Ep. 544: ”25 for ’25 List” Mid-Year Check-In—How Are We Doing?

Summary

Podcast Title: Happier with Gretchen Rubin
Host/Author: Gretchen Rubin / The Onward Project
Episode: Ep. 544: "25 for ’25 List” Mid-Year Check-In—How Are We Doing?
Release Date: July 23, 2025

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Introduction

In Episode 544 of Happier with Gretchen Rubin, hosts Gretchen Rubin and her younger sister, Elizabeth Craft, conduct a mid-year review of their ambitious "25 for '25" lists. These lists encapsulate 25 goals each for the year 2025, spanning various aspects of their lives, including reading, health, career, and personal growth. This episode serves as both a personal accountability check and a source of inspiration for listeners aiming to enhance their own lives through structured goal-setting.

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The Concept of the "25 for '25" List

Gretchen introduces the idea of the "25 for '25" list, explaining its origins and purpose:

Gretchen Rubin [04:05]: "This is something that we've done for many years now, which is take the year date, like 2025, and then make a list accordingly of things that we want to do in the coming year."

Elizabeth adds her perspective on the challenge of maintaining visibility of these goals:

Elizabeth Craft [04:48]: "When something becomes wallpaper, it literally becomes wallpaper. Where even though it's right next to me, I don't even see it. So it's good to go through and remind ourselves."

Gretchen emphasizes the importance of periodic reviews to keep the goals alive and to acknowledge completed tasks, which boosts motivation:

Gretchen Rubin [05:06]: "Giving yourself that 'Ta da' helps us stay energized so that we can stick with more ambitious aims."

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Theme Words and Symbols for 2025

Both sisters share their chosen theme words and symbols for the year, which serve as overarching guides for their goals:

• Elizabeth's Theme Word: "Bounce"

  Elizabeth Craft [05:41]: "It feels very forward and it feels hopeful."

  Her symbol is a kangaroo, representing forward momentum and resilience.

• Gretchen's Theme Word: "Door"

  Gretchen Rubin [07:18]: "This is the year of the open door for me, which is how I'm rebranding the empty nest."

  She received a miniature door as a symbol, symbolizing new opportunities and transitions in her life.

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Elizabeth Craft's "25 for '25" List Review

Reading Goals

1. Slow Read of War and Peace [12:14]

   • Elizabeth reports being up-to-date with the slow reading group, inspired by Sharon, who appreciates the practice.

2. New Book Club in Encino [13:10]

   • She is in the planning stages for a neighborhood-based book club, aiming for convenience to ensure participation.

3. Reading Retreat with Gretchen [15:17]

   • Completed this goal and plans to discuss it in detail in a future episode.

4. Read One Book a Month [15:31]

   • Admits to inconsistent tracking and needs to improve accountability.

Health Goals

5. 100 Orange Theory Fitness Classes [15:49]

   • Consistently attending classes but behind on the target due to illness and travel.

6. Maintain Current Weight [16:17]

   • Successfully maintaining her weight.

7. Try Solid Core [16:22]

   • Yet to start; plans to integrate it with her current fitness regimen.

8. Take Daily Medication [16:47]

   • Struggling with consistency due to the number of pills.

9. Use Water Pick Daily with Flossing [17:14]

   • Making progress, though not perfectly consistent.

Career Goals

10. Do One Happier in Hollywood Social Post Weekly [17:38]

    • Hasn't started; plans to schedule it during weekdays for better consistency.

11. Happier in Hollywood Substack [18:23]

    • Successfully launched and maintaining it, acknowledging the commitment required.

Personal Goals

12. New Photographs with Sarah [20:01]

    • Planning sessions in Kansas and coordinating with co-host Sarah.

13. Finish Your Novel [20:19]

    • Acknowledges it's a significant goal but hasn't completed it yet.

14. Go to Kansas City Every Season [20:28]

    • Partially fulfilled by visiting New York with family.

15. See Mother-In-Law and Father-In-Law Monthly [20:54]

    • Needs to increase frequency of visits.

16. Movie Night Every Week with Jack and Adam [20:59]

    • Started but inconsistent; plans to schedule regular times.

17. Always Have a New TV Show with Adam [21:22]

    • Currently watching several new shows together, maintaining this habit.

18. Visit Niece Ava at UCSB [22:03]

    • Completed successfully.

19. Go to Spain with Jack and Adam [22:10]

    • Not yet achieved; remains on the list for future consideration.

20. Get a Four-Person American Mahjong Group [22:27]

    • Initiated by attending lessons and connecting with potential group members.

21. Get More Inexpensive Gold Rings and Bracelets [22:44]

    • Purchased an inexpensive gold ring; bracelets remain.

22. Save for an Expensive Bag [22:51]

    • Decided to abandon this goal due to impracticality and safety concerns.

23. Host a Game Night [23:46]

    • Yet to organize; plans to implement before summer ends.

24. Attend Seven Live Events [24:22]

    • Attended a few events but not all; aims to reach the target.

25. Free Space Utilization [25:07]

    • Still undecided on what to include; planning to utilize for creative or practical purposes.

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Gretchen Rubin's "25 for '25" List Review

Grab Bag Goals

1. Photo Albums [28:08]

   • Regularly updates and reviews photo albums, considering them as treasure troves of happy memories.

2. Watch Essential Movies [28:42]

   • Completed Die Hard; plans to watch Frozen, Inside Out, Boyhood, and Forrest Gump.

3. Visit the Earth Room [29:31]

   • Hasn't visited yet; intrigued by the concept of a room filled with earth.

4. 20th Anniversary of KidLit [29:57]

   • Plans to host a celebration for the 20th anniversary of her children's literature reading group.

5. List of 25 Things That Please You [30:19]

   • Partially completed with 15 items; considering publishing the list.

6. Organize a Supreme Court Clerk's Reunion [30:53]

   • In the planning stages, addressing organizational challenges to make it happen.

