xolunelle

[xolunelle]

One look, give 'em whiplash...

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎Fancy, this is opulence, it's glowing and it's flashing!

[xolunelle]

Don't let anyone put you in a box, in anything. Whether that's in terms of fashion, passions, dreams, etc. Do what you want, when you want, how you want. It's not up to anybody to tell you what to do. You only have ONE life, after this there's nothing else. Do not live a life full of regrets, if you want it, go get it.

Memento mori, memento vivere. X's and O's, Elle.

[xolunelle]

Sometimes, when you feel like you're losing focus, take a break. (Have a KitKat??) If you feel like you are not being genuine to yourself or it's just not working, it is okay to just pause everything and disappear for a moment.

Rest gives you the ability to come back better than ever.

X's and O's, Elle.

[xolunelle]

Valentine's is coming...but I'm not lonely

AdvisorElle, Episode 4

Valentine's day is coming, and it seems like everyone is posting about how much they love their partner and how lucky they are to have them. But what about the single girls? Are we to just sit in our houses, sad or lonely? Definitely not! Here's my guide to Valentine's alone -- I'm doing this too!

4.1: Practice self-care (in any form)

Skincare, a relaxing bath, cooking/baking something good, journalling, reading. Anything that makes you feel good, do it!! Especially if this time of year feels particularly lonely, you need to do something that makes you feel better. Taking care of your body and mind is a good step.

4.2: Have fun alone

Find new songs (I beg you, listen to Kazuki Hayashi's album 'I', please) and dance like you are mad, learn a choreography, watch your favourite show/movie, play chess with a robot and get beat while at it. Just have fun!

4.3: Get rid of the telecommunication device

Unless you need it, shove it somewhere random and forget about it. There is no need to watch couples snogging off (no offense to the couples) when we could be doing something much better.

4.4: If you can, call up a friend and hang out with them

This way, maybe getting beat at chess will be a lot more interesting. Also!! Try playing Monopoly or card games with them, but come up with your own rules, it's a lot more fun!

Closing Notes:

Please know that although this year's Valentines might be a bit lonely, you can love yourself better than anyone else can. After all, when everyone leaves and everything goes wrong, you only have yourself to rely on. Only you know what you need and how to satisfy that desire. No one else can do that for you.

Have fun loves! X's and O's, Elle.

[xolunelle]

Little Things I Love:

staying up to watch football, turning the music up loud in a car to feel the bass in my spine, finding a new song that's absolutely life-changing, laughing until my stomach hurts, finishing a really great series, standing still in nature and listening to the sound around me, reading as the wind invites itself into my room, chocolates with interesting fillings, perfecting a hairstyle, hitting the high note better than ever, the feeling that comes from playing dynamic songs on the way home at night while watching all the little lights over the hill, songs that carry memories (good and bad), looking at past photos, being who I'm meant to be, realizing that everything is alright, I can finally rest.

X's and O's, Elle.

[xolunelle]

Episode 2 of the Pearls In The Essence project is coming out next week! It's taken me some time because of some university stuff I needed to settle, but now that everything is settled, I can focus on the project again!!

X's and O's, Elle.

Pearls In The Essence '25

Episode 1: Growing in the Essence, An Introduction

1.1: The Meaning and The Inspiration

"Pearl in the essence (expression): A metaphorical expression signifying the pursuit of inner beauty, wisdom and intelligence. Refers to the desire to embody and grow the most valuable and refined qualities of oneself, like to the formation of a pearl, which grows into something precious from within a shell."

That's what a pearl in the essence means to me. I found it during a tough time while reading the lyrics of 'Girls Never Die' by TripleS:

‎‎‎‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎‎‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎ "Don't need all those excuses ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎‎‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎‎‎‎Wanna be the pearls in the essence ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎‎‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎‎Let me dream even bigger now ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎‎‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎‎‎These pains and trials make a better me"

That's when I decided I wanted to become the pearl in my own essence, to become better, more refined, more polished, well-spoken. No longer letting anything get to me, no longer holding on to the bitterness of the years past or the easy path of procrastinating. I decided it's time to grow out of the confinements of my shell and move on to a bigger ocean.

And so can you.

1.2: The Objectives

To preface this section, I want to say that although we may all have the same common goal, there will be little variations in ideals and goals here and there, which is perfectly normal! This will ensure that we're all aiming for something that applies to each of us individually and our own personal journeys. There will be times when I document my progress and what I'm doing, but that is not intended to force you to do the same, it's just a simple encouragement.

