Meet a #momboss: Meaghan B Murphy

I’ve known about the local force who is Meaghan Murphy for a few years now because she and I both happen to love SLT and frequent the same studio in Short Hills. I’ve always wanted to reach out to do a little feature on Meaghan but when I heard her on Macaroni Kid CEO Joyce Shulman’s podcast a few weeks ago, I knew it was time to take the plunge. Meaghan is a local mom, executive editor of Good Housekeeping, soon-to-be published book author (!!), and overall MEGA force of positivity. She’s also a blast to follow on social media. Read on to learn more about Meaghan!

First, tell us a little about yourself and your family! 

I’m Meaghan B (no period) Murphy, a Jersey Strong mama of Charley (girl), 9, James, almost 8, Brooks, 6, and a labradoodle Dempsey, 2. We live in Westfield (aka Bestfield) where I was once appointed Chief Spirit Officer by the former mayor. For fun, I created the Instagram @bestfieldnj, which is essentially a love letter to my town. I’m a community cheerleader and big believer that we should all love where we live. Paying jobwise, I’ve had a looong career in the media spanning writing/editing gigs at YM, Teen People (I was a founding editor), Cosmopolitan, SELF and now GH. I regularly appear as a wellness and lifestyle expert on shows like Live with Kelly & Ryan, Today and Dr. Oz. I’m comfortable on camera because I studied acting and was a host on MTV in the 1990s. I also recently signed a book deal with Penguin-Random House and launched a new podcast. More on those later!

Where did you grow up and how did you end up living in Westfield?

I grew up in Bridgewater and my husband was raised in nearby Martinsville. Fun fact: He’s my younger brother’s best friend. I’m 4 years older so I was a senior when they were freshmen at Bridgewater-Raritan High School. I played a lot of soccer and frequented Westfield for tournaments and skills clinics. We always carved out time to shop (Nirvana was a favorite, RIP!) and hit Friendly’s (now it’s a bank!) afterward. I fell in love with the downtown long before I was a resident.

What’s your favorite thing about living in Westfield?

We live a block from Downtown. My realtor was ready to murder me when we moved here from Jersey City 7 years ago. I literally drew a circle around town and wouldn’t consider a single home outside of that radius. It was/is crucial for me to be able to walk to the train, to grab a cup of coffee or hit Trader Joe’s on foot! It lets me trick myself into thinking I’m still a city girl.

Favorite local place to...

Work out…
I cheat on all of my gyms! I loooooove Alpha Fit Club and Orange Theory in Westfield for fast, effective workouts that combine cardio and strength; I get my sweaty stretch on at Home Power Yoga in Cranford; I drive to Short Hills to POE for extreme boxing and SLT for my Mega fix. AND I just had Anna Kaiser, the creator of AKT (Kelly Ripa and Shakira’s dance cardio workout!) on my @offthegrampodcast and she told me AKT is coming to SH in April right by Soul Cycle. Yay! 

Get a birthday gift for a kid’s birthday party…
Learning Express in Westfield! They have a fabulous selection of STEAM toys—many of which earned Good Housekeeping Top Toy Awards and they gift wrap for free.

Get lunch with friends… 
I wish getting lunch with friends was something I did more of. Alas, allll the jobs. My life is more like: Grab a quick juice or acai bowl after a workout in sweaty gym clothes. My go-to on that front is the Juice House in Garwood and New Providence. Both locations are conveniently located near gyms! 

Get dinner with kids… 
Ferraro’s in Westfield! I have celiac disease and they have the best gluten free menu in the area. Think: Anything from GF mozzarella sticks to stuffed shells! Thirsty Turtle is a close second because they have a dedicated GF fryer. I can get a burger and French fries!!!

Grab coffee…
My kitchen! I’m my own barista at 4:45 AM as I get ready to head out the door for a dawn patrol workout. Starbucks doesn’t even open that early! At a more civilized hour, Boxwood Coffee Roasters in Westfield (there’s also one in Summit that I’ve hit after a Bar Method class!) has a really cool vibe.

Have a date night…
Sweet Waters Steakhouse in Westfield! My hubs and I are obsessed with the pork chop. We also ventured to Rahway recently and had a fun dinner at The Irving Inn with live music afterward at the attached Irving Inn Social. I want to go back in the spring for the outdoor area.

Go out for drinks… 
Addams Tavern is legit 30 seconds walking distance from my house, so it’s a pretty ideal place to grab a drink. They’re known for their cocktails, but I’m a wine girl…with the exception of #DryJanuary. 

What’s the most challenging thing about being a commuting/working mom and how do you deal with it?
I want to be everywhere doing everything All. At. Once. And you know what: I can’t! Instead of letting that stress and negativity overtake me, I focus on creating my daily Yay List. It’s essentially a virtual gratitude journal that I share on @meaghanbmurphy and @theyaylist. I ask myself, “What made you say YAY today?” and document it. Focusing on all of that good from a fun new workout to an empowering quote, makes the tough stuff more tolerable.

Tell us about living a Fully Charged Life and how you got to this point!

I’m known for my high-energy vibe. The title of my book-in-progress is The Fully Charged Life: A Radically Simple Guide to Having Endless Energy and Finding the Yay in Every Day. People always say to me, “Wow, I wish I could bottle your energy.” This book is my attempt to do that. I wasn’t born this way (cue Lady Gaga!)—my nickname was Grumpy as a kid. But, I completely reprogrammed to be a happy, optimistic fireball with the simple strategies I’m now writing about and excited to share.

What is one major goal you have for yourself in 2020 and how are you going to accomplish it?

My full manuscript is due to Penguin-Random House this April and my book comes out Spring 2021, so this is a big, HUGE deadline period for me. I’ve turned in several chapters already that my editor loved. Phew, that was a relief! It’s a scary, vulnerable process. The Fully Charged Life is me in book form. I want it to make change!

What’s your favorite thing to do locally with your family?

October is my favorite time in Westfield. We have something called Addams Fest, which is a month-long festival that celebrates the late cartoonist and one-time resident Charles Addams whose work inspired The Addams Family. There’s a pop-up beer garden, store window decorating, Trunk-or-Treating with games and music, costume contests and so much more!