As families around the world prepare to gather for Passover, beginning at sundown on April 1 and continuing through April 9th, the wines of Israel offer a meaningful connection to the land where the story of the Exodus began. Blending thousands of years of winemaking heritage with cutting-edge innovation, Israel has emerged as one of the most exciting wine regions in the world.
From the vineyards of the Galilee to the hills surrounding Jerusalem and Judea, Israeli wines bring the history and spirit of the land directly to the Passover table. For many families, pouring Israeli wine during the four cups of wine at the Passover seder adds an extra layer of symbolism—linking the celebration of freedom to the very soil where biblical history unfolded.
The Israeli Wine Producers Association (IWPA) represents nearly 40 wineries nationwide, uniting boutique estates and leading producers under one banner to educate, promote, and introduce consumers to Israel’s world-class wines.
“Israeli wines bring those themes to life because they come from the very landscapes where much of Jewish history took place.”
– Josh Greenstein, IWPA Vice President of Marketing & Sales
Today’s Israeli wineries combine ancient tradition with modern viticulture, producing award-winning wines from both historic indigenous grapes and internationally recognized varietals. These wines have earned global recognition from leading critics including Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Decanter, and James Suckling.
“Passover is a holiday centered around storytelling, memory, and renewal,” says Josh Greenstein, VP of Marketing & Sales at IWPA. “Israeli wines bring those themes to life because they come from the very landscapes where much of Jewish history took place. Sharing these wines at the seder table connects families not only to tradition but also to the vibrant modern wine culture of Israel.”
A few examples of wine for a memorable Passover celebration.
Israel’s wine revival has reignited global interest in both ancient indigenous grapes and classic international varietals. Among them:
• Argaman – a bold Israeli-developed grape with deep color and notes of blackberry and Mediterranean spice
• Dabouki – an ancient white grape revived by boutique wineries, offering floral aromatics and gentle acidity
• Marawi (Hamdani) – an indigenous white grape linked to biblical-era viticulture, producing crisp, mineral-driven wines
A map of wineries proud to call Israel home and proud to help families with their Passover celebration.
Whether served during the Passover seder, paired with traditional dishes, or enjoyed throughout the spring holiday season, Israeli wines bring together heritage, innovation, and the spirit of renewal that defines Passover.
To explore the wineries represented by the IWPA, visit www.iwpa.com and follow @israeliwine.
Parenting is an adventure. Mommies and Daddies know that. Sometimes, it’s a little more adventurous than we would like it to be. The fun adventures are usually on vacations that families take together. Other adventures can involve trips to the emergency room. That’s never fun.
Adventures with my family can be one day or stretch out for more than that. On some days, we have a plan, but things take an unexpected turn.
If there is a vacation, we will plan that. If it’s a one-day adventure, it might come to us in the moment. Whatever it is, excitement and adventure seem to be around the corner from us.
Claire the German Shepherd
If you haven’t met Claire the German Shepherd, allow me to introduce you to her. Claire is the main character of “Adventures of German Shepherd and Egret” by Claire Kroft. Our German Shepherd is looking for new adventures and maybe someone to accompany her on the adventures. An owl suggests she talks to the Egret. The Egret, Adam, flies in and introduces himself to Claire. Together, Adam and Claire go to the Summit of Adventures. There are many animals at the Summit of Adventures. Each of them is working on a new experiment that will improve life for everyone around the world.
Learning through Adventures
After chatting with the animals, Adam and Claire spend the next day talking to individual animals. The German Shepherd and Egret learn about the different experiments, including a virtual reality tour with a bear. After that was a podcast where animals discuss their goals for the experiments they are perfecting.
Claire and Adam
My family’s adventures don’t revolve around inventing or designing. Our time on the road is spent checking out locations and landmarks we haven’t seen before. Trying to improve ourselves and our home and community is usually done when we are home.
