Episode 10: Melissa Ferrara (Fitness/Lifestyle Influencer) – The Best of New Jersey Podcast

Amanda Morrison: Welcome to the Best of New Jersey podcast presented by Sojo Spa Club, New Jersey’s wellness getaway. The Best of New Jersey podcast celebrates New Jersey’s most influential figures and the communities that shape them. Big names, real talk, real Jersey. I’m your host, Amanda Morrison from Don’t Sit Home. For today’s episode, I would like to welcome Melissa Ferrara, fitness and lifestyle influencer. Welcome to the Best of New Jersey podcast.

Melissa Ferrara: Thank you for having me.

Amanda Morrison: So, I introduced you as fitness and lifestyle influencer, but there’s a lot more to your content. You talk about mindset and motherhood, but you started your social media career with, um, Moms of Peloton and your leader leaderboard, how does it leaderboard handle for Peloton with Miss—Miz Miss New Jersey. So, that was the beginning of your journey. So, what—what got you started?

Melissa Ferrara: Yeah, so I was a Peloton die-hard back in 2015 when boutique fitness studios were all over New York, but people were really focused on SoulCycle and I just loved Peloton. So, my leaderboard name was Miss New Jersey and I was single and then I met my husband and I became Mrs. New Jersey on the Peloton leaderboard, which people, you know, Pelotoners, that’s like very important what your leaderboard name is because the instructors shout you out and whatnot. So, I was Mrs. New Jersey and my husband gifted me a Peloton bike for our wedding, which was 2019 right before the pandemic. I was super pumped and then the pandemic hit and I was like, “Oh my gosh, what are we—what am I going to do?” But thank God I have this bike. Um, I’m an event planner in New York City and there were no events obviously in COVID, so I needed a creative outlet. I’m like, you know what? Let me make a fun Instagram account about Peloton because there’s so many funny clips that the instructors say and there’s so many relatable, you know, little quirks about Peloton that I think would—people would find funny. So, I created the account. I did a little bit of improv and, um, you know, I imitated a few different people and it kind of took off.

Amanda Morrison: Well, I mean, even—I mean, you know, it’s like laughing through the pain. So that means a lot of people probably can relate to that too because I mean, obviously, the pandemic was a hard time and just even getting your bodies moving in any way possible. I mean, I have, you know, my social media is called “Don’t Sit Home” but I’m like, you know, like you should probably sit home a lot, but like I’m walking at 5:00 a.m. when no one else is around me. So everyone was finding their outlet but also just finding like—it wasn’t just physically, it’s mentally too. So I’m sure you helped so many people go through that. Um, so Miss New Jersey, where are you from, New Jersey?

Melissa Ferrara: Oh gosh. Okay. So when people ask me, they’re like, “Where are you from?” And my first thing is I always say, “You’re never going to know it. You’ll never know it.” Um, but I’m from this town called West Milford and it’s up in Passaic County. It’s only about an hour from New York City. Um, tons of just beautiful mountains and woods. I actually grew up on a mountain on a lake on an island. Um, it’s very—very—very—

Amanda Morrison: Sounds terrible. I mean, that sounds—it wasn’t bougie but that still sounds wonderful.

Melissa Ferrara: It was—it was a beautiful place to grow up. Lots of log cabins. So, it really was a retreat back in the day for city folk to come up and spend their summers. So, I grew up on a lake. We had boats. Um, but there were a lot of cabins and bears and deer. We had bear alarms at our elementary school. Like, it was a unique way to grow up, but it was only an hour from the city, which is really remarkable that New Jersey can even have something like that.

Amanda Morrison: I think a lot of—I mean, New Jersey gets a bad rap no matter what, but it’s just the fact that there’s so many different areas. I mean, I’ve actually been to West Milford. My—one of my best friends had his bachelor party and we rented a few houses there, but we—yeah, it was—it was like a perfect weekend getaway.

Melissa Ferrara: Yeah.

Amanda Morrison: Um, so you were born and raised New Jersey. Um, and then where do you live now?

Melissa Ferrara: So, I live in Weehawken, right on the border of Hoboken. I’ve lived there for 16 years. I went to college in Florida, which was a huge reality check. As a Jersey girl, I was like, “Oh, that—you know, Jersey is such a small little bubble.” And then you go outside and you’re like, “Okay, there—the pizza sucks, the bagels are not great, and the people are slow.” Um, yeah, I came back, right? Like, you’re just like, “Oh my gosh, like what—you know, huge reality check.” But, um, I love the Hoboken area. My daughter goes to school in Hoboken. I just love it and I can’t see myself going anywhere else. Excuse me.

