My better half is very hard to buy for too. She gets upset if I go overboard, so I have to be careful. It's taken me years, but I've finally learned that books are generally not the best present (and who has time to read when they're overstressed as it is?). She may be getting a new watch next month for her birthday.

The time out of the house thing is probably best. Everyone needs time to decompress now and then.

[link|http://www.flowerbud.com/products.asp?catid=1&prodid=379|Flowers]? (Stargazers are very pretty but the fragrance can be overpowering.) A small [link|http://www.glass-art.com/ViewByStylePages/PaperWeights.htm|glass paperweight]? A pretty [link|http://www.uniqueboxshop.com/index.html|wood box]? A pretty [link|http://www.cc.jyu.fi/~ikeskine/sala.htm|photograph]? (Prints and posters can be tough because you have to have a frame for them and you have to have an appropriate space to display them. And, of course, tastes vary.)

HTH a bit. Luck!

Cheers,
Scott.