Sometimes it is difficult to think of a present to give your loved-one on their birthday.  I think, the important thing to remember is to do things or give things you know they’ll love.  If you know the person long enough, you should know what these things are.  Try doing things also that you think they might like so that they will be pleasantly surprised.  Do not limit yourself to ordinary things, be creative.  Here are some suggestions:

1. Bake a cake and decorate this according to your partner’s likes/interests. For example, if your partner likes going to the beach then decorate the cake with a beach scene.  With some creativity you can fashion coconut trees, sand, water, a hammock, etc. with goodies.  Some tips: chocolate-covered stick pretzels can serve as the trunks of coconut/palm trees, M & M candies and marshmallows can serve as boulders, yellow sprinkles as sand.
2. Make an album/book/scrapbook filled with things your partner would love.  Put in special pictures, recipes, poems, letters/messages and other memorabilia.
3. Plan a day trip.  Plan a day filled with special activities. You can take your loved one for a picnic, a boat ride or a hike to a scenic spot.  You can also plan a day in the city with a trip to the museum, to an arcade or organize a day of shopping (you can make this fun by setting up a spending criteria, for example buy only items that are within a certain budget or a theme).
4. Decorate your partner’s office or workspace on his/her birthday.  Surprise the one you love by celebrating their birthday at the office/workplace (you may need to seek permission to do this or get inside help from a colleague). Scatter  colorful balloons, confetti, flower petals in his/her work area.  Place a banner and bring a birthday cake and goodies.
5. Breakfast in bed. Prepare breakfast food that your partner likes to eat.  Prepare fruits creatively (e.g. fashion them into flowers, animals) and have a wide variety of food and textures. Try more adventurous juices like pandan and lemongrass.
6. Be a slave for a day. Tell your partner that you will be their slave for the day (you can even dress up as one if you like).  Prepare option cards to help your partner figure out what to ask you to do.  On the cards you can place things like: house repairs, body massage, cook a meal, do laundry, etc. 
7. Organize a treasure hunt that will lead to your birthday present.  Make your clues fun and present them beautifully (create a theme for your clues). Place your gift in a box decorated as as a treasure box.