We Did It! We raised $1400.00 to for Tanner’s Trip to Washington DC April 13th. Thank you to everyone who helped us reach our Goal. We appreciate it so much! We are so excited to make this trip and for everything we will be learning and participating in. Thank you so very much for your support in this endeavor.

We will be sharing our journey and the TSA Convention via our Facebook link, and also posting here on the website. So you can enjoy the Journey with us.

There are only a few more days to make your choices for gifts for your Valentine.  If you need to ship the gift,  the last day to ship to get it there on time would be Thursday.  We ship 2-3 day priority mail, and the average shipping cost is $15 per package, depending on the size.

I thought it would be fun to come up with some Guy Valentine gift ideas.  It is fitting since I do have 4 sons, out of my brood of 5 kids.   I think it is just as important to show the men in your life how much you love them instead of expecting that Valentines Day is the day for them to express to you their love.  I actually like to think of Valentines day as the Day that my husband will Profess his undying love for me.  LOL.  After   17 years of marriage,  I do appreciate ANY attention he may give me.  We laugh that you know it is true love that he still loves me when I am fat, and I still love to rub his bald head.  There’s nothing better! 

So when I found this paper this year,  I had to make something fun out of it and profess my love for my man that is turning 40 this year.  Here is an example of a Paint Can gift, made out of “Old Guys Rule” paper.  Done in classic cars, and with fun classic comments about how “Old Guys rule”  Old School, and Being a classic.  What a great Compliment I think!  (We seem to be okay getting old, and growing old together.)  The empty paint can, ready for you to fill is $25.  If you would like to have gourmet cookies added to fill it, $35.    This theme can also be used in a Candy bouquets, Small $30, Medium $35, Large $40.  It will be embellished with the classic car brads, of a odometer, stick shift and other classic guy stuff.  

If the cans are a bit out of your price range,  you take a look at our Gourmet Cookie Take out Boxes for $15.00-  they are filled with 6 gourmet chocolate chip cookies.    Pictured is a brocade design, however, remember we can customize to be any style you like, fancy or simple.

Still looking for something more budget conscience,  we have our Individually wrapped slider Candy bars, for $4.00 each.  Pictured is a sports theme for Milford High School,  however, we have made these individually for every holiday so far this year.  We will stick a secret message

inside the slider, for you,  they slide the bar open and Voila’ ~ “Happy Valentines Day!

I think we have covered all of our bases in budget limits.  There is something for everyone.  Don’t forget we Deliver also.  If you place your order now, we will offer you free delivery for Valentines, up until Saturday, February 13.  We will not be making deliveries on Sunday.

Don’t forget that all of the profits, from your Valentine orders will go directly to Tanner’s TSA Youth Ambassador fund.  We are 1/2 way to our goal.  We need to raise about $700 more.

And just for Posterity’s sake,  here is my Valentine, then and now!

Singing and music are 2 of my favorite outlets for my Tourette’s Syndrome.  I don’t know if there is really thing that it has to do with my Tourette’s, but I have found it is a good way to calm down, and relax.  My mom teases me that when I was a baby, they would turn on “Enya” to make me go to sleep.  I could be screaming my head off, and as soon as they would turn on”Enya”  I would stop, BAM! I would go to sleep, if they could wrap be up in a blanket tight enough too. It was one of only a couple of CD’s they owned at the time.  I can say I have a good variety of music I love.  Especially Classic Rock, or stuff like that but I also like to listen to Classical music too,   just for the break and relaxation, and just for the record Enya isn’t my favorite anymore. 

I felt really honored last year in 8th grade to be apart of the Honors Choir at Milford Junior High School, with Mrs. Carpenter.  This year when I tried out for Honor’s choir I was certain I wasn’t going to make it since I was a lowly Freshman, but I did, and the fact that my voice is still a tenor was to my advantage,  everyone else is Bass this year.  (HA)  I made it as part of the District 14 Honors choir. It was great to work with Mrs. Blake, and also to spend a very long and productive day, with the rest of the district practicing amazingly difficult songs, and working with incredibly talented conductors, and accompanist.  (And it is just because I decided to write about this that I can’t find my CD, or remember the names of them.  I will have to add that later.)

One of the reasons that I love music is because I don’t tic as much when I am singing.  I tic before, and I tic afterwards, an maybe a little one in the middle but it is like I switch to a different mode and it doesn’t bug me, and I don’t notice my tics when I sing.  It is great!  I am currently singing at Milford High School Choir, but I also sing in the Youth Choir for my stake at church.  It is wonderful to be a part of a group, that can take control of a room just by the power of their voices.

