Although here in South Carolina we’ve already ‘enjoyed’ a preview of beach weather (aka temps above 80 and humidity levels at 496%) with the coming and going of Memorial Day, many of us consider Summer season officially arrived. Ahhhhh, beach days. Is there anything better? When someone tells me they’re not much of a beach person, I admit I’m momentarily startled. How could one NOT love being at the beach? I could certainly write pages and pages on the subject of the beach itself, but today I’m beginning a short blog series all about ways to enjoy the beach perfectly- with your girlfriends.

I read a book recently that centered around the complex relationships women share as friends. We depend on each other for support in good times and bad times. We laugh and cry with each other, fix each other’s lipstick when it’s awry and should always have each other’s backs. While our lives are meant to be lived with relationships that build into our character and help us grow into our best selves, there is always something about being with my gal pals for even a tiny bit of time that delights my soul just a little more. So pack your bags and grab your best gal pals. Meet me on the sand.

Part 1: Music

A couple decades ago I’d spend hours at the time in my room making mix tapes…that were actually on tapes. I made the transition to downloading music and burning CDs in my college dorm room, and later perfected the art of the iTunes playlist for road trips. These days a Spotify account allows you to make and share ‘mix tapes’ with family, friends and even perfect strangers so I’ve put together a playlist here for you. 32 songs (just over 2 hours of playtime) meant to be the backdrop for your day at the beach with your best gals. Oh heck, you don’t have to be at the beach to enjoy these. They’re perfect sing-along tunes for a car ride, morning shower concert or anytime you need a jolt of some fun. Pack your speaker, a cocktail and a good beach read, loves- because Girls Just Wanna Have Sun.

If you don’t have a Spotify account, or know what Spotify is, here’s a list of my picks for some beach fun songs filled with enough girl power to help you take on the world today. Tell me what I left out in the comments for future updates. Enjoy!