HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! FOR THIS EDITION OF OUR SERIES WE ASKED VANESSA & SUZIE TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP AND LET ME TELL YOU— IF YOU'RE READING THIS THEN YOU ARE SERIOUSLY IN FOR A TREAT. I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT I COULDN'T STOP SMILING/LAUGHING WHILE READING THEIR STORY (YOU'LL SEE WHY). SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'LL LET YOU READ THIS SWEET + HILARIOUS LOVE STORY FOR YOURSELF. 

ENJOY!

VANESSA SAID:

How did you meet Suzie? 
We played dodgeball together in a social league (shameless plug for Big Apple Recreational Sports!). And since then, we’ve played many other social sports together.
How long have you been engaged? 
Little over a year-ish.
Who asked who out and how? 
Ultimately, I think I ended up asking her out first.  We were the last two at the bar after a flag football game… where we ended up making out #keepinitclassy. The day after, I was like, “Maybe we should, like, hang out outside of sports?”
Where was your first date? 
Oh this is good! It started at Joe’s Shanghai in Chinatown. This is where I found out she didn’t like soup dumplings! And then we went to this arcade called Family Fun Center, also in Chinatown (look it up). It does not serve alcohol. I knew that. Suzie did not. Being the planner I am, I brought an “alternative” something to smoke instead. Clever, right?! It was after we imbibed on the alternative, that Suzie informed me she doesn’t smoke. It’s at this point I can tell Suzie, who is a VERY chill person, is quietly freaking out. Reminder: We are in an arcade -- totally over stimulated by crazy arcade sounds and lights and screaming machines. [Cue panic attack.] We promptly left the arcade and started to stroll through the bowels of Chinatown, up to Little Italy (where we stopped at Mulberry St Bar for a beer) and then to Tropical 128 on Elizabeth Street. By that time, everything was back to normal and we had a great time laughing about the journey through NYC’s version of China, Italy and the Tropics.  Needless to say, it was a memorable night --  we laugh about it to this day.
When did you first know you loved Suzie? 
We were on the rooftop of her old apartment in Prospect Heights. Hanging out, drinking wine and just being silly. She was just so inherently herself. I thought to myself, “This person doesn’t know how to do anything other than be her.” I find that so attractive and endearing and I admire it greatly.  It was so simple and so certain.
Tell us about the proposal(s) in your words. 
We went to dinner at Barboncino (excellent pizza in Crown Heights) with two other couples who are best friends of ours. We’re chatting, drinking, eating, laughing – all of the things we do best together. Two (three?) bottles of wine into it, Suzie – out of NOWHERE – turns to me and says, “Wanna get married?!” And whips out these stunning rings. I immediately look at my four friends like, “WTF did you know about this?!” and I could tell by the looks on their faces they had NO IDEA this was happening.  I’m pretty sure, before I said yes, I asked them if they knew about it. Everyone at the table was shocked and excited… and then we drank more wine. And prosecco. And celebrated.  
When are you getting married? 
When it feels right. We have a lot of exciting stuff going on these days (everyone does!), and to be honest – we just haven’t prioritized it. Or decided what we want to do. Elope? Big bash? So many decisions! But if I had to estimate, I’d say within the next 24 months.
Do you see children in the future / how many if so? 
Somedays, yes! Somedays… not-so-much. On the yes days … I’m thinking three.
More dogs in the future?  
Hell yes. Possibly some goats, guinea pigs, chickens and alpacas, too.
What is your favorite thing about Suzie?  
What I absolutely love and adore about Suzie, is that she is always down for an adventure. She has a “Sure, let’s do it!” kind of attitude about almost everything. Suzie has an energy that is easy, a disposition that is calming and a consistently positive outlook. Some examples: Are you ready to meet my crazy family? Yes! Wanna go to Portugal? Sure! Let’s make lotion with CBD? Ok! Wanna arm wrestle. It’s on! Should we start a hemp farm? Sounds fun! Can I eat these baby carrots? NO. She’s also incredibly stubborn sometimes, and I love that, too.
What is Suzie’s biggest quirk?
She cannot stand the sound of people eating/chewing. I’m not talking about like normal eating sounds – I’m talking about ANY eating sounds. I’ve been relegated to the kitchen to eat chips or baby carrots.  The good news is that she acknowledges she’s crazy when it comes to this.
Whose idea was it to start the farm?  
It was mine. She was away in Florida one weekend and I went to look at properties Upstate. Before she came home, I was like, “We need to have a talk.” She thought we were going to have a SOR (“State of the Relationship”) talk. But we sat down and I said, “So I made an offer on this 70 acre farm…”
What has been the biggest challenge and the biggest reward so far at The Hemptons? 
The biggest challenge has been being patient. We (I, specifically) want everything done yesterday, but we’ve learned over the past year that time helps refine and improve the vision for The Hemptons (Farm).  It’s taken us a while to get used to that concept, but we’ve also seen the benefits of this patience. I think our first crop of hemp last year helped teach us that lesson: We had to be prepared, patient and nimble to get the most from our first planting. So, we’re applying the same strategy to all of our other projects.  The greatest reward has been making improvements all over the property (renovating an old shed, building a bridge, implementing a drainage plan, the list goes on!) and witnessing how these seemingly insignificant changes dramatically alter the look and feel of the property. It’s like we’re constantly doing before and after projects and with every investment is a great new reveal. That feeling of accomplishment and visual affirmation inspires us to continue to evolve the property and project. We want the experience at The Hemptons to be a special and memorable one and that drives every decision we make.

