A week or so ago we spent some time in our friend’s outdoor hot tub. It was cold and snowing but being in that hot, churning water was surprisingly pleasant. Of course we joked about it being a time machine and that got me thinking — if this hot tub was, indeed, a time machine, where would I want to go? And just like that a Ten on Tuesday topic was born. Presenting: 10 Time Periods I Would Want to Visit If I Had A Hot Tub Time Machine.

1. The North during the Civil War. I’m not a reenactor for nothing, you know.
2. The South in the years prior to the Civil War. While I think slavery is abhorrent I do think it would be kind of cool to experience life on a plantation and attend a barbecue. I’m thinking Scarlet at 12 Oaks before the war broke out. And then before I left I’d free all the slaves.
3. Boston in the days leading up to the Revolutionary War. It was such an exciting time and Boston would be the place to be.
4. Scotland in the 1700s. I’d be looking for Jamie Fraser, you can bet on that.
5. England during World War II. It was a scary place, it honestly must have been terrifying to be there, but I’d want to experience it so long as my time machine was working well enough to get me out at the first hint of real danger.
6. San Francisco in the 1960s. I’d be wearing flowers in my hair.
7. Paris in the 1920s. So much art and culture between WWI and WWII.
8. England during the 19th century. And I would hang around with Austen and Dickens and the Brontes. And I would love it.
9. American in the 1950s. I would like to be, for about 5 minutes probably, a typical housewife of that time. It’s how my mom lived and I’d just like the chance to experience that first hand.
10. Finally, on a completely sentimental note, I’d want to go back to September, 1992. Hannah was an infant and this time around I would do my best to slow down time and savor every moment.

So, what about you? Where would you go if you had a hot tub time machine? If you wrote a post for today please click the button below to add your link. If you’d like to subscribe to the weekly Ten on Tuesday email, please click here.

As Kym said yesterday, we are deep in the winter blahs these days. It’s snowing again and it’s bitter cold out there. My spirits are failing and I’m looking to uplift them so today’s Ten on Tuesday topic is Ten Things I’m Looking Forward To Right Now.

1. The weekend. I generally say this by Tuesday of every week.
2. The Valentine’s Dance with Dale’s band. As I mentioned yesterday, it has been postponed until this Saturday and I am ready for a night out with our friends. Bring on the dancing!
3. The Oscars. My favorite television event of the year is this coming Sunday. Hooray!
4. SPA. I love this annual weekend with my girlfriends in Freeport, Maine. All the spinning and knitting and drinking and laughing is definitely something I’m looking forward to.
5. Finishing listening to We Are Not Ourselves. I feel like I’ve been listening to this forever. I’m more than halfway through the 20 hours now, though, and I’m not giving up.
6. Mexico. 59 days. Nuff said.
7. Being able to run more than a mile. Last week I did a mile without walking, then I walked for 3 minutes and then ran another half mile. My goal is in sight!
8. The Spin-A-Thon! It’s coming up on March 7th and I’m so excited about this opportunity to raise money for my local Y. Should you wish to donate you can go here to do so. And really, no amount is too small! If everyone reading this post donated $5 I would raise a whole lot of money for this very worthy cause.
9. Attending a wedding. We’re going to one in just over a month and it’s going to include some of our closest friends and an overnight at a beautiful inn. I can’t remember the last time Dale and I had a night away.
10. Summer. It seems like an awfully long way off but I’m truly looking forward to it’s return and all that comes with it.

What are you looking forward to right now? If you wrote a post for today please add your link below. If you’d like to subscribe to the Ten on Tuesday email list please click here.

Valentine’s Day is just a few days off and I thought it would be fun to focus on love for this week’s Ten on Tuesday post. Not necessarily people I love (you all know I love Dale and Hannah and my stepkids and the rest of my family) but things I love doing, and things I love having. So, I am finishing the sentence “I love …” ten times for you.

