Welcome to Grandma’s House. Serving Up Smiles & Memories. Toys, Nostalgia & The Little Things. XOXO
What made you start a doll account? This doll was what started it all for me. • I bought my first Mattel’s Happy Family Grandma Barbie many years ago at Toys “R” Us. I was a public speaker and taught a message titled “Living Beyond Barbie” on body image and aging positively, so I thought Grandma Barbie would be a nice prop to hold up. I used her many times, but then I had to take a break from speaking when my husband became disabled. ~ Grandma Barbie was packed into a box with my other speaking items and put in the attic. ~ A couple of years ago, when my daughter was cleaning out the attic, my granddaughters were thrilled to find a box of Barbies. They were especially happy to find Grandma Barbie ~ They asked, “Grandma, why did they make a Barbie of you?” “Why do YOU have Barbies?” and “Can we play with them?” As my granddaughters played, I listened in on their game of make-believe and laughed as Grandma Barbie, sounding just like me, asked, “Who’s hungry?” “Who wants candy?” and “Do you want a dollar?” ~ I told the girls. “I’ve seen in the news that Mattel has made Barbies that look more like real people, so…”
“Let’s try and find a doll to represent each person in our family.”
And so began my Instagram...
#twinningiswinningwithgrandma #twinningiswinning #twinningtuesday #tuesdaytwinning #grandmagetsreal #barbiegetsreal #happyfamilybarbie #grandmabarbie #barbiecollector #barbiecollection
Have you ever been to a National Park? Which one? We have visited the Grand Canyon a couple of times - but it was the first time for our son. There is a fire 🔥 in Arizona- so it was smokey - but still Grand. Afterwards, we stopped and had a picnic. I finally used my Tonka Winnebago in my photos. What do you think?
#grandmagetsreal #barbiegetsreal #roadtripusa #arizona #grandcanyon #barbiephotographer #barbiephotoshoot
Comment a story, movie, book, or show about tiny people, dollhouses, or miniatures? The first show that I remember liking is “Land of the Giants.”
.
•photo by @greggsegal
#grandmagetsreal #barbiegetsreal #twinningiswinning #twinningiswinningwithgrandma #miniatures #dollhouseminiatures #dollhouseminiature #modernminiatures #tinythings #honeyishrunkthekids #barbiecollector #barbiecollection #dailymini
Have you been to Old Town San Diego? We went to San Diego to go to Kobey’s Swap Meet. I was so surprised to see so many miniatures in old town. Such a beautiful historic place to visit. I need to go back just to shop at the stores there. This is a video of the old town and our 2nd day at the Swap Meet and my great finds. YouTube YouTube link in bio.
#grandmagetsreal
#barbiegetsreal
@kobeysswapmeet
#oldtownsandiego #swapmeetfinds #swapmeet #dailymini #modernminiatures #dollhouseminiatures #miniaturesofinstagram
Where do you go on your last road trip? We are packing to go to New Mexico. Someone asked if I am taking my dolls. Hmmmm… I was considered leaving them home - but 🤔 now…. Should they go along? Would you like to see New Mexico?
.
.
#grandmagetsreal #barbiegetsreal #myownbarbiestyle #roadtripsnacks #minibrands #tinythings #newmexicotravel #grandmabarbie
New YouTube - Link in Bio. Have you been to Kobey’s Swap Meet? We were told that Kobey's Swap Meet was a great place to find vintage items. We decided to go for a weekend to San Diego and check it out! Not only did we have a great time seeing the sights - we found some really great tiny things. This is part one of three. We went back THREE days in a row and each time found vintage collectibles, Barbies, and tiny things. If you are looking for vintage toys and miniatures or just want to get fresh air, sunshine, and a great swap meet experience - I highly recomment a trip to Kobey's Swap Meet. We stayed at the Old Town Inn. It was reasonably priced and very adequate for our needs and walking distance to Old Town San Diego. We even got to enjoy sitting by the pool and relaxing in the sunshine. It was a great San Diego experience. Stay tune for parts 2 & 3 I found some great items for my Miniature World!
