Alex And Andy

Everyone meet our friend, Blake! Men's Mental Health Awareness Month is about more than awareness—it's about reminding people they don't have to carry everything alone!!

One story that inspires us is Blake's. Despite countless medical challenges, surgeries, and setbacks throughout his life, he continues to push forward every day with courage and determination. His journey reminds us that some of the strongest people are fighting battles we can't see. His story is one that deserves to be heard, so we encourage you to read it below!

Be kind. Check in. Listen.

You never know what someone may be carrying.

You can find the shirt Blake is wearing on our website!
💌 Hand drawn thank you card from Uncle Andy with every order
🎉 Use code FACEBOOK for 15% off

Blake’s Story: The Strength Behind the Story Blake was born on March 15, 2011, and from the very beginning, his life took an unexpected path. After a traumatic delivery, he was diagnosed with Erb’s Palsy, leaving him with very limited use of his right arm. From early on, he had to relearn how to do everyday things—teaching himself to be le...

June is Men's Mental Health Awareness Month.

A reminder that strength isn't staying silent.

It's okay to ask for help.
It's okay to talk about what you're carrying.
It's okay to not be okay.

Our best selling shirt shares a message we believe everyone needs to hear:

Everyone Is Fighting a Battle You Know Nothing About.

Let's make the world a little kinder, one conversation at a time.

💌 Hand drawn by stroke survivor Uncle Andy
💛 Includes a handwritten thank you card
📦 Free shipping on orders $50+

Shop here: www.alexandandy.com

There’s truly nothing more special than building a community filled with such kind, supportive people. 💛

Supporters like Jorie mean more to us than words can explain. From constantly cheering us on, to showing up order after order, to owning almost every shirt we’ve created — that kind of support never goes unnoticed!!! This is a photo of every Alex And Andy shirt she owns! 🥹

Small businesses survive because of people like YOU. Every order, comment, share, and kind message helps support not only our business, but Uncle Andy’s story and mission too.

We’ll never stop being grateful for this community and the people who continue to believe in what we do. 💌

If you’ve ever supported Alex And Andy in any way — thank you. Truly.

✨ Want to grab a meaningful shirt of your own? Shop here: www.alexandandy.com

Warning: This is my emotional story time of what life is life behind the scenes of owning a business. ❤

"There’s a version of entrepreneurship that looks really pretty from the outside. It’s the highlight reels, the big wins, the “we sold out again” moments, and the excitement of building something that’s yours. And while those moments are real, and I’m incredibly grateful for them, they’re only a small part of the story.

The truth is, owning a small business is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. It's been incredibly beautiful but also very hard.

This business didn’t start from a perfectly mapped out plan or a lifelong dream of becoming an entrepreneur. It started from something much more personal. It started from a moment that changed everything—when my Uncle Andy had a stroke. Watching someone you love lose their speech and independence overnight shifts your entire perspective on life. It slows you down. It makes you pay attention to what really matters.

In the middle of that, something unexpected happened. I shared Uncle Andy's story on TikTok to try and raise money for his care he deeply needed at the time at the beginning of his stroke rehab. I was trying to sell pet bandanas to help pay for the therapy and continuous care he had to have...and his story resonated with thousands of people on the internet. It went viral and touched the hearts and homes of many people across the world. What started as a fundraiser then branched into a small business, to keep Uncle Andy motivated throughout the day when life looked incredibly different.

I didn’t just start a business. I stepped into something that felt bigger than me. A deep desire to help someone I loved. And that’s where both the beauty and the weight of entrepreneurship really come in.

Because when your business is tied to your story—when it’s rooted in something deeply personal—it’s not just about sales or numbers. It’s about impact. It’s about honoring something that matters. And that can be incredibly fulfilling, but also incredibly heavy.

There are days where everything clicks. Orders are coming in, ads are working, customers are connecting with the message, and you feel like you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be. Those are the days people see.

But there are also days where nothing goes right. Ads stop converting. Costs go up. Things break. You question your decisions. You feel the pressure of every responsibility sitting on your shoulders. There are moments where it feels like you’re holding everything together with sheer determination and hoping it doesn’t fall apart.

Entrepreneurship will stretch you in ways you don’t expect. It forces you to grow—not just as a business owner, but as a person. It teaches you resilience, patience, and how to keep going even when things feel uncertain.

And maybe the hardest part is that you don’t always get a clear answer on whether you’re doing the “right” thing. You make decisions with the information you have, you take risks, and you learn as you go.

But here’s what I’ve come to realize: the hard days don’t mean you’re failing. They mean you’re building something real. For me, this business has never just been about selling products. It’s about creating something meaningful out of something that was once incredibly hard. It’s about sharing a message that reminds people to keep going, to be kind, and to understand that everyone is carrying something.

That “why” is what keeps me grounded on the hard days. Because when you’re building something from the ground up, especially something rooted in purpose, you have to hold onto the reason you started. It becomes your anchor when everything else feels uncertain.

To anyone else in the middle of building something—especially on the days that feel heavy—you’re not alone. The highs are incredible, but the lows are part of the journey too. And both matter!

Because in the end, entrepreneurship isn’t just about what you build. It’s about who you become while building it."

Read the blog here:

What It Really Looks Like to Build a Small Business From the Ground Up There’s a version of entrepreneurship that looks really pretty from the outside. It’s the highlight reels, the big wins, the “we sold out again” moments, and the excitement of building something that’s yours. And while those moments are real, and I’m incredibly grateful for them, they’...