Today we’d like to introduce you to Christine Combs.
Christine, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I really fell in love with the whole world of beauty and skincare during my time in the Spa industry. I worked in that field for over 10 years. I started out as a receptionist and worked my way up to management. I loved it. Every day, I’d watch women walk into our spa seeking answers and help when it came to their beauty routine and I loved helping them so much.
I started Simply Stine as sort of a hobby. I kept getting asked all of these questions from my friends and family about makeup and skincare and I thought that a lot of women probably had the same questions, but maybe didn’t have someone to help answer their questions. That’s how Simply Stine started, as a way for me to help answer their questions about beauty and to help teach women all of the things that I had learned.
I was lucky enough to be able to continue Simply Stine as my full-time job and it’s just grown so and changed so much since I started out 6 years ago!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I think it’s fantastic that there are so many women out there who are able to do blogging full-time and bring in income doing something that they love and are passionate about. However, it’s really hard work and it’s taken me 6 years to get to the point that I’m at today.
I had no real vision for Simply Stine in the beginning, but the one thing I never realized is truly how hard it would be and how much I still needed to learn along the way. Photography, SEO, Website Design, and so much more! It’s been such a learning experience, but it’s been so much fun and very rewarding.
The biggest advice that I can give other women who are thinking of starting a blog of their own is to just do it! I was hesitant at first, but it’s the best thing that I’ve ever done. Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing, just do what you want to do and just be yourself! Produce content that you love sharing and don’t focus on the numbers. If you do, you’ll be miserable.
Also, find your “tribe” who support you. My family and friends (even online friends) have been my biggest cheerleaders. They’ve supported me every step of the way and I so appreciate that.
We’d love to hear more about Simply Stine.
I started my blog, Simply Stine six years ago! The topics that I cover are beauty, fashion and lifestyle topics. I think I’m best known for beauty topics as I have a background in the beauty industry. I started out wanting to be that friend who you could turn to for beauty advice, but Simply Stine has evolved since the beginning. I still primarily focus on beauty related topics, but I’ve branched out and have covered fashion (primarily plus-size fashion) and other lifestyle topics such as health issues that I’ve dealt with personally and so much more.
I want Simply Stine to be that friend you to turn to for advice! Some women have no one to turn to when it comes to answering their questions about beauty and fashion and they’re too intimidated to ask professionals for help. I want Simply Stine to be where they look for inspiration and advice. I’ve taken my life experiences, professional and personal, and have made Simply Stine a place where all women (no matter what age, size, etc.) are welcome.
I love helping women by offering them skincare consultations, advice on makeup application and offering women advice on putting together a wardrobe that they feel confident in. I also love to share my tips for entertaining at home and sharing some of my favorite places to travel and especially my personal favorite spots around Atlanta!
I think Simply Stine is different from a lot of blogs because I really tend to keep it real and I share the good and the bad. Not everything in my life has been an amazing experience and I’ve struggled. I share those struggles in hopes of inspiring other women who are tired of feeling like they’re alone and not represented. I’m just your average everyday woman, trying to live the best life I can!
So much of the media coverage is focused on the challenges facing women today, but what about the opportunities? Do you feel there are any opportunities that women are particularly well positioned for?
I feel like there are so many more opportunities for women now than there ever has been. I look back on past generations and I feel like we’re finally getting somewhere and I hope that all of the hard work that women are putting in today by voicing their concerns and frustrations is really paving the way for future generations to be able to have the careers that they want and are getting fair treatment and equal pay opportunities that they deserve.
I think that women can do anything that they want to and that’s an exciting thing to say because it hasn’t always been like that! I hope that the future generation is able to look back on things like the #MeToo Movement and really see how hard we’ve worked to have a fair chance at equality and opportunities.
I’m able to have a career doing something that I love so much and in the past, this wouldn’t have been an option for me. I’m so glad that the opportunities for women are stronger than ever!
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.simplystine.com
- Phone: 770-815-1969
- Email: info@simplystine.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/simplystineco
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/simplystine
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/simplystineco
Image Credit:
Christine Combs
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