A Tiny Mint, A Big Memory, and So Much Gratitude

As I type this out, I find myself savoring an Andes mint, the "candy" of choice at my grandma Eitzmann's house. Growing up, I would’ve gladly traded one for a Reese's or a Hershey bar, but now? Now I keep them stocked in my own pantry because they feel like home. Funny how life works like that. You spend your childhood wishing for something bigger or sweeter, and one day you realize the simple, quiet things were the real treasures all along.

Today is Thanksgiving, I can’t help but feel extra grateful for the people who’ve walked with me through this wild dream. especially those of you who knew, loved, or were shaped by my grandparents, the namesakes of this brand. Loyal & Elvie isn’t just a product line; it’s a little tribute to where I come from, and having you here, reading these updates, sending texts, calling with encouragement, cheering me on even when the process feels slow, means more than I can fully express.

And I’m grateful, too, for the women I’ve met along the way, fellow founders and design partners who remind me that building something meaningful is rarely a solo act, and that generous women make the hard parts a little softer.

So for everyone who’s subscribed, shared a kind word, sent me a “keep going,” message or simply showed up in this tiny corner of the internet: thank you. You’re part of the reason I’m able to keep taking the next step (and the next step feels really big!), making the next decision, and believing this dream is worth the work.

And to my grandma, who probably had no idea that a pack of Andes mints stashed in her pantry next to a yellow feather duster and the original dust buster (which as I type it feels suspiciously like she may have been intentionally hiding them...) would become a tiny anchor for her granddaughter - thank you. I hope I’m building something as steady, comforting, and quietly generous as you were.

Wishing you all a moon-worthy hand of pitch and a warm, memory-filled Thanksgiving week, I’m grateful for every single one of you.