Guys, I got a new mattress! Not just any mattress either... A mattress from Brooklyn Bedding and spoiler alert, I LOVE it. So much so, I really just can't stop talking about it -- there have definitely been several Snapchats and texts sent out (you may have gotten one).

I've been thinking about getting a new mattress for quite some time, but let's be honest getting a new mattress in the city is kind of a drag. Plus, I didn't just want any mattress. I've never actually picked out my own mattress so I wanted to do that adult thing and make sure I did my research and found one that would be game changer -- I'm terrible at sleeping through the night. And hey, we spend a lot of our lives sleeping, it should be comfy! I did a lot of research but hadn't taken the plunge yet, so you can imagine how excited I was when Brooklyn Bedding reached out to me to see if I'd like to check out their mattresses. Cheyeahhh!

Not only did Brooklyn Bedding have amazing reviews of their mattresses (they're rated #1 on Amazon) but I also found out that the beds are delivered in a box! Yes, a box how cool is that? Totallyyyy perfect for someone living in the city like me. Normally ordering a mattress involves picking one out, scheduling delivery service (which always seems to take longer than you'd like), and planning your day around the delivery. Not with Brooklyn Bedding though. You pick out your mattress and it ships free usually within 3-4 days! Cool right? So here's a look at how the process works because I know you're curious!

The box arrived in my apartment building lobby and it took a little bit to get it up the stairs (dang you 5th floor walk-up) but was totally doable with 2 people. The mattress is made up of 3 different types of foams Talalay Latexm Dunlop Latex, and poly foam so there aren't any springs which allows it to be rolled up and into a box. Once you open the box the mattress looks like this!

Once you pull the mattress out of the box it's super simple, all you have to do is put it on your box spring (or flat surface foundation) and unroll it out of its plastic wrapping.

Once it is laid flat you just cut the edges of the plastic casing and POOF the mattress starts to expand like a marshmallow. It was kind of the coolest thing ever.. not going to lie.

I have to say, I was a little surprised that the bed poofed out and into position so fast. I was thinking it might have a little bit of a curve or what not until it got settled but it was pretty instantaneous.

Cue the part where I just laid on my new mattress for a good 30-45 mins in a lazy coma once I realized how comfy it was repeating "I love you new bed..." It was in that moment that I realized just what a good job they did picking out their hashtag #BestMattressEver. Because after that moment I had decided just that.

Eventually I did decide I needed to do the responsible grown up thing and put my sheets and comforter onto the bed.

So we've covered that the bed is super comfy anddd how cool the delivery process is, but there's also some other neat features worth mentioning!

• Personalized Comfort Levels: Brooklyn Bedding isn't about that one-size-fits-all thing, which is why they have 3 different options -- Soft, medium, and firm (I went with the medium option)

• Factory Direct and 100% Made in the U.S.: The business has been around sine 1995 so they aren't newbies to the market plus everything is made in the U.S.

• 120 Night Trial: Not sure about getting a new mattress? Well, they offer a 120 night trial (which is longer than competitors in the market) so you can make sure your new mattress is just what you're looking for. Looking for something different? That's cool too, they'll pick it up free of charge so you don't really have anything to loose.

• Financing Options: Mattresses are an investment and while you might want a new one your pesky budget might be getting in the way. Living in NYC I totally get it! Luckily they offer a financing option too so you can spread out some of the payments if you need to.

And there you have it! If you couldn't tell already I'm definitely a huge fan of Brooklyn Bedding. They made the hassle of getting a new bed in the city totally smooth and holy comfiness. Boy, what a difference having an amazing mattress can make. My advice? Check them out, you won't regret it!

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**Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. Brooklyn Bedding provided me with a complimentary mattress in exchange for a blog post. This post and all opinions stated are based on my own ideas and honest experience with the product and has not been influenced based upon the sponsorship.

If you are a cocktail lover, then this post is totally for you! I attended a tasting in the city for a really cool vodka company called Our/Vodka that will be launching in New York in 2016. 

The concept is really interesting too. Our/Vodka is a global brand that has gone local with partners in select cities around the world. Here's where it gets even cooler too.. While there is a global recipe, each location sources local ingredients creating a unique product that brings out the character of each city. Neat right!? Our/Vodka has already opened distilleries in Berlin, Amsterdam, Detroit and Seattle and will be adding New York next year in Chelsea. Another cool fact? It is going to be the first legal distillery in Manhattan since prohibition, yes really!