7. Continue to Learn and Experiment with AI [31:25]

   • Actively engaging with AI technologies and integrating them into her work.

8. Have a Podcaster Gathering [31:42]

   • Successfully hosted this event, marking it as completed.

Read 25 Minutes Every Day [32:34]

• Engaged in the War and Peace slow read alongside Elizabeth, finding it enjoyable and beneficial.

Open Door Project [32:34]

1. Operation Knicks Knowledge [32:51]

   • Embracing her newfound interest in the New York Knicks, fueled by the team's recent success.

2. Try Transcendental Meditation [33:34]

   • Initially planned to meditate with her partner Jamie, but plans have changed as Jamie opted out.

3. Plan an Adventurous Family Trip for the Summer [34:04]

   • Decided to welcome a new puppy, Taffy, considering it a greater adventure than any planned trip.

4. Anniversary Party [34:38]

   • Successfully hosted a significant anniversary party celebrating Jamie's cure and their marriage.

5. Get a Puppy [35:10]

   • Acquired a puppy, Taffy, marking a major personal milestone.

6. Learn to Cook One Dish [35:21]

   • Learned to cook meatballs from Smitten Kitchen’s Instagram tutorials, enjoying the process.

Door-Related Goals

7. Work Outside Your Office [35:48]

   • Occasionally works from the New York Society Library and various coffee shops, aiming to increase frequency for creative rejuvenation.

8. Kayak Every Warm Day at the Lake House [36:26]

   • Regularly kayaks when weather permits, integrating it into her routine.

9. Tree, Plant, and Bird Identification [36:35]

   • Actively learning to identify local flora and fauna, sharing new knowledge with enthusiasm.

10. The Little Door in the House [37:10]

    • Contemplating creative uses for a small door next to her fireplace, seeking whimsical ideas.

11. Make Nice Signs for Wi-Fi and Projector Instructions [37:27]

    • Delegated the task to family members, aiming to create aesthetically pleasing instructional signs.

Watercolor Goals

12. Watercolor Every Day [38:45]

    • Struggled initially due to new commitments but is making efforts to re-engage with daily painting.

13. Postcards of Watercolor [38:59]

    • Successfully creating and sending watercolor postcards, finding joy in this creative expression.

14. Bench Sketch Once a Month [39:08]

    • Plans to sketch at the Met once a month, enhancing her observational skills.

15. Create a Watercolor Station at Home and Lake House [39:41]

    • Established dedicated spaces for painting to facilitate regular practice.

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Key Insights and Discussions

• Accountability and Visibility: Both hosts highlight the challenge of keeping their goals visible and actionable amidst daily distractions. Their methods include placing lists prominently and conducting regular reviews.

• Flexibility and Adaptation: Elizabeth's decision to abandon the expensive bag goal underscores the importance of flexibility in goal-setting, allowing for revisions based on practicality and changing circumstances.

• Integration of Goals: Gretchen's approach to integrating new habits, such as delegating tasks, demonstrates effective strategies for managing multiple goals without overwhelming herself.

• Emphasis on Personal Growth: The lists encompass a broad spectrum of personal development areas, from physical health to creative pursuits, reflecting a holistic approach to happiness and fulfillment.

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Conclusions and Takeaways

Gretchen and Elizabeth's mid-year review of their "25 for '25" lists serves as a testament to the effectiveness of structured goal-setting and regular self-assessment. Their candid discussions about progress, challenges, and adjustments offer valuable lessons for listeners:

1. Regular Reviews are Crucial: Periodic check-ins keep goals alive and provide opportunities to celebrate achievements and recalibrate efforts.

2. Be Realistic and Flexible: It's essential to set achievable goals and remain adaptable, abandoning or modifying those that no longer serve your well-being.

3. Accountability Enhances Success: Sharing goals with others and seeking collective accountability can significantly boost commitment and follow-through.

4. Balance is Key: Incorporating a mix of personal, professional, and creative goals ensures a well-rounded pursuit of happiness.

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Notable Quotes

• Gretchen Rubin [05:06]: "Giving yourself that 'Ta da' helps us stay energized so that we can stick with more ambitious aims."

• Elizabeth Craft [05:41]: "It feels very forward and it feels hopeful."

• Gretchen Rubin [07:18]: "This is the year of the open door for me, which is how I'm rebranding the empty nest."

• Elizabeth Craft [24:22]: "It honestly feels like a no brainer way to get a little more spending cash."

• Gretchen Rubin [38:45]: "If you're around me out there, I will be constantly saying, 'I, like, did you know that is a red maple?' The possibilities of me becoming tiresome, I would say, are very high. I am learning."

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Final Thoughts

This episode not only provides a comprehensive look into the personal goal-setting practices of Gretchen and Elizabeth but also encourages listeners to engage in similar reflective practices. By sharing their successes and setbacks, the hosts create a relatable narrative that underscores the value of intentional living and continuous self-improvement.

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Resource Mentioned:

• The Happiness Project Shop: Gretchen highlights items that cultivate joy and whimsy, available at thehappinessproject.com.

Books Mentioned:

• War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
• Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
• On Writing by Stephen King
• Rivals by Jilly Cooper
• The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

TV Shows Mentioned:

• Andor on Amazon Prime
• Stick on Apple TV

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Connect with Gretchen and Elizabeth:

• Podcast Website: happiercast.com/544
• Substack: happier in Hollywood Substack
• Social Media: Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Facebook

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Onward and upward, Elizabeth. Looking forward to our next discussion on the reading retreat!