The general goals are to become a more refined, polished, intelligent, productive and well-spoken versions of ourselves. These ideas will vary from person to person, but the main goals and tips shared in the posts will typically be universal.

Each goal has been put into a category starting with the letter P in order to make it a lot more memorable and fun.

So, what does each main goal entail? (The P's)

Polished and Proper - How we are at home and around others

Practicing good manners and social behavior (speaking properly, saying 'please' and 'thank you') and keeping a gratitude journal (being thankful of all progress, big or small), talking slower and choosing kinder language over harsh words.

Perceptive - What we know about topics

Weekly reading (articles, books, blogs etc.), finding a topic to that piques interest and journalling on it. Taking mini courses (if possible) or watching YouTube videos on new topics.

Presentation - How we look and feel

Maintaining (or creating) a skincare routine, taking care of health and wellbeing (mental and physical), good sleep and actually setting resting time aside.

Productivity - How we are in work, school and the things we do

Daily morning journalling to plan out the day, time blocking or scheduling and weekly and monthly evaluation/'stock taking'.

1.3: Closing Notes

That's all that you need to know for now! Hopefully, the posts will be coming out every week or every two weeks (based on how busy my schedule gets), but I will try my best to make sure that the posts are on time.

In addition, in the upcoming posts, there will be a PDF version/workbook + some journalling prompts, so watch out for those!

X's and O's, Elle.

(Disclaimer: This challenge has no time limit because each person has their own situations and schedules. Posts are weekly or bi-weekly to ensure that everyone can see the general direction, but it is not a guide on how fast to go through each stage.)

[xolunelle]

Making Vision Boards

AdvisorElle, Episode 3

[To: The person who requested this post (not adding the username for privacy) - Thank you so much and I wish you all the best <3]

I mentioned vision boards and how they work so well for me in my previous post. Before I get into how I make mine and my tips, here are some goals that I reached by giving myself the ability to see what I was working towards.

2024 (February, April and November - I would include most months, but these were the most memorable)

During February, I managed to live a lifestyle EXACTLY like the one on the photos (studying, working hard, reading more, stretching and taking care of my health).

April was the month that my grades were given (for that specific term) - and guess what, I passed well!! I also studied more Japanese, did more ballet, got more books and baked more that month.

Last but not least, one of my favourite months of last year - during this November, I managed to make new friends, dress really well and feel good about myself, I read more. I essentially achieved everything on this board during that month.

Now these are only some examples of the vision boards that I made throughout the year (and it was my first time trying that out!). But something that I quickly realized was that these vision boards were there not to be stared at without any form of work, I needed to put in the work, not just the pretty images.

Moving on to my tips:

Please make a 'monthly intentions' list or breakdown of what you want to do during the month. These can work towards "bigger" yearly goals, or they can just be random goals you want to work towards, as long as they are taking you forward or maintaining where you are now.

Look for images and quotes that actually align with these goals. Through Pinterest or any other media app. If you are like me, and you want everything to stick to one theme, you can search up colours or 'aesthetics' behind each word. For example, some of the images that I got on my November vision board appeared by searching 'brown aesthetic' and going underneath any images that appeared to align with my goals.

In addition, if you don't manage to find the quotes that you want, you can make them yourself via Canva and save them as images. [Example: November (3rd image) - top row, second image.]

The images chosen don't need to explicitly state "THIS IS THE GOAL" unless you want it to, you just need to have the association with each image.

I want to emphasize this: the images you choose MUST not be ones you kind of just slap on the Canva document or PowerPoint, they actually need to have meaning. (This was something I struggled with while doing my first vision board and it ended up just becoming another random background).

I did mention before, but they do help making each month more intentional. They also give you something to look at when you're maybe feeling unmotivated or tired while working through goals (which is why most of the workbooks made by A.M. Journals feature one). And (in my humble opinion) making monthly vision boards is a lot less daunting that yearly vision boards. I may switch out the focus of each month based on what I'm going through or what goals I really want to press into achieving.

Above all, there is a beauty in being able to navigate yourself, no matter what you go through and no matter what comes your way.

X's and O's, Elle.

[xolunelle]

Post on vision boards coming out soon!

Months Of Elle - February '25

(Ins and Outs + Some Mini Plans)

Ins:

Conscious spending habits (not buying recklessly, but rather buying what I actually want)

An organized closet (by colour, if possible!)

