I can totally relate too. Especially for journals - and I don't even keep one. (I used to when i was a kid, but once I got married I was afraid someone would read it and misunderstand my context so decided it was better just to not do it.) So I use them for keeping notes now for my quilts I plan out.
The other things that catch my attention are pretty boxes. Boxes that stationary comes in, or just pretty boxes, wooden boxes, paper boxes. And really how many does one person need? I had to quit buy my Longaberger baskets because I just had to many I didn't even know what to put in them all.