Some artists choose to see life through rose-colored glasses. Then there are those who see gritty reality, and still try to make something pretty out of it. Take Tristan Zimmermann, a designer who created these bonsai planters (pretty) and incorporated the concept of what parks are really like (reality). The white porcelain pottery depicts disturbing scenes of what goes on after dark—two men having sex in a corner, a pervert flashing an unsuspecting lady. Then there are also the just-plain-sad scenarios of a man getting mugged or a lonely fellow who has lost his way. In a way, these pieces are a poignant metaphor—not even the youngest, most innocent sapling is immune to the dark realities of the world. Or they’re just totally hilarious. Depends how you see things. [$100, CharlesAndMarie.com]

The inevitable nostalgic itch to start buying school supplies—even if you graduated long ago—is starting right about now. Then again, you’re probably not going to become enamored by the offerings at Office Max. These notebooks from Etsy seller Wonting NYC are the perfect compromise. Simple yet cute designs adorn the kraft paper covers. Inside, you’ll find blank perforated pages and a pocket for keeping receipts and scrap paper. If you love the designer’s style, check out the stationery, featuring seals on the front of cards, or the selection of affordable graphic prints of kiddie-like animals and trees done up in hip colors and shapes. [$15, Etsy.com]

If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. Enough with trying to reform teenagers. Here’s a design by Deger Cengiz called the “Attitude Chair,” which he says, “is developed for teens with attitude; prevents falling when the chair is tipped back.” Someone’s gotta watch out for those punks. [swissmiss]

I never understood how John Mayer gets so many women: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Jessica Simpson, Minka Kelly, Jennifer Aniston. Then, the September issue of Elle Decor arrived in my mailbox with Mayer’s New York City apartment on the cover. Sure, he got a little help from Giorgio Armani, but Mayer has it going on in the apartment department. His pad is simple, chic, and all grown-up. “I steer clear of bravado,” he told Elle Decor. “It detracts from who you really are.” This is a maxim he seems to have applied to his home decor—but not other aspects of his life. [ELLE Decor]

Skip the drive to the Golden Arches. Tell the Colonel he can shove it. Yo quiero Taco Bell…at home. All you need to recreate many of your fast food orders in your own kitchen is the new book, “America’s Most Wanted Recipes: Delicious Recipes From Your Family’s Favorite Restaurants.” Yeah, seriously. KFC’s secret ingredient unveiled, after the jump!

Not long ago, we told you about how American Apparel introduced a new line of jersey bedding. My first thought was innnn-teresting. Next brainwave: Why the hell do I want a set of jersey sheets? Sure, jersey sheets (t-shirt sheets for those not trolling the aisles of Bed, Bath & Beyond on their Sunday mornings) are insanely affordable and can feel (when they’re new) like the inside of a just-purchased sweatshirt before the first wash—but I just can’t get into them. For two reasons…

Move over Ikea, there’s a new king of cheap furniture in town: The Los Angeles-based company, Forever 21, which is forever legendary in our minds for selling $21 knockoffs of $2100 dresses, is now launching a home collection. The line will launch at Forever 21’s largest stores later on this year, followed by a debut at XXI, their latest concept store. The press release was sparse on details of what the furniture will actually look like, but we can all be sure it will be plenty trendy and all kinds of disposable, just like their clothes! Although we have to wonder: Will the collection simply be chintzy little knickknacks fit for a teenager’s room, or stuff oldsters like us can use in our apartments and stuff? Guess we’ll just have to sit tight. But here’s hoping they’ll knock off all the cute but spendy Jonathan Adler stuff we’re always sweatin’. [NY Mag]

My studio apartment isn’t exactly palatial, so I’ve had to do without certain things that people who live in larger places would never consider an extravagance, like an ironing board. If I iron any of my clothes (I tend to hang them in the bathroom while I shower and let the steam do its best to erase the wrinkles), it happens on my kitchen counter. Designer Aïssa Logerot created this combo ironing board-mirror concept, which would certainly help me to wear less wrinkled clothes to the office. Maybe one day Bed Bath & Beyond will be smart enough to carry them, but until then, the kitchen counter will have to suffice. [Toxel.com via Notcot.org]

