Hey lovelies!

Hey lovelies!

So I had the best day this week spent with my gorgeous friend doing all things halloweeny - literally! We spent the day baking, crafting and carving pumpkins all in aid of a surprise birthday halloween bash. We had so much fun I just had to share what we created! So keep reading if you like halloween bakes but want it to be super easy!



Of course we had to do spooky cupcakes as our main bake, and to recreate these you will need!

4oz sugar/caster sugar
4oz self raising flour
4oz unsalted butter/margarine
2 eggs
flavourings of your choice (we just used a teaspoon of vanilla essence)

Heat the oven at 180C and grab a cupcake tray ready for the oven!

1. To begin add the sugar and butter together in a mixing bowl. Make sure you've measured out 4oz of everything but don't worry if you aren't precise  - we weren't! Then cream the butter and the sugar together, which can be done with a wooden spoon or a hand mixer until soft and creamy.

2. Then in a separate bowl beat the 2 medium eggs and add to the sugar and butter mixture.

3.  Next make sure you measure out 4oz of self raising flour with some measuring scales and sift the flour into the mixture by slowly folding it in. Your mixture should then be nice and creamy not at all lumpy and ready to be baked! If your mixture isn't quite right just add a drop of milk, then add in the vanilla essence (or your chosen flavouring).

4. If you are making cupcakes like we did then grab some cupcake cases and add them to your baking tray. Then place equal amounts of cake mixture into each case, making sure not to over fill them as they won't bake evenly. If you are making a full cake then you will need to line you cake cases with either grease proof paper or margarine.

5. Bake you cakes for around 20-25 minutes checking on them every 10 mins just incase as they may need a little longer or a little less depending on your oven.

6. Leave you cakes to cool on a tray for around 5 minutes and check them with either a fork or a toothpick to make sure they are fully cooked in the middle.

Viola! Your bakes are done and ready to decorate with halloweeny treats! If you would like to make your own buttercream/icing then go ahead however as we were so busy we didn't quite have the time so we went for shop bought, black and made the white green for added spookiness! We purchased the black icing and decorations from B&M's as it is affordable yet still yummy! We also made the cupcakes half chocolate and vanilla which we added green food colouring too! This is easy to do just half the mixture (or make two separate ones) add cocoa powder to one and green food colouring to another then marble them together...simple!



Whilst our cupcakes baked in the oven we decided to make some spooky spider cookies which we had been inspired to create from a post we saw on instagram! These also turned out super cute and are perfect for a halloween party when you just fancy a sweet yet small nibble!



for this you will need...

Cookies (we opted for Maryland chocolate chip however home made would be perfect too)
Malteasers
Chocolate icing pens (we got ours from tesco)
Cute serving plate

Literally so easy!

1. Grab your cookies and start adding the icing to the middle in a circular motion and add 4 leg lines to each side of the circle/blob.

2. Quickly add 1 Malteaser to each cookie in the middle before the icing sets!

3. Grab your white icing pen/white chocolate and add cute eyes and a mouth to your spider to give him more life and character to each one individually! You could even add scary fangs if you are feeling adventurous!

Viola! Spooky spiders are done!

I hope you've enjoyed this spooky bakes addition to my blog, all of which are super easy! If you would like more baking recipes and ideas from me then please comment below yes or no as I love baking on a daily basis!

Love Abbey xx



All views and images are my own, copyright Abbey Hartley.

Hello Lovlies,

Having never done a Bath bomb/Lush haul before ever on Abbey Hearts (Which is totally unlike me, bath queen over here) I thought November would be a fitting month. It's the run up to Christmas, its now snowing outside so why not cosy up - put the heating on full blast and run a nice relaxing bath. I have been a lover of all things bath time since forever, it makes it fun & relaxing all at the same time. The bath bombs/fizzers & bubble bars in this haul I have collected since the end of October (so excuse the halloweens items), from a mixture of places. I can't wait to share them with you!


