Lorain started Lotus Bumz when she realized that there is a great need for an affordable cloth diaper.
After deciding to go with cloth diapers with her new born and seeing the physical benefits that it had on his skin as well as knowing that using cloth diapers is so much better for the environment then disposable diapers she decided more parents need to know and and be able to afford this great way of diapering.
Here is a little bit more about Lorain and how Lotus Bumz got started!
Do you ever wish you could work from home? Or, are you a work-at-home mom looking for new inspiration or tips? I’m putting together featured interviews with successful work-at-home mothers to bring you insight into the life of a WAHM, as well as some tips and thoughts they would like to share on how they got where they are today. Whether you’ve always wanted to work from home or you’re a seasoned WAHM looking for some fresh ideas, these interviews will be packed with fun you won’t want to miss!
This past weekend I was delighted to interview Lorain Danus-Herder from Hawaii. She owns a cloth diaper company called Lotus Bumz and I am excited for the opportunity to review (and give away!) one of her cloth diapers soon. You can visit her store and check out her adorable cloth diapers at www.LotusBumz.com. Her diapers are very affordable! And, she has offered a special promo code to Daily Mothering readers: 15% off with coupon code DAILYMOTHERING at checkout (all caps).
Here’s my interview with this awesome WAHM!
Hi! My name is Lorain Danus-Herder. This year has brought many firsts for me. I turned 30, got married, had a baby and started a company! My husband is in the coast guard and last year we were blessed to move to Maui, HI. I had my baby boy this past March and he just turned 7 months. Wow is he a handful! He keeps me on my toes and makes everyday a new adventure.
Lorain, how long have you been a work-at-home mom (WAHM)?
I started working from home since I moved to HI and became a WAHM the day after I had my baby. Would you believe me if I told you I was answering emails during my contractions? Yep, I was.
What kind of work do you do?
I do a couple of things. I am a partner at a wellness center called Energetic Solutions. It’s rewarding to me because I enjoy helping people find there inner zen/happiness. I get to run everything that goes on behind the scenes. I love the fact that I get to help people find an easy way to find peace and get rid of stress. You would be amazed how quickly your body can heal when you give it a little bit of TLC.
I recently also started my own company called Lotus Bumz Cloth Diapers. When I was pregnant I was faced with a lot of different questions as to how I would like to raise my child. One of the things that came up was the fact that I didn’t want to use regular disposable diapers because of their impact on the environment. So, while I was pregnant I researched cloth diapers and waited patiently to find good deals on them since they were all so darn expensive! I knew that even if I paid full price I would still save money by using cloth in the long run, but I still didn’t feel comfortable spending $20 per diaper for a product I didn’t even know if I would use when the time came. So, I only bought a few and by the time the baby came I had about 15 cloth diapers, thinking that that’s all I really needed. HA! Not so much! Long story short, I realized that there are many moms out there that want to help the environment and save money (not to mention use the best product on their child) but don’t want to spend that much money on one single diaper. I decided to take it upon myself to bring an affordable diaper to all moms out there. And that’s how Lotus Bumz Cloth Diapers was created.
Are you the sole provider, equal provider, or supplementing your family’s income?
I would say that I am an equal provider in our family. Both my husband and I work full time and I get to stay home with the baby while working. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I love working from home!
What did you do before working at home?
Before I worked from home I used to work at the Wellness Center’s physical location in Huntington Beach, CA. I worked there for about 9 years. When we moved to HI, I was blessed to have found a way to stay with the same company but virtually.
What made you want to start working from home?
I started working from home a few months before getting pregnant because of the move from California to Hawaii. I gotta hand it to moms who go through their first trimester at work, you guys are amazing! I was on my couch every day for 3 months feeling nauseated and not getting much done. Just trying to get through the day and praying for it to stop. I couldn’t even imagine going through that and having to be around people everyday.
Was the transition to being a WAHM difficult?
The transition was not difficult at all, since the work that I did previously at the Wellness Center was mainly online and via phone anyway. When I moved and started working from home I just forwarded all of the phone calls to my cell phone. Most of our clients didn’t even know I moved until 6 or 7 months after I left!
What is the most challenging part of working at home?
The most challenging part of being a work-at-home mom I feel is boundary setting. I think when you work at an office and you have to show up at a certain time and leave at a certain time its much easier to have clear boundaries of when it’s work time and when it’s family time. When working from home I personally have to be very clear within myself to know when it’s time to put work aside and just be with my family. I love what I do and sometimes I find it challenging to leave my home office.
What do you like most about working from home?
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the fact that I get to be the one raising my baby the way I want him to be raised, and that I get to spend as much time with him as I do. I like the fact that I can work in my PJ’s and not have to put make-up on and do my hair. The freedom of being at home and doing what I love to do is very liberating.