#swapmeetfinds #swapmeet #grandmagetsreal #barbiegetsreal #sandiego #tinythings #vintagetoys #vintagebarbies #fleamarketfinds
Have you made any summer plans? I am planning to make over / update all my dioramas. AND I’m going on to see my grandkids that live in New Mexico. How about you?
.
Photo by @greggsegal
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#twinningiswinningwithgrandma #twinningtuesday #grandmagetsreal #barbiegetsreal #tinykitchen #minibrands #tinyfood #minifood #tinythings #barbiedollcollector #barbiephotography #dioramas
#tbt Do you have a senior yearbook photo? I dropped out of high school to move to Paris. I later got my GED. So… No senior yearbook photo. But… I have this video talking about it and - I do have some school photos from my earlier years. • Often, mothers asked my opinion about their teenage daughters wanting to become models or actresses. • My best advice is, “Have the girls wait until they are finished with college and pray they change their minds.”
In the July 2001 issue of W magazine, supermodel Christy Turlington said that she is ready to settle down and start a family. “Turlington says if she has a daughter, she won’t push her to follow in her footsteps down the runway. ‘I wouldn’t encourage my child to work in an industry that focuses on superficial attributes, given all the information out there today about how delicate the age from 12 to 18 is.’” • In the September 2001 edition of Mode, Carré Otis tells of her early days as a model, “There were the drugs. There was the extreme dieting. There were the three suicide-by-OD attempts. There was the boundary-warping behavior of the adult wards of teen lovelies…” CONTINUED IN COMMENTS
🎈 100k FOLLOWERS 🎈 I want to thank YOU for following Grandma Gets Real! You have made this account my happy little corner of the world. 😀 🌎 A 100 thousand thanks! 😘
#grandmagetsreal
#barbiegetsreal
#dollstagramyearbook2021
#barbiephotography #barbiepgotographer #dollstagram #dollstagramm #barbiecollector #barbiecollection #dollinfluencer #barbiestyle #grandmabarbie
How many pets are at your house? My husband is very allergic to animals. Because of that - over the years, we have had frogs, outdoor rabbits, birds, hermit crabs, etc…. The grandkids have been begging for a cat or dog. 🐈 🐕 My hubby said, “Over my dead body.” My reply was, “We will consider that option.”🤣😂🤣😂 You should’ve seen the grandkids faces. 😳😳😳😳
Photo by @greggsegal
#twinningiswinningwithgrandma #twinningiswinning #twinningtuesday #grandmagetsreal #barbiegetsreal #dollstagram #barbiephotography #catsofinstagram #crazycatlady
Do you ever use an app for special effects? What do you think of the tiny barbecue smoking? I have tried to make tiny fires 🔥 before and decided the @mylumyer app is a much safer option. 😳🔥
#memorialdayweekend #memorialdaybbq #rement #rementjapan #tinyfood #minifood #minifoods #mylumyer #grandmagetsreal #barbiegetsreal #bbqmaster #bbqnation #dollstagram #realisticminiatures
😀 NEW VIDEO! LINK IN BIO. What would you like to see on my YOUTUBE channel? The new video is our trip to the Torrance Antique Street Faire. Let me know where I should go next 🚘 🛒 or what I should make a video of. 🎥 📸 I need ideas. 💡
#torranceantiquestreetfaire #tinythings #grandmagetsreal #barbiegetsreal #nostalgia #vintagetoys #vintageclothing #fleamarketfinds #miniatures
Which is your favorite? Grandma, BBQing Grandpa, or the Geriatric Pair? A great challenge by @collecting_missbarbie & @jianyang1979 #myownbarbiestyle
•CUSTOM T-Shirts by @barbie_girl_og
#barbiestyle
#barbiegetsreal
#grandmagetsreal
#barbiecollector
#barbiecollection
#barbiephotography #dollstagram #dollstagramm
Do you like shopping at antique malls? NEW YOUTUBE VIDEO - link in stories. * Come with me to Granny’s Attic - the largest antique mall in Southern California. It is so fun to search through all of the different booths and find tiny things for my miniature world. I love miniatures, dolls, and anything nostalgic. Be sure and watch till the end to see what I purchased.
