I’m Feeling Myself

I Stop the World.

Won’t lie!  This is will be the motto for 2015!  More to come tomorrow!

I hope you guys will start feeling yourself this year as well!

Yes, his blog will be getting a facelift soon. Wait on it.

Happy 2015 Y’all!!!

What to Wear to a Dirty 30 Birthday Party, Gold & Black Outfit

Gold & Black Everything!

Friday was my lil brother’s birthday so of course we had to celebrate in style.  I composed a video of what I wore along with the antics of the night.  Yes, I’m still using Windows Movie maker on Vista OS.  Don’t judge me.  Considering my laptop is from 2008 (again, don’t judge me)  I think the video came out somewhat well.

Here is what I’m wearing…

|Top & Pants: Strut| Shoes: Bakers| Jacket: SheInside| Earrings: The Dallas Flea|Clutch: A boutique in Dallas.  I forgot the name|

Well, I hope you guys like the video.  I’m going to start back with my roots and building up my fashion site as well.  I will also showcase more of my recent work here.  Yes, I will be updating this site but it probably won’t be for another month or two so I can just make some time and just concentrate on that.

A lot of changes this year.

A lot of getting to know who I am as a person and accepting it.

I’m really loving this person I’m becoming.  Yes, more photos will be on the way!

Be sure to check out my Instagram @TheUrbanJungle!  I update there everyday with some of my new work!

Ciao! K

Moo versus Vista Print Quality & Price

Who is Better?  Moo or Vista Print?

As many of you guys already know, right now I’m getting ready for my first bridal expo!  I knew there would a lot of work involved putting together a small event showcasing my work for hundred of future brides to see.  However, when placing an event like this together things can add up… and start adding up quickly.  Therefore you have to be really price conscience during this process.  Especially if it’s your first bridal show.

I have already signed up and paid for two more bridal shows in 2015 so I decided to spend a lot of money upfront.  Meaning  buy the things I know I need to spend the money on.  This includeds print, frames, books ,  business cards, and flyers.

Today we will be discussing the Moo flyers versus Vista Print.

I ordered Moo flyers because I was ordering business cards from them for the show.  Moo always provides great quality cards so I wanted to see how their flyers stack up to the challenge as well.

Moo’s interface is straight to the point and so incredibly easy to use.  As a photographer I use my fair share of photoshop and I like the fact that Moo provided the dimensions needed to create  your own flyer.  After taking the time to create a flyer based off Moo’s detailed instructions it was an easy upload and payment away.  I was able to pick a number of different front sides with Moo, and ordered 100 for $74.75.  As per usual with Moo, I got my order in a timely manner.  I’m always impressed with the quality of their work.

The next day I spoke with one of the advisors for the bridal show company I  am working with and she advised me that 100 flyers would not be enough.  There is to be expected at least 700 brides and I should have no less than 500 flyers.

I freaked out because $74.75 for a rack of 100 flyers is nothing to scoff at.  If I wanted 500 of the flyers I would have had to spend almost $375!  Geez.  So I remembered Vista Print did prints for cheap.  When I went to their site they were having a 33% off sale EVERYTHING on the site.  I only had a few minutes left so I jumped on the deal.  Unlike Moo, I can’t pick multiple front sides and had to stick to one photo.  While Moo lets you do glossy on both sides Vista made you pay extra for glossy.  I shelled out another $9.75 for one glossy side.  I ended up paying $56.53 for 250 flyers.

That would make a total of 350 flyers from both companies.   Still no 500, but I have a number of business cards that I can pass out as well.

So let’s do a pro and cons list for Moo and Vista Print orders:

Moo Pros:

1.       The color payoff is beautiful

2.       You get to pick more than one design (great of us indecisive people)

3.       Moo has a great easy to use interface

4.       Easy to follow instructions

5.       Quarter of an inch longer

6.       Packages ALWAYS comes way earlier than the estimated time of arrival

 

Moo Cons:

1.       The Price… lets just put it out there

2.       Not as strong as the Vista Print  flyer

Vista Print Pros:

1.       Stiff straight back

2.       The Price… 250 for $56 (Vista print always has some kind of sale)

Vista Print Cons:

1.       Shipping and processing time took WAY longer than Moo. .. However, the product still came a day before anticipated.

2.       The color was darker and didn’t show off the beauty of the photograph

3.       The glossy side of the print leaves finger prints all over them.

4.       Had to pay an extra $9.75 for the gloss

5.       Interface not as easy to use and understand

 

The Main Factors

For me there are two major factors here, color and price.

