Working Girl’s Guide #52: THC in sparkling water, Labubu mania, a 12th tribe restock

THC beverages are in, convenience fees are dead, and I’m a phone chain girl now. Let’s get into it.

THC beverages outpace alcohol ahead of Hot Girl Summer

Your favorite sparkling THC drinks could be hijacking White Claw’s top dog slot as the drink of the summer. THC-infused drinks — yes, the ones that taste like LaCroix but get you buzzed — are creeping up on alcohol sales in some states. Thank the 2018 Farm Bill and a generation of wellness girlies on the rise. Of course, Big Alcohol is trying to get in on the action, but the vibes are already shifting and more THC beverage brands are hitting the shelves. Are we entering our Cali sober era?

The convenient demise of convenience fees

You know those mystery fees that show up right before you check out — movie tickets, flights, pizza delivery, even your gym membership? The FTC just said absolutely not, and right in time for summer. Starting July, companies have to show you the full price before you click “buy now.” So long to the days of rage-quitting your cart over a $12 “processing fee.”

Labubu mania rages — even in the face of tariffs

If you don’t know what a Labubu is (I did not), ask your closest Gen Z relative or scroll TikTok for literally 3 seconds. These pastel gremlins are the latest ‘it girl’ of the toy world, usurping the Sonny Angels of recent days past, and people are paying hundreds (yes, hundreds) to collect them. Even with tariffs jacking up import costs, fans are unbothered, which unfortunately does mean that Labubu culture is officially stronger than U.S. trade policy.

Bae was out of town, so naturally I grabbed my girls and hit the town like it was my job. Also, in my humble opinion, blazer + beer = peak power move energy. Obviously, there was a bathroom mirror moment (you have to document the fit, it's a cornerstone of GNO). And if you think you saw someone absolutely belting “Gimme Gimme Gimme” at a karaoke bar...no you didn’t. Also, be honest, am I a phone chain girl now??

Bringing back this fave because my 12th Tribe workwear collection is finally restocked (!!) and I’m still fully obsessed with this dress. It’s one of those pieces that makes you look super put-together but takes like… zero effort. I threw it on during one of SF’s random hot spring days and didn’t melt or feel underdressed, which feels like a win to me. It’s light, comfy, and somehow still office-appropriate — truly doing the most with the least.

I love a morning doomscroll, and tbh I don’t see myself moving away from that any time soon…so when I read about how even if you’re scrolling, as long as you do it in direct sunlight for 5–10 minutes, you can still get some great benefits? I was very very into that.

Here’s the science-y part: morning sunlight triggers your brain’s suprachiasmatic nucleus (aka your body clock), helping regulate melatonin production so you sleep better at night. It also boosts serotonin, the feel-good hormone linked to improved mood and focus. Studies show light exposure within 1 hour of waking can significantly improve energy, reduce brain fog, and support hormonal balance, even if it’s by a window (and not outside).

So if you can’t quit the AM scroll, I’m right there with you. Try to scroll by a window, or if you can get outside and scroll with your coffee, do that!

Trading late nights at the office for late nights with a newborn? Slightly less espresso, slightly more existential crisis. This week, we’re diving into all things parental leave: from the chaotic joy of life with a tiny human (Ross shares his baby chronicles — spoiler: it involves poop) to why the U.S. is still failing parents harder than I failed my high school math final, we’ve got you covered.

I’ll break down what parental leave actually looks like in Corporate America (don’t get your hopes up), highlight a few companies actually doing it right, and answer a listener’s question about how to take leave without spiraling. And we’re talking night nurses, because TIL that outsourcing sleep is a thing (yeah that will be in my future). Listen here.

Thanks for reading!