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 
Taking a bath with the windows open during a rainstorm;
Watching my husband’s sculptures dance in the wind (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f69VkZFRIs4);
Giving someone a truly perfect gift.
(Also reading this website. Thanks Maggie!)
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Right now the number one thing that is making me happy is the fact that I just entered my third trimester of pregnancy in a pregnancy I never thought I would get to have (I suffered 4 losses prior). That’s pretty much supreme happiness! Other than that, baking always makes me happy, as does my husband! Happy. Happy. Happy.
I can’t wait to check out her new book!
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Three things that make me happy: riding bikes, making other people laugh and my new dog, Bruce.
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1. The unfailing kindness of my fiance
2. When my kitties want a cuddle
3. Eating healthier and feeling better as a result
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Three things that make my happy:
1. Big, hearty belly laughs from my kids or hubs. Sincere belly laughs from anyone, really.
2. The moment when you re-learn that you can figure things out on your own. It’s easy to depend on those around you, but when you build your own PC, navigate a new town, or start the lawn mower on your own, you get a certain satisfaction that puts an enormous smile on your face. It’s a non-arrogant sense of accomplishment (big or small) that stems from your own competency.
3. Being alive. Our world is so vast and amazing, just being here is such an enormous gift. I’m happy to have two hands and two feet that work and to be capable of anything I can imagine, especially love for others.
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The three things currently making me the happiest?
1) My grown daughter actively cultivates my friendship
2) Creating a happy home with my beloved, even though we are very different people with very different lives – together we’re even better
3) When the Best Cat Ever sleeps on my head.
So, love and being loved.
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Unexpectedly spotting fireflies.
A great, cry-inducing belly laugh.
Sharing highs and lows of the day/weekend/vacation/you name it. (I like reflecting!) 🙂
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Three things:
1. Practicing Yoga
2. When people do unexpected, amazing things
3. My son!
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I am a new mom, so what really makes me happy is sleep – oh glorious sleep!!
Also – going for a run does wonders to shake off a funk.
But, the best is baby smiles! Those big gummy smiles really are absolutely amazing!
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1. time with family and friends
2. a cup of coffee and a good book
3. fresh veggies from the farmer’s market
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A few things that make me happy:
-holding my 3.5-yo son’s hand
-leeks sauteeing in butter
-the 10-minute drive home after a Zumba or spin class (endorphins!)
-daily e-mails from my husband
I loved The Happiness Project. Am very excited to read the follow-up!
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My sons make me happy – my two dogs make me happy – and reading makes me happy!
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1. Napping with my husband and our cat
2. Skirts with pockets
3. Caves waiting to be explored!
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1. The smell of fresh pine trees
2. Twice-baked potatoes
3. Warm, fluffy bedding in a cold bedroom
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1. The smell of a chicken roasting in the oven.
2. The sound of a busy bar.
3. Fireplaces.
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1. When my son Beau wears his superhero cape to the grocery store.
2. Making my dad proud.
3. Wearing tall, strappy shoes at a dinner where I get to have wine!
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1. Snuggling with my cats Jolene and Digby.
2. Sunset walks in crisp fall air.
3. Cheese. Lots and lots of cheese.
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3 things that really make me happy:
1. Waking up and my husband know my name (he has early-onset Alzheimer’s). Makes me jump for joy as I know its gonna be a great day.
2. The sound of my grown children’s laughs. Makes my whole body and spirit fill with joy
3. Having my black Lab, Miss Cali, snuggle with me on the sofa while I read blogs and emails. She’s the best.
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3 things that make me happy:
1. My kids smiles after the first bite of a pancake slathered in syrup or cinnamon sugar or blueberries
2. Pomegranate seeds covered in dark chocolate
3. The feeling after I FINALLY figure out a pattern, or design problem. Finding the perfect solution.
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1. (tmi, but) that first real exhale after sex
2. the sound of my kids’ laughter
3. a cold, quiet shower, where i can gather my thoughts
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My Three favorites:
My 1 year old’s laugh
Laughing so hard that my stomach hurts when my husband tells stories and jokes
Being near the water
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1) bubble baths
2) organized closets and cupboards
3) coffee on cold fall mornings
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Playing with my sweet baby girl, Daphne. Friday night pizza, beer, movie and my hubby. Crisp Fall days!
