Our House

Friday, March 23, 2012

Kwikset Smartkey Review + $50 Home Depot Giveaway

Thanks for heading on over to the land of no ads!

This is a sponsored post but hear me out because it’s a little different than those other bloggers just trying to make a buck.  And there is a $50 Home Depot gift card giveaway for you…but you have to read first.  There will be a quiz.  That might be a lie but you should read and find out.

I was recently contacted about installing and reviewing the Kwikset Smartkey Lock system.

Hey, guess what?  We already have the Kwikset Smartkey system and we love it!  And they still agreed to compensate me to write this post.  We don’t mess around here at Décor and the Dog.

What am I talking about?  This pretty little lock set on our front door.

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We chose our Kwikset Smartkey System three years ago when we were building our house for the following reasons:
  • The Kwikset SmartKey would allow us to quickly and easily re-key our locks without removing them from the door.  This was extremely helpful during the building process.  We could hand out keys to the contractors that we used.  After their services were complete, we changed the locks. The ability to change the locks gave me peace of mind because lost, loaned or unreturned keys became useless.
  • We liked the looks of the set and the price.  We chose the Arlington in Venetian Bronze. (Find it at Home Depot here!) I really liked the almost quatrefoil appearance of the lock.  I’m a sucker for quatrefoil (ie. see blog header).
  • I’m a freak.  I watched way too many episodes of Dateline as a teenager.  I’m super paranoid about people breaking into our house.  (It makes total sense to be on oversharer on the internet….I know.)  I liked that the SmartKey deadbolts have passed the most stringent lock picking standards and offer ANSI/BHMA certified Grade 1 security. Grade 1 security is the highest level of tested residential security available in the industry.  Grade 1, dear readers.  Grade 1.  I mean, I do have a pretty ferocious looking guard dog but you can never be too safe.
Did I mention the set looks pretty?

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Changing the keys is super easy.  I’d demonstrate but it’s raining and dark out.  This pretty visual from the Kwikset website shows how easy it is.  Even I can do it.  Seriously. Me. The girl that can’t cook oatmeal.

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Over the past few years the ability to change our keys has been quite useful.  Like that time when our warm floor in our bathroom stopped working.  (Yes, everyone needs a warm floor in their bathroom.)  Here’s your key electrician man.   Or that time that the water was leaking underneath the dishwasher and then the floors warped.  Here you go independent flooring guy.

We’ve also found that the ability to change keys has been useful with the Ike man.

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We don’t like to leave him home alone for extended periods of time.  It’s nice to be able to hand out a key to neighbors or friends to help look after him.  It’s also nice to be able to change the locks when you give your guests (ahem, your brother) a key for the week-end.  Wouldn’t want anyone over staying their welcome now, would we?

Kwikset SmartKey deadbolts can be purchased online at homedepot.com and at your local The Home Depot store. Check out Home Depot on facebook and the Twitter.

And now the really good stuff.  A giveaway for you!!
  • PRIZE: One $50 Home Depot gift card
  • TO ENTER: Tell me something that you're afraid of/want to be protected from.  Robbers? Heights? Spiders?  Family members that overstay their welcome?
  • GIVEAWAY CLOSES: Sunday, March 25th at 11:59 PM CST
  • NUMBER OF WINNERS: One
  • OTHER STUFF: The winner will be selected using random.org and announced on Monday, March 26th.  Check back to see if you are the lucky winner!
The Home Depot partnered with bloggers such as me to help promote their KwikSet Lock product. As part of this promotion, I received compensation. They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about the products. The Home Depot believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. The Home Depot’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.
Posted by michelle@decorandthedog at 5:02 AM

68 comments:

  1. KristelMarch 23, 2012 at 5:25 AM

    Love the finish on your kwikset. I'm always afraid of people trying to break in our house, especially at night, but mostly I'm afraid of those houseguest who "invite" themselves, and stay way too long!

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  2. Cassie BustamanteMarch 23, 2012 at 5:30 AM

    ok well i have heard there are bears out where we live- i have not seen any but we moved here in october, so i am sure they went into hibernation shortly after that. i am afraid of them frankly! we have two dogs so even when our old neighborhood had several break ins, ours never did, so i don't fear robbers so much... our dogs help ups with that!

