Free Printable 2015 Calender

"Set peace of mind as your highest goal, and organize your life around it". - Brian Tracy


I am a organisational freak, I have calenders galore and am constantly adding to them, to ensure that every last little aspect of my life is organize.
Keeping a calender front and center in my house is paramount in helping me be both on time with work and on time with blogging. I have been searching for a 2015 calender but haven't seemed to find anything that I really like so I decided why not make one for myself.

I love this calender, its simply set out and I was able to plan out this months blog topics in advance. I also left large enough side boxes to write down any extra notes or possible blog topic ideas. After using it for a few days I thought it would be mean of me to keep this little beauty all to myself so here is my 2015 calender. Click on the link below the calender to download.
I suggest printing this on A4 heavy printing card and do NOT fit to card! I have sized it to A4 so if you fit to card it will print larger than A4.
I am also in the process of creating a blog planner so will hopefully up load that in the coming month!

2015 Printable Calender 

What do you think of my 2015 Calender? Do you use a blog Calender? Will you try my Calender?

Top Free Stock Photo Websites

Don't worry about people stealing your design work. Worry about the day they stop. - Jeffrey Zeldman
I love blogging, its a passion that I have and I work so hard to create beautiful blog posts but unfortunately for me, no matter how beautifully written a blog post is, it will never be perfect with out a stunning picture to go along with it. 
I am not one of those people that can take a stunning photo, I can barely take a picture that isn't blurry, so you must understand my complete and utter jealousy when I first started blogging and would read all these wonderfully written posts with stunning pictures to go along with them. Then one day I noticed that one of the pictures in a post I had loved showed up slightly altered in another bloggers post.
I queried the image with the blogger as I knew all about copyright images and I knew that this blogger would never put her blog in jeopardy by "borrowing" another bloggers image and I thought that maybe there was a secret club where great bloggers exchanged pictures, well you could imagine my surprise when she wrote to me explaining that no there is no secret bloggers picture exchange they had just both used the same free stock image....
Free stock image?????? suddenly my eyes where open.

And now while I try my best to take beautiful pictures to pair with my posts, on the days that I cannot take a picture or my sunset image is blurry and dark I scour my favourite free stock photo websites to jazz my posts up a little.
//FIRST//  Unsplash

Unsplash would have to be my all time favourite free stock photo site, the images are breath taking and they update 10 new photos every 10 days. The images are licensed under the Creative Common's Zero which means that you can use them as you please, copy, modify and distribute them without asking for permission or providing attribution.
//SECOND// Jay Mantri

Jay Mantri is pretty much a stop for stock images as well, these images are mostly powerful landscapes with a high amount of black and white images and 7 new photos are updated every Thursday. The images are licensed under the Creative Common's Zero which means that you can use them as you please, copy, modify and distribute them without asking for permission or providing attribution.
//THIRD// Pixabay

Pixabay is my third point of call, the site is searchable so if I am looking for a specific topic in my image I find pixabay the best (ie looking for a desk image or cup of coffee), however a large percentage of the images do feature people in them which personally I choose not to use. Most of the images are licensed under the Creative Common's Zero which means that you can use them as you please, copy, modify and distribute them without asking for permission or providing attribution. However occasionally you may come across a image that is not licensed this way but they will always list the licensing next to the image underneath the different sizes you can download it in.
//FOURTH// Gratisography

Gratisography is a site I use when I am looking for a image that is a bit different, most of the images have a slight crazed feel to them but are still high quality and very appealing. All pictures are photographed by Ryan Mcguire and new pictures are added weekly. The images are licensed under the Creative Common's Zero which means that you can use them as you please, copy, modify and distribute them without asking for permission or providing attribution but Ryan does appreciate it when attribution is listed.

//FIFTH// Snapwire Snaps

Snapwire Snaps has a wonderful bunch of images, a large percentage of the images do feature people in them which can add extra personality to your post, I normally chose images that do not feature a face because I think they translate better into my posts, 7 new images are uploaded every 7 days.
Most of the images are licensed under the Creative Common's Zero which means that you can use them as you please, copy, modify and distribute them without asking for permission or providing attribution. However occasionally you may come across a image that is not licensed this way but they will always list the licensing underneath the image.
//SIXTH// Foodies Feed

If I am looking for food images then there really is only one place to go, Foodies Feed is full of amazing images taken by Jakub a food and photography enthusiast. Most images are free however some are listed in a premium package that must be purchased. All images are completely copyright free, you can use them as you please, copy, modify and distribute them without asking for permission or providing attribution but Jakob does appreciate it when you mention Foodies Feed.

