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 
that moment that is, after checking in on my sleeping children, knowing that everything is all right in my home and world
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1. Kneading bread dough 2. Swimming outdoors 3. Spending quality time with my husband
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1. Music playing in the background.
2. Sunny beaches
3. Fancy beverages
(bonus #4. Flowers)
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I am happiest:
1) When smelling my baby girl’s head
2) Being barefoot in the kitchen, sipping wine, and cooking dinner
3)In the moment when you realize an inside joke has been created
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1. My niece’s funny laugh: silly, squeaky, snorty, showing all of her new teeth.
2. Getting into a made bed at night.
3. Completing challenging tasks. That makes me feel bullet-proof!
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1.) When my kids, who share a room, wake up at the same time and I can hear them giggling in the baby monitor.
2.) The sound of chopped veggies as they saute in the pan.
3.) The yummy scent in the air during a load of wash. I make my own detergent and it smells so good.
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a good night’s sleep, nectarines, and the sound of the ocean.
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i am happiest when:
1. I am cooking in the late afternoon
2. I am outside
3. I am reading with my babes, pointing out little details in the picture books.
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1.) Meadowlarks in the morning
2.) A homegrown, home-cooked meal
3.) Reading on a rainy day
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-when I pick up my son from daycare at the end of the day, the moment when he sees me in the doorway
-swimming long lengths underwater
-starting a new book
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1. I am happy to say I’ve never been on Birth control. (!!)
2. I am happy when I’m outside on a sunny fall day.
3. I am happy when I’m hanging out with family or friends and a good gin cocktail.
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Floating in Lake Michigan with my husband after a long day apart, a summer night driving on a country road with the windows rolled down, eating the first cookie, slice of bread, etc. that I pull out of the oven, the funny things our cats do, spending time with my two sisters.
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1. songs that tell a story
2. my girlfriends
3. adventures with my family
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Seeing my two dogs play together makes me happy. I love that they love each other. (And me!)
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My nephews and niece hanging out with me and making me laugh.
The imminent arrival of autumn!
Pepperoni and green pepper pizza.
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Watching an Oklahoma sunset
Listening to amazing music
Hanging out at the lake with my husband and our friends
Homegrown tomatoes
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#1 Spontaneous “I love yous” from my kids
#2 Listening to a really good song in the car, windows rolled down, volume up
#3 Drinking hot coffee outside on a cool morning
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1. When my newborn son stretches right after he wakes up- he looks just like his dad does in the morning!
2. When my husband gets home from work and says “hi Family”
3. A long hot bath and a fantastic new book
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1-my daughters
2-cooking and baking
3-the prospect of getting a new puppy!
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being at the beach
drinking my morning latte
the cute dogs outside the coffee shop that wait patiently for their owners
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1. Books, books, books.
2. Passport, travel documents, and a neatly packed bag–ready to head out the door.
3. My two lovely rescue dogs.
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Drinking my morning coffee on the back porch with my husband. Kisses from my two pups. Finding a pair of jeans that fits perfectly.
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1. Long drives in the country with the windows down.
2. My kids making each other laugh.
3. Unexpected down-time.
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my toddler son’s voice (and hair, and laugh, and everything else) | the smell of fall | that time with my husband after my son has gone to bed, when we share some wine (and hopefully something chocolate) and watch DVR’d TV shows.
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What made me so happy this weekend and continues to make me smile all day long every time I think about it is the sight of my 3-yr old running around the house (literally) in nothing but a batman mask and cape. Seriously awesome. I need to bottle that.
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1) how I feel after a good night’s sleep
2) how I feel after a cup of coffee after a good night’s sleep (even better!)
3) optimism
ooh, and
4) pulling the plastic film off of screens of new electronics
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1. summer morning “calm” when it’s just a few birds.
2. really hearty and from the gut laughter.
3. real letters in the mail.
