There are more than 27 million small businesses across the nation, and it's a challenging feat to open one after a recession. But in light of constant unemployment news, there is an emerging trend of folks who brainstorm business ideas they launch on their free time -- and grow into a full time gig, replacing their desk jobs.

Mary and Dave Morris spent the better half of their adult lives in the corporate world. The two say they came to the conclusion they wanted to watch their grandchildren grow up. But in order to do that, they needed to work for another boss - each other. So, the couple turned turned a bucket list item into a full-time career.

"During the daytime, I had a corporate job downtown working for the state of Tennessee. But in the evening when I came home - Dave and I would sit at the kitchen table and work on our business. Actually, we burned the midnight oil quite a bit," Mary said.