My obsession with Valentine’s Day began in the wee years of elementary school, when I realized that chocolate candy and a hearts-adorned card could finally help me profess my irrefutable love to my first-grade crush.

Sadly, I don’t think my beloved caught on to my romantic gesture, but in the years leading up to what will be my 27^th Valentine’s Day next week, I never neglected to get in the “holiday spirit.” From sending out cutesy cards to all my closest friends to perusing chocolate stores I normally wouldn’t enter, Valentine’s Day has always been my excuse to celebrate how much I simply adore the idea of “love.”

I have to admit that I get a bit offended when someone tries to tell me that Cupid’s Holiday has been conjured up by Hallmark as an attempt to benefit through the sales of greeting cards and other such items. In fact, I truly believe that Valentine’s Day carries the same intention of holidays like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day – to celebrate the influence and impact our loved ones have on our lives.

Of course, it shouldn’t take any holiday – manufactured or not – to acknowledge and appreciate those dearest to our hearts. We should all be making it a priority to express our affections each and every day, and with Valentine’s Day right around the corner, it’s the perfect opportunity to start 2012 off right. So, before you start making reservations for that romantic restaurant in the city, planning a picnic lunch and stroll for your beau, or ordering a bouquet of red roses for your sweetheart in advance, make sure to download these applications to your smartphone to ensure you have everything covered – from the card to the dinner to the chocolate – and, most importantly, that you sweep your main squeeze off his or her feet.

The card: Most of us can’t deny there’s just something special about receiving a hand-written card or poem. But it’s always a nice surprise to see an eCard pop up in our e-mail inboxes from time to time. While I’m not condoning skipping the usual sealed greeting card (don’t you want to see his or her reaction when it’s read in-person?), why not send a card in advance to let your loved one know how excited you are for your special night together? Or, perhaps you can personalize your card with a photo of the two of you sharing a special moment.

• Sincerely Ink: Turns photos uploaded to Instagram, Facebook (News - Alert) and cellphones into printed cards. The app is free and available on Android, iPhone (News - Alert) and iPad, with cards ranging from $1.69 for bulk orders to $2.99 for international deliveries.
• Red Stamp: E-mail, text, tweet, Facebook or snailmail personalized photo cards from your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. The app is free, and pricing depends on orders.
• Valentine’s Day – Cards: Choose from 23 backgrounds to create the ultimate V’Day message. The app is free and available on iPhone, iPod Touch and the iPad.

The flowers: If you’re going to leave something out of your Valentine’s Day plans, don’t let it be the flowers. They may wither within a week, but flowers are a classic gesture that won’t be forgotten.

• Send Flowers: Browse through hundreds of bouquets and arrangements to suit any occasion and budget. This free app is compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch and the iPad.
• ProFlowers: Send a variety of floral arrangements, and even gourmet gifts like hand-dipped strawberries, on-the-go from your Android (News - Alert), iPhone or iPad.

The restaurant: They say the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach, so be sure the spot you pick will knock your date off his or her feet.

• OpenTable: With this app, making online reservations is easy. And, it works across all devices.
• UrbanSpoon: Search for restaurants by price, cuisine or location with this app, which will cost you a mere $.99. If you find yourself wandering the streets, a simple shake of your phone will reveal the closest eateries to you. Available on Android and iPhone.

The after-dinner chocolates: There is absolutely no such thing as too much chocolate, and Valentine’s Day is a pretty good excuse for downing an entire box. In honor of how much we worship and crave chocolate (and the fact that Feb. 9 was National Chocolate Day!), don’t leave these apps off your V’Day to-do list:

• Godiva: If there was a chocolate God, it would probably be Godiva. With this free app for Apple (News - Alert) products, users get quick access to the company’s best sellers, express checkout and a secure transcation.
• 500+ Chocolate Recipes: Get really creative and make your beau a chocolate recipe from a selection of over 500 recipes for truffles, peppermint patties, cheesecake balls and brownies. This app is $.99 and operates on iPhone, iPod Touch and the iPad.

The gift:

• Victoria’s Secret: If you really want to spice things up, you can shop all of Victoria’s Secrets goodies and find nearest store locations right from your iPhone. This app is available on the iPhone, iPod Touch and the iPad.
• Tiffany’s: Take it from me, or any female, for that matter -- you can’t go wrong with presenting your lady with that pretty blue box. If you’d like to make this Valentine’s Day one to remember for forever and ever, the Tiffany’s app on the iPhone has an easy-to-use engagement ring finder so you can browse styles and view actual carat weights.

Single?: If you find yourself rolling solo on Feb. 14 – even better. Make dinner reservations, grab your girlfriends and a bottle of wine, and you’re all set.

• Moonit: In the meantime, if you’re looking to see if love is on the horizon with that guy or gal you happen to meet, make sure to download Moonit, a social iPhone app for determining how compatible you are with each and every relationship you form. Users can view their percentage compatibility, and even get an entertaining dash of advice on what to search for and what to work on for their matchup.