Amanda Morrison: Did you start your social media journey when you were living in Weehawken or where—where were you when you were single? Obviously, you met your husband during this.

Melissa Ferrara: I met him—I was living in Hoboken. Okay. And then we moved to Weehawken. So the social media didn’t kick off until I moved to Weehawken. Um, and even then, people DM me and they’re like, “Where do you live? Where are you?” Like, “It’s such beautiful views.” And I’m like, “Jersey. It’s Jersey, baby.” Like, this is it. We have the best views of New York. New York has views of Jersey.

Amanda Morrison: I know. That’s why people ask me all the time. They’re like, “Why do you live in Hoboken?” And I’m like, “You know, we have the view of New York and I can also be there in about 10 minutes.” So, it’s the best. It’s the best little town. The restaurants, everything’s walkable. I just love it. What’s your—what are your go-to spots in Hoboken and Weehawken?

Melissa Ferrara: Oh my gosh, that’s so—that’s so hard. Um, well, it depends on what we’re talking about. So, if we’re talking about like delis and whatnot, I’m a Vito’s Deli girl through and through. Their turkey mutz—you can’t beat it. I’m obsessed with like those old-school Italian, still open for years, have been there for years type of places. Um, for a drink, I would say at the bar at Dino & Harry’s uptown Hoboken. Also, the new spots in Weehawken, right where I live in Lincoln Harbor, are great. So, I don’t know if you’ve ever—ever been to Drift or Blu. Blu is beautiful. It has great views of New York and you feel like you’re in New York. Like,—

Amanda Morrison: I was just talking about the Drift Happy Hour on the last episode.

Melissa Ferrara: Well, there we go. You know, Drift Happy Hour is where it’s at, too. I—I was just there right when—right when it became warm out. I was like, “Okay, we’re—we’re going here.” And then it was just a crew of people outside. So, I think we’re on to something.

Amanda Morrison: Where do you go that’s family-friendly?

Melissa Ferrara: So, I go to the American Dream. Okay. Um, you know, you do need a little patience for it, but it is such a great spot for kids. The water park, the Nickelodeon amusement park, there’s so many different fun stores, the Pop Mart store. My daughter’s a crazy Labubu fan. Um, so the American Dream, and then of course Down the Shore in the summer. You can’t beat the boardwalks.

Amanda Morrison: So you are “down the shore,” not “to the beach.”

Melissa Ferrara: I am down the shore. I am down the shore. True and true Jersey Girl.

Amanda Morrison: Yes. Yes. So with your content, so when you originally started, you got the bike, the world was shut down. How did you—you know, you were saying you—you combined fitness with humor? What—what kind of, you know, was it only humor or were you talking about more serious subjects, but—and you know, I know that you were pregnant during the pandemic, too, so you’re very open about that. Just tell me a little bit more about your actual content.

Melissa Ferrara: Yeah. So, it started out, like I said, with memes and then I’m a very outgoing extrovert and I started getting on stories and there I would talk more a little bit about what was going on in the Peloton community because the thing with the pandemic and Peloton, which was just a perfect marriage, was that people were just riding from home from all over the world. So I’d meet folks from Switzerland, from Australia, England, California, all over and we could all, you know, really relate to one thing and that would be Peloton or events that were happening. Um, so then I started creating challenges for people to join together and I would create these one-hour challenges and it was once a month and everybody looked forward to it and you could do it at a different time. So I set it for different time zones for all over so that it would help folks in the UK to California. Um, so it kind of varied and then I started getting a little bit more comfortable and talking a little bit more about my personal life and mentioning a few things like, “Oh, like this is a New York hotspot you got to go to if you visit New York.” And then it slowly transitioned into me having a little bit more voice other than Peloton.

Amanda Morrison: Okay. Well, I mean, that’s the thing with social media. People like to humanize—or see the human side of anything, too. I mean, it’s easy just to post, you know, just a workout plan or something like that, but learning about the person behind it, people can really relate to it.

Melissa Ferrara: Yeah.