Transcript

[Elizabeth Craft]

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[Gretchen Rubin]

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[Elizabeth Craft]

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[Gretchen Rubin]

I find that so often when I listen to Life Kit, it answers some question that has been burning in my mind. But recently, because we've been spending a lot of time outside, I was like, how do we avoid mosquito bites? And sure enough, there was an episode how to Avoid Mosquito Bites just in time. Get help tackling common issues like relationships, finances, parenting and your career. Then walk away with a game plan you can implement right away. Life Kit isn't just another podcast about self improvement. It's about understanding how to live a little better. Starting now. Listen now to the Life Kit podcast from npr.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Lemonade.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Hello and welcome to Happier, a podcast where we talk about how to become happier. This week we'll talk about why it's a good idea to review your 25 for 25 list and we will both report on how we are doing so far. I'm Gretchen Rubin, writer who studies happiness, Good Habits, Secrets of Adulthood, Life in five Senses, Human Nature. I'm in my little home office in New York City and joining me today from Los Angeles is my sister Elizabeth Craft. And Elizabeth, I think that doing these lists together is one of my favorite activities to do with you.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes, so much fun. That's me, Elizabeth Craft, a TV writer and producer living in la. And Gretch. I think I still have a lot of work to do on my list.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I came to the same conclusion, but we will get into all that. But first, an update. A little bit of whimsy from Sharon. Love the whimsy.

[Elizabeth Craft]

She says my husband sneaks small candy canes in our guests coat pockets on Christmas so they will be surprised later. That's fine. I keep bubbles with me in the car and gift them to people. I maintain you can't stay mad if you are blowing bubbles. I used this at work a lot when I had an impossible boss. I could go outside and cool off. When our kids were small, I would always blow bubbles waiting to pick them up from different places. They were not always happy, but could always find the car quickly.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I love this.

[Elizabeth Craft]

That is hilarious.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I know. I feel like blowing bubbles is a. There's probably also something in just the mechanics of blowing out, which is very calming.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Right.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I am going to buy myself a bottle of bubbles and start breaking it out. I think this is a great ide idea.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Well, and the idea of like a child comes out of wherever they are and sees the bubbles surrounding the car is so great.

[Gretchen Rubin]

That is really sweet. Right? I love that. I love that.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yeah.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Well, this week our try this at home suggestion is to review your 25 for 25 list. Now, in episode 5:15, we talked about making these lists. This is something that we've done for many years now, which is take the year date, like 2025, and then make a list accordingly of things that we want to do in the coming year. They can be fun, they can be irksome, they can be big, they can be small, they can be divided into categories. They can be a grab bag. But we recently passed halfway day, so we're well past halfway day, which was July 2. But it's a good idea to review these because, Elizabeth, we often find they just fall out of our heads. We forget that we put something on the list if we don't constantly review it.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes, it's funny because I have taped to the wall next to my computer just, you know, to keep it present. But as they say, when something becomes wallpaper, it literally becomes wallpaper. Where even though it's right next to me, I don't even see it. So it's good to go through and remind ourselves.

[Gretchen Rubin]

No, I mean, mine's on the cork board. Same thing right next to me. And I'm looking at the corkboard all the time. But I'll just forget that There are certain things that I want to do, like even things that I really want to do and I'm looking forward to doing or enjoy it. Just, you just have to keep reminding yourself all the time. The other thing is that it is good also to take stock. Like, neither one of us has done everything, but we've done some things. And giving yourself that. Ta da. Reminding ourselves of what we have done helps us stay energized so that we can stick with more ambitious aims and gretch.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Before we get to our list, we should review what our words are of the year. Our theme word for the year, which we also pick a word every year. My word this year is bounce. So I want to bounce into the future. I want to bounce back. I want to bounce up. I love the motion of bouncing. I think of a super ball bouncing and it just feels very positive and it feels very forward and it feels hopeful.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Well, you know, it's interesting because it's a word that combines energy and resilience.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes.

[Gretchen Rubin]

And kind of a forwardness to it, because you're. One of your mantras is step into the future.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes.

[Gretchen Rubin]

And so I think this is a great example of how you really want to pick a word very carefully, because you could have picked the word resilience or you could have picked the word like bounce back. Bounce back would have been redundant, but, like, you could have picked different words that would have captured some aspect of it. But also, bounce is kind of a goofy word. It has kind of a playful. So it's a really powerful word.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes. And my symbol for the year is a kangaroo. And what many people have pointed out, although it's not technically true, kangaroos are known for only moving forward. They don't move backward. Now, I guess they can, but they must not do it very often.

[Gretchen Rubin]

The conventionalism is they do not move backward, but in fact, they do move backward. You have learned.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yeah.

[Gretchen Rubin]

You now know a lot more about kangaroos from time to time on Zoom or whatever else you like using your kangaroo mug or. You always embrace the theme. I do too, but you do it more. You embrace the visual theme each year.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Now, what is your word this year?

[Gretchen Rubin]

I have a great word too, which is door. And so for me, it's because this is the year of the open door for me, which is how I'm rebranding the empty nest. Speaking of the importance of using the right term and finding the words that have the right cloud of associations. I did not like empty nest, so I'm using open door instead. So this is Door. So the door is swinging open, but people can come and go. We have a new door because we bought our dream house, our lake house. So we have a whole new door to take care of. We now have a dog door because Taffy has to be in her dog pen when she is not under one of our eagle eyes, since she's a little puppy. But I've really had fun thinking about the symbolism of dor, the liminality of dor. It turns out that it's often used in very spiritual. It was a really good choice. It was a much richer choice even than I realized when I chose it.

[Elizabeth Craft]

And did you choose a symbol? Because door is one of those words where there are so many doors. It can be hard to land on a visual that's specific.

[Gretchen Rubin]

When I was on my book tour, somebody, and I can't remember her name, but you know who you are, if you're listening, gave me a door. It's like, as big as my hand, but it's like a door that opens and has a knocker. It's amazing. And so I put it up in my office to remind me of it. It's really, really cool. You know, I love miniatures. So a miniature door is amazing because the door is funny. Because it's not like a chair where you could, like, have a chair. It's set into something. But this door has a frame around it. So I was really lucky. Somebody gave me my door.

[Elizabeth Craft]

That's so cool.

