By Marianne Mancusi Beach, GalTime.com

You're on the go--working so hard you barely have time to breathe--let alone plan a perfect Valentine's Day. Five course home-cooked dinner? Yeah, right! After you get out of work and hit the grocery store--you won't end up eating course number one 'til after midnight. Or maybe you're on the road--and won't even get a chance to see your sweetie on the big day.

So what's a girl with lots of love but little time to do --when it comes to Valentine's Day? Well, never fear--we've got some ideas from an expert and some from you!

Related: Taking the Pressure Off Your Guy This Valentine's Day

First up party planners Dawn Sandomeno and Elizabeth Mascali of PartyBluPrints.com and authors of Plan to Party have some great tips for a fun-filled, but non-time consuming V-Day.

1. A tasting menu is much more simple than a full blown five course meal. Try a fruit and cheese plate, warm bread, and soup. It's quick and easy to prepare and sensual to

By Mary Schwager, GalTime Consumer Watchdog

It's the holiday that sparks fear deep into the soul of every guy: Valentines Day.

"There are all these commercials that make you feel like if you don't go all out, come up with two dozen roses or sparkly jewelry then you're some dolt!" That was the exact quote this author heard from a good-looking guy recently when talking about February 14th.

Ladies, perhaps you want to share this article with the man of your dreams, or even if you're just hanging with "he may not be Mr. Right, but he's Mr. Right Now", in case he decides to venture into the Valentine's Day shopping zone. Oh sure, you may tell him, "don't worry about a gift, it's just a holiday created by florists, jewelers and candy makers to keep sales alive until Mother's Day!" But many wise men know that when your co-worker gets two dozen roses from her boyfriend and nothing shows up for you it equals one thing: dog house. So don't let him get overcharged or ripped

By Samantha Scholfield, BounceBack.com Dating Expert

For the freshly single, Valentine's Day can sting. A lot. It can seem like every card, advertisement, and plans made by happy, coupled-up friends are designed specifically to Tase our emotionally ravaged feelings and hearts. So, instead of waiting for the inevitable zap, treat this year as an opportunity to recreate V-Day into something you'll not only enjoy, but will look forward to repeating next year.

1) Get out of town. Grab your girlfriends and bail. Plan a yoga or spa weekend. Head to Mexico or Vegas for some girls-only partying, pool-side lounging and Margarita-sipping. Go camping and let nature do its healing thing. Or just plan a whole (non-Valentine's centric) weekend at home with much merry-making, movie-watching and re-organizing of closets, living rooms and kitchens. Removing ourselves from our daily lives (and changing our surroundings) can do wonders for boosting our mood and our spirits, especially on and leading up

Also on InStyle.com

• Perfect Valentine's Day Gifts For Her

• 10 Hairstyles that are Always In Style

• Sexy Party Heels Under $100

• Get Star-Worthy Abs

  
  

• More Valentine's Day Gift Ideas For Him

  
  

By Marianne Mancusi Beach, GalTime.com

I'll never forget my first Valentine's Day with my dear husband. Instead of braving the lines and the "special menus" (with the "special prices") of the New York City restaurant scene, we decided to stay in, cooking a special little Mexican meal ourselves, together in his kitchen. He bought me roses and a little stuffed bear and we ate by candlelight and sipped champagne. It totally trumped any V-Day I'd ever had before--even the five star ones--and made me start to wonder if perhaps he could be the one.

Valentine's Day is supposed to be about romance and sharing your love. But these days, some men feel as if they have to treat it as a competitive event. If they don't live up to their girlfriends' or wives' expectations (or, let's be honest, the expectations of her co-workers or mother) they'll score a big zero.

And that's a lot of pressure to put on one day of the year!

Related: How to LOVE Valentine's Day (Even If You Hate It)

Your honey bought you a Valentine's bouquet (sweet!). Make those cut flowers last longer with these simple steps from Kate Law of proflowers.com:

Fill a vase with lukewarm water and add the included flower food. Cut off stems on an angle with a sharp knife to create more surface area for the water absorption. Place the vase out of direct sunlight in a cool, non-drafty spot. (Related: Make a Valentine's Day Vase)

Refresh the water and trim stems 1/2 inch every other day. In place of flower food, fill the vase with half water, half lemon-lime soda-the sugar will feed the blooms while the acidity will keep flower-life-shortening bacteria at bay. (Related: Unique Flower Arrangements)


More Great Advice from Good Housekeeping:
Beautiful Bedrooms You Can Relax In
Find Figure-Flattering Fashion No Matter What Your Size
Simple Styling Secrets for Great Hair
Lower Your Credit Card Bills
For More Tips & Tricks You Can Count On: Subscribe to Good Housekeeping & Save!

Reprinted with permission

What should a man really say when his woman asks about that dress - or worse, whether she looks fat in it? Below are easy answers to four of the toughest questions, with explanations why they work well. Also, head to Esquire.com for even more solutions.

The Question: Do you like what I'm wearing?

The Right Answer: "You look beautiful."

Why: A little bit of ambiguity goes a long way. Leave specific criticisms to her friends. She doesn't love you for your informed opinions on culottes.

(Get Hundreds More Valentines Day Ideas from Esquire)

The Question: Do I look fat in this?

The Right Answer: "Of course not."

Why: Absolutely no other answer should be used here. Don't go off the script. Not even if she's wearing a fat suit.

(15 Cheap, Last-Minute Date Ideas... All from Esquire)

The Question: Do you love me?

The Right Answer: "I love you."

Why: They want to hear you say it. Now is not the time to be funny. Avoid "yepper" or

Every present is a statement of how your guy sees you and the relationship, says George Weinberg, PhD, psychotherapist and author of Why Men Won't Commit. Here, Weinberg weighs in on 8 of the good, the bad, and the downright uggg-ly types of gifts guys give.

(Haven't picked out his gift yet? Whether you've been together for three weeks or three years, our gift guide has got you covered.)

1. The 'Gee...Thanks' Gift

Think ticket to Lord of the Dance (you've never expressed interest in it), a gym membership (what is he saying?), or sushi lessons (Hello! You're allergic to fish). "Obviously, he needs to pay more attention to your interests, but he gets some points for creativity. Although he's way off the mark, he's picturing what might make you happy."

2. Deluxe Dinner

He's made reservations far in advance to ensure that you're wined and dined like a princess. "He worked hard and clearly wants this night to be another wonderful memory the two of you share