Learning new things and putting new techniques into practice can be an adventure in itself. That is the point of Claire’s book, and it’s a great point. Throughout the book, Claire and Adam meet new friends and are introduced to new ideas and projects that can improve the world. While these ideas are imaginary, they can provide a launch point for children who want to make their community a better place.
Improving the World However You can
My family and I do what we can to make things around us better. You may do the same. If you’re teaching the children how to make their corner of the world a better place, they would enjoy reading “Adventures of German Shepherd and Egret.” Claire’s book could unlock some ideas that are waiting to be released from their brains and put into action by them and their friends.
Claire is not only an author. She is also the founder of Stealth, a software development company dedicated to helping companies grow their clientele in an affordable way. In addition to Stealth, she also runs Claire-ified. Claire-ified offers Chief of Staff operations for startup founders.
In her book, Claire takes her expertise and uses it to pen the story of Claire and Adam, who explore the deep tech facets of the world together. This is not Claire’s first writing attempt. She has also been published in NATE Magazine.
It’s not always easy keeping an eye on our children. Sometimes, our children will need to keep an eye on us. They need something, a ride a snack, or help with homework. When that happens, they will be around looking for us. Nico and Maddie are looking for Nico’s parents. We all hope they’re alright. A little adventure is fun, but an adventure spanning across galaxies can be a little more than what our heroes bargained for.
“The Boy, The Cube, and the Elf”
Some people call it procrastination. Some call it “Side Quests”. Whatever it is, there is usually something that prevents us from accomplishing something during our day. Luckily, it’s not every day we get sidetracked, and if we do get sidetracked, the interference we experience isn’t too difficult to overcome.
Daddies and mommies know it’s not easy navigating their way through life. On some days, something comes up. It can be an illness or another emergency that requires us to get our Miracles of Christ. It can be a trip to a store for a needed part of a project or something for dinner. There is something that comes up needing our attention and action.
Being a Parent
Part of being a parent means looking out for our children and making sure they’re alright. We take care of our children physically, emotionally, and psychologically. We provide food, shelter and clothing. We are responsible for their schooling, and we hope they are well mentally and psychologically.
On occasion, there is a turning of the tables. Sometimes it’s the children who take care of the their family instead of the parents. In “Home Alone”, a boy is tasked with protecting his family’s home against burglars. While this is a more amusing reversal of roles, there are times when children must assume caretaking roles for their family.
Brent Golembiewski
No parent wants their child to assume caretaking roles for their family. That’s not how it’s supposed to be. Brent Golembiewski writes about a boy who finds himself needing to find his missing parents in his book series “The Boy, The Cube, and The Elf”. Brent’s book follows Nico, a boy who finds out his parents are missing. He must travel the realms of outer space to find his parents. Are they even alive?
Nico, Maddie, and Adventures
One day, Nico finds a hole blasted through a wall of his home. This is a big enough problem if the home wasn’t in outer space where the environment isn’t exactly safe for humans without protective equipment and oxygen. Joining Nico is an alien named Maddie. Maddie knows Nico’s father but won’t tell him how. This is just one of the things about her that annoys Nico throughout the story.
The human and alien must put their differences and annoyances aside and work together. There is a giant enemy named Marduk. Marduk might know why Nico’s father is missing. He could even be the reason his father is missing. Together with a group of aliens, Nico and Maddie must face Marduk and deal with an angry dragon as they speed across the universe to find out what happened to Nico’s father.
Side Quests get in the Way
Brent’s book is about a boy who needs to help his father. Usually, it’s the parents who are taking care of (and sometimes searching for) the children. Our Miracles of Christ require a lot of care and patience. When school is out, The Boy is out and about with the Fruit Loops. Who knows what they’re up to? Chances are they start off doing one thing, then they’re off on another adventure. Much like Nico and Maddie.