Amanda Morrison: So, when you’re—um, when you’re talking about with your content, too, like, you know, kind of talking about yourself, how much of your family did you bring into your content or was it more of just fitness-related?

Melissa Ferrara: Yeah. So, family I didn’t really touch upon. I kind of just brought my daughter on with me and even friends. I haven’t really—my best friend of 30-plus years, I’ve had her on there like twice. Um, so I kind of just focused on the community and focused right back on them rather than my friends and family. And still to this day, I really don’t really focus on family or friends because I consider, you know, folks in my community my friends and—and really take part in the audience part of it.

Amanda Morrison: Okay. So, you know, that’s how you started. When did you start shifting your content and even to a—a social media handle change because it’s now your name? So, what—what inspired you to start shifting your content and what kind of content have you expanded to?

Melissa Ferrara:Yeah. So, that was, um, really scary for me. I just felt like I was more than a mom and more than Peloton and I’m, you know, Melissa Ferrara. So, my handle changed to “It’s Melissa Ferrara.” But it took a good four years for me to finally feel like I was ready for that and that my content reflected that. So I would get messages saying, you know, “I’m not a mom, but I follow you and I really love it, but I’m not a mom.” And I was—it would drive me crazy. I’m like, “You don’t have to be a mom and you don’t have to just Peloton.” And even with the brand Peloton, there’s no bad blood there. And I—I even when I changed the handle, I said like, “I’ll always ride the Peloton, but I’m not the brand. I don’t work for the brand.” You know, I just felt like it wasn’t representing, you know—I wasn’t representing myself well and I wanted it to be “It’s Melissa Ferrara” and everything that—you know, we could talk about the Jersey Shore, we could talk about sandwiches, we could talk about whatever without me feeling like I was restricted creatively.

Amanda Morrison: I think I touched on some of the topics, but what are the topics you think you—I mean, you don’t have to go into everything because obviously, you know, there could be something that is completely unrelated to anything you’ve posted in the past, but what are the major categories you think you cover?

Melissa Ferrara: Mhm. So, definitely fitness, like we said, motherhood for sure. I think confidence and just like really female empowerment is a big one for me. I’ve recently just started getting into style and fashion because people—I’m on stories all the time and they’ll be like, “Where’s that dress from? Where’s that coat from?” And I love finding like lux looks for less. So, that’s my—that’s my new vertical.

Amanda Morrison: I think I saw your one about the Five Below purse. It was fabulous. I was like, “That does not look like Five Below.” And your dress right now is great, too.

Melissa Ferrara: Thanks. Yeah, I, um, I really want to get into that, but I just—again, I think I’ve been a little insecure about it. Like, well, I’m not a fashion person. I got my purse at Five Below, but I’m like, you know what? It’s super relatable and that’s just—I’m not this bougie influencer that, you know, just has these designer brands. That’s just not who I am. What do you think has been one of your favorite pieces of content so far?

Melissa Ferrara: Oh gosh. Um, I will say the one piece of content that I love and that I always go back to is a reel that I did with Moira Rose from Schitt’s Creek of her riding the Peloton bike and I had a wig on and I did her voice and I love imitating people. It’s my favorite thing to do even in a conversation. It’s—it’s just my thing. Um, so I imitated her and I was like, “I don’t even know if anyone’s gonna get this or if even people think that it’s a—it’s a good imitation.” But it was—and then I would throw her in a few other times like in stories and then when, um, Catherine O’Hara passed, I—you know, everyone knew she’s like my idol. I love her. I thought that character—there’s never a character like—I feel I’m giving Moira today, like—you know, I love her. Um, so I—I dabbled in a little bit of that, but I think that that was probably my favorite piece of content.

Amanda Morrison: We hope you’re enjoying this episode of the Best of New Jersey podcast. The conversation continues in just a moment, but first, we would like to thank our sponsor. This episode is brought to you by Sojo Spa Club, New Jersey’s go-to wellness getaway. Just minutes from the city, Sojo is the perfect place to unplug, recharge, and actually treat yourself. From heated pools and rooftop views of the New York City skyline to saunas from around the world and seriously indulging in spa treatments, it’s a full-day escape that feels like a vacation without the travel. Whether you’re going solo, planning a girl’s day, or surprising someone with a gift, Sojo Spa Club is wellness done right, all without leaving New Jersey.

What do you think has been your most vulnerable content?

