It seems that every time a birthday, anniversary or holiday rolls around, my poor husband is at a loss as to what kind of gift to give me. When I told him that I wasn’t hard to buy for, his response was that all women are hard to buy for, myself included.
It got me thinking about gifts that I and most other women would enjoy, gifts that span all interest areas.
Here’s what I came up with:
1. Food
Everyone enjoys food, not just women. However, if you think creatively, food can be a great gift. Send a cookie bouquet, edible arrangement or a simple box chocolates. Pick out a dozen cupcakes from a local specialty bakery, or even try out your baking skills by making some cupcakes yourself with your own personal frosting touch. For a more formal affair, take her out to a gourmet restaurant, or step back into the kitchen and go full out with the culinary arts and make her a fabulous multi-course meal. Whatever you do, make sure you’re aware if she has any special dietary requirements, food allergies, or is a vegan/vegetarian.
2. Jewelry
Jewelry is a pretty standard gift, but it doesn’t always have to be an expensive one. No need to fork over a huge wad of cash just to find something she’ll like. The handmade jewelry movement has taken off and there’s a wide selection of fabulous pieces to choose from. Get her something fun or funky to match her personality. The thought value, especially if it is not a special occasion, will far out weigh the cost.
3. Flowers
I’m not overly fond of receiving bouquets of flowers. The thought is lovely, but the flowers die in a few days and you’re left with an empty vase. If your girl is like me, buy her a live plant that she can keep in the house or even one she can put in the garden. Another way to gift plants: a trip to the botanical garden! This is especially useful when you are first starting to date. The plant will be around much longer as a constant reminder keeping you on her mind.
4. Books
Books are a fabulous gift! No matter where her interests lie, there is a book out there for her. Dig through her bookshelf to find her favorite authors and get an idea of what genre of books she enjoys. A quick internet search can help you find similar books that she might like. If you’re worried you’ll choose the wrong book, consider buying her an e-reader like Kindle or Nook instead. This is not commonly known, but if she has a “wish list” at Amazon.com, then you can find out what’s on it by visiting: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/ and entering her email address or name.
5. A Good Pampering
Give your lovely lady the gift of relaxation. Massage, spa treatments, manicures and pedicure are a great way to indulge the one you 
love. If you want to step up the romance factor, look into a couples massage. Ooh la la!
6. A Night Out
There are so many options for a great evening out! Take her out to dinner and follow it with a movie, concert, play, ballet or opera. Go to an amusement park and pair it with a trip the ice cream parlor. For those extra special occasions, spend the night in a luxury hotel, enjoying tray after tray of room service.
7. The Personal Touch
At heart, most women are sentimental. Take some time to give your girl something you crafted from the heart. No matter what your talent, you can make her something she’ll treasure. If you’re decidedly not crafty, go for a framed print of your favorite photo as a couple.
When she’s not berating her husband for his poor gift choices, Mary Shroedinger enjoys baking, gardening and spending time with her kids.