Ericas Ed-Ventures

Primary Education Ideas

Five for Friday – June 28, 2012

Here are five randoms from my week:

1.  FREE is FREE!  You get what you get and you don’t get upset.   There is no way I am customizing free items for anyone.   It is just rude to leave feedback like that and it really makes me not want to make more freebies.   I wish people would be grateful that they did not have to pay for the item, which I spent hours making.

Have you ever seen Bon Qui Qui’s King Burger video?  Love it!  Click below.

2.  Wednesday was take care of the pets day.  Ella got her summer cut.

Sophie went to the vet for a rabies booster and then needed blood work to get her teeth cleaned next week.  On Thursday evening, I noticed her neck looked like this!  It was blood red and bruised from her neck down to her chest.  I freaked out and ran her back to the vet.   The vet thinks it was from when they took the blood for the testing.   It still freaks me out and she has been getting extra spoiling.

3.  My house needs work done!   My house is so small and I would eventually like to keep it as a rental and buy a bigger house.   I am just not there financially – two jobs and all.   All of you who don’t live in the NYC area, would die if you saw what $325,000 got me 6 years ago!   You can only fit one car in front of my house.  That is how narrow my property is!   
I am debating central air because I cannot stand having to make my dad help me put in these beauties every year.  At least my duct tape is turquoise right?  
4.  I have added custom categories to my TpT store.  Now you can find all my word wall word cards faster! 
5.  I registered for Bloglovin’.  You can now follow me there.  Just click below. 
To link up with DoodleBugs, click the button below:

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Haha! Love #1 – I agree! Sometimes it gets so frustrating when people rarely thank you, and then when they complain about wanting something different, it is maddening! Glad I am not the only one. 🙂

    And the turquoise is definitely stylish!

    Charity
    Organized Classroom

  3. I am so sorry that somebody left you rude feedback on something that was free. If you don't like it, don't download it! Seriously, people can be so awful when they feel anonymous behind a computer screen.

    I say YES to the central air! I'm sure that if you ever tried to sell or rent, that would definitely be a perk! I'm so thankful for central AC. It gets really hot and humid in Kentucky in the summers, and I would sweat to death without it!

    My house is also very narrow and you can fit about 1 1/2 cars in front of my house. It is a shotgun, so the rooms are one behind another with no hallway. I'm sure it's probably bigger than yours is, though, and I definitely paid a whole lot less! I hope you are able to figure it all out and get a bigger place!

    Erica
    Blooming In First

    • That sounds like my house. I call it railroad style downstairs because you just walk from one room into the next. I do like that it is all open.

      And Erica, it was not someone, tons of someones. It really happens all the time.

  4. I don't have nearly the followers that you do, and I still have requests to change freebies.. BLAH
    As a fellow New Yorker, although I'm upstate, I feel your pain about window air and housing prices. Thank goodness for stylish duct tape. 🙂
    Enjoy your weekend!
    Michele

    Coffee Cups and Lesson Plans

  5. So Sorry that you have to TELL IT LIKE IT IS! I love your products and I am very grateful that you do freebies…
    THANKS ERICA!

  6. I am sorry that some people are being rude. I am very thankful for everything that you do. I love the freebies and all your products as I have bought a few of them. Do not let them (rude people) get you down as they are plenty of us who love all the work and effort you put into your products and appreciate all you do.

    Susan

  7. Erica your blog is great today! I'm glad I'm not the only one feeling that way about freebies. That's crazy that you spent that much for a little space. You need to move to the South 🙂

  8. You crack me up!! I love your posts like this! 🙂 Yes, be grateful! I also hate it when they rate a freebie down and say, "You should've included______." That's when I want to say, "You are more than welcome to create it yourself." 🙂
    Amanda
    Mrs. Richardson's Class

  10. I had to take a second look at your air conditioner. We have one exactly like it in our kitchen! We have central heat & air…but some reason our kitchen doesn't stay cool enough. Why didn't I think of duct tape! lol I guess I need to go get something that matches my kitchen. Thanks!!! 🙂

    imgoingfirst@gmail.com

  11. Oops – I hope it wasn't me that inspired #1. I love your FREEBIE listening packet and asked if you had one featuring a girl…I was hoping you did so I could purchase that one, but maybe that didn't come across in "text-speak." Anyhow, I love all your products and am very grateful for all your freebies – they are terrific!

    • Haha Becky, it was not one comment that inspired it. It has been a ton! I guess that is what I get for being popular. As for that packet, I have to update it by September to include "Brain is thinking about what is being said." The author of Whole Body Listening contacted me and I never got around to it. I will probably revamp the graphics, too.

  13. That bad part is… they probably don't even realize how rude they sound! I love the cat haircut picture… my boys are dying to get a cat (Achoo!) but I think we're getting a guinea pig instead! I'm in southern Georgia near the coast and central air is a MUST… hope that your AC unit cools your casa off soon…
    Stacy
    Funky Fresh Firsties

  14. People that leave comments like that have probably never created anything themselves or offered it for FREE! I appreciate you, your products, and all the work you put into them. My classroom looks fabulous decorated in you primary polka dots! (AND bonus…people think I'm super organized when they see all my little organization signs on my supplies in the closet!) Thanks for making me look good!

