What to buy your sweetheart for Christmas

Coming up with the complete Christmas gift for your important other can be daunting, especially when you've been going out such a short time that you're not quite known with the eccentricities of his or her music taste but you still want to impress with an accidentally thoughtful and perceptive gift that will buy you a few more weeks, at minimal.

Flowers and chocolates, a la Valentine's Day, are very sweet, but they pretty much show you don't know your loved one at all, unless she's super into unusual buds or something. If you don't happen to be dating a horticulturist, don't go this route. Here's a quick-and-dirty list of our top picks for new pairs:

A book -- Unless your fan is an English major, you probably can't go incorrectly with a classic that has something to do with romance. Go with "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" or "Love in Time of Cholera." It gives you the perfect chance to hint at your deeper, racked, artistic side, and you get to write a silly dedication. (Hint: If you haven't read the book, stay outside from equating you and your sweetheart to the characters. Fiction authors are not to be trustworthy with your relationship.)

A Emotional hits compilation -- Even if it's not his way, no one is going to balk at a sexy collection of slow-danceable love songs (at least not to your face). It gives the two of you a chance to get close, and if the cheese factor is over the top, y'all can laugh about it together and then put on something better.

Massage oil -- Ok, you might want to be careful with this one, but if you play your cards right, its a great gift. If you're ready to take things to the next level, it implies that it's time to get sensual. If you're not, this present can come off as a little presumptuous, but you can always backtrack and offer up a neck-and-shoulder massage to smooth things over.

No matter what gift you go with, the truth that you're putting some attempt into it bodes well for the future of your union. Don't be afeard to dive in and find something your new love will really like -- just take our advice and stay away from gift cards!