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Singing opera, baking bread, snow days!
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1. Getting lost in a great story ( books preferred, but a great film is nice too!)
2. Fresh cut flowers in the house
3. Adventure! Traveling somewhere new, taking an unexpected turn on a familiar walk, etc.
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#1: cool, fragrant Autumn days (and fall wardrobe).
#2: delicious baked goods of any variety.
#3: people being kind to animals.
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Traveling somewhere new makes me happy.
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picking blueberries
enjoying morning coffee in solitude.
Family backyard BBQs in the summer.
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1. warm bed and a cool pillow.
2. tea.
3. warm hugs.
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1. My son’s toothless grin (even though it’s slowly getting toothier).
2. The feeling of shaved legs on clean sheets.
3. The sound of doves in the Sonoran Desert.
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A. Monarch butterflies.
B. Morning coffee in Vegas while vacationing with dear lady friends.
C. A really fantastic, non-greasy, precisely-scented hand lotion.
And the scent attraction thing is going to drive me mad now. I’m going to start sniffing every male I know. Awkward….
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1) Hearing a car drivin up the street and being reminded of my Dad.
2) My 2 year old falling asleep without drama
3) Cookie dough.
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1. Sex and the City reruns with a big bowl of popcorn with butter, salt and chipotle chile powder.
2. Accomplishing anything and everything with my three children in tow.
3. A strong cup of coffee and a really good book(weak coffee pisses me off).
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1) A good book with a nice cup of coffee
2) Great chocolate that my dear husband gives me
3) Feeling like a kid at Walt Disney World
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#1 – making my mother proud
#2 – successfully preparing a dish I’ve always wanted to make
#3 – having great conversations with my close friends
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#1. When a library book I have on hold arrives
#2. Seeing the Ikea catalog in the mailbox
#3. Drinking a mug of coffee outside
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1. Having an entire pot of tea on a Saturday morning.
2. Feeling both of my cats cuddle up to me when it’s bedtime.
3. Getting tucked into bed every night by my husband.
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What makes me happy? Snoeshowing, hot water, and fresh raspberries or blueberries.
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The Sunday paper. Being in love. Dreams coming true.
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I was not going to be one of those women who gushed about their kids, then I had a baby and got it. So: the smell of the top of my baby’s head. My baby’s gummy grin. My baby falling asleep with her head on my pillowy boob and her arm draped across my chest.
That makes me happy. Now, to find what I ever did with my edge.
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the way my daughter demands “more!” when i sing to her.
the smell of the wind just before a thunderstorm rolls in.
crisp, clean sheets.
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1. When my family smiles
2. Water: any kind – lake, pool, bath, shower
3. Clean House – Even though there are seriptitious piles around “most” things are in their place and it smells clean
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1. Tea with a good book
2. Rainy days
3. Time with my family
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1. Every morning, a great kiss from my husband. You know, when I’m extra pretty from just waking up.
2. When my dog, the Queen of Crazytown, actually comes to me for a snuggle.
3. The sounds of the neighbor kids playing outside. It’s like living in Mayberry.
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In this digital, instant gratification era, catching a song I love on the car radio is sublime.
Fresh sheets on the bed.
When my son eats his dinner and likes it enough to say, “This one’s a keeper!”
Thanks so much for the opportunity to win! I put Gretchen’s first book on hold at the library but only got through the first 2 chapters before I had to return it. It’s still on my Amazon wish list, so I do plan to get back to it one day. The part I read was great!
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Much of my life makes me happy (lucky me), but most saliently,
1) My amazing wife, because she makes me laugh and smile and kicks my butt on a daily basis
2) Belly laughs
3) Living in NYC
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1. Reading a great book!
2. Working in my garden!
3. Having silly fun with girlfriends!
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What makes me happy?
1. Laughing and spending time with good friends
2. Good chocolate
3. Sitting on my porch with my cat and looking at how nice my garden looks
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1. Sex
2. The Mountains
3. Good art
4. (Bonus) Good food
5. (Can’t help myself) Sunshine. (And clouds,too.)
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1. Little kids when they’re learning to talk.
2. Baked goods. All baked goods.
3. Lying nose to nose with my guy.
Thanks!
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