First up are my beloved Lush bits, again from October but who says you can't just get round to using them?! However you may think I'm barking mad but the "Sparkly Pumpkin" bubble bar shown below is still available on the Lush website and leaving soon so be quick! It claims to be "uplifting, protecting and refreshing" all in one. But the true reason I bought into this sparkle bomb is indeed for the crazy amount of glitter - you'll find glitter everywhere after using this, trust me! Sparkly Pumpkin is a bubble bar therefore a little sprinkle under the hot running water is all that is needed to create autumnal heaven in the tub!


Another one of my favourite all time scents from Lush is Snow Fairy which is now available as a jelly bath bomb! Anyone else as excited as me? The snow fairy scent is timeless and gorgeous, with the jelly style bomb making a new twist on the old classic. Now not to be hasty or controversial but I this bath bomb to me is massive! Therefore I would never use all of it on one bath only. Call me old fashioned but I like to be savvy, priced at £4.95 each this will definitely last me at leat 2 - 3 baths, as well as some of the others in this haul. And its pink so whats not to love?


A newbie in my haul is Rocket Science, again from Lush priced at £2.95 each, which in my opinion is decent for the size you receive. The lovely sparkly blue colour is what first attracted me to this particular bomb, and again claiming to be "uplifting and refreshing" on Lush.com. I got this as a present for my mum to try as we both loveeee a good bath. I can't wait to see Rocket Science get fizzy in the bath, and the scents and trails it leaves behind. They're always so much fun!


A brand I haven't tried before but was intrigued to is bomb cosmetics. These 2 caught my eye immediately in the shop (it was a garden centre could you believe) just because of how beautifully christmassy and cute they are! I decided to purchase 2 as the deal was 2 for £6 which is cheaper than 2 bigger bath bombs at Lush. Both smell gorgeous, I picked up Ugly Ducking and Candy Cane Lane.  Priced at £2.99 each. I can't wait to see how they both fizz up and go under the challenge once in the water, because to this day I haven't found any as good as Lush.


Im sorry this was only a tiny haul, but a haul none the less. I also hope you enjoyed it! Maybe it gave you a little inspiration to go shopping (sorry not sorry). But it is the season for giving so why not treat yourself and a pal all at the same time! Please let me know if you would like to see my reaction/thoughts to how they all fizz up in the bath - and always keep an eye on my social media for that good ol reverse boomerang. Comment below if you have any recommendations for me to buy next...Im always on the lookout haha!

Abbey Hearts ♥

This is not a sponsored post. All images and views are my own copyright Abbey Hartley

Hello lovlies,

So as of recently I have been travelling quite a bit, in the uk and abroad. Helping me with this has been my trusty and ever so beautiful Ted Baker wash bag, look at it...just stunning. The perfect size for all my toiletries, although a funny shaped wash bag it can fit a lot in so do not be deceived! Adds a little bit of luxury to daily life.



It is beautiful in every way, the rose gold/coppery toned hardware really adds to the Ted Baker themed branding - looking more into their collections of handbags, pencil cases etc. Ted Baker your branding is on point. The actual design on the wash bag seems to be of diamonds/crystals in a beautiful wash of turquoise and mint shades. Keeping to the gem theme with the added gem accessory on the zip, oh its the little things in life!



The beautiful turquoise and mint shades on this wash bag just scream spring/summer to me, I just cannot get enough of it, and it pictures perfectly. Also if you want a lot of compliments, this is the wash bag for you girl. Also the beautiful pastel pink fabric on the inside of the wash bag, I would estimate this getting a little dirty through wear, tear and use but mine hasn't as of yet.


This beautiful specimen was given to me as a gift a few Christmas ago, but is still available to purchase here. Bare in mind this wash bag also comes with some amazingly scented ted baker beauty/body products. Ted Baker is available at Boots all year round with collections containing beautiful prints and some really lovely products. Adding that touch of luxury to everyday life!

