The Sanyo SR-2570M mini fridge is Sanyo’s dorm size refrigerator. This is one of their top selling models, mainly because it’s so attractive. Everyone seems to be buying the stainless steel and black model pictured at left, although the unit is also available in black or white. Although you can find other models in this size, the Sanyo gets the most customers because of its name and its reliable performance.

These 2.5 cu ft models have grown increasingly popular because they allow room for two coated wire shelves, rather than the single shelf found in the traditional 1.7 cu ft “cube” models found in dorm rooms throughout the country. As you can see by the photo at right, the second shelf allows this unit to keep a lot of food cold. Other features that customers like include a thermostat dial control, a smooth no-coil back, a reversible door with a built-in a can dispenser, and Sanyo’s 1-year warranty. Dimensions are 8-5/8 by 25-1/4 by 19-5/8 inches; weight is 44 pounds. The price is $240 with free shipping from Amazon.

Although the photo shows the refrigerator as having a “freezer” unit, don’t expect to keep ice cream cold in these. The only way a mini refrigerator can achieve true 0-degree storage is by separating the freezer in a separate compartment, as Danby and Edgestar have done with their 2-door models. The freezer compartment in both Sanyo models reviewed here is really only good for storing ice cubes. Sanyo deserves props for saying so in its product literature, instead of trying to pass it of as a freezer. Very few mini fridges are available with automatic defrost, so expect to clean the unit out a couple of times a year and let it de-ice – but then it never hurts to clean out the fridge now and then.

The Sanyo SR-3770S mini fridge is Sanyo’s counter-high 3.4 cu ft model. It comes in the same gorgeous stainless steel finish as the SR-2570M, but has additional features.

The SR-3770S features three spillproof shelves made of clear, unbreakable plastic, instead of the coated wire found in smaller models. The third shelf sits over a crisper drawer in the bottom of the fridge so you can store fruits and vegetables for munching on.

The “freezer” unit is full width in this model, but as with all single-door mini refrigerators, don’t expect it to keep ice cream cold. The freezer is manual defrost.

The door includes a built-in can dispenser and still leaves room for a couple of 2-liter soda bottles or wine bottles to stand upright. Other features include a reversible door, adjustable thermostat, a smooth, coil-free back, and a countertop serving area. Dimensions are 18-5/8 by 33-1/2 by 19-7/8 inches, which allows it to fit neatly under almost all countertops. Weight is about 60 pounds.

The SR-3770S sells on Amazon for $199.99, which is $40 cheaper than the smaller SR-2570M. However, Amazon ships the 2570M for free, while charging a hefty $50 shipping fee for the larger model. This brings the price of the under counter model to $10 more than the smaller model, which is still an excellent buy.

To save money, Amazon is shipping the 3770S in its original packaging, and a few reviewers have reported that they received it in damaged condition when shipped via ground. To put things in perspective, out of 51 reviews, 6 reviewers reported damage in transit. Amazon offered them a generous discount to compensate them for the damage as an alternative to exchanging or returning the unit. If this is an acceptable risk, then you could end up with a great little fridge at an even greater price. If a perfect finish is important to you and you’re willing to pay for it, you’re better off shopping at a bricks and mortar store for the 3770S. There are far fewer damage reports for the smaller model.

A weed burner works by using a propane flame to heat the moisture in the weed’s leaves and stems until the plant literally boils to death. The parts consist of a tubular wand with the flamer at the end, and a fitting to attach to a propane tank. High-end models have a backpack or cart for a larger propane tank, a hose to attach to the wand, and a bell-shaped fitting for the business end of the torch.

The cheap weed burners are just a length of metal tubing shaped like a “J” with a fitting for a 1-pound propane tank and a handle. Typically sold as a “weed burner/ice melter” combination, the manufacturers don’t mention these units’ BTU rating for a reason: they’re not powerful enough to do any serious weeding with. They also rip through those little disposable propane tanks like a hot knife through butter, which isn’t a good use of your money.

