Noa Green Photography – New Jersey Photographer » Contemporary portrait photographer based in Bergen County, NJ

I don’t know where to start this post…. On the one hand I want to pretend I’m still in Israel and post the gazillion images I took and have yet to edit, and on the other hand I want to acknowledge that as hard as it was to leave, its nice to be back home. You see, no matter what I feel like I’m betraying a part of me. I’m split between two continents, and each one has a big part of my heart. I hate feeling this shadowing guilt. I love both homes – Israel and the States. I belong to both.

Leaving Israel was hard. When J K Rowling wrote that to create a horcrux one has to split their soul – well, that’s what it feels like each time I leave. I know it was my decision to move abroad, my choice to seize adventure and explore. I don’t regret it – not one bit. But each time I have to move and maneuver between these 2 worlds, there’s an adjustment period. Guilt. Happiness. So many emotions in between.

This year our return to the States was cushioned by the holidays, which made for a much easier transition. We got to spend 4 nights of Channukah in Israel and 4 nights of Channukah in the States. It meant returning to a decorated home, tons of presents and family traditions Emiro and I are integrating into our family. It made the heartache of missing home and my family a little easier to bear.

The day after we landed was Christmas so we invited our friends Michelle & Charlie over for pajama brunch & movie. Decadent french toast, mimosas and the movie “Love Actually” may or may not have been involved *wink* because yes, we’re cliche like that and one can never get enough of Collin Firth and Hugh Grant!

Pajama brunches rock. You can go ahead and laugh at my Harry Potter socks…. I think they bring a little extra magic to the season

Aviv really lucked out in the present department – being away for 3 weeks certainly encouraged her Aba to go overboard with shopping. Although we celebrate the Jewish holidays, Christmas is the one tradition we agreed to  keep as it is a very special day from Emiro’s childhood… We celebrate it secularly and not religiously, and what it basically means is quality family time at home, hot cocoa, lots of gifts (long live commercialism!), cozy fireplaces and now also pajama brunches with friends.

You really can’t beat winter in Israel, especially when compared with the frigid east coast. I’ve been basking in the Mediterranean sun for the past couple of weeks, and let me tell you this is HEAVEN.

I’m pretty much in denial that I only have this week left, and that before I know it I will have to start saying goodbye and go through the fatiguing process of leaving family and friends behind.

It sucks.

Of course, I have a lot of fabulous things to look forward to: holidays in the USA are magical, reuniting with Emiro, getting reacquainted with my juicer and preparing my business to transition to 2012. I am so lucky, so blessed, to have amazing family and friends on more than one continent. Amidst the difficulties of saying goodbye, I have to remain focused on the good. And there is so much of it.

For now, I’m soaking in the sun. I’m enjoying family and friends. I’m resting and reading books and eating tons of decadent food.

I’m enjoying the now. I hope you are too…..

XOXO

Noa

It never ceases to amaze me how technology has made our lives easier and more connected in so many different aspects.

Being away from home and Emiro for 3 weeks can be very tough, but at least technology makes things bearable and bridges the distance of the almost 6,000 miles between us.

For example, Aviv was ** SO ** happy that her Aba was able to read her a favorite bed time book via skype video.

He read and showed her the pages as he went along, and for a moment Aviv was transported back to our life and home in the USA.

I’m so thankful for technology (mostly skype!). I know there are so many people living far away from their families, who are now able to communicate easily. It sure makes the distance feel somewhat… closer.

And speaking of technology, what the hell did people do with their children before the days of the iPad? It is (seriously) a life saver, and there are so many great educational applications for kids. It occupied Aviv a good portion of our (cough) 13 hours on the plane getting here…. Between the puzzle apps, the Toy Story movie and her 6 hour nap I was set!

Wishing you all a fabulous weekend!

XOXO

Noa

We’re here! Its simultaneously so strange yet normal to be back in Israel. I’m always amazed by the flurry of emotions I feel when I’m back, the confusion and happiness. Trying to soak it in, hopping around between relatives and friends, seeing my daughter soak in the culture and language.

Our flight was delayed two hours on the tarmac due to mechanical issues, but once we took off the 11 hour flight went by relatively quickly. Traveling with a 3 year old is EASY and I think it was one of the smoothest flights thus far with Aviv.  She was thoroughly entertained by my iPad (watching Toy Story and Chuggingtons) and even slept a nice solid 6 hours. I listened to advice and purchased the Hunger Games trilogy to make the flight go by quickly. I’m just about done with the third book and really love how it transports you to a completely different world (definitely two thumbs up!).

On the agenda for the next couple of weeks is: rest, quality time with family & friends, shooting for myself and LOTS of reading. I couldn’t ask for a better way to wrap up 2011.

For the next couple of weeks, here is my daily view of the Mediterranean sea from my parent’s balcony:

Wishing you all a fabulous day!

XOXO

Noa

Today is the last day of November. If I can sum up November in one word, it would be grateful. Not just because of Thanksgiving, but because a lot of wishes came true for me this month. Those close to me know that a huge, huge prayer was answered for my family, which made this holiday oh-so-sweet. This month has been, without a doubt, more than I ever expected.

I know I’m terribly behind on blog posts. I’ve been busy photographing, going to client ordering sessions, fulfilling canvas & print orders and just keeping my head above water during the busiest time of the year for my business. But amidst the chaos, I have maintained strong boundaries to also spend time — quality time — with my family. In the past I would sometimes be so busy documenting other families stories that I put my own on the backburner, something I won’t do any more.

I’ve been making a lot of changes the past couple of months…. A lot of it can be contributed to working with an amazing life coach (DeAnna Englezos) who’s empowered me to Live My Great Life. This is a post in and of itself, but I’ve been implementing a lot of changes in my life, health, home and business. This, combined with this month’s good news, has me SO, SO happy. Year 2011 is ending with a bang and I can’t wait to tackle 2012!

Thanksgiving was spent with one of my bestest friends, Danielle, up in PA with her family. It was such a great day spent with friends that despite bringing my camera bag, I never took one picture. I was too busy laughing, eating and absorbing the love around me.

The holiday weekend was spent exploring the Bronx Zoo, huddling at home next to the fireplace, not doing any house chores, and squeezing in my last newborn session for 2011.

I’m thankful….. For my beautiful, healthy daughter:

I’m thankful that even though its been years since I nursed her, she has an attachment from those early years of breastfeeding. Even though it sometimes causes me to roll my eyes

I’m thankful for my patient husband who loves Aviv and I with his whole heart

I’m thankful for the little drama queen in my life, who makes the world so much more colorful with her over-the-top gestures and facial expressions

I’m thankful for this blog, my little corner in the huge cyberspace world. I’m thankful for those of you who stop by, leave some love, and support me on this amazing journey.

I’m thankful for health, for pandora music channels, for taking accountability in my life, for opportunities to travel and for meeting new friends. I’m thankful.

Life isn’t perfect, but when you have perspective you realize life is so, damn, good.