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Welcome to Elegant & ARMED, a blog for any woman who wants both style and security in her life.

The decision to carry a firearm or adopt any other method of self-defense is an incredibly personal one. In my case, I came to a point when I no longer wanted to feel anxious or nervous about coming home to a dark house, going out alone (especially at night), or when walking by myself in an unfamiliar area. I wanted to be free from a victim mindset, which would unexpectedly creep up to inhibit me. So, I began making choices that enabled me to go from feeling helpless to empowered. (And you can, too!)

I haven’t always felt confident around firearms.

In fact, guns used to scare me. Really scare me. When I was a kid, my grandpa kept a rifle in his closet for home security. I remember Grandma telling me, “Don’t go in that room, Natalie. The gun will go off.”

Long pause… (Here’s the inner dialogue of me at six years old:) “Wait… WHAT?! Grandpa, WHY do you even have that gun?!”

Yes, I believed that when left by themselves, guns could go off at any moment. Not only that, but just entering the room would increase the chances of this happening! Grandma’s comment “triggered” that belief (pun intended) and it was enough to put the fear of guns in me. What I learned from this early childhood experience was to avoid guns at all costs!

I’m laughing a little as I write this. It seems silly, now, that a gun could go off by itself. However, I also recognize there are many misconceptions about guns. The bottom line is, how are we to know the truth unless we learn? If you’re scared of guns, it’s okay. They certainly do have potential for danger. Still, they are not inherently dangerous and that fear is something you can overcome… if you want to.

I’m thankful my story doesn’t end with the experience at my Grandma’s house! Eventually, my dad taught me proper gun safety at a young age and I slowly began to feel more comfortable. Fast forward several years. In 2013, Dad signed the family up for a concealed carry class. It was a Christmas gift and something fun we all did together. Prior to the class, I didn’t think I’d really need a concealed carry permit. I also wasn’t actually all that interested in guns, because I considered shooting to be a masculine hobby. Once I’d completed the course, though, I realized it was good knowledge for both men and women to have.

Still, I wondered, Would I use my concealed carry permit?

Probably not.

Or so I thought at the time!

For most of my life, I’d depended on (and even took for granted) the protection of others, whether it be my family, a boyfriend or friends. However, after college, I moved into my own apartment and my mindset shifted. The thought of family, friends and even the police being minutes away made me realize I needed to be more equipped. That’s right – I said, “minutes away.” Doesn’t sound like a long time, does it? However, take a look at a few case studies and you may agree with the old saying, “When seconds count, help is minutes away.” (Think about that a moment, girls!) You are your own first responder! For me, the important question boils down to:

Do you have what it takes to protect yourself?

Anyway, that’s when I decided to put my permit to use and started researching ways to carry a concealed firearm, while making it my personal project to do so with a sense of style. Honestly, I hope I never need to use a gun in self-defense, but I believe there’s great value in being prepared.

And that is what this lifestyle blog is mainly about: arming yourself with the right knowledge and tools to defend yourself if you need to. My goal is to share what I learn about concealed carry and other methods of self-defense, as well as to empower women to take responsibility for their safety without sacrificing their fashion sense.

Even if you don’t want to use a gun, there is always something you can do to become better equipped. I’ll share tips to help you incorporate self-protection into your daily life and sense of style. I hope my content will inspire you, leading to a sense of safety, well-being, and what I like to call “The 3 C’s”: courage, confidence and class!

If you’d like to learn more, please read on, take a look through some of my archived posts, and most importantly, subscribe to my blog!

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One final note: Here are a few Bible verses that have encouraged me in my journey to becoming more confident and equipped.

2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and self-discipline.”

Proverbs 31:25 – “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”