Speaking of the power of one voice, I saw a cool story about a guy named, David Pittman.  He is a contestant on Americal Idol.  You can see David Pittmann Audition by clicking on his name.  I can totally relate to his story.  He is 27 years old and from Mountain Home Arkanas.  He has Tourette’s Syndrome.  He talks about it in his video about before the audition.  The great thing to look forward to is that most kids like me will out grow most of their tics as they get older.  The tics don’t go away completely but they certainly aren’t as bad as they are when you are in the heat of adolescences.  David handled things so well, in his audition when, Neil Patrick Harris, one of the judges, noticed the symptoms right away, and addressed it.  It will be really interesting to watch how things unfold.  I think I will keep up on what happens,  and I have never been and American Idol fan before.  But this guy, David Pittman really does have a good voice.  And he is right!

 It feels good to go in the ZONE!  Music to my soul for sure!

On a closing note,  Orders are coming in for baskets, and I am excited that we have almost reach 1/2 way for my goal to raise $1000 towards my familys travel expenses to go with me to Virginia for a week.  I really appreciate everyone’s generosity.  I know there are a few who want to remain nameless and anonomious so I will do that.  Thank you so much for helping me “Pay it forward” and continue to work towards making my dream come true and talking about Tourettes Syndrome.  Thanks y’all!  You can order still from the website here,  for your Valentines sweetheart.  FAO Baskets is donating 100% of their profits to help me go to Virginia.  Any order helps.

Tanner

Congratulations to Tanner Hutchison, from Milford High School, for being chosen from applicants throughout the state of Ohio, to become a TSA Youth Ambassador! He will be traveling to VA in April to attend training at the TSA National Convention and also have a Trip to the Hill in Washington DC. He will be a great Youth Leader for TSA of Ohio!

FAO Basket Co would like to congratulate Tanner, for his perseverance and hard work in overcoming great obstacles with his Tourettes Syndrome over the past 6 years since he was diagnosed.

Tanner has a passion for helping others, and educating others about Tourettes Syndrome. It is because of his life experiences, and because he has a little brother who was diagnosed with TS too.

Fab Five 2010

He chose to apply to be an Ambassador for the Tourettes Association. He wants to make sure that other kids don’t have to feel alone in their Journey with Tourettes, like he did for so many years. He wants to educate communities and put to rest all the weird ideas that others may have about what Tourettes Syndrome, and how it affects those who have it. He wants to help others understand that a little empathy and compassion, and education can go a long way to putting to rest myths about the unknown.

Tanner will be traveling throughout the state of Ohio, to give FREE presentations to any schools, or communities who would like to learn more about Tourettes Syndrome. He personally will be answering questions, and educating, and demonstrating what Tourettes Syndrome is, what other disorders are common to have with TS, and how it feels to have it.

It is because of Tanner’s enthusiasm and dedication to help others, that FAO Basket Co, is offering to sponsor Tanner on his trip to Virginia in April for his training, and the National TSA Convention. Tanner and his parents need to come up with some of their expenses to make the journey there.

FAO Basket Co is offering to donate 100% of it’s profits from now until March 30th or until they have reached their goal of $1000.00 to cover their expenses.

Valentines Day, Birthdays, Anniversaries, and other holidays are coming up soon. If you are thinking of sending a gift, think of ordering from FAO Basket Co. We will deliver to the Cincinnati area, and also offer shipping as well, in the continental US. You will be helping a boys dream come true, and supporting a good and true cause from the heart. We couldn’t be more Proud to sponsor such a great kid.

Don’t forget to pass the word on too. We would love as many people to know about Tanner’s quest, and about Tourettes Syndrome. It’s for a good cause so pay it forward.

If you are curious about Tanner, and his story, you can check back with us as we post some “Get to know T facts” through out the coming days. You can hear his story.  You can get to know his family, by clicking here www.hutchbunchhappenings.blogspot.com. (December 2007)  If you want to learn more about Tanner’s cause, and Tourettes Syndrome you can click here- http://www.tsa-usa.org/ or you can see TSA-Ohio here- http://www.tsaohio.org/TSASite/default.htm.   If you are a family with a child with TS or you would like to make arrangements for Tanner to come and speak to your community group, school, church group or family,  you can contact www.tsaohio.org.  They will be scheduling and arranging any inservices or speaking events on Tanner’s behalf.  Don’t  forget to leave a comment, for Tanner.  We will be sure to pass it on to him. 

Don’t forget 100% of the profits for our sales until March 30 or until Tanner reachs his goal will be given to Tanner’s Youth Ambassador fund to help him pay for his family’s travel expenses.  If your company would like to sponsor or donate to Tanner’s fund, send us an email and we will get the information to Tanner’s Family to contact you.  Pay it forward- for Tanner!!