My new and awesome photography project! SNAP 365 (1).

Tuesday, December 10, 2013.

Hello Ladies and Gents!

So yeah, I've been super super busy lately and just did not have time to even go on my blog, let alone post things. I do have a longer post waiting to be edited and posted; hopefully it'll get to you soon. Anyway, as a way to re-activate my creativity, I've decided to take up the 365 snaps project. I can't promise you'll actually see a picture everyday – it might be once a week or two, or it might change, because my life is hectic and I'm not too good with time – But I will have a photo for every day. I really like the idea of doing something small everyday which makes something really big and impressive later on.

So, it was actually pretty cold here in Tel Aviv, Israel today – as far as this place goes, that is. It was about 14-16 degrees Celsius, which is about 57-61 Fahrenheit. I'm not a winter person, so for me, that's cold.

I've been toying around with macro photography lately, and I found that my new scarf and my watch on a chain are really great subjects.

And I know you're only supposed to give one picture a day, but hey – rules we're meant to be broken, or that's what I'm told. So here's a bonus picture, just 'cause I think it looks really pretty and cozy from up close.

I'm really tiered now, and I gotta get up early.

So have a good night and send me a sign of life!

- ♥ -

Nova.

(PS – Didn't have time to post this yesterday).

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Wednesday, December 11, 2013.

Hey everyone :)

So today's one of those winter sick days. I felt really horrible in the morning, but I'm feeling a touch better now, courtesy of 2 extra hours of sleep and half a dozen cups of jasmine tea. Anyway, I decided to take another macro photo for today's snap, since everything is more interesting when you explore it from up close. I took a few pictures today, but I think this is my favorite one.

I went downstairs for a few minutes and the rain stopped and the sun was out and this picture was just begging to be taken. Who am I to refuse?

A gorgeous red hibiscus, post rain :)

I hope you all had a great day and if you’re a bit sick, like me – feel better!

- ♥ -

Nova.

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Thursday, December 12, 2013.

Hello!

So I'm now in a total tiered hyper. And today was so tiring and depressing, and cold and I had lots of energy for a while and then I didn't. I don't know why, it was actually a pretty good day. I guess I'm just really exhausted. Well, I decided to photograph something gray to go with today's weather, and I'm really into macro lately, so I found this gorgeous gray salt in the kitchen, and went waaaaaay close on it. And it came out gorgeous. Here ya'll go :) 

Le sel gris

And now, I shall advance to bed. (Dramatic royal-British accent).

Bon Noi!

- ♥ -

Nova.

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Friday, December 13, 2013.

KABUM KABUM KABUM!

Happy days are here again. Yesterday's depression went away. Why? Sleep, lit class and rain. I love rain, and I love it even more when I'm inside and not cold, which is the situation now. And lit class is really one of my favorites because I love reading and my teacher is the best ever. Yay.

It hailed today! So this picture is just hail on cars from my window. It was prettier in real life, I swear. I need a better camera.

Hail in TLV

That's it. I promise a better pic tomorrow, on Saturday.

Have a great weekend everyone!

- ♥ -

Nova.

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Saturday, December 14, 2013.

Hi everyone :)

So today was a really lazy day – It was super cold, like 6 degrees Celsius – about 43 in Fahrenheit – So I had breakfast with my family, which is a Saturday tradition, and then basically spent the day in my bed, and on the couch, with a blanket and the heater. A friend of mine came over, and we sat and talked and giggled – in my bed, under the blanket. Because it was just too cold otherwise and blankets are amazingly cozy. Hence, today's picture is the most photogenic creature in the house – my cat – and the blankets on the couch.

If I get a next life or something like that, I wanna be a cat. It's the best! He eats, sleeps, and, ummm…. Sleeps some more. In the coziest places, with everyones blankets and no one would dare move him.

On the downside, at least to human noses, his food smells pretty gross.

So, have a nice, warm weekend everyone! Stay dry!

- ♥ -

Nova.

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Sunday, December 15, 2013.

Hey ya'll

So today was exhausting, again. Well, Sundays. I don't know how it is where you live, 'cause IDK where you live or if you're even reading this, but here in Israel, Sunday is a normal work/school day. My weekend, personally, goes from Friday afternoon to Saturday night. Yep, a bit sad. And I had a math exam today. Horrible.

Anyway, I decided to shoot something pretty (with my camera, not a gun!) in order to show you – and myself – that not everything is bad. The crane was made by my amazing friend and origami girl, NT. We're in the same class, and this is what she does when it's too boring. I think it's awesome, and I actually collect them when she gives them to me – I have about 20 of them sitting on my shelve :) The book is 'The Time Regulation Institute' by Ahmet Hamdi Tanpinar (I have it in Hebrew, it's just been translated this year – I had to Google it to know the name in English). I bought it this summer, and hadn't had time to even open it. But the cover is just GORGEOUS, and I'm dying to read it – it's the next book I'll open, once I finally have time to finish Anna Karenina (my current read).

I love this picture. So colorful! So joyful! And the book's cover is so beautiful.

And, as a treat, today's piece has music!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2oIhJG7rXA – I ran into this one today and I love it. Missy Elliot rocks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmYfGcQOkmg – And now to something completely different. This is the first jack white I've ever heard (even though it's a cover). It was back in 9^th grade, and after a white night with friends, and I loved it. Still do.

