Waiting Until the Last Minute to Plan Valentines?

According to a new national survey by HeyLets.com — the ultimate mobile app for sharing positive and memorable recommendations — 42 percent of American men who expect to have a Valentine's date do not make any plans for the big day until Feb. 11 or later.

So for all those late date planners out there, what can you do to 'wow' your sweetie even when you've got a master's degree in love procrastination?

According to HeyLets CEO Justin Parfitt — an expert on creating unforgettable everyday experiences and the former founder of a top dating company sold to PlentyofFish— guys should return the chocolates, skip the flower store, and instead plan a unique experience that she'll be bragging about to all of her friends.

Based on the HeyLets national survey, the data backs this up:

* Both men (43%) and women (46%) prefer "something creative that requires thought" as their top Valentine's Day gift.

So how can you plan a memorable date in under 5 minutes?  Justin suggests:

1. AVOID THE NEGATIVE  (TIME SAVINGS: 1 HOUR)
Don't waste your time sifting through low-star restaurant reviews on traditional review sites and apps.  Negative reviews are based on people's personal dislikes that often aren't applicable.

2. CUSTOMIZE YOUR SEARCH  (TIME SAVINGS:  45 MINUTES)
Instead of wading through suggestions by people who have totally different tastes than you and your date, first identify someone who has your same sensibilities — and see what they recommend.  (This takes only one minute using HeyLets.)

3. BE SPONTANEOUS  (TIME SAVINGS:  30 MINUTES)
It's great to have plans in place, but after you've hit your first spot why not do something memorable in the moment?  Using apps like HeyLets, you can see what other daters are doing right now and pick and choose from the best.

What Are You Giving to Your Valentine?

What do you plan to give to your Valentine this year? Each year Americans spend over $3.6 billion on gifts during the Valentine's holiday. Most of the money is spent on a beautifully written card and some roses.

Valentine's Day is second only to Christmas as over 900 million cards are exchanged. The Hallmark Company produced it's first Valentine in 1913 and now offers over 1,300 different Valentine's card.

What about those roses? Did you know that there are over 900 varieties of the rose, and that 60% of the roses grown in the United States come from California? Unfortunately, most of the roses sold during Valentine's Day come from South America.

Don't forget to get to the store before you go home tonight! Just some advice from a friend.

The Origins of Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day -- a day reserved for sharing thoughts and feelings to those that are closest to you. But how did this holiday get started? According to church tradition St. Valentine was a priest near Rome in about the year 270. At that time the Roman Emperor Claudius II had issued an edict forbidding marriage.

The Roman empire had grown to such a size that there were not enough men who were not emotionally attached to recruit for perilous duty. So to make sure he had quality soldiers he banned marriage.

Valentine, a bishop, seeing how much young couples desired to be married, did so in secret. Once Claudius learned the identity of this "friend of lovers", had him arrested. The emperor, who was impressed with Valentine's convictions, attempted to convert him to the Roman gods in order to save him from execution. Valentine refused and at one point tried to convert the emperor.

While imprisoned, Valentine came to know his jailer, Asterius. Asterius had a blind daughter and pleaded with Valentine to heal her. Miraculously Asterius' daughter was healed, and just before Valentine was executed he requested pen and paper to send a farewell to Asterius' daughter. The letter was signed "From Your Valentine," a phrase that has lived on to this day. Valentine was executed on February 24, 270.

The tradition of sending notes of affection followed not long after Valentine's death. Young Roman men, wishing to court young women they admired, sent handwritten notes of affection on February 14. These notes acquired St. Valentine's name