#grandmagetsreal #barbiegetsreal #tinythings #miniatures #dollhouseminiatures #dollhousedecor
#ad Do you have any metal dollhouse furniture? @aizul_homey reminds me of the nostalgic pieces of the past. The colors are just beautiful. I am obsessed with the reversible floor tiles!! The table, chairs, tea cart, flowers, and other furniture are awesome. The bed is perfect for curling up, propped on a pillow or the “kids.” And what tiny kitchen doesn’t need to be swept & mopped? *Note - The Kitchen unit is bigger than fashion doll size - as are some of the accessories. They have them listed as 1:6th & 1/12th scale - and I noticed that within that - is a very wide variety of sizes. Check out their Instagram @aizulhomey to see them with dolls. I can’t wait to photograph this set with my dolls. #aizulhomey
#grandmagetsreal #barbiegetsreal #tinythings #modernminiatures #dollhouseminiatures #dollhousedecor #dollstagram #miniaturebaby #minifurniture
#twinningtuesday When is your creative time? Mine is early in the morning. Since I had children, I’ve gotten up before the sun 🌞 to work on projects because it was the only time I was alone. I’m most creative when I’m surrounded by silence. •How about you? •link to file cabinet in bio
Photo by @greggsegal
#twinningiswinningwithgrandma #twinningiswinning #barbiegetsreal #grandmagetsreal #barbiephotography #barbiephotographer #dollstagram #modernminiatures #tinythings #barbiecollector #barbiecollection
💐 Happy Mother’s Day! ❤️ What really worries me about motherhood is the rumor going around that every time you give birth, you lose one-fifth of your brain cells. I had four children. You do the math…. because I can’t. 😂 It doesn’t seem fair to have lost my brain cells and my waist. 😬
* Back in the day, all I had to juggle was myself, my red mustang, my apartment and my job. I married and added a man to the mix which significantly increased the dirty socks and dishes. Then I had a baby, and another, and another, and another. Boy, I was really juggling then. Showering became a luxury. I ridiculously thought, When they get out of diapers this will be easy. Ha! Let the games begin. As they grew, we added ballet, trumpet lessons, and algebra homework to the mix. Juggling motherhood became an Olympic sport, and I had trouble keeping all the balls in the air. ❤️ I was not a perfect mother - but I did my best. ❤️
* I am not alone. Mothers have been struggling and juggling forever. In the 17th century, women usually gave birth to 13 children--a baker’s dozen. The most children born to one mother is 69. They came in 27 pregnancies of various sizes: twins, triplets, and quadruplets. That mother wasn’t just juggling; she had a whole circus act. The oldest mother recorded gave birth at 74-years-old. That makes me tired thinking about it. I wonder, during her pregnancy did she take pre-natal vitamins or Geritol? Is it possible to experience post-partum depression and hot flashes simultaneously? 😂 Just some thoughts to ponder. Happy Mother’s Day. 💐
Happy Twinning Tuesday! Are you ever too old for a little silliness? What makes you smile?
😀•MAKE SURE TO CHECK MY STORIES TO SEE MY FRIENDS TWINNING WITH THEIR MINI MES! 😀
Photo by @greggsegal 📸
#twinningiswinningwithgrandma #twinningiswinning #twinningtuesday #grandmagetsreal #barbiegetsreal #barbiecollector #barbiecollection
Have I posted something that you would like to find for yourself? 😀 Just ask. There is an Amazon link in my bio that shows where I find some of my tiny things. These Fisher-Price items are a mix of @hallmarkkeepsakeornaments and Worlds Smallest by @superimpulse I am always happy to share where I find my items. Just ask me and I’ll try to get back to you. XXOO 👵🏻❤️
If you got to spend a day with Barbie from @BarbieStyle - what would you ask her? 👵🏻Grandma asked, “What is your secret to looking so young?” 😉 •scroll thru to see the unboxing ➡️
@barbie
@mattel
#barbiestylefashiondoll #barbiestyle #barbie #grandmagetsreal #barbiegetsreal #barbiecollector #barbiecollection
Happy Twinning Tuesday! Do you have a mini me? Join me next Tuesday, May 4, and post your twinning photos. Use the hashtag Twinning Is Winning With Grandma. #twinningiswinningwithgrandma •I will share your photos in my stories! I can’t wait to see all your mini mes!! 😃
First photo by @greggsegal
#twinningiswinning #twinningtuesday
#grandmagetsreal #barbiegetsreal #barbiecollector #barbiecollection #barbie
#tbt Did you ever think being thinner or looking like a fashion model would make you happier?
