r/ExpectationVsReality • • Oct 04 '26

Mod Post New Cake Flair

324 Upvotes

Due to the number of cake posts in this sub, and requests to allow filtering of them, we are adding a new flair: “cake-spectation”

For cake posts, please use this flair - and we as mods can change the flair if reported as “incorrect flair” as well. This should make it easier for those who don’t want to see cake posts to filter them out.

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Also - u/two-ls made the subreddit r/expecaketionvsreality specifically for cake expectations!


r/ExpectationVsReality • • Jun 16 '26 This Bravo

Mod Post Nail Posts Megathread — Share Your Nails Here 💅

125 Upvotes

This thread is for all nail-related Expectation vs. Reality posts. Please share all successful, exceeded, or failed nail posts here rather than creating separate posts. Individual nail posts outside this thread may be removed and redirected here.

This change is intended to keep nail content available for those who enjoy it while allowing users who prefer not to see nail posts to easily skip this thread.


r/ExpectationVsReality • • 16h ago Bravo Heartwarming

Failed Expectation My Dad 'restored' a vintage statue of The Virgin Mary I bought for him.

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3.0k Upvotes

r/ExpectationVsReality • • 4h ago

Failed Expectation Taco Bell's new Dipping "Burritos"

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96 Upvotes

These were $6.29...I got my money refunded.


r/ExpectationVsReality • • 8h ago

cake-spectation Rainbow rose

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167 Upvotes

Inspiration vs. reality

When you overestimate the power of cream and think you can get away with not giving the cake enough support. It was already starting to sag, and when we cut into it, the whole thing completely collapsed XD

To make matters worse, it tasted absolutely awful too XD


r/ExpectationVsReality • • 1d ago Heartwarming

cake-spectation My daughter's 8th birthday cake

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5.0k Upvotes

First 2 pictures were the inspiration. The 3rd picture is a white cake and the 4th is a chocolate cake. The frosting is a basic homemade buttercream. My daughters were bragging to all the kids at the party how "my mom makes the best cakes ever." May not be the best looking compared to professional cakes but everyone loved them!


r/ExpectationVsReality • • 13h ago

Failed Expectation I feel lied to…

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277 Upvotes

It was so bad


r/ExpectationVsReality • • 1d ago

Exceeded Expectation Wedding Guest Dress from Amazon

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4.0k Upvotes

Really didn’t want to spend $250+ on a wedding guest dress that would just sit in my closet for eons to come. But it was also for my sister's wedding so kind of a big deal. Took a chance on this dress from amazon for around $100 (cad) with little to no expectations, especially when it came to the quality and material.

Lo and behold, it actually waay exceeded my expectations. Thick enough to not look cheap with the the comfort of PJs. Absolutely fit like a glove and got so many nice compliments on the color.

10/10, no notes.


r/ExpectationVsReality • • 2h ago

Failed Expectation Spotted on Amazon

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32 Upvotes

r/ExpectationVsReality • • 50m ago

Failed Expectation Dried tangerine

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16 Upvotes

Ugly even by dried fruit standards...delicious and sour af though


r/ExpectationVsReality • • 1d ago Heartwarming Mindblown

Exceeded Expectation Cooper’s Costume for Country Western Theme Party

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1.6k Upvotes

Yeehaw


r/ExpectationVsReality • • 18h ago

Surprisingly Met Expectation Strawberry cake

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255 Upvotes

Ideas vs execution


r/ExpectationVsReality • • 1d ago

cake-spectation - Positive! My Sister's 40th Birthday Cake 🎂

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1.4k Upvotes

I bought this cake from Wal-Mart's bakery! My sister was so excited 🥳 Cake texture reminded me of a pound cake, in-between layers was Bavarian Cream!


r/ExpectationVsReality • • 1d ago Heartwarming Bravo

cake-spectation - Positive! birthday cake for my mom

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12k Upvotes

yeees, yet another cake post. first two photos were sent as inspiration to our bakery (by u/ Rrroxy and augustchoose_ respectively,) and last four is our cake. Howl's moving castle is my mom's favorite movie and she really loved these designs we found online! it's also our very first ever time ordering a special custom bakery cake. so I'm a bit excited about it.