To really do any serious weeding, you need a weed torch rated at a minimum of 100,000 BTU. The leading brand for these units is Weed Dragon, but users report that the generic knock-offs work reasonably well. If you buy an off brand of weed torch, inspect it carefully, because equipment failure around propane and fire can have tragic consequences. If you’re buying online, you’re better off sticking to the name brand, which is priced reasonably and available through a variety of online stores.

There are two ways to fuel a good weed torch. You can use a standard 20-pound propane tank attached to a cart or dolly, or you can get a 10-pound tank and wear it in a backpack sold by Weed Dragon. Either way, you’re going to need a hose to connect the wand to the tank. The standard six-foot hose that comes with the unit is great for the backpack, but for the dolly setup it’s just a pain in the rear, as you’ll be constantly moving the tank. Get at least a 10-foot hose so you can move around freely and focus on killing weeds.

Contrary to what you might have read, burning the weed down to ash is the wrong way to use a weed torch. The right way is to direct a split second of heat at the weed so that it wilts, bleeding moisture out of the entire root structure. This only really works on weeds that are less than four inches tall. If you have an unsightly tangle in your back yard, you’re better off mowing it with a string trimmer or other clipper device and getting after it with the flamer next spring when the shoots are new.

Important safety precautions with a weed burner include keeping a fire extinguisher and/or garden hose close by in case things get out of hand, and not working during periods of drought when it’s easy to start grass fires. If you’re working around desirable plants and shrubs, be careful using the torch, as it’s easy to kill the wrong plants if you don’t keep a safe distance. And do not under any circumstances use a torch on poisonous plants such as poison ivy, because the burning vapors can get into your lungs.

Follow these precautions and you’ll be the master weed killer in your neighborhood with your weed torch—minus toxic herbicides and loud, cranky string trimmers.

Cost: A conventional two-car garage with a concrete floor costs a minimum of $10,000 to put up if you hire some or all of the labor. (If you have the expertise, you can build one for about $3,000 in materials, including having the concrete floor done professionally.) You can buy a one-car portable garage canopy starting at around $600, or a two-car model for about $1,000. One-car metal carports are priced at around $1,000.

Durability: A well-constructed garage or pole barn will last as long as your house if you maintain it properly. A portable garage is basically a tent made of polyurethane tarp material stretched over a plastic or metal frame, and will deteriorate within three to five years due to continued exposure to the sun and extremes of temperature. A metal carport is made from steel and can last as long as the steel roof on a pole barn with the right maintenance. Portable garages and carports are less secure in high winds than permanent structures because they aren’t anchored to a foundation, and because the wind can get under the canopy and lift them off their support structure.

Legal stuff: if you live in a city, village, or subdivision, then your local ordinances may prohibit you from placing non-permanent structures on your property. By the same token, though, many localities have restrictions on the size, appearance, and siting of garages, and pole barns are prohibited altogether in many areas.

Insurance: a garage or pole barn is insured as real property, just like your house, and will probably increase your homeowner premium slightly. A nonpermanent structure like a garage canopy or carport is considered personal property like your home furnishings and probably won’t be valuable enough to make your premium go up. Check with your insurance carrier before making any decisions.

Taxes: it’s no secret that your property assessment will go up significantly if you add any permanent outbuildings. Nonpermanent structures like portable garages and steel carports shouldn’t change your assessment, but it’s wise to ask your local assessing body (usually the township clerk) before proceeding.

Really big vehicles: if you have a big motor home or camper, the cost of building a permanent outbuilding with a 13-foot garage door can break the bank. Portable garages to accommodate large vehicles are readily available and can be had for a reasonable price.

Aesthetics: portable garages definitely aren’t high on the list of good-looking enhancements to your property, so you’re better off siting them where they either won’t be seen, or on property where nobody cares how they look. Metal carports are somewhat more attractive and can be purchased in colors that complement your house.

