If you follow me on Instagram (here) you'll know I've been lucky enough to travel quite a bit this year, in fact we're currently exploring a festival island off the coast of Croatia, Obonjan. This post goes back to our Amalfi Coast road trip earlier in the summer and to a rather special hotel, Monastero Santa Rosa.

I've been saving up this post as our visit really was a bit special. We'd planned to head straight to Capri after Atrani, but having heard rumours of a 17th century monastery with an infinity pool to rival any other in the world we thought we couldn't not give it a go. That said, driving there takes some guts. We had planned to get a classic car to do the trip in but my God am I pleased we didn't - for this part of the world you want a standard, small rental car and pay the extra insurance premium. The twists, turns and mental state of some of the Italian drivers is quite something...

So we arrived, comically bedraggled after several sharp turns, wrong turns and inevitable domestic disputes along the way. As the hotel is built into the rock face, from the entrance way you don't really get that much of a sense of the wonder that lies beyond the wall. And then you see it... The view.

The inside to the hotel consists or amazing low ceilinged tunnels between rooms which were really cool to walk around, but outside really is where it's at. For a start the view above is what you get from the pool. You just don't get that anywhere else in the world, do you? The infinity pool is what dreams are made of - I didn't think I could out do one I went to in Colombia, but in comparison that one was a B&Q paddling pool... The little dot in the pool in this picture is the boy. Amazing.

Even the gym is tempting, coming from the worlds most prolific gym avoider that's quite a statement. It's outside too and overlooks the same view. I spent a good hour going around gardens too which are very special. The sun beds are all positioned to be very private, hidden behind branches and bushes in the gardens. You really do feel like you've got the place all to yourself, even though the hotel is pretty much booked out a year in advance...

Before I forget, my outfit. I was wearing a steal of a Topshop buy. Every summer when the sales start I zoom into the store and clean up with their boho style vests. I've just bought this one and this one too - so cheap it would be rude not to. My shorts are also from Topshop - the mom jean shorts. I get the "Tall" ones as they've got a bit more length in the leg (the regular ones are very short, shorts). I live in them all summer, I'm actually in them right now as I type and have just bought the black pair, here.

My shoes are from Tods. One of the best investments I've ever made. When I got them I was half ecstatic, half worried I looked like a toff. But to be honest if there is one thing posh people get right it's driving shoes. They're brilliant on holidays and nothing looks better with skinny jeans and a white shirt, or a fitted sweater at the weekend (although the pearls can go f*ck themselves, never happening). Get your own here, and check out The OutNet as they often have past season reduced ones here.

I don't know how I can best stress to you to get yourselves to this hotel. Yes it's expensive, but to be fair so it bl**dy well should be. It's one of the most impressive places I've ever been to in my entire life. Aside from the view and the venue itself, the staff were exceptional (we realised we were very close to missing our ferry to Capri and they could not have helped us more) and the food was really good. Go on, treat yourself and book it, here. You won't regret it.

Followers of my Instagram here will know I've been away as it was blasted out as much as possible. I'm not even sorry; we'd been waiting for this holiday since Christmas and it was even better than I anticipated. Over the next couple of weeks I'll pop more details about our travels through Sicily, Amalfi, Tuscany and Rome but for now here is a quick post about a pit stop we made in Ravello on our way down to the Amalfi Coast.

When we first arrived, we were a little haggered after an overnight ferry trip from Palermo to Naples. The winding roads of Amalfi didn't make for the easiest journey, so we peeled ourselves out of the car and made a run for the nearest source of cold beer...

After a couple of drinks we finally felt our shoulders go down and relax. Finally, we were on holiday. We sat and watched the locals put the world to rights as only Italians can do... Popping from cafe to restaurant to bar all over the town we made the walk down to Villa Cimbrone. This was somewhere firmly on the list of places to see for us, having watched Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan sit on the terrace there during The Trip TV Series...

We were not disappointed, despite the walk (girls, do not even think about taking heels to Amalfi!) down what felt like 1000 back streets, mainly uphill. I had possibly one of the best gin and tonics I'd ever tasted with cracked pepper and cucumber in. 

