Fun Activities to Do Outside with the Kids

PEKIN, Ill.,––If you haven't checked the weather yet, it's time you knew we've got some gorgeous weather ahead of us, which makes it a great time to get outside and spend time together as a family! Some great ways to get outdoors and enjoy the weather includes taking walks, playing with your favorite doggo in the backyard, and lounging on the deck with the ones you love, but maybe it's time to mix it up? We've got some great ideas on fun activities to do outside with the kids this week.

1. Color Scavenger Hunt

Color a few blocks on a white paper bag and set out to find objects that match that color! 

2. Sidewalk Chalk Pops

Make and use these sidewalk chalk pops together! The handles make it easy for little ones to hold without as much mess. 

3. Rainbow Bubble Snakes

Honestly, who doesn't love blowing bubbles?! All the supplies you need for this are probably already in your house, too. 

4. Leaf Rubbing Collage 

Take a walk around the park, or head to the woods if you have a spot nearby to collect different types of leaves - just watch out for poison ivy! Then do the coloring outside!

5. Tin Can Bowling

Classic bowling can be done in your backyard easily with some empty tin cans and a small ball. 

6. Marshmallow Shooters

You can create a target-based game in the yard with these fun little shooters!

We hope you get outside this week to enjoy the awesome weather with your family and loved ones. Are there any fun activities you like to do outside with the kids during the Spring and Summer months? Let us know on social media! We're a big family at Velde Ford Pekin and aim to service each and every customer as if they're family, too. Learn more about our team online and let us know how we can help you with finding a new car, finding a used car, or servicing your Ford! 

At Velde Ford, we're committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Stop by the dealership located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or visit our website: VeldeFordPekin.com for more information.

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Quick Springtime Recipes for a Healthy Lifestyle

PEKIN, Ill., – With spring in full effect, it is time to get a jump start on new recipes that are both healthy and easy to make! Warm weather is on the horizon, making outdoor activities favorable for the season! To make the outdoors more enjoyable, try these quick springtime recipes for a healthy lifestyle to suit your needs!

1. Asparagus Crostini

If you are looking for that perfect party snack, this recipe is sure to be a hit with all of your party guests. It's very simple to make and the perfect meal to add to your outdoor festivities!

2. Venison Oscar

Have you gone wild yet this spring? This recipe is a blast full of exquisite flavor mixing both tasty venison and fresh crab meat! 

3. Pimiento Cheese Spread

Peppers and cheese both make for a savory sandwich you are sure to love! With five simple steps, this recipe is the perfect choice to satisfy your taste buds!

4. Watermelon-Cucumber Salad

This delicious salad is a both healthy and easy alternative to your daily routine. The watermelon and cucumber flavors really complement each other well, creating the perfect combination!

5. Chocolate Zucchini Bread 

When you are ready for dessert, look no further than this scrumptious chocolate zucchini bread recipe! With a marvelous blend of flavor, it's the perfect sweet to top off your favorite meal!

As you enjoy this spring season, indulge in these quick springtime recipes for a healthy lifestyle! Mixing bold new flavors is an exciting and fresh way to enjoy the warm weather. With winter in the past, it's time to freshen up your car! Check out our spring car care tips to learn about preparing your vehicle for the spring season.

At Velde Ford, we're committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Feel free to visit Velde Ford located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

Visit our website: VeldeFordPekin.com


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5 Kid-Friendly Spring Crafts

PEKIN, Ill. –  Get the kids together, or even the whole family and have some fun making these 5 kid-friendly spring crafts! Welcome the sunshine with your masterpiece when you’re done and put them in the window or around the house. With the weather warming up, the flower pots are a fun way to introduce your kids to plants and gardening, and the other crafts can easily be created using items from around the house! Add a splash of color to home with these cute crafts to create with your children!

5 Kid-Friendly Spring Crafts

Paper Rosette Birds

 

Thumbprint Flower Pot

 

Caterpillar Clothespins

 

Toilet Paper Tube Butterflies

 

Lady Bug Bottle Cap Magnets

 

We hope you have a great time making these crafts while the rain subsides and the sun comes out! Something else you can do on this rainy day is check out our spring car care section on our website! The service experts at Velde Ford want to make sure your vehicle is performing its best every season. Learn about the routine maintenance your vehicle needs this season and schedule a service appointment online.

At Velde Ford, we're committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Feel free to visit Velde Ford located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

Visit our website: VeldeFordPekin.com

Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Instagram

May is the Month for Motorcycle Safety Awareness

PEKIN, Ill. – May is the month for Motorcycle Safety Awareness. Velde Ford takes your safety very seriously. Keeping you and other drivers on the road is our first priority. During the nicer months, it’s important to start looking for motorcyclists on the road. Too many accidents are caused between car drivers and motorcycle riders that could be easily prevented. Staying safe on the road is a two-way street and a shared effort, so take a look at these safety tips for drivers and motorcyclists.