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  3. KristinMarch 23, 2012 at 5:46 AM

    I am most afraid when our Wheaten Terrier gets anxious at night when I am home alone like he hears something. Freaks me out!

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  4. AnonymousMarch 23, 2012 at 5:49 AM

    I'm most afraid of break-in's, since I do live in a city full of crime.

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  5. DeannaMarch 23, 2012 at 5:55 AM

    I'm very afraid of being robbed. My neighborhood isn't very safe. :(

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  6. UnknownMarch 23, 2012 at 6:00 AM

    I am so afraid of spiders. Also, my neighborhood borders a not so good neighborhood so I am always locking the doors. I won't say I am afraid but I always want a good lock.

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  7. Paisley Print ShoesMarch 23, 2012 at 6:01 AM

    That lock is very cool! I'm afraid of someone breaking in while I am asleep.
    -Katie

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  8. NancyMarch 23, 2012 at 6:06 AM

    Being able to re-key is genius, I want this set for my front door too :)
    I'm afraid of someone breaking in when we're gone for the day, even with 2 dogs - I'd hate for them to ever be hurt during a break in too!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Ashley@AttemptsAtDomesticationMarch 23, 2012 at 6:07 AM

    We have the exact same locks on our doors! Same style and everything and we love them!

    My husband travels a lot, so I'm scared of someone breaking in when he's not home with me.

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousMarch 23, 2012 at 6:11 AM

    Re-keying sounds awesome. I am afraid of someone breaking in while we sleep (I very much dislike being in the first floor apartment but I suppose it's good prep for when we have a house).

    xo Kristen

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  11. "The Chunkster"March 23, 2012 at 6:19 AM

    I am terrified of rubberbands...crazy, I know! They give me goosebumps and I'm afraid of them snapping on me. :)

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  12. 1 Buddha's MomMarch 23, 2012 at 6:23 AM

    I'm afraid of another fireant invasion:;(

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  13. miranda | boucksyMarch 23, 2012 at 6:26 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  14. miranda | boucksyMarch 23, 2012 at 6:29 AM

    We'll see if this works this time! :)

    I"m terrified of break-ins. Not necessarily that someone is coming in to take my stuff, but the fact that someone took the time to break my security to the home that I love and cherish that houses my precious family. That sense of security is extremely important to me (to be unbroken) since I began living in Omaha.

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  15. BridgetteMarch 23, 2012 at 6:32 AM

    Men in ski masks in the wee hours of the night are a tad frightening to me. And by "tad" I mean "extremely paranoid"

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  16. BPajankMarch 23, 2012 at 6:33 AM

    My alarm going off while I am laying in bed alone...oy!

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  17. Mami2jcnMarch 23, 2012 at 6:59 AM

    I'm afraid of bugs and snakes!

    mami2jcn at gmail dot com

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  18. the cape on the cornerMarch 23, 2012 at 7:00 AM

    ooh, fingers crossed!

    i am totally paranoid about people breaking in, to the point where i lock all my upstairs windows when we leave the house. that's what you always hear, they came in thru an unlocked upstairs window. the boyfriend always asks if i think spiderman's gonna break in, but whatever. i lock that business up.

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  19. Emily @ Go Haus GoMarch 23, 2012 at 7:03 AM

    The houses on my street look very similar and I always worry someone's going to stumble in to my house thinking it was someone else's!

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  20. DebbieMarch 23, 2012 at 7:03 AM

    Although I am afraid of a break in, I think what scares me the most in our current house are tornadoes. The reason is that we only have an exterior entrance to our basement. I have two dogs, one who is terrified of storms, and three cats and I know I wouldn't be able to get them all out in time. I get very paranoid any time we have bad storms...

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  21. BeckyMarch 23, 2012 at 7:07 AM

    I'm definitely afraid of a break-in at our house. We live in a 2-story, and our bedrooms are upstairs. The only way to go down the stairs is to go past the front door. My husband is a police officer and works late so I get a little freaked out being at home with my 2 kids alone! Scary. When I was pregnant with my first, I would have dreams that I would have to climb out our bedroom window, while 9 months pregnant, and climb on top of our extremely sloped roof. Yikes.