The event took place downstairs at a neat location in Nolita, which set the tone for the brand. It was an intimate event, which was great because it really gave you the opportunity to get to know the product.

To be completely honest, generally when I'm drinking vodka I'm drinking it in cocktails and not straight so it was interesting to go through the tasting. We started with a blind test of a competitor premium vodka. The first taste wasn't too surprising.. tasted just like your traditional vodka with the predictable bite. From there we tasted the Detroit version of Our/Vodka, which you could immediately tell a difference from the first brand. It proved to be much smoother with less bite and more flavor notes. Next up was the Seattle version, which was similar but there was definitely a distinct difference in the flavor notes from the Our/Vodka Detroit. While similar, it was cool to taste first hand of how the different local ingredients affected the flavor palette and even the alcohol content.

After the tasting, it was time to taste the product in a more familiar manner.. cocktails! They had 3 carefully chosen cocktail options that were created our of fresh juices and flavors to complement each city's vodka. Of course I had to go with the Seattle one, which highlighted rhubarb. 

Something that really came across during the event is that Our/Vodka has been very well-thought-out. This isn't just another spirit brand to come to market. They really seem to have put in the time to partner with the right people, and choose quality ingredients to create a truly different product with a story that has depth, which I found very appealing.

It was a really nice event and I'm glad I was invited to check it out! Definitely stay tuned for their 2016 New York launch. All of my fam and friends in Washington can check out their Seattle location too! Talk about cross-country connection ;-) Cheers to that!

Did I just eat Short Rib and Bone Marrow Agnolotti at the Village Idiot? Or, did I long ago drink $5 pitchers of Miller Lite while signing along to Waylon Jennings songs at Scarpetta?  The answer to both questions is sort of, yes.

I started this column to tell the story of how I discovered some of my favorite New York City foods and what led me to try them for the first time.  I learned about Scarpetta in the most uninteresting way possible.  I saw it on the Food Network.  Not that there is anything wrong with the Food Network.  I've half watched enough Diners Drive Ins and Dives marathons to make my eyes bleed.

After watching Chef Scott Conant demonstrate for Ted Allen on “Best Thing I Ever Ate” how he makes his famous spaghetti I was sold.  I knew Scarpetta was a restaurant that I would soon need to try.

As I waited for my girlfriend outside the building at 355 W 14th it became readily apparent to me that Scarpetta occupies that same space that once housed a great dive bar called the Village Idiot.  In late 1990s and early 2000s I witnessed/participated in countless drunken fights and sloppy hookups at the rowdy tavern where patrons drank straight from their own pitcher. Who needs a glass when the whole pitcher is only 5 bucks?

At the Village Idiot broke college kids, grizzled bikers, and Wall Street bankers all drank the same piss and played the same Johnny Cash songs from the jukebox. Completely pretense free dives like the Idiot are a dying breed in New York City.  One is not going stay on business on a prime corner of the Meat Packing district in 2015 when your main product is under-priced domestic beer.

Once inside I was able to ignore the ghosts of past savagery long enough to enjoy a terrific meal.  The basket of bread included two slices of excellent stromboli, one with meat, one vegetarian. The olive oil and marzipan whipped butter that were provided for dipping both were delicious.

We ordered two pasta dishes to share, the above mentioned agnolotti and spaghetti that is Ted Allen's favorite.  I don't believe I'd ever previously had a pasta that was stuffed with beef short rib and bone marrow.  The delicate house made noodle, similar to a mini ravioli, was dressed with garlic chips and horseradish.  It was a really inventive and tasty plate.

The much hyped spaghetti did not disappoint.  It seemed as if it was the chef's intent to take a simple and classic dish and elevate it through the use of great ingredients cooked perfectly.

We finished the meal with a fabulous dessert called Limoncello Semifreddo. The pistachio cake, macerated berries, and blackberry basil sorbet all worked together in sweet harmony.  Overall it was a great meal and night in lower Manhattan. Though I truly miss my wild nights at the Village Idiot, I'm glad that Chef Scott Conant is doing noble work in the space.       

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Chris Sandstrom - Is a graduate of Columbia University and the author of the debut novel, "Reality TV and Hookers" a satire on the reality TV industry. You can keep up with Chris on Twitter at @ChrisSandstrom8.

Finding Food in NYC Is a series highlighting how Chris discovered some of his favorite food spots in New York City.