The holiday season lasts for a week or two. Maybe you could stretch that out to six weeks if you throw in Thanksgiving and whoop it up through New Year’s Day. For a lot of people, it’s their favorite time of the year, hands-down. Every day, it seems, and everywhere you turn, there’s music, decorations, a party, an invitation, yummy food and drinks, and presents galore to liven things up. The rest of the year can seem overwhelmingly drab in comparison. A person is apt to come crashing back to cold, hard reality early in January, maybe in the middle of a blizzard! When commuting back home in the dark. Is there any way to remedy this problem? Maybe there is. When you give a days-of-the-week gift set—whether it’s undies, socks, dish towels, mugs, lipsticks, or something more unexpected—you’re giving that special someone a small way to liven up the rest of the year, Monday to Friday, or every day of the week—to get through the bleakest weather and the boring grind. The sets in this gift guide are fun to look at and fun to use. (Who couldn’t use more of that?) They don’t take up a lot of space, either. So they will slip into the house and be used and useful. And in many ways, those are the best kind of gifts to receive. And when the recipient of your gift enjoys that thoughtful present, whether it’s Monday or Sunday or somewhere in between, you will be making her day.
Weekdays Mugs
When she has one mug for every day of the week, it ensures that her day will start off with hot coffee and all the important things (the first being a cuppa) in good order. The witty words for the day on the front of the mug keep the mood light. (A few examples: “If each day is a gift, I’d like to know where to return Mondays” and “Happy Thursday. Sorry I am saving my Woo Hoo for Friday” and “I haven’t been this excited about Friday since last Friday.” The cream-and-black ceramic mugs are dishwasher-, microwave-, and oven-safe.
To buy: $70 for seven, horchow.com.
Clinique Days of the Week Lipstick Set
Lipstick is an instant pick-me-up for a lot of women. With a couple of quick swipes, it can make them feel prettier and more put-together. If one tiny tube can do all that, seven lipsticks—one for each day of the week—might just be an even better idea for getting through the workweek and the weekend in style (and with a smile). Clinique’s allergy-tested and fragrance-free prescription includes the seven limited-edition shades, in .08-ounce tubes, dubbed Sweet Sunday, Monday Mojo, Take-On Tuesday, Welcome Wednesday, Throwback Thursday, Finally Friday, Sassy Saturday—all in its longest-wearing formula.
To buy: $57, amazon.com.
Betsey Johnson Women’s Every Day Crew Socks
It’s all too easy to get in a dreary rut with garments as pedestrian as socks (so plain, so hardworking). But getting up, getting dressed, and getting out the door are all a little bit more of a kick when you can look forward to days-of-the-week socks. Sassy Sunday, Sweet Monday, Scary Tuesday, Silly Wednesday, Spooky Thursday, Sexy Friday, and Sweet Saturday will give her a full—and colorful—sock drawer, along with an added bit of fun for the morning back-to-school (or back-to-work) ritual. The acrylic-nylon blend socks feature ribbed-knit cuffs and are machine washable.
To buy: $10, amazon.com.
Days of the Week Printed Dish Towels
The rhythm of life in the kitchen is a beautiful thing when you stop to think about it: breakfast, lunch, and dinner; morning, noon, and night; the transformation of food on the stove and in the oven. But the cycle of dirtying up dishes and pots and getting them clean again is also part of the rhythm. And that can be a lot of work. Make that never-ending chore a little bit easier (you’ll always have a clean towel on hand) and brighter (each is a different color) with this cheerful set of cotton tea towels.
To buy: $45, target.com.
Men’s Days of the Week Socks
His feet work hard all day, holding him up and getting him where he wants to go, even when he’s having fun. They deserve a fine, new wardrobe. This days-of-the-week set of (largely) black socks will make his mornings a little bit easier, too. He can grab and go and get on with the day—and look sharp at the same time. He and his feet will thank you for the thoughtful consideration. The socks, which are made from a polyester-cotton blend, features a different heel and toe color for each day of the week.
To buy: $18, amazon.com.
Poppin Weekly Task Pad
A to-do list is a personal thing. Any old scrap of paper and a pencil scribble work for some people. Others might like the precision of a numbered list on a legal pad or a computer printout in an authoritative font. You just have to know your own style. Super-organizers (some of them undoubtedly Real Simple readers) will love this horizontal to-do list pad with a sticky back. It’s like a slice of a calendar, Sunday to Saturday, from left to right. Fill it in and plot out your week. Getting things done just got that much easier.
To buy: $6, containerstore.com.
Weekday Bowls
Yes, it’s a simple utilitarian object, just a bowl, something that he can eat his daily All-Bran out of every morning before heading off to work or play. But when that mundane object also gives the diner cool life-coach advice to start the day, everything should turn out OK. “Sunday: It is time to relax”; “Wednesday: Nothing chocolate can’t fix”; “Thursday: Be good to yourself.” Wise words to live and to eat by! The pink, cream, and black ceramic bowls are dishwasher-, microwave-, and oven-safe. Each one measures 5¼ inches wide by 3 inches tall.
To buy: $80, horchow.com.
Women’s Days of the Week Hipster 5-Pack
Back in the day, girls would be thrilled to find a set of lacy days-of-the-week undies under the Christmas tree. And this may surprise you, but the thrill does not have to be gone. An excellent stocking stuffer, this set of five weekday hipster panties will be just as delightful as the old fancy pants she wore, and the nostalgic factor certainly plays a part. From Monday’s frown emoticon to the “fri yay” French fry graphic, these garments will add some zing to her workday. Made of a cotton-spandex blend. Comes in sizes XS to L.
To buy: $18, target.com.
Let’s Eat Note Pad
Cooking is an art, and sometimes the chef is on the hunt for inspiration and motivation. This 50-page weekly planner—seven days across and three meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) deep—is a blank canvas that will allow the culinary artist in your life to imagine freely for the week. She can dream soufflé dreams and romantic dinners for two or plan hearty family breakfasts and stick-to-your-ribs suppers. Writing it down is the first step in the creative process. A grocery-list section and a magnetized backing is included to help ensure she always has the right supplies on hand.
To buy: $20, papersource.com.
Daily Mood Maker Scented Nail Polish set
It’s a new day, a new dawn, and a new color and a new scent on her nails, too. Any makeup maven on your gift list will love the variety and the splash that she will generate with these seven mini scented nail polishes—there’s a different combination for every day of the week. The set includes blue Super-Chill Sunday, toast Madhouse Monday, scarlet Toes Out Tuesday, fuchsia Wake Up Wednesday, yellow Throwback Thursday, orange Fun-Time Friday, and red Sassy Saturday. Who doesn’t love a choice? And the mini sizes make the set a right-size stocking stuffer.
To buy: $15, papersource.com.
Days of the Week File Folders
If that boring, cramped cubicle has got her feeling down, or the open office is driving her nuts, these bright and cheeky file folders might add an injection of fun into her workweek while organizing the tasks that make up her daily grind. The set includes: “Monday, Get Me Out of Here”; “Tuesday, Better Than Monday”; “Wednesday, Humpity Hump”; “Thursday, Questioning My Sanity”; “Friday, Oh Happy Day”; and “Weekend, Off the Clock.” Maybe the office manager can buy them for the whole staff. Six letter-size folders measure 11.75 by 9 inches and have room for notes inside.
To buy: $14, amazon.com.
