eLeMeNO-Pee Rep Spotlight : Jill Crawford!

This week, I have the pleasure of introducing you to one of our most experienced reps, Jill Crawford from Kinder, Lousiana! 

Jill is 31 years old and she has been married to her high school sweetheart for 10 years. Together, they have three beautiful children; Jackson (5), James (2), and Harper-Beth (7 months).  Jill works for the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana and has been an eLeMeNO-Pee rep for the past 5 years!





On to a little Q&A to acquaint you with Jill a little further : 

Who introduced you to cloth diapering? --I was introduced to cloth by Laura Broussard, who is a former eLeMeNO-Pee rep and now the social media director for GroVia.  We were having a play date with our boys and she made cloth diapering look so easy that I made my first purchase that day.

What was your first cloth diaper? -- We started our cloth diapering journey with a Drybees overnight diaper.  I started at night so that I would be comfortable with cloth diapering before I asked my daycare to get on board.  My daycare was hesitant at first but after reading an article in the American Press about cloth diapering they welcomed them with open arms.

What led you to eLeMeNO-Pee? --I decided to become an eLeMeNO-Pee rep because I knew that I could inspire more families to use cloth.  I’m in love with cloth diapers and I want everyone to at least try them out.  I know that they aren’t for every family but trying something new never hurt anyone.

Describe one of your most rewarding client experiences. --I’ve had many rewarding experiences as an eLeMeNO-Pee rep but the most rewarding was when I got to help a needy family save money by switching to cloth.  They can now better provide for the needs of their child because they aren’t worrying where diaper money is going to come from.

What has being an eLeMeNO-Pee rep done for you and your family? --Being an eLeMeNO-Pee rep has allowed my family to have extra funds to move to a greener lifestyle.  eLeMeNO-Pee has also introduced my family to products and other people that have made us healthier and have opened our eyes to an interesting new lifestyle that revolves around a protecting the earth and all who live on it.

Since you're a working mom, tell us about your experiences with cloth and daycare. Are you excited about the new school year starting up or do you wish summer break would last a little longer? --I’m super excited that summer is coming to a close because we have several new journeys ahead of us.  My oldest will be attending Kindergarten this year and is excited to learn and we now have a fabulous nanny who is caring for our younger 2 children.

What is one of your favorite quotes? --My favorite quotes are from Mother Teresa.  “God has not called me to be successful.  He called me to be faithful” and “ I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love”.  I try to live my life by these quotes.

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? --If I could learn to do anything I would want to learn to garden so that I could grow organic produce for my family.

When you have 30 minutes of free-time, how do you pass the time? --With 3 small children I hardly ever have 30 minutes of free time but when I do I love to relax with a good book. 


 To get in contact with Jill for a personal consultation, you can visit her website : www.elemeno-pee.com/jill

Rep Spotlight : Stasia Theiss Skelton

This month, I have the pleasure of introducing you to our Statesboro, Georgia rep, Stasia Theiss Skelton!

Stasia and her husband Andrew have been married since January 10, 2009. They met in Athens, Georgia and lived in Augusta for a year and a half before moving to New Orleans for three years while her husband went to seminary and she taught elementary school.

Their daughter, Bailey Drew, was born March 23, 2013.  They now reside in Statesboro where she is a part-time preschool teacher and her husband is a campus minister. They are moving again very soon! They are frugal and strive to be faithful in all that God has given them. Stasia also has a blog, Our Life on a Budget, so be sure to check in there to follow their journey! 

 Now that you know a little more about Stasia and her beautiful family, it's time for a little Q&A!

Who introduced you to cloth diapering? 

{That is a great question… and honestly, I am not really sure. I am pretty frugal (thus the name of the previously mentioned blog) so I think it has always floated around in the back of my mind. When we got pregnant I started researching like crazy. Eventually I met with Nicole (another eLeMeNO-Pee representative) and she helped get me set up!}

What was the first diaper you purchased? 

{Bum Genius 4.0… and I am still in love :)!}

What led you to eLeMeNO-Pee? 

