Commentary

Meeting Expectations

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This is going to come across a bit rant-y, and that’s because it is. This was inspired by recent events but is not exclusively in reference to them.

When content creators (bloggers, vloggers, etc. for whom such creation is what pays their bills)…

  • fail to meet the expectations that they set for their readership, viewership, subscribers – whoever consumes their content
    Maybe they stopped publishing consistently. Maybe they are heavily deviating from their schedule. Maybe they promised content by X time and didn’t deliver.
  • subsequently make (shoddy) excuses for not doing so
    Especially when a pattern of not meeting expectations develops
  • get upset and play victim when someone (gently) questions the excuse
    Such as perhaps claiming a thing happened or did not happen (when that is not necessarily true), but that thing is readily available, public information.

…it vexes me.

As a part of that consumer base, do I feel personally insulted or cheated? No, but I do think it is lame to make a pattern of failing to meet the commitments you set for yourself for, you know, doing your job. Acting like a victim and getting defensive is never professional.

So, before I continue, let me explain what this is not. It is not:

  • Saying people cannot have lives or adjust their publishing schedules or expectations.
    If you need to adjust those expectations, do it! If you published content twice a week but could only manage three times per month simply state that due to your workload, this is what will be going on for the foreseeable future. You can share the reason if you wish to, but you don’t have to. We all have busier or more-stressful seasons of life!
  • Applicable to those who have other careers. If your blog is a hobby, side- or passion-project, yeah; other things come first. The job that keeps a roof over your head and its workload, your health, etc. come first.

Moving on – then, when fans go, “Wait, the reasoning you (voluntarily) provided doesn’t quite add up, am I misunderstanding?” Others defend these individuals say, “They don’t owe you anything! You aren’t paying them!”

Au contraire.

Allow me to cure you of your naïveté.

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Why Cuticle Oil Is Important

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Cuticle Oil

I don’t share many anecdotes on the blog, but this was a little funny and bizarre – so here’s a bit more on why we should make a practice of regularly using a cuticle oil. Although my skin, hair, and lips are expressing their dismay at the cold, dry weather, my fingers and nails have actually seemed fine with the level of care I was providing.

I’m at work a week or two ago, typing away. Definitely, “in the zone,” as far as being productive. My finger slips off a key – odd, but whatever. I keep typing.

It happens again. I look down and notice there’s blood on my keyboard.

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The Lawsuit Against EOS is Stupid

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lawsuit against eos

In case you hadn’t heard, there’s a lawsuit against EOS. Ahh – a fine example of our modern, overly litigious society. I was starting to worry; I hadn’t heard anything along the lines of restaurants being sued because they served hot coffee in a while. The lawsuit details what seems to me to be an allergic reaction. So, naturally, instead of simply going, “Damn, that really sucks, I was excited to try that product, it’s a shame it won’t work out for me,” and throwing it away…what does the plaintiff do? Sue!

Yes, the reaction was unfortunate. As it turns out, it seems like some other people have reactions, too. Also unfortunate. Wait, what?! You mean it’s possible for more than one person to have the same type of allergy? Get off my internet!

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Rose Quartz & Serenity: Pantone Colors of the Year 2016

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Rose Quartz is pretty, but aside from a pale blush, eyeshadow, I can’t see it in makeup. Sephora always does a collection of silly things that more often than not end up in their Sale section until, heavens, the following holiday season.

In fact, I’m trying to figure out this year’s collection…

Rose QuartzRose Quartz: Pantone Color of the Year 2016

Rose Quartz (via the Wayback Machine) lipstick is not reviewed favorably, with many buyers reporting sheer application, lack of pigmentation, and an inconsistent formula. I’m not seeing any reliable looks with it on its own; it needs to be married to a liner or other lipcolor to be remotely useful. Shame, considering it’s supposed to be a, “high coverage, pigment-loaded,” shade. At $18, nope.

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Chatter: Stay Hydrated in Winter, Too

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I used to think all the conventional advice about staying hydrated, in a general sense, was nonsense. I used to hate to drink water on its own (“It’s booooring!”) and would basically avoid it at all costs in favor of sugary drinks. Eventually, I kicked that (because everything in moderation), but was still skeptical about the whole eight, 8 ounce glasses of water per day thing.

I’m still not sure about 64 ounces per day, but there is a marked difference between how I feel when I’m making an effort to stay hydrated versus when I’m lazy about making sure I drink enough.

My skin looks better, brighter, more supple. I physically feel better.

It’s a night-and-day difference. If I can make my skin look good and my body feel good just by drinking half of what is recommended, why shouldn’t I? Why shouldn’t you?

The tapwater in my home is not ideal for drinking (I’m not a snob – we just happen to live at the literal end of the line for our municipality, so we end up with a lot of ick in our water). For a while, we were spending WAY too much on bottled water, and Brita or PUR faucet filters or pitchers weren’t a great option for us with how fast we’d go through the filters. Eventually, we got a water cooler that has both heating and cooling (but both can be turned off if you wish to save energy).

For me, making water that didn’t suck readily available makes it far easier to stay hydrated. Making it easy was, and remains, key to success for me. I have a great Contigo Grace water bottle (I mentioned it in a Favorites, even) to tote around with me. We have this wonderful Primula infusion pitcher so that I can flavor water with fruit without having to make it crazy sweet – it’s a nice way to change it up (and is great for infused teas and adult beverages, too).

Anyway, what I’m getting at ultimately is that in Winter we can frequently forget to, figuratively and literally, water ourselves. We might feel we aren’t exerting ourselves as much (but that isn’t necessarily true, especially if you have to shovel snow!), so maybe it doesn’t cross our mind. We’re drinking other tasty things to warm us up – hot ciders, hot chocolate, libations. If you avoid water in winter because it’s cold, listen: no one said your water has to be cold. The refrigeration on my water cooler is shut off more months of the year than it is turned on because I prefer room-temperature water anyway (and it’s easier on your system to process).

This winter, and always, be sure you stay hydrated.

Water isn’t only for when you’re feeling too warm or overexerted. The absence of flavor doesn’t have to be a bad thing – and if you can’t get past it, there are infuser pitchers and bottles to help you.

Chatter: Makeup in the Office

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I find beauty and make-up fun (obviously, I spend more money on it than I care to admit, have a blog devoted to it, and am a moderator of a community devoted to it), but I don’t relish the idea of being bound to it; I feel like makeup should be for the wearer. I don’t force myself to paint my face daily – I do it when I feel like it. When you have to force yourself, it isn’t fun.

That said, I work in a corporate office. I’ve recently earned a promotion that puts me in a role in which means I see and work with more people than I used to, and a lot of the people I’m working with on a daily basis are Important People.

I find myself in this place where I’m torn between, “You can’t make me wear makeup in the office; the use of cosmetics has no impact on my work,” (which is valid) – and the understanding that it is more important than ever in my career to leave good impressions and, “put (my) best face forward.”

Granted, doing just that – putting your best face forward, that is – does not mean full facepaint. It does mean looking like you care about your professional presentation at work. Put together, well-groomed, however you wish to put it.

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