How many children do you have and what are their age(s)?
Robyn: 3. One son, six, and two stepdaughters ages 14 and 18
Megan: I have three girls—9 year old twins and a 6.5 year old.
How long have you lived in (your town)? What made you decide to live here?
Robyn: 9 years in Summit. My husband already lived here when we met. I was living and working in New York city and was less than excited about switching to the suburbs. Fast forward to almost a decade later and I can’t imagine living anywhere else! Summit downtown has really grown over the past few years! I love being able to walk to great restaurants and boutiques.
Megan: I have lived in Chatham for five years, moving here after 14 years in the city. We decided to make the move to the suburbs when our youngest daughter was 1 1/2, as city living was becoming increasingly more difficult with three young children. We were craving a yard, a bigger open kitchen with plenty of counter space, and a 3-car garage to fit a large SUV. When we were still living in TriBeCa, we reached out to Suburban Jungle Group, a real estate consulting service that helps match families to their ideal suburban town. Chatham was a perfect fit for us based on the incredible public school system, proximity to the city and direct train line, and overall personality of the town.
What’s your favorite family activity Chatham, Madison or Summit?
Robyn: Too many to name! We love picnic playdates at local parks- the Castle playground in Chatham is a fun one. For rainy days, Stryke bowling alley is great for kids and adults. It helps that the food and drink is nicer than typical bowling alley fare! Of course, we love the seasonal celebrations like downtown Trick or Treating, and Fourth of July fireworks at Memorial Field.
Megan: We recently joined Fairmount Country Club and have truly cherished our summer afternoons/evenings at the newly-renovated pool and Timmons House. We also really enjoy the Summit and Madison street fairs (particularly Bottle Hill Day) and farmers markets, the Madison Christmas parade and tree lighting and the Madison Halloween festivities. Can you tell we love a holiday celebration?!
Where’s your favorite place to eat and/or shop Chatham, Madison or Summit?
Robyn: To eat, Summit House (their grilled octopus is amazing!) To shop, I love Alba boutique- they have great easy clothes that wear well but still look chic.
Megan: My favorite places to shop in the area are obviously the Short Hills mall but also Alba, Willow Street and Paper Source in Summit. Stitch, British Home Emporium and Sugar Rush are favorites in Madison. As for restaurants, our favorites in the area are Summit House for a nice dinner, Pizza Vita for a casual family pizza night and Central & Main for lunch. I’m also super happy to have Chopt in New Providence now!
What’s one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
Robyn: My secret goal is to one day play competitive chess. I played a lot as a kid and in high school and recently got a coach with the hopes of competing one day.
Megan: My plan for my entire childhood was to move to LA to be a professional dancer with the backup plan of becoming a marine biologist.
Anyone special you’d like to thank for helping you through parenthood?
Robyn: It takes a village! One great thing about Summit and Chatham is the moms really do band together and support one another. I joke that my friend, Mary Katherine Romanowski, is my “co-mom” because we frequently rely on each other in a pinch. From picking up a kid when you’re stuck at an appointment, to grabbing a few extra items at Whole Foods because one of us happens to be there- we are each other’s back up!
Megan: It would have to be my forever bestie, Stephie Rojas. She and I have lived parallel lives since the day we met in NYC and practically share a brain. We married best friends, lived next door in TriBeCa, and had our first children within 6 weeks of each other. She spent her 30th birthday with her newborn daughter strapped in a Bjorn in my hospital room when my twins were born 15 weeks early. Calling her a sister in life doesn’t do it justice.
Are you involved in a business venture, a local organization, a creative endeavor, or in the corporate world? Please share! Yes! We officially launched RM Health + Wellness, LLC in June and it’s already been such an incredible experience. We provide health and weight loss accountability coaching for women ages 21 to 55. We provide everything- customized meal plans, shopping lists and recipes. Most importantly we provide constant daily check ins and feedback to ensure our clients’ success. Everything is 100% virtual, seven days a week- over text and email- so support is instant, no waiting for an appointment. We provide everything you need to succeed- restaurant and shopping recommendations, menu guidance, supplements, and workout ideas.
How has this community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now? As a new business, we’ve been so grateful for the support of fellow moms in the community. They’ve been great about getting the word out about our business, and nearly all of our local clients have been referrals from friends or other successful clients. The virtual nature of our business allows us to work with women across the US, but we’re always grateful for local clients.
What’s your favorite form of self care?
Robyn: Cryotherapy at Revivify. It’s three minutes in a chamber at -238 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s not the most fun thing to do, but it really does help. I run and it makes a world of difference for inflammation and recovery time!
Megan: I love a good massage and reflexology appointment at New Foot in summit (don’t judge the name!) weekly sessions in my at-home infrared sauna, and power yoga and P.volve workouts.