[Gretchen Rubin]

And I have it on my shelf. Yeah, it's really fun. It's yellow.

[Elizabeth Craft]

I want to see a photo.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes. But you know what? Just this morning, Elizabeth, just this morning, I was walking Taffy, and I figured out what I want my theme for 2026 to be. But I am not gonna reveal it.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Wow. That's.

[Gretchen Rubin]

So I'm gonna keep it a secret. But I ran home. And what is the lesson?

[Elizabeth Craft]

Write it down.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Write it down. Yes. Because you're like, oh, my gosh. I had this gigantic epiphany. How could I possibly forget it? Oh, yes. That is exactly the kind of epiphany you can forget. So I wrote myself a note while I was still out on the walk, came home, put it in my document for 2026 so it's recorded. But I don't think I'm gonna forget because I love this idea so much. You will. I love it. I love it as much as door. I love it as much as salt. And salt is one of my all time favorite themes.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Okay, well, that's something to look forward to. All right, Gretch. Coming up, we are going to review my list and then we'll review your list. But first, this break. I was not a cat person until I met my husband and he had two cats, Paco and Blackjack. And I grew to love them so, so much. And I am now officially a cat person and so I love that. This podcast is sponsored by Smalls. Smalls cat food is protein packed recipes made with preservative free ingredients that you'd find in your fridge and it's delivered right to your door. That's why cats.com named Smalls their best overall cat food. And I love Gretchen that they have donated over a million dollars worth of food to help cats through the humane world for animals. And they even give you a chance to donate at check.

[Gretchen Rubin]

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[Elizabeth Craft]

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[Gretchen Rubin]

Okay, Elizabeth, we are back. It's your 25 for 25 list. And this year you did something that we don't always do, which is you divide it into themes, which is interesting. So let's go through your first theme, which is reading. That's a very fun theme. And number one is the slow read of War and Peace. Explain what that is and how it's going.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes. So this was an idea we got from our mom who had taken part in Simon Hazel's War and Peace slow read last year where he guides people in reading one chapter a day of War and Peace. And then every week he has posts about it or in a podcast about it. And you and I decided to do it. Many of our listeners joined us. It's been so fun because it's sort of a group effort. And I am happy to report that I'm completely up to date on the War and Peace slow reads. So I have been doing that.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Excellent.

[Elizabeth Craft]

And I love it. So we're over halfway through, given that we're over halfway through the year on that.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes. And a lot has happened in the world of War and Peace. That is a book that has plot.

[Elizabeth Craft]

You know what I'm doing now? Gretchen Mindy told me about it. There's a War and Peace miniseries on Amazon Prime I'm watching.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Is it good?

[Elizabeth Craft]

I've only seen one episode. I haven't decided how much I love it or don't love it yet, but it's certainly worth watching.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I bet it could help you with the characters because sometimes it is a little bit confusing using like when you're like, is Andre, Is he the. Who's his sister? That kind of thing.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes.

[Gretchen Rubin]

And if anybody's interested in learning more about Simon Hazel, it's over on Substack. It's called Footnotes and Tangents. He also has slow reads of Hilary Mantel's work. He's a Hilary Mantel. Super fan, I would say. Anyway, that's super fun. Okay, so that is not completed because it's going to be the whole year. But you're up to speed. Number two in reading. Head up. A new book club, possibly with all Encino people. This was a really provocative idea.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes. Because I feel like book clubs fall apart because they're not convenient to people. So I wanted everyone to be in my neighborhood. I haven't done it yet. I have made a list of possible people who are in Encino who could be in it.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Okay.

[Elizabeth Craft]

I reached out to one friend and he's like, I can't do it right now. I'm just too busy at work. But I would like to do it in the future. So I haven't pursued it, but I have sort of mentally been thinking about it.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Well, here's some research to maybe make you feel like it's even a better idea. Which there is a 30 minute rule with friendship where something really important happens when people are within 30 minutes of travel, and it's like, are you traveling by foot? Are you traveling in a car? Are you traveling by train or whatever? However it is that you're traveling, if you can reach someone in 30 minutes, it's a different kind of friendship. And I feel like that is such a heavy weight on everything in Los Angeles is the traveling.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes.

[Gretchen Rubin]

So I think doing it in a scenario and then you'd be closer to your neighbors, it would be a cozy feeling. I think it's a brilliant idea.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Exactly.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Number three, reading retreat with Gretchen.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes. Checked off the list. Gretch, we did this. We're gonna talk about it at length in another episode.

[Gretchen Rubin]

This is a huge one. And then four, read one book a month versus listening to it and writing it down for accountability. How's that going?

[Elizabeth Craft]

I gotta keep better track of this. I have been reading some books, actual books, but I haven't been writing it down, so I' not sure where I am on this. I don't think I've done six, but I've done several.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Okay, so maybe work on the. The list keeping for that.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Okay. Now, in the Category of Health, 100 Orange theory Fitness classes. That's a high bar.

[Elizabeth Craft]

It is. Gretch, I'm going to Orange Theory regularly. I would say faithfully. I am behind on the hundred because I, you know, been sick or out of town. So I need to amp up the number of times I go per week to get to the hundred.

[Gretchen Rubin]

But you're consistently going, yeah. Yes. Okay. Number six, maintain your current weight.

[Elizabeth Craft]

So far, so good on that.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Okay. Number seven, try solid core.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Have not done that yet. I need to do that. That falls under the something that can be done at any time is done at no time. I've got to just pick a class and schedule it and pay for it so that I have to go.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes. And you know what I would say is, I would say if you do solid core, should count it toward orangetheory fitness.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yeah, that's a good idea.

[Gretchen Rubin]

You should get credit for it. Number eight, take daily medication at the same time every morning after brushing teeth.

[Elizabeth Craft]

I'd say I'm up and down on that one. It definitely has helped to have it on my list, but I haven't been totally consistent.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I'm sure you take them every day. Is it that you're not taking at the same time? And does that matter?

