My main DIY thing this year was bottles of vanilla extract. Hardest part was finding bottles. Get some vanilla beans, split them down the middle (just through one layer of skin, not all the way in half), add to the bottle, and fill with vodka or rum (I used vodka). Let sit for 1-2 months. I think the proportions I found were 5 beans per 1/2 cup vodka. This will last a long time (years before needing new beans) if you just keep topping off the bottle with more vodka.
The only other thing that I bought for anyone that I had a choice (as in, didn't go in with other people on) was some help updating my parents' bathroom. My mom recently painted and replaced hardware in their very dated ugly main bathroom. I bought them 2 new shiny (brushed nickel - my fav) faucets to replace the super ugly white-with-some-weird-brown-design faucets and installed them. I had some issues with the drain stuff though - in removing the traps the piece further back broke, my mom went and bought some replacement parts and then another piece *further* back broke a little. Had to call in the experts - my uncle wound up finishing the job on the drains, I was just scared of breaking things in the wall! (I got the faucets all working by myself though). Also, a last-minute decision had me buying & installing a dual-flush on the toilet in that bathroom since that toilet sucked - had to hold down the handle forEVer to flush it.