Magazine swap: Reuse and recycle

Magazines are one of the many places Carrie Tracy finds inspiration for her downtown Cape Girardeau shop, Bloom. "I end up buying a few every month. A few of my friends have subscriptions to others and over time we've swapped out and whatnot," she says.

The informal arrangement led Tracy to create an actual swap basket in Bloom, where customers can run in, grab a few magazines or leave some they've already read to share with others. As more women participate, the variety of magazines on offer continues to grow.

It's also, says Tracy, a great way to recycle magazines when you're finished with them. Bloom is located at 2121 Broadway.