20 Questions with Christine Mikesell of 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic

 

1. Name:  Christine Mikesell
2. Blog:  15 Minute Beauty Fanatic
3. Location:  Ann Arbor, MI
4. Twitter handle:  @15minbeauty
5. What is your blog about:  General beauty topics, I love to look at the evidence behind different ingredients and I’m always searching for ways to streamline my beauty routine.
6. Date Started Blogging:  January 2007
7. Day Job:  Pediatric ICU Doctor
8. Why did you decide to start a blog?  I was reading a lot of beauty blogs, commenting and answering
9. How did you choose your blog’s title?  I’m not a morning person, and at the time I usually had about 15 minutes from my hair being dry(ish) to having to be in the car on my way to work.  Makeup, hair styling, getting dressed and grabbing my coffee.  That’s a lot to squeeze into 15 minutes!
10. What do you like about blogging:  I’m one of those people that was always trying the latest beauty items and sharing my opinion with friends and family.  This is the same thing, but on a larger scale.
11. Which blogging platform do you use? Why?  I’m on Blogger.  When I started my blog, all of the blogs I read were on Blogger, so I just went with that.  I really find the platform to be user friendly and there’s quite a bit of information on-line about how to customize it to fit your needs.
12. Biggest challenge when it comes to blogging:  Finding time to blog is my biggest challenge.  I work full time, I have a toddler, and I need to have a life outside of my blog!
13. Do you monetize your blog?  I have ads through BlogHer and I have accepted sponsored posts through them.  I’ve had a lot of offers to do highly paid series of sponsored posts, additional advertisements and freelance writing.  I currently am just trying to cover my blogging (and makeup shopping) expenses.
14. Biggest blogging achievements?  While I’ve been at this for a long time, I do think I’m still a lesser known blogger.  So, whenever I’m “recognized” it is a big deal for me!  Being a finalist in Shape’s Beauty Blogger of the Year in 2011 definitely qualified as a big deal.
15. Worst blogging mistake you ever made?  I’m not sure I’ve made any big mistakes, but I have a tendency to become a bit of a hermit and not network with other bloggers as much as I should.  I’m a very shy person in real life and this tends to spill over into my on-line life.  I have to force myself sometimes to be more involved in the blogging community.
16. What are your favorite blogs?  I love Wendy’s Lookbook, Extra Petite (strange, since I’m 5’9″), I am Style-ish, Pammy Blogs Beauty, Pink Sith and Phyrra.
17. What type of camera do you use?  Nikon d3100.  I had only used and point and shoot previously, so I was really happy to buy an entry level dSLR that was small enough for my tiny hands.  I’ve learned a lot about photography since then, so I’ll probably be shopping for something more advanced soon.
18. Something most people don’t know about you:  I am probably the most klutsy person you will ever meet.
19. Biggest talent:  I’m an excellent storyteller for toddlers.
20. Who is the one person you’d like to meet?  Linda Wells.  I’ve read every issue of Allure for roughly 20 years.  How does she still look exactly the same?  I need to know her secrets!