[Elizabeth Craft]

No, it's just. It's good to take them at the same time every day. And it's just I take, like, seven pills, so it's just not pleasant. So that's why I sometimes put it off.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I see. Related to the teeth brushing. Number nine, use your water pick every day with flossing.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes, Gretch, I'm gonna give myself a check mark on that. Even though not every single day. I think enough that we can count this as a good.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes. That's great. Flossing has been, like, on your mind for a long time.

[Elizabeth Craft]

I know.

[Gretchen Rubin]

So that's good. So you're making real progress. Career. Next category. Number 10, do one happier and one happier in Hollywood social post every week.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Gretch, I have failed miserably on this. I don't think I've done one. So let me restart this now.

[Gretchen Rubin]

What do you need to do to make this feel more possible?

[Elizabeth Craft]

Probably need to put it on the calendar.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah. That's a good start. Is it like a weekday thing or a weekend thing?

[Elizabeth Craft]

I think a weekday. I have enough going on in the weekend. I think I need to add it into the week.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah.

[Elizabeth Craft]

So look for that. Check my insta.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Okay.

[Elizabeth Craft]

And if you don't see happier posts, please email me and nag me.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Okay. Listeners, group accountability. We're all going to do it. It's funny, though. It's such, like a flowing thing, you know, it's kind of hard to notice that somebody's not doing it.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yeah.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Number 11, happier in Hollywood Substack.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes. Sarah and I started our substack. We are going strong. If you would like to subscribe, go to happier in Hollywood podubstack.com or you can go to our website happier in Hollywood.com and scroll down and put in your email where it says, join the party. We're having a great time with Substack. You started a substack rush. I don't think that was even on your list. Your secrets of adulthood substack, which I'm loving.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah.

[Elizabeth Craft]

So, yeah, we're doing that. That's a big commitment and a lot of time. So I do give myself.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes.

[Elizabeth Craft]

A lot of pats on the back for that.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Well, one thing about a 25 for 25 list, like the way we do it, not all items are created equally. So doing this one, and not only have you done it faithfully writing it, but like now you've added live videos and now you have this slow read. You've added layers as you've gone. So well done. That is a big one and that one is well underway. I think that's definitely a huge. That's a huge. Ta da.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes. Speaking of slow reads. Yes. Part of what Sarah and I are doing is we're doing slow reads of different writing books. So we did Stephen King's On Writing and all. All the videos are there and now we are doing Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird and that's for paid subscribers. But if you join, you can go back and look at the old videos and do that.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Just take it bird by bird, buddy. Just bird by Bird. It's the sweetest story.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Okay. Number 12, new photographs with Gretchen. That's me. And new photographs with Sarah. That's your writing partner and co host of Happier in Hollywood and co writer of the sub stack.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Haven't done it yet, but planning to. I think you and I are planning to do it in Kansas in September and Sarah and I have been talking about it. Haven't done it.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah. So it's underway, I would say.

[Elizabeth Craft]

On the Mind.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Plans are being made. Okay. Number 13, finish your novel. That's another huge one.

[Elizabeth Craft]

That's a big one. Haven't done that yet. But again, top of mind.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Right. Family number 14. Go to Kansas City every season.

[Elizabeth Craft]

I think I've been doing that. If not, I've at least I went to New York with mom and dad. So I sort of count that because we were all together.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes, yes.

[Elizabeth Craft]

But otherwise I think I'm up on that. Yes.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah, that's good. That's a good one. Number 15, see your mother in law and father in law at least once a month.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Don't think I've been doing that. Need to step that up. Seen them a lot, but I don't think it's been once a month.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Number 16, movie night every week with Jack and Adam. That's a lovely idea.

[Elizabeth Craft]

It is. We have not done that.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Have you done it once?

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Okay.

[Elizabeth Craft]

But we have not done it every week or anywhere approaching every week.

[Gretchen Rubin]

And it's the idea that it's Sunday night or it's just any night we.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Don'T have a night. That would probably help. Like all things. If it's on the schedule, that would definitely help.

[Gretchen Rubin]

We used to do it on Sunday night. We had. Sunday night was movie night. That's like a good night to do it, I think.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Number 17. Always have a new TV show you're watching with Adam?

[Elizabeth Craft]

Well, we haven't always had a show but we have watched several shows. We watched a show called 000 on Amazon prime about the global cocaine trade which was fascinating. We're most of the way through andor which the three of us are watching together. So that's nice.

[Gretchen Rubin]

We Started watching Andor. Because you're watching Andor.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yeah. And right now, Adam and I are watching Stick, which is a show starring Owen Wilson on Apple tv, which we are loving. He plays a professional golfer.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Ah, okay. That Sounds good. Number 18, visit your niece Ava at UCSB.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes, we did that. Check. Mark. Mark. That was so fun.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Jack. Mark. So fun. Number 19, go to Spain with Jack and Adam.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Haven't done that. I don't think that one's gonna make it this year, Gretch, but I knew that, but I just wanted to put it on the list anyway.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Sometimes we put it on to, like, hold space for something.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes.

[Gretchen Rubin]

And then your grab bag. Final five. Number 20, get a solid four person American mahjong group.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Haven't done that, but I did go to an American mahjong like, lesson. I met some people we've been emailing so that I would call that in process.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Okay. Yeah, that's a big one. Number 21, get more inexpensive gold rings and bracelets.

[Elizabeth Craft]

I did get an inexpensive gold ring, but that's it. I have not gotten any bracelets.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Well, Elizabeth, as I recall, your three words for style were clean, confident, and current. So this is helping you maybe live up to that theme.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes, that's the idea, Gretch. I want to dress better. As always.

[Gretchen Rubin]

As always. I'm Miami, too. Number 22, save for an expensive bag. Bags have gotten so expensive, it's bonkers.

[Elizabeth Craft]

I was gonna say I'm kind of letting go of this one. I just.