Nico is off to find where his parents are, but events in outer space will take them on a side quest. This other quest might need to be done so they can figure out a part of their other mission, or it’s the result of space monsters attacking our heroes or their ship. The ship, by the way, doesn’t seem good enough for Maddie, but it is a good ship, and it just might need a little TLC, which Nico is happy to provide. Maddie isn’t so convinced about “The Silent Sprite”, but she’s a good ship, and Nico is confident in her capabilities.
It’s not always easy keeping an eye on our children. Sometimes, our children will need to keep an eye on us. They need something, a ride a snack, or help with homework. When that happens, they will be around looking for us. Nico and Maddie are looking for Nico’s parents. We all hope they’re alright. A little adventure is fun, but an adventure spanning across galaxies can be a little more than what our heroes bargained for.
Growing up, we are told reading is important. We usually understand this as we get older. You read every day of your life. Street signs, cooking directions, work memos and emails. Somehow, every minute of our day requires us to read.
When I was younger, I would read the Red Sox game stories and the game summaries that broke down how the runs were scored. This, to me, was a much more interesting read than the summer reading lists I got from my high school. There were no reading programs at the time where you were rewarded with prizes for reading. Back when I was in school, you read because you have to, and that was its own reward.
Unfortunately for me and the rest of the Gen-Xers, there was no Brockton Rox when we were growing up. That was too bad because this season, the Rox have a way to entice you Miracle of Christ to read. This year, the Brockton Rox are having a reading challenge for fans.
Students can log their reading time with their teachers on a recording spreadsheet during the three-week challenge. Schools are responsible for calculating the minutes. The minutes logged can be used to earn tickets and other prizes from the Rox.
“This fun and rewarding initiative helps foster a love for reading while providing students with exciting incentives tied to their favorite sport,” The Rox said on their webpage promoting the program. “The more (students) read, the closer they get to being part of the Rox action!”
The Boston Marathon is less than two months away. While people across Massachusetts continue to shovel out from the 3 feet or more of snow, People around the world are battling all kinds of elements to extend their endurance for the 26-mile race that attracts elite runners every year.
Some people run because they would like to be able to say they completed a marathon. Others run to raise money for charity. Andrea Mantia is running for charity. She has decided to raise money for the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism. Andrea hopes to raise $15,000 for Dougie’s Team.
The marathon is a two-part goal for Andrea. First, running the marathon has been a life-long dream of hers. Second, she hopes to raise money for families of autistic people. This includes her own family. Her son, Julian, was diagnosed with Autism.
Andrea made the decision last fall to run the marathon. As part of her training, she is posting periodic updates on social media to let people know how far she is progressing as he prepares for the big day, April 20.
Last September, Andrea ran a half-marathon. She missed her goal of finishing in two-and-a-half hours but given that she couldn’t run a mile at the start of June, completing the half marathon is certainly a respectable accomplishment. In October, she completed the Flutie 5k in 32:34.
As part of her fundraising, Andrea has set up a page on givengain’s website. Donations for future raffles are also welcome. People can visit the site to make a donation and check up on Andrea’s journey by reading about her training and inspiration. As part of the training, she runs both with others and alone. Running alone helps her with endurance and overthinking.
She also runs the treadmill for times like this week when the Northeast gets pummeled with snow. She posts updates on her Facebook page while sometimes snacking on jellybeans. (For carbs, of course.)
His book features a gamer name Brian who is committed to being, “the greatest gamer in the entire world.” Unfortunately, Brian isn’t very good at gaming, so he is prepared to practice all day and into the night to sharpen his skills and achieve his goal. As a result, he sleeps too late and misses half the day. In order to get energy, he eats candy and energy drinks. The sustenance is loaded with sugar. It gives him bursts of energy, but he soon crashes and he feels worse than he did before he ingested all of the sugar.
I grew up with video games and spent afternoons, evenings, holidays and vacations playing some form of them. This experience with video games came in handy when I worked retail. People came in looking for a console or a game to buy as a gift, and I was able to help them with their purchases.
