A Day In The Life With Anna Lee via www.chelceytate.com

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START BLOGGING?

I started blogging in 2012, when I began my degree in interior design but wasn't really serious about it until 2014 when I created a whole new website and started being active on social media. I still have a lot to learn but am really loving blogging and the community that surrounds it. It's really exciting to follow the development of other bloggers and designers; encouraging one another along the way. When I first started my blog, it was initially a way to impress design firms that I planned on applying to for internships and post-college jobs; however the more time I spent researching blogging, and after seeing so many of the amazing blogs out there, I decided to change gears. I now use my blog as a place to share my passion for interior design, organizing and empowering others. I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit and look forward to someday offering services and having a small, online store.

WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY IN YOUR LIFE LOOK LIKE?

6:30 AM - I press snooze as my alarm goes off.

7:00 AM - I make some coffee (black) and breakfast (berries and oatmeal), and then head to the living room to soak in the sunshine streaming in through the balcony. I spend an hour or so checking my email and social media platforms; sending out some tweets; and watching an inspirational video or two by Gary Vaynerchuck or Marie Forleo. I love having this quiet time at the beginning of each day to gather my thoughts and intentions. It helps to relax me and keep me focused.

8:00 AM - I make the bed, straighten up the house, and start getting ready for the day. I like to take my time in the morning and to not feel rushed.

I currently work part-time as a sales associate downtown, so on days where I have work it's for about four to five hours. When I get home I'll take a break, catch up with my husband and work on my blog. On days where I don't have work, I typically run errands, work on projects around the apartment, and write posts for the blog. While I look forward to having a full-time job, I really appreciate the extra time right now I have to work on Anna E. Lee - Interior Design. I try to take advantage of it and get a lot of work done, as well as take breaks (i.e. going for a walk) when needed.

6:00 PM - My husband and I start making dinner. Some nights one of us will make it, other nights we'll cook together. It's something we've always enjoyed doing as a couple (our favorite thing to whip up at the moment is Tex Mex!).

After dinner, my husband and I will watch a show or two together and then do our own thing. For me, that's usually working on the blog and joining in on Twitter chats (i.e. #millennialtalk, #fireworkpeople, and #ellechat). I continue working up until bed time, taking breaks every now and then to give my husband a hug and kiss. He's been so incredibly sweet and supportive about my blog and wanting to start my own business; understanding the time and energy it takes. I love that he's always there to encourage me.

11:30 - 12:00 PM - We usually head to bed.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE POST THAT YOU'VE WRITTEN?

One of my favorite posts that I've created is a recent one, "My Personal Style & How I've Achieved It". While I've been seriously blogging for about a year, I'm just now starting to come into my own - in terms of my voice, the layout, and the content of my posts. I had a lot of fun creating this particular post as I tried to share a bit about myself with the readers; in discussing my style and our home. In the post, I took three words that I felt best describes our apartment's style and then explained how readers could get a similar look. Make sure to head over to the blog to check it out!

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE STARTING A SMALL BIZ OR BLOG?

My very first piece of advice for someone wanting to start a blog/small business would be to really narrow down why you want to start-up. Obviously (if it's a small business and even a blog) you're looking to make some money but are you truly passionate about it? The process of starting up is going to be really exciting and empowering but it's also going to be exhausting and discouraging at times; it's going to take a lot of time, energy, and work. You need to make sure that you have the passion and the focus to carry you on through those hard times.

Another important piece of advice that I would offer is to create a blog/business plan. While this may be a bit tedious it is so important! Business plans help you to determine what your mission, vision, and values are; as well as determine your target clientele and how you are going to reach them. It makes you stop and realize that what you are doing is fun but also really serious - you need to have a plan. Creating a business plan early on not only helped me feel more secure about starting-up but also helped me in creating my brand. I'd go back to my mission statement and target audience, to help me determine things.

One last piece of advice that I would offer is to join a community of fellow bloggers/entrepreneurs; whether it's face-to-face; on Twitter; or through a Facebook group. While I often turn to my dad or husband for advice, I love having a community of fellow bloggers and side-hustlers to ask questions, encourage on, and share the journey with.

WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE BLOGGERS/INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS TO FOLLOW?

This is so hard! If I had to choose though some of my favorite bloggers/instagram accounts to follow are:

Click each photo to be directed to Anna's favorite blogs!

ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE?

I am a recent college graduate of Marymount University, with a degree in Interior Design and plans of someday starting my business as an interior designer and professional organizer. My mission for my business is for my services to bring beauty and functionality to a space while empowering the lives of those living in it. I currently reside in Williamsburg, Virginia with my husband, who is getting PhD at the college of Williams & Mary in Physics (opposites defiantly attract!). It's a lovely place to live and a nice change of pace from Northern Virginia, where we both grew up, however I'm a city-girl at heart and am looking forward to moving in a few years.

Some of my favorites are: afternoon sunshine, California, black and white movies, the 1930's and '40's, travel, the color turquoise, orange roses, fashion, and God's faithfulness