  15. Haha, loved that video! Bon Qui Qui is hilarious! What a shame that people are so rude and selfish. I'm glad your puppy is ok, that is scary. I would have rushed right back to the vet too! And the pictures of your cat on here and instagram are seriously cracking me up! 🙂

    Glad you joined Bloglovin! The Collaboration Cuties are having an awesome bloglovin linky giveaway you should check out! (Shameless promotion, I'm doing my first giveaway!) 🙂 🙂

    Lindsey
    Mrs. Johnson's Little Prowlers

  16. I always laugh at home prices being a Jersey Girl myself…so ridiculous…and other places I could literally have a mansion! I used to have a white dog, and she would bruise from blood work. My pup needs teeth removes (As she is currently eating my TV remote!) I am glad that I just found out the pet insurance will cover it! Thanks for all you do…love your blog and products!

  17. That's terrible that people are trying to do that to you! :/ Your kitty looks a lot more comfortable now 🙂 And I say get central air! You will definitely love it..and it will be a lot more quiet. 😉

    Sarah
    teachingiscolorful.blogspot.com

  18. Erica,
    I want to thank you for all of your hard work and the fabulous freebies you offer. I am specially appreciative of the freebies, since I am trying to work/live within a budget 🙂 Thanks again, and keep up the awesome work you do!

  20. Thank you for saying what we're all thinking, Erica! I am super appreciative of your creativity! Bon Qui Qui makes me laugh! Have you see the version that some kids did of it? Hilarious!

    Molly
    Lucky to Be in First

  21. that picture of sophie cracks me up with her shaved body!!! I have seen it a few times since you posted and I laugh every time!

    I just closed my email because of all the crazy comments and request- I caught myself being rude and even though my answer is still going to be the same- I need to say it more nicely! HA!

    thanks for linking up sweet friend :o)

  25. Oh my gosh! I haven't seen that video in so long! It's hilarious!

    We are going through a heat wave in CA right now, this weekend it's suppose to be over 110 degrees where I live! We only have a portable air conditioner in our bedroom. The rest of the house uses a swamp cooler! Yup, you read right, a SWAMP cooler! It's better than nothing, but in the middle of the summer I am dying for some central air as well! We are hoping to move soon and A/C is on my must-have list! (BTW, house prices are ridiculous where I live right now! I totally understand how you're feeling. No House Hunters allowed right now in our house!)

    Thanks for the honest and personable post!

    ~Heidi V.

  26. Thanks for your post – I know we've all felt annoyed at the rude feedback. When I first started TPT I had requests to change freebies, which I thought was annoying, but spent a lot of time fulfilling them, then not so much as a "thanks"!
    So I actually emailed and said "So… did you get the product I made you?"
    and a few weeks later got back "Yup, got it."
    Seriously?!
    There's some debate about having lots of freebies anyway, so maybe we just won't bother as much anymore.

    I'm gonna end with a positive: you're awesome and so are your products! And go for the central air – you deserve it! Even if the duct tape keeps it classy. 🙂
    Cheers!
    Susanna
    Whimsy Workshop 

  27. I completely agree about the free stuff. It can be very frustrating!

    Your poor dog! I would be spoiling her too. She's got a good mama!

    I love your turquoise duct tape, but if you can get central air, then go for it! Then, you can use that pretty tape for something else!

    Aimee
    Primarily Speaking

  28. We just did central air but only downstairs – SO WORTH IT! Wish we sprung for upstairs too – I also keep it classy, although I do not have turquoise duct tape – I am a little bit jealous! 🙂 I am a paranoid dog mom and I seriously would take her to the vet on a daily basis if my family didn't calm me down – your poor puppy! 🙁

    Sara
    Primary Buzz

  30. People are leaving negatives for free things?! RUDE! (Bon Qui Qui style). So glad you posted that because I love me some Bon Qui Qui. I am sorry people are disgustingly rude though.

    You are so lucky living in the NYC… That is my dream!

    P.S. Go for central air… soooo worth it.

  31. Erica let me know whose being GREEDY! I'll get them!! 🙂 I'll just say that I wouldn't care if you gave another freebie. Your products are worth every penny!! Keep doing your thing chica!

    ((HUGS))
    Tiffany

  32. Bonquiqui! Everyone and their sister's uncle is constantly calling me the "Taco Cabana girl" (same girl who plays Bonquiqui if you didn't already know), and I've already decided to dress up like Bonquiqui for Halloween this year. 😀

    Boo to rude, entitled people! I only have a few products and freebies on TpT, and only ever received one kind of negative comment, and then when I asked for more specifics so that I could possibly address what she wanted, no response. Go figure. Some people just ruin it for everyone. :/

    But you rock, and don't forget it!

    Gayla
    Teach On.

  33. So sorry to hear you had to deal with RUDE! Feel bad for that person because she obviously does not have your talent and generous spirit! Love your blog! and I truly appreciate your creativity and talent!

  35. I must admit, I'm guilty of occasionally asking for items to be altered 🙁 I don't ever mean to offend and it is because I like the product so much that I take the time to request an alteration.

    Mostly I request a spelling change (I'm in Australia) but sometimes I ask for it to be modified for my pre-schoolers (eg sight words changed for alphabet cards, written words changed to numerals etc)

    I ask because I adore the resource but cannot implement it in it's current state. I am more than happy to pay a fee for the altered product as it then becomes useable ( to me). In saying that I ALWAYS leave excellent feedback as I obviously loved the product but simply can't use it (without it being altered).

    Please keep up the fabulous work as I am the WORST at resource making and my class would suffer greatly, if I could no longer purchase amazing resources for them. I am sorry to hear that some of the feedback that you guys are getting is not positive.