Today, there are a lot more options for kids than there were when friends and I were running and jumping for high scores, but that was okay. The games we had were enough for our delusions of grandeur. Also, a special thank you to the good people at Nintendo for allowing us to download these games onto Nintendo Switch. Replaying these games are a great way to spend some time when I need to escape my Miracles of Christ.
Video Games are Fun
Video games are fun, but it’s important to keep everything in moderation. Too much of a good thing, and it stops being a good thing. Video games are a great example of that. While it’s great to unwind and decompress with a little of your favorite console, it’s important to make sure it doesn’t take up your whole day, or your whole life.
If you’re a parent, you already know this, and it’s very possible you have spoken to your child about this more than once. Video games are fun, but there are other ways of having fun, and trying those other ways can help you child develop healthy habits.
Brian Saviano knows what you already know, but your children haven’t quite learned and understood yet. Gaming can be fun, but it’s also important to do other things in your life. It’s important to have a social life outside of electronics and outside of your home. Social interactions are important.
Brian has written “Pro Gamers Guide to Healthy Habits”. His book features a gamer name Brian who is committed to being, “the greatest gamer in the entire world.” Unfortunately, Brian isn’t very good at gaming, so he is prepared to practice all day and into the night to sharpen his skills and achieve his goal. As a result, he sleeps too late and misses half the day. In order to get energy, he eats candy and energy drinks. The sustenance is loaded with sugar. It gives him bursts of energy, but he soon crashes and he feels worse than he did before he ingested all of the sugar.
He feels sick when he crashes. Too much sugar is bad for you. Brian’s pet parrot, Pauly, reminds him how much sugar was in the candy he ate. No wonder Brian felt sick.
Brian is sick from the sugar he ate, and he feels bad because he regrets sleeping late and missing half the day. He really wanted to be a good gamer, but it’s not worth it if this is how he’s going to feel. Brian needs to make changes to his lifestyle.
Healthy Habits are Important for Kids
Gaming is fun, but it’s not fun if you’re in front of a screen all day. It’s not fun if you’re eating junk food the whole time. Spending your day on a couch isn’t healthy. For kids today, there are a lot of options when it comes to gaming and screens. These make it easy to lose track of time. As parents, we need to make sure there are other things to balance that out. Part of our jobs as moms and dads is to keep our children healthy. This includes monitoring screen time and making sure they get plenty of exercise.
If your child is spending too much time being sedentary, “Pro Gamers Guide” is a great read for them. It will explain why it isn’t a good idea for them to be on their rear ends all day. It will also illustrate the negatives of not being active and how much they will like being on their feet and going outside to interact with other human beings. There’s nothing wrong with gaming. It’s a lot of fun, but there are other ways of having fun. Brian’s book shows you those ways and how your children can accomplish them.
Move set to Pioneer End-to-End Wealth-Native Intelligence
Photo: bridgewise.com
Bridgewise, the global leader in Ai for wealth, announced the acquisition of Chicago-based Context Analytics, the top AI-powered alternative data processing company used by tier-one financial firms including S&P Global Market Intelligence.
By merging Bridgewise’s institutional-grade investment intelligence platform – already embedded in financial institutions across Asia, Europe, and South America – with Context Analytics’ expertise in unstructured financial data processing, the consolidated company now provides a level of asset analysis completeness that stands alone in the industry, setting the stage for the next evolution of AI for financial services. The combined offering delivers a complete solution, from data processing to analytics and engagement, in a single integrated system, establishing the world’s first vertically integrated, wealth-native intelligence infrastructure.
“By joining forces with Context Analytics, we have created an end-to-end powerhouse for the global financial ecosystem,” Bridgewise CEO Gaby Diamant said in a statement released through PR firm Jensen Matthews. “This partnership allows us to unify the entire intelligence journey, from the proprietary NLP that decodes the world’s raw text and data sources to the end-users’ most concrete intelligence needs, maintaining a compliant, explainable flow of AI analysis.”