//SEVENTH// Life of Pix

The life of Pix has a wonderful arrangement of different images, there are divided up in a gallery and listed in themes Beach, Black & White, City, Construction, Desk, Food, Industrial, Nature, Object, Sea and Textures. The site has a great mix of images with and without people. New images are added weekly.

All images are completely copyright free, you can use them as you please, copy, modify and distribute them without asking for permission or providing attribution.

//EIGHTH// Little Visuals

Little Visuals is a smaller stock image website but the images are still breath taking, they post all sorts of different images from close ups to large landscapes. 7 images are updated every 7 days and you can sign up with email to receive all 7 images delivered to your inbox each week.

The images are licensed under the Creative Common's Zero which means that you can use them as you please, copy, modify and distribute them without asking for permission or providing attribution.

Well that is my go to list if I am ever in desperate need of great stock images.

Do you use any of these websites?

Do you have any suggestions to add to my list?

Monthly Book Club

"She read's books as one would breathe air, to fill up and live" - Annie Dillard

Well the month of January is officially over so its time for us to review our January books. The book's this month where Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham and The Goldfinch by Donna Tart.

 

First up lets start with Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham. This was a fairly quick read for my, I really like books that are set up in short story style, I thought the book was layed out well and I loved the illustrations through out. I have been obsessed with everything Lena when I first started watching HBO's Girls so when Lena's memoir was released I ran out and bought it straight away. I didn't love the book like I had hoped and I almost feel guilty about it.
I have 3 little sisters and through out reading her book I had a hard time understanding the dynamic between her and her little sister it seemed like she thought her little sister was a object she owned and I really had a hard time identifying with their relationship. I know that Lena has received a lot of criticism about sexually assaulting her sister, whilst I found it odd that she decided to look at her little sister like that, I did not think that she, in any way assaulted her sister. I think maybe Lena had a issue with personal boundaries and a few self centered behavioral issues but she is not a molester.
When Lena discussed her sexual encounters and the period in college where she shared her bed platonic-ally with men just to feel a level of comfort I really felt uncomfortable. I believe this was partly because I felt sorry for Lena and her need for any sort of intimacy but mostly because I in a way related to her need for intimacy when I was younger and reading these details in her memoir created a self refection in myself that I did not like thinking about.
I feel in the end that my love for Lena Dunham may have slightly changed after reading her book, I also realize that I may have associated Lena with the character Hannah she plays on Girls more that I should have and my love may have been more with Hannah then Lena.
I thougth this book was a interesting read and gave it 3 out 5 Stars.
Not That Kind Of Girl Questions: What was your thoughts on Lena?  Do you think that you may have thought of Lena more as her character Hannah for Girls? What is your thoughts on Lena's drug use? Did you have any many issues with the book? What did you think of the illustrations? What was your favorite scene from the book? Would you recommend this book to someone? How many stars did you give it?

Next up for January was The Goldfinch, this was the largest book featured in this years book club with a whopping 771 pages which in some area's I felt the plot was getting no where and then in other area's I felt that the plot was jumping all over the place. The description Donna Tartt put into this book was amazing, it has to be one of the most descriptive books that I have every read which may possibly be what caused it too feel like the plot was not going anywhere.
The book started off with a fast pace, I felt a certain investment with Theo from the get go. The desperation in his current circumstances that the book starts with and then regresses back to his childhood to explain how he found himself in this dire situation kept me riveted . I was saddened with the sudden death of Theo's mother, I really loved the way she was described and would have preferred to read about her longer. I loved the the description of the Barbours, Hobie and Boris. One of my favorite aspects to the book was the way in which she wrote Boris, I found myself reading everything he said in a broken English-Russian accent which kept me enthralled through the slower part of the book when Theo moves to Vegas to live with his father. 
I felt that Theo's whole stay in Vegas with his father was long and drawn out, there where many moments that I thought where completely unnecessary such as his dabble in homosexuality with Boris, that really gave nothing extra to the story and I felt it certainly could have been cut out. At this point the book lost it for me, I kept reading but just felt that everything had been to convenient and the plot was too ridiculous to follow. I feel that at some point the book got away from Donna so she started killing people off quickly, jumping a whole eight years with out any real reason, bumping into people on the streets of new york to tie the plot holes up and just rushing through the end of the book.
I really did love the description of this book but had a hard time dealing with the plot, for this reason I gave it 3 out of 5 Stars.
The Goldfinch Questions: What was your thoughts on Theo as a Character?  Do you think that the book explained in detail his thoughts on why he took the painting? What are your thoughts on the sudden deaths throughout the book? Are their any plot points you have issues with? What did you think of Fabritius's Goldfinch painting? What was your favorite scene from the book? Would you recommend this book to someone? How many stars did you give it?

