My husband and I bought a house in Petworth, a neighborhood in Washington, DC and moved from our little condo in Columbia Heights about a month ago. The 83-year old row house we purchased has two dogwood trees (one white, one pink) in the front yard and the kindest neighbors we could ask for. After a month of renovations we moved in one month ago and have been making it our home, one day at a time.

Just today my mom returns home to Missouri after spending ten days with us here. With all the busy schedules and everyone married and traveling, it’s been harder and harder for all of us to find times to get together as a group, and I’m embarrassed to admit it was almost 1.5 years since I’d seen her. Happily, we found some much needed family time over the last two weekends between my entire family here in the DC area.

my nieces Margaux and Rachel

Elvis dance party!

Mom and Me

burlesque brunch at SAX

I just couldn’t be more appreciative for the time we shared. Here’s to making more great memories with those you cherish.

What are you grateful for this week?

As all of us have now become comfortable with carrying and relying on multiple devices (tablets, smartphones, laptops, desktops) to tackle our work and manage our communications, we will no doubt embrace even more as new and evolved products continue to infiltrate the market. Just consider the tabtop and phablet.

If associations want their content to be consumed, then they must think beyond traditional mobile sites and native apps as there one and only mobile solution, and really look at their website.

In a recent interview with ResultsDirect’s Cecilia Satovich on DelCor Sweet Spot Live, I asked her the big questions surrounding responsive design, the triumphs, challenges, and reasons why she considers it a solid solution.

Is your association considering moving to a responsive web design? What are the questions you still have?

If you’re feeling anything like me, the rush of new projects and goals in 2013 to accomplish jumped upon you in January and now you’re trying to catch your breath. You see, I’ve been having incredibly creative moments and ideas that pile upon me faster than what I know to do with them, but invariably, there are the other unplanned instances in life (meetings, emails, dramatic phone calls) whether in business or in life that creep in and before you know it, you’re scrambling again and those ideas are pushed aside or quickly forgotten.

After some recent family events, I’ve been reminded of how easy it becomes for many of us to get lost in the details. And it doesn’t help that in America our average “options” resemble something like this:

photo from CreationAgency.com

In this time of information overload that we live in, we are seeking quick, clean lines and the information that we need delivered quickly. I’ve been working a lot recently on online strategy projects, where often times we evaluate the clutter at hand on a website, define the objectives and needs of an organization, and understand the needs, language, and lifestyle of an organization’s members in an effort to bring a balance of efficiency and elegance to a client’s new online adventures.

Today, I am reminding myself that the answers are simple. A project can be complex, but don’t let distractions do their part to create overly complex situations. Stay on track and run the course. Break your project into many parts. Don’t let the clutter (phone calls, emails, Tweets, and G-chats) sway you or interrupt your most productive moments.

How are you “staying the course” and finding simplicity in your life?

“Three Rules of Work: Out of clutter find simplicity; From discord find harmony; In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” — Albert Einstein

Grace Coddington’s memoir. 

I want this/need this. I’m a big junkie for biographies and recently read Mindy Kaling’s Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, a fun, quick read that had me chuckling to myself non-stop. I’m also reading Stacy London’s The Truth About Style which is semi-autobiographical, so this would be an awesome gift for myself. Take a look at my other gift ideas on Pinterest. 

Grace Coddington Memoir

Moscow Mule 

An American classic cocktail originating from the vodka craze in the 1950s, this drink is easy to make and perfect for a little holiday shindig. My friend Svetlana (the force behind http://www.brightestyoungthings.com) made this for me during a quick visit yesterday and perhaps it’s my Splenda-loving/sugar-hating ways, but I’m always shocked by how delicious ginger beer can be in a cocktail.

Moscow Mule

Jessica Pratt

San Francisco native Jessica Pratt’s debut album is a soft, folksy gem reminiscient of Linda Perhacs and Karen Dalton. This release seems to be perfectly suited for the cold months, like a warm sweater that you wear. Not that I bake too often, but if I did this would be my baking soundtrack.

What’s inspiring you this weekend?

However, one moment worth mentioning twice was meeting the opening keynote of #Tech12, Brian Solis. A big fan of his books and blogs, it was an honor shaking his hand and grabbing a quick photo with the business analyst.

For more on the Conference, as well as my interview with Craig Sorrell, the Project Coordinator at AIHA, please read my post on the DelCor blog tomorrow.

