Team LoveHATE's December Charity Run!!!

Written by Tracy Arnett / photography by Munpreet Randhawa

December is our busiest month when it comes to charity. From Toys to Tots to Operation Christmas. We are proud to set our trophies aside and pick up our Santa hats to bring joy to those who don't have it like we do. Every day we take for granted those gifts and blessings we experience with our lives so filled with shows, meets, work, and family. Rarely taking the time to actually stop and reflect on who we are.

Team LoveHATE has made it a point to freeze everything in December. Walk away from the gogo dancers, the smoke machines, industry parties, and our long anime / car show schedule to make time for THE KIDS!!!

Our first charity event actually was right before HIN. It was at Tapioca Express in Natomas and it was put on by Lazandro Sapinoso. The Charity: The Sacramento Children's Home. It was a small meet filled with people with big hearts. During a time when everyone is out shopping, several cars from various groups appeared for a common cause. Every car that came had to pay five dollars to display with the proceeds going to the Children's Home. Big props to all who attended. 

After our return from HIN "The Return", we geared up for MOAR CHARITY!!! SacCon, put on by Dan Houck and his SacAnime Family. Every year he puts on a show at the Scottish Rite Temple and uses the huge Anime fan base to help raise toys for the Marine's Toys for Tots. We spent a few hours there, dropped off some toys, met a few of our favorite cosplayers, and played catchup with a few of our friends who are usually on the road touring. 

 Our next event was "Drawing for the Kids" put on by Jason Dube's SCCG and friends at Empire Comics Vault. The event consisted of many artists coming together to create art and auction off with all the proceeds going to the kids and to receive donated canned goods to raise money for the Children's Receiving Home. We even did a special itasha-mobile for the kids and Charlo dressed up as Santa (he wore sunglasses so no one could see his almond eyes). The event was very successful and they were able to raise 700.00 for the Home.

The next day we headed out to Sacramento's Toys r Us to help Rodney Stanhope, (who camps out there for 3 weeks!!!) raise money for Yellow Ribbon America. We came in full force and DJ RSkee setup his system to help draw attention to the fundraiser. With such a prime location and with Christmas only days away, many onlookers couldn't help but stop by and drop something off to help the kids and families who have loved one fighting the war overseas. While we spend the year enjoying the freedoms we have, we can sometimes forget the soldiers fighting for it. I'm not sure how much they raised during that time but it was a ton of stuff!!! Expect us to be very involved with Rodney this year as we plan the 2st annual Team LoveHATE Holiday Car Show.

Well, that concludes our December charity run. I hope you enjoyed it.

Team LoveHATE and it's American Itasha Debut @ SEMA 2011 Day 1

Written by Jazel Gonzalez Photography by Munpreet Randhawa

Hiya all, I know it's been a minute. We have been super busy so there is so much to blog about. I had to break up our SEMA adventure into several parts. I hope you stick with the blog and read our whole story. As you might know, we headed out to Las Vegas to attend SEMA for the first time. Another first was that we were unveiling the Infiniti G35 Panty & Stocking Itasha to the international community. Scary!!! 

Our trip started at 6am in the morning. Once we taped up the old girl, Money, Randel and I were out of Sacramento... It took us like 10 hours to get there, probably because we took tons of stops. 

Once we arrived in Vegas we checked in, grubbed on a 10 dollar buffet at Border Station, came back to the room, napped, showered and checked out. 

Next, went to Hard Rock Cafe and made friends with the valet guys so we could park up front. 

All of Vegas was packed because Tieso just finished performing. We ajdusted our costumes and proceeded to gamble, drink, and party. We finally left Hard Rock at 3am. We all came up on a few bucks from penny so we were feeling good. Next stop, SEMA roll in.

As soon as we parked we raided the Shell gas station next door.  After a burrito, soup and some juice we fell asleep in the car in the first SEMA staging area. 

We woke up 3 hours later to the sounds of cars revving up and a guy knocking on our window. We then all rolled in the the second staging area. Once we were re-positioned, we received our papers and got the "green light" from the SEMA people that the car was eligible to be shown and even got a FREE Mothers care kit and our staging number. 

As soon as everyone finished  wiping down their rides, and the SEMA staff handed out all the paperwork the first group were finally ushered via LVPD to the THIRD staging area. I was sandwiched between two JDMSport SEMA build vehicles. One of them being Lee Ho and his Genesis, the man who made it possible for us to be here in the first place.

They split us up into two rows and we hung out there for about 45 minutes and then we were sent in twos and threes to our final spots. 

FINALLY!!! 

I spent most of the day detailing the "Purpie" till she was nice and shiny. I finally wrapped up around 3:30pm. Dude, I was so tired. We tried another dinner buffet at South Point then headed back to the hotel and took a short nap.

After we woke up we got ready and met up with the rest of the team that arrived that day to walk the strip and get publicly faded. Only in Vegas right??? 

That was day one.

Click here to see the full gallery of pictures on our facebook. Stay tuned for day two.