Whenever I try uploading to arduino I keep on getting this message
avrdude: stk500_getsync(): not in sync: resp=0x00
avrdude: stk500_disable(): protocol error, expect=0x14, resp=0x51
any tips?
Tips yes:-
Check the drivers are installed, check the USB lead is ok, check you have selected a board. You don't say what type of board you have does it have an auto reset function? Has it got a boot loader in it?
all what GM said. When I have that it's usually because I've selected the wrong board in the tools menu.
has it ever worked?
Try this, it worked for me:
Unplug the USB, press the Upload tool, just when the "Binary sketch size: xxx bytes (of ..." msg appears, connect the USB plug. The new program is loaded successfuly.
I'm not sure I like that last idea.. you're just asking for problems.
Try all the others.. it's bound to be one of them. If you have to reserve to pulling out the cord, and putting it back in every time you want to upload a sketch, there's a good chance you're doing something wrong. 
I am getting the same error.