This is Gretchen, and I’m always thrilled to see her because her brain sponges up such satisfying facts. For example:
Were you aware that some studies have shown that when women are looking to reproduce, they’re attracted to men who smell biologically disparate? However, when they get pregnant, they’re attracted to men who smell like family, ostensibly because family will be more likely to protect the offspring. BUT! The pill mimics pregnancy. Which could mean that some types of pill cause you to fall in love with a man who is biologically similar, reproduce with him, and then find his smell unattractive when you’ve gone off the pill, sometimes leading you to break things off with him. What the what?
Gretchen is good for a few dozen of those life-altering facts over an evening, which is why I always pull her down next to me at dinner.
Gretchen also happens to be the author of the bestselling Happiness Project, and the soon-to-be-released Happier at Home (which will hit shelves September 4 and is now available for pre-order), both of which document Gretchen’s curiosity about ways to improve her life — she also has a site dedicated to the process that has some useful suggestions. The Go Mighty team and the gracious Isabel Kallman hosted a book release party for Happier at Home in New York last week, and some of our favorite women gathered to celebrate happiness.
Laura documented all the details over here. There was champagne, and donuts (Donuts 2012!), and lots of women laughing, which is the best.
There were also gift bags. Want one?
Bliss supplied a generous helping of good-smelling body and bath products, and Anthropologie gave us pretty wall calendars.
We also have five copies of Happier at Home to give away. To enter, just tell us what makes you happy in comments. In fact, will you please tell us three things? I like to read them. Fingers crossed for you.
Top and bottom images by Mighty Girl. Other images by Sheri Silver from www.sherisilver.com.
UPDATE: Comments close Monday, August 13. Until then, keep ’em coming:
Mighty Girl 
-starting a new book from one of my favorite authors
-getting an idea for a new project, trying it, and having it turn out the way I pictured it
-leaving the bedroom in the morning with the bed made and everything in its place
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Three things that make me happy….
* Drinking a cup of chai tea on my deck in the morning!
* Snuggling with my dog and cat!
* Long walks through the woods in the fall!
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Reading. The smell of rain. Coffee. Spending time with my husband, my family, my friends.
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The way my husband holds me at night
The way the pages of a new book sound and feel
Pushing myself past what I think are my limits
Also, love the dress she is wearing in the pic. Any idea where it is from???
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Listening to my children laugh
This joke my four year old made up: knock, knock? Who’s there? Love! Love who? Love you, Mama!
Running – because I can!
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1 – watching my husband make my kids laugh
2 – a meal with extended family
3 – a sunny afternoon outside with a good book and a soft breeze
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staying up late; sleeping in the next morning
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Happy= Hanging out with my husby, with our greyhounds, at home or at the ocean.
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1. My husband and kids.
2. A hike in the forest.
3. A healthy, delicious dinner made at home.
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Spending time with my children, reading, naps, a cup of coffee, and family get togethers at my parents’ or inlaws. Oops, that’s five!
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1. Hugs from my favorite people.
2. The sound and smell of the sea.
3. A book that’s so good I never want it to end.
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Right now I’m pretty happy about a kid who is strangely sleeping in past 8:00.
Also, days at the beach and perfect peaches.
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1. Playing pretend with my daughter – she never lets me be the princess, but I do make a pretty rockin’ witch.
2. When someone else makes coffee in the morning. It’s like walking into the kitchen to a little miracle.
3. A clean email inbox.
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1 – connecting with dear, old friends who fill up your heart and soul SO MUCH it aches because it feels so good and so full.
2 – getting lost in the music. becoming the performer and the composer, and trying to share their intentions and beauty with an audience (even if the audience is my cat).
3 – being intoxicated in love with my husband, and have it be mutually returned
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1) seeing my finace’s big man hands cuddling our three-year old, while they are both asleep;
2) my daughter’s proud face when she scores in volleyball;
3) driving at night, windows open, and a great song comes on the radio; and
4) yoga class in the middle of a workday…
to name a few.
thank you for reminding me to pay attention to happy!
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1. Learning to do stuff I didn’t think I could (I just learned to paddle-board! It rocked!)
2. Morning snuggles with the Man and two cats
3. Eating at froofy restaurants with my lady friends
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1. my morning cup of coffee
2. the beach
3. playing with my nieces and nephews
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Clutter free spaces and a good nights sleep to start – thank you Gretchen Rubin for having those tips top of mind
Getting help from anyone (kids, husband or a friend) without asking for it – that caring and consideration always touches me so deeply. I (wrongly) always think I can do it all, all, all by myself. I love it when anyone around notices I’ve obviously bitten of more than I can chew and helps with a smile on their face:). It can be as simple as helping pack the lunacies, fixing something around the house or a carpooling favor….
I am an “artist” of sorts so music blaring, pounding, sawing or torching wire or sheet metal in my studio makes me feel like all is right with the world.
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1. Being surrounded by books — it’s like my own little world of possibility and wonder!