{I had done a lot of research, but still wanted some hands on advice. I was taking a Bradley Method class and got Nicole's card in my binder. Then I set up an appointment, bought my diapers, had a great experience. I knew one day I wanted to work for this company!}

                                                                     

 

Which of our diaper brands is your favorite?

{I still love Bum Genius. I have a pretty big baby (9 lbs 9 oz at birth…). They have fit her well from day one… I find that some of the other things I have tried squeeze her cute little rolls a little too much!}

What do you love about being a cloth diaper rep? 

{When a client says, "Wow, this seems easier than I expected!" I wish I could get everyone to realize how easy cloth diapering is and not be so scared of it! :)}

Do you have any exciting plans for this summer with your family?

{We have been on quite an adventure this summer. We have been to Atlanta, Augusta, Hilton Head, Ohio (I would tell you the city but you probably haven't heard of it), Annapolis and Washington D.C. 

We are also moving this summer… we are not sure where yet, the hubs is still in process interviewing, but we hope to move in a month!}

If you could give one important piece of advice to a family considering making the switch to cloth diapers, what would it be?

{Meet with someone who already cloth diapers, and I would recommend a representative. Why, you ask? One, you actually get your hands on the diapers. Two, you see how easy it is. Last, but certainly not least- you have a built in support, someone to ask questions, someone that will support you, troubleshoot with you and celebrate with you!}

 

What is something most people would be surprised to learn about you?

{I am an extreme morning person (think 3:30 AM and the like) and have been since high school.  I used to try to deny it and now I just embrace it:).}

To get in contact with Stasia for a personal consultation, please visit her consultant website : www.elemeno-pee.com/stasia 

Rep Spotlight: Amanda Herman

This month I have the pleasure of introducing you to our Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania rep, Amanda Herman!

Amanda  and her husband have been married three years and have one son who will turn two this July 5. He is their red, white, and blue baby!They are very eco friendly, everything they use is re-useable. They also believe in eating very naturally but also believe in moderation and sometimes have their favorite treats, too! They live in the woods and spend a lot of time outside, including hunting and fishing!

On to a little Q&A! 







How did you hear about eLeMeNO-Pee? --I first heard about eLeMeNO-Pee through a Google search when my son was two months old! When I got pregnant I stopped going to school in the classroom and began going to school online. So I spent a lot of time on the computer during my pregnancy. When I was about six months along I heard of cloth diapers through a youtube video. I decided to start googling and found out how easy it was and decided I would do it.  I also searched for a company that would educate the general public about how easy it was and how much better it was for the environment. That's when I found eLeMeNO-Pee!

What inspired you to join? --I was inspired to join because they prided themselves in educating others more than just actual sales!
 
What was the first diaper you purchased? --When I was about eight months along, I purchased my first diapers which were gDiapers newborn and small diapers.  I looked around for some in my area used but nobody around here had heard of it.

 
Pastels, bold colors, prints... what's your favorite cloth diapering color scheme? --I don't have a preference for which scheme I love...I tend to just love everything that bumGenius makes.  I do have a weakness for prints I guess because when I discovered GroVia, I traded in some of my pastel bGs for some beautiful GroVia prints!!

We know you are environmentally conscious. What's next for you in your journey toward sustainability? --I think next on the list is I'd love to get a greener vehicle, unfortunately that is not in the budget anytime soon. Another step is to get all of my friends on board A lot of my friends have really taken an interest in our lifestyle and I would love to help them  be 100% sustainable.

What do you love about being a cloth diaper rep? --My favorite part about being a representative is educating. Being knowledgeable and continuing to learn myself so I can better educate my clients. But also being their "gateway drug' to living an all around better more sustainable and natural lifestyle.


What is your favorite quote?  --"It's not our job to toughen our children up to face a cruel and heartless world. It's our job to raise children who will make the world a little less cruel and heartless." I pride myself in practicing attachment parenting and this quote really speaks to me.

What long-term goals do you have for yourself and your family? --I am more of right now person, a next week person but rarely a next year person. We are looking forward to having more children, hopefully sooner rather than later.  I also cannot wait to be finished with school!


Which diaper are you anxious to try on your little one next? --I have tried every diaper there is to try and I have to say that I am really looking forward to getting a bumGenius Armadillo. I can not wait to add the next color to my rainbow.
  