Nick Olsen, former Domino blogger and an assistant designer to the amazingness that is Miles Redd, came up with a list of first-timer decorating mistakes forThe Washington Post. Now, since I’ve painted and re-done my bedroom no less than four times over the past year, I considered myself to be over that beginner mistake hump. Ha, think again. As I went down his totally-helpful list, I realized that at one point in my life or another (and even right now, as I look up at a mirror hung horizontally over my couch) I’ve made every single one of the mistakes! Live and learn, I guess—but check his list out, it’s totally solid design advice! [The Washington Post]

The last time I plopped myself down on a bean bag chair it was freshman year of college—and to give you an idea of my and my roommates decor scheme then, our other furniture consisted of a “coffee table” made from salvaged plywood and cement blocks and sorta-stained slipper chairs that a roommate talked the campus health center into giving us rather than throwing out. It wasn’t exactly the stuff of Elle Decor photo spreads. I’m thinking a lot of us don’t really think of bean bag chairs in the fondest light. Well, get ready to reconsider your decor stigma, because the 2009 version of the bean bag will shock you—Pottery Barn Kids has a go-with-everything, wide-striped bag, it’s actually an in- and outdoor chair so you can throw ‘em out in the backyard for instant seating. West Elm has it’s own very modern-looking version. And my favorite is from Serena & Lily—it’s a bit more structured, will cost you 45 bucks and could even double as an ottoman or low side table.

The “Real Housewives of New Jersey” strike again—this time in the New York Times Styles section. NYT visited some of the ladies to talk about their homes (and by homes, we mean sprawling 10,000-plus-square-foot spreads). You really do get a great sense of the Jersey aesthetic—small and modest, these abodes are not—and learn a thing or two about Jerz interior design.

Let’s face it. Most websites suck. Doncha think? Generally, I especially loathe those wear-their-gimmick-on-their-sleeve sites, the ones that were created just so someone could get a book deal. But I love me some This Is Why You’re Fat. It’s hardcore, wet and sloppy, extreme, take-no-prisoners, get down and dirty food porn. And I, for one, cannot get enough of it. If you’re looking to drool over photographs of the most over the top food assemblages ever created, this is the omnivore pornography for which you have spent your whole life waiting. Co-created by Frisky contributors Richard Blakeley (of Gawker) and his girlfriend, Urlesque‘s Jessica Amason, this is the next food movement—21st century shameless gluttony!—waiting to happen. After the jump, a few of my obscene favorites.

When I showed up for my freshman year of college, my roommate was a no-show. Since then, I have had one waking nightmare after another—the one who brushed her teeth so hard, she passed out in the bathroom and conked her head on the sink; the one who drank a case of beer every night; the one who paid $250 in rent while charging me $900; the one who accused me of stealing his $100 guitar when I had three guitars worth fifty times that. Needless to say, I now pay out my ear to live alone and it’s worth every single penny.

Here are the things I know for sure: I sleep better with socks on; I prefer Dutch chocolate to Swiss; I look lousy in black and will always wear it anyway; and I will never, ever live with a man again.

Every once in a while we stumble upon an item that isn’t necessary, but it brings something to the table. Napkin rings aren’t essential the way food is, but it’s hard to resist this brilliant design by Etsy artist Rae Dunn. Handcrafted and imprinted into clay, these chunky rings can be customized with either her foodie words or your own. Dinner’s at 7pm – don’t be late. [$112 for 8, Etsy]

What happens when you take Blik, an awesome wall graphics company, and combine it with Threadless, a quirky T-shirt design company? You get really awesome decals to decorate your wall, that’s what. These giant stickers aren’t kiddie fodder; They’re original and imaginative, breathing life into any boring bedroom or dreary office. And, you can vote on which design you want to see in wall-sticker form next on Blik’s website. [$50, Blik]

The holidays are a great time to buy the people in your life items that add to their homes’ ambiance and convenience. For example, my mom came over for Thanksgiving and brought her turkey baster, and it was so busted that I am totally buying her a new one for Christmas. Likewise, I hope she buys me a new comfy, cozy throw for my couch, because I am cold. Right now. And don’t forget to check out everything else in our amazing Gift Guide 2008!