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 
I am happy when my 8 week old daughter poops. She’s an infrequent pooper and I’m a crazy, worry-wart first time mom.
I am/will be happy when I have to brush my teeth with bottled water because it means I’m back in my home in Africa with my amazing husband after a 5 month separation as I came back to the states to have our baby.
I am happy with an xl fountain diet coke in my hand. Just because it’s delicious.
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Fresh fruit
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Things that make me happy:
My older son, who is hilarious and brilliant and joyful.
My younger son, who has the best baby babbling sounds and I don’t know what we did without him.
Diet coke.
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I loved the happiness project and look forward to reading happier at home! Things that make me happy: laying in bed reading, my crazy dog, watermelon
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My dad’s laugh makes me happy. It’s one of those deep, hearty belly laughs. Even thinking about it makes me smile.
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#1 – watching my daughter carry around a Patty O’Green doll from the 1980’s like it’s the hottest toy ever
#2 – sitting and watching the busy bee’s collecting pollen on my purple salvia in my front yard
#3 – crisp what clouds against a bright blue sky
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Warm coffee on cool mornings.
The sound and smell of good things bubbling on the stove.
Being able to spend an entire day reading favorite books.
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1. Making things
2. Learning something new
3. Helping other people
If only it hadn’t taken me so long to figure that out when I was struggling with unhappiness in my 20’s.
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1) Seeing my husband read to my girls. (He loves it and does it all the time.)
2) Getting dirty with the kids!
3) My sisters! I love them (3, and two SILs) and how much fun we have together).
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1. When my husband hits snooze for an extra 10 minutes of half-sleepy snuggling in the morning.
2. Scarfing down drippy bites of the perfect summer watermelon
3. Getting lost in a good book.
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Beachboys music. Hanging plants. Love stories.
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1. Kissing my new boyfriend
2. Reading, reading, reading
3. Being in the kitchen
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– Surprises from my husband
– Lovely smelling soaps
– Discovering an excellent book
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1. My little puppy
2. The ocean
3. Cupcakes
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1. Sunflowers
2. When my dog gets so hyper he runs & skids down the hallway on hardwood floors
3. Weekends
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1. Reading a good book.
2. Sitting by the water contemplating my belly button.
3. A glass of wine and good conversation with family and friends.
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1. My lawn the day after it’s been cut/edged/blown.
2. Getting a captcha right on the first try.
3. The way my four year old’s weight on my lap is an instant mood relaxer.
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1. Slow mornings on my back porch
2. Devouring a good book
3. New paints, clean brushes, and an empty canvas
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1. Experiencing something new
2. Pillow Mountain
3. The spot on a cat’s nose where the fur stops going one way and starts going another – they like to be scritched there, and I like to scritch them there.
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Family, rocky road ice cream, new shoes, creating something that makes people laugh, late-night book club, acting silly and others joining in, meeting new people, large shiny earrings, putting my pajamas on in the afternoon, having to wake up early and being rewarded with a beautiful sunrise, sharing a really great story, Slurpees.
I’m the worst at narrowing things down. But so many things make me happy.
Sidenote: I once read an article by Gretchen and emailed her a question and she responded almost immediately. Ever since I’ve considered her a class act.
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1. Missouri, which surprised me. I had to move away from in to realize how much.
2. My $5 pool chair. Best summer investment, ever.
3. My super charming 9 year old buddy.
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My family, books, fresh berries. Not always in that order.
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Oh what a lovely giveaway! My first thought was that it makes me happy that it’s hard to pick just three things that make me happy, but here goes:
1) Waking up every day with a job that gives me a sense of purpose. It makes me happy even on the rough days to know that what I do is necessary and important.
2) Watching my house come together as a space for love and joy and sanctuary for me and family and friends – a true home. I’ve only had it since last October (Life List yay!), and its a work in progress, but every little thing – like the recent painting of the living room – fills me with happiness. All I have to do is walk through my home and it makes me smile.
