go shorty, it's your birthday

Today is my birthday! :] And today happens to be a Tuesday, which means nothing too exciting is happening, because we are all big kids with big kid jobs now. Plus I'm getting old. {aaaaah} but I will be sure to post the pictures from my birthday celebration. Tonight I am going to have a sushi dinner. In case you didn't know I am completely obsessed with Japanese food after I worked in a restaurant for about three years.

Then tomorrow I am going to a country concert to keep the celebration going! I better not tell you too much more otherwise you are already going to know what my blogs are before I post them!

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team effort!

my two grill masters :]

 

We decided to have a BBQ this weekend. I have been dying to try this pasta salad recipe and decided it was the perfect night for it. Everyone wanted some steak, but being vegetarian, {aka pescatarian} I had some swordfish, which is one of my favorite fishes. {Also one of the most expensive} It was a really nice way to get everyone involved in making the dinner.

The boys were outside making grilling up the steaks and the ladies were inside getting everything else ready. I think the food tasted even better because we all pitched in to help prepare and cook it.. It seems like it has been a long time since we have been together and sat down for a meal with all the chaos going on. It was the perfect weekend treat after a hectic work at week!

What is something you love to do with your family during the summer?

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where {not} to stay in san fran

 

During the week of Semicon especially, all hotels in San Francisco are basically booked, as well as the hotels hike up the price per night. I found this hotel that was close to Moscone and had the cheapest price. After all, I was only going to be there to shower and sleep right?

The Hotel Bijou is "Inspired by nostalgic, movie palace stylings, the Hotel Bijou celebrates San Francisco's rich cinematic history." The entire hotel is decorated with movie "theater-like" decorations. They even have a small little movie theater where they show two movies every night. Cute idea, yes but did they have proper accommodation? Nope. After setting up the booth all Monday morning I took a shower before heading out to the British Consulate {previous post} I took a shower. Nothing special but it did the job. Tuesday morning came and I tried to shower... no hot water. Called down to the front and they said something had happened and they were calling someone in to fix it. Fine, no problem quick cold shower it is. Come Tuesday night, I took a hot shower {assumed problem had been fixed} Wednesday & Thursday morning... cold, cold, cold showers! I complained everytime I saw someone in the office. They said to me that it "just happens" and that the hot water can run out in the morning. Ridiculous. Then come check out time, they only offered about a 15% discount on the room. It was just so frustrating that they knew about this issue and couldn't get it fixed. We stay in hotels for two reasons; the bed and the shower? Where do you expect me to go shower when I am staying up here for 4 days. One thing is for sure, I will not be coming back to this hotel.

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booth #1030

 

This is our amazing booth that was located in the South Hall of Moscone. We had a great location that produced a lot of visitor traffic and enabled our team to interact with the many visitors and other exhibitors.

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SEMICON West 2011

 

Welcome to SEMICON West!

My company's booth was located in the South Hall so that is where these pictures are from. Semicon is a three day long tradeshow every July, located in San Francisco's Moscone Center. As described on their website; "SEMICON West exhibitors are the suppliers to and partners of the world's leading microelectronics companies. From silicon to system—and everything in between and beyond—SEMICON West showcases the world's biggest and brightest names in microelectronics manufacturing."

It is a great opportunity for exhibitors to meet with their current or old clients and reconnect. It is also a great place to be introduced to new faces and potential customers to help your business grow and develop. There were also quite a few dad's who brought their sons to help encourage and get them excited about the Semiconductor business; as well as students who are studying engineering. This experience gave them the chance to see what kind of companies and opportunities there after post college graduation.

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pre-semicon, the british consulate

 

Before Semicon officially began, the UKTI (United Kingdom Trade Investment) put on an event the Monday evening at the British Consulate to help support growing businesses that are coming out of the UK. There were about 50 attendees there that were all there looking to mingle and network. A majority of the people already knew each other but it's always nice to meet some new faces before a big show.

Many companies like to host events, happy hours, or dinners after the show in order to get some more interaction and one on one time with people in the industry. I was able to attend a couple events on Tuesday night, which allowed me to connect and meet some new people.

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trade show!

Hi Friends! This week I will be in San Francisco attending SEMICON West's annual trade show for my work. This is my first trade show event and I am so excited to not only be an exhibitor, but to also be able to take some pictures and blog about it for all you lovelies!

This morning I met the set up team and we unpacked our four huge crates of material and put most of it together. Luckily, I am staying in a hotel here as I also will be attending some functions at night so I can save myself time and money by not having to drive back and forth all the time.

Tomorrow is the first day the show floor opens. I will be tweeting {so make sure to follow me} updates as often as I can and I will upload my pictures and blog probably when I get home since I only have my iPad with me :)

Have a fabulous week everyone and make sure to check back for updates about the show!

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the fourth

 

We decided to head down to this local park where they {apparently} set off fireworks every year. I wouldn't know since the past 5 years.. I have either been out of the country, living in LA, or working. Anyway, I was very excited this year to have the whole day off and to be able to do what I please! We were feeling lazy, so we grabbed some chinese food to go and took it to the park. There must have been easily a thousand people there but it was a really great atmosphere.

I then tried my luck for the second time in the past couple weeks at taking pictures of fireworks. I swear it is one of the hardest things to do. Don't believe me? You try and then come back and show me whatcha got! These two I think are my best. I love when it gets towards the ends and all the smoke is in the air and then a big bright colored one pops up and makes the sky all red. :]

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oh, Canada!

Happy Canada Day!

What's that you say? You know I'm not Canadian? Well yes, you caught me. But I do have a new appreciation for Canada after last summer while I was traveling, I happened to be surrounded by Canadians, on Canada day, in Italy. Random? A little bit, but ohhhh so much fun! {Read about it here}

On another note, have you been watching the royal couple on their tour through Canada right now? Kate is just killing it with her fashion and style! Check out these pictures I've found off different sites that feature just how perfect Kate is looking today. And take a close note of her hat.... spot it? It is shaped to like a maple leaf. Can she get any more perfect? I think not.

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