Anyway, Noah has a project at school right now where he has a travelling bear (also named Noah) and he needs to have his bear go all over the world. He’s been in Chicago to a Bulls game, he’s been to Mexico, he’s been to Atlanta, but he has so many more wonderful places that he needs to go visit.

And that is where you all come in.

Would you be willing to print out this adorable bear and take a photo of him in your city or town? Or have him do fun things like attend events? Anything to enlighten his boring, bear life?

You can even write a little story of his adventures while he was visiting with you and then mail them to Noah the person so he can show his classmates how awesome of an Auntie he has, and all the exciting places Noah the Bear got to go!

And, Noah would really like Noah the Bear to go to China, so if anyone knows anyone in China, let me know.

If you would be interested in participating, either leave a comment or send me an email at fullofsnark (at) gmail (dot) com and I can email you a photo of Noah the Bear to print out with the instructions.

The Noahs and I would be super grateful to all of you that are willing to help. All people who participate will be entered into a drawing for a $10 Amazon gift card. And I’d be more than willing to repay the favor if your kids ever have this project. I mean, what kid doesn’t want a photo of his bear with a drunk lady, a cat and an empty bottle of wine?

Thanks for all your help!

But as much as I don’t like to post something just to post, I know if I go any longer without posting, I’m going to give it up altogether. (Can I use the word post any more in one sentence? Geez.) So I’m forcing myself to write, and asking you to help me make some decisions with my furniture. It’s a win-win! For everyone! Or just me.

So I’m currently looking for a linen cabinet to put in my bedroom. In my last apartment, I had this really nice built in linen cabinet where I put sheets and towels and stored miscellaneous/extra bathroom items. And because I don’t have something like that in my condo, I’m on the hunt for something like that to use for storage and MAYBE get some damn boxes out of the entryway. It’s only been three damn months since I moved in.

Last Friday I took a trip to IKEA to see what they had as options. Since I drive a small Nissan Sentra, I wasn’t planning on buying anything that day, I just needed to look around and see my options in person, and not just online. Plus there is also a futon thing I’m looking at there that I needed to see in person (and now need to measure the bedroom wall to make sure it will fit).

Here is one option for the linen storage thingy.

It’s actually from the children’s furniture, but it totally will serve the purpose I need.

Here’s option two:

It would force me to keep it neat since people can SEE IN IT.

Here’s the dilemma. My bedroom furniture is all light wood. It’s a dresser, nightstand and TV stand. None of it matches, it’s not part of a set. My dresser was the main piece I built around because it’s awesome and tall and holds a ton of stuff.

So I’m worried about things not matching. Would it be weird to get a white or yellow cabinet that doesn’t match? Also, would it be weird to have white bedroom furniture, because I kind of want to get this as a TV stand now.

White furniture totally screams children’s room, doesn’t it? I had white furniture as a kid. I should stop shopping in the children’s section of IKEA and just get the yellow cabinet, huh? I just don’t know. GAH! Can you help me? What do you suggest? A whole new bedroom set? (HAHAHAHA!)

Feel free to leave other ideas (with links, preferably) in the comments.

My friend Jenny is currently one of the 10 finalists for Chicago Woman of the Year. Earlier this year, her mom nominated her and she is now one of the top 10 and if anyone needs to win, it’s Jenny.

You can read her story and the story her mom wrote to nominate her here.

Jenny has been through a lot, as you’ll read in the story. She lost her dad right before Christmas to his long battle with cancer. She is extremely close with her family and her dad was her hero. And she held her family together through a lot of stuff when he was sick.

I only met her dad over the phone because he was the one who helped me look at my agreement from Slapdick Consulting and advised me not to sign.

I met Jenny through a mutual friend and she invited me to be a part of her book club. So I owe her for introducing me to some awesome ladies and learning me to read books only to drink wine and eat corn dip once a month.

She is really an amazing person. You will never meet a nicer human being. She makes everyone else around her a priority and will do anything to help out a friend or loved one. How she stayed as strong as she did through her dad getting sick and passing away without crumbling under the pressure is a testament to her character and how strong she is. And why she should be voted Chicago’s Woman of the Year.

In addition, with a victory, she’ll get money donated to charity in her name. And she’s chosen Imerman Angels to be the lucky recipient if she wins. Imerman Angels is a Chicago-based organization that connects people fighting cancer with individuals who have beaten that specific cancer. It also assists caregivers. Jonny Imerman, the founder of the organization and a cancer survivor himself, personally helped her family cope with the events of the last year surrounding her dad’s battle with Melanoma.

All it takes is a few simple clicks to cast your vote for her. You can vote once a day from now until March 31. I would really appreciate it if you could take a few seconds out of your day to give her some votes.

She is so deserving and I know it would mean the world to her. So please vote. You all rock!

Edited to Add: I think the voting link is updated. You can always get to the voting page from the main Chicago Woman of the Year page here. You’re voting for Jennifer Duda. Let me know if there are still issues!