Several years ago when I was picking up my daughter from a sleep over I asked if she had behaved. The father replied, "yes, but she chews her food like a horse!" He demonstrated this with wide-mouthed chomping followed by a kind chuckle. I knew this family well so, I was not offended. However, I did realize something had to be done. I went home and quickly drew some silly sketches with captions and corresponding thumbs-up or thumbs-down illustrations, put them inside zip lock sandwich bags and "ta-da!" Table Manners Cards were born. In very little time my daughter was using her good table manners in anticipation of receiving thumbs-up cards and consciously avoiding the thumbs-down cards. When we added Mom and Dad or a play date into the game the friendly competition resulted in a dining experience even Emily Post would have approved of. Since then, I have had a second daughter and she has been equally "inspiring." With the encouragement of family and friends I decided to produce my card game and put it on the market. Thanks to the cooperation of local orthodontist and pediatric groups I was able to survey parents, grandparents and caregivers and later put the game through a series of focus groups. My goal was not to simply get the game on the market but to provide a useful tool that would address table manners in the moment they occur. This had to be done in a way that would enhance not diminish the meal time experience and of course be fun.
It took an honest parent with humor, a thick skinned one with imagination and a developing child to bring this game to fruition. I hope that your family will play it, enjoy it and benefit from it.

Dr. Travis Stork is an Emmy�-nominated co-host of the award-winning talk show, The Doctors. He is a practicing E.R. doctor and faculty physician in the emergency department at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Duke University as a member of Phi Beta Kappa and earned his M.D. with honors from the University of Virginia, being elected into the prestigious honor society of Alpha Omega Alpha for outstanding academic achievement.

Canadian-born Stana Katic perhaps best speaks to the inevitable lure of brains and beauty combined. Whether in film, on television or in new digital media, this busy yet down-to-earth actress, who happens to have a passion for archery, also has the skill to hit a bull's eye in every role she takes on.

Katic has played opposite several major motion picture stars, including Morgan Freeman and Greg Kinnear (Feast of Love), Daniel Craig (Quantum of Solice), and Samuel L. Jackson and Eva Mendez (The Spirit). Beyond brains and beauty, Katic also has brawn, being a natural athlete who plays multiple sports and often performs her own stunts. In addition, she sings; producers used her alto-mezzo soprano voice for the sultry theme song in the movie of the week, The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice, in which Katic also starred.

Katic plays NYPD homicide detective Kate Beckett on ABC's Castle.

Tara Lipinski is an American figure skater. At the age of 15, she won the Ladies' Singles Olympic gold medal in figure skating at the 1998 Winter Olympics. Lipinski remains the youngest individual gold medalist in the history of the Olympic Winter Games.[1] She is also the 1997 World Champion, two-time Champions Series Final Champion (1997-1998) and 1997 U.S. Champion.

Adam Silva is Chief Development Officer for the Wounded Warrior Project, a non-profit organization with the mission to raise awareness and public aid for injured service members.

Alan Thicke is probably best know him best as "America's Dad" for his seven years as patriarch Jason Seaver on television's "Growing Pains."

This "Go-To Boomer" is the guy they call for recurring roles on contemporary TV...and in movies such as last year's The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard, with Will Farrell and Jeremy Piven, and the upcoming I Hate You, Dad with Adam Sandler.

He's hosted The Emmy Awards; ABC's Olympic Gala, ABC's Disney Christmas and Easter Parades, the Miss Universe and Miss USA Pageants; Showtime's Comedy All-Stars; and NBC's World's Greatest Magic.

Alan's two humor books, HOW MEN HAVE BABIES: The Pregnant Father's Survival Guide, and HOW TO RAISE KIDS WHO WON'T HATE YOU .

And now, Alan has become the voice of the Baby Boom Generation and has some humorous antidotes and observations on everything from Growing Pain(s) to Rogaine, iPads to Bed Pads, and 45's to nagging wives. His BOOMEROLOGY blogs begin this week in the HUFFINGTON POST.

Penny Johnson Jerald is probably best remembered as the scheming and conniving Sherry Palmer on 24. She was so good in the role that it helped her make the list of television's 50 Most Powerful Divas. In addition to her work on that show, Penny portrayed Dean Etwood on October Road, recurred on the sitcom Eve, played Condoleezza Rice on ABC's Path to 9/11, was Maxine on House of Payne, and has had numerous other roles on such shows as Bones, Law & Order and NCIS, among others.

Penny was nominated for both a Cable Ace Award and an NAACP Image Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series as quick-witted assistant Beverly on The Larry Sanders Show. She also spent four seasons on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as Captain Kasidy Yates. She's proud to have a huge Trekkie following.

Castle airs on ABC Mondays 10/9CT, where Penny plays Captain Victoria Gates.

Recently featured on The Biggest Loser, The Next Great American Restaurant and as a judge on Top Chef, Lorena Garcia is one of the country's leading Latin Chefs and she is releasing a new cookbook New Latin Classics.

This book offers simple 30-Minute Latin meals with a healthy twist that allows you to minimize your time in the kitchen and maximize time around the table with family and friends.

From recipes with grilled papayas to Cranberry-Cilantro Brown Rice, readers will be introduced to delectable dishes with fresh produce, scrumptious sauces and surprising spices that everyone can enjoy. Lorena can also offer readers trouble-free tips on how to eat a healthy and balanced diet such as, using Capsaicin, which is found in hot peppers and helps boost your metabolism or start your meal with a salad to help fill you up so you don't overeat your main course!

The love of farming and a passion for wine brought Anthony Peju to the Napa Valley. A series of ideas - starting in his birthplace on the Caspian Sea, then France, England and eventually, Los Angeles - created their Napa Valley winery.
Tony Peju was studying film at LACC and UCLA when he met Herta Behensky (HB), his future wife. HB encouraged him to start the winery, and together with her help, a Mustang as a down payment, landscape companies, florist stores, buying and selling properties, looking all over Southern California for an appropriate 500 acre farm site - Napa Valley seemed to be the right place.
In 1982, they purchased 30 acres of land with the magic ingredient - location. Neighboring vineyards at Rutherford included Robert Mondavi, Inglenook and Beaulieu. Situated between Highway 29 and the Napa River, the acreage included a 1900-era house and rambling vineyards, some 60 or more years old, planted to Cabernet Sauvignon and French Colombard.
Looking to the future, Tony and Herta have introduced their two daughters, Lisa and Ariana, to the workings of the wine business. Both of the young women are immersing themselves in all aspects of Peju Province Winery.

Monte and Laura Bledshoe started Quail Hollow Farm in 2006, with limited farming experience, but with an intense desire to produce quality, nutritious food for their family and. Knowing that their few shareholders were depending on them to produce quality vegetables throughout the season, motivated them to stick to it, even in the 118 degree heat of Nevada summers.
With a few knowledgeable local farmers as mentors, a lot of study and just plain hard work their small farm began to flourish. There have been many frustrating and discouraging times. The learning process is not always kind, but they have grown from each experience and have come out better for it.
They have added to their garden many small farm animals, with barn and pasture, an orchard, vineyard, greenhouse, and apiary.