How To Make Your Wife's Christmas Gift Extra Special

If you're already thinking about Christmas, hats off to you! By planning and shopping early, you'll be able to sit back and enjoy the holiday festivities without having to rush around at the last minute. And, as you consider giving your wife an extra-special gift this Christmas, consider what she loves most. From finding out what she wants to selecting jewelry, here are some ideas that might help you.

Do Some Detective Work - Of course, you probably already know the obvious things your wife loves, but find out if there are hidden dreams she hasn't talked about and use them as you shoot.

• Talk to her friends to find out if she has mentioned things like attending art class or learning a new language. A gift card for something she'd love to learn would be a very thoughtful gift.
• Do some careful questioning. As you and your wife visit over dinner or somewhere else where you can have a meaningful conversation, ask her questions like What's on your bucket list? or What do you want to be when you're really all grown up? Let's say that she says that she has always wanted to ski. A gift basket with new ski clothes and the promise of a ski trip and skiing lessons would be amazing.

Think Of Something Sentimental - Almost all women have a sentimental side to them. Your wife would love any gift that shows you gave it a lot of thought. Jewelry is a gift that will become a keepsake.

• If you do decide to purchase jewelry for your wife's Christmas gift, consider giving her something very unique. For example, shop for a ring with her birthstone and your children's birthstones as part of the design. Or consider a locket that can hold pictures of the two of you. Insert one that was taken when you were newlyweds to really impress her.
• Think about giving your wife a piece of antique jewelry. Go to thrift stores, antique shops, jewelry repair shops, and even estate sales to see if you can find jewelry that matches your wife's personality. For example, if your wife is the sporty type, look for a diamond tennis bracelet. If your wallet prohibits costly jewelry, look for costume jewelry from the '30s, '40s and '50s that is hard to find in regular stores.

No matter what you give your wife, don't forget to add a beautiful card or even a poem that expresses your feelings for her.