Hope you enjoyed my latest post, don't forget to check out my social media (links in the sidebar) and comment with any thoughts & suggestions. I always love to hear your feedback!

Abbey Hearts ♥

Not a sponsored post, all images are my own. Copyright Abbey Hartley 

Hello lovlies,

So today I thought i'd carry on with my summer post vibes, with my summer hearts of the week! I love posts like this, including a bit of everything - beauty & fashion, I hope you enjoy these little insight posts too.


Fashion: Secondly I've been major shoe loving over these blush pink beauty's, can you believe they're from Primark?! £20 honestly well spent, and one of the best sprint/summer shopping trips - heels always make everything better! and they're PINKKKKK! Im quite small at 5t 4" so heels are a must, they are also super cute with any summer outfit, and beyond comfortable. The inside labels are also rose gold...♥.



So pretty! As they are from Primark Im so sorry but I obviously cannot include a direct link to buy these shoes online, as they are only available in Primark stores (cry). So definitely head down to your nearest and dearest Primarni and scout these bad boys out!


Beauty: Lets talk summer beauty, my essentials for this week! My perfect little travel size Soap & Glory Righteous Body Butter, that honestly goes everywhere with me lately. As I have just recently returned from the beautiful island of Kefalonia and caught a little tan, my skin has been on the very dry side...this has been my saviour! So so so hydrating, and the gorgeous original S&G scent, just divine.


Let's be honest Zoella Beauty never fails, I picked up all  Zoe's scents just before Christmas and I have to say Blissful Mistful has to be my favourite and will always bring back tranquil, lovely memories from Kefalonia. All the others are great too, the mists last quite a while on my body and clothes - my boyfriend loves the smell on me, so that has to be a good sign! Also all perfect for summer, travel size so perfect for handbags and planes! Go give them a spritz in boots, you wont be disappointed!


What more can be said about Kylie Cosmetics but all good things, we all know about the hype but I was weak and caved in to Maliboo and Posie K. I have to say a little drying but that is to be expected I suppose...nothing a little tin of rosy vaseline can't fix!

I hope you enjoyed this post! As a new blogger I hope all the content I am providing is what my readers and followers want, so please let me know if not? Also if you have any post suggestions/posts you would like me to write please let me know in the comments or through my social media! I love feedback. (All social media links can be found in the sidebar)

Abbey Hearts ♥

Hello lovlies,

As summer is fast approaching and we are in early June already, although in the UK you wouldn't think it. I thought I'd dedicate this blog post to my 'summer' beauty/skincare wishlist, everything thats on this list is essential for daily life of course.

1. First up is the beloved Naked Heat Palette!

The most beloved collection in the Urban Decay family has a new addition coming our way. The Naked heat palette will be available in all retailers at the end of July in the UK. As you can see below the palette is stunning and ALL the shades are beautiful, and more importantly all very usable! I think this palette mostly took my eye due to its warm hues, as my favourite in the Naked family is the Naked 3 palette, that I have used everyday for years now and it is still holding strong!

@urbandecay on Instagram

The palette again looks beautiful on every skin tone! @urbandecay on Instagram

This palette claims you can create "the perfect summer look' with it and according to the swatches I have seen online...it will live up to it's claims and be a cult favourite! Just like all the Naked palettes the Naked Heat is priced at £39.40. I cannot wait to get my hands on it this summer!

2. Jo Malone Exfoliating Shower Gel

Image taken from John Lewis

This brand new launch is very exciting and perfect for those hot, sweaty days spent at work or by the beach. When you crave that feeling in the shower to finally get clean and be refreshed, Im sure this will help you hit the spot perfectly. Exactly why it is on my Wishlist. It is available in 3 of the classic Jo Malone scents, my favourite being the Lime Basil & Mandarin. These are priced at a reasonable £30 each for 200m. A perfect addition to those summer nights!