3)Summer and all that goes with it makes me happy! Which for me means evenings on patios filled with friends, laughter, and slushy margaritas or other summer concoctions, cute dresses, flip flops, beach days with dogs, fun summer books, kickball tournaments, running to the ice cream truck…you get the idea…smiles all around.
Thanks for this – a very fun way to start the day!
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1. Deep roasted black coffee
2. Being awoken by some cuddles by my sweet little girl who is always “hungry for breakfast”
3. 2 hours on a bike to help melt away the cares of the day
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in no specific order:
the perfect rosey-pink lipstick shade that lasts and lasts.
emails from the NYPL, informing me that my reserved books are waiting for pick up.
napping on the beach, dozing lazily as the waves crash and sun keeps me warm.
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(1) A good night’s sleep
(2) Exercise on my own terms
(3) A delicious lunch of cheese, fruit salad, and iced tea, followed by something chocolate for dessert
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1) Any body of water
2) Remembering to buy myself flowers
3) Cooking for friends
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1. A peaceful house.
2. New shirts that flatter and also cover my fat roll.
3. Buying a new car for the firs time EVER in my life.
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Spending time with the people I love makes me happy.
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Movie previews, a new lip gloss and singing ridiculous songs entirely out of key. Happy.
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I am happiest when:
1. I am cooking with my boyfriend.
2. Sharing a wonderfully huge red wine with friends.
3. Listening to Wilco on repeat all day.
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1. Strawberry season
2. Reading books
3. New purses
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margaritas
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If you are limiting me to three things, I will do my best:)
1. The way my husband wraps me completely up in his arms when he hugs me.
2. The scent of my son in the morning when he climbs into bed for snuggles and lovins-of sweat and little boy morning breath.
3. My beautiful drive to and from work through rural NW Ohio. I get to see the sunrise each day over beautiful farms and countryside.
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Glitter, mango, my babes, the possibility of projects and my right hand man.
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3 things that make me happy:
1. The husband waking me up with a steaming mug of coffee for me to drink in bed. It happens almost every morning, so I start the day off happy! Bonus points for waking up to find cats and dog sleeping on the bed with me.
2. Learning a new skill–right now I’m working on my first ever pair of knitted socks.
3. Meandering conversations with my 13yo son.
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Ever since my cancer diagnosis I find that what makes me happy has changed…
1. Watching my husband play with our 7 month old daughter and eliciting a deep belly laugh from her.
2. Getting together with dear friends and creating magical moments like backyard camp outs and silly sing alongs.
3. Snuggling with my husband and him telling me everything will be ok
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1. clean sheets and pillowcases
2. night time play dates-kids in the yard, adults on the deck
3. picking through the clearance racks
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3 random things that make me happy:
– laughter
– lasagna
– listening to my husband play the guitar
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my morning espresso
working from home and being able to see my husband anytime i want
“quickies” in the afternoon 🙂
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Things that make me happy:
1. coffee and sunday morning crossword
2. playing the banjo
3. watching my 6-month-old son learn to crawl
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1. making a big mess in my garden.
2. a long soaky bath with a book.
3. finishing an entire book in said bath.
There are more, for sure, but these have been at the top of my list lately.
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1. hugging my son when I pick him up from school
2. drinking coffee on my front porch
3. spending time with old friends
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The ability to proactive in making life happier and having it come to fruition, peanut butter gelato, a fun night out with friends. Loved the happiness project, finished it a week ago and am still mulling over all the thoughts it’s given me! 🙂
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Really good peaches, listening to music outdoors, and the beach late in the afternoon.
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~ When my daughter sleeps until 7 a.m.
~ Seeing deer on walks.
~ Jewelry.
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1. running
2. hugs from my partner
3. touching my cats’ bellies
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1. noodles
2. when my dog Rudy lays his head on my lap and lets me pet him
3. watching a storm roll in
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1. Reading a really great memoir.
2. A long chat with an old friend.
3. Having a cup of Earl Grey on a chilly, misty morning.
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1. a weekend at the coast with friends and a walk on the beach
2. sitting in the backyard on a pleasant evening with my husband, a glass of wine, and some music
3. my annual girls’ weekend trip with my high school friends
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