2. Uncontrollable laughing fits with my husband. It’s moments of grace like these when I’m reminded that the small joys are so much bigger than the small annoyances.
3. Crawling into a freshly made bed. There’s something so peaceful and perfect about clean sheets at the end of a long day.
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1. Eating blackberries, blueberries, and granola after a swim.
2. Telling the people I love how I feel about them.
3. Reading Jane Austen.
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1~ A good book
2 ~ Receiving a letter
3 ~ A beautiful day at the park.
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Things that have been making me happy lately…
… feeling my daughter wiggling around in my belly.
… eating lobster rolls on Cape Cod.
… playing skee-ball in an arcade.
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1. a good night’s sleep
2. cooking and eating a delicious meal with fresh, local food
3. a good book
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Happiness is found within–If you focus on it you can find it everywhere.
#1 When my husband is playing with my daughter and she giggles
#2 a quiet moment in nature (the sun, the wind, a babbling brook.
#3 Naps 🙂
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1) the way my boyfriend looks at me
2) successfully making a new recipe
3) the feeling of warmth under my blankets when i first wake up in the morning
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1. The sky
2. Biking
3. Swimming in Cayuga Lake
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I am happiest when I share time with friends. I’m part of the stitching group (knit/crochet) that meets every two weeks. We spend the time laughing more than knitting. I also enjoy going out for a meal or playing cards or doing anything with friends that gives us a chance to chat and laugh. It really lets off steam and gives lightness to my week.
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Three things that make me happy:
#1hearing my kids laugh
#2 sitting on the dock at the cottage and hearing the loons
#3getting lost in a good book
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Right now I am happiest because of summer vacation, the smell of suntan lotion, and kissing my daughters’ sun-kissed cheeks when they’re sound asleep after a busy day!
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I am happiest when I have a good chat with one of my most favorite people -my husband, one of my two sons, my sister, my mom, one of my friends. It’s the little moments that feel most precious!
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1. Getting the shot (great photo of Gretchen above!)
2. My kids cracking each other up.
3. Discovering a new favorite song.
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1. my dog, Joe.
2. looking at paintings (the older the better).
3. hugging my husband.
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I am happiest when I am grateful, grateful to the opportunity to walk, hear the birds and be outside.
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1. Flowers
2. Clean mammo reports
3. Family laughter
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I love reading through all of these happiness gems!
1. Curling up on the couch to watch a movie with the man I love.
2. Boating in the summer with my sweetie and our dog.
3. Learning something new. Right now I’m learning taekwondo (it makes me feel strong & confident). Next on my list…learning español!
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Surprise phone calls from good friends make me very happy!
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1. Late night swims
2. A new school year
3. Musicals
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1. Hearing my kids beg me to read a chapter of a favorite book (right now it’s “Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH)
2. Breakfast smoothies with frozen strawberries from our garden (plus almond milk, almond butter and blueberries)
3. WTF podcast (Marc Maron) to get through my long workdays of spreadsheets and PowerPoints
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Three things that make me happy:
1. When my kids snuggle with me.
2. Kissing my dogs on the bridge of their noses.
3. Laying on the huge, still-warm rocks at the edge of the sea as the sun goes down on a cool summer evening.
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Things that make me happy:
1. My beautiful children. God has blessed me with two wonderful girls (14 and 12) and they are a joy to be around…except when they are fighting 🙂
2. A wonderful book that I totally get lost in.
3. Spending time with my husband…he’s still a heart-throb to me after almost 23 years together!!
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1. Winning contests!
2. Long, hot baths with essential oils, candles, and a great book. (Fave wintertime evening activity.)
3. Homemade soup OMFG. LOVE. Can you tell I am ready for fall?
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1. Pre-work early morning breakfasts with ladyfriends (preferably at Tartine)
2. Doing the Sunday crossword puzzle in a park
3. The first sip of red wine on date night
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1. when my 3 year old calls my 6 month old honey & sweetie.
2. when my husband gets into bed way later than me & inadvertently wakes me up by cuddling.
3. a short list b/c I can’t resist: the color fuschia, the 1st half of a second glass of wine (perfectly tipsy) & coffee/french toast in bed.
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1) My friends. Everything about them.
2) Spending a day in the kitchen cooking with all the windows open.
3) Sunday morning on the couch with breakfast, coffee and my puppy.
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The lake, sunscreen that works(!), and curling up with a blanket and a book.
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1. Listening to my partner laugh when he *really* finds something funny.
2. Any time spent with my best friend (we live half a world apart now)
3. Sitting inside with a cup of tea while it’s tipping it down outside, and knowing I don’t have to leave the flat.
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1. the smell of fall in the air
2. the best of summer produce – berries, peaches, corn, tomatoes!
3. sunsets over a lake, with the sun shimmering and reflecting.
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1. My husband
2. My friends
3. My Kindle 😉
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1) my son laughing uproariously
2) getting things done, not procrastinating
3) not having to bring work home
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1. The ocean
2. Music. Music, music, music
3. Books
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