Hello lovlies,

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and Happy New Year, its 2020 yay! So as sheet masks are becoming more and more popular (Im sure you've all heard of them unless you've been hiding under a rock) I thought I'd give you lovelies my honest opinion from a few on currently on the market, and easily accessible. Sheet masks are very hot topic right now, claiming "super hydrating" and "5 minute fabric facials". Loved by fellow bloggers and celebrities alike, I have tried a few in the past but I'm intrigued to add them into my skincare routine.


The three sheet masks I picked up include, Superdrug's own brand Purifying Facial Sheet Mask, Garner SkinActive Moisture Bomb Super Hydrating Glow-Revealing Sheet Mask and the 7th Heaven Dead Sea Sheet Masque. All the masks seem like they are going to work a treat, all the directions are different so each sheet can be left on at different times - I could get use to this at home pampering lark. Each mask claim to provide your skin with benefits such as hydrating and purifying.

Garnier Sheet Mask

What does it claim to do?

Claims to "Intensely rehydrate skin", "Restore rosy glow", "Improve skins appearance" as this sheet mask is made for Dull skin making "skin look smoother and more luminous" making your "complexion look more even and fresh". The sheet mask should be left on for approx 15 minutes to let the mask work its magic.

What does it actually do?

As the priciest sheet mask at £1.99 out of the three I bought (however should be £2.99) I think this is the best out of the three I have tried. Although pricier than the rest I felt as though my skin honestly felt nourished and fully moisturised! This is a great mask for the winter months purely as my combination skin has become very dry, due to some seriously cold weather we've been having lately. I used the mask before bedtime and woke up with baby soft skin!


Superdrug Sheet Mask

What does it claims to do?

Claims to be the new "5 minute fabric facial" with a "revitalising formula" that with "reawaken" your skin with a 5 to 10 minute application. This sheet mask claims to leave your skin "clean, bright and fresh" being the "ultimate home express pampering treatment".

What does it actually do?

I think this mask is reasonably priced at a low price point of £1.29 however for an own drugstore brand I think that could be lowered. The cooling and refreshing tea tree and spearmint oil did seem to make my skin feel energised and fresh. Ive always loved cooling sensations but I know others aren't keen, so if you aren't then I would say this mask isn't for you! Even though the mask felt great on my skin at the time, I wouldn't say it really did much for me afterwards which is a shame.


7th Heaven Sheet Masque

What does it claims to do?

With this mask it is your "5 minute beauty fix" with "calming and cleansing" influences. This mask  claims it will leave your skin feeling and looking "smooth and rehydrated".

What does it actually do?

After using this mask only once before, I am still impressed with it! Being the cheapest mask of the three at 89p from my local Bodycare store it is definitely worth picking this up, and I can't wait to try others from the same brand! I also like how this mask fitted on my face, now this may sound strange but some masks are so big like they're made for giants - this one however is a winner for my tiny pea head! Gorgeously scented and the only printed sheet mask I tried.



So I hope you enjoyed this quick little review and how I found the masks on my combination skin (however dry in the winter months), I would recommend all 3 if you fancied a pamper night with your girlies (or guys), but I can't wait to try out more in the future in fact I have a dedicated mask/sheet mask drawer in my room so If you wanted a sneak peak in there pop it in the comments below along with your favourites!

I hope you have a lovely weekend!


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

Hey lovelies,

So last week I decided to head to Makeup Revolution online and see what catches my eye and whats new on the website! I love the Makeup revolution website as it is so easy to use and flick through to find different items and collections, I have shopped with them before and parcels always arrive early to me! Id much rather buy from them directly rather than Superdrug.co.uk as their website is rubbish.


As you can see I purchased 4 items, including 1 sale item (btw they had an amazing sale, definitely check it out for some bargains). All the items I bought were complete bargains anyway as Makeup revolution do the best quality beauty & makeup products for such amazing prices.

Rainbow Highlighter 

I did originally hit up the website for the most beautiful rainbow highlighter you have ever seen!  I had been looking at some on eBay (but thats for a different post). It is just utterly stunning, who doesn't want their cheekbones highlighted from a rainbow...I sure do! On first swatch it is a beautiful as it looks, and also very pigmented - like all Makeup Revolution items I am never disappointed. The colours include; pink, yellow, green, blue and purple. I also will mix this up and use certain shades as eyeshadows too, as I love multifunctional products. The rainbow highlighter was £4, and £4 well spent!


Re-Loaded Palette Visionary 

I really wanted to pick up the new soph does nails palette however already owning the first one, this paler caught my eye a lot more! Theses shades are so up my street it is unbelievable, I love pinky tones on my eyes as I feel as though it really complements my skin tone and face. The sparkly pink shade immediately got me and I had to swatch it asap! ... It is gorgeous! Again this palette was £4, and for 15 eyeshadows I think that is pretty good. Compared to Mac or urban decay which around £32. Also for summer, I love the idea of switching up to less neutral shades and for £4 you can't go wrong really!