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  22. BrittanyMarch 23, 2012 at 7:07 AM

    I am terrified of cockroaches! They really gross me out. Give me spiders and snakes any day. Just keep the cockroaches away!!!!

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  23. MeganMarch 23, 2012 at 7:10 AM

    Let's see, robbers, theives, that creepy guy that goes through the dumpster at my condo...the list goes on and on.

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  24. LakeMarch 23, 2012 at 7:14 AM

    Spiders give me the willies. I know! They are little things, but they are still creepy. Okay, the thought of someone breaking in is also scary, but the spiders (fortunately/unfortunately?) are more prevelant.
    Thanks!

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  25. HeidiMarch 23, 2012 at 7:23 AM

    I'm afraid of creepers breaking into our house...but our two scary dogs would probably take care of that. So, let's make it zombies. Yeah. I hope this lock protects against zombies.

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  26. Ash @ HumberHomeProjectMarch 23, 2012 at 7:29 AM

    First of all - I never thought I would ever say something like this.. but that really is a PRETTY handle/lock set! I must be growing up! :)

    Currently I feel like I need protection from the GIGANTIC centipede I saw scoot under my stove the other night. Seriously, this guy was a freakin' dinosaur. I won't go near the kitchen without shoes because of him!

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  27. Andrea @ Decorating CentsMarch 23, 2012 at 7:39 AM

    Your locks are pretty. I am afraid of someone breaking in but we live in a pretty safe neighborhood.

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  28. JustBecMarch 23, 2012 at 7:40 AM

    Thanks for the post! I need new doors and locks and will definitely consider Kwikset when shopping around. I am afraid of going back to school. But I'm doing it anyways. Because I'm bored with my job and want a cool new one. :)

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  29. IPUELLAMarch 23, 2012 at 7:46 AM

    I have been eyeing these, and it is nice to hear another good recommendation for them! My whole life I have had a weird fear that there is someone lurking behind the shower curtain - not just at my house, but anywhere I go really - and I always find myself pulling back the curtain with a big AHA!...as if that will scare a bad guy into not killing/stealing me. I need professional help. :) Also, I just got a puppy (Stella says hi, Ike!), and now I'm afraid someone is going to come in while we're gone and steal her!

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  30. Chelsea @ two twenty oneMarch 23, 2012 at 8:36 AM

    We need Grade 1 locks in our house. I, too, watch too much Dateline. Brad laughs at me whenever I'm super cautious about stuff. The other day, when Brad was at work, two men rang our doorbell. I stood by the door and listened to them and contemplated getting our gun. Yes, I'm that crazy chick. Turns out they were just spreading the good word.

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  31. TesseMarch 23, 2012 at 8:44 AM

    I'm afraid of the old owners coming back (we bought a foreclosure) - even though we've already changed the locks once (to the tune of $170!!!).

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  32. Mel78March 23, 2012 at 8:45 AM

    We are in need of a new door knob/lock! I hate when my husband isn't home during the late night hours and I hear noises that get me all paranoid. We don't have a dog, like you do so maybe we need one!

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  33. JenMarch 23, 2012 at 9:40 AM

    I wish I could be protected from spiders! They love me, and I hate them. I think they love me, anyway, unless they seek me out on purpose for reasons of revenge of the loved ones of theirs that I've smashed after drowning in Ortho Home Defense. I keep spray bottles of that stuff all over the place. Never know when a giant spider is going to run across the armrest of your couch, or across the dashboard of your car (while driving) and you need it STAT. True Stories. Also, I'm mid-changing out the nasty gold/brass hardware in my house to oil rubbed bronze and would LOVE that giftcard because hot dang, all those small pieces add up!
    Jennifer McCluskey
    mccluskeyja@yahoo.com

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  34. AnonymousMarch 23, 2012 at 9:45 AM

    We chose that same exact knob set for our old front door...it's so purty! i am like you, scared of everything. home invasions, robbers, scary neighbors, cars that drive slowly past our house, you name it!