Compost happens easily because it’s nature’s way to turn organic matter into thick, rich soil through the process of decay. But a compost tumbler makes that happen faster and with less mess. It does so by harnessing three elements: heat, gravity, and air. Compost needs to be kept warm so the friendly bacteria that break down the waste can do their job. It needs to be broken up frequently so it decays evenly. And it needs constant airflow because the compost-friendly bacteria are the aerobic type that can’t live in an oxygen-poor environment.

So a compost tumbler is made from a plastic or metal barrel in a dark color to absorb all of the sun’s heat. The barrel is suspended on a frame that allows it to turn freely using a crank handle. The critical part of the tumbler’s construction is some kind of baffle system inside the barrel that breaks up the compost as it decays while allowing air to circulate in from outside and vent outward. A good example is the Urban Compost Tumbler, which is sold online.

Making compost the old-fashioned way in a pile takes a long time, especially if you live in a cooler climate. It’s also a lot of work turning the pile often enough to make everything decay evenly. A compost tumbler really speeds up the composting process because they trap heat and make turning the pile so easy that you can do it every day with far less effort than it would take with a hoe or pitchfork. You can put it in your backyard or garden so you don’t have to move your compost far when it’s finished.

Here are some tips and tricks for making great compost in a tumbler:
* Only certain kinds of kitchen waste are appropriate for composting. Vegetable scraps are great. Meat and dairy should be kept out of the compost pile at all costs. Grains, such as breads, rice, and pasta, are up to the individual, but most gardeners agree that they get a cleaner compost if they keep these materials to a minimum.
* Don’t add the scraps little by little, or the process will never be finished. If it’s inconvenient to save up your kitchen waste to process all at once, buy two tumblers and make compost in stages.
* Work on getting your ratio of “greens” to “browns” just right. Greens are moist, rapidly decaying materials like kitchen waste and grass clippings. Browns are dryer materials like leaves and woody materials. About two-thirds green and one-third brown is about right. Browns decay faster when they’re processed in a shredder before they go into the tumbler.
* You’ll probably need to add water to the tumbler to get the right mix, but don’t add too much. The barrel’s contents should be very moist but not wet or soupy. Be sure to put a tray under the tumbler to catch the compost “tea” so you can pour it on your garden and take advantage of all the great nutrients in it.
* If you really want to speed the process up, add a commercial compost activator mix.

If you follow all these steps, you’ll have a nice batch of compost to put on your garden in about two months—without any mess, bugs, rodents, or complaining neighbors. You’ll have healthy soil full of good microorganisms that will nourish your plants better than any fertilizer, and you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that you’re recycling your garden waste and doing your part to save the earth.

Shopping Guide – Best Prices and Selection

The Trikke website does an OK job of showing off their goods, but it doesn’t explain why you should choose one model over another, and they don’t stock all models and colors. So let me be your virtual Trikke sales rep and guide you around the showroom.

1. Do you want a human-powered Trikke? There are 7 models to choose from. (There’s also a motorized Trikke, and a ski Trikke, called the Skki.)

2. Are you buying for a child or an adult?
The 2 kids’ models are the T67 and the T5.
There are 5 adult models: the T78 series (3 models), the T8, and the T12.

3. Are you willing to pay a little extra money to get air-filled tires? The old Trikkes had small hard plastic wheels. Air-filled tires give the rider a much better grip on the pavement and make riding uphill easier. Plus the ride on air tires is much softer. Trust me: you don’t want plastic wheels. Nowadays, the only adult Trikke with plastic wheels is the T78 Convertible, which has an air tire on the front and 2 plastic wheels on the rear. For a $50 upgrade you can get the Convertible with air tires all the way around.

