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 
1. warm summer nights
2. vodka basil gimlets
3. confetti, of course
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#1 Family
#2 Fresh laid eggs
#3 Naps
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1. Clean Sheets/Cold Pillows
2. Staying Up Until Sunrise Talking and Laughing
3. Trying Something New
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1. Sitting around with family after dinner on the deck outside, talking and laughing, with no one wanting to pack up and go home.
2. Stealing snoozes in the morning, snuggled up with my sweetheart. Somehow snuggling in the morning seems far more decadent and precious than at night.
3. Planning my life to where I feel like I’m living with purpose and meaning.
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the feeling that comes with my morning coffee, when everything seems interesting
finishing something challenging and relaxing afterwards
the feel + smell + look of autumn in new england
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1. My gorgeous Estrela Mountain Dog, without whom my life would be so much worse. I never knew you could love a pet so much.
2. The beach on an unusually warm winter morning, preferably followed by good coffee and Danish pastries.
3. Anything that involves an adrenaline rush – this year I’ve been busy crossing things off my life list – but nothing beats canyoning in Wanaka. Possibly the most fun I’ve ever had, I can spend a happy ten minutes re-watching the videos and remembering how spectacularly awesome it was.
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Watching mass group hugs, like when a team wins the world series.
Finding it’s earlier than expected when I check the time.
Snuggles with my kids in the morning.
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1. hosting my friends and family for dinner
2. taking my dog to the beach
3. traveling
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1. Experimenting with ideas like The Happiness Project.
2. Waving my arm at the tv to push the Olympic swimmers to the finish in front of the world record line.
3. Reading my favorite books with my 8 year old
And much much more…
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Getting a seat all to myself on the train ride home from work, especially on the western side so I can watch the sun glint off San Francisco Bay
When my husband remembers where we know an actor from, and then I remember their name, because that’s our couple superpower
Weezer’s “Island in the Sun”
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Blue Foam Restaurant fish sandwiches.
Seeing my children help others.
Swimming underwater.
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1. Getting tons puppy hugs and kisses the INSTANT I walk in the door.
2. Quiet mornings outside with a cup of coffee and some time to just sit.
3. Clean sheets!
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#1 Watching the hummingbirds enjoy the patio garden I worked on all spring/summer.
#2 Thinking about the vacation I just took to the Oregon Coast with my favorite person in the world, my mom.
#3 Sushi. Good food always makes me happy.
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1. Laughing at dumb inside jokes with my husband.
2. When my newborn son makes little snorting noises.
3. My four-year-old gesticulating wildly.
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Things that make me happy:
my home.
my pajamas.
banana caramel pie!
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My kids caring for each other
Smell of coffee in the morning
My husband’s laugh
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What makes me do the happypants dance:
1. late summer peaches. licking the juice of my wrist as I eat them in the sunshine.
2. Kimbra’s new album. in a world of autotune, girl’s got soul.
3. the cool late summer mornings, with just a hint of autumn around the corner.
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Lots of things make me happy…off the top of my head:
1. sunsets
2. a clean kitchen
3. eating strawberries.
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#1: The way a ferry ride dries my hair in the morning
#2: The way I feel after a run (endorphins FTFW)
#3: Grown-up picnics–fewer cookies, more stinky cheese
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~ the sound of my nephew laughing
~ the sound of my cat purring
~ my mother’s hugs
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1. The smell of brand new crayons. I got to open 24 boxes this week for my new class!
2. My cats purring me to sleep for a summer nap.
3. Driving home from a show with the sunroof open, stars twinkling, music blasting.
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Getting ready to go out on a Friday night while listening to a Janis Joplin record, mixing a cocktail, and planning my outfit, while thinking about how much I love being 28 and single.
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#1: Swimming in a lake on a hot day. Even better if there’s a post-swim iced tea with lemon involved.
#2: A spur-of-the-moment movie date. Even better if there’s cherry coke involved.
#3: Sleeping in, and then slowly waking up and deciding to not get up just yet, then grabbing Entertainment Weekly or some such and whiling away the morning. Even better if there’s a sun spot and a cat involved. Off-the-charts better if someone brings you a cup of Earl Grey tea during this lazy spell.
