THE 7-DAY SMARTPHONE DETOX

Do you check your phone first thing in the morning? Do you constantly take photos of food? Is your only form of communication with your friends and the outside world through social media? You may have a problem. Luckily, it won't require rehab. Just some easy, week-long detox. This is healthy for the soul, and brilliant for anyone who's phone is attached to their hip. Or hand. Once you get through the week, you'll be surprised how easy it was to detach yourself. Perhaps you'll even make it a permanent move. 

MY EASY-DIY PICKS OF FEB

I've scoured the interwebs for the best (and most useful) DIYs for the month. I'm not a DIYer unless it's very straight forward, requires minimal material, is fast and cheap, or is something that will make my life easier.  In saying that, some of these may not necessarily be as useful as they are pretty. Others may be awesome presents (even more awesome that you've made it yourself!). So I hope you find some inspiration from these. If you've attempted some of these and are pleased/displeased, leave a comment! I'd love to hear from you! Or if you've found other cool DIYs, link them below!

I hope this is a tradition I can continue monthly, but my memory isn't superb. I'll try not to fail you.

20+ EASY WAYS TO ADD PROTEIN TO EVERY MEAL

You don't have to be a fitness junkie to regularly incorporate protein into your meals. Nor do you have to change you vegetarian or vegan diet. Here is a sample of products that you can use daily in your meals that can substitute chicken or chickpeas. 

BACK TO SCHOOL DIYs

Its here! For some the start-up of school again is gonna mean they get to have purpose once more, for others its gonna mean they have to add more to their already full plate. But whether you're excited for it or not, you've gotta do some prep (if you haven't already). So here are some quick, cheap alternatives to everyday necessities (and luxuries) that will get you ready for this semester... 

3-INGREDIENTS ICE CREAM RECIPE!!

Feel less guilty because you've made it yourself! This guy has some brilliant videos on simple, easy-to-follow recipes. This is probably one of my favourite.

MINIMALIST DECOR

...because sometimes we don't really have much of a choice in terms of how we decorate our home.

"Oh, are you guys doing the minimal thing?" 
"...yep. That's, yes. That's what we're going for. Minimal."

Obviously some actually CHOOSE to go minimal, because its easy. Not always cheap, but definitely easy. To make it cheap, you have to think smart. Think few colours. Think easy-to-maintain. Think long-lasting. It'll make your space look bigger and cleaner. A cluttered home makes for a cluttered mind.

Here are some minimal layouts that might inspire you to keep it simple, stupid...

7 REASONS YOU SHOULD THRIFT FOR HOME DECOR

Op shops or thrift stores are better than vintage shops. Although vintage shops are more concentrated with authentic and unique old items, they're waaaaaay more expensive. Like, way. If you're after something more specific and money isn't an issue for you - stick with vintage. Otherwise, op shops/thrift stores are cheaper and probably more fun (definitely a treasure hunt feel to it). You will need to clean your items before putting them to use, and some might need a polish. Perhaps even a paint job. But it'll still be at least half the price of vintage pieces.

DECOR: MOTIVATION TO THRIFT

Some amazing material to help you feel inspired. 

ROOM HACKS: PREPPING FOR UNI

HerCampus.com is an awesome awesome site for ladies living the student life. It covers a wide variety of topics and is a great place for inspiration. With the new semester approaching fast, getting your crib in order is a smart way to start preparing yourself for hell again. Just kidding. HerCampus has compiled a few awesome hacks and DIYs for dorm rooms (or any rooms, really). Some of these might be gender-specific, but the majority can be used by anyone:

PRINT YOUR OWN CALENDAR

Finding the perfect calendar for when you're busy isn't easy. And it's not necessarily cheap, either. I don't know about you, but as much as I love puppies and other furry baby animals, I like to keep my calendars simple, and with a lot of space for notes and reminders. I can barely rely on my memory to eat, let alone important dates and events. 

Arm Knitting?!

Knitting isn't for everyone. It requires patience. And patience. However its great for stress-relief, promotes healthy brain activity, and has countless other benefits. One knitting trend that's been gaining many followers recently is arm knitting. Don't throw out your knitting needles, though. This is just a somewhat lazier alternative (though inconvenient, if you have to drop what you're doing) that provides a thicker, chunkier end result. This video from Michaels Stores on YouTube takes you through the process of creating an infinity scarf. Something that definitely comes in handy, even in Australia.

International Student Discount Card

This might actually be cooler than sliced bread. Sta Travel offers a number of discount cards for students, youths and teachers. These cards offer a range of big discounts on a huge range of products nationally and internationally. 

How to: Dry Nails Fast

Doing your own manicure is almost like meditating. It's calming, relaxing, and great for unwinding from stressful events. It's also pretty fun once you get the hang of it and master the art of not looking like a 2-year-old attacked you with paint. Sometimes you don't have the luxury of taking your time, and you're in a rush. Waiting for nails to dry can be a pain, and seeing nail polish smeared across your fingers, clothes and walls isn't fun. This YouTube beauty guru has got a neat trick for drying nails fast. 1-minute fast.

Lemons: The Golden Fruit

Lemons these days have become quite pricey here in Queensland. But when you consider the countless benefits they hold, their juicy goodness will seem like the cheapest elixir of life. Here are 16 of the many things lemon water is capable of doing...

Rent Clothes!

Pick up your jaw. This is no time for dramatics. If you're limited on cash or don't want to commit to a permanent purchase, it might be of some benefit to visit online stores that rent out formal/dressy clothing. These sites would probably be for more glamorous occasions than simply a girl's night out, but they do have a large range of variety and prices, so it's up to you on how and when you take advantage of this system.

DIY Distress

Buying distressed jeans tends to be more expensive than buying immaculate jeans. Why? Because someone went through the effort of distressing them for you. And yet the actual process of distressing isn't even remotely hard. This short, straight-to-the-point video covers the basics of DIY distress.

Sweater Weather Prep

We're heading towards the end of summer, but some areas around Australia have been needing to pull out their warmer clothes earlier than might be expected. So with that in mind, it's probably a good idea to keep these sweater tips and tricks at the back of your mind. They'll keep your sweaters lasting, and staying newer for longer. 

P.S. When it comes to DIYs, or tips and tricks, there's nothing more I love than a simple, quick, quality video that's straight to the point and filmed exceptionally. 

Supercook.com

If you haven't heard of Supercook.com, it's basically your fairy godmother. In a way. Sort of. Its a site devoted to helping you help you. When you're stuck on what to cook, have limited ingredients, or want to play chef roulette, hope onto Supercook. You list the ingredients you have or want to use, and Supercook provides you with a list of recipes. If you're feeling picky, you can even specify recipe type. 

There's a reason TIME magazine rated it in their 50 Best Websites of 2014. Which, by the way, you should totally check out.