When your sister's birthday rolls around – again – do you sometimes feel at a loss for ideas? Do you feel like Mom always ends up with a sweater, albeit a nice one? Well, it doesn't have to be that way. Here are some ideas to get you thinking of those truly unique birthday gifts for those you love the most. No matter who the recipient is, there's a gift for your unique person.

Let's say your Mom loves shoes. She never met a shoe she didn't like. Well, how about a chair shaped like a shoe? No kidding. They're real, although you may find a limited selection. This is probably an eBay search item. Don't expect to find this one at the furniture store. This satisfies anyone's idea of unique birthday gifts, and Mom could sit on her shoe chair, putting shoes on!

If your daughter is into the Retro look, go shop the crafts fairs, street markets and antique stores, where you'll find hats, scarves, jewelry, clothing and shoes for every decade's Retro style looks. Try to brush up on your decade of choice before shopping. There are web sites that specialize in Retro items. E bay is another good source.

For the cat lover, try a giant wooden rope-wrapped mouse with a leash! This too is for real. Cats and cat lovers can have a lot of fun with this one. The owner takes the leash and pulls the mouse along the floor. The cat knows this is the biggest mouse he's ever seen. It doesn't smell like a mouse, but Kitty will go after that mouse's tail for hours, in some cases.

Another trend in unique birthday gifts is having a star named after the recipient. For something like $50, you complete a form, submit your application and payment, and voila! A single star in the universe bears the honoree's name forever.

Do you have a movie buff on your list? There are books which list virtually every movie ever made. Video stores sometimes carry these hefty volumes of movie descriptions. You'll also find them online. Your movie buff will be in heaven, never again without a source for new viewing pleasure.

For the cooking enthusiast, there are “cooking vacations” ranging from a one day workshop on artisan breads in your own home town to elaborate week-long adventures at a Tuscan farm in Italy. Depending on your budget, you've got a lot of choices in this forum of unique birthday gifts.

In the “ultimate” category of unique birthday gifts, this idea requires deep pockets, but will surely provide a lifetime of memories. A week in Paris can't be beaten. The City of Lights lives up to its name, a spectacular, romantic and exotic adventure that is truly unforgettable.

No matter what the size of your budget, just put on your thinking cap. You'll be amazed to find there are dozens upon dozens of unique birthday gifts just waiting to be discovered.