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-When I make someone laugh so hard they tilt their head back and full on guffaw.
-Booty dancing alone in my house to really bad pop music
-Getting sucked into a great book
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What a great idea!
Things that make me happy:
1) Birds chirping in the morning
2) Smelling the ocean (living in Chicago makes it all the more sweet)
3) Knowing that when I get home from work, I have a good book to read.
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1. Knitting things with a plan to give them away
2. Macaroni and cheese – at all times, in all weather, no matter what
3. Making my husband REALLY laugh – the distinctive laugh that only comes around when something is extra funny
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1. In the middle of my 5 year old’s crazy bday party — he found me to say “Thanks for giving me this party”.
2. Rold Gold Honey Wheat Pretzel twists
3. The 15 minutes right after my children go to bed and my body adjusts to the quiet.
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Being in the ocean
Japanese food
The sound of my kids getting along
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1. Our two boxers – clowns of the dog world & always good for a laugh.
2. Friday evenings on the deck with a beer.
3. Cooking or baking something new that comes out just right.
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My baby boy’s laugh
A cold glass of wine after a long day of making that laugh happen
a good fairy tale retelling
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The moment a warm summer day turns into a cool summer night.
Cake.
New Friends.
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1. Family adventures
2. Welcome home from the fur kids ( my two dogs)
3. Sunday morning church with coffee in hand
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Nothing makes me happier than my cat being excited to see me every time I come home ^_^
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1. Cuddling with my soon-to-be husband 🙂
2. Coffee and a good book
3. Hiking or being outdoors
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1. Seeing friends succeed.
2. Waking up refreshed – before the alarm goes off.
3. Road trips.
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Three things that make me the happiest:
Spending time with my husband and three sons,
Spending time reading
Spending time at the beach
Best day ever: reading at the beach with my husband and three sons!
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I love the Happiness Project and can’t wait to read Gretchen’s new book!
1. My wiggly corgi when I wish him “Good morning”;
2. My husband’s silly sense of humor; and
3. Weekend mornings with my robe and a cup of coffee:
…make me happy
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Happy happy!
1. My dog @LucilleThree 🙂
2. Live music
3. Laughing with loved ones
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Baking. Baking makes me happy.
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Besides the obvious kids/husband:
1. Super clean, super soft sheets
2. A completely scrubbed and organized kitchen
3. An awesome cheesecake
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_This weekend, I saw a guy bound into the water of Lake Michigan alongside his golden retriever. They were both chasing the same toy.
_I slug up melons on a trellis using pantyhose.
_Riding my bike along the lake last night on my way home from the garden, I was hit in the face with 1,000 bugs. I was smiling, and I thought they might get stuck in my teeth.
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1. My 3 1/2 year old’s face when I pick her up at school.
2. Making my tightly-wound husband laugh till he snorts through his nose and can’t breathe.
3. The initial smell of something before I indulge – coffee, a book, curry, etc.
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*slung melons. I slung them.
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Mittens.
Peaches.
When the whole family gets the giggles.
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Love this!
1. a sugar cone of chocolate peanut butter ice cream with pink jimmies
2. beating my husband in a game of Othello
3. seeing my toddler double over in a fit of giggles
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1. The first sip of coffee in the morning.
2. The smell of bedding fresh off the line.
3. A day that is 78, calm and sunny.
I just felt my shoulders relax after I typed those. Thanks!
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Three things that are making me happy right now, in this very moment:
my iced coffee from Dunkin Donuts
The sunny summer day with blessedly little humidity
The fact that I am feeling helpful to a friend who is texting me with troubles today
Thanks for the opportunity!
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1.Hearing my kids playing happily together.
2.When my toddler runs and gives me a hug on the leg periodically throughout the day.
3.A good book (and quiet to read it).
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1. crossing something off my to-do list
2. unexpectedly running into a friend while out on a mundane errand
3. an afternoon nap
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My dog, seeing my friends succeed, and working towards my goals!
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