Tips for Motorcyclists:

• Wearing the right gear for riding is the key to your safety. A helmet, closed toe shoes, pants, a motorcycle jacket, and gloves should all be worn. Although some motorcycle gear can be a little heavy to wear, it’s going to ease your fall in case you ever get into an accident. Some of the gear, like your helmet, will also help protect you from flying debris when you’re riding.
• Stay aware of your surroundings and always watch out for potential road hazards. As a motorcyclist, you’re harder to see in traffic. Being aware of other drivers around you and looking out for any road hazards like potholes, train tracks, and construction will help you avoid any potential accidents.
• Use your turn signals and headlights. The key is to make you as visible as possible to other drivers. This is also very important to other drivers, but motorcyclists especially. You’re more likely to get into an accident when other cars can’t see you or don’t know where you’re going. 
• Check the weather. There’s nothing worse than getting stuck in a rainstorm or thunderstorm when you’re on your motorcycle. Double checking the weather will help your avoid these situations and keep you safe on the road.

Tips for Drivers:

• If you’re driving behind a motorcycle, leave at lease a 3-4 second following distance between you and the bike. If there’s ever a case than you need to stop quickly or swerve, you want to have the time to do that and avoid hitting the motorcyclist in front of you.
• Consider the condition of the road you’re on. If you’re on a road with potholes, railroad tracks, or even construction, the motorcyclists will need to slow down and avoid these obstacles more than a person with a car. We recommend following even further behind when encountering road conditions like this.
• Always, always, always check your blind spots! This is one of the leading causes of accidents between cars and motorcycles. Motorcyclists move much quicker and are much smaller, making them harder to see when they’re coming up in your blind spot. Double checking your mirrors and looking over your shoulders will help you avoid any potential accidents.
• Don’t try to share a lane with a motorcycle. Even if your car is on the smaller size, it’s never safe to share a lane. In the case that you have to swerve or the motorcyclist needs to swerve, you may collide. Give the motorcycle the space it needs to drive. 

Although May is the month for Motorcycle Safety Awareness, you should practice these tips every month to keep safe on the road. Your safety goes beyond these helpful tips. Take a look at our Spring Car Care pages online to learn about the maintenance your tires, car fluids, and suspension and alignment need this season. Routine maintenance will not only keep you safe on the road, but your vehicle will perform its best as well. Schedule your spring service appointment online today.

At Velde Ford, we're committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Feel free to visit Velde Ford located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

Visit our website: VeldeFordPekin.com

Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Instagram

DIY Gardening Projects for Spring

PEKIN, Ill. – Spring is finally here and the warmer weather is on its way! If you’re an avid gardener, this may be your favorite time of the year. It’s time to start planning what you’re planting this year, and if you’re bored of the same old veggies, fruits, plants, and flowers year after year, then we have something for you! Take your green thumb to the next level with one of our creative DIY gardening projects this spring. We guarantee your garden will be the coolest one on the block, no matter the size!

DIY Gardening Projects for Spring

Mason Jar Herb Garden

 

Vertical Vegetable Garden

Plastic Bottle Garden

 

Geodome Greenhouse

 

Tire Flower Planter

Tiered Herb Garden

 

With these awesome gardening project ideas you’ll be ready for the warmer weather in no time! To make sure your vehicle is just as prepared for spring as you are, we have a new spring car care section on our website. Check it out to learn more about the routine maintenance your vehicle needs this season. Schedule a service appointment with our experts at Velde Ford today.

At Velde Ford, we're committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Feel free to visit Velde Ford located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

Visit our website: VeldeFordPekin.com

Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Instagram

Six Things You Can Do with Easter Peeps

PEKIN, Illi. - As one of Easter's most infamous candies, Peeps really should serve as a multipurpose item; don't you think? In order to make your Easter as peep-alicious as possible, we thought we would present you with six things you can do with Easter Peeps! From homemade centerpieces to a delicious dessert, you won't have an excuse to leave any extra Peeps sitting around the house.

Whether you are in search of a recipe to make for Easter brunch or a fun craft for the kids to do during your celebration, you can find dozens of great ideas on our Pinterest page!

Six Things You Can Do with Easter Peeps

Peeps Topiary Craft
Why keep Peeps tucked away inside of the Easter basket when you can make them the center of attention? Here are the instructions on how to make this colorful masterpiece.

