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This is me. Straight Outta My Mind.
Straight Outta My Mind came from my love of writing, connection, and being real. I’m an INFJ introvert, mom, autoimmune + holistic girl, Amazon affiliate, and photography/travel enthusiast sharing the messy, meaningful, and relatable parts of life. If you’re a little crazy too… welcome.
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22 Things I’ve Learned in 22 Years of Marriage
Marriage is a beautiful and hilarious journey, filled with sanctifying moments and messy challenges. As we celebrate 22 years together, I've learned that it's not about keeping up with the Joneses or having a perfect life. It's about enjoying the journey with the love of your life, working together to build a life that lasts.
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DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK — Otherworldly Landscapes, Salt Flats, and the Park That Felt Like Another Planet
Death Valley feels like stepping onto another planet — salt flats stretching forever, golden hills carved by time, and quiet desert views that stop you in your tracks. We spent one full day exploring the park’s most iconic stops, learning how to navigate the heat, the distances, and the surprises along the way. Here’s everything we loved, everything we learned, and everything we wish we’d known before visiting America’s hottest national park.
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Leading Lines — Guiding the Eye & Guiding Emotion
Leading lines are one of the simplest ways to guide a viewer’s eye — and one of the most powerful ways to guide their emotion. In this lesson, we explore how everyday lines, from sunlight to sidewalks to the curve of an arm, quietly shape the story inside your frame. These examples will help you see your world differently and photograph it with intention, not perfection.
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The Good, The Bad, and… The Misunderstood
Some stories in motherhood become part of our family lore — the kind that get retold for years because the misunderstanding was just that good. Our original Parenting Failures moment is one of those, and apparently… the tradition continues. This week, a simple, sweet conversation with my 12‑year‑old spiraled into something unexpectedly hilarious. Another misunderstanding. Another dramatic reaction. Another entry in our ever‑growing archive of parenting moments gone sideways. If you loved Part 1, you’re going to enjoy this one.
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When I Thought I Had to Be a “Good Mother” (Looking Back, Years Later)
Years ago, I sat on the edge of my bed after saying the same sentence 47 times and feeling my patience hanging by a thread. I thought good mothers never lost their temper, never doubted themselves, never blew it. But looking back now, I see how God used those messy, overwhelming moments to reshape my heart — not into a perfect mother, but into a growing one. This is the story of how grace changed everything.
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KINGS CANYON & SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARKS — Quiet Wilderness, Giant Trees, and the Most Peaceful Days of Our Trip
Kings Canyon and Sequoia offer a stunning contrast to Yosemite. Kings Canyon is vast and remote, with dramatic canyon walls and river views, while Sequoia is more compact, with iconic groves and massive trees. Both parks are worth exploring, but Kings Canyon is underappreciated and perfect for a peaceful retreat.
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Rule of Thirds: How Subject Placement Changes the Story You’re Telling
Discover how the Rule of Thirds transforms photography with this easy-to-follow guide from the SOMM × MB Photography collaboration.
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Holding Littles, Middles, and Almost‑Grown
I’m in a season where I’m holding three stages of motherhood at once — rocking babies, guiding a tween, and letting go of grown kids. It’s a strange, beautiful overlap that’s stretching me in ways I didn’t expect. And somewhere inside it all, autoimmune life adds its own layer of hard. But maybe that’s the gift: seeing how every stage has its own holy, its own ache, its own stretch.
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YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK — Waterfalls, Granite Giants, and the Park That Stole Our Hearts
From waterfalls and granite giants to shuttle routes and trail difficulty, this Yosemite guide breaks down exactly what families should expect. Here’s how we planned our days, where we stayed, and the hikes that made this park unforgettable.
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Western US National Parks Road Trip: Our Family’s Big, Beautiful Adventure to California
Our family of five spent 11 days exploring Yosemite, Kings Canyon, Sequoia, and Death Valley — four wildly different parks that pushed us, surprised us, and gave us some of our favorite memories. Here’s how we planned it, what we learned, and why this California road trip was unforgettable.
