Women’s MSU Basketball
Setting the Court on Fire
By: Darlisha Stanfield

After a devastating 2-point loss to Southeastern Missouri to close their 2006-2007 season, the Lady Racers were determined to fight their way back to the top of the conference and claim the thrown.

In March, the Murray State women's basketball team made history becoming Ohio Valley Conference champions and making their first appearance in the NCAA Championship Tournament. The team's bragging rights do not stop there as they set a new record for home wins: with 13 this season and 15 OVC wins, they tied the MSU single season record.

According to the players, mental toughness, experience and valuing every possession were what gave them the edge they needed this season to make it to the top.

...Read More in the Spring 2008 issue of Murray Life Magazine

Bless This Mess
From Disorganized to Dynamic
By: Emily Bullock

It happens without notice: the television remote gets wedged behind the recliner in a rush to get out the door, a pair of jeans are tried on, taken off, and thrown over a chair, and there are just too many pictures of the family to sort through, so they get piled together and left on the table. Soon, the remote goes missing, those jeans are covered with a discarded t-shirt boasting a stain, and the photos get mixed into this week's mail, so Aunt Allison's birthday party invitation is tucked just behind the electricity bill and a restaurant's coupon. And the cycle continues.

Luckily, even the worst cases of clutter are reversible; with a few key tips, the mess is reduced and, with steady upkeep, the pattern can be broken. Specialists suggest focusing on one room at a time and remembering that the mess accumulated over a long period, so it may take longer than one afternoon to completely organize any given space. Fifteen minutes a day may be sufficient in creating the gradual changes needed.

Steven Reed of Reed Interiors, LLC provided Murray Life with some helpful tips to keep your home organized and your life much more clutter-free.

...Read More in the Spring 2008 issue of Murray Life Magazine

Take it Outside
By Corey McBee

One of the biggest trends in home improvement today is the outdoor kitchen. A 2005 survey shows that Americans spent $150 billion dollars on home improvements, using one third of that for outdoor kitchens. Not only do outdoor kitchens provide homeowners with great spaces for entertaining friends and family, but they also add value to homes.

Outdoor kitchens come in all shapes, sizes and configurations. The first thing any homeowner must ask themselves is what they want and what they are willing to invest. Don’t go overboard. If your grilling is limited primarily to hamburgers and hotdogs, you probably don’t need a rotisserie or a flat top. However, if you aspire to be the next culinary genius on the block, investing more into your cooking implements may not be a bad choice.

...Read More in the Spring 2008 issue of Murray Life Magazine

Alarms with all the Bells and Whistles
By: Kara McCombs

As a child, my father used to say that dinner wasn't ready until the smoke alarm went off. I distinctly remember the mixed aroma of smoke and fried chicken.

I experienced a similar incident when I caught my own oven on fire in an attempt to make salmon.

Smoke Alarms
Smoke alarms are more than just expensive dinner bells; they can save your life.

Smoke alarms use two types of sensors, ionization and photoelectric. Ionization sensors detect the presence of small particles typical in flaming fires, while photoelectric sensors find larger particles usually present in smoldering fires.

...Read More in the Spring 2008 issue of Murray Life Magazine