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I ask for specific things! I guess it depends on your personality - if you're going to be disappointed with something you're not into, you have to give them an idea. I basically hint around for smaller things like Mother's day but I fully give my husband a wish list with links for my birthday/Christmas. He likes to add a few surprises but he appreciates not having to worry that I won't get things I like. He gives me a list too. We also use the lists to tell our sides of the family what the other one wants.

I'm in between.If I really want something specific, I'll tell him (like, this Christmas I wanted to Canon Rebel T3i. Specifically.) Or sometimes it's more like, I would like more slippers, I'd like new silver earrings, or something sort of specific but not like, get me this item exactly. I love a good surprise gift, but it's hard to always think of something new, so we usually give each other some good hints. These are also helpful for our families when they ask-- I have no problem telling DH what I want, but I feel awkward telling his mom, so I like to give DH a list to give to his mom

I drop hints once in awhile if there's something I really want, but normally, he's pretty good on his in the gift giving department lately.

I ask my husband specifically for the gifts I want, not because he does a bad job, but because I like what I like and am used to buying it myself.

We do both. Sometimes I want something specifically and I tell DH (like for christmas, I gave him an entire list of random things I kind of wanted and told him he could pick whatever he wanted). They aren't specific, so there's still a suprise element. Like I said, "new, really cool I-phone cover" or "small gold necklace I can wear every day". Because I'm too cheap to buy a nice one myself.

Other times, he just notices I want something and he buys it for me, so it's a total surprise. He asked if I wanted anything for Mother's Day, and I told him I wanted to spend the whole day Saturday shopping for baby stuff with him (which he normally hates).

But he noticed that earlier last week, I'd had to stop wearing my wedding rings because my hands are too swollen. So he bought me a cute stand in ring to wear for now! (probably because I kept complaining last week that I felt like strangers were judging me for being pregnant and not having a ring on my finger--lol)

Of course it would be ideal if they could find us the perfect gifts, but alas, life is not a rom-com. DH usually asks what i want, and i'll give him a list of ideas. Or i'll say, "you can't go wrong with anything at these stores."

Sometimes if i really want something, i'll ask if if i can tell him what i want and relief will usually wash over his face.

He likes to surprise me but he ,also, wants to make sure he gets something I will like so he'll ask me for a list.

I can still be surprised. Also, sometimes he combines two ideas. He puts so much thought into his gifts.

As for friends, I don't give them any specifics. Any gift is fine.

I used to be like you and wanted him to come up with some awesome idea and surprise me, but I have learned that he needs me to tell him exactly what I want and we are all happier. For example, for Mother's Day, I told him I wanted a night away and I wanted him to put Liam to bed and then bring him back to the hotel in the morning so we could have breakfast together there and hang out by the pool. It worked out perfectly and I'm so glad I just told him what I wanted!

This is why we don't exchange traditional "big" gifts on birthdays and holidays. We much prefer smaller surprises throughout the year. Less pressure that way.

My husband is good at remembering when I casually mention something I want, but sometimes I still send him emails with links to things I want. I just link him a bunch of stuff I want and figure I'll be surprised by what he decides to pick out.

I dont ask for gifts either. I like not knowing and I think to an extent being able to buy what someone would like is a reflection of how well you know them

I usually make a list for him and then promptly forget what's on the list, so it's a surprise every time.

We both tell each other what we'd like. We make Amazon wish lists for Christmas, so there's a small element of surprise but not entirely. It works for us!

I have always felt exactly like you! I also have the added problem that I always know exactly what I want to get/do for people but when people ask me what I want? I honestly don't know.

I also have the added problem where when I DO finally figure out what I want and tell people, I always get told "No, what do you want for YOU not the house/dog/baby"...

My dog doesn't care what kind of clippers I use on her fur! It IS for me! And those nursing tops are super cute and the baby wont care how covered I am while feeding her!