[Gretchen Rubin]

It's too much.

[Elizabeth Craft]

It's too much. It's just ridiculous. And also, there's a lot of burglaries in LA of people's bags getting stolen, and I'm convinced they're getting followed home because of their bags. So I am releasing the expensive bag from my life.

[Gretchen Rubin]

One of the best ways to complete a project is to abandon it and then decide that it's no longer on the list. So. Okay, so that's done. You just saved yourself a lot of money.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yeah, exactly.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Number 23, host a game night crutch.

[Elizabeth Craft]

I haven't done this. Okay. I got to do this before the end of summer. This is. This needs to happen.

[Gretchen Rubin]

And do you have a, like, an idea of what the games would be and who the people would be or, like. It all needs to be figured out.

[Elizabeth Craft]

It all needs to be figured out. I love charades and I love Taboo, so that's kind of the games I'm contemplating.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Okay. End of summer. That's a good summer thing to do. Kind of in The Long Lingering Twilight. Yeah. Number 24. Attend seven live events that you got to. Seven. Because it's two plus five.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes. Haven't attended seven, but I went to see James Taylor with Sarah. I went to a Julia Child event with my friend Todd. I should write down what else I've done because those are easy to forget.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah.

[Elizabeth Craft]

I need to get some tickets.

[Gretchen Rubin]

You went to the substack party.

[Elizabeth Craft]

I don't think that counts as a live event, does it? Is it a live event when you're sitting and watching something?

[Gretchen Rubin]

Sure, sure, sure. Like a concert or. Yeah, right. Or like a live taping of a podcast or something. Okay, right, right, right. Okay. Yeah. It's not just going to an event live. It's a live event.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yeah, I've definitely gone to seven events, but not ticketed.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah. Okay. Now number 25. You gave yourself a free space. Intriguing. Have you decided what you want to put in your free space?

[Elizabeth Craft]

I haven't. I need to do that, Gretch. That's a fun thing to think about. See, this is why we have to go over it, because I forgot I had a free space.

[Gretchen Rubin]

You have the option to substitute for the bag. You can just declare that completed, but you could also give yourself a substitute if you wanted.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Okay, so those. I got two spots.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Well, you're on your way.

[Elizabeth Craft]

So that's my list, Gretch. I plan to keep track as we talked, but I got so into our conversation, I wasn't keeping track.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Well, a lot of them are sort of underway, too. It's hard to count.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Okay, coming up, we will go through your list, but first, this break. Taking control of your health and feeling confident in your body should not feel overwhelming, but. But it often does. And that's where hers comes in. They have made the process simple, supportive, and entirely online so you can start strong and stay strong from wherever you are. Hers is transforming women's health care by providing access to affordable weight loss treatment plans. They connect you with a medical provider who will work with you to determine the best treatment option for you.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Start your free online Visit [e-mail] Happier that's f o r h e r s dot com Happier for your personalized weight loss treatment options. Forhers.com Happier weight loss by hers is not available everywhere. Compounded products are not approved or reviewed for safety, effectiveness or quality by the fda. Prescription required. See website for full details, important safety information and restrictions. Actual price depends on product and plan purchase.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Gretch. Being a TV writer, I know so many people who travel for work. For weeks, sometimes months at a time when they're shooting on location. I have a lot of great memories from being in Vancouver for weeks on end shooting a pilot. I love being in Vancouver. It's so gorgeous. Very different from la. Really fun. But when TV people are away, their houses and apartments just sit there in LA with nobody using them. Well, this year as we are all trying to work smarter and not harder, I know people who are hosting their space on Airbnb while they're out of town. Otherwise the place is just sitting there empty. It honestly feels like a no brainer way to get a little more spending cash.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I mean, who does not want a little extra income these days? Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how [e-mail] host all right.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Gretch, we are back. We are going through our 25 for 25 lists. As we talked about, your theme of the year was door. And Gretch, you also have yours divided into categories this year. Yours starts with your grab bag.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes.

[Elizabeth Craft]

So number one photo albums. Get your photo, which is a repeat.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I do this every year. I put it on every year and every year I've done it. It's really important to me is to be like the treasure house of happy memories. And one of the things that I'm gonna do for my Empty Nest project is to go back and look at all these albums that I so faithfully keep. Cause a lot of times I don't ever go back and look at them. I always do it at the end of the year, in the late fall or right before Christmas. But I put it on there because it is so important, I would not wanna forget to do it.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Okay, great. Number two, watch essential movies.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes. I have never seen Die Hard, Frozen, Inside Out, Boyhood and Forrest Gump. I have watched Die Hard, which I'm very happy that I watched it. And so you think, how hard is it to sit down and watch Frozen? And yet I have not done it. So I haven't watched those other movies yet. I really needed to do that.

[Elizabeth Craft]

I would say you could skip Frozen, but maybe that's a controversial point of view.

[Gretchen Rubin]

The reason that I wanna watch Frozen is it's just so often referenced. It just comes up all the time. So I'm like, what is Frozen? I think it's kind of loosely based on the Snow Queen, which, you know, I did that as bonus recording last Christmas. I love the story of the Snow Queen. So I. But I don't even know if that's true or if I Just pick that up incorrectly sometimes, so I really wanna watch it.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Okay. Number three, visit the Earth room.

[Gretchen Rubin]

This is this bananas thing that's in New York. It's literally just a room of earth. It's not that far away. I think I can just go look at it and be done with it. Have I done it? No, I have not.

[Elizabeth Craft]

That sounds fascinating.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I know, right? I would love to do it. I'm sure either Eliza or Eleanor would like to go. Maybe even Jamie would like to go, but I just haven't done it. May. Maybe I'll do it tomorrow. I'll see.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Number four, 20th anniversary of KidLit. September 20th.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes. That is the 20th anniversary of the first meeting of my children's literature reading group. We read the lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and I want to have a party for everybody who's now, you know, I'm in multiple kid lit groups, so I want to have a party. I did one for our 10th, and I want to do one for our 20th, so. But that's not until September.