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  35. JulieMarch 23, 2012 at 9:50 AM

    afraid of robbers...we had a young man who lived behind us who was a thief...
    thanks
    aunteegem@yahhoo.com

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  36. Lets just build a house!March 23, 2012 at 9:59 AM

    Oh we played with those at the store a few weeks back. Even watched the short video in the store. We will probably be purchasing something like this for our home this summer. I am terrified of killers and rapers because I watch criminal minds every week. Its going to be ever worse because we are moving into the country. Yipes.

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  37. LisaTTravelsMarch 23, 2012 at 11:26 AM

    I'm not afraid of someone breaking in while we are gone. Luckily we live on a busy street and about 4 blocks from the police station, so someone would have to be pretty dumb to try. I'm really freaked out by unmarked windowless vans who either follow me in my car or stop in front of the house. (There is a longer reason for this and you can ask me about it some other time if you want to know/don't know what it is!)

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  38. LisaTTravelsMarch 23, 2012 at 11:26 AM

    Oops...I meant that I AM afraid of someone breaking in while we are gone. Duh.

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  39. micheleMarch 23, 2012 at 11:33 AM

    I'm afraid of someone doing my family harm. My in-laws have a cabin that was recently broken into, it was just kids who stole pop cans and a few other things but it really freaks me out that it happened at all!

    ReplyDelete
  40. AnonymousMarch 23, 2012 at 11:37 AM

    I am afraid of spiders and snakes the most. Obviously they don't have thumbs and can't bust a lock, but still. If I win can I have Ike instead of the doorknob?

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  41. AshleyMarch 23, 2012 at 12:02 PM

    I want to be protected from robbers.

    hewella1 at gmail dot com

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  42. Lisa @ Cozy Condo LivingMarch 23, 2012 at 12:25 PM

    I hate thinking about break-ins. Recently I was told that there is a rapist in our area which has me freaked out.

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  43. MindyMarch 23, 2012 at 1:01 PM

    I'm afraid of ghosts. I wonder if this lock keeps them out too?!? Hmmmm

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  44. KellyMarch 23, 2012 at 1:18 PM

    I'm afraid of housefires. And having to unexpectedly sing in public someday. I hope this will protect me against that!

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  45. FaithMarch 23, 2012 at 1:24 PM

    I'm afraid of many things: heights the primary phobia, followed quickly by spiders, maniac burglar killers, the word "nom," seafood, sharing mascara; running out of napkins... Clearly I need this more than anyone.

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  46. KyraMarch 23, 2012 at 2:14 PM

    I'm afraid of snakes.

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  47. LoriMarch 23, 2012 at 2:20 PM

    Oh my, I totally relate. My sister and I used to watch Unsolved Mysteries at night and then I wouldn't be able to fall asleep. Why oh why? I never leave my windows open now since we live in a ranch and anyone could just climb right in.

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  48. PSIrwinMarch 23, 2012 at 2:53 PM

    OOoo...I am an "avoid tight spaces" girl to the core. Therefore, the crawlspace under the house is always my husband's domain!!

    ReplyDelete
  49. Emily @ EAKaHouseMarch 23, 2012 at 2:55 PM

    We have the same lock! And I love it. I'm not really afraid of anything but I don't like flying, or heights.

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  50. AnonymousMarch 23, 2012 at 4:00 PM

    I am scared of home invaders. I watched this show in cable about these 2 ex-thieves who go around showing homeowners how lax their security is in their homes. They would set up cameras and then these 2 guys would break into the homes and ransack them like it was an actual robbery! Afterwards they would show what they took, how long it took to do the damage to the house and then return everything like it was before and beef up the security around the house. Then they would try to break in again! It was amazing how easy it was for them to get in a home if they wanted to. I got a security system after seeing that show! I also made sure our homeowners insurance was up to date :)

    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  51. RAKMarch 23, 2012 at 8:02 PM

    I'm afraid of snakes and closed in places. thanks for the great give away!

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  52. AshleyMarch 24, 2012 at 8:11 AM

    I'm scared of home invaders and fires. Thanks for the great giveaway!