Melissa Ferrara: Okay. Yeah, that’s—um, I feel like I’ve been very vulnerable, especially about my health issues. So, I did have a journey where I had to get my breast implants out and I didn’t want to share it at first. I thought, “You know what, this is too much.” But, um, it was for a—I’m so happy that I did it because my implants were recalled and it helped other women go check their breast implants out and think about it more or they didn’t even know that it was a thing. Um, so I followed them through my journey. I even posted, you know, right when I was at the doctor’s office, um, to post-surgery where I had the drains and everything. And even to this day, people are still asking about my journey through that.

Amanda Morrison: Is there any content you regret putting on the internet?

Melissa Ferrara: Oh, God. All the time. All the time. I feel like, um, sometimes I’m like, “Oh God, that came off a little like crude or something.” Um, I don’t have any—I shouldn’t have any regrets. So, no, I don’t regret anything really. There was a few times in like 2021 where I went on live and I went a little crazy just based on things that were going on in the world. Um, so maybe that could have been toned down just a notch, but I don’t regret anything though.

Amanda Morrison: I mean, I think a lot of people did. I think that everyone gets a pass between like 2020 and 2022. I think a lot of people were either unhinged or also it just didn’t even phase you. Like sometimes you like look back, you think back to some of the things you watch on social media, you’re like, “That was acceptable.” Like no one—I mean, you would see the live interviews even celebrities like—I remember there was this one where like Pink is just going through her house, like she cut her own hair and just drinking a beer and she’s like, “I don’t care.” Like it just everyone got away. But I don’t know, it just brought the world together—like it’s nice to hear that you said that you have followers from all over the world being able to relate to what you’re going through. Oh yeah, because even like you talk about like mindset too and—like even like what do you do as obviously someone who—we went through something and you know through your motherhood and your own individual—and your—what is—what are things that you do to take care of yourself mentally and physically.

Melissa Ferrara: So my number one is fitness, 100%. Um, I think that everyone needs to move in some capacity and I do talk about that—you just got to move, either if it’s a walk or a run or Pilates, something—you just have to move a little bit. Um, I also—I came from nightlife, so I was definitely like a big-time drinker and socialized a lot in New York. And I’m sure you can remember happy hours like right after work and drinking. And I—I really don’t drink that much. And I think that surprises people, but I—that has helped me so much with anxiety and keeping a clear head and feeling really good when you wake up the next morning. I think that’s also important.

Amanda Morrison: What are some of your favorite activities outside of for fun? I mean even like fitness as you know—I—I mean I always like balance between like some fitness is fun—but what is your—what—what brings you absolute joy?

Melissa Ferrara: That’s such a good question. I mean, it can be something as small as just being with my daughter in the park and running around with her to boating with my parents out on their lake, which brings me such joy because now I can appreciate West Milford. You know, when I was younger, I never appreciated it. I’m like, “We live so far from the mall and this and that.” And now I’m up there and I’m just—every time I’m out on the—on their pontoon boat, I’m like, “Wow, this is just so beautiful.” And it does bring me such joy. Um, I also just love, you know, hanging with friends and chatting with—with, uh, my neighbors. We have really close neighbors, which is nice. So,—

Amanda Morrison: Do you treat yourself to anything for like me days or for your alone time?

Melissa Ferrara: Oh, God, please. I—I’m always treating myself. I’m big into that. Yeah, I do. I do love my alone time. I am, like I said, an extrovert, but being alone and having that time to read a book or even just sit out on my patio and look at the views of New York, it just brings me back to reality. And I think I’m constantly on the go. So, just taking that second to just—like even just sit in silence. I really don’t even watch TV. I just like to sit. And then, of course, TikTok and scrolling on Instagram, you know.

Amanda Morrison: When did you have your kid, Natalina?

Melissa Ferrara: I had my daughter in October 2020.

Amanda Morrison: What are her favorite things to do?

Melissa Ferrara: She, let’s see. Oh, she’s so much fun. She’s a park girl, too. I guess that’s what happens when you are growing up in the Hoboken area. So, we hop around. Um, she loves to dance. She loves—she’s like a little influencer, content creator herself. She’s funny. She likes to make videos. She’s a character. And I think she’s a big part of my content creation. Um, which I know is a little controversial, but, um, she—she loves it and she’s always bouncing around. So, people do know Natalina.

