TEN STEPS TO PLAN THE PERFECT VALENTINE'S DAY (Mashable):

1) Send a card before the date. Planning ahead will show your
lady you are thoughtful, that you are genuinely looking forward to celebrating the day with her. A simple message like, "Can't wait to see you tonight, beautiful" will go a long ways. Trust me. I ecommend sending a physical card, of course. Ladies are sentimental, and we love having physical mementos to remind us of a fun experience.

2) Send flowers the day before, the morning of, or while she's at work.  Although a little cliché, every woman loves to receive flowers. The key is to make the flowers a surprise. Preparation is important here; florists can charge a ton if you make a last minute order on Valentine's Day, so schedule a delivery a few days beforehand, if possible.

3) Make her heart melt with lines from famous love quotes. Whether from her favorite romantic comedy or her favorite poem, ladies swoon over beautifully expressed displays of affection. Find a line you know she loves and memorize it, then say it to her over dinner. Or write a few of these lines on pieces of paper and slip one into her purse, one into her coat pocket or maybe a gym bag. This is just another little way you can bring a smile to your special
someone's face.

4) Plan an intimate dinner at home. Valentine's Day constantly gets knocked for being overpriced, but one way to beat the pricey restaurant rush is to avoid it completely by planning a delicious meal at home. A dinner at home will be much more intimate. Also, staying in will let you enjoy more time together without pesky commuting. Maybe choose something that you have been
wanting to try for awhile, or spice up an all-time favorite. I recommend choosing a meal equal to your cooking experience. For example, if you never ever cook you probably shouldn't try Julia Child's Bouef Bourguignon for your Valentine's meal. Maybe try experimenting with some new sides or seasonings, without the fear of messing up the entire dinner.

5) Pair your dinner with the perfect wine or champagne. There aren't many holidays that beg for wine or champagne like Valentine's Day, but don't get intimidated by the overwhelming choices out there. Everyone can benefit from a sommelier's experience with the fantastic wine pairing apps in the market. One great rule of thumb, choose a wine with a similar intensity as the
food you are preparing. You wouldn't want to serve a Pinot Noir with a NY steak; instead, choose a bolder and more flavor-forward wine, like Merlot or Zinfandel.

6) Brush up on current events and pop culture so you can have
interesting conversation. When I polled a group of friends about their ideal Valentine's Days, great conversation was the one constant among them all. If you go through all the preparations listed above but then have nothing to talk about over the delicious dinner you just made, the night is going to feel awkward. In order to avoid this situation, brush up on current events or peruse
conversation-starters online.

7) Create a romantic playlist to set the mood. There's something about beautiful music that strikes a certain chord with the ladies (pun intended). As far as planning the music for your special night is concerned, there are two basic ways you can go about it: 1) Draft a playlist of meaningful music that recalls experiences or inside jokes, or 2) Choose an artist or a mood and let the Internet create a playlist for you.

8) Go for a romantic stroll around the neighborhood, or find a park near you. After a delicious dinner together, you are both probably feeling full and lethargic. Grab your coats and take a stroll hand in hand; the fresh air will revitalize you. Also, this time will allow you to decide what to do the rest of the evening...

9) Find some local live music and relax together. Dinner and a movie is the go-to date scenario, but if you're looking for something a little different, find a local live music show. Whether it is a jazz quartet or a musician you both enjoy together, there's something inherently liberating about listening to live music.

10) After a successful day, go home and get a little creative. I'm pretty sure you all know where I'm going with this one. If you and your lady are already intimate, try mixing things up in the bedroom. You've already had an incredible evening together; keep it going into the night by experimenting with some new positions. She'll be thrilled to know that you've thought ahead about how to please her, and I'm sure she'll return the favor