4. Would you rather have a heavier, cheaper Trikke, or a lighter, more expensive one? The T78 series has a steel frame and is slightly smaller than the T8 and T12. Available in 3 models: T78 Convertible, T78 Air, and T78 Deluxe.
The T8 and T12 both have aluminum frames, with a 50% weight reduction over the steel frame T78 series. The steel frame models are only a little heavier to ride, but they’re a lot heavier to carry when folded.

TRIKKE T78 CONVERTIBLE: $249.99
Discounted on Amazon at $219.99 with free shipping!
Steel frame – 23 lbs.
Air tire on front, plastic wheels on rear (can be upgraded to all air for $49.95)
Pad caliper brakes
Assemble yourself easily with toolkit included
Colors: black

TRIKKE T78 AIR: $299.99
Buy this hard to find model on Amazon with free shipping!
Steel frame – 23 lbs.
Air tires
Pad caliper brakes
Assemble yourself easily with toolkit included
Color: denim blue (gorgeous and hard to find!)
This is your best buy if you don’t mind the weight.

TRIKKE T78 DELUXE: $369.99
Steel frame – 23 lbs.
Air tires all the way around
Pad caliper brakes
Assemble yourself easily with toolkit included
Tricked-out custom features like clearcoat paint, deluxe handlebars, black painted machined rims, animal free leather hand grips, upgraded brake cables, aluminum brake levers, bolted aluminum stem, and black foot decks (you pay $70 more for these features above the $299 price of the T78 Air, or the T78 Convertible with air tire upgrade)
Colors: metallic green. Also available in pink, but this seems to be permanently on backorder.

TRIKKE T8 AIR SPORT: $499.99
Available in all three colors from Amazon with free shipping!
Aluminum frame – 10 lbs.
Air tires
Their bestselling model
Colors: choice of black, green, blue. Last year’s copper brown (right) is still available on Amazon, with free shipping.

TRIKKE T12 ROADSTER: $599.99
Heavy-duty aluminum frame – 13.6 lbs.
Air tires
Disc brakes
Sits higher off the ground than the other models
Colors: charcoal black, metallic green, or metallic copper (beautiful color!)
Free shipping from Amazon!

Why Do So Many People Want a Trikke?

Burns More Calories Than Running
Trikkes are a hot item and have been since 2002 when Time magazine named it one of the best inventions of the year. It’s an incredible aerobic fitness machine. A 2006 study in Germany found that a 9 mph ride on a Trikke burned 520 calories per hour, while a light jog burned only 350 calories per hour. Riding the Trikke at near top end speed of 12.5 mph burned a whopping 1,000 calories per hour.

Not Just for the Relaxed Fit Generation
Unlike jogging, riding the Trikke is a zero impact sport, and unlike bicycling, you can do it standing upright. This has made it a huge hit with the 50+ crowd who are looking for ways to keep fit and get outdoors without torturing our joints. But the Trikke trike appeals to riders of all ages. Athletic types enjoy pushing it at top speed and using it for skateboard-like stunts, and kids love the “cool factor” of having a scooter that they can ride farther and faster than the lowly razor scooters their friends have.

Trikkes are rated safe for riders up to 250 pounds. On one retailer website, they state that riders weighing 250-300 pounds do ride the Trikke, but at their own risk. If you fall in this bracket, you should think about getting the T12 with its extra heavy duty features.

Learning Is a Bit Tricky*
When you first step on the Trikke, you’ll quickly find that riding it is harder than it looks. Riding up even a small hill really tests your technique (and makes your heart rate go up). The vast majority of Trikke owners pick up the technique quickly, but occasionally someone will have trouble learning to ride it, or just not like how it feels. If you’re in doubt, put an ad on Craigslist to see if anyone in your area owns one and would let you test drive it. There are Trikke clubs in many cities and towns across the U.S. Check Yahoo Groups, Google Groups, and Meetup.com to see if there’s one in your area.
*Trikke is actually pronounced “trike” (like tricycle), not “tricky.”

