Recently Enjoyed Things | August 7, 2026

The summer I spent at the dentist's office.

I think I will always remember the summer of 2026 as the summer I spent at the dentist’s office. Not exactly sexy, but we can’t always plan these things.

It started in the spring when I cracked my tooth on a popcorn kernel. Beware! If you crack your tooth badly enough, and I did, it is not repairable. Literally the only resolution is to pull it out and replace it with a bridge or an implant.

Because I’m still so young (!!!), the dentist recommended an implant, but it’s a process baby, because everything worth it always is, you know? And so, since June, I’ve had 4 appointments at the dentist to consult, get a 3d scan of my teeth (which was actually pretty cool), extract, and then care for the bone-grafted part of my gums. I figured, I’m already here so I might as well schedule my kid’s cleanings too. Basically, I’ve been there a lot. Like once a week, a lot.

There are a handful more appointments ahead of me before I’m really done with this experience, so I expect I will always remember the fall of 2026 as the fall I spent at the dentist’s office as well. In the meantime, I’m wearing a retainer with a fake tooth glued inside so the world doesn’t know I have an empty spot in my smile. As a gal who never wore braces, this has been a real rite of passage.

Once, we had all the carpet replaced in our house. This costs more than that. But I keep reminding myself that one day, like in December and forever after, I’ll be really grateful to summer 2026 me for taking care of this. Also future me is never eating popcorn again.

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Meanwhile, my son has been doing swimming lessons this summer, which he complains about each morning, but proceeds to have a perfectly nice time in the water with his new friends. I guess we’re both spending the summer doing something laborious that our future selves will be grateful for.

So anyway, that’s what I’ve been up to this summer. Please tell me if you’ve had a season of your life completely consumed with something. Do you forever associate the two?

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Welcome! I’m Jen - a 38 y/o working mom, trying to find some fun between loading the dishwasher and hopping on a zoom call. I read a lot, drink a little, and shop for clothes as if I have somewhere other than the office to go.

Some housekeeping: there’s some affiliate links in here. But aren’t they everywhere? Anyway, if you click on something and buy it, I might earn a commission at no cost to you.

Also, if you’re enjoying what I’m enjoying, I’d love for you to stick around!

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Recently Enjoyed

Reading

Your friend who primarily reads backlist beauties.

Elizabeth & Margaret: The Intimate World of the Windsor Sisters // Andrew Morton - This is the fella who wrote the explosive Diana: In Her Own Words back in the 90’s, allegedly without her collaboration until it tumbled out that it was obviously with her collaboration. Messy messy! I’d frankly be surprised he can get anyone to talk to him, which actually I don’t think he can, now that I think of it. This book is largely built from source material.

It’s a fairly general overview of the ying/yang relationship between Queen Elizabeth II and her younger sister, Princess Margaret, which is not to say it was uninteresting. It’s very interesting! But if you’ve already consumed all of the source material, it’s nothing really new. It did spend a healthy amount of time digging into the Peter Townsend affair and was far more generous to QE2 about that particular subject than The Crown was. I’m so fascinated by that hullaballoo, so I was hooked.

TL;DR - if you’re interested in the royal family and are just starting to dig in, this is a very good introductory book that’s quite fascinating. If you’re deep into the fixation, you can skip this one because I promise you already know everything here.

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Shopping

Recs for gals like myself who like nice things but also live in the real world.

• Curious about this glass glow balm from the drugstore.

• Cute crochet set!

• Another good set, but for cooler weather. This sweater + sweater pants are a DEAL.

• Okay, who is going to test drive these Old Navy dupes for the group?

• I think I deserve a new lunch pail this fall too.

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Recent Saves

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Just for Fun To-Do List

Because I’m tired, but still trying.

• Listen to Ariana’s new album.

• Watch Girls? I’ve never seen it! I’m more of the SatC generation, but now that I have HBO, maybe I’m a Girls girl!

• I’d also like to set up the projector screen outside and enjoy an outdoor movie night series in which we watch all of the Tom Holland Spiderman films before culminating in a back-to-school trip to the movie theatre to see the newest one. It’s for the kids, but I won’t hate it.

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Sending You on Your Way

(Interesting things I found on the internet this week)

• The Astrology of August

• Everything the Friends did in their mid-20s. A reminder that life is really only just unfolding.

• Life Lately via me.

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Last Week - In case you missed it:

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PS -

I post regularly, but have absolutely no niche over on Instagram. You can find the chaos at recentlyenjoyedthings

I’m also going on and on and on over at recentlyenjoyedthings.com where nothing reminds me to keep it snappy.

Here’s a few things I wrote about recently:

• Life Lately, summertime edition.

• Weekend Musings

• Everything I liked and recommended, all in one place.

And if you enjoyed today’s newsletter, would you consider subscribing? I aim for one newsletter a week on Friday morning, so if I may be so bold, it’s a lovely treat for your inbox, just before the weekend.