Introducing Little Zooey Magazine

Photo c/o Jessica Castro for Little Zooey

Little Zooey Magazine is here. 

This has been a much-anticipated project for me to release, and I'm incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to reach another audience of Zooey Magazine: Parents. 

Photo c/o Jessica Castro for Little Zooey

In this era of Web 2.0, we are all very much accustomed to attaining what we want with a click of a button. And on top of that, our children can achieve the same. I think new generations are gradually drawing further and further away from emotions of anticipation and excitement, because it is temporarily attained through pixels. Everyone is growing up so much faster in this period, that we forget to just take things slow... absorb life around us, and allow for our childhood lives to be full of wanderlust, curiosity, and beauty.

While it may seem ironic that I would be using this online platform to encourage more simplistic means of living, my method is very much relevant. I want to reach out to the world with inspirational stories written by parents and parents-to-be, and to build a community of families who desire the same things.

Little Zooey promises to never post more than one article a day in order to clear your feeds of trivial content. Our stories would never be dictated and inhibited by advertisement sales, and would never be short of authenticity.

I believe that a life lived simply is beautiful. I believe in the power of learning through books. I believe in the joy of a playground. I believe in the wanderlust of childhood and parenthood. I believe in communal living and I hope that you and your families will think so too. 

Thanks for visiting Little Zooey and joining our movement. 

Love, Lucia Tran (Editor-in-Chief of Zooey Magazine and Little Zooey)

The American Made

American Made, Zooey Magazine

Today, join us in celebrating the beautiful small businesses who focus on American Made products! We love these fellow brands and love supporting them, therefore, we think you'll love them just as much. We have carefully curated seven of our favorites thus far, and they have all been generous enough to give away one item from their shops to this collective bundle for one lucky winner.

Studio Mucci: The paper-garland craze is spreading and it's because of the Mucciolo folks! We love their beautiful garlands and have two hanging in the office right now. They make the perfect seasonal and year-round garlands that certainly set decoration to the next level. Studio Mucci is giving away their Pastel Rainbow Tassel Garland (value of $35). This garland is handmade from premium Satin Wraps tissue paper and shiny reflective mylar. The garland is about 10 feet long with each tassel hanging approximately 12 inches. The tassels can be easily moved along the Jute cord to provide a more sparse of fuller look depending on your taste.

Crafts and Love: We love beautiful and simple jewelry, and what makes Crafts and Love a favorite is that they're just that... and they're vintage-inspired. Their jewelry is all handmade with love, too. Crafts and Love is giving away this Eliza (value of $42) pendant necklace, which carries a raw amethyst geode.

Wind and Willow: We found this shop on Instagram, and couldn't help but admire all the lovely colors their feed contains. Everything is carefully made and decorated in Minnesota. Wind and Willow is giving away this rich Cherry wood bowl (value of $45). It was dipped in creamy chocolate brown and gooey warm white to inspire feelings of favorite summertime camping treat: s'mores. This bowl is perfect for a holding a fresh snack. It would be a beautiful and modern accent to a bookshelf or dresser to store special items.

The Mason Bar Company: Our long-time friend Bobbi runs the raddest company in Sonora, CA. We haven't touched water bottles since owning our own tumbler from The Mason Bar Company. They are giving away a 24 ounce Mason Jar (value of $14.50), which fits nicely into cup holders so you can sip carefree while traveling! They even have colorful lids and straws to accompany your tumbler.

Fleet Collection: Oh boy, do we love this clothing brand. The fact that they're made in Downtown Los Angeles makes it even better. Their vintage-styled dresses easily tops as our wardrobe favorites and essentials. Fleet Collection is giving away their Couqette Dress in Emerald (value of $68). It's impossible not to be feel coy and flirty in this delightful fit and flare design of country elegance. And it's almost just as impossible to resist the urge to twirl and dance with the full swinging skirt. And it has pockets (hooray!).

Jenna Leigh: Jenna not only is a great photographer, but she is also a watercolor painter. She is giving away this beautiful floral watercolor mug (value of $15) that she designed, and it is absolutely perfect for morning coffee... or a drinky drink.

Zuzii Footwear: Zuzii is easily our favorite flat-shoes brands and they are made in our home-base... Los Angeles! Their shoes are out-of-this-world and are so lovely that we just want to sleep with them on. Zuzii is giving away this limited edition pair for the ladies (value starting at $75). The shoes are made with cream-colored perforated suede, with white micro foil pattern and vegetable tanned insole. They're also made to order, so you really know you're getting bang for your buck!

How to take home these seven items?

1. Must be 18 + older to enter and be a US-resident at time of giveaway.
2. You must have a public Instagram account.
3. Follow all 7 brands including @ZooeyMagazine.
4. Repost the above artwork on Instagram with a comment as to why you love supporting American Made brands. Only one entry counted.
5. Hashtag: #ZooeyAmericanMade.

One giveaway winner will be selected and announced on July 24th, 7 AM PST on this page.

Good luck!

Update: Congratulations to Kristen M. from Tyler, TX! 

Like a Girl

Our latest and favorite commercial challenges what it means to be and act "like a girl." Always brings to light in their new campaign as to how you, me, and many others succumb to pre-established stereotypes of what it means to simply be feminine. Whether we fight like a girl, hit like a girl, run like a girl, we have the conception in our head that it means weak... flimsy... delicate. While we think we don't believe in those conventions, our progressive minds are hindered by what we grow up around. The multimedia, for one thing, does a subtle job of this type of infection. So how about we change the way we consume information, and open our minds and eyes to the reality of it all. Because once you do, you can learn to reject the prejudice of women and change the way you perceive our gender. And in that sense, you can change the world... It just takes one step at a time.

Challenge yourselves, challenge others. What does it mean to be like a girl?