Pro Supreme Lipstick in the shade Rebellious

This lipstick was £2.50 from £5 in the sale, however since looking on their website today the lipstick is back up to £5 which is still cheap! The pro lipsticks are pretty new so I quickly snapped it up for the £2.50 price tag. The shade definitely looks darker online than in real life however it is still lovely! It is like a your lips but better and a bit lighter, also in a matte finish. I love wearing this already and actually have it on now! I can't wait to test it with a lipgloss over the top as I think that would look lovely.


Renaissance flick Eyeliner 

Last but definitely not least is the Renaissance flick eye liner in black. My current eyeliner which I love from Eyeko is sadly running out so I decided to try this one out for £5. To be honest it was the rose gold colour packaging that mostly caught my eye. I used the liner this morning and it is honestly so black and thin, perfect for the ultimate cat flick which I love doing everyday. With the shape of the felt tip, you can make the line thin or thick that is totally up to you! But I must say due to the shape of the packaging it makes the lid really hard to get off, unless that is just me and my weak hands haha.



I really hope you have enjoyed this quick little Makeup Revolution haul, I have really enjoyed doing it as of course I love spending the dollar on makeup - shopping is my cardio and all that! If you want to see more haul blog posts please let me know where from and what you've been hauling recently, as I love being nosey seeing what people buy!

Hey Lovelies,

Sorry I've been absent for a while but Im back with a lovely little easter post, so grab all the chocolate you can and keep reading!

Planning my easter makeup led me to crave something more natural (ish) with a pretty spring time eye look. The makeup as mentioned below will definitely give you the pretty spring look we've all been looking for, even if this english weather isn't complying.


Lets all be honest I did this post due to my love of the I heart Revolution Surprise Egg rose gold, I am utterly in love with all aspects and most of all the travel friendly size! Also for the £5 price tag I had to try it, and I was not expecting to love it as much as I do now! Makeup revolution you did so well! Perfect for easter with the compact easter egg size, the rose gold packaging and the pinky warm tones - utter heaven in an egg with 2 beautiful highlighter shades. Be aware that I had to order this beauty online due to the amount of out of stock signs they have in stores, but I cannot wait to buy more eggs from the collection!


Of course I then had to include another recent essential of mine, the Bad Gal Bang Mascara by Benefit. This mascara is honestly out of this world (fitting as it contains aero particles derived from space technology - one of the lightest materials!). Adding the perfect amount of volume and length to my lashes like no mascara has ever done before, I find the formula dries very quickly on my lashes and feels weightless. It is also a little clumpy however I enjoy this as it makes my lashes look less false and naturally bigger. Overall the best mascara you will ever try.

 Finally another essential of mine is this Mac Lip Liner in the shade Boldly Bare, it works perfectly with my favourite Mac Velvet Teddy Lipstick and makes the shade last longer without adjusting the colour of velvet teddy. This is my perfect lip kit and isn't too much on the lips, so natural but 90's. Your lips but better! Also as its easter and a lot of eating and drinking is probably going to take place, no need to worry about your lips - the lip liner makes any lipstick last ages!


I hope you enjoyed this quick little post about my easter makeup essentials, and please let me know in the comments or social media (all my links are in the sidebar and below) if you have tried any of the products I've mentioned or any you recommend for me to try! Any excuse for makeup shopping!

Abbey Hearts ♥

This is not a sponsored post all images and views 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 me and my bestie went for a little shopping spree last week, so obviously we had to nip into Primark only to be surprised by the amazing beauty section! We both picked up one of these new 9 shade custom eye shadow palettes and I haven't stopped using it since! I recently saw these on @Primarks insta stories, so they are definitely a new launch.

So for reference the shades were individually 60p and the palette was £3



I chose to make a 9 shade palette as I just loved way too many shades for a quad (£2) and for the extra money why the hell not. This palette is just stunning and I can create so so many different looks using it! The shades are beautiful (I already want to make another one!) and the colour pay off is insane for the 60p price tag!


Of course I had to go for an autumnal vibe with this palette as its October and custom made to suit all my needs. Looks for daytime, for uni and for date night. I think this palette smashed all three. I went for a mixture of mattes, shimmers and glitters. Including a gorgeous khaki shade that I just had to try and now cannot get enough of!


Since creating this palette last week I have managed to create a different eye look every single day, often getting compliments from fellow friends and family then them being shocked that it could be from Primark! They have really upped their game recently as I also love a liquid lipstick from their insta girl range! As this was custom again I went for a warm tone palette as this definitely suits my skin tone and blue eye colour more than a cooler tone of colours.

Primark had a lot of colours to choose from...and I mean a lot! We must have been stood there at least half an hour picking our 9 shades each, but it was so bloody fun and therapeutic!


