When you need to choose a birthday gift for someone special in your life, you usually take the time to find something truly unique that they will cherish, and will hopefully enjoy for years to come. It's easy to pick out something that they will enjoy briefly. But if you want to give a gift that will last and that's more personal, it takes a bit more thought to find the "perfect" item.

Personalized birthday gifts are tailored to your recipient's hobbies, interests and careers. Or, they may commemorate a special moment in their lives. A truly thoughtful gift shows clearly how much attention you put into selecting it. It also reminds them how well you know them, and will be a sweet reminder of their birthday celebration each time they use it. Keep in mind that personalized birthday gifts should fit the age, lifestyle and interests of the birthday girl or boy. There are some popular emerging trends in personalized gifts that are good places to start:

Grandparents love anything that has to do with their grandchildren. Consider putting together a scrapbook or photo album featuring photos of the grandchildren, particularly any photos showing them together with their grandkids. Also look into customized afghans, blankets and comforters that feature your own photos reproduced in full color. On cool winter nights while they're watching television, they'll love using a personalized blanket emblazoned with photos of the kids. This will be especially true if they don't live close enough to see their grandkids as often as they'd like.

Digital photo frames can hold numerous pictures that rotate for easy viewing. These are great for grandparents in small apartments. It will allow them show off pictures of their grandkids around the clock, and with no need to hassle with bulky and heavy photo albums. For added personalization, have the frame engraved at the bottom with a special birthday message.

Children love decorating their own bedrooms, so think about custom bedding that's been personalized. A blanket, comforter or complete bedding set that features images of anything from their own artwork to a photograph of their beloved pet. Gifts like these are sure to elicit shrieks of delight. None of their friends will have anything else like it, and they'll delight in showing off their "designer" bedroom.

If you'd like to give your best friend something for her home, dig up some old photos of the two of you together. If you can find some photos from past birthdays, that's even better! A throw pillow with a terrific photo of her and her friends (including you, of course) will remind her daily to stay young at heart and to keep on celebrating. Perhaps your best friend is an accomplished equestrian. She will undoubtedly be thrilled to receive the gift of exciting and stylish horse bedding.

Just about anything you get for your spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend is going to be a sure-fire hit when you personalize it with a special message that only the two of you understand. So go ahead and splurge on a special piece of jewelry or a watch. Have it engraved with a private message on the back that will warm the heart or get it racing, depending on the effect you're looking for.

If your spouse travels a lot and you'd like him to fall asleep thinking of you every night, give him the next best thing on his birthday. A custom pillow with your picture on it is a sweet gesture that he'll appreciate. He can tuck it into his overnight bag and fall asleep looking at you every night. There's no better way to remind him that you're thinking of him even when he's far away.

Finding unique personalized birthday gifts won't be difficult – there are dozens of online retailers offering personalized gifts that are delivered right to your door. When shopping online, be sure to check what's included in the price. Check to see if the personalization is included. See if there is a limit on the amount of engraving that's included. Make note of what photo sizes are required. Also check the delivery time; if you need the gift in three weeks but they require six to eight weeks for personalization, you should shop around to see if another company offers a rush option (although this will usually cost more). Finally, be sure the company has clear photos of their finished products for you to review, as well as testimonials from satisfied customers.