About

Hi there! I’m Tonya Ruiz, aka Grandma Gets Real.

About

Growing up as an Air Force brat gave me an adventurous spirit. As a teen, I worked as a fashion model and even landed a feature in TEEN magazine, sharing my success story. But I happily traded the studio lights for a white picket fence lifestyle — raising four wonderful children with my husband, Ron.

Fast forward forty years, and I’m now the proudest grandma to 14 precious grandkids! My heart is truly full.

It all began when I dusted off my Barbie collection to share with my granddaughters, sparking something magical.

Now, on social media, I recreate my real-life in delightful miniature scenes. My mission? “A merry heart does good like medicine,” and I’m here to spread joy, one tiny scene at a time!


Whether I’m hunting for the perfect miniature treasures (the hunt is half the fun!), sharing peeks into my daily life, or reminding everyone to embrace life’s little moments, I love turning nostalgia into smiles. I’m not just collecting miniatures—I’m collecting happy moments! Follow along to join my tiny adventures!