Most weeks I get three or four things in my inbox that genuinely earn a second look. This week the list is short and specific: a workout app that got a real upgrade, a historical novel that wrecked me in the best way, a little gift-wrap ritual from the kids, and a few outfit notes I promised you I’d finally start sharing. Here’s what’s actually on the radar.
Moves+ — the workout app that finally added meal planning
Last year I fell in love with the Moves app when I was hunting for a well-rounded, expert-backed program that did strength work and mobility training in one. I had TFL pain in my hip and glute, and working with a physical therapist made one thing clear: mobility work was no longer “optional” for me if I wanted to stay injury-free.
Here’s the thing — I don’t have endless hours to fit workouts, physio exercises, mobility, some cardio and flexibility into my day. I needed one time slot that did all of it. Moves checks every one of those boxes, and now it just got better with Moves+. The add-on brings macro-friendly meal ideas right into the app, and I already loved the recipes the app shared through their challenges.
Now I have 300+ meal ideas in an easy-to-read, easy-to-follow format, and it’s made me even more convinced this is a keeper. If you’re already a Moves subscriber ($20/month), Moves+ ($25/month) is optional and prorated against your existing subscription, so you’re not paying twice. And it includes the Move Together fall challenge (typically $50) for free.
Worth it or skip it: Worth it if you’re already in the app. The meal planning closes a gap most fitness apps never touch, and the prorated pricing means the upgrade costs you almost nothing on top of what you’re paying.
Disclosure: the Moves+ mention is from a brand partnership, so treat my verdict as one data point.
DIY birthday wrapping paper
From picking out presents to making homemade cards, we try to get the kids involved in the gifting process for their friends’ birthdays. We think it encourages them to think more deeply about their friends and what they actually like — and it makes birthday gifting less of a parent task and more of a responsibility for them.
They often make little gift toppers (name keychains or melty bead keychains are a favourite!) and they genuinely love decorating presents when I wrap them in plain black kraft paper and set it up with some acrylic paint markers. Sometimes they add stickers or puffy paints, if we’ve planned ahead and given everything time to dry. They just seem to enjoy personalising the outside of the gifts they give, and I love seeing their little creations.
It’s a small ritual, but it’s the kind of thing that costs almost nothing and makes a birthday feel personal. Radar keeper.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
I know I’m far from alone in feeling like the world lost a bright light since the passing of Dolly Parton this week. She radiated generosity, love, kindness, intelligence and a spunkiness we all seemed to recognize and adore.
As an avid reader, I remember when I first learned about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, an organization she founded to inspire a love of reading by gifting free books to children from birth to age five. I was so moved by the mission, and I’ve loved watching it grow; it now spans five countries and gifts millions of free books each month to children around the world.
If you’d like to sign up a child to participate, or join me in donating in Dolly’s memory, you can do both at Imagination Library.
Reading: The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin Harmel
Genre: historical fiction. My rating: B.
I typically adore Kristin Harmel’s historical fiction, and I had no trouble flying through this one. But I’ll be honest — it was very predictable, and the big reveals were not in the least bit surprising. That said, it’s the kind of novel that makes you feel like someone is sitting on your chest as the tears stream down your face, because it’s impossible not to be moved by the story.
It’s a unique take on WWII historical fiction. It follows Colette Marceau from her early life in Paris during the war, where her mother Annabel — a descendant of Robin Hood — teaches Colette the family tradition of stealing jewels from the cruel and evil to aid those in need. Annabel’s efforts to aid the resistance lead to her arrest by the Germans on the same night Colette’s younger sister disappears during their raid. What follows is a life-long struggle for Colette to find answers to the questions that have plagued her for years — questions whose answers finally feel within reach when the bracelet that went missing with her sister resurfaces at a local museum exhibit.
Worth it or skip it: Worth it if you want a feel-good historical read and don’t mind predictable plot turns. Skip it if you live for twist endings.
Outfit notes from the week
A reader suggested I share some of my recent looks in my Friday posts from time to time, and I figured I’d try it out. The looks I’m noting below are from the last couple of weeks, since I’m playing catch-up.
The formula I keep coming back to: a neutral base (a bodysuit tank), one textured layer, and a bag that does the talking. The porcelain flower bag strap I’ve been rotating back is my all-time favourite for adding colour and a little femininity to an otherwise quiet outfit.
A few pieces I actually repeat: the Athleta skirt, the MOTHER jeans, and a denim jacket from RUTI that I wore with the Beyond Yoga pants this week. The RUTI jacket was gifted to me, so I’m flagging it rather than pretending it was a random haul find.
If you want to see the exact pieces, here they are: Athleta skirt, MOTHER jeans, RUTI denim jacket, and the Clare V. bag I keep reaching for.
Trend Signal: the quiet base + one statement accessory. It’s not a trend so much as a signal — the capsule wardrobe is winning, and the fastest way to make a neutral outfit feel intentional is a single piece that carries colour or texture. Cost-per-wear on a bag you wear 20 times a season beats five impulse buys you wear twice.
Is Moves+ worth upgrading for? If you’re already paying for Moves, the meal planning is a cheap add-on and the fall challenge is free with it. If you’re not in the app yet, the base subscription is where you start.
Is Colette Marceau a good read if I don’t love historical fiction? It’s the most accessible of the genre — fast to read, emotionally driven, light on plot mechanics. If you want a twisty mystery, look elsewhere.
Where do I sign up for Imagination Library? The program spans five countries; you can register a child from birth through age five at imaginationlibrary.com.
A note from Sophie: the best part of this week’s list is how much of it costs almost nothing. A workout app that does the thinking for you, a gift-wrap ritual, a book that makes you cry in the good way. That’s the radar doing its job — filtering the noise so you only see what’s worth your attention.
Stay on the signal.
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