Happy Monday, friends! We have an awesome treat for you today via one of the most inspirational ladies we know--Elise from Elise Blaha! She's a blogger, small business owner, and overall extraordinarily aspirational woman. We asked her to tell us a little bit about herself and offer up some of her wisdom. Enjoy! 

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and what your blog is all about.
I live in Southern California with my husband, Paul. My blog is about our adventures together, thoughts on running a small business, recipes, paper projects, and home decor tutorials...so basically it's all over the map.

2. How did you get into blogging and creating stamps, books, and workshops? And when did you know it could be a full-time gig?
I started blogging in college for the same reason everyone starts a blog--I thought I had something to say. It has grown pretty organically over the past six and a half years. As I did new things, like work at a paper store or take a letterpress class, my interests changed, and what I wrote about changed with it. I realized there was a market for some of the things I was making, and my shop grew out of that. Once I understood that people didn't just want to buy something, they wanted to make it, too, I started teaching workshops online. And from there it just sort of grew. I focus on my passions, and it's awesome when my own match up with my readers'.

3. Where do you find your inspiration?
Everywhere! I have found that the less time I spend online, the more inspired I become. Many of my ideas have come about while I was doing something else, usually running, driving, or taking a shower. Sometimes, the best thing to do is let your mind wander. That said, I also LOVE to read, and a recent favorite book that is super inspirational is The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp.

4. What advice do you have for future small business owners?
Don't quit your day job...yet. The time management & productivity skills that you develop by working a "normal" job and venturing into your own business will be invaluable down the line.

5. What do you love the most about what you do?
I love working for myself. It's inspiring and motivating for me that with a small business, I can quickly see results for all the effort that I put into something, whether it's a project for my blog, a new workshop, or a product release.

6. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Married to Paul, living in California, and hopefully with two little ones. :) Business wise, I would love to have expanded to different areas and would love to still be teaching online workshops. It goes without saying that I'll still be making stuff and blogging about it.

7. What's your favorite pair of shoes of all time?
All time? Rainbow flip-flops. Blowfish? Leopard-print flats hands down. (These partciular flats are sold out, but you can find more here!)

Thanks so much, Elise! Be sure to follow Elise's blog and chat with her on Twitter. Spend about 2 seconds on her blog, and you will leave feeling completely inspired and ready to create--I guarantee it! Are you a small business owner? What's your favorite part about being self-employed?