Many women are being seduced into believing that looking like a cover girl will make them happy. Take it from me. It will not!
With my “California girl” good looks and the backing of many top-modeling agents, including Eileen Ford, I was granted every opportunity to become a supermodel. Because of my internal personal struggles and failures, the inability to keep my body looking flawless, and a self-destructive search to fill an emptiness in my life—I was incapable of maintaining my success. It’s all part of my story now.
Thanks to my Barbie friends for helping me recreate some of my modeling photos.
@thebarbiehoarder @dollylandinbrazil @dawsondigsdolls
🥖🍞🥯🥐 Did you start baking bread last year? My Bread Baking Barbie became quite famous during the pandemic. Quarantine bread baking was an international obsession. I was commissioned to recreate her for two museum exhibits - one at the Victoria and Albert Design Museum in Dundee, Scotland. One for The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York. Which doll is your favorite? They are a bit different. 🥖 🍞 🥯 🥐 I made a video about how I made her. I’ll put the link in my stories.
#quarantinebarbie #grandmagetsreal #barbiegetsreal
#breadbaking #breadbakingtherapy
Did you find yourself eating more junk food during the quarantine? What was your favorite comfort food? When I posted this #quarantinebarbie A YEAR AGO 😱 - it was as a comedic commentary on my experience during the lockdown. I took my curvy Barbie in stretchy pants - and then searched thru my miniatures for her accessories. ➡️ scroll thru to see the tiny things and behind-the-scenes videos.
•PS - I added the whiskey because of the book title - “Whiskey in a Teacup.” I haven’t actually had whiskey since an unfortunate night 😬 when I was 16 and made an extremely bad choice to drink some in excess. 🤮 🤮Just the smell of whiskey barrels in the garden department at Home Depot brings all those memories back. 😳🤢
#grandmagetsreal
#barbiegetsreal
#quarantinelife #barbiecollection #barbiecollector
👋 Let’s be social! I’m Tonya Ruiz and I live in Southern California. 🌞🌴•My hobby is recreating my life in miniature.
➡️ Scroll thru for a behind-the-scenes video
Do you have many photos from your childhood? Are you old enough that they are in black and white? I’ve recreated my family’s photo from 1966. •When my kids were little- we watched a lot of classic movies together. One day my 5-year-old son asked, “Did real life use to be in black and white?” 🤔 I can understand why he thought that.
Do you have many “kid” (Kelly/Shelly/Chelsea) dolls? I have hundred of Barbies- but not many choices to find a young version of 🧒🏼 myself. What do you think? •How many kid 🧒🏼 🧒🏻🧒🏿🧒🏽🧒 dolls do you have?
Did you ever have a dream house? Which one did you have? I purchased this reproduction 1961 dream house a few years ago when it came out. Scroll through for a trip down memory lane. Do you remember having cardboard furniture?
👵🏻 What do you plan on doing when you are a senior? “How old is a senior?” you might ask. Apparently, over 55 - because at 57 👵🏻 I get the senior discounts when shopping and I’m in @aarp 😱. What would you like to do when you retire?
Have you ever built a dollhouse?
🐣 Happy Easter!
🐣 How will you celebrate Easter tomorrow? We plan on watching church online 🙏🏼 and munching on a Charcuterie board. How about you?