Amanda Morrison: Of course. I was gonna say, I think I saw the—was it the TJ Maxx?

Melissa Ferrara: Oh gosh.

Amanda Morrison: What was it—when your daughter leaves or like ditches you to perform for the TJ Maxx security camera?

Melissa Ferrara: Oh my God, it has gone—that video has gone viral, which I didn’t even think. I’m just sharing her on—on stories. But yeah, I’m at TJ Maxx. She runs away from me. I’m like, “Where the hell did she go?” I’m looking for her. I’m like, “Where’d she go?” She’s standing there dancing in front of the security camera and then people were messaging me like, “That’s a Bluey episode.” I had no idea it’s—one of those Bluey cartoon characters—like I said, we don’t really watch TV—and they were like, “Yeah, it’s a Bluey episode.” I haven’t watched it, but he was doing the same thing I guess—like dancing in the security camera. So she’s all about—like all eyes on her. She’s a—she’s just mini—a mini-me really.

Amanda Morrison: Natalie, how old is she? Did you say?

Melissa Ferrara: So she’s five and a half. She just turned five and a half.

Amanda Morrison: Okay. So very much pandemic.

Melissa Ferrara: Yeah. She’s like such a pandemic kid. Um, you know, that was such an interesting time to be pregnant. Um, I gave birth in New York City. It was not fun and I think that really affected me like as a pregnant woman. Um, I don’t know what it’s like to have a normal pregnancy. And I feel for everybody that was in the same boat and people that had kids, people that didn’t have kids, but being pregnant during that time was bizarre.

Amanda Morrison: In—what ways?

Melissa Ferrara: So, the uncertainty, right? It was like doctors telling you don’t go outside for a walk. I—I didn’t move. I just sat on a couch. I didn’t do anything. I ate. I watched the news 24/7. It was just a really toxic time for me. And I think I always envisioned being pregnant, going to those prenatal classes and, you know, going to prenatal yoga and that just didn’t happen. Um, and then of course just thinking, “Oh gosh, what happens if I get COVID? What happens if she gets COVID?” And my doctor’s appointments in the city, you couldn’t have any visitors. So, my husband didn’t hear my daughter’s heartbeat until I don’t even know. I think it was like 32 weeks.

Amanda Morrison: Oh, wow.

Melissa Ferrara: Yeah.

Amanda Morrison: No, that’s—I mean, it’s just you think back to that—just—I mean being pregnant is probably not—I’ve never been pregnant yet—but that—I mean it’s not easy in general, but just thinking about all those extra stresses on you.

Melissa Ferrara: Oh, yeah.

Amanda Morrison: Um, what do you think was—what—what part of that do you think made you stronger getting through it?

Melissa Ferrara: That’s such a great question. I think having to go to—going through the city and feeling the city’s vibes. I’m a big empath, so just going in there and having those doctor’s appointments and going in by myself—and my daughter wasn’t growing the way that she should have been. So, I was high-risk and I was going to high-risk doctors and I felt like I—I had her with me, so I felt super strong. And I think just going to those appointments and listening to news because—of course, when you have your partner with you, it’s a little bit easier to digest. But when you’re sitting there by yourself in a room with a doctor and a nurse with masks on where you couldn’t even tell what they looked like. To this day, I have no idea if I ever saw my doctor who delivered my daughter—what she really looked like besides pictures that are on, you know, the website. Um, so I think just going through that process, being forced to be alone really strengthened my mentality.

Amanda Morrison: Well, even—I mean, without a pandemic being, you know, pregnancy I’m sure is not easy. Yeah. What is your—do you have any advice for anyone who’s going through a tough pregnancy mentally or physically right now?

Melissa Ferrara: Yeah, I think that’s a great question. I would say to truly trust your doctors. I had every—I—I thought I was like, “You know what, we’re going to have—be very organic about this pregnancy.” And I just think that to listen to your doctors, trust them. My doctor was very calm and reassured me. And I think that had I not had her and I just went on Google and YouTube and spiraled out of control. It’s like, listen to the professionals and also take some time for you. So I see a lot of pregnant women that are going out to weddings and they’re—you know, I have girlfriends that are like, “Oh God, I have to go to this birthday party.” It’s like, say no. Take some time. Say no. You’re pregnant. Like, use it to your advantage to take some time to really relax because it’s exhausting.