Each shade has a name on the bottom of the pan, just like MAC however this isn't available to see until purchased and taken out of the packaging. So these are the shades I bought...


As you can see the shades are just stunning and perfect for autumn with a berry lip and a cosy wooly jumper! The shade Naked is beautiful however my camera didn't pick it up very well, but it is a perfect inner corner and brow bone highlight! All Very creamy however some matte shades seem to be a little powdery with only minimal to almost no fall out, but I really don't mind that for the price I payed for these shadows. Overall I am finding the quality and colour pay off insane for everyday use, with a good mixture of colours! I also think these would make great gifts for girls in the family and besties alike. My top 3 are Basil, Sun Kissed and Cranberry - if you can't afford the beloved Naked Heat palette then I would say some of these colours are a definite 'dupe'. Truffle mixed with Espresso also doubles up for a perfect shade for my eyebrows, this palette is the ultimate win win!

Please tweet me and comment below if you've also bought into the custom eye shadow palettes at Primark! As I definitely recommend them! All my social media links are in the sidebar and below, also please don't forget to comment as I loved and appreciate all feedback and just love to have a general chat!

Abbey Hearts ♥

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

PS I am so so sorry it has taken me a while to upload content on my blog since my last post but life/uni just gets in the way sometimes! But I'm back on track!

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,

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

Hello Lovlies,

So as we all hate to admit the new university term is quickly approaching and it will soon be October and I'll be a second year student, so crazy! Although I am nervous I am more excited, 1 year down two to go and I am enjoying every minute with my fashion promotion family. So because of this I have been feeling spendy on stationary bits recently, lately I can't leave a shopping trip without buying stationary. The addiction is real.

But Im guessing you didn't click on this post for nothing, welcome stationary addicts! A post to show you all the pretty stationary and give you a mild excuse to buy more...

Can we just take a moment to appreciate these beauties! I made a beeline for this collection when I saw it in the biggest and best Sainsbury's in Manchester, yes Sainsbury's! I am loving their stationary right now, including a marble and glitter collection (see further in my haul). The quality is amazing for just a supermarket and the bargain price tag! The A5 notebook was £4 and the pack of A4 wallet folders was £2.50! I love this design, it is so me and I will definitely be heading back to Sainsbury's for more as soon as! I have my eye on a beautiful pencil case and more notebooks, of the same pattern. (prepare to see this all over my insta & snapchat)


I got these cuties from the Works for 99p, they are going to be absolutely brilliant as cute page buddies for marking pages. I cant wait to start using them! With sticky backs, and great to write on.


Sadly these are the only ones I could find, but definitely check out your nearest the works shop! Similar here, so so cute!

I also picked up some of the hyped about stationary from Poundworld (not to get confused with the other pound shops) I could only pick up these 2 files as that is all my nearest shop had however I will defiantly keep an eye out for more of this 'premium collection' as the quality for £1 each is amazing!


The 'premium collection' contains folders, notebooks and diaries etc and I have to say I am a little obsessed with the marble one. Its just so pretty! Again for the price you can't really go wrong, these folders will be perfect for the different classes I have at uni and also perfect when handing in essays and projects, just to seem that little bit e x t r a.



Keeping with the ever so pretty marble theme, I picked this notebook up at Primark for £2.50. It was practically calling my name! The marble screamed to me and also the rose gold/copper hardware, on the spine and embossed "notes" on the front of the pad. The paper quality actually isn't bad for the price either, If I can remember they had more marble stationary items in the collection...but I had to draw the line somewhere. I also prefer to stick with A5 notebooks at uni, they can easily fit in your bag and not be heavy! Find it online here.

However I then saw these in Sainsbury's...


Pretty marble and rose gold bulldog (binder clips) for £2!!! Bargain! As I used these a lot in my first year of uni, I thought it would be nice to get some prettier ones instead of just the bogstandard black and silver ones. Think how good these would look binding together a look book or essay...gorgeous! Can you also tell I was sticking with a theme.

Also from Sainsbury's I was clearly feeling a little more jazzy than usual the day I bought this but I still love it (I am really loving Sainsbury's right now).


I must say sainsbury's is my go to for stationary right now, everything is such great quality and really cheap prices. Again I got this in the A5 size (however available in A4 too) because you don't want to weigh your bag down when you can be in all day, sometimes 9am till 5pm and also carrying a MacBook - can get tricky! With all good quality notebooks they have a little folder flap on the inside at the back which I find super helpful as I always have little sheets lying around from lectures and things. And at £5 it really isn't a bad price.

I then happened to accidentally stumble upon Tk Maxx and just had to get myself some more stationary, obviously.