🐇 Did you know that there is a Beatrix Potter Barbie? I am a big fan of Beatrix Potter, so I was thrilled when I found this at a doll show. Did you read Beatrix Potter as a child? I love her illustrations. 🐇
What made you start a doll account? This doll was what started it all for me. • I bought my first Mattel’s Happy Family Grandma Barbie many years ago at Toys “R” Us. I was a public speaker and taught a message titled “Living Beyond Barbie” on body image and aging positively, so I thought Grandma Barbie would be a nice prop to hold up. I used her many times, but then I had to take a break from speaking when my husband became disabled. ~ Grandma Barbie was packed into a box with my other speaking items and put in the attic. ~ A couple of years ago, when my daughter was cleaning out the attic, my granddaughters were thrilled to find a box of Barbies. They were especially happy to find Grandma Barbie ~ They asked, “Grandma, why did they make a Barbie of you?” “Why do YOU have Barbies?” and “Can we play with them?” As my granddaughters played, I listened in on their game of make-believe and laughed as Grandma Barbie, sounding just like me, asked, “Who’s hungry?” “Who wants candy?” and “Do you want a dollar?” ~ I told the girls. “I’ve seen in the news that Mattel has made Barbies that look more like real people, so…”
“Let’s try and find a doll to represent each person in our family.”
And so began my Instagram...
#twinningiswinningwithgrandma #twinningiswinning #twinningtuesday #tuesdaytwinning #grandmagetsreal #barbiegetsreal #happyfamilybarbie #grandmabarbie #barbiecollector #barbiecollection
Have you ever been to a National Park? Which one? We have visited the Grand Canyon a couple of times - but it was the first time for our son. There is a fire 🔥 in Arizona- so it was smokey - but still Grand. Afterwards, we stopped and had a picnic. I finally used my Tonka Winnebago in my photos. What do you think?
#grandmagetsreal #barbiegetsreal #roadtripusa #arizona #grandcanyon #barbiephotographer #barbiephotoshoot
Comment a story, movie, book, or show about tiny people, dollhouses, or miniatures? The first show that I remember liking is “Land of the Giants.”
.
•photo by @greggsegal
#grandmagetsreal #barbiegetsreal #twinningiswinning #twinningiswinningwithgrandma #miniatures #dollhouseminiatures #dollhouseminiature #modernminiatures #tinythings #honeyishrunkthekids #barbiecollector #barbiecollection #dailymini
Have you been to Old Town San Diego? We went to San Diego to go to Kobey’s Swap Meet. I was so surprised to see so many miniatures in old town. Such a beautiful historic place to visit. I need to go back just to shop at the stores there. This is a video of the old town and our 2nd day at the Swap Meet and my great finds. YouTube YouTube link in bio.
#grandmagetsreal
#barbiegetsreal
@kobeysswapmeet
#oldtownsandiego #swapmeetfinds #swapmeet #dailymini #modernminiatures #dollhouseminiatures #miniaturesofinstagram
Where do you go on your last road trip? We are packing to go to New Mexico. Someone asked if I am taking my dolls. Hmmmm… I was considered leaving them home - but 🤔 now…. Should they go along? Would you like to see New Mexico?
.
.
#grandmagetsreal #barbiegetsreal #myownbarbiestyle #roadtripsnacks #minibrands #tinythings #newmexicotravel #grandmabarbie
New YouTube - Link in Bio. Have you been to Kobey’s Swap Meet? We were told that Kobey's Swap Meet was a great place to find vintage items. We decided to go for a weekend to San Diego and check it out! Not only did we have a great time seeing the sights - we found some really great tiny things. This is part one of three. We went back THREE days in a row and each time found vintage collectibles, Barbies, and tiny things. If you are looking for vintage toys and miniatures or just want to get fresh air, sunshine, and a great swap meet experience - I highly recomment a trip to Kobey's Swap Meet. We stayed at the Old Town Inn. It was reasonably priced and very adequate for our needs and walking distance to Old Town San Diego. We even got to enjoy sitting by the pool and relaxing in the sunshine. It was a great San Diego experience. Stay tune for parts 2 & 3 I found some great items for my Miniature World!
