My Dad got Mom an iron one year. The problem was, she'd forgot she'd ever said she wanted one. It was...strained... Sometimes you really can't win.
Yes, she HAD mentioned offhandedly some months previously that she needed to get some new ones...
After that, he went to the jewelry store.
This year, Mrs Kowalski will get a Food Saver, one of those vacuum sealer things, which she has mentioned wanting.
She's also getting a massage-a-month for a whole year at the local girly spa. I think I'm OK.