Amanda Morrison: Okay. So you talk about motherhood and you talk about fitness, but let’s actually—let’s talk about them going together. So how did you balance your pregnancy with fitness? Because I know a lot of people even are fearful of, you know, if—what—in what stage should they stop working out or how heavy can they work out? And then also, what was your experience like after—you know, you gave birth? How did you—how did you figure out the best way to get back into it? What was appropriate for your body? Um, because I mean, I’m sure a lot of people are kind of scared of what to do during any process of it.

Melissa Ferrara: Yeah, definitely. I think that, um, you know, it’s a really hard thing for women because we see in the media these women that pop—bounce right back to their bodies and whatnot. And same thing, I—I think I was brainwashed a little bit from the media thinking like, “Oh my gosh, I’m going to be this, you know, gorgeous pregnant woman and—and feel great about my body.” And the truth was I didn’t feel great about my body. I barely had the energy to work out. And when I did have that energy, I was like, “Okay, let me go. Let me go for it. Let me not get crazy.” I never broke a sweat really, honestly, when I was pregnant. I think Peloton was great for that because it was easy on the joints. Um, and I would go for walks with my COVID mask on, of course. So, I didn’t really feel like I got the true fitness journey through pregnancy, but I was so exhausted and I truly listened to my body. And I think more women need to do that. All about rest. You’re growing a human. So, don’t focus on, you know, how many miles you can run. If you feel like you can, great. That’s amazing. But don’t feel like you need to. Um, and then postpartum, I had more energy and I felt like I could work out. So, I would literally drag my daughter in her Fisher-Price swing through the door and put her next to the Peloton bike and I would ride and I would ride with one of—one of my girlfriends that I met through the internet who was a Pelatoner. She’s in North Carolina with her daughter. They’re a week apart. I’m with Natalina and they’re on the swing just watching us go round and round and round on these Peloton bikes. Um, and then I would take her for walks and then I got a—a running stroller and I would, you know, run a little bit with—with her for sure. But I didn’t start getting really into fitness again until my daughter’s third birthday. And I gained a lot of weight during COVID because again, I was just sitting on my couch eating. You know, like I said, I’m not great with nutrition. So, I was eating pancakes and turkey clubs for breakfast to be honest with you. Um, so it was her third birthday and I’m like, “You know what? I have taken care of my daughter now. It’s time to take care of me and feel good and get back into it.” So it was literally her third birthday and I focused on myself and I have come a long way and I think that now I’m probably in the best shape of my life.

Amanda Morrison: What else do you do other than Peloton?

Melissa Ferrara: So I am big into OrangeTheory. I think it’s one of the best workouts that you can do. I’m big into running. I love Pilates. Big Pilates girl. I think that Pilates for me as a former dancer, it’s just a really nice way to connect with your body and your mind. It’s not as slow as yoga, um, but it’s not as harsh as strength training. So, Pilates has been huge for me.

Amanda Morrison: What was your favorite workouts outside of like Peloton when you were pregnant?

Melissa Ferrara: I would say my favorite workouts—putting my hand to my mouth was my work. I—I didn’t have much. I couldn’t do much because it was COVID, so just going for walks was like that—my sanity.

Amanda Morrison: So you said you started really working out with her third birthday. What was—where were you and what were you—was it Peloton? Was that your first workout or—

Melissa Ferrara: No. So I felt like I was getting a little bit exhausted from Peloton. I was—I did it for three years for—well, I did it since I—before I had the bike, but I felt like I needed something new. And then I started getting a little lazy and I would answer emails on the bike and answer DMs and phone calls. I was like, “Okay, I’m not really working out as hard as I should.” And even the strength classes, I would, you know, stop doing a certain workout because I didn’t feel like doing squats that day and I didn’t have any accountability in person. So, I said to myself, “Okay, I’m going back to OrangeTheory,” which I did.

Amanda Morrison: What are your top tips for anyone who is—who wants to start a fitness and wellness journey?

Melissa Ferrara: Um, I would say find something that you enjoy because for years I always was trying to find the quick fix to get thin and it’s that mentality of the ’90s mentality of getting skinny and you know quick fixes and whatnot and nothing ever really stuck with me until I found Peloton, um, or those boutique classes that had the music pumping and it was—it felt like a nightclub, which I always loved, right? So it felt like I was at the club, but you’re getting a sweat on and it’s fun and you have these high-energy people and that’s what excited me and that’s what drove me to like come back and come back and—and be consistent. So find something that you love and even if—like I said—if it’s going for a walk in nature, if that—if that’s what sticks, then go for it, you know.

