Mary Lawless Lee - Happily Grey: Stories, Souvenirs, and Everyday Wonders from the Life In Between

I have had the pleasure of knowing Mary Lawless Lee over the past several years. She is the definition of the modern superwoman who embodies the characteristics that have garnered respect and admiration from all who follow her. Mary is so very kind, incredibly smart, humble, and hardworking. She is an incredibly devoted mother, wife, and entrepreneur, and I am so excited that she is sharing her honest personal journey with everyone. I cannot wait to see what she does next, as I am sure the best is yet to come.

Rachel Zoe, co-CEO and founder of Rachel Zoe, Inc., Curateur, Rachel Zoe Collection, and The Zoe Report; chairwoman of Rachel Zoe Ventures

Happily Grey is a love letter to ones inner child. Ive known Mary for several years, and seeing her pull back the curtain and share these honest, vulnerable experiences is an inspiration and guide to us all. From her struggles through motherhood, launching and running multiple businesses, navigating the boundaries of social media, and her hard-won moments of success, Mary delivers heartfelt words on her discovery back to that childlike wonder and joy she once knew.

Jen Atkin, founder of OUAI and Mane Addicts, celebrity hairstylist, and author of Blowing My Way to the Top

From someone we know well for her signature style comes a remarkably personal memoir about motherhood, womanhood, and everything in between. Mary shows us that its okay to not be okay and shares how to navigate the struggles women face in motherhood, business, and relationships. From the colorful design to the heartfelt advice, Happily Grey is for anyone striving to craft a perfectly imperfect life.

Clea Shearer, coauthor of The Home Edit and costar of the Netflix series Get Organized with The Home Edit

Timely, important, and vulnerable is Mary Lawless Lees message and road map for anyone seeking deeper understanding, clarity, healing, and happiness. Marys gift as a storyteller is fully displayed in this courageous and intimate memoir. With every page, she reminds us of the importance of owning and sharing our stories. Marys pursuit of living a wholehearted life is inspiring, and this book can encourage you to do the same.

Miles Adcox, proprietor and chairman, Onsite Wellness Group; founder, Human School; cofounder, The Oaks

As a friend, a fellow mother, and someone who has been able to watch Marys career as a content creator grow into multiple successful businesses, its an absolute delight and inspiration to read through these pages that perfectly capture the drive, dedication, and passion Mary puts into everything she does. Happily Grey is anything but a highlight reel. Mary vulnerably shares her life lessons and gives us an inspiring guide to stay curious and rediscover that childlike wonder.

Amber Venz Box, cofounder and president, LTK

In this book, Mary shows fellow women and mothers that while we may not be able to have it all, we can have so much more if were willing to look inside ourselves and find the courage to change. If youre ready to crack open your heart, show the world who you really are, and lead your life on your terms, this book is for you!

Julie Solomon, influencer marketing coach, bestselling author, and host of The Influencer Podcast

Happily Grey

Copyright 2022 Mary Lawless Lee

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or otherexcept for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published by Harper Horizon, an imprint of HarperCollins Focus LLC.

Any internet addresses, phone numbers, or company or product information printed in this book are offered as a resource and are not intended in any way to be or to imply an endorsement by Harper Horizon, nor does Harper Horizon vouch for the existence, content, or services of these sites, phone numbers, companies, or products beyond the life of this book.

The information in this book has been carefully researched by the author and is intended to be a source of information only. Readers are urged to consult with their physicians or other professional advisors to address specific medical or other issues. The author and the publisher assume no responsibility for any injuries suffered or damages incurred during or as a result of the use or application of the information contained herein.

Photo credits: Unless otherwise noted, photographs of the people and places depicted in this book are from the personal archives of Mary Lawless Lee.

ISBN 978-0-7852-9313-2 (Ebook)

ISBN 978-0-7852-9312-5 (HC)

Epub Edition October 2022 9780785293132

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022930134

Printed in Canada

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Information about External Hyperlinks in this ebook

Please note that the endnotes in this ebook may contain hyperlinks to external websites as part of bibliographic citations. These hyperlinks have not been activated by the publisher, who cannot verify the accuracy of these links beyond the date of publication

For my family:

Mad, Navy, Indie, and you, the wonderful community that for years has wrapped

me up in love, celebrated my good days, mourned my bad ones, and stood

alongside me on all the days in between. Not everybody gets to grow up with a

direct line to honesty, encouragement, and inspiration. Thank you for growing

with me, for giving me a chance, and for making my world so damn beautiful.

PS: Madison Lee, none of this would be possible without you. When I fell

in love with you, I fell in love with life. You are the greatest gift.

I get a lot of questions.

What facial serum do you use?

How did you deal with your babys reflux?

Should I wear gold or mustard to my sisters fall wedding?

Where did you get that sweater?

What does Happily Grey mean?

That last question comes up more often than any other, and every time its posed, I struggle to put the answer into words. My deepest hope is that this book will (finally) do just that.

Grey isnt the last name of my first husband or the town where I grew up. Its not my favorite kind of weather or an ode to any long-running, major network medical drama. I promise, Happily Grey is not some humorless monochromatic fashion statement. If anything, its all about color.

I grew up in a world where everything seemed to be black or white, right or wrong, true or untrue, but I found myself, and learned to love myself, in the spaces between. In the grey areas I found relief. Thank God it wasnt all black and white. The discovery that it was safe for me to create my own way, to be undecided, to make my own rules, allowed me to step into my freedom and changed my life completely. Happily Grey is about the bliss of uncertainty, the thrill of curiosity, the beautiful, electrifying, intense experience of wonder. Its about things that, by nature, are hard to put into words. Friends, its all about asking questions, so please, keep asking them.

In these pages, well step back together into the times and places that have lovingly and (very, very) patiently shaped me, reliving moments when a world that seemed small and simple revealed itself as impossibly vast and complex, sending me onward with lessons, memories, and keepsakes to share. There are photographs, narratives, and recipes, tips for doing your hair and for surviving your divorce. Consider it my philosophical travel guide... from the girl who boarded her first flight at the age of twenty.