This past week while preparing for my trip to LA, I started to do a little de-clutter sesh so that when I returned back from my travels, I could be organized and ready to go. I have all my appointments nailed down and a fresh list of things I want to accomplish. However, I still had this feeling I couldn't shake, like pre-travel anxieties or something that just made my mind feel cluttered. While I thought it was the cleanliness and organization I needed, I realized it was something totally different. So, then I tried my other 'get out of this funk' trick. . .journaling.

When in doubt of what to write I always start with the things that I am thankful for. It's pretty easy to count your blessings because there are many things to be thankful for. I'm quite sure if you are able to read this blog post, you've got a TON to be appreciative of. As much as I could easily write this list of blessings, it just wasn't doing it for me. I needed something deeper.

Then I had this thought. Take the things that are frustrating in your life and see if you can spin it into a gratitude phrase. I began to write easy things like I'm thankful that all of my toiletries don't fit into my favorite toiletry bag and that taught me that I need to be ahead of the game and buy travel sized items and keep my favorite ones for home.

I'm thankful for the fact that I forgot to get my dress altered for a wedding I am attending which reminded me that I haven't bought a new dress in forever and I totally deserve a new one.

Once I started the get the flow of this and see these frustrating situations turn into something exciting, I just couldn't stop. . .

I'm thankful that all the girls on instagram seem to have a perfectly pink bouquets of roses every single day because while it frustrates the crap out of me, it reminds me that I need to remember to get off my butt and make a habit out of treating myself to roses every week.

I'm thankful for that client that couldn't decide on a console table to save her life, because along the way I've learned to set boundaries and limits in my contracts which makes me work better and with a little less stress.

I'm thankful for that friend who is always late to the point that its so bothersome, because she taught me that I won't allow disrespectful behavior in my circle any longer and its totally okay to care for myself in that way.

I'm thankful that this very blog post got deleted three times because each time I write it again, I actually find something new I want to say that feels much better. . .

This practice and new way of gratitude has got me on a roll. On my first try I wrote 8 straight pages of gratitude notes and I didn't want to stop. I left Austin beyond excited to get on the plane and journal even more. My brain feels lighter and SO MUCH MORE ready to create new things. I was at the airport with a glass of champagne and empty notebook and ideas just flowing.

I'll be attending LCDQLA Legends Week and I am so thrilled to be back in the mix of my LA design peeps and feeling more inspired than ever. I got myself a beautiful white notebook with a gold spiral and a pretty gold pen. Why not treat yourself to a beautiful journal so you can de-clutter your mind with all of those thoughts just running around and taking over.