So I picked up this notebook by the brand Fringe, which sadly I cant find anywhere online but defiantly head to Tk Maxx asap! They also had loads of different designs by this brand and the quality is insane, definitely worth more than £5.99. Also how cute is this pattern! It reminded me of those black and white american style notebooks, especially with the little slot for your name on the front. Above shows the lovely attention to detail inside this A5 notebook with a space for the date which is beyond helpful! I am constantly flicking back through my notes to find the date and this will make it so much clearer for me.

I really hope you have enjoyed this little back to uni stationary haul, please comment below or on twitter more pretty stationary I can buy I'd love you're suggestions and feedback! I hope this has been helpful for any of you going back to uni or just starting this September, keep an eye out on Abbey Hearts as I continue the back to uni series with outfit ideas, clothing hauls and uni hacks.

Abbey Hearts ♥

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

Hello Lovlies,

So a couple weeks back my wonderful boyfriend finally achieved one of the greatest life goals and graduated from one of the top universities, UAL! He achieved an honers in his chosen course Photojournalism which is highly competitive field. I couldn't be a prouder girlfriend and we had a such wonderful weekend away in London to celebrate!


I love London as a city and we have so many happy and fond memories together as a couple there. UAL is situated in Elephant & Castle so the graduation ceremony took place on the wonderful Southbank, in the Southbank Centre.

Before the graduation ceremony began we thought we would take massive advantage of being all suited and booted, dressed up in this lovely city and head to the Sky Garden for a few hours. We have visited the Sky Garden twice before together but this time was extra special as we took Joe's family along and all had a brilliant time there taking many many selfies with the selfie stick.

You can catch up on this over on my Instagram

The views from the top are insane!

The Sky Garden is such a lovely place to visit if you ever have the time, you can book tickets in advance on their website for FREE, so why not go?! Here you can see the whole of London in all its glory, from Buckingham Palace to Wembley Stadium and Tower Bridge. The list of landmarks goes on and on, and its fun to play a little spot it first game with your family and friends. It is also a beautiful space, not only for the views but the whole space is made from glass so it is basically like a humongous conservatory! You are surrounded by plants and succulents everywhere you look, it is utterly tranquil. Upstairs there are more views of the Gurkin and the Cheesegrater etc, followed with another bar and a luxurious restaurant. I recommend a hot chocolate downstairs on the sofas with a blanket on those extra chilly days (Yes blankets are provided, this place really is amazing).

We took advantage of our trip here and captured some lovely photos together so we can reminisce in the memories.

My dress was from Boohoo on ASOS  and I absolutely love it!

After this we headed to the Monument located just beside Monument tube station, so we had a quick gander at the spectacle (which is also stunning to look up at) then headed to the tube for a 5 minute journey over to Waterloo. Waterloo is an amazing Railway station, its a shame we didn't have time to wander. So we headed straight to the Southbank and over to the Southbank Centre. The vibe here is always amazing, there is a food stall there some days and we caught it on Friday and allllll the different smell sensations! Yum!

There was UAL graduations happening all day at it was a hugely busy event, but everyone was smiling and happy and I couldn't be more excited for Joe. It was time for us to take our seats at 2:30 ready for the 3pm kick off and the vibe in the great hall was immense. I was sat with Joe's family in a middle row with a perfect view of the stage and the upcoming graduates, we were searching and searching for him unsuccessfully. But that is all part of the fun.

As UAL is a prestigious arts & creative university there wasn't as such that ever so serious vibe which was brilliant for cheering on our loved one loudly! Grayson Perry made a wonderful speech as university chancellor before the ceremony began and it resonated with me to be so inspiring, like him as a person. His presence in that huge room was very well known, as he swept in wearing the most beautiful rainbow gown (this Jospeh and the technicolour dreamcoat but BETTER).



The event lasted a few hours but was a memorable one. We waited and waited for the Photojournalism course to be read out, and just our luck it was at the very end. Joe finally stepped across the stage shaking the UAL heads hand and receiving his honours degree as he did so. We all felt immensely proud as he walked across that stage as a graduated, I had a knot in my throat but cheered so so loud for him it was a crazy good atmosphere.

After his ceremony it was the perfect excuse for more champagne and prime photograph opportunities, which I'm sure Joe loved (I think he felt like a celebrity by the end of the day).

Prosecco in hand, obviously

After the tube journey back to our hotel in Finchley we quickly got changed and headed to the yummiest local Chinese restaurant...where we all ordered the biggest amount of food you have ever ever seen!

BRB just demolishing this amazing food

The food was so good I took my picture of the table when it had all been eaten, because who has time for that?

It was such a lovely lovely weekend!

I hope you've enjoyed this little life post update and what we got up to on our weekend away, I cant wait for another one! Congratulations to all the graduates of this year, class of 2017 you did it! No matter what everyone should be extremely proud! Head to my twitter for more, and comment below if you're excited to graduated or if you graduated this year like joe!

Abbey Hearts ♥

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