Hello Lovlies,

So its nearly time for me to head back to uni and with that the time has come for me to also join the gym close by. I have been thinking about it for years now but constantly getting close and putting it off due to my fears and anxiety. So I put up with the tv workouts at home with a DVD and the odd Zumba class now and then. But as Im getting older, I need up my game - constantly feeling like I could be a better version of myself, the best version of myself! We all know the added pressure social media has with body image, confidence etc and it really starts to take its toll as a 20 year old female - it may not affect you but this is a totally different blog post.



NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO OR HOW TO USE THE EQUIPMENT

I mean this is a given but Im pretty sure you get an induction with every gym you join, so they instruct you on how to use each of the machines and when to use them. I feel like every time I walk in there Im going to need a plan of action in my mind, whether I know how to use the machines or not the first moment I walk in will be everything I expected, daunting and nervy but Im excited for the changes.

KNOWING NOBODY

As I'm joining the gym near uni I expect it will be full of the same age group which is totally fine but again daunting. Im scared about the fact I wont know anyone, I have asked allllll my uni pals if they want to be gym buddies haha but they're already members of one. However then I contradict myself because if I do know someone I really really won't want to make eye contact...at all.

DO I LOOK STUPID?

Probably Abbey yes! But I'll be a beginner and everyone in that gym has been a beginner at this at one time in their life so you're not the only one! Sorry future note to self.

IS THERE ANY POINT?

Will there be any point in this when all I'm craving is a mcdonald's, so when I hit the gym thats what I'll be wanting on the way out. BUT NO ABBEY if you put that effort in you'll want to see the results right? Im probably going to have to change my whole lifestyle around this, and the way I eat, what I eat and when I eat it. But Im okay with that, Im ready for this change and Im super excited for the results Ill hopefully be able to see soon.

AM I DOING THIS RIGHT?

Am I using this machine right and doing this circuit right in my head? Who knows but i'll try my best and hit Pinterest hard for all the inspo. Those judgy people looking at me, making me think am I eating this salmon salad right. Well F you. Im a student so healthy really isn't in my vocabulary, its eat what you can when you can. Often that one penguin and a bag of walkers between hours and hours of busy lectures.

LIFESTYLE CHANGES

As I said Im nervous yet excited about all the lifestyle changes, putting in the work to see the amazing results. I am also hoping the exercise will help with all the added uni stress from deadlines and early mornings. As laughing releases endorphins Im hoping sweating out at the gym will do something similar!

Please let me know if you have any tips to help me combat my fears and anxieties about joining the gym in the near future, if you do comment below and tweet me @abbeyhearts on twitter (all my social media links are in the sidebar). I love all your feedback and I love replying to comments. Also please let me know what you'd like to see in the future on Abbey Hearts, again with a comment below. Thanks for reading.

Abbey Hearts ♥

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

Hello Lovlies,

So running with the back to uni theme here, we're now in September when the school terms are approaching and if some of you are heading back to uni for 2nd year like me or you're new to the whole uni thing then you may find this useful! Some points I make here may seem extremely obvious but if you're new to uni it is often easy to forget that you can now get student discount etc!  All of the points I make here are what Ive discovered from being at Uni a whole year already, and I continue to do them to this day!


 SIGN UP FOR ONLINE FREEBIE SAMPLES & ASK AT MAKEUP COUNTERS

This one may seem a little weird to some of you but I have been doing this one for years and I know many people that do too, even my boyfriend! Girls we all know that feeling of wanting to buy that new Clinique foundation for say £20 + however as a student that is pricey and a lot of money to fork out just for a foundation. So my savvy trick is to ask at you local makeup counters in Debenhams, Boots, John Lewis, House of Fraser etc for a little sample pot! I have sensitive skin so trying products out first for me is definitely essential! This savvy trick also works with perfume, I have sooooo many samples!

If you don't fancy being this abrupt and upfront in store then don't worry you can also sign up for online mailing lists from Latest Free Stuff (Which Martin Lewis has talked about before so don't worry it is legitimate) and Magic Freebies. These websites will email you every day with the latest free deals, from free makeup/skincare and perfume, to free candy bars. Once you've clicked on a link you often just put your name and address and the free sample is on its way!

LOOK OUT FOR SAMPLE SALES IN YOUR CITY

My University is great for this, we have a student union that often email us when the latest sample sale is on its way to our uni. In the past we've had boohoo sample sales and Victoria Secret but they do get busy with queues lasting for hours so I suggest you hit them up early! Sample sales are amazing everything is under half price sometimes every item is only £2 so great for us students! Don't forget to sign up to your university student union, and you can also find events happening in your city just by one easy google. If you're in Manchester like me theres often many sample sales happening at the Northern Quarter every month.

STUDENT DISCOUNT & DISCOUNT CODES

Now this maybe the obvious one but like I said above if you're new to uni then sometimes you can forget about student discount that many shops offer its so easy! You just ask and quickly show your student ID. Many shops do offer this in store online however River Island does not! If you have an NUS Card then you have some brilliant perks at both restaurants and shops however this does come with a fee.  UniDays is the number one, take that from someone who knows! Just sign up with your email and confirm your place and uni and you're in. UniDays has discounts for missguided, public desire, apple, asos and loads loads more so definitely have a look at their website!


STUDENT BANK ACCOUNT PERKS

When you receive you're student loan I highly suggest changing your bank account to a student back account, therefore you can arrange and see your money better with more added student perks! I received a 3 year Railcard with my Santander student account which saves me £ 25 a year on buying one and another 30% off each rail ticket I buy! I chose this one as I was commuting to London a lot in my first year as my boyfriend studied there and I was in MCR, so just pick the bank account that has the best perk for you! These accounts also offer a free overdraft, super helpful.