The New Benchmark in AI for Wealth
BridgeWise has long set the standard for compliant, multilingual AI recommendations and analysis across more than 70,000 global assets. By integrating Context Analytics, which uses proprietary technology to transform news, social media, and thousands of pages of complex filings into numeric, machine-readable data and timely sentiment scores, BridgeWise is now uniquely capable of decoding the full spectrum of market information, providing a holistic solution for banks, brokers, investment managers, and financial service providers in the capital markets.
Financial institutions have increasingly questioned the use of general-purpose AI models in high-stakes investment decision-making, particularly where explainability, auditability, and oversight are required. While generalist, off-the-shelf LLMs have introduced AI to the mainstream, they lack the domain-specific rigor and governance required for highly regulated environments. BridgeWise provides the only AI-native, fully transparent alternative for a complex, regulated industry that cannot rely on generic models.
Looking Forward: Unlocking the Future of Personalized Finance
Photo: contextanalytics-ai.com
The comprehensive intelligence enabled by BridgeWise’s and Context Analytics’ joint technology serves as a catalyst for launching pAI, BridgeWise’s groundbreaking AI wealth agent, which builds, reviews, and optimizes individual portfolios in a fully personalized, explanatory, and conversational manner. By feeding Context Analytics’ high-fidelity data directly into pAI’s orchestration engine, BridgeWise is transforming how financial institutions deliver personalized wealth-building journeys at scale.
“Joining BridgeWise allows us to realize the full potential of what we’ve built over the last 13 years,” Context Analytics CEO Joe Gits said in the aforementioned press release. “By combining our ability to decode the world’s unstructured financial text and sentiment with BridgeWise’s institutional AI, we are creating a vertically integrated engine that finally bridges the gap between raw information and intelligent action.”
pAI empowers financial institutions to replace static investment paths with adaptive, wealth-native AI journeys. By leveraging this vertical-specific intelligence, banks, brokers, and trading platforms can deliver high-touch, agile wealth-building experiences to millions of users simultaneously, offering real-time onboarding and portfolios that adjust automatically as markets and investor needs evolve. While institutions benefit from a scalable solution that doesn’t drain resources, their clients receive a truly individualized experience.
The acquisition of Context Analytics solidifies BridgeWise as the only partner capable of delivering a 360-degree view of the market through a single, compliant infrastructure, setting the pace for how the world’s leading financial institutions interact with data, technology, and their customers.
Wife found snowboard lessons for The Boy during Vacation Week. Our little daredevil likes the idea of hurtling down a hill, so why not. It’s a great way to spend the daylight hours leading up to his kickboxing classes. I was never much for snowboarding. I was more of a skier, not that I was good at it. I wasn’t. Some people skied because they liked it and wanted to go. Some fanatics even had their own ski equipment at home for multiple trips during the season. I went skiing because friends were going or there was field trip for school or the church youth group.
“They threw me off that mountain. I didn’t ski anything. I fell down a mountain. I don’t even know where the skis went. I had to pay for the skis, because I never found them. – John Pinette
This week marks the beginning of Winter Vacation. It’s the week all the Miracles of Christ celebrate a temporary reprieve from the cruel and unusual punishments of Academia. It’s also the week in February parents dread walking through the doors of their humble abodes because of what disasters might be awaiting them when they return.
School Vacation Meant Time with Friends
School break for me meant hanging out at friends’ houses and playing basketball or street hockey. We got together in a room or a basement to see what high scores we could top. It was a glorious week of not worrying about school, tests, or homework.
The Boy and the Fruit Loops are always getting together after school. With my son’s speed and dexterity, he can open the door, drop off his school things, and be at his friend’s house before the door closes.
Wife found snowboard lessons for The Boy during Vacation Week. Our little daredevil likes the idea of hurtling down a hill, so why not. It’s a great way to spend the daylight hours leading up to his kickboxing classes. I was never much for snowboarding. I was more of a skier, not that I was good at it. I wasn’t. Some people skied because they liked it and wanted to go. Some fanatics even had their own ski equipment at home for multiple trips during the season. I went skiing because friends were going or there was field trip for school or the church youth group.
