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As we get older, our teeth and gums change too, but most of us know far less about what to expect from our mouths than we do about our skin, hair, or hormones.

In Part 1 of my conversation with Dr. Michelle DeFelice Hucke, owner of Jax Beaches Family Dentistry, we cover the basics of oral health after 40: what changes with age, the oral-health issues she sees most often in perimenopausal and menopausal women, and why things may suddenly seem to stick to your teeth more than they used to.

We also cover fluoride versus hydroxyapatite, “clean” toothpaste, whitening and abrasivity, manual versus electric toothbrushes, and flossing and mouthwash.

Because dental products and technology are changing so quickly, we cover how to find a good dentist, what red flags to watch for, when a second opinion makes sense, and which advances in dental technology actually matter.

If you’ve ever stood in the toothpaste aisle wondering when brushing your teeth became this complicated, this episode is for you.

This episode is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for individualized dental or medical advice.

What I Expected is about knowing what to expect before you buy it, try it, book it, or live through it. Some conversations are about the things we choose. Others are about the things we never expected to face.

More reviews, guides & recommendations: WhatIExpected.co
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In Part 1, Kristie and I talked about how I went from starting See Jane Work to nearly losing everything during the financial crisis, moving into corporate America, becoming a CMO and CEO, and eventually deciding at 52 to take another leap of faith.

In Part 2, we get into why I started What I Expected.

After decades spent developing products and brands, working with major retailers, sitting inside marketing organizations, and watching people make buying decisions, I see shopping very differently than I did when I started.

And maybe more importantly, I think differently about expectations.

In this episode, we talk about:

• what marketing should actually do—and why I don’t believe its job is to convince you to buy something you don’t need
• the disconnect that can happen between product, marketing and sales teams
• explicit expectations versus the expectations created by price, positioning, environment and brand reputation
• why an expensive product isn’t automatically a better one
• why customer service and what happens after something goes wrong are part of the product experience
• how MISS / MEET / EXCEED evolved, and why a MISS doesn’t necessarily mean something is a bad product
• why I created the Goldilocks Guides for categories where there isn’t one universal “best”
• why I care so much about quality over quantity, and have since long before I had the budget to support the preference
• what happens when a brand you trust gets acquired or starts changing
• why I continue to follow products and brands even after I review them
• what it actually takes to earn an EXCEED from me
• and why reducing decision fatigue has become such a big goal for me at What I Expected

We also talk about something bigger than shopping.

By your 50s, you’ve lived long enough to know that life rarely turns out exactly the way you expected. You’ve also learned that there is a lot you cannot control.

But you can be more intentional about some things—particularly how you spend your time and how you spend your money.

That’s really what What I Expected is about.

I’m not here to tell you what you should buy or convince you that you need more stuff. I want to help you understand what you’re getting, what questions to ask, what the brand actually promised, and whether the reality lives up to it.

Hopefully that means fewer bad purchases, a little less decision fatigue, and more confidence walking into everything from a skincare aisle to a jewelry store to a Rolex boutique.

Because you have more important things to do.

What I Expected is about knowing what to expect before you buy it, try it, book it, or live through it. Some conversations are about the things we choose. Others are about the things we never expected to face.

More reviews, guides & recommendations: WhatIExpected.co
Shopping Links: Shop My or Amazon.

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Have you ever looked at a piece of jewelry online and thought, “Okay…but what am I actually buying?”

Waterproof. Hypoallergenic. Gold vermeil. Gold-plated. 14k. 18k. Sterling silver. Platinum. Jewelry descriptions can start to feel like their own language—and the words on the product page don’t always tell you what to expect once you actually wear the piece.

In Part 2 of Buying Fine Jewelry, I’m back with Nicole Nettles and Kashmirr Elkin of Blue Water Jewelers to translate the jewelry lingo into plain English.

We get into:

• what “waterproof” and “anti-tarnish” claims may actually mean
• gold vermeil vs. gold-plated jewelry
• what to consider if you have sensitive skin or see “hypoallergenic”
• 14k vs. 18k gold, white gold and platinum
• why some jewelry needs more maintenance than you might expect
• what chlorine, pools and hot tubs can do to your jewelry
• why the durability of the gemstone matters too—not just the metal
• buying designer costume jewelry
• choosing jewelry based on your actual lifestyle, not just how it looks
• and why knowing who you’re buying from can matter long after the sale.

Two pieces can look almost identical online but have very different prices, materials, durability, and (of course) expectations.

If you missed Part 1, start there for lab-grown vs. natural diamonds, sparkle, size, settings, and what to know before making a diamond purchase.

Part 2 is about understanding the language so you know what you’re getting before you spend the money.

What I Expected is about knowing what to expect before you buy it, try it, book it, or live through it. Some conversations are about the things we choose. Others are about the things we never expected to face.

More reviews, guides & recommendations: WhatIExpected.co
Shopping Links: Shop My or Amazon.

Have a topic you want me to unpack? Send it my way.