How do you balance work and family?
My husband and I created a schedule of when I’m allowed to be on the computer/work and when I need to shut it off. Our schedules are so different, he goes to work early in the morning and I stay up late at night and get my work done.
I do better with schedules, and as other WAHM’s out there know, if you don’t have a schedule the day goes by really fast without you noticing it! You have to be disciplined in what you do and when you do it, in order to get anything done, as well as have enough time for your family and not to mention time for yourself!
What does a typical work day look like for you?
I usually wake up whenever the baby wakes up since he sleeps with us–which is around 7am. I make breakfast and start reading emails. I take many breaks to hang out with my son but he likes to be by himself a lot so I give him the space (in my office) to just be. My husband comes home around 4pm, and when he does he takes care of the baby and I make dinner. We all spend time together until about 7pm when it’s bedtime. I put the baby to sleep and then my husband and I hang out for a couple more hours enjoying each others company. Since he has to wake up early to be at work he also goes to sleep early. When he does, I go back to my office and work for another 2-4 hours before going to bed myself.
How many hours a week do you work?
I would say total I work about 40-45 hours a week, but it fluctuates.
Do you plan to continue working at home once your children are in school?
Our plans as of right now (we are going with the flow though) is to have our children homeschooled. I have no idea how that’s going to work with being a WAHM but I know other women have done it and that motivates me. If they can do it so can I! So yes I do plan on still working from home once my baby (and future babies) are of school age.
What have you found to be the most effective way to advertise your business?
I think word of mouth is a great way to advertise for Lotus Bumz. I think once a mom likes our products she lets all of her other mommy friends know about it. We have had some great feedback from a few mom bloggers out there. Also social media has been great! Facebook in particular. It’s an amazing way to connect with moms all over the world that are interested in the same things you are.
Do you have any tips to share about how to become a successful WAHM?
TAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF! Once a week I leave my son with my husband and go outrigger canoeing. It’s a great way to let go of stress and have some productive me time. Also, I find that meditating regularly keeps me sane, calm and happy, and with my little boy I sure need it! I think we as moms are all about our children, and our families, and if you work then your job too. We tend to forget about us and what we need and want. I find when I take time to myself I get centered and am able to be more present as well as more clear and on my game with my other duties as a wife, a mom, and a business owner. Find 15 minutes a day or an hour if you can and go do something you love! Go outside and walk in nature, go to the beach or the mountains, go watch a movie by yourself, meditate, go hang out with your girlfriends without anybody else! You will be amazed as to how rejuvenated and energized you might feel when you take some time for yourself.
Newborn Pocket Diaper – Yellow Snaps
OUR REVIEW.
I AM SURE YOU ALL KNOW BY NOW I LOVE TO REVIEW CLOTH DIAPERS. I LOVE THE FLUFF YES I DO. I WAS EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO REVIEW A NEWBORN DIAPER FOR MY SON. WHEN THE DIAPER GOT HERE I WAS EXCITED TO OPEN IT. I TOHUGHT IT WOULD OF BEEN SMALLER. IT WASNT THOUGH. IT IS SMALLER THAN THE ONE SIZED POCKET DIAPERS. MY DAUGHTER MEME CAN FIT THIS DIAPER AND SHE WEIGHS 29 LBS. I USED THIS DIAPER ON HER FOR A NAP. THE DIAPER DOES FIT HER BOOTY A LITTLE SNUG. I USED THE NEWBORN POCKET DIAPER ON THE LAST SET OF SNAPS. THE DIAPER DIDNT LEAVE ANY RED MARKS AT ALL. THE DIAPER DIDNT LEAK AT ALL WITH ONLY ONE INSERT IN IT. MOST DIAPER NEED AT LEAST 2 INSERT NOT TO LEAK ON MEME. I WAS SO AMAZED AT HOW THE DIAPER AND BED WAS STILL DRY AFTER SHE WOKE UP.I LOVE THAT THE DIAPER FITS HER, BECAUSE I KNOW MY SON WILL BE ABLE TO USE IT LONGER.THERE ARE RISE SNAPS IN TEH FRONT TOO. I LOVE THE LOTUS BUMZ NEWBORN POCKET DIAPER. HEAD OVER AND CHECK OUT ALL OF THE ADORABLE LOTUS BUMZ DIAPERS.
HERE IS THE LOTUS BUMZ NEWBORN DIAPER ON MY DAUGHTER.
SEE THE DIAPER DOES FIT HER BOOTY SNUG BUT LEAVES NO MARKS.