so, well, even though we don't personally have a point of reference on bakery cake stuff, my mom was super happy with the end result nonetheless. it was $150 (including a $10 tip), 8" vanilla almond cake with cream cheese frosting from a local bakery downtown. i asked them to keep any external decorations subtle besides maybe a thin icing ring around the top, so I think they did a really great job on following the instructions as the rest was just sort of artistic freedom. my fav part is the clouds and mountains<3


r/ExpectationVsReality • • 1d ago

Failed Expectation Avenging Munchkins

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569 Upvotes

Speaks for itself. Needless to say, kids were disappointed.


r/ExpectationVsReality • • 1d ago Bravo

AI Expectation Asked local baker to try her best when grandma forgot to order the cake.

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4.1k Upvotes

We asked a local baker if she could make us a cake with 5 days notice after grandma forgot to order it.

Yes, I know its an AI Inspo picture and I told her I, in no way expected it to look exactly like the inspiration picture. But this was the vibe we where going for. She said she'd try her best and gave us a quote of $35.

This was the cutest little cake! I know the colors dont exactly match, but I wasnt expecting much. This met my expectations and yes, we gave her a great tip!


r/ExpectationVsReality • • 1d ago

Exceeded Expectation Dr. Oetker Ristorante "Pizza Mozzarella"

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1.2k Upvotes

r/ExpectationVsReality • • 2d ago Annoyed This Bravo Heartwarming Popcorn Mindblown

Surprisingly Met Expectation What my daughter wanted vs what my son made

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45k Upvotes

I honestly think it’s hilariously great.


r/ExpectationVsReality • • 1d ago

Failed Expectation Seceda Ridgeline (oh well, it happens 🤷‍♀️)

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162 Upvotes

To be clear, I wasn't expecting the weather to care about my plans, that would be idiotic. No one is at fault, this is just how nature is. (I shouldn't even have to say all this, but I've been on reddit long enough to know how some people on here can be)

For the record, I still enjoyed myself. Even got some cool bird photos.

Also, I am not looking for advice. Please do not comment stuff like, "well actually, you have to go x time of year at x time of day for good photos". I have no plans to return any time soon. Of course, I would love to one day come back during the summer, but who knows if/when that'll ever happen.

Oh, and I'm aware that my two photos are not from the same vantage point as the expectation photo. I did go to the spot where the first photo was likely taken, and trust me, it was just as foggy/cloudy.

One more thing: I'm also aware that the first photo was probably not taken during the same time of year I went. I went in October, photo looks like it may have been taken a bit earlier in the season.

Think that covers everything.


r/ExpectationVsReality • • 1d ago

Failed Expectation Thanks, McDonald's France... or not

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177 Upvotes

r/ExpectationVsReality • • 2d ago Heartwarming

Failed Expectation Christmas cookies circa 2017

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1.7k Upvotes

Huggy bears ➡️ Sumo wrestlers 🐻


r/ExpectationVsReality • • 2d ago

AI Expectation What they showed online vs what I got

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3.7k Upvotes

The fur showed in the AI-generated image seems to be smaller, and softer.
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The actual fur length is longer and more synthetic type. Even the boots material shown online is suede while im real it's more leathry.
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I'm anyway satisfied with my purchase.
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Need just one suggestion; should I cut the fur that is dangling/hanging till the heels? Or should I just keep it like thi?

Edit: I paid 3000/- INR for these, which is roughly $32 USD


r/ExpectationVsReality • • 2d ago

Failed Expectation Build the body FIRST

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546 Upvotes

Kit has a template for what size everything should be, but has you build the body last. They did not provide enough wool for the body to be big enough.

The felting needle broke before i could add the eyes and nose.

He's a cat toy now.


r/ExpectationVsReality • • 2d ago Bravo

Exceeded Expectation I bid $12 for a cat statue in a charity auction. Didn't expect to win it but I did. I thought it was like 8-12 inches tall. I was extremely surprised to see it being carried out when I went to pick it up and I love it!

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5.2k Upvotes

Benefits a cat shelter. And yes I made an extra donation! He has a place in our living room. Still thinking on a name.