[Elizabeth Craft]

That's so fun. Number five, make a list of 25 things that please you.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Oh, I love doing this. I did this last year, and I'm up to 15, so I'm on track, but I need to keep my eyes open for more things that please me.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Okay. And then you need to publish that somewhere. You need to post it. Cause I want to know. Or we'll talk about it on the podcast. We'll go through it.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I was almost wondering, like, if I had a whole big collection of these, would it be a fun little book? Is this the kind of thing or it's not a little book. I couldn't decide. Anyway, pondering that feels like a part of a workbook. Mm. Interesting. Maybe. Okay, something to think about.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Number six, organize a Supreme Court clerk's reunion.

[Gretchen Rubin]

This is underway. This is big. This is a big hassle.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I have to say, I feel like.

[Elizabeth Craft]

You may have regretted deciding this. It's been a lot.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes. It was the kind of thing where I'm like, I really want this to happen, and if I don't do it, no one's going to do it. Clearly. I kept hinting all these other people, hoping that they would decide to do it, and they did not. So I'm making it happen. I hope. I mean, as of now, like, I have a date. I've told everybody. Stay tuned for more information. I've started making plans, so stay tuned.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yay.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yay.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Number seven, continue to learn and experiment with AI.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes, I have been continuing to do this. This is something that I spend time doing, learning, and experimenting. So I would give myself ongoing credit for this.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yeah. And Gretchen, you've really gotten me to use AI as well.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Oh, good.

[Elizabeth Craft]

It's not going anywhere.

[Gretchen Rubin]

No, it's here.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Number eight. Have a podcaster gathering.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I've done that. That one is crossed off the list. Super, super fun. And it's done.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yay.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yay.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Okay, Gretch, next category is your read 25 and 25 category. We are reading 25 minutes every day in 2025. Number nine, read war and Peace.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I am doing the Simon Hazel slow read along with you. I love it. It's super fun. I keep finding myself saying to people like, you should really read War and Peace. I think he would really like it. Know. Yes. So I am also up to date.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Good. Number 10 Reading Retreat with me.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes. And exactly. We did our reading retreat. I think the big thing for us was getting the date. That was the main hurdle. Once we had a date and kind of a vision, that was the key thing. So we did it.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Okay, Gretch, next category is the Open door. This is fun. Okay.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes.

[Elizabeth Craft]

So this is what you're doing now that you don't have kids living at home full time.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes. And I'm working on my project Empty Nest book. I hope you know that I will publish this as a book. So these are all things that are part of my project Empty nest.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Okay. Number 11. Operation Knicks Knowledge.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes. I wanted to see. Could I just, by sheer force of will, decide to be interested in something? And I decided to be interested in the New York Knicks, which is the basketball team. I picked a great year because the Knicks did really, really well. So it was so much spirit in New York City around the Knicks, and it was super, super fun. So. So Operation Nick's Knowledge continues.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Well, I have to point out that at your anniversary party, when Jamie was giving a toast, he said, only Gretchen goes from knowing nothing about basketball whatsoever to having a strong opinion about forward.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah, I think I gianninoby.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yeah, I got a very big kick out of that.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Number 12, try transcendental meditation.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Okay. This was something I was gonna do because Jamie was gonna do it, and I thought, oh, well, this would be good for us to do it together. You know, people are always telling me to try med because I've tried it, and then I always give it up. So, okay, well, I'll do it, and it'll be like something Jamie and I do together. But then Jamie decided not to do it. So I'M thinking that I'm gonna decide not to do it too, But I'm like, okay. I don't know. So anyway, that one's kind of in a funny position, so you may end.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Up taking that off the list.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I may. I may.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Number 13, plan an adventurous family trip for the summer.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Well, we were gonna do an adventurous family trip, but then we decided to get taffy. And I said to Eliza, I don't think it's good to get a puppy before we go on this trip, because we're gonn and so I think we should wait. And she said, look, there's never gonna be a great time to take on a new puppy. And I think Taffy. They were already calling the puppy Taffy before we had a puppy. And she said, I think taffy is a bigger adventure than any trip could ever be. So anyway, our adventurous family trip is taffy.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Okay. Love it. That's big. I count that. Number 14 anniversary party. Well, I just gave away that one.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes, we did do that. And it was also a 10th anniversary of Jamie, his cure, thanks to the advances of science and researchers. His hepatitis C that he got from a blood transfusion that he got when he was 8 years old during a heart operation. It was the 10th anniversary of his cure and also a big wedding anniversary party. So, yes, we did that. That was big, too. You know, Elizabeth, you and I are not natural entertainers, so something like planning a big party takes a lot out of us.

[Elizabeth Craft]

That was a great party. Number 15, get a puppy.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Well, we did do that, so I'm kind of double counting that since that also counts as the big family trip. But it's big. Yes, we got taffy.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Number 16, learn to cook one dish. Interesting.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes, I learned to cook meatballs. Smitten kitchen from Instagram came over, and she taught me how to make meatballs. And I did it very well, I think. And they were delicious.

[Elizabeth Craft]

You love meatballs.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I do. I love meatballs so much.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Okay, Gretch, next category is door. Explain what you mean by this.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Well, so door is related to the open door, but it's just this idea of taking advantage of sort of the door of my apartment and the door of our lake house.

[Elizabeth Craft]

So number 17, work outside of your office, which is a repeat.

