My home is swamped with stones, big and small, smooth and edgy. I have this little innocent obsession: while strolling down the beach or a shadowy alley in the park, I'd stuff my pockets full with dear trophies. Some people buy fridge magnets, I collect stones. So wherever I go for my vacation, I have to find a stone or a few and bring it home. I don't have a special place where I store them. They find shelter here and there: on a book shelf, in flower pots, in my jewellery box. Whenever I stumble into them, memories of the place they come from revive spinning in a flamboyant kaleidoscope. I love these encounters.

Colours of the stones. That's what fascinates me most of all. Not only of stones, it could be any splash of colour. Peach, geranium, golden yellow or brown, soft blue, lavender, plum, lemon, tea with milk, lime green, solid black ... The problem is not in choosing one colour. Make colours match – that's what demands real talent . I don't use contrasting colour schemes often but if I do, I do it with jewellery. It's all about balance. If I wear a plain dress with no patters, then I can go for a bolder set of earrings, a brooch, or a bracelet: with stripes, spots and dots. When my outfit is a burst of colour or has patterns, I choose subtle accessories.

Colour is my daylong obsession, joy, and torment. Claude Monet had an extraordinary sense of colour and light. For me colour is definitely a joy and ... therapy. Scents are also a great way to relax. My cappuccino is tempting me so I have to stop here. Mmm, with cinnamon, my favourite.

I like early mornings. Though I could give my whole kingdom for ten more minutes of sleep. Well, the world is a contradiction, the universe's a paradox, and I'm a walking proof of it. One of my favourite morning moments is when on my way to the office I walk by the children's music school. They have their windows open and you can hear clumsy but sweet: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C ...

One more thing I enjoy when I'm still at home – leafing through Vogue and sipping my coffee. I don't usually devour all columns at one gulp; I take it one at a time. The sickening smell of fresh print and smooth gloss. Fresh Vogue with fresh coffee – a healthy well-balanced breakfast . But I do actually read it, honestly.

Now I'm reading about Biennale des Antiquaires (Grand Palais, Paris; 15 - 22 September 2010). It is one of the major annual fairs in the world of jewellery, fine arts and antiques. One of the many participants is the legendary House of Cartier. They will display a collection devoted to the world of birds: a sapphire and diamond brooch in the form of a bird, emerald wing earrings and jillions of other sparkling eye candies.

Can't afford Cartier at the moment . It doesn't mean that it would be a no chicness autumn for me. There are loads of wonderful "everyday" jewellery available: bird brooches, wing earrings, thin bracelets with charms, long chandelier earrings and all kinds of pearl jewellery. These are the main trends. Not new but offering a wide variety for a girl with any budget to indulge her personal preferences.

I wasn't a classic example of a tomboy growing up. Climbed trees, went wild jumping a river rope swing, dug out worms and played with bugs, loafed around in tattered jeans and holes in my T-shirt (my elder brother's all pervasive influence revealed itself to the fullest) but I was more into girly stuff anyway. Most of my friends were girls, I've never been a rebel, and I don't hate pink .

Where are those days now when the summer seemed brighter, my neighbourhood - larger than the entire Universe, and all that mattered if you are allowed to go swim in the river? Yeah, you guessed me right - a nostalgia-prone type of girl. On a lazy Sunday like today I'd do nothing but hang out on my friends' terrace enjoying a sunny, cloudless sky, remembering old good days. I'd pull on my jeans and snickers (I won't climb trees but who knows ), no makeup, but my favourite bracelet is a must. I don't really care if it doesn't go well with the rest of the outfit. It's not even a glamour vs. casual case, personal style vs. fashion trends, it's just who I am - be yourself; everyone else is already taken. My Sundays are carefree. That's what they are meant for:

Wear my favourite jeans and jewellery. Either a wooden bracelet or a silver and gold one.
Listen to Strereophonics Maybe Tomorrow.
Go crazy and eat watermelon all day .
Watch La Dolce Vita. Have to get more Kleenex. There will be floods of tears. Happens every time I watch it.

What's your to-do list for this weekend?

Ask me a simple question if I like travelling and I'll talk you ragged giving no definite yes or no. It's more of a love-hate relationship. I love meeting new people and learning local languages but I hate delays and endless lines. Still I think I'll survive and cope with all the troubles because next spring all my dreams are about to come true. I hope I'll visit Italy. So I'm looking for a bigger penny bank now to save up some money because I've included some really eye-feasting, delicious places to my trip menu .

Florence, the capital of Tuscany, is my old flame. It's a branch of heaven on earth for the lovers of the Renaissance. I can see myself walking through the Uffizi's halls, the world's oldest gallery, gazing at genuine works of art, awe-struck but happy. I have this annoying habit to build up false expectations but I'm sure that a stay in Florence will be on of the best memories that will nourish mind and soul for the rest of my life. Giotto, Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo Da Vinci, Dante, Petrarca, Boccaccio ... They used to live and work in Florence. Imagine walking through the streets these great men once walked.

Florentine streets will never lose their charm. Renaissance palaces, churches, parks, ateliers and studios where you can find delicate glassware and ceramics, fancy and elegant jewellery. Check out my Italian: Firenze è una perla preziosa!* But the main attraction is the people. Have you visited the Sartorialist blog? That's one of my favourites. There you can see cool pictures of stylish people on the street from all over the world, from Italy as well. Modern-day Romeos and Casanovas, Lauras and Beatrices. By the way, the Sartorialist is on the "Vogue loves it" list. I got my September issue last week finally! It has some really nice jewellery recommendations but let's save it for the next post.

I'm listening to Ludovico Einaudi now, one of my favourite contemporary Italian composers. His Primavera is a masterpiece, I think. That's what I feel looking at the face of Venus (Sandro Botticelli's the Birth of Venus).

*Florence is a precious pearl!

My Friday "phrase of the day" - well-behaved women rarely make history. Well, it doesn't mean that I set my "Dr Jekyll vs. Mr Hyde " darker side off the leash every Friday but it's definitely the day when I let myself sleep a couple minutes more, daydream at the office just for a minute or two (shh...), and no workout today (banzai!).

My Friday treats. A cheesy bacon and potato omelette and French toasts with peanut butter (who said it's just for kids). A treat for my mind and soul – a book on architecture I never had time to start reading: The Poetics of Space by Gaston Bachelard.

My Friday look. It's a bolder look. And it usually takes less time to come up with something more daring than all smooth and simple. Hmm ... is everyone like this or it's just me? I won't wear any career killers but some of my choices for Friday are a no-no for Monday. Today it's a bit softer look but more appealing and flirtatious than usual, a lovely look not only for a Roman goddess but for a down-to-earth girl like me . A mocha off the shoulder dress with chunky, romantic antique jewellery. Kind of a sneak peek for my colleagues and friends at upcoming attractions for this Friday night.

My Friday song. See-Line Woman (also Sea Lion Woman) - a cover of a traditional American folk song by Nina Simone, or a more recent cover by Feist. Love its rhythm. It sets the right pace for the whole day and night, and makes me want to use my feminine charms, at least to give it a try:

see-line woman
dressed in green
wears silk stockings
with golden seams
see-line woman

Have a great weekend, everyone. Amo venerdi!

*The word for Friday in Italian venerdì is derived from Latin dies Veneris - "day of Venus".