To get in contact with Amanda for your own personal consultation, please visit her personal website :  www.elemeno-pee.com/amanda

Rep Spotlight: Tara Cullum

Welcome to this month's eLeMeNO-Pee Representative Spotlight! This month, we are featuring the lovely Tara Cullum, our Paris, Texas rep!

Tara is a dental hygienist 4 days a week in Oklahoma, commuting 120 miles a day from Texas. She met her husband   2 days before her 17th birthday but waited 7 years to get married. They had their first baby right after their 3rd wedding anniversary in 2009. Tara and her husband had a precious baby girl named Eden, whom they started cloth diapering at 7 months. She is now 4 years old and makes them laugh daily with her antics. Their son, Zane, whom they started cloth diapering right away, is 10 months old and walking. She is busy planning his first birthday party!

Time for a little Q&A!

How did you get introduced to cloth diapering? Mommy message boards while pregnant with my first but I couldn't talk my husband into for the first 6 months

What was the first cloth diaper you ever saw in person? A WAHM cover from eBay that I used with Gerber prefolds. I thought it was awesome at the time but now I have more experience I see how poorly made it was. I wish I had someone to teach me and show me what good cloth diapers were before I ordered the first ones.

How did you find eLeMeNO-Pee? I was searching for a company that would allow me to sell cloth diapers from home.

What is your favorite part of being a rep? I've sold Avon, Mary Kay and Home Interiors in the past. I loved direct selling but was never passionate about the product. I am very passionate about cloth diapers and the other products that we sell. I love being able to help other families become more "crunchy".

What is your current favorite cloth diaper? I'm loving my Bumgenius 4.0s right now.  I love the trim fit on my tall skinny baby.

What are your hopes and dreams for your family for the future? We are hoping for #3 in the next few years. Other than that I just want to raise happy healthy considerate children.

What is the most popular item that you sell via eLeMeNO-Pee? Probably the Bumgenius 4.0s since I recommend them a lot.

What is your #1 piece of advice for a family considering making the switch to cloth? Just go for it! Its a lot easier than it seems. Once you actually get started, you'll wonder why you waited so long and wish you'd started sooner.

Now that it's starting to warm up, what are you most looking forward to this coming Spring/Summer? Walks outdoors wearing my sweet boy and watching my daughter play.

What is something most people would be surprised to learn about you? I don't know how surprising it is once you've seen how outgoing I can be but considering my current career is a dental hygienist/cloth diaper rep most people are surprised to find out that I started college as a theater major.

 

To get in contact with Tara for your own personal consultation, please visit her personal website :  www.elemeno-pee.com/tarac 

eLeMeNO-Pee Rep Spotlight : Cayla Barrett

Cayla Barrett 
Goose Creek, SC  Consultant

Cayla is a stay at home mom and her husband is in the military.  They have an eight month old daughter (who wears cloth diapers, of course!).  She is from Georgia, and her hobbies include playing the flute (11 years), cooking, baking, thrifting, and doing anything eco-friendly. 


Who introduced you to cloth diapering? How old was your child when you made the switch?
I introduced myself to cloth diapering while I was pregnant, since I was looking for ways to save money and be Eco-friendly!  I LOVE it so much I decided to start selling them.


What was the first cloth diaper you purchased? 
The first diaper I purchased was a Bum Genious Freetime in Lovelace.  My daughter was 3 months old when I finally was able to switch full time, and hasn't been in a disposable at all since (even when we travel!). I fully intend to cloth diaper our next child from his/her first diaper. :) I'm obsessed.


What is your current favorite diaper? 
My current favorite diaper is a prefold in a Thirsties cover.  I love the simplicity and ease of washing it.

  
What led you to eLeMeNO-Pee?
I was led to eLeMeNO-Pee when my mom told me I should start selling cloth diapers and do parties like Mary Kay.  I laughed and told her I highly doubted there was a company like that...little did I know.  I googled it and eLeMeNO-Pee came up... I was so shocked and excited. 


What is one thing you want for your child's future? 
I want my child to grow up to be responsible, caring, loving, smart people who make a difference in the world.


