Mike's Flower Shop - 404 E Public Sq, Alexandria - 615-286-2638

When I heard Mike McMillen, owner of Mike's Flower Shop in Alexandria was celebrating his 30th anniversary last week in the same location, I expected him to be older.

Instead, I found out Mike answered his calling at the early age of 18 which is something not many of us know at that age. I joined the military at 17 not really knowing what it was I wanted out of life.

When you enter the shop, especially this time of year, you can see Mike knows his trade as his shop was full of Christmas displays of all types really putting the spirit in you. From his family Christmas tree which was full of his family photos to the themed rooms where the entire theme from tree to floral arrangements was complimentary you almost have to see it to appreciate it.

Although his usual hours are Monday through Friday 8-4 and half a day Saturday, you can often go by later and find Mike hard at work on arrangements for a funeral or a wedding. Mike's also does wreaths and fully decorated Christmas trees in pots or even a corsage for a prom or bouquet for that special someone.

"I just want to thank God and all my customers who have shopped here over the years," Mike said about his reflections on the last 30 years of being a florist. Since he's a young guy, folks in DeKalb County including his hometown of Alexandria will probably have Mike's around for 30 more.

Qalo silicon wedding bands - www.Qalo.com 

I have always worn a traditional wedding band of silver gold as I don't like the gold color until a coworker fell through a hatchway and caught his wedding band on a bolt. He was hanging by his ring until I could get some support under him and get him to the hospital as it had cut to the bone.

After that, I would take my ring off while working but it bothered me.

In the active lifestyle arena, wearing a traditional metal wedding band can often prove hazardous and/or uncomfortable. 

Until 2012, there wasn’t much of an alternative other than take it off or tape it up. 

The military, surfers, boxers, cyclists, and even firefighters needed an option that just wasn’t available. That’s when QALO (pronounced KAY-LOW) was born. 

According to the manufacturer, after searching for an existing viable option and not finding one, “It became their mission to create a solution. After days of working through materials and evolutions of the ring, they found that a medical grade silicone wedding ring would be the answer to their problem and QALO became a reality.”

Currently, QALO has faux metal ring colors, neon, black, white, glow-in-the-dark and even specialty like EMS, police and firefighter exclusives.

QALO’s mission statement says, “Our mission is to inspire people to improve their quality of life by committing to love selflessly, live athletically, and play outdoors constantly.”

My wife and I have a matching set, and don't have to worry about injury or even from swelling of the hands as the ring expands.