[Gretchen Rubin]

This is a repeat because I love to work. I love New York society library, which is very close to my apartment. I love working there. Like, you're just in with all these shelves and shelves of books. I love doing that. I love working in a coffee shop. I have my second Monitor. That makes it a lot easier for me to work outside my office, but I just have to sort of pack up and go. And just that little bit of inconvenience sometimes means that I don't do it, even though I find it really energizing creatively to do it. So I'm working, but I have done it a few times, but I want to do it more as the year continues.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Okay, number 18, kayak. Every warm day when you're at your.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Lake house, I do this? Yes. If we're there and it's warm and it's not raining, I do number 19.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Tree, plant, and bird ID.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah. I'm really working on trying to learn the names of the plants and the birds and the trees. When mom and dad were there for 4th of July, we saw this place where, like, these birds had built a nest, and you could see, like, the baby birds and the parent birds. And they were all. They were barn swallows. So I'm like, now I know what a barn swallow looks like. And I can identify a red maple, which I'm very proud of. And if you are around me out there, I will be constantly saying, I, like, did you know that is a red maple? The possibilities of me becoming tiresome, I would say, are very high. I am learning.

[Elizabeth Craft]

That's so fun. Okay, number 20. The little door in the house.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes. There's a little door next to a fireplace where I think you're supposed to put, like, kindling and a fire extinguisher and everything. But maybe we'll do that. But I'm like, this little door cries out for whimsy. What? I do not know. This is something like, I need a concept. I don't have a plan for it. I need to have a vision for what could go in there.

[Elizabeth Craft]

There.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I keep thinking of, like, a skeleton. Like a fun skeleton in a closet. That seems a little bit grim. So maybe something more fun.

[Elizabeth Craft]

A little mini house or something.

[Gretchen Rubin]

It's very narrow. It's high and narrow. So I'm thinking like, something made out of paper mache. Like a paper mache giraffe or something. I don't know. But then we have, like, a lake theme for the lake. I'm pondering this one. I'm creatively pondering it.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Okay, 21. Make nice signs for the Wi Fi password, how to turn on the projector and how to reboot the WI fi.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes. So this is because part of the open door is to have guests and have people coming and going. So one of the ways that you make it Easier for guests is you make it easy for them to know how to get into the WI Fi or we're not around and you want to. You need to reboot it. How do you do that? And I want to make nice signs so that it's easy and, like, even kind of decorative. You know, when you go to a. Like, a cute hotel and there's like, a little framed thing and they make it into a design element. But I had a brilliant idea with this, which is I am delegating this to Eliza and Eleanor. They are really good at doing stuff like this, so my role now is to back badger them into doing it rather than doing it myself.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Okay. That still counts.

[Gretchen Rubin]

It's still a lot of work. The badgering will be a lot of work.

[Elizabeth Craft]

That's true. And finally, Gretch, your last category is watercolor, because you want to watercolor. So 22 is watercolor every day.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Well, I'm not doing it because first I had taffy time, and then it just got away from me. But I am really making an effort, and now I'm trying to really re engage every day. So got off track. Now I'm better on track.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Okay. 2312 postcards of watercolor.

[Gretchen Rubin]

This I have been doing. This is really fun. It's fun to send a postcard, and it's fun to make a watercolor postcard.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Number 24. Bench sketch. Once a week, I think I'm gonna.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Do a bench sketch today. In fact, this afternoon. This is where I go to the Met, and I just sit on a bench and make a sketch of something that I've seen. This is just, like, another way to exercise my sense of sight. This is fun. But I didn't think it was once a week. I thought it was once a month. Month. Okay. So in my mind, I changed that. So I'm doing a bench sketch once a month.

[Elizabeth Craft]

So are you sketching in pencil or with watercolor?

[Gretchen Rubin]

Oh, no. Yeah. You couldn't take watercolor into the Met. Yeah, I do it with.

[Elizabeth Craft]

All right, done. Number 25. Finally create a watercolor station at your apartment and at your lake house.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah. Because this is this whole thing about if you want yourself to do something regularly, you want to make it as convenient as possible. And I found really good products, places where I could just leave my stuff out. My. My pallets and my papers and my paints and my brushes and my hair dryer if I'm doing wet on wet. So I have those two stations, and so that has made it a lot.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Easier and very necessary.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Well, Gretch, you're doing well on your list. You've got a lot going on there.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah, we both do. I think this was a really good practice. I think that both of us were reminded of things that we kind of forgot about. So we will get back on track and hopefully have a lot more crossed off by the end of the year.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes.

[Gretchen Rubin]

So let us know if you did try this at home and how reviewing your 25 for 25 list works for you. Let us know on Instagram threads, TikTok, Facebook. Drop us an [e-mail] or as always, you can go to the show notes. This is happiercast.com 544 all right, Gretch.

[Elizabeth Craft]

What is our resource this week?

[Gretchen Rubin]

We are having a sale right now and the Happiness Project shut. I am always talking about how creating the right atmosphere and environment for yourself helps you stay calmer and happier. So in this shop we're highlighting some really fun items that can help you create those little moments of joy and whimsy in everyday life. The summer. You can check it [e-mail] and Elizabeth, what are we reading? What are you reading?

[Elizabeth Craft]

I am reading Rivals by Jilly Cooper.

[Gretchen Rubin]

And I am reading the Egypt Game by Zoom Zilpha Keatley Snyder. And that's it for this episode of Happier. Remember to try this at home. Review your 25 for 25 list. Let us know if you tried it and if it worked for you.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Thank you to our executive producer, Chuck Reed and everyone at Lemonada. And remember, if you haven't subscribed to Lemonada Premium yet, now is a great time to do so because you can listen completely after ad free. You just tap the subscribe button on Apple Podcasts. Or you can go to lemonadapremium.com to subscribe on any other app. Once again, that is lemonadapremium.com and a rhyming reminder.

[Gretchen Rubin]

If you like the show, tell others you know.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Until next week. I'm Elizabeth Craft.

[Gretchen Rubin]

And I'm Gretchen Rubin. Thanks for joining us. Onward and upward, Elizabeth. I can't wait to talk about a reading retreat on the podcast.

[Elizabeth Craft]

I know that's going to be a fun episode.

[Gretchen Rubin]

From the onward project.