Lady Ford's Blog About Everything!

Sangria This is my go-to, crowd pleaser, always delicious, favorite drink! It is easy to prepare, and best of all, is prepared ahead of time, and gets better as it "brews". You don't need to spend a lot of money on the wine for this recipe, a simple table wine is best. The following recipe is for a large batch, which would make about 24 8oz. servings. If you'd like to make a smaller or larger batch, simply reduce or increase as desired. I've done it many ways and it always turns out great! I always eyeball my liquor quantities, so the below measures are approximate. Ingredients: - 4L Red wine, such as Chianti or Burgundy. I generally use  Carlo Rossi Chianti - 12 - 16 oz.  Triple Sec - 12 - 16 oz. Brandy - 2 liter of Sprite, Sprite Zero, 7Up, etc. Use about 1/2 to 3/4 bottle depending on strong you'd like it. - 1 apple, cored, and chopped into bite sized pieces - 1 orange, peeled, sliced into bite sized pieces - 1 8oz. jar Maraschino cherries, ...

Halloween mantle display with black lights on Halloween mantle display with black lights off  Spooky treats! Black light sensitive potion with floral beads . See how to on my previous post: Glowing floral beads & potion Black light sensitive potion made with glow in the dark paint and floral beads  Glow in the dark floral beads made with glowing paint

Antiquing Paper How To: This is a simple project that can be done to any type of normal paper to make it look old. The below print was printed on standard 11'' x 17'' paper with a laser printer. The final look is nothing like the pristine original (sorry no picture, at this time, I will load later).  The final product hung in the bathroom for Halloween! Materials: - Print or prints on standard computer paper, or similar material - Strong coffee, about 1/4 cup. I just saved some from the morning batch.  - Paper towels or sponge paint brush - Oven - Cookie sheet - Frame and "matte" optional Directions: 1. Crumble paper very well, careful as to not tear or rip, though. Fold and bend multiple ways until many lines and folds are created in the page. Repeat until desired results are achieved.   2. Place paper on cookie sheet and begin "painting" it with the coffee using either the sponge brush or a wadded up paper t...

I've been doing a lot of research on inexpensive ways to make an impact for Halloween. Mainly, having props that are black light sensitive. With a little help from my husband, we decked out the mantle and experimented with all sorts of fun "glowing" things (more details below). Here are some pictures of how everything turned out with details of each picture and directions. Empty Crystal Skull Vodka bottle filled with Tonic Water (quinine glows, which is in Tonic Water).  Glowing jar magic: - Left Jar: Empty Tequila bottle filled with highlighter water. Directions below. - Center Jar: Floral Beads soaked in highlighter water. - Right Jar - highlighter water Detail glowing Floral bead detail Old champagne vinegar bottle detail  How it looks without the black light on This one turned out great! Bottom layer is floral bead soaked in pink glow in the dark water.  Details below. Top is floral beads with highlighter. Giant...

I'm always looking for new great workout tunes. Here is what I currently have on my iPod playlists. Also, I've listening to a lot of college (and older) favorites, since I've been having a hard time finding new tunes. I moved all of these over from my old computer, I really had to dig, but found some good songs I'd forgotten about. Please feel free to comment if you have some good workout songs! * = faves! Old School Playlist: - Roll in my 64 - Snoop Dog - 1,2,3,4 - Coolio - Shorty Wanna Ride- Young Buck - If You Want Blood (Empire Records) - ACDC * - Break it Off- Sean Paul/ Rhianna - Salt Shaker - Ying Yang Twins * - Get Low - Ying Yang Twins * - Let's Go - Trick Daddy - Can't Nobody Hold Me Down - Puff Daddy (hey, that was his name at the time!) - Victory - "  " - In the Ayer- Flo Rida -  Hi-Lo - JT Money - Come on and Ride It - Quad City DJ's - Daisy Dukes - 69 Boys - All Night (Don't Stop) Remix - Janet Jackson ft. Elepha...

Over the years I collect Halloween themed wine bottles to creepy up my kitchen corners. Here is an assortment of what I've collected over the years. All in all, I don't remember any of these being fabulously good, but I do remember the cat bottle being the worst wine I've ever had in my life. A close second would have to be the one on the far left which you are supposed to serve warm, just wasn't my thing. It's all about the bottle for this display.  Corner wine bottle display for Halloween. The Cat and flying witch kind were really bad, the others are fair game. This is actually a Boulevard Beer made in Kansas City, MO

This is a classic recipe my mom has made for years and I've carried on the tradition. It is great for tailgates, making ahead of time (yes!), Halloween and everything in between. Plus, its very simple & always a hit. Recipe can easily be doubled for a larger batch - we do a double batch when we have over 20 people or so. Ingredients, Single Batch: - 1 can Old El Paso Refried Beans, can use traditional, fat free or spicy - 1 8 oz. block cream cheese, softened (I use low fat, always) - 1 small can chopped black olives - 1 package flour tortillas - Salsa to serve with the rollups - Foil - Food coloring, optional Combine beans, cream cheese and olives in a large bowl until well combined. Using a large spoon or spatula spread evenly across one tortilla, but not getting too close to the edges. Wrap the burrito tightly. Place about 5 burritos in a foil "package" to keep the air out. Continue rolling until you've used all your mixture. Refrigerate overnight fo...