3. Another new ish launch,  fairly new on the market is the Glam Glow Makeup setting spray. I first heard about this From Amelia Liana (one of the best bloggers/youtubers in the industry) while watching her birthday vlog. She sold this product to me instantly and I can't wait to add it to my makeup/skincare collection.

Image taken from glamglow.com

It is perfectly pink and would look brill in my makeup bag *hint hint* and I've heard it smells like sweeties...I mean what more can a girl want? This makeup setting spray claims to add to your glow but never shiny "inspired by Hollywood skin - always sexy, never shiny". Being shiny in the summer can often be a problem for me. The spray is packed full of mineral-rich charged waters, feeling light on the skin as if nothing has been sprayed at all. "A caffeine infusion helps to wake up dull and tired skin with an instant boost of radiance"... sounds pretty good to me! Also helping to keep your skin hydrated whilst wearing makeup = no clumpy dry patches. Pairing this with the infamous Glam Glow masks, tailored to your needs would also boost its use. I can't wait to try the travel size version of this, perfect for handbags!

4. Next up, another cult beauty/haircare favourite - and loved by many elite celebrities the OUAI Haircare Dry Shampoo 

Image taken from Cultbeauty.co.uk

This has been on my wishlist from day one of its release and I still haven't got around to trying it yet, although not a new launch I feel like its definitely one of the best dry shampoos on the market. Priced at £10 for the travel size its perfect to just give it a go! The packaging is everything I want and look for in a bottle, so sleek and sophisticated. OUAI did well here. I cannot talk about how good the product itself is, but I have heard a lot of good reviews from other bloggers and youtubers in the business. Again available to buy and try first in travel size, so absolutely perfect for your handbag for those ESSENTIAL touch ups when the mane is looking a lil bit off.

5. As you may have seen I previously blogged about my Liz Earle collection, and the ultimate love I have for it! After adding this to Abbey Hearts I then ran out of my beloved Cleanse & Polish Hot cloth cleanser, the most perfect and easy cleanser of them all! So I thought I would treat myself to the new Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser in Grapefruit and Patchouli. So I did! I tested this in store and it smelt divine and perfect for summer, with the same botanical smell with a lovely fruity and floral twist. This is still on my "wishlist" as I haven't had chance to test it out yet (I know can you believe it) even though I know it will be amazing as I have tried their limited edition holiday scents before.

Image taken from uk.Lizearle.com

I cannot wait to try this out tonight while relaxing in the bath, also how pretty is this packaging! Utterly stunning, and you can see why I was attracted to it! Bigger than the original Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser at 150ml the price is also upped a little to £22.75 however in the tin you also receive 2 new Pure Cotton Cloths also, which is a brilliant deal. Give this a go and let me know how you get on!

I hope you liked this post, please let me know what's on your beauty summer wishlist I'd love to know and be nosey! You can find me on all social media platforms, as shown in the sidebar and below so feel free to follow me on all, and in the comments below...

Abbey Hearts ♥

Hello Lovlies,

So as Im back on the blogging and mostly new to this I thought I would give you a few pointers on what to expect over here on Abbey Hearts. First up this blog is British born, so expect the classic witty humour us english have. Abbey Hearts is all about; beauty, fashion, lifestyle and travel, however beauty and fashion will be predominant and of course many pretty photos! My background is in fashion/fashion design and I am currently studying International Fashion Promotion at university, and after the summer I will be heading back into my 2nd year. Blogging is my hobby and hopefully one day Abbey Hearts will become successful so perhaps this could be more than a hobby, I would love this is my full time job - as I know many other bloggers would too! The D R E A M

If you have any questions/queries/thoughts & blog post ideas please don't hesitate to contact me through my social media (all linked in the right sidebar) or in the comments below as I always read them!

Please let me know, and I would love to get in touch with other bloggers similar to myself!


Thank you, and hope to see you again here soon for my next post...
Abbey Hearts ♥