My CIFF Picks

The Calgary International Film Festival kicked off this week. Eric and I saw the Hank Williams biopic 'I Saw the Light' on Wednesday evening and really enjoyed it. Here are a few others I'm hoping to catch over the next 10 days.

45 Years

Brooklyn

Freeheld

Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead: Story of the National Lampoon

Green Room

Room

The Smalls: Forever is a Long Time (click the link for the trailer).

Have a great weekend!

Etsy Made in Canada Show

The Etsy Made in Canada show is this Saturday at Golden Acre Garden Centre. When I'm not shopping my face off, I'll be there helping my sister-in-law sell her adorable Lucky Wall prints.

Hope to see you there!

Turning 30

I'm turning 30 on Saturday! The day itself is sure to be an emotional one. We booked a trip to Tofino before we had Annalee thinking that it would be the perfect first trip with our baby. Now, we've traded our mini van rental for a convertible, because maybe being a bit ridiculous will cheer us up- even if it's just a little.

I'm looking forward to my thirties. Perhaps I'm just excited about a new chapter, but I feel like I did everything I wanted to in my twenties. I've traveled, I've built and maintained the relationships that are important to me and managed to shed the ones that aren't, I've lived by myself, I've learned new things and I've had a LOT of fun.

In an effort to mature just ever so slightly, I'd like to be a bit better with my finances in this new decade (one does not need to spend money on 10 different white t-shirts) and little bit easier on myself when it comes to my body- less negative self-talk, more appreciation of my health.

Goodbye, twenties. It's been real.

Images from the Bold Italic

Freezer Apple Pie Filling

It's September (how did THAT happen?!) which means it's apple season. Our tree produced apples this year, but the majority of them have been destroyed by birds, squirrels and hail. Luckily, we have a ton of apples from our summer fruit share that are perfect for baking.

This freezer pie filling is much easier than canning it. I like to keep a couple of frozen pie crusts handy as well. When a friend or family dinner rolls around you can always offer to bring the dessert and have it made in no time. And who doesn't love apple pie?

Frozen Apple Pie Filling
3/4 c. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tbsp. flour
1 tbsp. lemon juice
6 cups of apples (peeled, sliced and cored)

Combine sugar, cinnamon and flour. Stir in lemon juice and apples until combined. Use immediately or freeze for up to six months.
Makes enough filling for one 9 inch pie.

A couple of notes:
-After I thaw the filling, I like to drain a bit of the liquid out before I fill the pie crusts to keep it from being too soupy
-This filling is heavy on the cinnamon which I love and have only heard good things about, but if you're not a cinnamon fan, you might want to use a bit less
-If you've got a ton of apples, this tool is a godsend!