Au revoir, mes amis! Tomorrow we start anew!

- ♥ -

Nova.

PS - remember how on Day 1 I said I didn't have time to post? I didn't have time to post until NOW. 6 days. impressive, huh? LOL.

First post excitment! + IceCream :)

Ba-Bam! I'm Nova, and this is my first blog :)

I'm a teenager living in Tel Aviv, Israel.

I'm a singer, an artist, an actress, a student, an utter bookworm.
I'm a dreamer – some may say escapist – and I take every day as a fascinating adventure.

I love life. I love music, arts, movies, science, sports, books, animals, food, cities and anything unusual. I wanna have it all. Everything. And apparently I have the talent of picking the weirdest, coolest ice cream flavors ever, wherever and whenever I step into a gelateria. I'm always doing a billion things at a time, and I wanna show the world the beauty and awesomeness in all of them. Hence - this blog.

So, I've recently been to Italy, and that was the raddest experience. We were a whole bunch of people, and we just toured Tuscany through, like- well- tourists. We went to Florence, Siena and San Gimigniano, and also just walked aimlessly through a few of the smaller towns, just to soak in the feeling of it.

My favorite thing(s), except for the constant gelato eating, were the awesome water fountains on the streets of every Italian town and city. I think they're great - both functional and gorgeous, and the water is always cold! And I've noticed this: one of the water fountains in Florence, the one right on the wall of the Palazzo Veckio (the old palace), has two taps - one that gives normal, still, cold water, and one that gives SPARKLING WATER! It was such an awesome surprise: my ma & sis went to fill up our water bottles, and when I tasted the water in my bottle, it was fizzy! I just think it's a totally awesome idea, having sparkly water in your municipal public water fountains. I'd totally vote for that.

We went back there later and took a picture :)

And of course, the most important part of the post: GELATO!

I had the most amazing chain of flavors!

·        Amarena – cherries. With sugary pieces of cherries. And it was pink! It was great.

·        Torta di Riso – it means 'rice cake'. I've never had a cake made of rice, or even rice pudding, so I don't know – but this was creamy and had sweet crunchy pieces, and I loved it.

·        Pears & Pecorino – in the beginning I was a bit disappointed. I mean, it was great pear ice cream, but I wanted the Pecorino, and it wasn't that special without it. And then, about halfway through, I found a piece of Pecorino inside my ice cream. And my mouth just EXPLODED when I got the geniusness of it.

·        Caramel cream – Super smooth and tasted like real, dark caramel. It went really well the Pear & Pecorino's tang, because they evened eachother out.

·        Chili-Chocolate – Dark chocolate + Hot chili peppers = mind blowing, breathtaking (literally) ice cream. And it was really spicy!

·        Lavender – This flavor was so gentle. On one side, it was the perfect balance for the Chili-Chocolate, but on the other side, I was almost sorry that I didn't have it alone so I could concentrate on it's delicacy more. It was the firs time I've ever tasted anything with lavender, and I am in love with it.

·        Fruit salad - that means strawberry, raspberry, peach, mandarin and others, all combined – it tasted like vacation :)

·        Spirito Siciliano - lemon and tangerine- slightly sour and super awesome. It was so fresh!

·        Fior di panna – that means 'the flavor of whipped cream'. It literally tastes like frozen, sweet whipped cream. Best thing ever.

·        Susina – a small, sweet plum.

·        Saffron – How can I describe this? It was completely un-usual. Not exactly sweet, no. I don't know what to say. It was fabulous.

·        And, to close a circle…. Amarena cherries again. Always perfect.

To make up for the fact I didn't take any IceCream pictures, these are the names of my two favorite Gelato places from this trip  :)

-         La Strega Nocciola (I checked the name out – it means 'the witch hazel' or 'the witch of the hazelnuts'. Their gelato is wonderful, and the décor is super cute and inspiring.)
http://www.lastreganocciola.it/

-         Gelateria Carabe (Sicilian style gelato, which is lighter and gentler than cream based gelato, and every single flavor they have is amazing.)
http://www.gelatocarabe.com/ (English)
http://officinagelato.wix.com/carabe#!il-gelato (Italian)

AND NOW….. (Drum role) my music for today! Since I'm a musician, I can't do anything without music. Here's what I sang along to today :)

I was looking for some jazzy feel good music, and then I remembered these two: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPAmDULCVrU

                 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mX1fhuYlQoI

I'm not the biggest Lady Gaga fan at all, but I love her look, and I think she's got a great voice, and jazz, unlike her usual things, really really accentuates that. I really love the video with Tony Bennett, too. She seems so at ease there, the air is so free and fun and I just ADORE her blue hair and lace dress.

What have you been listening to today? Tell me, I'm curious!

PS: A question – am I the only one that's extremely bothered if someone smokes nearby while I'm having IceCream? I don't smoke, and I dislike the smell of smoking, but I can handle it as long as it's not when I'm eating. But I simply CAN'T eat or drink anything when the area smells of cigarettes, and if someone is smoking near me when I'm eating – especially IceCream – I just move to a different place, where I can't smell it. Does it bother you guys? What do you do if it does?

(This is not 'hating' on smokers. I've no problem with them as people. I just dislike the smell of cigarettes and think people shouldn't smoke right outside IceCream parlors).

I'd really love it if you'd leave a comment :) 

Arrivederci, amici miei!

- ♥ -

Nova