Last month, my brother and I went to a wedding for our cousin. She got married to a guy that we introduced her to when we went bowling one night. It wasn’t a date night or anything, and we were just there to have a little fun. They talked to each other for a little bit, and then they ended up talking the entire night, and pretty much forgot that we were there. I had never seen anything like it. They had wedding invitations with little bowling pins on them, to represent that day, and I thought it was kind of funny and cute at the same time.
On the days leading up to the wedding, we decided to go out with the groom for a little bowling. He didn’t want to have some kind of bachelor party because he didn’t like the idea of women dancing in front of him before he was going to get married. Continue reading The Bonding over Bowling Games
Simmons Mattresses feature pocketed coil springs which minimize movement. The Simmons line tends to be slightly more expensive than Sealy due in part to the higher number of coils. Because of the independent coil system, Simmons mattresses feature 825-850 coils in a queen size mattress compared to about 735 in a Sealy. Though the Sealy has significantly fewer coils, its interlocking coil system is very supportive by nature and simply doesn’t require as many coils as a Simmons.
Zalmon Simmons founded the company in 1870 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. In 1889 Simmons introduced spiral coil springs which revolutionized the mattress industry. The Wall-A-Bed, later known as the famous Murphy Bed, was introduced in 1912. Simmons kept pace with the industrial revolution in the 1920′s, employing a machine that coiled wire and pushed it into fabric sleeves. Sleep research funded by Simmons in the 1930′s revealed that sleepers change their posture more than 35 times in an 8 hour period.
Sealy Posturepedic Mattresses are designed by orthopedic surgeons. Their trademark characteristic is their interlocking coil system which provides added stability and durability. Compared to Simmons, the other leading brand, Sealy beds usually feel slightly firmer and are best for couples who are light sleepers. Couples who get in and out of bed frequently throughout the night may be better served by the independent coil system of the Simmons which isolates movement. Some people often compare it to Dreamfoam Bedding, you can 
Sealy has been around for more than 125 years, originating in Sealy, Texas. The founder, Daniel Haynes, sold his patented mattress technology to a Texas company who started officially marketing the mattresses as Sealy in 1906. The company grew through the roaring twenties and barely survived the great depression, finally creating their famous Sealy Posturepedic mattress in 1950. This was the first mattress that was designed to provide solid back support. Sealy mattresses have continued to incorporate high-tech coils, first with programmed coils for increased support and later with their PostureTech Coil. Most recently Sealy launched their own memory foam product, TrueForm, as well as the Springfree mattress which has a latex core.
Serta was founded in 1931 using the same licensing formula employed by Coca-Cola and competitor Sealy to expand their manufacturing capabilities. This business model would later prove to be even more significant in 2004 when Serta was purchased by its largest licensee, National Bedding Company. Serta introduced their Pillow Soft line in the 1970′s which began the trend towards more comfortable, less firm mattresses. The company has shown strong growth in the last thirty years, expanding its production facilities by over 300% in the 1990′s alone. Their “Counting Sheep” advertising campaign won awards for its humorous portrayal of animated sheep upset that they had been put out of business by Serta mattresses. This successful campaign also helped increase awareness and drive a burst in sales for the company. Serta was also the first major mattress manufacturer to release a fireproof mattress that can withstand an open flame.
Tempur-Pedic mattresses are high-end viscoelastic foam mattresses that are designed to let your body sink in and then support you. Many people are now using Tempur-Pedic pillows which, at around $110, are a much more affordable test than the investment required to start sleeping on a viscoelastic foam mattress every night. The Tempur-Pedic company is quick to point out that their mattresses and pillows are not made out of “memory foam” but Tempur Material. Like the cheaper memory foam pillows found at Costco and Bed, Bath & Beyond for $30, memory foam mattresses do not use the same material employed by Tempur-Pedic. Some mattress spotters report that the cheaper “knock-off” foam mattresses do not conduct heat properly and leave the sleeper too warm throughout the night. Tempur-Pedic mattresses also aim to solve that problem by creating one or two air cushions between the layers of Tempur material. These air cushions help disperse the heat for a cooler sleeping environment.
Tempur-Pedic mattresses fall into the “specialty” mattress category along with Sterling and Select Comfort. These mattresses are noted for their extended warranty (typically 20-year limited warranty as opposed to 10) and higher price points. Customers who purchase Tempur-Pedic mattresses tend to be extremely loyal, almost cult-like in their testimonials about the brand. When you lie down on one during the course of your mattress shopping you may also find yourself a convert.
The Spring Air Back Supporter line of mattresses are unique in that you don’t turn them over like most mattresses. This line of mattresses uses zoned coils and foam, making flipping unnecessary.
Originally founded in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1898 by Samuel Bronstein, King Koil is now based in Willowbrook, Illinois.
Created by George Stearns and Seth Foster in 1846 just outside of Cincinnati, Stearns & Foster is one of the oldest mattress companies in America. In the early 1900′s, Stearns & Foster started to put more emphasis into the style and design of their products, a trait that would carry on to the present-day line of high-quality mattresses. After redesigning their entire product line in 1994 they received a 97% satisfaction rating from their customers.