DISCLAIMER:I DID RECIEVE A SAMPLE DIAPER TO REVIEW. I WASNT COMPENSATED IN ANY OTHER WAY FOR THIS REVIEW. THESE ARE ALL MY OWN OPINIONS.
After deciding to go with cloth diapers with her new born and seeing the physical benefits that it had on his skin as well as knowing that using cloth diapers is so much better for the environment then disposable diapers she decided more parents need to know and and be able to afford this great way of diapering.
Here is a little bit more about Lorain and how Lotus Bumz got started!
Do you ever wish you could work from home? Or, are you a work-at-home mom looking for new inspiration or tips? I’m putting together featured interviews with successful work-at-home mothers to bring you insight into the life of a WAHM, as well as some tips and thoughts they would like to share on how they got where they are today. Whether you’ve always wanted to work from home or you’re a seasoned WAHM looking for some fresh ideas, these interviews will be packed with fun you won’t want to miss!
This past weekend I was delighted to interview Lorain Danus-Herder from Hawaii. She owns a cloth diaper company called Lotus Bumz and I am excited for the opportunity to review (and give away!) one of her cloth diapers soon. You can visit her store and check out her adorable cloth diapers at www.LotusBumz.com. Her diapers are very affordable! And, she has offered a special promo code to Daily Mothering readers: 15% off with coupon code DAILYMOTHERING at checkout (all caps).
Here’s my interview with this awesome WAHM!
Lorain Danus-Herder
Hi! My name is Lorain Danus-Herder. This year has brought many firsts for me. I turned 30, got married, had a baby and started a company! My husband is in the coast guard and last year we were blessed to move to Maui, HI. I had my baby boy this past March and he just turned 7 months. Wow is he a handful! He keeps me on my toes and makes everyday a new adventure.Lorain, how long have you been a work-at-home mom (WAHM)?
I started working from home since I moved to HI and became a WAHM the day after I had my baby. Would you believe me if I told you I was answering emails during my contractions? Yep, I was.
What kind of work do you do?
I do a couple of things. I am a partner at a wellness center called Energetic Solutions. It’s rewarding to me because I enjoy helping people find there inner zen/happiness. I get to run everything that goes on behind the scenes. I love the fact that I get to help people find an easy way to find peace and get rid of stress. You would be amazed how quickly your body can heal when you give it a little bit of TLC.
I recently also started my own company called Lotus Bumz Cloth Diapers. When I was pregnant I was faced with a lot of different questions as to how I would like to raise my child. One of the things that came up was the fact that I didn’t want to use regular disposable diapers because of their impact on the environment. So, while I was pregnant I researched cloth diapers and waited patiently to find good deals on them since they were all so darn expensive! I knew that even if I paid full price I would still save money by using cloth in the long run, but I still didn’t feel comfortable spending $20 per diaper for a product I didn’t even know if I would use when the time came. So, I only bought a few and by the time the baby came I had about 15 cloth diapers, thinking that that’s all I really needed. HA! Not so much! Long story short, I realized that there are many moms out there that want to help the environment and save money (not to mention use the best product on their child) but don’t want to spend that much money on one single diaper. I decided to take it upon myself to bring an affordable diaper to all moms out there. And that’s how Lotus Bumz Cloth Diapers was created.
Are you the sole provider, equal provider, or supplementing your family’s income?
I would say that I am an equal provider in our family. Both my husband and I work full time and I get to stay home with the baby while working. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I love working from home!
What did you do before working at home?
Before I worked from home I used to work at the Wellness Center’s physical location in Huntington Beach, CA. I worked there for about 9 years. When we moved to HI, I was blessed to have found a way to stay with the same company but virtually.
What made you want to start working from home?
I started working from home a few months before getting pregnant because of the move from California to Hawaii. I gotta hand it to moms who go through their first trimester at work, you guys are amazing! I was on my couch every day for 3 months feeling nauseated and not getting much done. Just trying to get through the day and praying for it to stop. I couldn’t even imagine going through that and having to be around people everyday.
Was the transition to being a WAHM difficult?
The transition was not difficult at all, since the work that I did previously at the Wellness Center was mainly online and via phone anyway. When I moved and started working from home I just forwarded all of the phone calls to my cell phone. Most of our clients didn’t even know I moved until 6 or 7 months after I left!
What is the most challenging part of working at home?
The most challenging part of being a work-at-home mom I feel is boundary setting. I think when you work at an office and you have to show up at a certain time and leave at a certain time its much easier to have clear boundaries of when it’s work time and when it’s family time. When working from home I personally have to be very clear within myself to know when it’s time to put work aside and just be with my family. I love what I do and sometimes I find it challenging to leave my home office.
What do you like most about working from home?