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1. My goofball dog. http://www.flickr.com/photos/31403417@N00/4982556745/in/set-72157603969964422
2. The super polite kids in my neighborhood who hold the door for me and ask my dog to do tricks.
3. This woman, who saved my butt twice at a wedding this weekend. She’s my new favorite. http://www.flickr.com/photos/31403417@N00/7730109180/in/photostream
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1. I was lucky enough to say goodbye to my godmother this last Friday, the day before she passed away. http://katespov.blogspot.com/2012/08/incurable.html
2. Falling asleep outdoors with the sun on my face.
3. Having one of my cats curled up in my lap while I read a good book.
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1. bonding with my husband
2. hiking
3. leaving the library with a stack of books (this makes me deliriously happy, each and every time)
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#1 – Going to concerts. Really good live music gives me a warm feeling down to my soul.
#2 – Seeing my best friends (who currently live far away) and realizing that we can pick up where we left off without missing a beat.
#3 – Being on a date with a guy I really like (there is one in particular at the moment…) and accidentally brushing against each other. Oh, the butterflies!!
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1. My kid saying “dizzy!” and spinning herself in a circle.
2. A slightly cool breeze coming off the river that hints at fall ahead (like I felt this morning on the walk to work)
3. Summer sun glinting off Lake Tahoe
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Things that make me happy include an exquisite view of the moon in the night sky, waking up and feeling content and refreshed, and sitting down with my family to eat dinner before 6:00. I should probably come up with a list of things that happen more often than these three.
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I’m falling in love with Gretchen as we speak – I’ve been reading “The Happiness Project” – I’m only on April and I already feel more at peace. Three things that make me happy right now:
1. Slowly getting my sleeping environment in order, new headboard a coat of paint etc…
2. Watching my 2-year old daughter play – she has such an imagination!
3. Seasonal vegetables – tomatoes! Oh the tomatoes.
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1. Holding hands with my husband.
2. Laying in my hammock looking at blue sky and white puffy clouds.
3. Laughing with friends.
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A few things that make me happy are walking my dogs early in the morning before the neighborhood is awake, cooking a good meal for myself and others, and yoga.
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1. Watching my 3 year old son’s personality develop and solidify.
2. Seeing how confident and brave my 14 year old daughter is, completely opposite of what I was at that age.
3. Spending time laughing, playing video games, whatever with the kids and husband!
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A clean house (note: NOT the cleaning of the house!), waking up on my own schedule instead of the kids’, chocolate.
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Cool! This is the first I’ve heard that Gretchen has a new book coming out.
OK, three things that make me happy… how ’bout fresh peaches, fresh tomatoes, and corn on the cob. Must be summer!
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I’m super happy to be starting a new job and moving to a new state!
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1. Sweet tea in the morning.
2. The look on my kid’s face when she gets to spend a dollar at the arcade.
3. Knitting.
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3. Singing loudly while driving
2. Making my niece laugh with my horrible Kermit the Frog impression
1. Sending and receiving text messages with my husband about cute dogs
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An evening walk with my husband and my dog;
honeydew melon on a hot day; and
a perfect huck to a cutter in stride.
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1. Being rousted awake by my dog’s wet nose.
2. Sharing a bed with my sister when we’re together.
3. Scoring rhubarb from my bus driver’s garden.
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#1 – Sitting on the front steps of my house in Capitol Hill, reading a book, drinking a glass of wine and watching the neighborhood go by.
#2 – Waking up to forwarded flight confirmations from my friends and family letting me know they’re coming to visit.
#3- Turning the corner and seeing the US Capitol at night. When that sight doesn’t take my breath away, it’s time to leave this city.
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The way my kids’ heads feel against my face. Playing dominoes with a glass of wine after the kids have gone to bed. Downton Abbey.
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I’m happiest when I get to spend a whole day with my mum.
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A good, long hug from my boyfriend, wine outside with friends and traveling to new places near and far.
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Hi Maggie! Thanks for the giveaway! Things making me happy right now: 1) That I set out to get a B.A. and that on Thursday I’ll be done my last class. 2) Cooking with fresh summer produce… especially corn, and new recipes in particular. 3) A successfully hosted visit with my husband’s family.
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Watching my toddler’s uncontrollable giggle, drinking a tasty IPA with my husband, and wearing a fun, flattering, girly dress all make me happy!
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