A Fun, Tasty April Fool's Day Dinner!

The tradition of April Fool's Day makes most people wary of the things they see, read, and eat on April 1. The double check their reflections before leaving the house, inspect their seats before they sit down, and often walk with their arms outstretched so they aren't surprised by "spider webs" or falling water.

But April Fool's Day can also be fun and innocent. Sure, you may have to be careful with food and treats from SOME people, but you can also make  a delicious and cute dinner that will make everyone laugh...without screaming first.

Check out this fun dinner idea for Meatloaf Cupcakes and Apple Fries. Sure, it looks like regular cupcakes, but it's really just your favorite meatloaf recipe (without "trick" ingredients) and mashed potatoes on top. With a side of apple fries, this dinner is sure to make people smile and is plenty "April Fool's."

What are some of your favorite April Fool's Day tricks or surprises?

Best Spring Events & Activities in the Puget Sound Area

Spring has officially arrived and many of the community events/activities that took a break for the Covid-19 pandemic are starting to come back. Like many of you, we are excited about the blossoms, blooms, sun (theoretically), and events that come with spring. 

Here are some of our favorite spring events and activities that are coming up in our area for you to check out!

• Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is back in full "spring" this year the whole month of April. Formal gardens are opened back up to the public, the Downtown Mount Vernon Street Fair is back on (the weekend of April 16), and many of the favorite art, craft, and dining options are open. 
• The Burien Farmers Market is a great place to be in the spring! With locally grown fresh produce, handmade processed foods, and creative wares, you'll never exactly what you'll find when you visit. Stop by the Farmers Market at Burien Town Square on Thursdays, 10am-4pm through April and then 10am-6pm starting in May.
• The Burien Uncorked wine walk and Burien Art Walk is Friday, April 1! If you love wine and art, you'll love this community event that let's you taste wines from wide variety of wineries and enjoy the local art scene! Find out more and get your tickets today.
• The Puyallup Vintage Market (also known as The Great Junk Hunt) is April 29-30 at the Washington State Fairgrounds. Plan on spending at least a day to hunt around for your newest treasure!

These are just a few of the fun and exciting things happening in our area this spring. What are you looking forward to doing most?

Five Things to Know About the 2023 Toyota Sequoia

The all-new 2023 Toyota Sequoia takes the best pieces of the full-size SUV’s long-established reputation and adds features that elevate performance, comfort and safety. Now assembled at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas (TMMTX), this completely redesigned SUV can tow like a truck, entertain the whole family and venture off-road without skipping a beat.

Here are five noteworthy traits of Toyota’s all-new 2023 Sequoia:

Hybrid Efficiency Meets Powerful Performance

The 2023 Sequoia is available exclusively as a hybrid. It’s not what most drivers picture when they think of an electrified vehicle, but the twin turbo V6 i-FORCE MAX powertrain is ready to shatter expectations of what a full-size hybrid SUV can do.

The powertrain, sporting 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque, marries the twin-turbo V6 with an electric motor generator that resides in a housing between the engine and the 10-speed automatic transmission — optimizing the power output of the vehicle. Expected to be highly competitive in fuel economy, the 2023 Sequoia also takes advantage of its electric motor for impressive acceleration and instantaneous responsiveness, on top of efficiency.

Drivers will find the Sequoia in 2WD or the available part-time 4WD system on SR5, Limited, Platinum and Capstone grades. The TRD Pro model will be offered only in 4WD.

Towing in an SUV has Never Been Easier

For those who feel intimidated towing a trailer in anything other than a truck, the 2023 Sequoia is here to dispel that fear. In addition to an increase in towing capacity of up to 22% over the outgoing model (up to 9,000 pounds), the SUV has a TOW/HAUL mode that engages the electric and gas motors in tandem for the ideal combination of acceleration and torque.

For visibility, the standard Panoramic View Monitor displays a top-down view of the vehicle and area around it so that drivers can have full confidence in maneuvering their surroundings, while the hitch view assists with trailer connection. And the Tow Tech Package, standard on the Platinum, TRD Pro and Capstone grades, offers Trailer Backup Guide and Straight Path Assist, which helps ensure the vehicle moves in a straight line once the desired path is set by the driver.

With the addition of optional power folding, extending and retracting tow mirrors, drivers will never have to question the decision to hitch their haul again.

A Family-Size Interior With Features for Everyone

A true family vehicle begins with seating for all. With three rows being standard on all grades and the third row offering six inches of adjustable range, the 2023 Sequoia can comfortably carry up to eight passengers on any family adventure. A segment-first Adjustable Cargo Shelf System is available that allows drivers to adjust their rear cargo and storage to meet their changing needs. Additionally, the SR5 premium package and above offers a hands-free liftgate, 120-volt power outlets throughout the cabin and cargo, and a power third row.

But, as any family pilot knows, the key to a successful trip is the right entertainment, and the 2023 Sequoia provides plenty of ways to keep passengers satisfied. It connects to smartphones with either Apple CarPlay® or Android Auto™, so passengers can play their favorite music. The new SUV also features Toyota’s new audio multimedia system — with Intelligent Assistant available for easy voice control with a Drive Connect subscription* for real-time traffic, map and routing information. The available 14-inch multimedia touchscreen helps keep everything at the driver’s fingertips.

If passengers opt for their own devices, Wi-Fi Connect subscription turns the vehicle into an AT&T Hotspot.