Color:  Moo clearly wins this.  It’s clear that Moo uses some incredible printers that are made to show off the customers art.  The colors don’t bleed and they are true to screen.  The colors are way more vibrant.  For Vista the color aren’t as vibrant and they bleed into each other.  In my example I couldn’t tell where the client’s hair ended and where the background began, but I could see the difference in the Moo version of the flyer.   The color is way more rich and inviting.

 

Price: Price is typically the deciding factor in most cases.  Lets remember the cost for 100 flyers at Moo was $74.75.  The price for 250 flyers at VistaPrint was $56.53.  Both prices include tax and shipping.  Therefore lets calculate how much each flyer cost.

 

$74.75/100= $0.7475 or $0.75

$56.53/250= $0.22612 or $0.23

 

That’s a $0.52 difference!

 

With Vista print I saved $130.00!  That’s a HUGE difference.  HUGE!

 

How do the people respond to them though?

Well, I have only asked one person what his thoughts were.  I didn’t tell him which company was which… I just asked him to tell me which flyer does he like better based of  look, color, and feel.  What are his first initial reactions?

Out of the two he chose Moo.  He stated that the color was way better and even though the Vista paper felt stronger the Moo paper looked more expensive and he liked that quality.

I will update this page after my expo.   I will evaluate how many brides actually came and if anyone mentioned the flyers.  I will then tell you which company I would use again for the flyers.

Have a great day!

 

 

Boudoir Fashion

I love my clients and I love when they allow me to show off their beautiful their photos.  This week I want to showcase Maria.

Maria has an attitude that shines brighter than the sun.  I had the pleasure or meeting Maria through Jazzy, one of the main make-up artist I collaborate with.  Jazzy has worked with Maria in the past and knew that her personality and attitude would fall into sync with our vision of this project.

I love shooting in places that people don’t see the potential in.  One must look for beauty everywhere.  In Dallas there is a whole in the wall spot that looks like a falling Spanish community and I had been dying to shoot there.  Right now Dallas is going through a building renaissance. The city is tearing down buildings with character to put up highrises.  I needed to move quickly because I knew it was only certain amount of time before someone would tear down this unique area.

Originally we were only going to have a session outside the building, but when we go there it turns out that someone forgot to lock the gate… we went into the middle of this community and had a party.  It was so beautiful.  This place has probably been long forgotten. Faded turquoise doors, cleared out rooms, and uncompleted projects laced the property.  When we got there all I saw was potential.  The three of use wasted no time getting some amazing photos for this project.

The first look was experimental.  High wasted black panties, a beautiful lacy bra, leather jacket, and spiked heels.  Trust, putting together this outfit was just as fun as shooting it.  I wanted to create an editorial boudoir session.  My aim is to always show that women can be both sexy and strong. Maria was able embrace this ideology and bring it to life in this series.  I couldn’t have imagined a better result.

Next we took out one of my FAVORITE dresses and heels.  I love color in photos  and therefore a graffiti background near the Bishop art District was a great spot.

The last location was probably the funniest spot of all that day.  These photos were taken in the middle of the day on a Sunday afternoon.  For years I have fantasized about shooting a model next to an Ice Cream truck and I was able to get that.  The Ice Cream man was more than happy to oblige to our request.  I mean c’mon.  What man wouldn’t be happy to have a beautiful girl in luxury lingerie standing next to his truck eating a Popsicle?  You as the model, when would you ever have the opportunity to do the same thing?  In this life we have to live it to the most.  Do unconventional things and have fun with it.  This is what we did that Sunday.

 

I have to thank Maria and Jazzy for such an amazing session that day.  It was such a blast and I can’t wait to work with more ladies in the future who just want to have fun!

To see more photos check me out on IG: TheUrbanJungle

FB: https://www.facebook.com/wonderlandboudoir

Portfolio: WonderlandBoudoir.com

5 Steps to Clear Your Closet, Make Room for Fall Fashion!

Learn to clean out your closet without the guilt

 

I’m a girl who loves to clean out my closets. I don’t know if it’s the or what, but streamlining my clothing and shoes, while making room for new possibilities has always made me happy. However, every now and then I get struck by this overwhelming sense of guilt when I try to get rid of something. “Ugh, I just got those shoes. True, they were final sale, and I ordered them, so I didn’t know they were just a tad too tight, but still… Maybe I could squeeze into them for an hour or two at dinner??” Or the always present, “Okay, yeah, so I’ve never worn that dress. But it’s so cute, and you know the second I get rid of it, the perfect occasion will pop up where I could’ve worn it.”