If you could only read ONE book for the rest of your life, which would you choose? 
If I could only read one book for the rest of my life, I would probably choose the Bible because there is so much to read there!  


Do you have pets? Tell me about them if so! 
We have two dogs, one of which is a miniature daschund and yorkie mix, and the other is a sweet, energetic, super hairy and loving mutt from the pound.


Now that Spring is just around the corner, do you have any plans to start a garden -- vegetable and/or flower?
I would LOVE to start a vegetable garden, but unfortunately I do not have any space for a garden...I hope to have a yard for one next time we move!


To get in contact with Cayla for a personal consultation, you can visit her website : www.elemeno-pee.com/cayla 

eLeMeNO-Pee Rep Spotlight : Vicki Kershner

We're going to start highlighting the backbone of our team : our reps/consultants! We want you to get to know them a little better, know why they chose to be part of our team, and all of the insight they have to offer! 

Vicki Kershner 

Vicki is originally from New Jersey but now resides in Greenville (Greer), South Carolina. She has been married for six years and is a stay-at-home mom to three children: a six year old boy, a four year old girl, and a ten month old baby boy. Vicki's friends know her as a coupon nerd and cloth diaper nerd. She loves to educate others about natural childbirth, breastfeeding, baby wearing and general natural living. Her family is also very active in her local church and God is a big part of their lives.

Now that you know a little bit about Vicki, it's time for a little Q&A!

Vicki, tell us one random fact about you! 

One random fact about me is that I'm technically only seven - that is, I've only had seven birthdays because my birthday falls on February 29th. :)

Who introduced you to cloth diapering?

I pretty much introduced myself to cloth diapering. In the beginning of my first pregnancy I wasn't working so I had a lot of time on my hands to do research about all things pregnancy and babies. In a forum I was a member of someone mentioned cloth diapers and I decided to do my own research on them. At first my mind went straight to my cousins growing up who wore huge diapers that drug the ground with big rubber pants. That was not something wanted to do. After doing more research I found that there were so many more, easier options that were cute too! Being a couponer, I of course like to save money everywhere so that was a huge perk for me (and a selling point for my husband who was definitely more skeptical than me about it). 

What was the first cloth diaper you purchased?

The first cloth diapers I bought were the old-style pointy tabbed Fuzzi Bunz. I was SO excited to get them in the mail, I took a picture. I still have those exact diapers today! 

What led you to eLeMeNO-Pee?

Last year, I was looking at ways I could make some extra money but still stay home with my children. The local brick and mortar cloth diaper store, which was really popular, closed down last year and I felt like people needed another place they could go to touch and feel diapers. At first I considered having my own store but after weighing the options and researching other opinions, I decided against it. However, in my research I happened upon companies that hire cloth diaper reps. I had considered doing something like Mary Kay or Thirty-One in the past but never felt that I was passionate enough about their products to actually sell them. But THIS, I could do. Cloth diapers I could do - I mean, I was already telling my friends about all the pros of them and I had also been leading a local play group based around it so why not make some money doing it?  I contacted someone on a forum who had been a rep for eLeMeNO-Pee. She had nothing but good things to say about the company so I decided to apply for a position and I got it! Although I still feel like I'm just getting started, I really love meeting new people and talking to them about one of my passions.

What is your favorite quote?

I don't know that I have a favorite quote. But my favorite Bible verse, along the lines of pregnancy and childbirth of course:

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be. -- Psalm 139:13-16 

What is something you've always wanted to try but haven't?

If you're talking about just in general in life, I'd love to do more traveling. I've been to Spain and Mexico but I'd love to do more traveling in the western US and to more of Europe.

If you could give one important piece of advice to a family considering making the switch to cloth diapers, what would it be?

My one piece of advice would be to try different systems in the beginning and stick with the one(s) you like. Different systems work on different babies and especially if you don't know what body type your baby will have, you don't want to be stuck with a bunch of one thing that you can't use. Buy a few different things and when you find what works best, you won't be out much money and then you can invent more into what you know works for you.

To get in contact with Vicki for a personal consultation, you can visit her website : www.elemeno-pee.com/vicki