Ah, summer is just around the corner. Which means longer days, fewer clothes, more happy hours and the imminent possibility of a summer fling with someone sexy. While the appeal of a summer fling lies in the fact that it is nonchalant, commitment free and totally insignificant in the grand scheme of things, there are still some ground rules that apply. Because being casual doesn’t mean completely disregarding the fact that a relationship of sorts is being formed.

1. Be honest

Don’t string along someone and make it seem like you’re interested in something more serious than you actually are. Not everyone has that “fling” mentality, and it would behoove you to make your intentions known upfront and clearly. If you’re on the same page, fabulous. If not, then you can go your separate ways with little to no harm done. Conversely, if you find yourself falling hard for your fling, you need to either tell them or break it off. Nothing positive will come from not acknowledging your feelings.

2. Manage expectations.

This tip is crucial for people who are generally serial monogamists and don’t really do no-strings-attached things. As a fling, you are not going to be the number one priority in your partner’s life. They will probably prioritize their friends, or their job, or their masturbation time over you from time to time, and as long as they’re not total jerks about it, you can’t really call them out on it. Read More »

[This summer a dream internship with Lucky magazine moved me from Austin, Texas, where I’ve spent all 21 years of my life, to New York City for the summer. Come along for the ride and follow me through this column as I take on all that the city has in store for me. I’ll share tips I’ve picked up along the way about everything from how to pack (stop, drop and roll people!) to dating to fitting in (or standing out) and so much more.]

There’s nothing quite as sweet as a summer love. Summer flings happen at the best time, on the cusp of classes ending when summer fearlessness sets in. Throw the city into that equation and the possibilities really are endless. So spend your free time this summer on dates that you’ll remember even if the guy was less than memorable.

Tip #29 – Reach new heights.

Can’t help but roll your eyes when you hear about how a girl got proposed to on the top of the Eiffel Tower? Believe me, I’m right there with you, and yet somehow a date at Top of the Rock just feels so right. It doesn’t have to be cheesy! Spend an unreasonable amount of time in the control room, where the neon lights are controlled by your body movement and challenge your date to a dance-off. I suggest you go at night when the city really comes alive, and see if you can find your apartment roofs hiding in between the thousands of twinkling lights from the top of Rockefeller Center. It doesn’t have to be cliché and romantic as long as you’re both having fun. After you visit the top, grab a drink at the bar in the plaza where the famous skating rink resides in the wintertime. Read More »

I took a little trip last week to visit some friends, where I crossed paths with a gorgeous boy I met the last time I was out there. We were at a pool party for which I had carefully dressed myself knowing that I’d, invariably, be meeting a whole lot of people I had never met before. I looked cute and I knew it, but I still had to fight a huge smile when he told me I looked cute. And just like that, I knew we were gonna be lovers.

So, 1 Sparks, 3 Stellas, 2 Jello shots, and 3 Jager shots later, Brent and I were having the most mind-blowing sex of my whole life. In the afternoon. His sheets smelled good and he had pictures of his family on his wall and his body (every last bit of it) was PERFECT. It was wild and hot and ridiculous and straight out of my fantasies.

Then I took a nap.

I woke up and Brent was having some friends over for a BBQ. He came into the room and closed the door behind him and smiled at me. (And this boy has dimples, so when he smiles, it’s like cute little daggers made of bunnies and rainbows are shooting through my heart.) He, dressed, came and laid down to me, naked, on the bed. Read More »

Ah, summer. Hot days, warm nights, small amounts of clothing…and ample time for hook-ups. The summer fling is one of the most romanticized aspects of girl/guy relating, its short time span giving it all the more potential for passion and excitement.

But is it really all “Summer Lovin’”? Really as simple and sweet as we’ve been led to believe? The fact that I’m even asking these questions probably means summer flings are more complicated than 3 months of running hand-in-hand down the beach, but keeping a few things in mind can help make your next summer adventure as drama free as possible.

This edition of Summer Do’s and Don’ts brings you: Summer Flings.

Do use the summer to chat up different kinds of people. Your summer job or internship may lead down interesting paths and into interesting groups. Keep an open mind and use these months to reinvent yourself—in a good way, of course. Who knows? You might just meet a future hottie marching in a protest for Greenpeace or during your lunch break in the staff room.

Don’t fast forward the relationship just because the summer is short. Subtracting the amount of time you’d normally sleep with or get serious with someone because you’re moving or leaving in a few months is not a good idea. You could overlook key aspects of their personality (like a dominant asshole gene), or “forget” to do the STD talk. If this summer fling is meant to last, it will, regardless of how fast you jump in the sack. Read More »