But unless you have a vastly huge closet (and even if you do), you don’t need to keep things that aren’t you from mucking up your space. So here are some steps to clear out your closet without needing a glass of wine to cope through it –

1. Accept it for what it is and learn from it

Yes, you spent money on that shirt, and no, you’ve never worn it (or you only wore it twice). Did money get wasted? Probably. Have you learned anything from it? Sure. Maybe now you know that you really don’t like cashmere sweaters (anyone with me there?? Why are they always itchy to me??) Or maybe you really thought you could pull off a mini skirt, but you can’t get over how your knees look. You won’t be spending money on those same fashion mistakes in the future. And recognize this fact – unless you still have the receipt, that money is gone. End of story. You can try your luck at Buffalo Exchange or Plato’s Closet, but you will likely not fully recoup whatever you spent to buy that item in the first place. Accept that fact and move on.

 

2. If you really can’t let go – then don’t

A few years back, I had gained a lot of weight, and I had to majorly clean out my closet because so few of the items fit. I threw the garbage bag of discards into the trunk, and promptly forgot about them until almost a year later. Then one day, and about 50 pounds lost later, I noticed a pair of jeans poking out from the bag, and I decided to investigate. I took the bag inside, tried on the clothes, and ended up bringing a couple of the items back into rotation. But here was the thing – out of probably 20 items, I only ended up recouping 3 or 4 pieces. The rest were either now too big for me, or they just weren’t my style anymore. No matter what, those clothes just weren’t meant for me anymore. But, at the end of the day, if you just cannot make yourself get rid of something, then box it up and make a note somewhere to check it out again in 6-12 months. Maybe it’ll be right for you by then, maybe you’ll have learned to let it go.

 

3. Don’t let emotions get tied to material objects

I can’t tell you how many times I have heard people say, “Yes, that dress looks awful on me, but my boyfriend gave it to me. I can’t possibly let it go” (or some variation thereof). Look, if someone you love gave you something that you don’t love, you are not obligated to keep it. First of all, the person who gave it to you would (presumably) want you to be happy, and wearing something that you feel awful in won’t make you feel happy. Second of all, once a gift is given, it is the property of the recipient, and no longer any business of the gift giver. I have a family member who I love dearly, but who I hate accepting gifts from. She will give me something, and tell me that if I ever don’t want it anymore, that she wants it back. Then she’ll ask me later if I’m wearing said gift, how often I’m wearing it, why she never sees any pictures with me wearing it, etc. Yes, we all want people to enjoy our gifts, but a gift is just that – a gift. The receiver can do with it whatever they want, and if that means taking it to Good Will, so be it.

 

4. Don’t accept other people’s timelines 

Pretty much every clothing clean out article tells you that if you haven’t worn something in 6 months, it’s time to toss it. Why???? If you love it, and you only wear it on special occasions, who says you can’t keep it? I have a great skirt that I got from Ann Taylor almost 6 years ago, and I’ve probably only worn it 4 or 5 times. However, every time I wear it, I get tons of compliments and I feel like a princess. It’s way to fancy to wear to the office, and really, it’s too much for even a date night. I’ve worn it to a gala before – that’s how fancy it is. But it takes up a minimum of space, it fits perfectly, and I love it. So what if I haven’t worn it in 3 years?  Conversely, if you wear something every day for 2 months, and then one day it just doesn’t work for you anymore, that’s the way the cookie crumbles. Maybe you’re suddenly over peplum, or the color worked in the summer and not so much in the winter. If you suddenly stopped enjoying ice cream, you wouldn’t force yourself to eat it, right? Don’t force love when it isn’t there.

Which brings me to –

 

5. Recognize that you can’t force what isn’t meant to be

Every girl on every webpage and in every selfie is rocking out skinny jeans like there is no tomorrow, and dammit, you are NOT going to be left behind. At least, that’s what you said when you bought those jeggings, but… they’re just not working for you. Maybe they don’t move with you, or you just don’t love how your booty looks in them. Whatever the reason, it’s okay. Some things just aren’t meant to be. I love shorts, but I have never felt comfortable in them. I just get too self-conscious, and I wonder if everyone is staring at me legs, and then the fun of whatever I was doing is wasted. If you don’t love something, it doesn’t matter how much you spent, or who gave it to you, or why you bought it in the first place – you deserve to be surrounded by things you love. If every time you look in the closet you feel guilty over some item, that’s unfair to you. You should love every piece of your wardrobe like a child loves a puppy – unabashedly and fully!

 

-S

Boudoir in Dallas

Come Down the Rabbit Hole with Us

 

Hi! I have been fast at work with sessions, shoots, editing, and magazine shoots!  Did I mention I have a full time 9-5 job in a corporate setting?  LOL.

Recently I worked with an amazing model named Maria for her modeling portfolio.  Maria was BEYOND amazing!  Even though I’m not done with editing I wanted to show you guys a quick video I put together.  Now I am NOT a videographer… and perhaps at my next shoot I will have one, but I did want to create a small promo video of Maria.