Wowser, It’s been a busy few months and my goal of blogging more is well, suffering as you can see. I’ve been a horrible blogger on my own personal site, as well as on DelCor’s, although I’m making one hell of a blog coach to the DelCor staff as our blogger competition ramps up. Whistles up!

So, in case you didn’t know, I host this little bi-weekly show for DelCor called Sweet Spot Live where I get to cover association and tech-related topics of my choice for an 30 mins to an hour every other Friday from 12:30-1:30pm ET. This Friday I just happen to be attending The Washington DC Chapter of the User Experience Professionals Association event, so it’ll be an extra little perk to share some of what I’ve learned during the morning sessions. I’ve had the opportunity to interview some outstanding guests from the National Association of County and City Health Officials  as well as Dave Coriale, my boss and the President of DelCor, on his travels to Dreamforce 12. Definitely check out the archived shows if you get a chance and join the next live show, which just happens to include a live chat too which goes great with a bagged lunch. *hint hint*

One thing I love about being a consultant is constant learning, and I recently just interviewed Vivian Zhang and Sammi Liu, organizers of the Council of Tall Buildings & Urban Habitats World Congress in Shanghai, China. Our podcast is on MCI Group’s blog if you get a chance to read the full post.  

Podcast – Council of Tall Buildings & Urban Habitats World Congress Shanghai – Part 1

Please share your blogging secrets with me if you got ‘em! What are your tips for blogging on the run?  

Today is National Preparedness Day  

Is your association prepared for a disaster? What about your family or pet? Join me and the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) Team on Friday, September 21 from 12:30-1:30pm ET on DelCor Sweet Spot Live as we discuss tips on getting prepared and look at how NACCHO is using social media to spread the word. What your question answered? Join us live tomorrow and Tweet your question to us at @KyleeCoffman or #sweetspot.

Also, here’s a fun look at the Call Me Maybe meme the American Public Health Association (APHA) put together to get the word out about National Preparedness Month.

Having traveled through Israel last month, meeting renowned journalists like Aluf Benn and Khaled Abu Toameh, I was constantly aware of how much historical and political knowledge (globally speaking) I lack and the luxury and challenge I have, as an American, to overcome that ignorance. Upon returning, I’ve registered for a free, 12-week course offered through Coursera by Princeton University, History of the World Since 1300. This online class has over 30,000 registrants from around the world, gathering and communicating online twice a week. Fascinating to me is how digital technology is continuing to evolve, allowing us to connect and learn globally from top universities and each other through start ups like Coursera and Audacity in ways few of us ever could before.

What is your memory of September 11?

What are you doing this year to continue your learning and professional development?

Liv Tyler by Ruven Afanador

“We must assume our existence as broadly as we in any way can; everything, even the unheard-of, must be possible in it. That is at bottom the only courage that is demanded of us; to have courage for the most strange, the most singular and the most inexplicable that we may encounter.”

-Rainer Marie Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet 

I came across this passage this afternoon, highlighted in my paperback copy “Feb 2006″ in pen. I have no idea what I was doing in February 2006 or why I felt the need to document the date, but I do know that Rilke’s intellect and prose is just as moving in 1934 as 2006 and now, in 2012.  He writes this to the young poet who has suffered a great loss, but his words apply to everyone who has or is navigating through transitional periods in life. Whether starting a new career or a new project, fear of the unknown and our boundless insecurities seem to arise. This is a reminder to push through. That we are so much more than we ever imagined.

Associations have always been in the business of community building and advocacy. Like almost every other company out there, associations are (or should be) eagerly trying to catch up with technology trends and discover where discussions are taking place online surrounding their industry.

Many association executives struggle with learning the social media tools, messaging, and means of engagement and aren’t sure how to properly lead their organization and staff into building dedicated social media programs.

On Friday, June 29 from 12:30-1:30pm EST, Megan Berry will join DelCor’s Sweet Spot Live host Kylee Coffman to discuss what associations can do now to help build their online communities.

Megan Berry is the Founder of LiftFive, partnered with Lerer Ventures to help top startups with social. She previously led marketing at Klout for two years, after starting as the fourth employee. She blogs about social media on the Huffington Post, Mashable and more.  

Basically, yes, you will want to ask her questions while the opportunity comes a’knockin. Have a question you’d like to ask her in advance? Post your comment below! You can also follow her on Twitter at @meganberry.

Mark your calendar! It’s gonna be a good one.