Hello Longevity Seekers! 
How are you? It has been over a week since I last posted! Hard to believe it has taken me 4 days to finish this 1 post!
This will be a post full of pictures, happiness and love!
I had mentioned in my last posting HERE I was having a Vegan Event in honor of International Vegan Pizza Day – January 29, 2011! I think I also mentioned what a fast pace the week had been taking on ~ An energy unto itself so to speak…
So…I will begin with Thursday.
THURSDAY
Since my taste tester and I were hosting the first (of many – fingers crossed) Veg888 Blog Event, we wanted an area which was inviting, calm and most of all relaxing!
We decided we would host the event outside in the patio area of the shop.
We had an entire week to prepare for absolutely EVERYTHING! In the middle of my crazy week – I received an email from the race I was planning to do in January. Guess which day? January 29, 2011! :/
So, once I broke this news to my wonderful taste tester, we knew there was SO MUCH WE NEEDED TO DO! Whew!
I called to have chairs delivered, a porta potty, and a dj were the main elements we wanted to ensure before anything else was done. The rest-as they say- was UP TO US!
About a year ago we wanted an awning for the back patio area. We called around. ALL of the quotes we received were going to cost us $1,300 – $2,500. At the time we felt that was WAY TOO MUCH to pay. So what does any business person do? Look for one on CRAIGSLIST!
We found an awning the same measurements we wanted for only $100. Woo Hoo! Sure it said some random name on it…but that’s okay. I thought it would add to the charm. The tables we have acquired are ALL different, so I thought sure – why not?
I had attempted to hire people to hang the awning prior to now, however something always fell through! 
We were really pressed for time so we put some energy out there and voila! A customer said he could hang the awning!
We arrived at the store about 10am…the awning was up by 11 am! YES!!! The awning took a large part of the patio away from us being able to move things around, tend plants, etc. I am really glad we were able to find some help for my taste tester and get that awning up! LOVE PROGRESS!
Wall before the Awning goes up!
Here we are half way through it…
And finally ready for the BIG DAY!
Throughout the day on Thursday we talked about all of the things we needed to have done by Saturday afternoon! And let me tell you THERE WAS A PLETHORA!
We just kept going over our guest list, plates, glasses, water, salad, chairs, tables, etc. I figured if we talked about it daily, there would not be any last minute problems!
FRIDAY
By Friday evening we were pretty much set as far as the particulars, but there was still LOTS to do to fix the patio area! Move a BUNCH of plants, sweep, figure out the configuration, etc…
Here is the patio area prior to any movement…
I still had to tend the store and get ready for race day. I decided I would make a RAW dinner for us the evening before the race!
I decided on an OLDY but GOODY! MARINATED KALE SALAD with mushrooms and tomatoes! YUM! Besides, my wonderful customers have been giving me lots of lemons and Avocados! Perfect for a PRE RACE MEAL!
Marinated Kale Salad
1 Bunch Lacinto Kale
1/2 cup Crimini Mushrooms, sliced
2 Medium Organic Tomatoes
1/4 Apple Cider Vinegar
1/4 Cup Fresh Lemon Juice
1 clove garlic, minced
3 splashes Sesame Seed Oil
Spike to taste..
Directions: Mix liquid ingredients together in a SMALL bowl and whisk together. In a LARGE bowl add the entire bunch of chopped kale. While you are chopping the Kale, add the mushrooms and tomatoes to the “dressing” and allow to sit for 30 minutes, plus. (Overnight has a nice heightened flavor) Add the dressing, mushrooms and tomatoes on top of the Kale and massage everything with your hands! Allow to sit for 15 minutes and enjoy!!!
We were in bed by 12 midnight! Which is REALLY early for us!
Saturday
We woke up at 5:00am that morning. I meditated after I woke up. I wanted a CALM day, although I knew it was going to be ACTION PACKED until about 2 am – which was about the time I thought people would start leaving the event we were hosting.
The Race
Pepperdine University Coastal 5k/10K Run-Walk – Dockweiler State Beach – Playa Del Ray, California
We arrived at Dockweiler State Beach about 7:45am and checked in. My taste tester decided he would run the race with me that morning, which again, I would say was an INSPIRATIONAL moment for me! He amazes me all of the time! Which NOW that I think about it he has amazed me everyday for the last 10 years!
At approximately 8:00 am I checked in, picked up my number and Long Sleeve T-Shirt.
I found the environment to be really calm that day. Although there were more people attending the Venice Christmas run, I felt people were nicer and calmer at this event. There were also MANY MORE PICTURES of this event. Everyone was included in the pictures – not just the beautiful, elite runner, etc!