1. I love knitting. Duh.
2. I love reading. I love it so much I made a career out of it. Along with this I love Goodreads. It has increased my love of reading lately in a huge way.
3. I love eating. It’s my downfall but there it is.
4. I love the YMCA in our town. I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again: I am so very fortunate to have this wonderful facility located just a mile from my house. The staff is remarkable (my beloved Bizzy is leaving, though, and I’m a bit devastated) and the people who go there are friendly and kind.
5. I love the feeling I have after I’ve exercised. Getting myself to do it is often a matter of stubbornness but the high that comes after a good cardio work out just can’t be beat.
6. I love a dirty Grey Goose martini with a blue cheese stuffed olive. I love it so much that I love two even more than one.
7. I love entertaining. I love planning a party, a menu, a theme. I love having our friends and family in our home.
8. I love flowers. I love them in my home and in my yard and in any way I can get them.
9. I love my camera. And all those lenses I have. And taking pictures.
10. I love summer. Please come back.

You know the drill: if you wrote a post for this week please add your link below. And if you want to subscribe to the weekly Ten on Tuesday list click here.

Guilt is something I don’t think too much about. I try to live my life with good intentions and a positive vibe and guilt just doesn’t fit into that. But guilt in light of indulgence? That’s a whole ‘nother story and for today’s Ten on Tuesday topic I am going to share 10 Guilty Pleasures with you.

photo of my huevos rancheros from Saturday morning. nothing to do with this post but very very good

1. People magazine. It’s crap for the brain but I love the photos of the stars.
2. Reruns of Grey’s Anatomy. I can watch them over and over. It’s a waste of time but it’s entertaining.
3. 3s. Just don’t even try it. What a fun and wonderful waste of time.
4. Tater Tots. I just love ‘em.
5. Taco Bell. Shut up and pass me a Crunchwrap Supreme because I haven’t had one in a really really long time.
6. Pajama days. My favorite way to spend a day at home. And just for the record, I generally still shower but then I put on clean PJs for the rest of the day.
7. Glittery makeup. I know I’m a little old for it but I love some sparkle on my eyes. I mostly reserve it for the holidays but sometimes that Urban Decay glitter eyeliner just winds up in my hand.
8. Lifetime television. All of those movies have, basically, the same plot. I watch anyway.
9. Tastespotting. I troll it frequently, pin recipes occasionally, and drool a lot.
10. Eating Chinese food out of the carton. When I was a kid and we got Chinese take out my mom always emptied the cartons into serving dishes. Yeah, she was just like that. As a grown up, though, I love to eat lo mein right out of the carton. With chopsticks. I love and I feel like a rebel.

What are your guilty pleasures? Be sure and share you link below. Click here if you want to subscribe to the Ten on Tuesday email list.

Today’s Ten On Tuesday topic comes from Kym and it’s a fun one: 10 Types of Footwear You Own. I don’t know about you but I have a lot of shoes. Here’s my list of the ones I use the most:

1. Running shoes. I’m on my second pair of Brooks and I love them. Highly cushioned and brightly colored, they are perfect for me.
2. Spin shoes. Truth be told, I haven’t worn my spin shoes in months. But the Spinathon is right around the corner (you can sponsor me if you’d like!) so I’ll be using this again soon.
3. High boots. I have black ones and I love them with leggings, particularly since I couldn’t wear them a few  years back when I was so much heavier.
4. Low boots. I have 3 pairs of low heeled boots – black ones that are lined in a very soft flannel, brown Ariats, and beige cowboy booties. They are my favorite boots to wear with jeans.
5. L L Bean Boots. The original ones that actually say L.L. Bean Hunting Shoe on them. I’ve had them since my early twenties and there is nothing better to wear in the winter.
6. Heels. I have pumps and glittery slingbacks and patent leather peep toe shoes and more! I love heels for the way they look but I’m not crazy about the way they feel.
7. Cowboy Boots. I have exactly 1 pair of cowboy boots and Dale bought them for me before we were married. They are so comfortable and absolutely perfect for dancing.
8. Danskos. I have several pairs of Danksos. I’d have more if they weren’t so damn expensive.
9. Flip flops. My favorites are a pair of Crocs that have a tiny strip of velvet and patent leather along the edge of the strap. The sole is molded and they feel great even for hours at a time.
10. Converse sneakers. Red ones and pink ones with sheep. Plus all of Hannah’s since we wear the same size!

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P.S. If you’re still seeing this post on Wednesday that means we’re without power. I’ll be back as soon as I can!