The Look, Feel and Ability of an Off-Road Vehicle

With the all-new TRD Off-Road Package, available only in 4WD on the SR5 and Limited models, off-road adventures come to the Sequoia line for the very first time. Featuring Bilstein monotube shock absorbers and TRD-tuned springs on the vehicle, drivers will feel surprising comfort on challenging trails, while Downhill Assist Control makes steep descents a breeze. And with CRAWL Control, off-road cruise control is possible at low speeds, so drivers can allow the system to control throttle and braking while they focus on navigating the path.

The TRD Off-Road also comes with Multi-Terrain Select, which is designed to control wheel spin depending upon the terrain for better traction, and with available electronically locking rear differential, which provides additional traction during challenging 4WD Low operation. And thanks to Multi-Terrain Monitor, drivers even get a view of hard-to-see spots, so they can squeeze past obstacles and keep the fun going.

The TRD Off-Road Package design also features a red front axle driveshaft, aluminum gas/brake pedals and unique 18-inch alloy wheels, so its bold look matches its fierce performance on the trail.

With Toyota Safety Sense, Peace of Mind Comes Standard

Whether drivers plan to use their Sequoia for towing big hauls, family road trips, or anything in between, Sequoia’s comprehensive Toyota Safety Sense system provides in the moment active driver support to help you reach your destination safely. Features like the Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection are designed to assist drivers by automatically detecting other vehicles, a cyclist in daytime and a pedestrian in low-light conditions.

Additional safety features include Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, which is designed to control the distance between your vehicle and a proceeding vehicle. Meanwhile, Lane Tracing Assist is designed to keep the vehicle centered between lane markers, and Emergency Steering Assist helps stabilize the driver’s emergency evasive steering maneuvers and help prevent lane departure.

The new Sequoia also includes Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Front and Rear Parking Assist with Automatic Braking, all standard on every grade. So, no matter the escapade, safety and convenience remain top of mind in every 2023 Toyota Sequoia.

Breaking Barriers: Toyota Employees Share Why They Love Working in the Automotive Industry

 

Women are no strangers to breaking barriers and sparking change. The automotive industry is just one example of how the professional strides of women in male-dominated fields continue to make a tremendous impact on the world.

What does this mean specifically for Toyota? Simply put, it creates an environment where innovative ideas, diverse perspectives and unique outlooks help propel the automaker toward becoming a mobility company, with a commitment of providing happiness for all. In this era of profound transformation, it’s imperative to have forward-thinkers with different backgrounds and experiences to be the driving force behind the technical shift.

Are there more advances that need to be made? Certainly. Fully closing the gender gap within the automotive industry is a goal that won’t happen overnight, but exceptional progress has been made and will continue. Business Partnering Groups (BPGs), including Toyota’s Women Influencing & Impacting Toyota (WIIT), helps promote and inspire career development while encouraging equity. The goal is that when more women feel strong and confident in their roles, more young girls and teens will also feel empowered to pursue careers in the industry.

In honor of International Women’s Day, see below for a few of Toyota’s phenomenal female employees, sharing why they love working in the automotive industry.

 

 

 

 

 

To see more amazing responses from Toyota team members, click through the slideshows below.

Toyota Celebrates 7 Millionth Toyota Certified Used Vehicle Sale

 Holman Toyota marks milestone sale and company’s continued leadership in Certified Pre-Owned vehicles

Toyota Motor North America marked another milestone with the sale of its 7 millionth Toyota Certified Used Vehicle (TCUV) to Wayne Maver Jr. The 20-year-old from Vincentown, New Jersey, purchased the 2019 Toyota Camry from Holman Toyota.

To celebrate the purchase, Toyota presented Maver Jr. with a check for the total purchase price of the Camry. The dealership and automaker also made a $5,000 donation in his name to the American Bladder Cancer Society, an organization dedicated to raising awareness of bladder cancer and advocating for research into a cure, treatment, early diagnosis and quality of life issues of survivors.

“I wasn’t expecting anything like this,” Maver said during the check presentation. “I purchased this Camry because of its reliability, and I knew it would last a long time. Now knowing I don’t have a car payment is just incredible, especially as I’m just starting my career. I have an uncle that battled bladder cancer, so Toyota making the donation to the American Bladder Cancer Society means as much to me as paying off my Camry.”

Maver was also presented with a $1,000 gas card from CarFax and given a four-year/55,000-mile maintenance plan.

“We were incredibly proud to be a part of this milestone for Toyota and continue the legacy of leadership in the Certified Pre-Owned industry, as well as have an opportunity to give back to our local community,” said Michael Schwab, general manager of Holman Toyota. “This is a testament to the value and reliability of Toyota vehicles and our commitment to delivering the very best for our customers.”

Toyota’s timeless commitment to quality, innovation and durability is the foundation upon which the TCUV program launched in 1996. For a used Toyota vehicle to be certified, it must pass a rigorous 160-point quality assurance inspection including interior and exterior condition and appearance; engine performance; transmission and transaxle operation; braking, tire and suspension system wear; and electronic system operation. This also includes added hybrid and fuel cell component coverage.

Vehicles sold with the TCUV designation come with a 12-month/12,000-mile limited comprehensive warranty, seven-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty and seven years/100,000 miles of Roadside Assistance.

A ceremony was held at Holman Toyota on Tuesday, March 8. Representatives from Toyota presented Maver Jr. with a check and hosted a celebration for dealership personnel.