#swapmeetfinds #swapmeet #grandmagetsreal #barbiegetsreal #sandiego #tinythings #vintagetoys #vintagebarbies #fleamarketfinds
Have you made any summer plans? I am planning to make over / update all my dioramas. AND I’m going on to see my grandkids that live in New Mexico. How about you?
.
Photo by @greggsegal
.
#twinningiswinningwithgrandma #twinningtuesday #grandmagetsreal #barbiegetsreal #tinykitchen #minibrands #tinyfood #minifood #tinythings #barbiedollcollector #barbiephotography #dioramas
#tbt Do you have a senior yearbook photo? I dropped out of high school to move to Paris. I later got my GED. So… No senior yearbook photo. But… I have this video talking about it and - I do have some school photos from my earlier years. • Often, mothers asked my opinion about their teenage daughters wanting to become models or actresses. • My best advice is, “Have the girls wait until they are finished with college and pray they change their minds.”
In the July 2001 issue of W magazine, supermodel Christy Turlington said that she is ready to settle down and start a family. “Turlington says if she has a daughter, she won’t push her to follow in her footsteps down the runway. ‘I wouldn’t encourage my child to work in an industry that focuses on superficial attributes, given all the information out there today about how delicate the age from 12 to 18 is.’” • In the September 2001 edition of Mode, Carré Otis tells of her early days as a model, “There were the drugs. There was the extreme dieting. There were the three suicide-by-OD attempts. There was the boundary-warping behavior of the adult wards of teen lovelies…” CONTINUED IN COMMENTS
🎈 100k FOLLOWERS 🎈 I want to thank YOU for following Grandma Gets Real! You have made this account my happy little corner of the world. 😀 🌎 A 100 thousand thanks! 😘
#grandmagetsreal
#barbiegetsreal
#dollstagramyearbook2021
#barbiephotography #barbiepgotographer #dollstagram #dollstagramm #barbiecollector #barbiecollection #dollinfluencer #barbiestyle #grandmabarbie
How many pets are at your house? My husband is very allergic to animals. Because of that - over the years, we have had frogs, outdoor rabbits, birds, hermit crabs, etc…. The grandkids have been begging for a cat or dog. 🐈 🐕 My hubby said, “Over my dead body.” My reply was, “We will consider that option.”🤣😂🤣😂 You should’ve seen the grandkids faces. 😳😳😳😳
Photo by @greggsegal
#twinningiswinningwithgrandma #twinningiswinning #twinningtuesday #grandmagetsreal #barbiegetsreal #dollstagram #barbiephotography #catsofinstagram #crazycatlady
Do you ever use an app for special effects? What do you think of the tiny barbecue smoking? I have tried to make tiny fires 🔥 before and decided the @mylumyer app is a much safer option. 😳🔥
#memorialdayweekend #memorialdaybbq #rement #rementjapan #tinyfood #minifood #minifoods #mylumyer #grandmagetsreal #barbiegetsreal #bbqmaster #bbqnation #dollstagram #realisticminiatures
😀 NEW VIDEO! LINK IN BIO. What would you like to see on my YOUTUBE channel? The new video is our trip to the Torrance Antique Street Faire. Let me know where I should go next 🚘 🛒 or what I should make a video of. 🎥 📸 I need ideas. 💡
#torranceantiquestreetfaire #tinythings #grandmagetsreal #barbiegetsreal #nostalgia #vintagetoys #vintageclothing #fleamarketfinds #miniatures
Which is your favorite? Grandma, BBQing Grandpa, or the Geriatric Pair? A great challenge by @collecting_missbarbie & @jianyang1979 #myownbarbiestyle
•CUSTOM T-Shirts by @barbie_girl_og
#barbiestyle
#barbiegetsreal
#grandmagetsreal
#barbiecollector
#barbiecollection
#barbiephotography #dollstagram #dollstagramm
Do you like shopping at antique malls? NEW YOUTUBE VIDEO - link in stories. * Come with me to Granny’s Attic - the largest antique mall in Southern California. It is so fun to search through all of the different booths and find tiny things for my miniature world. I love miniatures, dolls, and anything nostalgic. Be sure and watch till the end to see what I purchased.
