The power of flowers

Receiving a fresh flower or fruit bouquet can lift your spirits and, in turn, improve your mental health.

Bouquets can help someone else's mental health, too, if they're ordered from Alexian Brothers.

The hospital's mental health center serves more than 3,000 suburbanites each year, but the Alexian Center for Mental Health in Arlington Heights also has a very reasonably priced florist. Who knew?

It sells all the same flowers and gifts you'd find at a commercial florist but donates 12 percent of the proceeds to the center. See www.alexiancenter.flowerpetal.com for pictures and prices.

If flower or fruit aren't your thing, the center also sells a pretty Angel of Hope bracelet made with Swarovski crystals. Prices vary from $20 to $40, and a portion of the proceeds is donated to the center.

To purchase a bracelet, contact Maxine Goldstein at Alexian Center for Mental Health, (847) 952-7464.

And there's also ...

• Reebok created a new line of NFL Recline Rocket Chicago Bears shoes for men. They'll match with Reebok's new Bears hoodies, knit hats and winter coats. ($18-$150, www.rbk.com" target="new">http://www.rbk.com" target="new">www.rbk.com)

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Available in "Mild" or "Wild." Hoo yeah. ($49.95-$119.95, www.yournovel.com)

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