The Daddy Survival Site

Bonivita Heritage Collection, Baby Furniture, Lifestyle Crib.  By Alex Willis.

Ever have one of those hindsight moments that you wish you had foresight on?  I did, and it started with a trip to a high end baby store in search of a traditional crib.  Once in the grasp of the sales person I was confidenced (note the term refers to ‘CON’)  that a single investment would not only buy me a great crib, but one that would convert to a toddler, youth and eventually a full size bed…I am thinking Transformers here.  4in1 Lifetime bedding systems is a trend that is becoming very popular amongst young first time parents.  Looking through the store at comparables and prices, I found what I believed to be the best built, best priced product in a finish that would complement my daughters’ room for the next 18 years.  I dropped nearly $1000 in cash which bought me the crib set up, the youth bed conversion rail and the full size bed conversion rails.  Not included was the mattress, so there's another $100 that we had to spend.  While making our final decision on the showroom floor, we noticed a gaudy sticker on the footboard with the name of the manufacturer on it.  When we asked the store clerk, she stated that it was a floor model and it helped people see the difference in the products.  With that we custom ordered the bed and when it was received, sure enough there was the gaudy sticker.  I immediately called the high end store and recapped my initial purchase decision; we were told by the manager that the sales person misspoke.  While on the phone with a very friendly store clerk, I wandered through my house looking at various furnishings and was hard pressed to find anything that had a branding mark on it.  Sure, look in a drawer or on the back a piece of furniture and the maker mark is typically visible.  So my expensive purchase is cheapened by a gaudy sticker and the store can’t do a thing about it.  When I called the manufacturer for the proper way to remove the sticker, I was told that doing so would void the warranty.  Really?!  Does the sticker keep the product cohesive, will it stop functioning as a 4in1 system?  Is the sticker actually a ‘Transformer’ button?  Sure, if I buy a Lexus or RCA television, I expect to see branding marks on the items.  I do not expect to see it on furniture.  Faced with the choice to remove the sticker and void the warranty, attempt to return it to the store for a store credit and buy a different product or live with it…I chose to remove the sticker and void the warranty.  If anything goes wrong with the footboard, I will reaffix the sticker and happily return the system.  If the 4 in 1 system fails to operate with the loss of the sticker, then my wife and I are prepared to suck it up and live with the poor service and lack of customer care that buying a high end product brings.

Cheer

Listerine Breath Strips.  By Alex Willis.

I like my breath mints hard, small and sugary, so when given a breath strip, cinnamon none the less, I was skeptical.  At first, like with regular Listerine, my taste buds were offended and as the thin plastic like strip dissolved on my tongue within seconds there was no turning back or spitting it out.  What I found surprised me, within a couple of seconds I had fresh breath.  Of course I am conscientious of my friends and neighbors and am probably a little more concerned about my body smells than most, so to me this little invention was just one step short brushing teeth.  I keep a pack on my night stand so when I wake in the morning and kiss my wife, I can pop one in first and avoid the whole morning breath issue.  Of course this does require that I give her one as well, I would only caution you to make sure that:  1.  She is awake before pressing a Listerine shocker in her mouth and 2. Make sure she even wants it.  And trust me, morning breath is just as bad as end of day breath, and if you are trying to be intimate with your significant other, there is nothing worse than bad breath…well there are worse things, but it’s high on the list.  My recommendation, keep brushing your teeth, it doesn’t resolve the plaque issue, but supplement your breath with Listerine Breath strips, your friends will thank you!