JAZZ

Baking things I've never made before

More work on my business

Astronomy studies and Japanese vocabulary

Green tea and very massive salads with dressing out of this world

CLASSICAL MUSIC

Journalling and Bible studies

Reading instead of scrolling

Outs:

Messy room and closet (it gives me a headache)

Not standing up/moving during work

No plan or daily schedule

Overspending

Long to-do lists that simply cannot be achieved

COMPLAINING (it feels nice, but isn't good so it's got to go)

Binge watching and binge scrolling

Not expressing feelings during conversations

Still being subscribed to channels that don't align with me

Mini Plans

I'll be planning the rest of the month with my trusty monthly planner and my vision board for the month.

(SIDENOTE: you NEED to make vision boards monthly, these things work!! I did this last year, and I really saw results from it. If anyone wants a post on how I do my vision boards let me know and I'll 100% do it!)

This month, I really want to maximize my time during work, but also during rest. I plan to enjoy myself and indulge in books to the fullest along with engaging in better health habits (more salads, teas, workouts etc.)

X's and O's, Elle.

[xolunelle]

‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‏‏‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‏‏‎All About At Midnight Journals

Centered around becoming the best version of oneself, At Midnight Journals creates digital workbooks and journals focused on this mission. With versions ranging from paid to free, the brand features something for everyone, no matter where they are on their journey.

In addition, the brand is run by Elle (@flamnhotlemon), some of the products made may be in accordance with the various posts created on that blog.

For All the Night Owls, A.M. Journals.

[xolunelle]

It's nice to realize that everyone also feels like the year only starts in February 😭Nevertheless, I hope February is filled with all sorts of blessings, love and exciting things!

X's and O's, Elle.

[xolunelle]

Taking care of yourself should never be viewed as "selfish". You need to fill up your own well first. But, in the midst of all this, may you never see someone crying out for water and not share some of what you have.

X's and O's, Elle.

[xolunelle]

Months Of Elle - February '25

(Ins and Outs + Some Mini Plans)

Ins:

Conscious spending habits (not buying recklessly, but rather buying what I actually want)

An organized closet (by colour, if possible!)

JAZZ

Baking things I've never made before

More work on my business

Astronomy studies and Japanese vocabulary

Green tea and very massive salads with dressing out of this world

CLASSICAL MUSIC

Journalling and Bible studies

Reading instead of scrolling

Outs:

Messy room and closet (it gives me a headache)

Not standing up/moving during work

No plan or daily schedule

Overspending

Long to-do lists that simply cannot be achieved

COMPLAINING (it feels nice, but isn't good so it's got to go)

Binge watching and binge scrolling

Not expressing feelings during conversations

Still being subscribed to channels that don't align with me

Mini Plans

I'll be planning the rest of the month with my trusty monthly planner and my vision board for the month.

(SIDENOTE: you NEED to make vision boards monthly, these things work!! I did this last year, and I really saw results from it. If anyone wants a post on how I do my vision boards let me know and I'll 100% do it!)

This month, I really want to maximize my time during work, but also during rest. I plan to enjoy myself and indulge in books to the fullest along with engaging in better health habits (more salads, teas, workouts etc.)

X's and O's, Elle.

[xolunelle]

Allow yourself to be a beginner. Allow yourself to be imperfect, because all that striving to look like the person who’s five years deep in their dream is going to keep you stuck. Comparing yourself to someone who has already done the work, someone who has already grown past the beginner stage. You have to allow yourself to be terrible. Give yourself six months at starting and being terrible. Because if there’s one thing I know about 2025, it’s the year of action. It’s the year of saying enough if enough. It’s time to quit dreaming. It’s time to push through the fear of being seen, being heard, being a failure. Push through the discomfort. It’s okay to have 5 views on your first YouTube video. It’s okay to have only 2 sales from family and friends. The point is you’ve started and it’s only up from there. Let go of this idea of being a perfect beginner. You’ll stay wishing and dreaming year in year out with this mindset. Consistency and acceptance of imperfection is how you start and win in 2025.

[xolunelle]

At Midnight Journals — Digital Journal and Workbook Brand.

Established in 2023 ; For All the Night Owls.

[xolunelle]

I think a majority of the reason we feel stressed/anxious is because we lack the ability to slow down and be conscious of where we are.

