The Toyota Tacoma Christmas Commercial – The Location, The Music, and More!

It’s the time of year we’re surrounded by red and green, tinsel and ornaments, Bing Crosby and Rudolph, and…. snow and Toyota trucks? Yes!

photo courtesy of Toyota Newsroom

There’s a new Christmas commercial featuring a granddaughter played by this actress, a grandmother who lends out her vintage Pentax Spotmatic camera, and a Toyota Tacoma. When it comes to holiday ads, there have been a handful of greats this year. One of the best is this Chevrolet commercial that will absolutely make you bawl but now Toyota gives it a run for its money. Take a look at the Tacoma ad then scroll down for more info…

The Locations. Part of this commercial was shot in the Seattle, Washington area known as Queen Anne. The address of the cute, green house is 2322 Bigelow Avenue North, which Zillow values around $1.9 million. Here’s a Google maps screen grab of the home I’ll never be able to afford…

Other hotspots from the commercial are Bob’s Java Jive and Frisco Freeze, both in Tacoma, Washington.

According to a reddit post, they also filmed in Langley on Whidbey Island, which must account for these shots from the commercial.

The Music. The singer in this commercial might sound familiar. Her name is Celeste and she’s also the featured singer in this Coca-Cola More Santas commercial. The music in this Toyota commercial is a song called “A Little Love.” Here’s the full track…

Where does this commercial stack up for you against other Christmas commercials this year? Does it make you want to rush out and buy a Tacoma? Save a little dough and pick up my children’s books instead. 😉 I have two, one for newborns, the other for toddlers. Check them out and I hope you like them!

Big and Small, God Made Them All – Contrasting small creatures with large (sometimes VERY large) creatures in a colorful book of rhymes and a fun twist at the end.

The Brave Bamboo – A timid pup named Bamboo isn’t the bravest pup on the block but when it counts, he shows up and saves the day!

-Out of the Wilderness

New Additions For Your Christmas Playlist

Christmas music has been on radios since before Thanksgiving, which (glass half full) gives us an opportunity to hear holiday songs we might not have heard before… along with the traditional favorites, of course. If you want to listen to my full Christmas playlist, check it out on Spotify below, then scroll down for the new additions for 2023.

Here are a few songs I’ve added to the list this season…

“Snow In LA” by P.J. Harding & Noah Cyrus

“Christmas Must Be Tonight” My Morning Jacket

“Christmas Must Be Tonight” Bahamas

“Christmas Island” Train

“Please Come Home For Christmas” Kelly Clarkson

Happy holidays!

-Out of the Wilderness

Progressive Replay Commercial with Kid ‘n Play – 90s Nostalgia

Progressive has a thing going with their “What Really Happened Replay.” I’ve caught myself thinking about a replay and preparing to drop a red flag when things don’t go my way. It’s just so fun to challenge things, even with the risk of losing a timeout! Can I get an amen? Progressive taps into 90s nostalgia with one of their latest commercials. It features rap duo Kid ‘n Play.

I Love Rap Music. I was around 13 yrs old when Kid ‘n Play was popular (late 80s, early 90s). But I was mostly listening to DCTalk and adult contemporary hits (don’t judge me!) so I don’t get that nostalgic feeling with this commercial. If they ever bring in this 80s icon who also happens to be my first crush as a spokeswoman, I’m all ears! But I still love Progressive bringing back the pair of hip hop stars for a ‘play’ful commercial. I also like the subtle nod to Kid’s hair from back in the day, as shown in the lawn sculpture.

Going, Going, Von! Von Miller’s in the ad, too. A little random but a little random goes a long way sometimes. Especially since Von, alongside is NFL teammate Stefon Diggs, star in another Progressive ad featuring gold suits.

Does this Kid ‘n Play commercial activate the endorphins in your body like Progressive hopes it will? Chime in below!

-Out of the Wilderness

Will Gavin Newsom run for President?

The short answer to the question is: Just when you think things can’t get any worse, they do. So of course Newsom is going to run. But will it be 2024 or 2028? The current presidency is going greeeaaaaat — Joe Biden is crumbling mentally and physically, followed closely by his cratering approval ratings. The only hope for the Democrats is… anyone else.

Seriously, anyone else. Sometimes when a professional athlete who gets paid millions and millions turns out to be a dud, I joke that I could lose games for half the income the athlete’s being paid. With Joe Biden, I could wreck the country less than he has and I have no government experience at all (except that time I helped get speed bumps in the neighborhood, you’re welcome Nashville).

To be perfectly honest, I hope Biden stays as the nominee because almost any breathing creature could out maneuver, fluster, and embarrass him in a debate. Kind of like when contestants on Survivor, Big Brother, or any reality competition show want to eliminate the biggest threats. Keep the weak ones around so your path to winning is easier. So it is with Joe Biden. It’s not because of his age. It’s not because the “party of diversity” nominated an old, racist white man. It’s because his level of mental acuteness is somewhere between a pine tree, a bar of soap, and the number 7. Anyone with common sense can see he’s half the man he was just a few years ago. Once Democrats stop fooling around, they’ll have a real nominee.

Enter Gavin Newsom. Michelle Obama. Hillary Clinton. Kamala Harris. Such a wide array of nightmares to take over for the current disaster occupying the White House.

-Out of the Wilderness

Chevrolet’s Gay Holiday Commercial – The Music, The Suburban, and More

Chevrolet has a sweet, new commercial that is as gay (happy) as it is sad (not gay). It was shot (🎥 not 🔫) in Detroit, the 🔫 capital of the world. All types of shooting aside, the commercial will, in fact, draw liquid from your face (tears, most likely, unless you’re drooling from all the holiday food they’re cooking). Before I use too many parentheses, check out the commercial (then scroll down for more).

You can fit a full basketball team in that behemoth of an SUV. I love the three rows of seats in the 1971 (or is it a ’72?) Suburban. So many windows, too, that no matter where you sit you’re bound to have some sunshine on your shoulders. Oh, that’s also the song in the ad. “Sunshine On My Shoulders” by John Denver from back in ’71 (or was it ’73?)…

What a great commercial from Chevy. This isn’t the first tear-jerker they’ve had, though. Remember this one from a couple of years ago? Cars definitely hold sentimental value, or at least they can. It’s clear this old Suburban sparks the memory of grandma and stirs the hearts of her entire family that day. It’s so gay.

-Out of the Wilderness