Pavement Only
Trikkes only work on paved surfaces. The ideal place to ride one is on a bike trail or jogging path. The back-and-forth skating motion of riding takes up about the width of the average sidewalk, so you probably won’t want to ride on a sidewalk with a lot of pedestrian traffic, or a busy street. If you don’t have low-traffic paved surfaces in your neighborhood, don’t be discouraged. The Trikke is ingeniously designed to fold down into a compact shape that will easily fit in the trunk of your car.

Be Careful If You Buy Retail
With all this buzz about the Trikke, the manufacturer is barely keeping up with demand, and when I went to buy mine last year, the retailer told me I’d have to wait three weeks while it was on backorder. When I went back to pick it up, he told me that Trikke has streamlined its manufacturing process and the backorders will soon be a thing of the past. I wasn’t much inclined to believe him, because he didn’t tell me about the backorder problem until I had already placed my order! If you decide to buy from a retail storefront instead of online, be prepared to ask some very specific questions about which models and colors they have in stock. Even finding a retailer can be a challenge. I had to drive 200 miles round trip to buy mine, once to order it and once to pick it up.

Pros and Cons of Buying Online
The two big advantages of buying from a bricks-and-mortar retailer is that they’ll assemble your Trikke for you. The best shops do this at no extra charge, so be sure to ask about this up front. The other advantage is a free riding lesson, which, depending on how athletic you are, could be a big advantage or no big deal.

The biggest advantage of buying online is that you know the seller will have the model you want, in the color you want, in stock and ready to ship, and you won’t have to drive an hour or more to go get it. I’m also seeing Amazon.com with free shipping get first dibs on high-demand colors and models of Trikkes like the
gorgeous T78 Air model in denim blue, while the retail shops have to take what’s left over. Until there’s a shop in every town with a full lineup of Trikkes in stock, online shopping is the way to go. If you buy a T8 or T12, you’ll probably have to pay your local bike shop to assemble it for you, but the money you save by not paying sales tax for your online order should cover it. The T78 series ships with most of the assembly already done for you.

Additional Gear
You don’t need a lot of accessories for your Trikke, but a helmet is an absolute must. Some riders wear bike helmets, which come in cool multicolor patterns that will be easy to match to your Trikke’s color scheme. Others wear inline skater-style helmets, which come in a limited selection of basic solid colors so you’ll probably end up choosing black or white. Padded cycling gloves are nice to have, and a warning bell is a good safety item to have on bike trails, sidewalks, and roads. The tires should be inflated to between 80 and 95 psi, so a good quality bike pump is a must. The tires are expensive to replace, so it’s not worth the chance of blowing them up with the air machine at your local gas station.

Nonetheless, a growing number of consumers are opting to do their tanning at home. The home tanning beds are of high quality, and the convenience of being able to schedule a tanning session at any time of the day or night adds considerably to their appeal.

The other advantage of home tanning is cost effectiveness. While the beds are expensive, once the initial expense is over with, the only remaining expenses are maintenance such as lamp replacement. In contrast, salon tanning is an expense that never ends, unless you decide to give up and let your tan fade.

The best home units have multiple lamps—at least eight in the bench, plus separate facial lamps and arm lamps—to promote an even tan on all areas of the body. Tunnel design is a must—don’t bother with units that only tan one side of your body at a time, or you’ll be spending twice as long tanning as you need to. Look for a large bed size for comfort and to accommodate larger people. And make sure the bed has a good warranty. Some beds even come with built-in music players.

Much has been written about the risks of UV light exposure. Although these can’t be minimized, there’s another side to the story. Many tanning bed users report having an elevated mood when they indulge in a regular UV light bath, especially in the winter months. And UV light exposure on the skin is a great source of vitamin D. Recent studies have shown that a high percentage of North Americans are vitamin D deficient, which can cause serious health problems.

