How To Protect Your Heart In Dating & Relationships

In today's instant gratification dating culture, many singles just swipe right........

And right out the door.

Even those who don't use Tinder or other mobile dating apps, meet perfect strangers at imperfect times of the night for fancy dinners, casual sex, and everything in between. 

Call me old-school, but I could never quite bring myself to go on a date with someone I knew virtually nothing about. Unless its Brad Pitt, why would I even be excited to give up my night for a stranger? 

Life is short, and I believe in qualifying my prospects before I give them the time of day. This means I do things like: internet research, contacting mutual friends on Facebook (who are actually quite happy to give me the 411) and phone screenings.

The truth is, I think that people who don't have a conversation on the phone before meeting are insane.  

Don't guys want to know if the lady you will be meeting actually has a horrid man voice?

Being the type who does her homework before Date # 1 has served me well. In a nutshell, it has helped me to not be a stunad.In case you aren't up on this Italian American lingo which I used extensively in How To Get Over Your Ex: A Step By Step Guide To Mend A Broken Heart Italian American Style -which I am, by the way, always  promoting, most recently on The Home Invaders Show with dating coach, Alex Miller pictured above,-a stunad is someone who acts stupid. 

While my man-meeting research hasn't been magical enough to prevent my suffering on the boring dates that make me want to run to the bathroom and send exes "miss you" texts, ithas kept the serial killers away.

Want to date smart, too? 

To begin with, you can strive to ensure your safety with a quick Google search for, you know, mugshots. While you are at it, you might as well scour the Internet for other incriminating images. Too many Guest of a Guest photos at Hamptons galas? Player. Too many check ins at Patty's Pub? Frat Boy. Scantly clad images including the use of leggings as pants? Low self-esteem. 

Judge a book by its cover all you like ladies and gentlemen. The information is out there. And if you don't use it? 

Well, the joke is on you.