Kirios’ birthday is this coming Monday, and I have absolutely no idea what to get him. Picking presents for Kirios is always an upwards battle. For starters, my family has never been big on presents. My parents generally considered whatever major purchase of the year to cover all of their bases. You need a new camera in July? Happy birthday (in February)/happy Channukah/congrats on graduating. All obligations fulfilled. A trip to Israel for the summer? That covers two years of presents. I’m not complaining – but we just never stayed up at night planning that super special personal gift for each other.

Then there’s the fact that Kirios doesn’t really need anything — he lives with his parents so he has no need for home goods. He already has all sorts of electronic gadgets, and lenses and accessories for his favorite toy, his dSLR are definitely out of my budget. Kirios is very particular about his wardrobe and collection of man jewelry, and he prefers tangible gifts as opposed to show tickets and fun excursions. (which I’m sure he realizes we would partake in anyway) In desperation, I’m planning to take him to the mall and have him pick something out to be my present – he’ll like it, and I won’t have to spend any more time stressing over finding the perfect gift.

Little presents are fine. I have no problem picking out “happy Tuesday, I was thinking of you” gifts. When Kirios and I first started dating, I was training for a half-marathon and always tired, so he would bring me cans of diet Dr. Pepper to help me get my caffeine kick. When he was out of the country last fall and I was shmying the aisles of Target with a friend, buying him the “I’m a Pepper” vintage tee on display was a no-brainer. Buying him a small toy LLV (Long Life Vehicle – the trucks letter carriers drive when delivering mail) made it easy for him to think of his little Postal Worker girlfriend. But birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries?!? That’s a whole different story, after almost a year and a half, every major gift-giving occasion still causes me trouble.

I do find some solace in knowing that I’m not alone. A best friend called me in a frenzy more than a month before her boyfriend’s birthday last year feeling the same way I do. “He’s picky,” she said. “I can’t just pick out clothes for him, he won’t wear them.” In another case, a coworker of mine had just started dating a new guy a couple of weeks before her birthday. He gifted her with a $200 piece of jewelry. After another month, it was her turn to give a birthday gift. Their relationship wasn’t serious, but he had already set the bar pretty high. And to make matters worse, her budget couldn’t exactly support his luxurious tastes. “It would be easier to just break up with him now rather than figure out what to get him,” she lamented.

So please, can somebody help me out here? I’ve already given him shirts, ties, cuff links, a watch, etc.. I even put together a create-your-own Monopoly board with pictures of us. I’ve read all of the Amazon gift recommendation lists, and countless others. So please, help a girl out here! Any showstopper gifts perfect for surprising a significant other?