I LOVE shooting boudoir sessions.  They fun, sexy, and liberating.  If you even THINKING about doing a session just go ahead and do one!  If you’re in the Dallas area please contact me for pricing and availability!

Check out my site and Facebook page below!

Wonderland Boudoir: www.wonderlandboudoir.com

FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/WonderlandBoudoir

Quick Peek at a new photo of Maria

You know you wanna book me!  Check out my work and contact information!

PS:  This photo has not been edited and has not filter.  Yes, you can look good without photoshop!

Outfit of the Day: All White Everything

Wow!

I know it’s been a very long time since I posted an Outift of the Day.  It’s crazy.  After an event that would put any normal person out for months has actually made me stronger.  I feel so different right now.  I know before I wanted to come back… but honestly, I wasn’t ready.  Now I feel it everywhere inside of me.  Believe it or not.  I’m a way different person.  I am the authentic version of who I need to be.  There is something in me that’s back.  Completely.

The Fun. The Fearless.  The Truthful. The IDGAF Korin.

I feel more focused.

I feel happier.

I feel like I’m getting back to the person I’m supposed to be.

The feeling is invigorating.

The feeling of “no worries” is truly amazing.

Signs I’m happy #1

When Korin rocks all white errrrything.

White is my FAVORITE color to wear.

It’s been my favorite thing to wear since I was baby Korin.  LOL.

It’s funny, most of everything I’m rocking came from recent travels in 2014.

The Top from San Diego

Ring, Earrings & Giraffe bracelet from Columbus.

… okay so maybe not most of it. But a good amount.

Also, I hate to brag, but how amazing is my skin looking?  It’s dark and very clear.  I LOVE my complexion.  It’s rich, beautiful, and authentic.  I love how my skin contrast against the all white.

Yes, there will be more this week.

|Top: Miss Match| Bottoms: Express| Rings,Earrings, & Giraffe Bracelet: TigerTree|Watch: Michael Kors|Shoes: Charollette Russe| Sunglasses: Ray-Bans|Pocketbook: Aldo|

Robert Downey Jr, Expecting Baby Girl, November 2014

Girls Run the World!

Today on Facebook (less than 30 minutes ago) Robert Downey Jr (RDJ) announced he and Susan are expecting a brand new  baby girl!

 

This is so amazing!

 

2013/2014 has been the year of the girl.  My little brother gave me my first neice who I LOVE to death. My BFF (not S… another one…) got her first niece and she was born on my birthday!  SO COOL!  My other friend (my other bfff’s cousin) is expecting a girl too!

 

You have to love little girls!  They are cute, smart, and you just want to hug them all the time!

 

Congrats to Susan and RDJ!

Bar Cart Secured – Update

Check out my previous post on my search for the perfect bar cart prior to reading this post.  You can find it HERE!

Okay, so I headed up to Dulce Consignment in Dallas on Saturday and found that they actually had BOTH the bar carts!  I ended up getting the “tea cart.”

The tea cart/bar cart is actually shorter than the other cart.  While the black bar cart was super cute it was about $30 more expensive.  I really wanted to pick up both, but the owner refused to negotiate on price so I ended up getting just the one bar cart.

I picked this one because of the price, the chrome on mirror, and how classic yet modern it looked. While my apartment has more warm undertones this bar cart still matches my aesthetic pretty well.

Of course this isn’t the final look for the cart.  In actuality I have already changed it up since these photos were taken.  In couple of weeks to a month I will show you guys the final photos.   I’m thinking about scouting Z Gallerie to see if they have any cute items or dishes I can add to this cart.

S called me after I purchased the tea cart and she was telling me how she wanted one but thought it would be too big.  I can say that the one that I purchased was far from big.  In fact I thought it was kind of small, but after placing it in my apartment I found that it fit perfectly.

More photos to come!

Waking up for Capitalism

Happy Monday

Who else is tired of feeling like this when they wake up Monday through Friday?  I for sure am.

When I went to San Diego I met someone who really enlightened me.  He lived in Australia for a month and then travelled and stayed in Bali for three months.  He just left his life and surfed for 25% of the year.

Could you imagine just leaving?

Living your life by your own beat.

There has to be something so freeing about not conforming to societies idea of what a fulfilled life should entail.  This person I spoke to claimed he was selfish in a way, but in reality he was far from that.

*ugh*

I have some so many photos and stories I want to share from my travels to San Diego, but that’s going to have to be at another time when I have a moment to just edit my own stuff and be at one with me.

However, I thought this photo was fitting for Monday.

Lets do this y’all!

Via