#grandmagetsreal #barbiegetsreal #tinythings #miniatures #dollhouseminiatures #dollhousedecor
#ad Do you have any metal dollhouse furniture? @aizul_homey reminds me of the nostalgic pieces of the past. The colors are just beautiful. I am obsessed with the reversible floor tiles!! The table, chairs, tea cart, flowers, and other furniture are awesome. The bed is perfect for curling up, propped on a pillow or the “kids.” And what tiny kitchen doesn’t need to be swept & mopped? *Note - The Kitchen unit is bigger than fashion doll size - as are some of the accessories. They have them listed as 1:6th & 1/12th scale - and I noticed that within that - is a very wide variety of sizes. Check out their Instagram @aizulhomey to see them with dolls. I can’t wait to photograph this set with my dolls. #aizulhomey
#grandmagetsreal #barbiegetsreal #tinythings #modernminiatures #dollhouseminiatures #dollhousedecor #dollstagram #miniaturebaby #minifurniture
#twinningtuesday When is your creative time? Mine is early in the morning. Since I had children, I’ve gotten up before the sun 🌞 to work on projects because it was the only time I was alone. I’m most creative when I’m surrounded by silence. •How about you? •link to file cabinet in bio
Photo by @greggsegal
#twinningiswinningwithgrandma #twinningiswinning #barbiegetsreal #grandmagetsreal #barbiephotography #barbiephotographer #dollstagram #modernminiatures #tinythings #barbiecollector #barbiecollection
💐 Happy Mother’s Day! ❤️ What really worries me about motherhood is the rumor going around that every time you give birth, you lose one-fifth of your brain cells. I had four children. You do the math…. because I can’t. 😂 It doesn’t seem fair to have lost my brain cells and my waist. 😬
* Back in the day, all I had to juggle was myself, my red mustang, my apartment and my job. I married and added a man to the mix which significantly increased the dirty socks and dishes. Then I had a baby, and another, and another, and another. Boy, I was really juggling then. Showering became a luxury. I ridiculously thought, When they get out of diapers this will be easy. Ha! Let the games begin. As they grew, we added ballet, trumpet lessons, and algebra homework to the mix. Juggling motherhood became an Olympic sport, and I had trouble keeping all the balls in the air. ❤️ I was not a perfect mother - but I did my best. ❤️
* I am not alone. Mothers have been struggling and juggling forever. In the 17th century, women usually gave birth to 13 children--a baker’s dozen. The most children born to one mother is 69. They came in 27 pregnancies of various sizes: twins, triplets, and quadruplets. That mother wasn’t just juggling; she had a whole circus act. The oldest mother recorded gave birth at 74-years-old. That makes me tired thinking about it. I wonder, during her pregnancy did she take pre-natal vitamins or Geritol? Is it possible to experience post-partum depression and hot flashes simultaneously? 😂 Just some thoughts to ponder. Happy Mother’s Day. 💐
Happy Twinning Tuesday! Are you ever too old for a little silliness? What makes you smile?
😀•MAKE SURE TO CHECK MY STORIES TO SEE MY FRIENDS TWINNING WITH THEIR MINI MES! 😀
Photo by @greggsegal 📸
#twinningiswinningwithgrandma #twinningiswinning #twinningtuesday #grandmagetsreal #barbiegetsreal #barbiecollector #barbiecollection
Have I posted something that you would like to find for yourself? 😀 Just ask. There is an Amazon link in my bio that shows where I find some of my tiny things. These Fisher-Price items are a mix of @hallmarkkeepsakeornaments and Worlds Smallest by @superimpulse I am always happy to share where I find my items. Just ask me and I’ll try to get back to you. XXOO 👵🏻❤️
If you got to spend a day with Barbie from @BarbieStyle - what would you ask her? 👵🏻Grandma asked, “What is your secret to looking so young?” 😉 •scroll thru to see the unboxing ➡️
@barbie
@mattel
#barbiestylefashiondoll #barbiestyle #barbie #grandmagetsreal #barbiegetsreal #barbiecollector #barbiecollection
Happy Twinning Tuesday! Do you have a mini me? Join me next Tuesday, May 4, and post your twinning photos. Use the hashtag Twinning Is Winning With Grandma. #twinningiswinningwithgrandma •I will share your photos in my stories! I can’t wait to see all your mini mes!! 😃
First photo by @greggsegal
#twinningiswinning #twinningtuesday
#grandmagetsreal #barbiegetsreal #barbiecollector #barbiecollection #barbie
#tbt Did you ever think being thinner or looking like a fashion model would make you happier?
