This post is brought to you by Blink Home Video Security. However, all opinions are 100% mine and I completely own up to being a scaredy cat sometimes.
Nearly a year ago, Grunt Labor went on a camping trip. He left on a Thursday after work. Nicky called later that evening to check on me and Landry. When I saw his number on my screen, my first thought was “Oooo. Wonder if I can talk him into coming over for a slumber party if I supply all the beer and 80’s country music?”
I am not a big fan of being alone over night.
Yes, I am 32 years old and yes, sometimes I am a big scaredy cat.
When I’m flying solo for a night, I hear every single little creak the house makes. And then my mind plays tricks on me and makes up more noises for me to hear that aren’t really there. And usually some shadows too.
That night, I toughed it out though and didn’t make Nick come over.
But I did sleep with a hammer under the bed. Because ya know, I would totally have enough time to reach under the bed, feel around for it and then sling it into the face of an attacker who was standing over my bed.
Pair my occasional scaredy-catness with a string of recent car thefts and break-ins in our neighborhood and I was most definitely ready for a little extra peace of mind when it came to home security.
Enter Blink.
When they reached out to me and asked if I might be interested in partnering together to talk about their wireless, simple install, no monthly fees home security system, I was like, Oh yea, I’m your girl.
We went with a two camera indoor system and two Blink XT outdoor cameras.
The install is super simple. There are zero wires involved. All you need is Wi-Fi and a smartphone.
You start by downloading the Blink app on your smartphone, launch it and then it walks you through everything. It took me about five minutes to get it set-up and then you just place your cameras wherever you would like them in your house. Since we got two indoor cameras, we put one upstairs and one downstairs.
The one upstairs is on the bar cart between the living and dining rooms and covers that whole area and down the hallway.
You literally just set the camera on a surface and you’re done. The indoor cameras do come with mounts if you want to mount it on the wall, but I found it easier and just as good to find a place for it to sit. It’s just a sleek little square so it blends in nicely with the decor.
Downstairs, I put the other interior camera on top of the fireplace.
Each camera comes with two batteries that last up to two years. The Blink app on your phone monitors not only your home, but also the battery life in each camera so you’ll know when to change them.
Outside, we used an included mounting bracket to install an exterior camera in the corner of one of our garage door openings.
It’s hard to even see it, right? It’s right up there in the corner. You just need a screwdriver to install the brackets and then you can move it around and angle it however you wish. The cameras all have motion detection so if someone does try to break into our cars, we’ll get a notification from our Blink app on our phone just as soon as they walk into the driveway.
The Blink XT cameras also make for a great way to send love over the wi-fi signal…
He’s a keeper. 🙂
We installed another exterior camera on one of the front porch columns.
P.S. Check out my wreath holder sans wreath. Bless my heart. I should really hang something there.
This camera is angled to look right at the steps and front door area where packages are normally dropped off. With the holiday season quickly approaching and therefore the crazy amount of visits we’ll be getting from the USPS, UPS and FedEx guys, I wanted to be able to see when packages were dropped off so that I could get them in quickly to protect against package theft this season. We have had a delivered package stolen once before and it was a huge pain to deal with.
If we’re away on vacation or at the farm, or wherever, all we have to do is open the Blink app on our phone and we’re home – well, virtually anyway. We can literally see our house while we’re not there and that is pretty cool. If we get a notification of activity, we can see what’s up and if need be, call the authorities and have it all on video.
Ready to learn more about Blink? Head right here!
Kim Sapp says
Jenna, I am right there with you. I absolutely hate being home alone. Especially where I live. I would have to shoot first and wait on the police to get to my house. Living in the boondocks is great when you have someone with you at all times. Thank you for the Blink review.
Jenna says
Preach, girl!! Me too! That’s how it is at the farm – pitch dark and not a soul within shouting distance!
Jennifer Holston says
This looks like a great system! I will be looking into it for sure. Unless, I win……. 🙂
Jenna says
It really is, Jennifer – we love it! Good luck!
Emily says
Thanks so much for this awesome giveaway! We had a crazy incident in our neighborhood last year where some guy ran from a traffic stop and was supposedly hiding in the woods that surround our neighborhood. I’ve slept with a golf club under our bed ever since 😛
Jenna says
Oh my goodness, Emily! That is crazy! I know the feeling – an inmate escaped from the county jail where our farm is and there was talk that he could be hiding out in barns or sheds on local farms – I was on edge until they caught him.
Angela says
I am 42 and the same if I am home alone at night. This looks like an amazing solution.
Jenna says
Yay, I’m not alone!! It really is great, Angela – gives me peace of mind!
Brocanteuserose says
This certainty seems a lot more sophisticated and reliable than hoping our dogs wake up and alert us there are intruders afoot. Unless of course said hypothetical intruders are wearing a disguise, in the form of hot dogs, then I have no doubt it would be St. Bernard noses to the rescue! Perhaps not the best plan, we definitely need to look into this system! 🙂
Jenna says
hahahahaha!!! My husband got a boxer once so she would be a guard dog – that didn’t quite go as planned! I totally know what you mean!
Laura @ Inspiration for Moms says
This seems like a great product to keep my home safe! Thanks!
Jenna says
We love it, Laura!
Susan the Farm Quilter says
At the farm or in the city, it is nice to be able to see who is at your house!! Sleeping with protection you are comfortable with is essential, especially when you are alone. Nice to get notification on your cell phone.
Jenna says
Totally agree, Susan! I love how it syncs to my phone and we can see the house anytime!
Dale (a.k.a.Jenna's Dad) says
I wouuldn’t mind having one of these. Seems simple enough to maintain & install. Plus I believe with our Wi Fi here it would work in my detached garage. Gotta watch those Hondas & Cadillac.
Jenna says
I have complete faith that even you could install this, Dad. 😉
Naomi S. says
Sleeping with a “weapon” under the bed reminds me of when I was first divorced and lived alone and kept a meat cleaver in the closet. Now, I ask you, what are the chances of me being able to get out of bed, reach into the closet and grab that darn thing in time to prevent being attacked?? Crazy, but it did give me comfort. I finally decided if I ever wanted to attract another man to my bedroom I wasn’t putting out favorable vibes with that cleaver in my closet! So now I just have a knife in my bedside drawer. I think I know which drawer and exactly where it is in that drawer! Ha, ha!!! I guess I’d better enter the contest, right?
Jenna says
hahahahaha!!!! When I was younger, I had a bat in the closet – same thing though – how the heck was I going to have time to get up and get that?!
Calypso in the Country says
My husband used to travel all the time so I would freak out if I heard any noise. This looks like a great system!
Shelley
linda smith says
This seems like a really great system! Will definitely look into it for our home.
Amy Anderson says
I definitely need that! We live in the back of our neighborhood and I hear everything. LOL! I love that the cameras look modern too. They won’t look heinous with my decor.
Jenna says
Yep, they blend in nicely!