DIY Lip Scrub & Lip Balm

"You have witchcraft in your lips." - William Shakespeare  Henry V My lips would have to be one of my favourite features, not too big or plump still not teeny tiny. I love wearing lipstick, I feel more comfortable in just a red lipstick that in a full face of make up. For this reason I really like to look after my lips, I use a regular lip scrub and a lip balm every night before bed. Making your own DIY lip scrub and lip balms are not only fun and inexpensive, its a way to know exactly what you are placing on your lips. If you have certain issues with your lips you can tailor these basic DIY recipes to include different additives to help combat things like dry, flaky or cracked lips.

- 2 Tbsp Brown Sugar

- 1 Tbsp Olive Oil

- 1/2 Tbsp Raw Honey

- 1/2 Tsp Ground Cinnamon

1.) Add ingredients together in a small cup, mix until everything is combine creating a wet sand like texture, add extra oil and honey if the mixture feels to dry.

2.) Place a small pinch of the mixture in between your thumb and for finger and roll it around until it starts to melt and become slightly sticky.

3.) Apply the mixture to your lips, your may need to pat it on a few times. 

4.) Gently rub your finger in a circular motion over your lips to ex foliate any dry and dead skin.

5.) Rinse your lips with warm water and follow with a lip balm.

6.) Keep the excess in the fridge, should last a month or so.

-  1 Tbsp Vaseline

- Almost empty lipstick

- Empty lip balm container

1.) Place the Vaseline into a small ball.

2.) Remove the last of the remaining lipstick with a spoon.

3.) Stir the lipstick into the Vaseline, depending on the ratio of lipstick to Vaseline the shade may change slightly.

4.) Spoon the Vaseline mixture into the empty lip balm container.

Have you ever created your own lip scrub or lip balm?

What did you think of my DIY lip balm and DIY lip scrub?

Do you have any suggestions?

Gift Idea's for the Makeup Lover

With my sister's birthday coming up I have been trying to think of idea's that she may possibly want, she recently became a make up artist so I believe that she would be pretty stocked with any make up that I buy that she can keep for her own collection.