If you decide to buy your own tanning booth, then you need to commit to maintaining it. You should change the lamps on a regular schedule so your color will stay even. And you need to keep the equipment clean, and buy your own supplies, like indoor tanning lotion and goggles, that the tanning salon would otherwise take care of for you.

If you read around online for some unbiased reviews, you’ll find that they’re mixed. People with darker skin don’t get good results with the comb because the pigment in their skin absorbs the laser light faster and puts them at the risk for burns. And many reviewers reported that the device was working for them, at least to some extent, but they simply didn’t have time for the recommended 10-15 minute treatment sessions three times per week that the manufacturer recommends. Although pharmaceutical hair loss treatments like Rogaine have to be applied every day, they typically can be done in less than two minutes. More than one reviewer has objected to the time commitment, so before you spend the money, make sure that you’re ready to follow through.

Reviewers who report going from having a receding hairline to a full, lush head of hair are rare, and should probably be viewed with suspicion. But there are plenty of reviews saying that the Hairmax stopped their baldness from progressing any further, and made their existing hair grow in thicker and healthier than before. Before you buy, keep in mind that the device doesn’t work for everyone, for reasons that science doesn’t yet understand, and keep your fingers crossed that you turn out to be one of the lucky ones.

Solar power has been stalled for years with traditional crystalline silicon panels. Although they’re durable and efficient, they’re also big, heavy, and look ugly mounted on the roof of a house. Now, with energy prices soaring and increasing interest in alternative energy sources, cutting-edge solar technology has turned roof shingles themselves into solar panels. Known as building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), each shingle can produces between 17 and 50 watts. Solar slate tiles can produce up to 200 watts per tile. By itself, this isn’t a lot of power, but multiplied by the full square footage of your roof, solar roofing can generate enough electricity to power an entire house if you live in a sunny area with mild winters. You can then use the power either in your own household, or sell it back to your utility company in states that have net metering programs. Either way, you save money on your electric bill.

Installing the shingles is similar to the process for traditional roofing. You can choose asphalt shingles, fiber cement roofing, or slate tiles. The roofing goes down over new or previously installed sheathing. A good do-it-yourselfer can handle the physical installation job him- or herself.

After that, an electrician or specially trained roofing specialist will come out and take care of the electrical wiring so the units work together and feed into your home’s electrical system. Although some solar energy enthusiasts prefer to go off the grid entirely, most people who get these systems prefer to feed the electricity back into their local power grid. Thirty-eight states have “net metering” laws, which require electrical utilities to buy the excess power generated by home energy systems and set competitive rates. In effect, generating power at home allows you to spin your electrical meter backward. Solar garden lights are another nice touch for people who want to save energy.

A good rule of thumb for calculating solar energy needs is 1,000 watts per 1,000 square feet of living space. A 2,000 watt system with professional installation costs about $15,000. If installed on a new home, this cost can be rolled into the mortgage, which is tax deductible. The 2005 federal energy rebate program has been renewed for 2009 to give a 30 percent credit on solar shingles and other energy efficient home improvements, and for systems installed after January 1, 2009, there’s no longer a $2,000 limit on the rebate. That means the $15,000 system would in reality cost you $10,500.

Although people who live in sunny, southern areas of the United States are better candidates for solar shingle roofs than those in northern areas, the systems produce electricity as long as there’s daylight, even on cloudy days. The cost efficiency of the systems will improve as the cost of electricity increases and costs of production goes down. There are also hefty tax credits from the federal government to sweeten the deal, with more on the way from the new presidential administration. To keep track of federal and state energy programs, go to DSIRE.

I bought my Powerball in February 2009. I’ve been having trouble with de Quervain’s tendonitis for over a year now, and it’s not fun. This is an inflammation of the tendon that moves the thumb. For a while, I couldn’t even pick up a half gallon of milk and put it back in the refrigerator because it had made gripping and lifting so painful.