SUZIE SAID:

How did you meet Vanessa?
We met back in 2009 playing dodgeball.  I had just moved to the city and was looking for new activities and friends, and found the Big Apple Dodgeball league, which Vanessa was the Commissioner of at the time. A woman in power, my kind of gal! We didn’t start dating until 2013… friends first!
How long have you been engaged?
A year and some change
Who asked who out and how?
I asked Vanessa out first.  It was the season ending dodgeball party my rookie year (not relevant, but I won Rookie of the Year).  I was a little tipsy and I slurred an attempt at a conversation, she shot me down pretty fast and hard. It was okay though, I have a never give up attitude!  A couple of dodgeball, flag football and softball seasons later … my plan was finally coming to fruition! One night after one of our league football games we were the last 2 at the bar, sitting across from each other at a table in the back and she leaned across and kissed me.  So, in the end, Vanessa made the first move, but only after I tricked her into liking me over the course of 4 years.
Where was your first date?
Well it started at Joes Shanghai down in Chinatown, then an arcade, then off to Little Italy, there was a tropical themed bar in between and it ended in Hell's Kitchen -- a real world tour! Oh, there was a point near the beginning of the night when I accidentally smoked pot (I don’t smoke — to everyone’s surprise). I didn’t tell her this until I was having a panic attack inside an insanely loud and overstimulating arcade.  We left after 2 games of ski-ball and 1 racing game.  I’m pretty sure we still have the card that has 217 play credits left.  Maybe we’ll go back someday sans the THC! Only CBD for me this time around.
When did you first know you loved Vanessa?
We were down in Key West on a hot September night, dangling our feet in the hot tub just chatting about the future and what it may look like - kids, dogs, jobs, travel (a hemp farm definitely did not come up) — everything seemed so easy and natural — and aligned.  There was an overwhelming sense of “right” and that no matter which path we take it was going to be great because we’d be doing it together.
Tell us about the proposal(s) in your words.
For my birthday about 6 months before our official engagement Vanessa gave me a pair of beautiful rings. Each ring came is a separate box - first I opened the black diamond band - perfect, loved it, best bday present ever!  Then to the next box - another diamond band AND a small note inside that said “let’s do this”.  Perfect, loved it, but really.. on my birthday! You can’t turn MY birthday into OUR engagement... I didn’t say that, but I thought it.  I gave V a wink and a “I love it, sure!”.  I think the story would have gone slightly differently if my parents and sister weren't sitting there watching.  They made a last minute visit for my birthday. I believe Vanessa's plan was to actually propose while giving me my birthday gifts, but because my parents and sister snuck in there — she just slipped in the note.  Which is great, because I get to keep my birthday to myself and not share it with the woman I share everything else with. We call the time in between this day and our actual engagement the "soft-launch engagement".  The full engagement came the following July. Sticking with the theme, I came prepared with 2 rings, similar but different to the gems she gave me. I planned a dinner with 4 of our best friends out in Brooklyn.  I made sure everyone was a bit tipsy.. then at the perfect break in the conversation about Alanis Morissette singing engagements I segued into a different kind of engagement.. I pulled out the same box that Vanessa gave me, with the same little note that said "let's do this" and after a thorough inspection of the rings she finally said YES!  
When are you getting married?
We’re still working on that. It’s on the list of things to do.. we just aren’t sure what we want yet.  
Do you see children in the future / how many if so?
Sometimes!
More dogs in the future?
Yes, definitely. Curtis needs a friend!
What is your favorite thing about Vanessa?
She is a great cook and she does it often! She has helped me become much better in the kitchen, I think this was for selfish reasons though.  I’ve come a long way since we’ve been together.. I used to be a hot dog and mac or pasta with ketchup kinda gal.. now I can make things like lettuce tacos and zoodles with shrimp.  
What is Vanessa's biggest quirk?
V doesn't really have any major quirks.  Luckily she puts up with mine.  She's a bit obsessive about putting chapstick on right before we leave the house, even if we are already late to something - MUST STOP AND PUT CHAPSTICK ON - which is crazy because chapstick is an on-the-go thing.. so she could do it in the hall as she is walking. She's also a bit nutty about reading the little pamphlet directions to gadgets, every page.  It’s so strange.  I just rip it open and push the power button and off ya go!! Not V, nope, she is currently reading the directions to some walkie talkies — we already own 6 of them - just because this set is a different color doesn’t mean it works differently.  And, the first thing she does when we get home from vacation is water all the plants, even if we arrive at 3am, she is going to water those plants. 
Whose idea was it to start the farm?
Vanessa’s. I was actually down in Florida when she put in the offer and I had never even been to the town.  But, that's what I love about Vanessa, a real go-getter! The "do first, ask for forgiveness later" strategy worked out in this case.  The farm has been an amazing adventure with a lot of learning along the way. 
What has been the biggest challenge and the biggest reward so far at the Hemptons?
It’s a challenge to decide the priorities around the farm, a lot needs to be done - which to pick first?  The most rewarding was seeing our baby hemp plants grow from seeds to full grown plants! Neither of us had any experience in farming prior to this endeavor so seeing our hours invested in watching YouTube farming videos payoff was extremely rewarding.