Summer lovin' ... have a blast!

Is it possible to have a dreamy summer romance? You bet. But keep it light, sister.

School is bustin' out and you're so hoping this is the year you'll score a summer sweetie. So how do you make your mid-summer night's dream a reality? It's all about keepin' it real and not taking things so seriously. Summer days are called "carefree" for a reason.

FUN IS NO. 1

Summer is all about grooving in the moment. Why waste time worrying if your summer crush will be the one to take you to the fall dance? You might meet a terrific-but-temporary guy, and that's perfectly OK. That curie Jack who's only in town for a month to visit his grandmother? You can have a blast with him--just stay realistic about it.

Jack's going back home, and he most likely will become a friend you e-mail or call once in a while--or you might not keep in touch at all. But so what? Just enjoy hanging out with him for now.

CUT OUTTA THE RUT

When the temperature rises, so do your odds of meeting tons of different kinds of dudes. So give a guy a shot even if you usually wouldn't. Like Charlie, who ran smack into you on the first day of canoe camp. OK, he's a little geeky, but you kind of think he's adorable. Charlie asks you to go stargazing with him tonight--but all you can think about is what your buds would say?

Who cares!?! Giving a guy like Charlie a chance is a lot easier without all the pressure of everyone at school watching. Charlie may be a dork, but he could be the dork of your dreams.

CHILL THYSELF 

Summer is the perfect time to give boy drama a break. That junior lifeguard Ryan might have every girl on the beach all up in his grill, but take the casual route to catching his eye. Why? Ryan might be the flava o' the month, but his zillions of cah-razy fans can't compete with the girl who doesn't sweat it. No drooling allowed. Ryan is way more likely to be attracted to the most confident chick on the scene.

BE OPEN TO OPPOSITES

Rocking new experiences is what makes summer, well, summer. Which means it's prime time to go for a guy you don't seem to have all that much in common with. You've never considered Sam BF material for a nanosecond--he's so completely different from you. You love Mariah; he lives for Led Zep. You're a veggie; he chows cow like it's goin' out of style. You guys would never work out--or would you? After hangin' with Sam, you just might find you love old--school guitar solos--and under your infuence, Sam could get addicted to edamame.

THE DANCE OF CHANCE

Your BFF has been begging to set you up with Dave, that guy she met in her softball league? You give her snaps for effort, but you've vowed never to be fixed up. But why be so dismissive? An adventurous summer gal would never bag on the chance this guy's worthy. Lotsa girls fall into the limited-thinking trap--as in, "setups are for the seagulls." But instead of playing it safe, why not go for the gusto? It's easy to lock yourself into certain boy "rules" ... but tons more fun to break them.