One of my few days on the slopes. (L to R) My friend, Chris, Chris’ dad, me.
Back to snowboarding, which I didn’t do because the idea of having both feet attached to the same instrument made me a little more wary of gravity. I’m sure the boy is going to have fun. He’s an active child and loves doing things outside. Bombing down the hill and shushing to and fro will be just the thing for a tween who has boundless energy and loves to see what he can do in the elements. He hasn’t been watching much of the Olympics, but there is a just under a week left, so who knows?
More Time with The Boy. One of Us is Excited.
As usual, the best part of this for me will be the drives we take to and from the lessons. I will ask what he thinks about the upcoming day and he will shrug. Coming home from the lessons, I will ask him how it was, and he will shrug his shoulders and say it was good, nothing happened, and that will be the extent of our conversation.
The most important thing will be The Boy trying new things. He’s still seeing what’s out there, and just about everything seems interesting to him, especially Anime and bike riding around the neighborhood with the Fruit Loops. Maybe a week of snowboarding will turn him on to a whole new world of Winter sports. He has taken a liking to golf in the warmer weather. Snowboarding might be a way for him to spend his free time in the Winter. Of course, I would be happy to go with him on these excursions. He can snowboard and I can ski.
The boy with his snowboarding equipment. He is the future of this country, so the helmet is imperative.
The Boy will have Fun
Again, I am not saying I am any good at this, but it would be a nice way of spending time with him. I’m always down for that. Not only would I get to spend time with my son, but I can also get some exercise outdoors. Winter means more time indoors at the gym and less time outside on my bike. Cardio on the Blue Hills would be a great thing to do while showing off what limited flexibility I have.
Hopefully, The Boy will have fun doing this. I’m sure he will, and I’m sure he will make some new friends thanks to his outgoing and magnetic personality. The Fruit Loops, no doubt will want to know how the snowboarding lessons went and how he did. Did he like doing it? He will fill them in on all of the details of the day. Certainly, a lot more will be shared with the neighborhood crew than with me. I’m just his father. All I’m good for is transportation and getting him home so he can see his friends.
When the calendar flips from the Olympic Games to Valentine’s Day, the menu doesn’t need a complete makeover — it just gets a little cozier.
Warm, melty, shareable cheese dishes are the ultimate crossover: bold and snackable for game-day gatherings, then comforting and romantic for a night in. Whether you’re hosting a house full of fans or setting the table for two, premium cheeses from Gayo Azul, Royal Hollandia, and A Dutch Masterpiece turn everyday recipes into crave-worthy moments.
From crispy Cotija-topped veggie fries to a bubbling Maasdam bread bowl and an elegant Gouda quiche, these easy, flavor-forward recipes deliver crowd appeal and cozy indulgence — perfect from kickoff to candlelight.
“Great cheese has a way of bringing people together, whether you’re cheering with friends or sharing a quiet meal at home,” said Josh Rosen, Brand Manager, for FrieslandCampina, parent company of Gayo Azul, Royal Hollandia and A Dutch Masterpiece. “Our cheeses add depth, richness, and that unmistakable Dutch character that instantly elevates any dish — it’s comfort food with a touch of romance.”
Crispy, golden zucchini fries finished with crumbly, tangy Gayo Azul Cotija deliver the perfect salty bite. Oven-baked and paired with a cool, creamy herbed yogurt dip, this lighter appetizer feels equally at home at a Super Bowl or Olympic watch party — or served as a shareable Valentine’s starter.
Recipe
For the Zucchini Fries:
• 3 medium zucchini
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon pink salt
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 large eggs
• Avocado or olive oil spray
A hollowed sourdough boule filled with creamy, garlicky Maasdam cheese dip, baked until hot and bubbling. Tear, dip, repeat. It’s the kind of dramatic, melty centerpiece that disappears fast at a party — and feels just as indulgent for a cozy night in.