Ooh and the outfit! I'd been pining to wear this Topshop dress ever since I bought it. The weather in the UK just hasn't been kind enough... The detail on the sleeves, the floaty shape... I just love it. Topshop have done a few dresses like this, the blue and white version here has been a bestseller for them so they followed it up with my one here and a polka dot one here. 

The shoes are from Mango, and a total steal. They are incredibly similar to the Chloe designer ones, but only £24 in the sale... And I really can vouch for them being comfortable, I wore them to death on holiday. Get yours here.

We loved this town so much we ended up going back for an impromptu night at Hotel Caruso, which ended up being the showstopper of the entire holiday. More to come! For all outfit details, see the base of this post...

Dress = floral print, Topshop / similar here / similar here

Shoes = strap block heels, Mango

Shirt = white shirt, Gap

Trousers = chinos, Ralph Lauren

Shoes = brogues, Grenson

This month's beauty post is dedicated to the men in our lives. Today (in the UK) is Fathers Day and if yours is anything like mine, they have everything. Buying for someone who would like nothing more than a day spent is a power drill in the garage with the cricket on the radio is pretty tough. Which is why when Mr Porter offered their grooming box as a gift it was a complete blessing in disguise. Dad does actually care about his beauty regime, not that he'd ever call it that. We lived with him for a couple of months between houses this year and I noticed his bathroom cupboard was stacked with products that were actually being used.

Admittedly I'd imagine Mum is responsible for the change - she's a fiend for a beauty cream. Regardless the grooming box made the perfect gift, but wasn't handed over before I had a thorough nosey through it. Have to say, I'm seriously impressed by the selection for the price. Here are a few of my top favourites:

A huge part of me thinks its a little bit wrong that there is a day to tell someone you love them, as if it excuses you for the other 364 (or 365 this year). But being a Scrooge about Valentines Day is almost as cliche as roses and chocolates these days, so I've decided to meet romance in the middle and buy a present that isn't all that traditional. Mr Porter asked me to put together my choices for best gifts on the day, so I killed two birds with one stone and bought mine at the same time (easily done when their new in section is so good).

You could easily pass the site off as just being clothes, but no. I'm very pleased that they stock Perricone MD as since asking if it will "sort his face out" half of my pot has disappeared - and it's the best night moisturiser in the world, ever. Secondly, they stock Tom Ford fragrances. If you follow me on Instagram (here if you don't) then you'll have seen that I went to a dinner with a brand a couple of weeks ago with a bunch of girlfriends. It was to celebrate their new SS16 beauty collection, but Rose and I were transfixed with this fragrance. As Rose says Oud Wood "is so good I want to have sex with it." So, buy it for your boyfriend, husband, commute-crush, or anything you have a remote inclination of doing physical activity with. Lastly on the beauty front, I really recommend REN Skincare's 1 Minute Facial here; perfect for the guy who is beginning to realise skincare isn't the devil, but can't be bothered to spend much time doing it...

My other half doesn't want for much, or so he says - put Mr Porter in front of him with a budget to spend and it vanishes in seconds. Their content is bang on - this piece about "manssential wardrobe pieces" is an excellent starting block. Quite a few pieces were subtly (read: not subtle in the slightest) highlighted: Newish name Officine Generale was frequently dropped in, this white shirt and this blue one are clearly on the wish list. Other favourites were a J Crew chambray top and a pair of Rayban Wayfarers.

Forgetting what he says he wants, I want him in Common Projects trainers. I am obsessed with them, to the point I realised I'd gone off piste on the way to a meeting the other day because I was following a man wearing them (to see if they were CP ones - promise). They just ooze cool - if he won't wear them I may have to replace him with someone who will... Seriously. These are my favourites, or these, or these.

Whatever you're doing this weekend, I hope it's a good one. I'll be embracing my Welsh side and going down to Cardiff for the rugby on Saturday - so Sunday will most likely be spent in bed with tea and the papers. With a boy who wears Common Projects trainers...