Valentines Day is here!  Don't make these mistakes!!

* The Wrong Answer: No matter what's in the box she hands you, take a moment to formulate your response. What comes next could dramatically alter your evening. "One year my girlfriend gave me a present and when I opened it up there was a set of sexy lingerie in it," says Peter, 40. "And the first thing I blurted out was, 'Hey, this gift isn't for me, it's for you.' A decade later, she has kept the promise that she'd never wear the lingerie." A better answer? "Try it on."

* Personal Hygiene: We thought this one was obvious, and, of course, we thought wrong . . . Soap, deodorant, teeth whitening, waxing products? Just back away slowly. The only thing she'll interpret from your well-meaning gift is that you're not pleased with how she looks, smells, or worse, feels. "One time a guy gave me a razor," says Katie, 23. "Nothing says romance more than, 'You need to shave!'"

* Two-for-One Bargains: Women have a way of knowing when they're being played . . .Whatever you do, don't expect to get away with pawning the same gift twice. "I once bought a dozen roses and split them, giving six to each of two women I was dating at the time," says Jay, 50. "Who knew each other. Who called me on it." Ouch. Thankfully, Jay managed to make the most of his gaffe. "The one who thought it was funny," he says, "I married."

* Dinner Reservations: Don't talk up the steak and wine until you've guaranteed her a spot . . . at the table. Top restaurants book weeks in advance for Valentine's Day. Save yourself the embarrassment and check several days ahead. Apps like Open Table can give you status updates. Or, if you're throwing something together at the last minute, opt for your place instead. The fillet you serve up may lack the tenderness of what you'd get at Morton's, but you'll get extra points for effort.

* Lingerie: Just to reiterate: It's not a gift for her, it's always a gift for you . . (see Peter's story above). If you're determined to buy something skimpy in anticipation of later that evening, make sure you get her measurements spot-on. (Woe unto the man who buys a size too large.)

* Nothing: You distinctly remember the conversation: "I don't want anything this year," . . . she said. "I promise." Guess what? She's lying. "One year my boyfriend and I had decided to not exchange Valentine's Day gifts since we were saving up for a big trip," says Katie, 28. "When V-day came around, he took it completely literally. No card, flowers, dinner; nothing. I'm pretty low maintenance, but there is always an expectation of a tiny bit of romance."

* The Eleventh Hour: Deliver gifts early in the day, preferably in the morning . . . If you're staying over at her place, stow her present in your trunk. Knowing that you planned ahead will imbue your gift with greater meaning than one snagged off the racks at CVS late in the day.

* The Delivery Guy: All that time you spent picking out the perfect gift on Amazon . . . could go to waste if the package never makes it to her office, or her doorstep. Stick with major delivery services like UPS and FedEx that allow you to track the progress of your package online and hold delivery guys accountable. Just in case, though, have a backup plan in place should your bouquet mysteriously go off the grid, even if it's just a flower and a card.

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