STUDENT MALL LOCK INS

If you are a fan of the student discounts then this one might be for you! Every year cities offer this in the winter months at local Malls and shopping centres. Ive only ever been to the one but picked up so many bargains. These student lock ins are obviously just for students and shops within the Malls offer a higher student discount than usual on these nights! So get your uni pals together and start planning.

BURSARIES & GRANTS FRORM YOUR UNIVERSITY

At MMU we have a card which the university provides money on, that you can spend on printing, your lunch, snacks, starbucks, art/stationary supplies, and technology like iPads and MacBooks all on campus at the uni shops which is super helpful for me and my life at university. You can apply for things like these through your uni and on your student loan application, depending on how much your family earns depends on if you will receive something similar to this or money etc. But be sure to look into it , or have your parents look into this as it can be confusing.

ALWAYS LOOK IN THE CLEARANCE SECTION

Again another obvious one but in ANY shop be sure to look in the clearance section of the store as Ive found bargains in sainsbury's and boots. Boots is a great one and often have amazing brands in the clearance section and even snacky foods!

5PM ONWARDS = TIME TO REDUCE TODAYS FOODS IN SUPERMARKETS

This clever hack I actually stole from my boyfriend as this is what we use to do when he was at London his local Sainsbury's and Tesco stores always did this past the 5pm mark as that days food obviously isn't going to last! You can find yourselves some amazing bargains if you are doing the weekly or daily shop for you hall. I commute so I don't have to buy my own food as Im still at home but like I said if you're staying in halls of residence then this is a great hack for you! Look at the sandwiches, ready meals and snack sections.

STORE LOYALTY CARDS & VOUCHERS

Another basic and more simple savvy trick but still a handy one, below shows some of the best loyalty cards and vouchers available including; Boots, John Lewis and Ikea. Some of these cards offer free drinks in the cafe, money off own brand names and free gifts. It is definitely worth signing up to as many shops loyalty cards as you can, the perks are so so worth it especially near the gift giving season in Christmas!


FREEBIES IN BIG TOWN CENTRES FROM BIG NAME BRANDS

Maybe you're uni is in a big city centre like mine in Manchester and if it is then don't forget to look out for freebies in the street from big name brands. In the past Ive had full size free drinks plus vouchers from; Coca Cola, Lucozade, Ribena and yoghurt drinks. Obviously this ins't an everyday occasion but when a company launches a new "zero" sugar drink then expect this to happen in your city! Saves buying a drink with that meal deal.

I really hope you've enjoyed this post and my tips for saving money and being savvy at uni. Hopefully these will help you if you're just starting or fancy being more savvy! Please let me know in the comments any other savvy tips and tricks or if you've tried any of these! I love feedback and replying to comments is one of my fav things to do. All my social media links are in the sidebar so don't be shy.

Abbey Hearts ♥

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

Hello lovlies,

Im back again with something I want to include more on my blog, outfit and fashion posts! I loved doing this one and I cant wait to share it with you all...


I am absolutely obsessed with culottes at the moment and these blush pink ones just happen to be my new favourites (I've recently bought them in two other colours, oops). I decided to add more blush tones to this transitional outfit with the jacket, which is just light enough for this type of weather as we head into September. Blush pinks are great for this time of year, they can be worn all year round but I especially like them in the autumn mixing dark and light tones. This is also a brilliant back to uni/college/school outfit as it is stylish, on trend and extremely comfortable! Comfort is key when it comes to me dressing for uni, if you commute like me take note!



This outfit is definitely portraying my style right now, mixing feminine with almost a sports luxe and casual, relaxed vibe with the trainers and tee.

Outfit Details:

Culottes - New Look £19.99
Jacket - Marks & Spencer  £35
Handbag - Marks & Spencer £45
T shirt - Stradivarius £4.99
Trainers - Primark £12

I decided to create an extremely affordable look, again perfect for back to uni as every piece is classic and wearable with different looks styled differently. PS don't forget to use your student ID when purchasing clothes, every little helps! I really love Stradivarius for fast fashion thats really good quality for the cheap price tags, the tee I styled was only £4.99 you cant really go wrong! If you aren't near a shop they have a brill website! I am aware my jacket and bag are the most priciest items in this transitional outfit/haul however if you are like me and tend to invest in better quality pieces, you get a lot more wear for your money out of them! Also this bag is perfect for those days when you're maybe just nipping to the shops and don't need a humongous bag weighing you down, or if you aren't in uni for long and only need a mini iPad and notebook (can fit a lot inside). I had to get my hands on this after I saw it floating around youtube/Instagram as it is just so beautiful, again the quality is amazing however is faux leather. It almost reminded me of Gucci, with certain elements hinting at that.



The trainers also reminded me of Gucci, the style that I am loving at the moment and can be worn with soooooo many outfits - the list is endless! I love the fact these are a little playful with the Minnie Mouse on the side, and again for £12 these were such an amazing bargain! As I said above comfort is key, and when it comes to these trainers they definitely tick that box. You can't go wrong with some classic white sneakers as they say.


My tee is again perfect quality for the £4.99 I paid, I am obsessed with cats (just call me the crazy cat lady) so this top just screamed my name! I had to buy it obviously. Here is a little close up of the detail as sadly my jacket was covering the "if you don't like cats, you don't like me" slogan. This tee is a tiny bit sheer so a plain white bra is definitely needed.




I really hope you like this outfit just as much as me, please comment below with more content you'd like to see on Abbey Hearts as I love hearing you're feedback! Tweet me (all my social media links are in the sidebar). Hopefully this post has given you some outfit inspo heading into the cooler (but fun) months if you're going back to uni like me or fancy something a little different for work etc, I feel like this outfit could work for loads of occasions!

Abbey Hearts ♥

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