My doctor told me to exercise my hand using a foam squeeze ball, but I did some reading and learned that grip exercising can do more harm than good. I was looking for an unorthodox approach to physical therapy when I found the Powerball while randomly surfing around online.

The NSD Powerball is a hollow plastic ball about three inches in diameter with a gyroscope inside. Just like the toy you had when you were a kid, you yank the string, shake it a few times to get it going, and then move it in circles to keep it going. The thing exerts a surprisingly powerful gravitational pull, and I haven’t even been able to get it up to full speed.

The Powerball can be ordered with an optional digital counter that will tell you how many RPMs you’re spinning it, and what your record speed is. Top speed for the basic model pictured above is around 15,000 rpm, while the deluxe metal version tops out around 20,000. When I first started using it, I could barely hold it at 4,000 rpm because my hand was so weak. I’m currently spinning it at around 6,000 rpm and working on going higher.

Spinning a Powerball is a peculiar feeling. Imagine holding an object that pulls your hand outward with steady centrifugal force, so that you have to grip it tightly and pull it back in toward its center. The manufacturer calls this “eccentric” motion, which means “controlling the lowering of a weight.” In other words, instead of lifting, you’re stopping the weight from falling. On the medical page of their website, they suggest that lifting a weight strengthens muscles, while lowering a weight strengthens tendons.

The majority of Powerballers seem to use theirs as a combination of toy and strengthening device. They have an active forum online where people compare their top speeds and egg each other on. If you’re athletically inclined, this type of behavior will probably make sense to you. The forum also has plenty of people like me who are using the gyro to rehabilitate various injuries, such as carpal tunnel, and even arthritis.

So has the Powerball worked for my de Quervain’s? Yes, it has–I’ve been very impressed with the results. In only one week, I went from having about 20 percent use of my hand to around 70 percent. The remaining 30 percent has been much more stubborn, though–I’ve been working it for two months now and am making slow progress. Over on my left hand, which doesn’t have tendonitis but is very weak, I’ve made great progress with strengthening and my guitar playing has improved dramatically as a result.

Buy the Powerball directly from the manufacturer to get the best warranty available.

Gladiator sandals are flat shoes with a heel less than one-quarter inch, if they have a heel at all. The ankle strap is very wide. Often it’s wider than any other strap on the shoe and fastens around the ankle at some distance above the foot. There might be an ornate buckle, or sometimes the sandal will have laces that criss-cross and tie at the top. Picture a tall Roman gladiator in full body armor with a sword strapped to his waist, a metal helmet, and full beard, and you’ll be able to appreciate the bit of swagger that these shoes will add to your summer attire.

Fashion ankle strap sandals look stunning with casual summer clothes, giving you a Romanesque look with a bit of Hollywood glamour thrown in. This year’s designs feature smooth leather or reptile-pattern finishes. Some have wild colors. All of them are designed to show off your feet and legs.

Don’t be afraid to wear a flat ankle strap sandal when you go out for a glamorous evening. The style is elegant but simple and irresistably hip. If you’re attending a wedding or formal event, choose an ankle strap sandal with slender straps. Many of these come with metal ornaments and even rhinestones for an especially glamorous look. Step out and be a little bit different—that’s what chic is all about.

If you have long, slender legs, you’ll have no trouble wearing an ankle strap sandal. If you don’t have the body of a supermodel, you’ll have to plan a bit more, but you can still look terrific in this style without your legs looking too big. If you have any doubts, check out Fashion for Dummies.

The more you show of your legs, the more slender they’ll look with an ankle strap. So choose shorter fashions with this look. A short skirt with a flounce will look feminine and flirty. Ankle straps with shorts look cool and casual. If you’re wearing crop pants, choose a pair with wide legs. If you’re wearing a mid-length skirt, make sure it’s a fitted cut.

If you have any concerns about looking good in shoes with ankle straps, stay away from longer skirts and capris that hug the ankle.

Follow these simple fashion tips and you’ll be stepping out in style, day or night.