Many women are being seduced into believing that looking like a cover girl will make them happy. Take it from me. It will not!
With my “California girl” good looks and the backing of many top-modeling agents, including Eileen Ford, I was granted every opportunity to become a supermodel. Because of my internal personal struggles and failures, the inability to keep my body looking flawless, and a self-destructive search to fill an emptiness in my life—I was incapable of maintaining my success. It’s all part of my story now.
Thanks to my Barbie friends for helping me recreate some of my modeling photos.
@thebarbiehoarder @dollylandinbrazil @dawsondigsdolls
🥖🍞🥯🥐 Did you start baking bread last year? My Bread Baking Barbie became quite famous during the pandemic. Quarantine bread baking was an international obsession. I was commissioned to recreate her for two museum exhibits - one at the Victoria and Albert Design Museum in Dundee, Scotland. One for The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York. Which doll is your favorite? They are a bit different. 🥖 🍞 🥯 🥐 I made a video about how I made her. I’ll put the link in my stories.
#quarantinebarbie #grandmagetsreal #barbiegetsreal
#breadbaking #breadbakingtherapy
Did you find yourself eating more junk food during the quarantine? What was your favorite comfort food? When I posted this #quarantinebarbie A YEAR AGO 😱 - it was as a comedic commentary on my experience during the lockdown. I took my curvy Barbie in stretchy pants - and then searched thru my miniatures for her accessories. ➡️ scroll thru to see the tiny things and behind-the-scenes videos.
•PS - I added the whiskey because of the book title - “Whiskey in a Teacup.” I haven’t actually had whiskey since an unfortunate night 😬 when I was 16 and made an extremely bad choice to drink some in excess. 🤮 🤮Just the smell of whiskey barrels in the garden department at Home Depot brings all those memories back. 😳🤢
#grandmagetsreal
#barbiegetsreal
#quarantinelife #barbiecollection #barbiecollector
👋 Let’s be social! I’m Tonya Ruiz and I live in Southern California. 🌞🌴•My hobby is recreating my life in miniature.
➡️ Scroll thru for a behind-the-scenes video
Do you have many photos from your childhood? Are you old enough that they are in black and white? I’ve recreated my family’s photo from 1966. •When my kids were little- we watched a lot of classic movies together. One day my 5-year-old son asked, “Did real life use to be in black and white?” 🤔 I can understand why he thought that.
Do you have many “kid” (Kelly/Shelly/Chelsea) dolls? I have hundred of Barbies- but not many choices to find a young version of 🧒🏼 myself. What do you think? •How many kid 🧒🏼 🧒🏻🧒🏿🧒🏽🧒 dolls do you have?
Did you ever have a dream house? Which one did you have? I purchased this reproduction 1961 dream house a few years ago when it came out. Scroll through for a trip down memory lane. Do you remember having cardboard furniture?
👵🏻 What do you plan on doing when you are a senior? “How old is a senior?” you might ask. Apparently, over 55 - because at 57 👵🏻 I get the senior discounts when shopping and I’m in @aarp 😱. What would you like to do when you retire?
Have you ever built a dollhouse?
🐣 Happy Easter!
🐣 How will you celebrate Easter tomorrow? We plan on watching church online 🙏🏼 and munching on a Charcuterie board. How about you?
🐇 Did you know that there is a Beatrix Potter Barbie? I am a big fan of Beatrix Potter, so I was thrilled when I found this at a doll show. Did you read Beatrix Potter as a child? I love her illustrations. 🐇
