How My Grandmother Tapped Into My Gift—With $50 and a Trip to Spotlight

Some people teach you skills. Others simply see you—and that changes everything. For me, that person was my grandmother.

She never sat me down and taught me how to plan events. What she did do was recognize, from a young age, that I lit up when it came to planning, decorating, and bringing people together. And instead of brushing it off as a phase or a cute hobby, she empowered it.

Every year, as birthday season rolled around in our big family, she’d hand me $50 and take me to Spotlight. That was our tradition. I was the “party planner” for my siblings and cousins' birthdays—not because anyone told me to be, but because everyone knew I loved it. I would wander the aisles, completely in my element, dreaming up themes, colors, games, table settings, and fun little surprises to make each celebration unique.

No two parties were ever the same. I didn’t want them to be.

Looking back, I realize what a gift that was—not the money, but the trust. The belief. The space to create.

And that’s the thing about her—she was never just a grandmother. Everyone calls their grandmother “Grandma” or “Nana,” but when I was little, none of those names felt quite right to me. So I called her Arma. And just like that, it stuck. All ten of her grandkids and even her three great-grandkids now call her Arma.

It’s funny how one small choice—like a name—can ripple out and shape a legacy. Just like calling her Arma made her feel uniquely ours, the way she nurtured my love for planning helped me find a path that was uniquely mine.

Over the years, that spark didn’t go away. In fact, it became my purpose. Today, through Lion’s Muse Events and the Magnify Her community, I still do the same thing: create beautiful, intentional, joy-filled experiences that bring people together and make them feel truly special.

It all started with $50, a creative heart, and a grandmother—Arma—who believed in me.

So if you’re someone who sees that spark in your child, your niece, your student, your friend—nurture it. You never know what kind of legacy you might help ignite.

💬 I'd love to know—did someone in your life quietly support your passion before you even had a name for it?