Peek-a-boo Peeps Cookies

A soft, chewy sugar cookie with a sweet marshmallow Peep in the middle. Need we say more?

Easter Peeps Centerpiece 
You can keep this centerpiece out all season long! All you need is a large vase, a drinking glass, jelly beans, and your favorite flowers. Read the step by step instructions here.

Peeps Candy Bars

It's safe to say that these bars are little slices of Easter candy heaven with chocolate cake, marshmallow peeps, and easter M&M's! 

Peeps Easter Wreath

How would you like to HANG out with your Peeps on Easter? (See what we did there?) This Peeps Easter Wreath is easier to make than you would think! Here are the instructions. 

Peeps Fruit Kabobs
Pair your Peeps with a few pieces of juicy fruit on a wooden skewer and you've got a great grab-and-go treat for the kids.

Spring is finally here at Velde Ford! Get your vehicle ready for the warmer weather with our service FAQ page. Learn all about the routine maintenance your vehicle needs for your brakes, wiper blades, engine, and more. If you have any questions feel free to give our service experts at call at (888) 221-2804. You can schedule your spring service appointment online today. 

At Velde Ford, we're committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Feel free to visit Velde Ford located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

Visit our website: VeldeFordPekin.com

Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Instagram

Healthy Dinner Recipes For Spring

PEKIN, Illi. – Spring has finally arrived! While we're excited about the nicer weather, it has also sent us into a panic knowing that summer is around the corner, and therefore bathing suit season will be here before we know it. (Insert nightmares.) BUT, the good news is that thanks to our Pinterest obsession, we have tons of healthy dinner recipes for spring at our finger tips!

Below we have gathered up a few of our favorite recipes that taste like spring and will help us slim down for summer without sacrificing taste! Try them out! After a few weeks of tasty dinners and a few good workouts, we bet you'll be running to the beach!

Healthy Dinner Recipes For Spring

Cranberry Avocado Spinach Salad with Chicken

Sriracha Lime Chicken Chopped Salad

Quinoa Enchilada Casserole

Baked Chicken with Spinach & Artichokes

 Easy Shrimp & Broccoli Stir Fry

Orange Chicken with Asparagus

If your vehicle needs help getting in shape for summer too, let us take care of it for you! The service centers at our Buick Dealership and Ford Dealership are equipped to handle any of your auto needs and we're more than happy to answer any questions you may have!

At Velde Automotive Group, we are committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Feel free to visit either of our dealerships, Velde Ford  at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or Velde Cadillac Buick GMC is located at 2220 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

Visit our websites: VeldeGM.com and VeldeFordPekin.com

Follow us on: Velde GM Facebook, Velde Ford Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Instagram 

Rainy Day Activity Ideas

Pekin, Illi. – They say April showers bring May flowers, and we're definitely not short on rain this week! If you're anything like us, the first thing you want to do on a rainy day is curl up on the couch and watch a movie, but if we're being real here we all know you can't watch a movie every single day of spring. So, if you're looking for a few fun ideas to cure the rainy day blues, check out these rainy day activity ideas!

Rainy Day Activity Ideas for Kids

Indoor Treasure Hunt

Host your very own indoor treasure hunt! All you have to do is create a set of clues, with each clue leading to the next and eventually to the treasure. Label the clues (5/10 or five of ten) to help the hunters keep track and before you know it they'll be lost in another world!

Build a Fort Indoors

Is there anything cooler as a child than building a fort inside and being able to sneak away to what seems like an alternate universe? Probably not.

Indoor Paddle Ball

Just because the rain is keeping you inside doesn't mean you can't get active. Try this indoor version of paddle ball – and no expensive vases or lamps will get broken.

Get Scientific

Play Bill Nye and watch your little ones oooh and ahhh over this science experiment that makes these worms come alive right before your eyes!

Cardboard Creativity

There's just something about a cardboard box that sparks creativity. The options are endless and will keep your little ones occupied all day!

If you do brave the rain and head to town on a spring rainy day, make sure to exercise additional caution on the roads since they can become slick with rainfall. As the weather changes, it's always best to be extra careful to ensure safety for you and your passengers.

If you're sick of the rain and can't wait to drop the top on a brand new convertible, stop by our Ford Dealership serving Peoria, IL to check out the new Mustang or visit our Peoria area GMC Dealership for a vehicle that is ready for any type of adventure!

At Velde Automotive Group, we are committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Feel free to visit either of our dealerships, Velde Ford  at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or Velde Cadillac Buick GMC is located at 2220 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

Visit our websites: VeldeGM.com and VeldeFordPekin.com

Follow us on: Velde GM Facebook, Velde Ford Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Instagram