Ingredients (Serves 6–8)
Bread Bowl
• 1 sourdough loaf
• Olive oil
• Salt & pepper
Maasdam Cheese Dip
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• ⅓ cup whipped feta
• 1 cup sour cream
• 8 oz Royal Hollandia Mild Maasdam, shredded
• 4 oz mozzarella, shredded
• 4 oz sharp cheddar, shredded
• 1½ Tbsp hot sauce
• 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
• Garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper
• Red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°F.
Hollow bread, brush with oil, season.
Blend dip ingredients until creamy.
Fill bread bowl and bake 20–30 minutes until hot and bubbly.
Serve with torn bread, pretzels, or veggies.
Photo: Jacqueline Wormington
A Dutch Masterpiece Rembrandt Gouda & Spinach Quiche
An Elegant Valentine’s Brunch or Dinner Favorite
(photo and recipe credit A Dutch Masterpiece)
Nutty, buttery Rembrandt Gouda melts beautifully into a silky egg custard with spinach for a savory quiche that’s both comforting and refined. Garnish with prosciutto roses or edible flowers and it becomes a romantic centerpiece worthy of Valentine’s Day.
Ingredients
• 1 pie crust
• 6 eggs
• ½ cup heavy cream
• Salt & pepper
• 1 wedge A Dutch Masterpiece Rembrandt Gouda, shredded
• 2 (10 oz) boxes frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Whisk eggs, cream, and seasoning.
Stir in Gouda and spinach.
Pour into crust and bake 30–35 minutes until set and golden.
Decorate as desired before serving.
From crispy appetizers to bubbling dips and elegant brunch dishes, cheese has a way of turning simple moments into shared memories. With bold Cotija, silky Maasdam, and rich Gouda, these recipes transition seamlessly from lively celebrations to intimate evenings — proving that great cheese makes every night feel like an occasion.
About Gayo Azul
Gayo Azul crafts authentic Hispanic-style cheeses known for bold flavor and everyday versatility. From signature Cotija to fresh, crumbly favorites, Gayo Azul helps home cooks and chefs bring vibrant taste and tradition to every meal. You can learn more at www.gayoazul.com
About Royal Hollandia
Royal Hollandia produces premium Dutch cheeses using time-honored techniques and high-quality milk. From Mild Maasdam to classic Gouda, Royal Hollandia cheeses are celebrated for exceptional melt, rich flavor, and effortless entertaining. www.royalhollandia.com
About A Dutch Masterpiece
A Dutch Masterpiece showcases the art of traditional Dutch cheesemaking through its collection of aged, specialty cheeses crafted in the Netherlands. Made with high-quality milk and patiently matured for complex flavor and distinctive character, each wheel reflects generations of expertise. From the caramel notes of Rembrandt Gouda to other bold, expressive varieties, A Dutch Masterpiece cheeses deliver gourmet depth, beautiful melt, and standout taste for entertaining, cooking, and everyday indulgence. www.adutchmasterpiece.com
About Royal FrieslandCampina N.V.
Gayo Azul, Royal Hollandia and A Dutch Masterpiece stand as proud brands under the umbrella of Royal FrieslandCampina. The company enriches millions of lives across the globe by delivering dairy products infused with the essential nutrients of milk. FrieslandCampina products grace over a hundred countries, with its Central Office situated in Amersfoort, the Netherlands. The company’s endeavors span four global market-focused business groups: Food & Beverage, Specialized Nutrition, Trading, and Ingredients. Fully owned by Zuivelcoöpate FrieslandCampina U.A., which represents 16,995 dairy farmers across the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium, FrieslandCampina is one of the world’s most prominent dairy cooperatives. For further insights, explore: www.frieslandcampina.com. Gayo Azul is proud to be a part of FrieslandCampina, enriching lives worldwide with dairy products infused with essential nutrients from milk.
