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I’m repurposing my Tumblr for something special: THWIB.

To Hell With Inner Beauty (THWIB), is a collection of fashion and beauty photos, quotes and interviews.

Let your vanity get the best of you when visiting THWIB, because inner beauty may be important…just not here.

I’m slowly discovering what I’m passionate about.

I’m a little confused because I didn’t know I had to discover my passion; I thought, that passion was just there, something you know you love without any thought.

But, that hasn’t entirely been the case for me.

I’ve always had a passion for reading. My thirst for knowledge, real or obscure, is greatly quenched through reading—novels, magazines, reports—anything. Yet my other passions have taken time to develop.

For example, while I am madly obsessed with public relations, I wasn’t always that way. I’ve wanted to do everything. I thought I would be a lawyer, a flight attendant, a pilot, a broadcast journalist, but no, public relations is where my heart lies, and I don’t feel like I’ve settled.

My latest realization—which started to come to me last summer but was greatly illuminated by my study abroad experience this past semester—is my passion to give back to youth. In China, I spent my Saturdays teaching English to underprivileged kids. My peers and I paid for a taxi ourselves, every time we went. We spent hours during the week creating PowerPoints and making up games. We were often the only volunteers there. And we were never paid. But those Saturdays during the few months we volunteered were some of the most fulfilling moments I have had.

Coming back to the states, I longed for ways to give back to youth, wherever I was. Although, I can’t teach English to kids who are (in theory) fluent, there are other qualities and skills that I have that I can share with youth in need.

So that’s what I’m working on now. Finding opportunities to give back—whether I’m in Detroit (Divas 4 Life), Atlanta (The Ryan Cameron Foundation) or Syracuse (still trying to figure it out); or whether I’m volunteering for someone’s organization or developing my own—giving back is important to me. It has officially been ingrained in my mind and engraved in my heart, because no matter where I am in life, there’s someone who has less than me or needs a little help to get to where I am, and I want to help build people up and encourage and inspire them to reach their potential.

I really want to learn to live in the moment. That is my weakness. I can never take things for what they are and how they are. I’m always thinking about what I don’t like, what could be better, something else that is better, that I totally miss whatever it is I’m doing, or wherever it is that I am located.

I don’t like to regret things, and these are the things I often look back on and get angry or sad or hurt because I can’t remember, because I couldn’t see then what was so great about that place, thing or person.

I feel like that was China to me. I miss the place now, but at the time I found every flaw with the country, the people that live there, the friends I did or didn’t make, that now when I look back I realize I missed so much of what my trip was supposed to be. Granted, China is like no place anyone has ever been before, but it’s filled with some of the greatest people and I couldn’t realize that. I hate that. I hate the feeling that I have now—a month or two with a gaping hole in place of memories because I couldn’t, wouldn’t or didn’t let go, embrace and enjoy it/them for who/what it/they were.

I don’t ever want to do that again.

When you’re in college few things matter more to you than academics, partying and money. Let’s face it, the latter is something you’re probably not accustomed to having a lot of. Maybe it’s because your books cost too much, or because partying and all the vices that come with partying uses it all up.

During the summer, students use this time to “re-up” their money through a paid internship or a summer job. Due to all of summer’s adventures, sometimes, the money they are attempting to save doesn’t always stay in the bank. 

Here are some tips to help you save the bulk of your money for the coming semester.

1. Ride public transportation

Okay, unless you’re from NYC, this might be something new to you. Last year, I interned in LA and, me being an Atlanta-native who has had a car since high school, I was not the least bit excited about riding the bus. But, I got used to it. It will save you a lot of money on gas and maintenance, you’ll meet/see some interesting people and, if you ride the subway, you’ll avoid traffic!

2. Pack your lunch

There’s nothing wrong with going back to the days of PB&Js and fruit snacks. Packing your lunch allows you to save about $10 daily on lunch. Go grocery shopping, buy all your old favorites—chips, fruit snacks, fruit, etc.—and have a blast making your lunch at night. Then enjoy the fruits of your labor (an extra $50 per week!), but instead of spending it, save it! It will add up, and maybe you’ll have enough for a cheap get away before the semester starts.

3. Take advantage of deals

LivingSocial and Groupon are two great sites that you will find incredibly useful during the summer (or any time of year). Get discounted deals on local attractions, shops and events in your city by signing up and purchasing the deals you’re interested in.

4. Happy Hour is your friend

Better yet, happy hour is your best friend; and, after a long, hard day at work, this friend is here to reward you. Discounted cocktails, beers and appetizers are sure to relieve the day’s stresses. To make sure you’re not going overboard with the stress relieving, set a budget for happy hour and carry cash. 

5. Hit the track, not the gym

Gym memberships can be expensive, and frankly, you don’t need all that equipment to stay in shape. Run around your neighborhood or at a local high school track. Need more intensity? Hit the stadium; the combination of the stairs and cardio tones you and burns fat. Knees a little bad? Try suicides on the football field. For other body parts, try exercises that will never forsake you: push-ups and planks!

6. Forget the tip

Instead of meeting friends for dinner or afternoon brunch at a restaurant, schedule weekly luncheons/dinners at each others houses. Each meeting could have a theme (Hawaiian, beach party, bonfire, etc.) and each guest could bring a dish or drink. Everyone saves money, gets to stay as long as they want and, best of all, no need to tip!

…and I’m going out with a BANG!

Wednesday

Helen’s for dinner, drinks, cards, hookah and a good time with a big group of friends. Propaganda to dance it all off, afterwards.

Thursday

The usual: PyroPong, to watch my friends WIN and me reap the rewards =).

Friday

Celebrating my love Alyssa’s 21st with a rooftop party at Bridge! Followed by MY after party at a soon to be named club—VIP everything!

Saturday is still up in the air. Sleep? Or bring in my plane ride just right!?

Beijing, despite our love-hate relationship, you will love me this week and I will love you back. What say you, city of many people?!

Answer coming soon.

Things to do/people to see/food to eat when I return:

• All those beauty things girls do.
• Ketchum! RCF!
• Best friend.
• Old friend.
• New friend.
• Family.
• Chick-Fil-A.
• Zaxby’s.
• Five Guys.
• Waffle House.
• Jimmy John’s.
• Planet Smoothie.
• Mom’s cooking.
• Pack…AGAIN.
• ROAD TRIP with two of my favorites—then the new journey begins!

I have a week til’ I’m back, and two weeks til’ I’m gone again. I think miles to go before I sleep is an understatement; but then again, sleep is for the dead.