for the new 10-speed/EcoBoost engine pairing, it's also for the 2nd generation 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine. The new V6 will receive a boost in horsepower by 10. The total numbers for this engine actually beat out the diesel and gasoline competitors, including V8 engines. The second generation V6 can achieve 470 lb-ft of torque, and 375 hp.

If you're interested in checking out a 2016 Ford F-150, which will be offered for $244/mo through the end of October, we've got plenty for you to look at. We'd be happy to give you a test drive so you can see what the EcoBoost engine has to offer! You can check out our Ford F-150 model overview page to get a feel for each option available or start shopping now by viewing our online inventory. If you've got an F-150 that you want to keep running well, make sure to take care of routine maintenance and Fall Car Care before the winter season arrives.

North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, and is committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at 855-739-2023, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

Visit our website: www.northbros.com

Follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube and Google+

Tips For Driving Safely Around Deer

WESTLAND, Mich.––In Michigan, it's easy to look around and see all sorts of live nature, including animals. Even in the suburbs it's not hard to find animals of all kinds, including deer. While they're interesting to watch from your window, they can be dangerous, especially on the side of the road. This time of year is prime for deer and vehicle collisions in Michigan. In fact, Michigan is at high-risk, according to Statefarm, for collision with deer. We're here to provide you some tips for driving safely around deer!

Understanding deer is a difficult, and many times we don't know what action they'll take when you encounter them. Why they run out onto the road or why they stand and stare blankly at your headlights can seem like a mystery, but there are some general rules of thumb you can follow.

-Deer breed October through January each year and are most active during this time. This is when deer and vehicle collision chances are most high, so keep this in mind when you're on the move this fall and winter. 

-Deer typically hangout around open fields and wooded areas, but may come through to the suburbs or close to the road to forage for food. 

-Deer are most active during dawn and dusk. This makes them hard to see, so pay extra attention.

-Deer tend to fixate on bright lights. If you encounter one on the road who's blankly staring and not moving, flick your high beams on and off to grab their attention and hopefully scare them off. 

-Deer always travel in herds and very rarely alone, so if you see one, you can expect there to be others around. It's important to slow down even if the one you saw ran away. 

We want you to stay safe all year long on the road and hope these tips for driving safely around deer help you do so. Unfortunately collisions do happen with deer. In fact, it's better to hit the deer than to swerve and risk worse injuries. If you experience a collision with a deer, you can feel a slight peace of mind bringing your car to our North Brothers Collision Center because we work with all major insurance companies, have excellent expert auto technicians, and use state of the art equipment.

You can schedule a collision appointment online or by giving us a call. We'll walk you through what fixes need to be made, and will have you back on the road in no time. We always want to provide you a transparent, convenient, and positive experience because our community is family to us! To stay the most safe on the road this season and beyond, use our Fall Car Care tips and have us take care of any routine vehicle maintenance or inspections.


North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, and is committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at 888-806-7163, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

Visit our website: www.northbros.com

Follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube and Google+