Pete loves music. He loves playing drums. Luckily, he had enough encouragement to continuing practicing his drumming from someone who saw his talent and potential. It’s important to help kids when they are practicing and ensuring they don’t get discouraged. It could be easy to feel frustrated with something and walk away from it permanently. Whatever it is my children are working on, music, homework, putting together an arts and crafts project, I try to encourage them as much as I can. If they are discouraged or frustrated, I have them take a break and rest their brains before going back to it for another try.
Some people try to find their rhythm when it comes to music. Others try to find their rhythm in the grand scheme of things. Some feel they need to fit in, and if they do, they’ll be able to find their rhythm. It’s common, especially with kids. No one wants to feel left out. It’s not always easy finding your way. Along the course of life, people will try things. It could be literature, art, music, cooking. People will try different things or new hobbies. It’s a great way to let out your creativity. Plus, it gives you the chance to try something new, and you can meet new people.
There are plenty of things that can hold people back when it comes to trying things. One of the biggest things holding people back is the fear of failing when they try something. Trying and practicing is how people get better at things, but it can take a while to get good at something. Sometimes, the biggest thing that is holding you back is YOU.
Read “Pete’s Beat”
Your child can learn a lesson from Pete when it comes to trusting yourself and your talents. Pete is a young drummer and the main character in Matt Robinson’s“Pete’s Beat”. The book is illustrated by Scott Hubeny.
Pete is an aspiring musician who is always practicing his drumming technique. He is practicing at school using pencils, at the dinner table using his fork and knife. He’ll practice on his bed using a pillow for his drum, practicing away using his bare hands.
“By the end of the month, Pete had tried so many instruments that he was not sure which to play next. All he knew was that he had yet to find his own beat.”
-“Pete’s Beat”
People notice Pete’s work and encourage him to practice and play more. Pete lacks the confidence to take further steps with his playing. It’s a common thing with children and adults alike: Their lack of confidence holds them back. They don’t think they’re good enough, so they stop practicing, and they are stuck in that rut.
Always Encourage your Children
Between sports, academics, and music, I try to encourage my children to do their best. Practicing is how you get better. It’s not just with my own children, but also the children I coached in sports. Work on your game, your art. Practice. Continue to study your niche and sharpen your skills.
Circle Man (That’s his name) notices Pete’s talent and he encourages him to be confident in what he has and share his skill with the listening world. It’s not always an easy thing to do, but sometimes the only thing holding you back is you yourself.
The book talks about people being brave enough to try, confident enough to out themselves out there, and it also talks about a love for music. I love music. I’m not talented in the musical instrument category, but my children are. The Boy is a trombone player. The Oppressed played a tuba. When both Miracles of Christ were in elementary school, they played recorders. I knew a little about recorders thanks to “The Legend of Zelda”.
Lessons in Music and Life
“Everyone can play. All you need to do is find your own beat!” – Circle Man
Pete loves music. He loves playing drums. Luckily, he had enough encouragement to continuing practicing his drumming from someone who saw his talent and potential. It’s important to help kids when they are practicing and ensuring they don’t get discouraged. It could be easy to feel frustrated with something and walk away from it permanently. Whatever it is my children are working on, music, homework, putting together an arts and crafts project, I try to encourage them as much as I can. If they are discouraged or frustrated, I have them take a break and rest their brains before going back to it for another try.
In addition to the story, “Pete’s Beat” also has a glossary introducing music novices to the key terms in the book. There are also puzzles to do to help the reader learn more about instruments mentioned in the book and other instruments in the world of music. Not only does the book show what a little encouragement and practice can do, the puzzles make for a little break from practice.
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If you haven’t met Claire the German Shepherd, allow me to introduce you to her. Claire is the main character of 
Between sports, academics, and music, I try to encourage my children to do their best. Practicing is how you get better. It’s not just with my own children, but also the children I coached in sports. Work on your game, your art. Practice. Continue to study your niche and sharpen your skills.