Dating Dos and Don'ts

One of the most important steps to finding love is getting past the first date, something Patti says is a challenge for many women.

"I think we approach it like we're on an interview," she says. "We want to know everything right away. You know, we are nosy creatures. We get to be—we're women."

Patti says there are a few important rules women—and men—should keep in mind when meeting someone for the first time. To start, keep in mind that you're meeting a stranger, and you shouldn't ask questions you wouldn't want to answer. "[Don't ask] anything that's none of our business," she says.

Get more of Patti's dating tips and conversation dos and don'ts.

Another of Patti's golden rules is to never discuss politics or religion with someone you hardly know. "You don't go there," she says. "Eventually you do—you just don't on the first date."

First impressions are also important...but don't judge your date too quickly. "Look your best. Feel your best. Walk into the room with confidence," Patti says. "He'll sense that. He'll feel that energy. You walk in, you sit down, and maybe he's average looking. But then you start to talk to him, and he turns out to be an 8 or a 9 because he's fabulous. He's kind. He's wonderful."

Patti says you should only spend 10 seconds determining physical attraction and 30 minutes or longer judging emotional chemistry. "It isn't always about beauty or lack of beauty or whether you're a size 5 or you're a size 14," she says. "It's not always about that."