This year and last, it was stuff for the kitchen. this year was a Le creuset, last year a mixmaster.

Something pampering like suggested, or
CD or DVD's
My christmas pressie will be a new dining table i think..may not be the most prettiest present BUT it is something we need, and will take forever for DH to actually getting around to getting one, so christmas (and birthday's) is the perfect time to request something that you know you may have a bit of trouble getting them to 'agree' too otherwise. Christmas last year I told DH I wanted a new camcorder, ours was that old it wasn't funny, so requested it as a pressie...win win! (even better, was originally $1800, was on sale, plus we got the cashback offer, and it ended up being $800..Bargain!)

I even asked for a veggie garden as a birthday present one year....took DH about 5-6 years to get around to that one though PMSL..