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the fact that I get to be the one raising my baby the way I want him to be raised, and that I get to spend as much time with him as I do. I like the fact that I can work in my PJ’s and not have to put make-up on and do my hair. The freedom of being at home and doing what I love to do is very liberating.
How do you balance work and family?
My husband and I created a schedule of when I’m allowed to be on the computer/work and when I need to shut it off. Our schedules are so different, he goes to work early in the morning and I stay up late at night and get my work done.I do better with schedules, and as other WAHM’s out there know, if you don’t have a schedule the day goes by really fast without you noticing it! You have to be disciplined in what you do and when you do it, in order to get anything done, as well as have enough time for your family and not to mention time for yourself!
What does a typical work day look like for you?
I usually wake up whenever the baby wakes up since he sleeps with us–which is around 7am. I make breakfast and start reading emails. I take many breaks to hang out with my son but he likes to be by himself a lot so I give him the space (in my office) to just be. My husband comes home around 4pm, and when he does he takes care of the baby and I make dinner. We all spend time together until about 7pm when it’s bedtime. I put the baby to sleep and then my husband and I hang out for a couple more hours enjoying each others company. Since he has to wake up early to be at work he also goes to sleep early. When he does, I go back to my office and work for another 2-4 hours before going to bed myself.
How many hours a week do you work?
I would say total I work about 40-45 hours a week, but it fluctuates.
Do you plan to continue working at home once your children are in school?
Our plans as of right now (we are going with the flow though) is to have our children homeschooled. I have no idea how that’s going to work with being a WAHM but I know other women have done it and that motivates me. If they can do it so can I! So yes I do plan on still working from home once my baby (and future babies) are of school age.
What have you found to be the most effective way to advertise your business?
I think word of mouth is a great way to advertise for Lotus Bumz. I think once a mom likes our products she lets all of her other mommy friends know about it. We have had some great feedback from a few mom bloggers out there. Also social media has been great! Facebook in particular. It’s an amazing way to connect with moms all over the world that are interested in the same things you are.
Do you have any tips to share about how to become a successful WAHM?
TAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF! Once a week I leave my son with my husband and go outrigger canoeing. It’s a great way to let go of stress and have some productive me time. Also, I find that meditating regularly keeps me sane, calm and happy, and with my little boy I sure need it! I think we as moms are all about our children, and our families, and if you work then your job too. We tend to forget about us and what we need and want. I find when I take time to myself I get centered and am able to be more present as well as more clear and on my game with my other duties as a wife, a mom, and a business owner. Find 15 minutes a day or an hour if you can and go do something you love! Go outside and walk in nature, go to the beach or the mountains, go watch a movie by yourself, meditate, go hang out with your girlfriends without anybody else! You will be amazed as to how rejuvenated and energized you might feel when you take some time for yourself.
OUR REVIEW.
I AM SURE YOU ALL KNOW BY NOW I LOVE TO REVIEW CLOTH DIAPERS. I LOVE THE FLUFF YES I DO. I WAS EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO REVIEW A NEWBORN DIAPER FOR MY SON. WHEN THE DIAPER GOT HERE I WAS EXCITED TO OPEN IT. I TOHUGHT IT WOULD OF BEEN SMALLER. IT WASNT THOUGH. IT IS SMALLER THAN THE ONE SIZED POCKET DIAPERS. MY DAUGHTER MEME CAN FIT THIS DIAPER AND SHE WEIGHS 29 LBS. I USED THIS DIAPER ON HER FOR A NAP. THE DIAPER DOES FIT HER BOOTY A LITTLE SNUG. I USED THE NEWBORN POCKET DIAPER ON THE LAST SET OF SNAPS. THE DIAPER DIDNT LEAVE ANY RED MARKS AT ALL. THE DIAPER DIDNT LEAK AT ALL WITH ONLY ONE INSERT IN IT. MOST DIAPER NEED AT LEAST 2 INSERT NOT TO LEAK ON MEME. I WAS SO AMAZED AT HOW THE DIAPER AND BED WAS STILL DRY AFTER SHE WOKE UP.I LOVE THAT THE DIAPER FITS HER, BECAUSE I KNOW MY SON WILL BE ABLE TO USE IT LONGER.THERE ARE RISE SNAPS IN TEH FRONT TOO. I LOVE THE LOTUS BUMZ NEWBORN POCKET DIAPER. HEAD OVER AND CHECK OUT ALL OF THE ADORABLE LOTUS BUMZ DIAPERS.
DISCLAIMER:I DID RECIEVE A SAMPLE DIAPER TO REVIEW. I WASNT COMPENSATED IN ANY OTHER WAY FOR THIS REVIEW. THESE ARE ALL MY OWN OPINIONS.
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