Go shopping together before Christmas and carefully observe what she pays attention to or mentions she likes. Don't come right out and ask her if that's what she'd like for Christmas, but stow away the ideas and make the decision yourself later.

Ask her best friend, sister or mother what they think she'd like for Christmas. Let them know you want to choose the right gift and would appreciate their informed opinion since they've known her longer than you have. This is an excellent way to score boyfriend brownie points with her circle of family and friends too.

To Bejewel or not to Bejewel

Jewelry is not appropriate if you've been dating less than a month. Jewelry is generally seen as a symbol of commitment (yes, even the non-engagement ring type). So if you're not ready to pledge fidelity, forget about the diamonds. On the other hand, if you are interested in spending the rest of your life with her, try to gauge her interest in the commitment before presenting her with shiny, expensive gifts.

If you've been dating longer than a year, jewelry is very appropriate. With very few exceptions, all women like sparkly things they can wear on their fingers, wrists, necks and earlobes. Picking the right glittery object can be challenging, so here are a couple hints.

First, decide whether you want to buy a piece she can wear every day or something for special occasions. If you'd like to see her wear it on a regular basis, it can't be too big or ostentatious. Pay attention to the kind of jewelry she normally wears and try to choose something similar, but unique.

Presentation

Once you've found the perfect gift, make it look pretty. If you're hopeless with gift-wrap, have the store wrap it for you or get a friend to help you out. Part of the fun of opening presents is tearing away the beautiful wrapping paper to get at what's inside. 

                                                            
santa baby…

If you've done your homework and put serious thought into her gift, chances are she'll open it with a huge smile on her face.

Lucky for you, most women have fairly low expectations when it comes to their boyfriend's ability to choose presents wisely, so you're bound to exceed them if you put in a little effort.