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. Summer
2. Reading a book at the beach
3. Chocolate ice cream
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Things that make me happy:
1.) The sweaty satisfaction I feel after a good workout
2.) The triumphant feeling of crossing EVERYTHING of my to-do list
3.) Coming home after work to an expectant pup who desperately wants to give me a sloppy kiss
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1. oysters in the shack at the end of the pier at Nick’s Cove.
2. lots of lit candles on the patio after dark
3. picking up my love at the airport after a long trip
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1. The sight of my son sleeping peacefully.
2. Running superfast “Phoebe Buffet” style.
3. Impromptu Dance parties if any variety.
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1. That picture of a white shaggy dog wearing glasses in your last post
2. Getting packages in the mail
3. Painting my house
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1. Feeding my friends food that I’ve cooked
2. The view from the cab window as I head towards Manhattan from La Guardia airport
3. Hearing, watching, and smelling the sheep eat alfalfa at feeding time in the barn in the winter on my parents’ farm.
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Picking just 3 was harder than I thought it would be, but here they are in no particular order:
– The constant sound of simultaneous awe, love and contentment in my sister’s voice since the birth of my niece.
– The feel of weightlessness when floating in a body of water, preferably an ocean, but I’ll settle for a pool.
– Reading a book that is so good, it makes you forgot about time, space and everything around you.
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This is a good exercise for me! Wooh, embracing happiness. My three things:
– walking in the woods with a light breeze
– snorkeling in the ocean (and those manta rays — great tip there, Maggie!)
– a made bed with freshly washed sheets and fluff pillows
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In no particular order:
— dream decorating my new apartment (we move Sept 8!) which is cheaper and NICER than our current place without downsizing in space (and has 10ft windows, squee!!)
— celebrating the new moonlighting job I got as a Clinical Instructor at a major Midwest university (my alma mater) which will not feel like work but rather like going home
— eating garlicky mushrooms on buttered toast with a cool glass of wine after a long day of work
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1. back massages
2. hanging out in my house when it’s clean
3. when my kids give me hugs
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#1 My dogs farts
#2 Clean sheeets
#3 Freshly mowed grass
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1. The infants whom I care for all day and then hand back to their parents.
2. Margaritas on patios.
3. Books on quiet Sunday mornings.
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1. Rereading my favorite books again and again–and always finding something new to love.
2. The first green points peeking through the dirt in spring, and the first turning leaves in the fall.
3. Uncontrollable giggling in public–especially when it gets contagious.
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1. Dryer-fresh sheets and towels.
2. Saturday driving with good music.
3. A table-full of friends bursting into laughter.
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1. Talking to my mom or mother-in law on the phone
2. A long, good-smelling bath in a tub filled to the brim with bubbles
3. Climbing in bed after doing a great day’s work, knowing that I can sign my name on my day because I was productive
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1. When that little drop of warm water FINALLY rolls out of my ear.
2. Checking on my kids when they’re sleeping and seeing what wacko contortions they’ve gotten themselves into.
3. Getting sucked into a book while drinking coffee.
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1. My dog, the sweet Ms. Paisley
2. Books
3. My nieces, Livi & Hannah, and nephew, AJ
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1. Listening to my 8-year-old daughter tell stories about her magical world.
2. Tap dancing!
3. Reading the perfect novel while drinking a dry martini (with extra olives).
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1. getting genuine feedback, expressions of gratitude, sincere compliments
2. my toddler is learning to hug and kiss.
3. making my husband laugh
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1) Having conversations with my toddler
2) Reading a really good novel
3) Summer evening light
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1. Going up north (northern MI) with my family.
2. Listening to my kids laugh.
3. Margaritas with my husband.
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1. Successfully waking up early
2. Hiking in the woods
3. Landing a trick in the flying trapeze!
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Curling up with a book & my dog, Cookie.
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1. my garden
2. afternoons at the beach, all year round
3. maple syrup
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1. swimming in a pond with my dog
2. when i hand my husband a cup of coffee in the morning and he hands me a delicious cocktail at night
3. blueberries and coconut milk
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1) White meat nectarines.
2) When locusts get all shouty in the evening.
3) A skirt with the proper amount of swish.
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My cat snuggling with me in the morning, a good book and cup of coffee on the porch, being held.
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Our new kitten, Judi Honda, playing with our dog made me laugh out loud with happy. Seeing my husband excel in his new job also makes me happy. I love seeing him excited to go to work, the way that I have been the last few years.
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Clean surfaces make me happy – a rare occurence, but it means that everything is where it should be.
The smell of rain coming down after a long, hot, overcast day of summer.
Seeing the hand of one of my big children reach for the hand of one of my little children as we walk along.
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I love the way my 4 year old son’s hair smells after his bath.
I love my husband’s accent.
I love how music can make me cry and laugh and feel so deeply.
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Three things that make me happy:
1. Winning contests
2. Reading
3. My 3 sons (even if they keep me on my toes!)
Thanks for the giveaway!
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Things that make me happy, in no particular order:
1. Nature
2. Music
3. Wine
4. My kids
5. My dog
6. Flowers
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1. my daughter / being a mom in general
2. reading amazing books
3. swimming
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Fresh baked goods
A fantastic book
Cuddling in any form
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Discovering a beautiful thing in an unexpected place in an unexpected moment
Being pleasantly surprised, because I often know what’s going to happen next thanks to my brain working in overdrive all the time
Seeing old friends and realizing only after the rush of catching up that it’s like no time has passed and I love them just as much as ever
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1. Good coffee in the morning
2. The sound of the ocean
3. The stamps on my passport
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Happiness is:
Embarking on a new project.
Long walks on cool sunny days.
Kittens.
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1. my kids (3)
2. my husband
3. my dog — I just love the way his tail whips around in a circle when he’s really happy. I wish I could do that.
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– riding on the scooter around town (New Orleans) with my husband
– having one full day a week with no commitments
– my new, red hair color
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1 – Sharpening a crayon; watching the curls come off.
2 – when I can hear my cat purring.
3 – when my niece, Lily snuggles her head under my arm to read a book after her bath.
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1. My family, especially my little cousins and the letters they write me. And, of course, my husband.
2. Audio books.
3. Tomatoes and avocados on sourdough bread.
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1. Clean sheet day 🙂
2. Brand new Crayola pencil crayons
3. My mom’s rice pudding when I’m sick
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1. painting in my wonderful studio
2. getting to drink my morning cup of tea before it gets cold
3. thunderstorms
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1. my kids
2. good books to read
3. my husband having a night off
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1. Scharffen Berger extra milky chocolate bars
2. The way my toddler says “cow”
3. The smell of cinnamon
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#1:Laying down on clean bedsheets
#2:Taking an outdoor shower after a day at the beach
#3:Surfing in the Pacific Ocean
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-my son and daughter snoodling (verb of snoodle, a word I just made up, it means what it sounds like and they don’t do it enough.
-feeling like I really worked out.
-a good beer.
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-my son and daughter snoodling (verb of snoodle, a word I just made up, it means what it sounds like and they don’t do it enough.)
-feeling like I really worked out.
-a good beer.
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Happiness Right now = cuddling in a quilt and watching the Olympics with my hubby and pets, the fact I love my new job, I get to spend the weekend with my mom, and a bonus… I will be dancing Saturday night away in the beer tent of my home town community festival.
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1. Brussels sprouts
2. Sleepy time tea
3. My family
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