i painted a portrait of him as a giant bug fighting robots and dinosaurs. he pretty much loves it. i don't buy him very much because i usually create most of his gifts. i bought him a star wars lego set one year, he totally flipped. i think its about knowing your boy and really knowing what he's into and wouldn't expect.

I definitely see what he's been pointing to and wanting. I always made sure to get my boyfriend something he wanted or relative to what he likes, something a girlfriend would get him, then something homemade, along with some goodies.

I usually would get him something like: a video game he wanted, some cologne and, on our one year, I did a jar of 365 reasons why I loved him (that I had been writing since the DAY we started dating). Along with that, I baked him something or made him dinner- I can't remember which.

I found that the what he likes, what a girlfriend should supply and something homemade, as well as extra time with him, made him really happy. HAPPY ONE YEAR, GIRLY! <3

I have given successful and unsuccessful gifts to my husband over the years. What I have learned is to give three presents each time.

1) Food. Either make him a basket of cookies, his favorite cake, a really nice dinner, etc. This is small and  shows you put time into it, and also impresses him with your ability. Let's face it, cooking isn't hard but looks hard, and most guys think anything tastes good. The way to a man's heart is through his stomach, :) 

2) The second gift is the big one. The one you blow your 200 dollar budget on. The actual tangible "gift" part. Girls always have a wish list of a million little things going, guys usually have a couple really large things. A sound system for their car, the latest apple gadget, Kinect, etc. Usually they are lusting after these things so hard you have heard about it a million times and know they want it. If they really haven't mentioned anything in a while, a cool watch or two tickets to see their favorite team play or band perform will do in a pinch.

3) The mushy one. The one you are doing because it is your anniversary. The one you are doing because it makes you feel good giving it and deep down you know they will treasure it forever. A scrap book of your love, a long letter describing all the ways you appreciate them, a mix tape of songs that make you think of them, basically the sentimental present is because it has been a good year, and you want to actually explain that to them rather than just shell out lots of cash.

There is the optional fourth gift of physical gratification. You know what I mean, but I don't know what you and your boyfriend are comfortable with this early in your relationship. But if you are doing everything, guys always appreciate that! 

Only you know what he likes... so go with what you think he'd enjoy and get the use out of. My boyfriend and I trade gifts very very rarely. The two gifts I've given him that he's gotten the most use out of are a small ipod shuffle he can clip to himself while working out, and a french press so he can make coffee. Saying he is 23 years old helps very very little, what kind of guy is he? What things is he into it? What does he not have that he'd benefit from? GL!

I worried about this as well but I realized it's not the biggest deal in the world. Anything you give him and that you put heart in..he will love ;) Trust me on this. I just cooked breakfast with my bf and spent time with him at the zoo. To him, that was a gift onto itself.

i think its all about understanding his individual wants and desires. my boy is pretty quiet, so when i have to dig through my brain and try to remember what he admired throughout the year, it's hard to come up with things i think he'd like. usually you can find it in their personality and day-to-day behaviors. he likes music and he likes video games, so naturally i got him something to do with both. i also noticed he has a huge collection of unique old boxes at his place. i asked him about it and he said he loves collecting them from thrift shops. we ended up picking out one he really liked and i put it away to store his christmas gifts in.
i also agree with the sentimental part...guys dont like to admit this one, but if it's done right, their heart will melt. im an artist, so i always have a long list of things on the back burner for him, but if you're not too crafty, even a framed picture of a happy moment can do the trick. it's important because it says 'im not just spending money on you' (which anyone can do)