Gift Idea's for the Makeup Lover by thehuntlife 

Obviously living here in Australia most of these items must be bought online! 1.) EOS Rachel Roy Lip Collection. I am obsessed with keeping my lips as healthy as possible so that lipstick looks as flawless as possible. The perfect way to do this is to ensure you have plenty of lip balms on hand and the EOS collection is simply adorable. 2.) ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS Contour Kit. This is one of the best contour kits out there, you can find countless youtube tutorials explaining how wonderful they are to use. I am sure anyone who is a fan of contouring (every girl out there) would love this kit. 3.) SIGMA Premium Kit. Sigma Brushes are all the rage at the moment, not only are they beautiful brushes but the are also made with certain techniques in mind to ensure that when you use the right brush you get the best result. I have been wanting these brushes for a while now, its just a matter of my husband taking the hint!! 4.) NARS Limited Edition Hardwire Lipstick. Nars lipsticks are always amazing, long lasting, super pigmented, beautifully made and easy to wear lipsticks. The color Hardwire is an amazing red and perfect for any glamorous makeup look. I need this in my lipstick collection yesterday!! 5.) URBAN DECAY Naked On The Run Palette. This is a Limited Edition Naked Palette that is full of all the most successful and loved Urban Decay Naked Make Up items to get a complete look. I think that everyone should have this in their collection. 6.) NARS Greta Audacious Lipstick. If you are a pink lip lover than this is certainly the color for you. The pink is super duper vibrant and goes with almost any makeup look. This is a lipstick that I don't yet have and want more than any other color. 7.) ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS Brow Wiz. This is the brow tool that all the YouTubers are currently going crazy about. I like, everyone else am obsessed with a beautiful strong clean brow at the moment and the Brow Wiz makes it easy to fill your brow in like a professional.  8.) MAC Giddy Lipstick. This lipstick is a beautiful light pink color, perfect for anyone that wants to do a pink lip without going all the way. I love love LOVE this color and wish that I already had it. 9.) MAKEUP GEEK Ultimate Eye Shadow Palette. Everyone loves Makeup Geek eye shadows and for good reason too, they are very similar to MAC but cheaper. The Ultimate Eye shadow palette covers pretty much any eye shadow you could ever need. I continually drop hints to my husband about this palette. These are some of the items that I believe anyone who loves make up would require. I want every single product listed and will hopefully one day be able to have them all! Are you a makeup fan? What do you think of my makeup suggestions? What should I add to this list?

7 days of Detox Drinks

A healthy outside starts from the inside. - Robert Urich
I like many others am health conscious, I want to live my life to the fullest and that includes living my life in the healthiest way possible. Water is everything to our bodies, if I start feeling groggy and unwell its normally because I have not consumed enough water for the day. To help combat this I like to start everyday with a "Detox".
I like to start my morning off with warm lemon water which aids in speeding up the metabolism but also wakes me up and removes the need to head straight to the coffee machine.

Below are a list of detox drinks that I regularly take to work with me, I have also listed the ways in which the ingredients added will benefit you body. 
The Green Tea Mojito

- 1 Handful of Mint Leaves - 1/2 Lime Sliced - 1 Green Tea Bag
Fill a 1 Litre Bottle with filtered water, add the Green Tea Bag and allow to steep for a few minutes. Remove the green tea bag and add the mint leaves and sliced lime. Enjoy!
Health Benefits: Lime will help to ease digestion and constipation as well as aid in weight loss, citric acid is a great fat burner. Mint will help to aid in digestion as well as stimulate weight loss and relive nausea and headaches. Green Tea will aid in weight loss, keep you feeling awake and help to boost your immune system.
The Citrus Circuit

- 1/2 Lime Sliced - 1/2 Lemon Sliced - 1/2 Orange Sliced
Fill a 1 Litre Bottle with filtered water, add the sliced lime, sliced lemon and sliced orange. Leave to refrigerate for a few hours.

Health Benefits:

Lemon helps to aid in digestion and constipation, as well as helping to control high blood pressure, fight throat infections and gum disease,  aid in weight loss, help treat dandruff and help in relaxing respiratory issues. Lemon provides many benefits and can help ease and control a large number of issues in the body.

Lime will help to ease digestion and constipation as well as aid in weight loss, citric acid is a great fat burner. Oranges are a good source of minerals and vitamin C, will aid in constipation, bowel disorders, coughs, colds and flu as well as pimples and acne.
The Cucumber Cooler

- 1/2 Cucumber Sliced - 1/2 Lemon Sliced - 1/2 Lime Sliced - 1 cm Knob of Ginger  - 1 Handful of Mint Leaves
Fill a 1 Litre Bottle with filtered water, add the sliced lime, sliced lemon, sliced cucumber, ginger and mint leaves. Leave to refrigerate for a few hours.
Health Benefits: Lemon helps to aid in digestion and constipation, as well as helping to control high blood pressure, fight throat infections and gum disease,  aid in weight loss, help treat dandruff and help in relaxing respiratory issues. Lemon provides many benefits and can help ease and control a large number of issues in the body. Lime will help to ease digestion and constipation as well as aid in weight loss, citric acid is a great fat burner. Mint will help to aid in digestion as well as stimulate weight loss and relive nausea and headaches. Cucumber is a great source of minerals and vitamins, helps to reduce the risk of kidney stones, lower blood pressure, aid in constipation and helps aid in managing diabetes. Ginger will help to cure diarrhea, aids in promoting the removal of excess gas, aids in digestion, detoxifies and disinfects by promoting sweating.
The Cranberry Cleanser

