Expert tips to help your guy get it right this year.

- The Betty Editors, BettyConfidential.com

When it comes to flowers, women know what they want - especially on Valentine's Day - big, bright and beautiful. But when faced with a wall of blooms, the men in our lives aren't always so sure what to buy. With so many choices out there, who can blame them for botching a bouquet? Ladies, if you want your man to get it right this holiday, here's a handy checklist of six bouquet-buying tips from experts Eileen Johnson, Direct of Flower School New York, and Michael Gaffney, an instructor at the New York School of Flower Design.

1. Big blooms are key.
The ruling is in: The bigger the bloom, the better - in terms of both the flower's head and the size of the bouquet. For some women, "If it fits in the door, it's not big enough," says Johnson. Gaffney agrees. "For most recipients, big flowers mean big love," he says. "Especially on Valentine's Day, guys should shoot for big showy

Read More »from The Ultimate Valentine's Day Flower Buying Guide

Between picking perfect gifts, finding a restaurant still accepting reservations and navigating dating etiquette, Valentine's Day can be a tricky holiday for adults.

To help us all, Parents.com collected thoughts on love, marriage, and the opposite sex from some particularly insightful toddlers.

On Love

My 3-year-old daughter asked, "Mommy can I have a kiss?" Me, as my heart swells with emotion and my eyes well up at the beautiful request: "Sure honey!"

As I lean down, she says, "NO, NOT THAT KIND! The chocolate kind!" -- Parents.com member MonkeyCheeks

My 7-year-old daughter was asked in her second grade class, "If you were a gift, what would you be?" Without hesitation, she replied, "If I were a gift I would be a necklace so I can stay with my mom!" That was enough to about make me cry. -- Parents.com member stcydunlap

I was disciplining my 4-year-old son today and he looked at me and said, "You give love a BAD name" After choking down a laugh, I told him he

Read More »from Love, Explained by Toddlers

If you don't like creamy, luscious chocolate desserts, well, you're crazy. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't be allowed to have dessert on Valentine's Day. Here are some festive ideas for sweets to share with your sweetie.

--Emily Fleischaker

(Pictured left to right):

Row 1:

Hot Milk Cakes with Strawberries and Cream
The moist, delicate cake gets its name from the hot milk that is added to the batter just before baking.

Bosc Pears in Rose Wine with Persimmon Ice Cream
A stunning dessert that lets two fruits--pears and persimmons--shine.

Lemon and White Chocolate Mousse Parfaits with Strawberries
These tart and creamy parfaits have a luxurious texture. You'll need an instant-read or candy thermometer.

Row 2:

Rum, Caramel, and Banana Bread Pudding
This decadent dessert is basically Bananas Foster--the New Orleans favorite--in bread-pudding form. The caramel sauce is especially rich and flavorful, thanks to a splash of dark rum.

Raspberry-Lemon Heart Cakes
These pretty,

Read More »from 12 Chocolate-Free Desserts for Valentine's Day

We know what you're going to say: It's the thought that counts. But, honestly, it's really not thoughtful to buy your mate a terrible gift-on Valentine's Day or ever. So, please, we beg you, significant others everywhere, don't drop your cash on any of the cutesy-bad or clueless-gross presents we've outlined above. No one wants them. Don't waste your money on this stuff! We're in a recession!

Let's just all love each other, OK?

Read More »from The worst Valentine's Day gifts ever

Writing a love letter can be a daunting endeavor, especially when you're not sure where to start. Should you put it in verse, use flowery language, get erotic? As with almost anything in life, the simpler you keep it, the easier (and often better) it will be. It doesn't sound that romantic, but think of your love letter as a laundry list of the reasons why you adore your sweetheart. It's kinda like Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnet #43: How do you love your partner? Count the ways! Here's how to do it without rhyming or the need for a thesaurus:

• Be specific - When compiling your list, you can certainly include some big general reasons ("Because you are the most forgiving person I've ever met") but it's almost always better to get specific ("Because you show me the error of my ways without ever making me feel like a jerk"). It's the little details that will show your partner how well you know them while making them feel unique.
• Mix and match - Juxtapose serious reasons ("Because you're a person of principle") with more lighthearted ones ("Because you've got the cutest tush I've ever seen").
• Run on - Best to include at least ten items on your list, but no need to number it like a top ten list, a la David Letterman. Instead, we'd recommend filling up at least one side of an unlined (if you have a steady hand) piece of nice stationary paper (2 sides if the paper dimensions are smaller than 8.5 x 11) with one reason right after another. For example: "Because I'm at my funniest when I'm around you. Because you make a killer pot of chili. Because we have the exact same tastes in movies…." with no line breaks until you sign it at the end with something like "With all my love,".
• Make it look nice - You don't have to get all Martha Stewart, but please use a good pen (ideally no basic Bics and definitely no pencils) and your neatest handwriting (typing it up and printing it out is probably a bit too impersonal for this purpose, unless you can do something a little arty with the font or your handwriting is chicken scratch).

Read More »from How to Write a Love List

In celebration of Valentine's day wOw asked book maven, Roxanne Coady to tell us the most romantic books she's ever read. Here are her recommendations:

1. My Mistress's Sparrow is Dead: Great Love Stories, from Chekhov to Munro, edited by Jeffrey Eugenides, is about the complexities of love - betrayal, lost love, lost opportunities, heartbreak - as well as the more joyful aspects that we celebrate on Valentine's Day. Looking back on 40 years of marriage, I know I'm lucky to see a preponderance of happiness marking those years, but if I drew them as a bar graph I'd have to include the ups and downs that we also experienced. I think that's true with most couples, and it's why I don't favor love stories about boys and girls (or men and women) who fall in love and live happily ever after. This book really delivers.

How would you define intimacy?

2. Lolita, by Vladimir Nabokov. This may trouble some people, so let me explain. A few years ago I re-read Lolita and I was struck by how it made

Read More »from The 5 Most Romantic Books

With so many sexy places on your body, why limit yourself to displays of cleavage or legs? Here, a few other revelations any guy will welcome. How about showing off…

Your Sexy Shoulder

French Connection "Fast Sylvie" Polka-Dot Dress, $100, available at dillards.com

Highlight the sensuous curves of just one by keeping the other under wraps. By the end of the night, he'll be dying to get a look at the covered one, too.

Click here for more Sexy Shoulder styles for under $100!

Your Sexy Back

Deep V Back Longline Slinky Dress, $63.90, available at asos.com

These dresses help you make an impression coming and going. Here's an idea: Don't turn your back on him 'till you're headed to the table at the restaurant. Now if that's not a nice Valentine's surprise, I don't know what is.

Click here for more Sexy Back styles for under $100!

Your Sexy Chest

Cowl Neck Dress by Rare, $90, available at topshop.com

I'm not talking about your

Read More »from 3 Other Places To Show Some Skin This Valentine’s Day (And Under $100 Dresses To Do It In)

It's easy to fall into the old dinner-and-a-movie routine either out of habit or because you can't think of anything better to do. Luckily, all you need is a little creative inspiration and a sense of adventure to have an amazing time with your guy on Valentine's Day. These suggestions should get you started. Single? We promise your Feb. 14 won't suck if you try one of these ideas from our readers.

1. Have a DIY dinner. Set up a taco bar with all the fixings or make homemade pizza. Or seduce your guy with one of Katie Lee's yummy recipes.

2. Want to know if you have a future with your guy? Visit a psychic. You don't have to buy into her predictions, but at least you'll have a good laugh.

3. Pamper yourselves with a couples massage at a day spa. These relaxing indulgences uses heat to maximize the mellowness you'll experience - perfect for warming up a winter's night.

4. Test your luck at a nearby casino or horse race. Bring only a set amount of cash that you can

Read More »from 8 Last-Minute Valentine’s Day Date Ideas