If life feels like its speeding up, (as in 'one moment it's the beginning of January, next minute it's the end of the year' sort of feeling) then the opposing action is to bring it to a halt in some form.

Maybe all you have is 15 minutes in the morning to sit down and just do nothing, then use that. Maybe you've got nothing to do on the weekend, then use that.

You see, when you consume long books on hot summer afternoons, when you walk slower and feel the wind on your face at the top of the hill, life seems to come to a halt. But when you're rushing about, running from goal to goal with no moment to even enjoy what you've managed to do, time will slip right through your hands.

Being conscious of where you are, at the present moment is what matters. So, walk around, drink tea in the mornings with nothing but a notebook to write down random thoughts, have quiet conversations with friends, read the same line a hundred times over — erase, repeat, but do it slowly.

You can't just keep going without fuelling up.

X's and O's, Elle.

[xolunelle]

One real benefit of reading I rarely hear anybody mention is how much more interesting life becomes when you read a lot. It depends what you’re reading, of course, but most (good) books will teach you something you didn’t already know, and even if you have to give the book back to the library, you get to take that much with you. A lot of people talk about things they wish they’d studied in school–I’ve done it, too–but it’s a nice consolation prize that you can always pick up a book and learn something new. And as that library in your brain collects more volumes, everything around you gains new resonances, new context, and new connections which make your lived experience richer. In quarantine alone I’ve read about religion and politics and history and evolution and computer science and astrophysics without even leaving my house and it’s already a more interesting world. 

[xolunelle]

Pearls In The Essence '25

Episode 1: Growing in the Essence, An Introduction

1.1: The Meaning and The Inspiration

"Pearl in the essence (expression): A metaphorical expression signifying the pursuit of inner beauty, wisdom and intelligence. Refers to the desire to embody and grow the most valuable and refined qualities of oneself, like to the formation of a pearl, which grows into something precious from within a shell."

That's what a pearl in the essence means to me. I found it during a tough time while reading the lyrics of 'Girls Never Die' by TripleS:

‎‎‎‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎‎‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎ "Don't need all those excuses ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎‎‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎‎‎‎Wanna be the pearls in the essence ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎‎‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎‎Let me dream even bigger now ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎‎‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎‎‎These pains and trials make a better me"

That's when I decided I wanted to become the pearl in my own essence, to become better, more refined, more polished, well-spoken. No longer letting anything get to me, no longer holding on to the bitterness of the years past or the easy path of procrastinating. I decided it's time to grow out of the confinements of my shell and move on to a bigger ocean.

And so can you.

1.2: The Objectives

To preface this section, I want to say that although we may all have the same common goal, there will be little variations in ideals and goals here and there, which is perfectly normal! This will ensure that we're all aiming for something that applies to each of us individually and our own personal journeys. There will be times when I document my progress and what I'm doing, but that is not intended to force you to do the same, it's just a simple encouragement.

The general goals are to become a more refined, polished, intelligent, productive and well-spoken versions of ourselves. These ideas will vary from person to person, but the main goals and tips shared in the posts will typically be universal.

Each goal has been put into a category starting with the letter P in order to make it a lot more memorable and fun.

So, what does each main goal entail? (The P's)

Polished and Proper - How we are at home and around others

Practicing good manners and social behavior (speaking properly, saying 'please' and 'thank you') and keeping a gratitude journal (being thankful of all progress, big or small), talking slower and choosing kinder language over harsh words.

Perceptive - What we know about topics

Weekly reading (articles, books, blogs etc.), finding a topic to that piques interest and journalling on it. Taking mini courses (if possible) or watching YouTube videos on new topics.

Presentation - How we look and feel

Maintaining (or creating) a skincare routine, taking care of health and wellbeing (mental and physical), good sleep and actually setting resting time aside.

Productivity - How we are in work, school and the things we do

Daily morning journalling to plan out the day, time blocking or scheduling and weekly and monthly evaluation/'stock taking'.

1.3: Closing Notes

That's all that you need to know for now! Hopefully, the posts will be coming out every week or every two weeks (based on how busy my schedule gets), but I will try my best to make sure that the posts are on time.

In addition, in the upcoming posts, there will be a PDF version/workbook + some journalling prompts, so watch out for those!

X's and O's, Elle.

(Disclaimer: This challenge has no time limit because each person has their own situations and schedules. Posts are weekly or bi-weekly to ensure that everyone can see the general direction, but it is not a guide on how fast to go through each stage.)