Amanda Morrison: So, how much do you balance, you know, fitness and nutrition, too, because you’re—you know, talking about Vito’s because there are some people who are all-or-nothing—they’re only fitness and you know only eating kale salads. I’m very much a big—like, I love working out, but I love my cheeseburgers and beers—like I will forever. Yeah, I’m—I’m very much a balanced lifestyle person and if your—if one of your favorite places is Vito’s, it sounds like you are the same way. So, how much do you incorporate healthy eating into treating yourself and like—you know, eating your favorites?

Melissa Ferrara: Yeah, I think that’s a great question and I get asked a lot about nutrition and I always say, “Don’t come to me for nutrition advice. I am not your girl.” Um, but I do try to eat healthy and I do try to eat fresh at least for one meal of the day. Truly, I’m a—you know, I—I eat the same thing all the time. So, I’m pretty easygoing. But then once it comes time to dinner, that’s where I like to switch it up and usually cheat a little bit because—again with that ’90s mentality, the SlimFast and the SnackWells and all of this crap—it—it doesn’t stick. You know, those—the no carb, the keto—I have done it all and it just doesn’t stick. So, if you’re balanced, I think that really, really helps where you’re like, “Okay, like I’m gonna have a cheeseburger, but then I’m gonna have a salad for lunch and I’m gonna have eggs and, you know, avocado for breakfast and really evening it out.” And being true to yourself because I still eat sweets. I eat—I mean, I’m—I’m the worst really. But being balanced is so important.

Amanda Morrison:What’s your—what’s your cheat sweet?

Melissa Ferrara: I love a Sour Patch Kid. I love a really good Italian pastry. Um, Lyndhurst Pastry Shop is like my fave. I love ice cream, too. So, I mean, I—I have a big sweet tooth for sure. Okay. Yeah.

Amanda Morrison: Um, let’s see. I’m trying to think of what are some fun facts that maybe your followers wouldn’t know about you.

Melissa Ferrara: Oh my goodness. Um, that’s such a great question. I think that a lot of them think, um, that I don’t work and I do. I have a nine-to-five job. Well, it’s more than nine-to-five. I’m a corporate event planner in New York City. And a lot of people will—once they find that out—I—I’m always DMing talking to folks from all over—they’ll be like, “Oh my gosh, you work.” I’m like, “Yeah, I do work. I do—I do work. I just don’t talk about it here.”

Amanda Morrison: Okay. Um, anything—anything coming up or any future goals you have that you’re working towards?

Melissa Ferrara: Yeah, you know, I just did the New York City Half Marathon and I talked about it on my platform and I mentioned how even in gym class, um, I would—would walk the mile. I was just not a runner. I was never an athlete. I was a theater girl. So to go from that where you would literally walk the mile for the presidential whatever fitness test—which I think is such a scam anyway, um—to running a half marathon was such an achievement. So, I think then 2027 I’ll definitely run or I hope to run a marathon.

Amanda Morrison: What do you think? Or do you think that your content is going to be expanding even more or do you—do you think you found your—your niche kind or your—your niche? I’m saying it loosely because obviously we talked about the ability to be able to talk about anything that you want, but do you—do you see any other categories that you would be officially, like, adding to your portfolio?

Melissa Ferrara: Another great question. Um, I don’t know. I think I’d love to touch upon mindset a little bit more. I think that’s important. I’m all about confidence and how to own that and be a woman and feel good about yourself in different rooms and whatnot. So, I think I’d like to dive deeper into that. I touch upon it a little bit, but I would love to—to go further into that topic for sure because even—and you talked about, you know, fashion.

Amanda Morrison: So, around—so, like Hoboken area, Jersey City, Weehawken area. Do you have any, um, favorite boutiques or, like, you know, wellness places or beauty or spas or anything like that either?