We headed to the START LINE and waited for our “kick off”.
View from the Start Line!!!
I wondered if I would finish tired? Would I still be running? Would I be walking? I went in knowing I hadn’t realistically EVER run 6 miles prior to this race. Sure I wanted to BUT I never did.
Up until the day of the race, the longest run I had done was 4.25 miles on Thursday prior to the race. I felt good, so I thought why not do the 10k! And so I did!
Race Time!
I began the race thinking “slow and easy” missy. I felt good. I had been taking in Rejuvelac and E3 Live ALL WEEK and knew this would help. I also took in a few other goodies that morning. Some Goji Berries, Gooseberries, Raw Cacao, a Banana and some dates.
By mile 3 I felt good. Still running “slow and easy” and I was able to keep my time. We decided we would use the Essentia water throughout the race. NOTE TO SELF: Find a better water transport system the next time. I didn’t like holding the bottle AT ALL! I switched hands a few times during the race, but all in all it ended up alright.
By mile 4 and 5 I felt good as well! The only negative part of the race quite honestly was the putrid smell that came from the waste stations we ran by during miles 3 and 4. The last mile from 5.2 – 6.2 was LONG! Maybe it seemed long since it was at the end of the race, or maybe it was the visual of the pink tape and cones. By mile 5.98 I was thinking…this is still going on? Not that further but I can’t see the finish line? Oh there it is – Oh I’m past it – Where’s my taste tester? I finished! OH HIT THE GARMIN and STOP THE TIME! BEEP – 1hr 20 minutes! What? 10 minutes sooner than you thought? YES! You did it! You made it! You started with a goal and made it!!!!
Finishing the 10k in 1 hr 20 min. actually surprised me! I thought for sure I would have been at a hour and half or more! So that was pretty good! My pace was 13:04. Although 1 min slower than my last pace time at the December Christmas Venice Run I ran a longer distance!
I would like to get to a faster pace, but I know it will take time, perseverance and strength training!
Just then a THOUGHT – Oh hurry! Gotta get to the house and shower!!!
Our snack right after the race consisted of more bananas, more dates, mineral rich crusts, rejuvelac with E3 live and pH10 Essence water.
We got home, showered, and ventured off to the store! The minute we got to the store I opened the store and my taste tester got to work outside.
I decided to close 2 hrs early on Saturday. I wanted to help my taste tester set up the tables. We also needed to get our pizzas, set up the plates, and other necessities we would need for the event. Whew!
By 8:30 pm we were done with everything! The chairs had been delivered at 6pm, the porta pottie came at 4pm and the DJ arrived about 8pm. Tables were in place, pH water was chilled, and even the Champagne was ready!
Here is the menu for the event…
The back patio has a kiosk. The kiosk is complete with a fridge, espresso machine, and various other amenities. You can see the inside here…
Here is an outside look of the kiosk after all of the plants had been moved and before we set up the tables!!!
Here were are later in the evening ready with umbrellas and tables!!!
We had planned for the event to begin at 9:00 pm and end at 2am. Now, usually when I would be invited to a party I would have arrived about 10 or so. People were at the shop right at 9pm! That was exciting. It told me the environment of health and relaxation IS NEEDED in this area!
As you see on the menu above we had various kinds of Vegan Pizzas!
Armagarden…
Just Vegan Cheese…
Pesto with Spinach & Tomatoes…
Mushroom and Fresh Tomatoes…Somehow I didn’t get a picture of this one???
A HUGE THANKS TO PURGATORY PIZZA FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THIS EVENT!!!
We also served Champagne, pH Water and/or Coconut Juice! Here are the glasses we used!
Everyone seemed to enjoy the fact they were glass, rather than plastic! I thought it was stylish!!!
Here is the DJ rockin it with one of the guests!
All in all is was a very successful day!!! I am pleased people showed up for the occasion. There was lots of love in the air that night and we were able to relax with many of the guests!
Our next event will be a Vegan Taco Night and I think I will invite more than 20 guests. It was the first event held in the patio area of the store and I needed to see what it would be like. How it would flow – but most of all what would it look like with 20 people in the patio??? Crowded? Was 20 to many? Those types of things!
I will update when that happens!
We went home after a very long day and went right to bed!!!! Interestingly enough we woke up at 10am Sunday!
We went on a drive and came home to rest and relax the rest of day.
I will leave you with this wonderful image of this guy we saw as we drove up to our house!
What a proud guy this was!!! I love the fact that there are peacocks near our home!!!
Thanks for reading!
Love & Light!
Namaste!