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  53. Carrie @ Hazardous DesignMarch 24, 2012 at 8:32 AM

    I'm afraid of ghosts and monsters. Yes, I have an overactive imagination :)

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  54. ErinMarch 24, 2012 at 9:04 AM

    I'm afraid of dead mice on my bed. That's mainly it.

    Thanks for the giveaway :)

    ReplyDelete
  55. AnonymousMarch 24, 2012 at 9:05 AM

    I am terrified of snakes...any size/color/kind! Get the creeps just thinking about them. Great giveaway, love how pretty the lock is;)
    Scrapmebaby@shaw.ca

    ReplyDelete
  56. DanielleMarch 24, 2012 at 10:09 AM

    Great giveaway good luck to everyone. Ok, I probably shouldn't admit this because it is pretty ridiculous, however I sometimes get the feeling there is a shark in the deep end of the pool which sends me into a tizzy. lol. Hubby has a blast with this one as you can imagine. ;-)

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  57. Gina M (crave to save)March 24, 2012 at 1:18 PM

    I am afraid of someone breaking into our home! Thanks for the chance to win!
    gina.m.maddox (AT) gmail (DOT) com

    ReplyDelete
  58. KatyMarch 24, 2012 at 1:36 PM

    Oh my goodness. I never thought I would be afraid of someone breaking in, until I woke up in the middle of the night with our alarm blaring. Turns out the power had gone off, and that's just what happens when it came back on, but still....quite frightening!

    ReplyDelete
  59. JoanieMarch 24, 2012 at 6:57 PM

    Gorgeous lock (and I have a guard cat so I'm not afraid...)

    ReplyDelete
  60. Midwest at HeartMarch 24, 2012 at 7:58 PM

    You crack me up! And sadly, I know why we are friends. My mother has made me crazy. Unfortunately I rent so I can't change the locks on a whim. I did manage to lock myself out of the house (long story) one nice cold night in January and had to wait outside for an hour for my landlord to let me in. So now, I have a key hidden in the yard. And I worry that someone will find it and let themselves in (especially when I'm home). I know I'm crazy.....I blame my mother.

    ReplyDelete
  61. Tabathia BMarch 24, 2012 at 9:20 PM

    I am afraid of robbers. I have witness someone running from a drive by while I was outside with my college neighbors, armed robbery in my neighborhood and someone broke into one of the townhouses in my neighborhood.

    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

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  62. Elena VoMarch 24, 2012 at 9:54 PM

    Thanks for the giveaway and the diagram explaining how the smartkey system works!
    My biggest fear is snakes. On some days I wonder why they even exist. Life would be so much more pleasant without them. Especially the big ones in Australia that eat pets and children!
    Elena V
    wildorchad (at) rambler.ru

    ReplyDelete
  63. LindsayMarch 25, 2012 at 4:03 AM

    I have a cop in the family so I hear all kinds of crazy stuff that happens. I may also be a bit on the paranoid side because of this, but we, as well, have guard dogs that I think would mostly frustrate the robbers because they'd lick them all over and make them play with them until they couldn't take it anymore. I knew they were good for something.

    Also I am afraid to ride on escalators...

    ReplyDelete
  64. CourtanaMarch 25, 2012 at 11:34 AM

    Probably am most of afraid of somebody snitching my kiddos..not something we had to worry about that much when I was young, but these days...

    thanks for the giveaway!

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  65. AnneMarch 25, 2012 at 7:28 PM

    I'm afraid of the unknown. Too much of a planner not to be.

    I also have a healthy concern for home invasion, spiders, and snakes.

    ReplyDelete
  66. JenMarch 26, 2012 at 10:28 AM

    I'm afraid of dog burglars. Not dogs who steal things but someone who might steal our dog. Or anything else in the house, really.

    ReplyDelete
  67. UnknownMarch 26, 2012 at 1:28 PM

    I am pretty scared of being robbed. There have been a lot of robberies lately that have put me on edge. I also have 2 cats and a dog that I wouldn't someone to be able to breakin and take or hurt. This would definetely make me feel more secure!

    ReplyDelete
  68. JulieMarch 28, 2012 at 5:17 AM

    just wondering if the winner has been announced
    thanks
    aunteegm@yahhoo.com

    ReplyDelete

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