Melissa Ferrara: Yeah, so for fashion I love Dor L’ Dor in Hoboken. Okay. I have been a Dora girly since—since I was, you know, 200—whenever I moved there—2015. No, when did I move there? 2010. I moved to Hoboken in 2010. Have loved Dor L’ Dor. Great prices. My earrings are from Dor L’ Dor. I just—I love it. It’s a good quick in-and-out, um, little boutique. Not expensive. I’m all about, you know, finding affordable pieces. Spas, I love SoJo. I love SoJo. I think it has, again, you—you just don’t feel like you’re in New Jersey. I can’t believe it’s even there. SoJo is great. Um, there’s some really great massage places in Hoboken. Moonlight Spa, I think that’s been all over TikTok. Alley Spa, which I like—totally want to gatekeep, but you—Alley Spa Hoboken. Phenomenal.

Amanda Morrison: Wait, where is that? Oh my gosh.

Melissa Ferrara: Fifth and—between Washington and Hudson. I’m sorry, Washington and Bloomfield. Okay. So good.

Amanda Morrison: Well, it’s just between us then, so I’ll just know about it. No one else will be listening, right, to hear that.

Melissa Ferrara: Gatekeep. Everyone talks about Moonlight, but I’m like, “Guys, like Alley’s where it’s at.” I just—it’s—I’ve definitely been to Moonlight, but—oh, yeah. I mean, listen, it’s—it’s no frills, but it is fantastic.

Amanda Morrison: What is your favorite—well, you talked about loving parks. What’s your favorite park to go as a family?

Melissa Ferrara: Oh, um, there’s so many great parks in Jersey. Oh my gosh. And like, I never even knew it. Even—even when I was living in Hoboken single, I was like, “There’s so many great parks here.” Um, I think Church Square Park in Hoboken has just such charm. Columbus Park in Hoboken. Maxwell Park, um, overlooking the city is phenomenal. The park right in my neighborhood in Lincoln Harbor is awesome. They have like a really fun ninja activity area. Um, anything right—right along the Hoboken border. I would say—

Amanda Morrison: I live right next to Columbus Park, so I love it. So, I don’t have children, but I bring my parents’ dogs here all the time. Not the same. Completely not the same. But it’s such a—but it’s such a nice park because it’s such a balanced. You have a little bit of everything. You have just like friends picnicking, you have the playgrounds, you—it’s—I mean, it’s just people think city living and they’re like, “Oh, you don’t have any spaces.” I’m like—and you know, I’m a big advocate. My dad’s a recreation director. I’ve always been a big advocate for playgrounds and for parks because I just think it helps you just have a balanced life and it’s, you know—seeing even that more families are staying in city areas and they’re not—or even moving in. So I mean, I moved to Hoboken in 2008 and I’ve never seen so many strollers in Hoboken ever because, you know, a lot of my friends, they would either get engaged, get married or have a child and then they would move out and even sometimes a lot of people even are moving a little bit north, maybe Weehawken or West New York or they’re just staying in Hoboken. So, I like the fact that it’s been so family-friendly.

Melissa Ferrara: Oh, it’s—that’s why I say all the time because, you know, growing up in West Milford where you have a lake in your backyard, I would kayak in the morning before high school. Like, totally different upbringing than what my daughter is having. But all of these parks and communities are so important and I just consider them her backyard. So, while we don’t have a backyard, we have a really—18 different parks you can choose from. Um, I think it’s a really great place to grow up. And even I think it was a few weeks ago, I was like, “What could we do today?” I’m like, “Hm, what museums can we go to? Let’s go see a Broadway show. See if we can get cheap tickets to Aladdin.” You know, it’s just an amazing place to grow—grow up, I think. I hope—I hope she agrees.

Amanda Morrison: Do you—do you see yourself staying in this area?

Melissa Ferrara: Oh, yeah. I’m never moving. I’m never moving. You know, you have the best of both worlds and be working in the city and then coming out, um, right when I get out of the Lincoln Tunnel, I’m like, “Oh my God, heavenly.” Like, it just is a nice break. And then being able to go down the shore. Um, I—I just—it’s the best. So no, I don’t think I’ll ever move.

Amanda Morrison: Well, thank you so much for joining us. Where can people follow you?

Melissa Ferrara: Yeah, so you can follow me on Instagram. It’s Melissa Ferrara. I’m also on TikTok. It’s Melissa Ferrara.

Amanda Morrison: Thank you for listening. Make sure you check us out wherever you listen to your favorite podcast and follow us at Don’t Sit Home and the Best of NJ podcast on social media.

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