- 1 Cup of Sugar Free Cranberry Juice - 1 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar - 1/2 Lemon Sliced - 1 cm Knob of Ginger 
Pour the cranberry juice and apple cider vinegar into a 1 Litre bottle, fill the rest of the bottle up with filtered water, add the sliced lemon and ginger. Leave to refrigerate over night.
Health Benefits: Cranberry juice is rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, will help provide relief in UTI's and Kidney Stones, help prevent tooth decay, strengthens bones and teeth and will help with weight loss by emulsifying fat deposits. Apple Cider Vinegar helps to provide relief from arthritis, aid in weight loss, help lower cholesterol levels, speed up metabolism, helps treat diarrhea, helps maintain proper glucose levels and cleanses the entire digestive system. Ginger will help to cure diarrhea, aids in promoting the removal of excess gas, aids in digestion, detoxifies and disinfects by promoting sweating. Lemon helps to aid in digestion and constipation, as well as helping to control high blood pressure, fight throat infections and gum disease,  aid in weight loss, help treat dandruff and help in relaxing respiratory issues. Lemon provides many benefits and can help ease and control a large number of issues in the body.
The Berry Blush

- 3 Strawberries sliced - 1 handful of Raspberries - 1 handful of Blueberries - 1 handful of Mint
Fill a 1 Litre Bottle with filtered water, add the sliced strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and mint. Enjoy!
Health Benefits: Strawberries help to prevent heart disease and reduce cholesterol, reduce the risk of gout and arthritis, help maintain a healthy blood pressure, reduce eye issues and boost the immune system. Mint will help to aid in digestion as well as stimulate weight loss and relive nausea and headaches. Raspberries will help to regulate menstrual cycles, reduce risk of macular degeneration, strengthen the immune system and assist in weight loss. Blueberries will help to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's, aid in strengthening cardiac muscles, reduce the risk of osteoporosis, aids in preventing UTI's and improves digestion.
The Apple Pie

- 2 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar - 1/2 Apple sliced - 1 Cinnamon stick - 1 Tsp Raw Honey - 1 cm Knob of Ginger 
Pour the apple cider vinegar into a 1 Litre bottle, fill the rest of the bottle up with filtered water, add the sliced apple, honey, cinnamon stick and ginger. Leave to refrigerate for a few hours.
Health Benefits: Apple Cider Vinegar helps to provide relief from arthritis, aid in weight loss, help lower cholesterol levels, speed up metabolism, helps treat diarrhea, helps maintain proper glucose levels and cleanses the entire digestive system. Ginger will help to cure diarrhea, aids in promoting the removal of excess gas, aids in digestion, detoxifies and disinfects by promoting sweating. Cinnamon is full of vitamin A, C and E it helps to cure coughs and congested lungs, toothaches, bad breath, and can help calm digestion troubles and diarrhea. Apple will help in treating anemia, reducing the risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, they help control blood sugar levels, lower cholesterol, ease digestion and promote weight loss. Raw Honey helps maintain blood sugar levels, regulates insulin in the body and when used with cinnamon and or lemon juice help in digesting fat stored in the body.
The Kiwi Kiss

- 3 Strawberries sliced - 1/2 Lemon sliced - 1 Kiwi sliced - 1 handful of Ice
Fill a 1 Litre Bottle with filtered water, add the sliced strawberries, sliced lemon, sliced kiwi and ice. Enjoy!
Health Benefits: Lemon helps to aid in digestion and constipation, as well as helping to control high blood pressure, fight throat infections and gum disease,  aid in weight loss, help treat dandruff and help in relaxing respiratory issues. Lemon provides many benefits and can help ease and control a large number of issues in the body. Strawberries help to prevent heart disease and reduce cholesterol, reduce the risk of gout and arthritis, help maintain a healthy blood pressure, reduce eye issues and boost the immune system. Kiwi helps to promote sleep, boost the immune system, reduce the risk of diabetes, helps the body absorb iron and aids in maintaining a healthy digestive system.

Did you try any of my Detox Drinks? Which one was your favourite? Do you have any idea's I should try?