The OMG Factor

Sitting quietly watching a dvd this afternoon, Allison starts babbling incoherently and pointing to our family room window. This is what was happily strolling past.....

I felt so honoured to think that this stunning creature - all 100+ cm of it - had graced us with it's presence. Why, only last week we came across a Koala in one of our gum trees nursing its baby. Now that was precious!! Our property really is a piece of paradise.

On another note, I can relax and sigh now that Christmas Lunch is over. As it turned out - it was a great success and there was no need for the stress and worry afterall. I had spent over 2 days cooking and preparing the food - and that is no mean feat when you are trying to create vegan food that will satisfy diehard meat eaters. All in all, the salads were scrummy (especially my roasted sweetpotato, pine nut and spinach salad) but the biggest success story was the icrecream "xmas pudding" I had made. Chocolate icecream with cherries and pistachios around a centre of vanilla icecream blended with a puree of wild berries...Mmmmmmm .... and it was all made with Sogood soy icecream - and no one was the wiser!

I have started dabbling with RAW foods. It is a bit like taking veganism to the extreme. My body reacts not so favourably with carbs and being vegan I have no options but to eat carbs. A raw diet consists of mostly vegetables and fruit with a little nuts and grains - but nothing is cooked. The flavours of the foods are amazing and I have found some amazing recipes - I just have to get Allison to 'warm' to the thought of eating cold food - lol

I have been updating the Style on Stage website and filling in some of the 'blanks' that I hadn't gotten a chance to finish until now. Please be patient though - there is still so much more to do before I am finished. Actually, I don't think a website is every finished, there is always something to update or amend.

Allison is working all this week so we wont be doing anything huge for the coming new year's celebrations. Like most years we will either go out for dinner or have a special night in. I also doubt we will see the new year in - I cant remember the last time we did - it just isnt something super important. Goodness, I spent enough drunken New Years Eve's in my younger days to keep my interest in another at a bare minimum.

I hope you all had a great Christmas day yesterday and have something special planned for Wednesday evening, whether it is a private get together or a party. 2009 is looking like it will be a huge year for bodybuilding competitions and I am certainly looking forward to playing my part in it.

Take care until my next (infrequent) blog!

Oh My, Dont I Feel Old!

This is my daughter Layla, she graduated High School on Friday! It just doesn't seem possible that 15 years has passed since we moved from Townsville to Brisbane. And to make matters worse she is celebrating 'Schoolies' this week (on the Sunshine Coast thank goodness - at least she has a brain - lol).

Her Gradutation was great. Not only did she receive the Cultural Award (for her drama/theatre work) but she also sang not one but 3 solos. Allison had to keep nudging me in the ribs telling me not to cry. I am the world's biggest cry baby and did well not to walk out of there with major panda bear eyes!

So what is my little MC (monster child of course) doing now? She is auditioning for one of the Drama/Theatre/Acting degrees at QUT. I am picking her up from Roma St Station this morning and then driving her into the QUT Kelvin Grove Campus. Having never been there myself I am a bit nervous about getting her there in time - but we have over an hour to find the place and I am just about to download their campus map off the internet - so here's wishing her luck!!

I'm OK!!

For those in the Brissy area know only too well the storm we had yesterday.

What started as a gorgeous HOT sunny Sunday morning soon turned crazy. The storm hit us around 3pm which is about the same time my internet crashed. By 4pm we had no power. That in itself isnt a bad thing. I can cope with no power for a reasonable length of time, but when your partner is at work and you are alone in a dark house with nothing to do but read a book by torchlight and eat cold food for dinner, it isnt the most enjoyable evening.

Dont get me wrong, we needed the rain and I love hearing it on the roof and looking out the window across the valley behind us, knowing the land is getting some much needed water. But to have to waste an entire evening curled up on the couch, reading... well, what can I say!!

I am all for enforced R&R but when it is your ONLY option, well, it sucks big time. Luckily the power was back on by the time I got up this morning at 6am. I have managed to answer all the emails that came through from yesterday and also finish baking the 'lemon delicious' slice I got half way through yesterday afternoon. Mmmmm the house smells so yummy now!! Is 8.30am too early to taste test it?? NEVER!!

So what is on the SOS front (SOS = style on stage)

Orders and inquiries are coming in steadily every week for bikinis and comp prep. It is awesome to see so many girls getting in early. I think this year scared a few; the first time in the 7 years I have been doing this that I have had to turn girls away. And to answer your question, no, it is never too early to start your prep!!

I have done a huge update of the website and added a heap of new info. You can check what was updated HERE .

I have found a few new fabric suppliers and am (eagerly) awaiting the samples to arrive. There is nothing more I love than getting new stuff for the business. Fabrics, crystals, shoes, it's like having a great excuse to go shopping!

DIVA Consignments is coming along nicely - the website will be up and running asap and new stock is coming in steadily. So for those that don't know about it you can check the DIVA Blog and see what it is all about. More stock is needed though girls - so go check what you dont need anymore and consider selling it at DIVA Consignments!!

On another note, I get heaps of people wanting to know why I have gone vegan and of course - that age old question "so what do you eat?" ..... I am setting up a blog (yes, another one) but this one is more just for Allison and I to post things about how and why we decided to go vegan as well as some great links to restaurants and resources as well as some great recipes. I am hoping it will shed some light on a few things - like vegans arent all hippy extremist treehuggers that are out to ruin everyone's lives - lol -but regular everyday people that are interested in environmental and ethical issues. Once it is up and running (it is there, just havent posted anything yet) I will post the link and I hope you will drop by every so often to check things out. Trust me, it can be quite eye opening at times - and I promise not to post anything too 'graphic' .

Ok, time to say goodbye for now- lots to catch up on today.... and I had better have some brekky, the smell of that slice is killing me!

Oh How Sweet..

... it is to be sitting here watching Idol with my notebook on my lap, our bird on my shoulder and one of our furry critters at my feet AND NO BIKINIS TO DO RIGHT NOW!!

Yes, I have admitted I watch Australian Idol - but I have a legitimate excuse - honest!! Chrislyn is one of my daughters best friends. I have watched her grow over the years from a very insecure young girl to the amazing performer we are seeing now. It is truely amazing to see her up there!

So what have I been up to today you may ask?? Well, since I have no urgent orders I have managed to have a teeny sleep in, eat pancakes (vegan of course) with icecream and maple syrup for breakfast, work on a few website projects and walk our 3 furry critters. Feeding time at our 'zoo' is always interesting with the 2 goats fighting for attention & food, and the three dogs doing laps in the kitchen while waiting for their dinner to be served.

I had the pleasure of speaking to Lia this evening also. My heart goes out to her at this most difficult time, and I, like most of you reading this will be there for her in the coming weeks!! I went through a similar situation with my own mother 6 years ago, so I understand what it's like.

On a different note..... I now have half a dozen or so orders for 2009 - and that doesnt include the ones from girls that have pulled out of this years shows. I gotta love it when they get in early for costumes. So, if you know you are competing don't be afraid to contact me whenever you are ready to order your new bikini. I will inevitably start getting busy again fairly early in the new year so it really is never too early!!

Diva Consignments has a blog now too - so add it to your favs so you find out when the website is up and running and when new items are available. Girls, for those of you looking at selling off some of those unwanted bikinis or posing shoes, get in contact with me so I can include them on the new website.

I had better head off now - Idol is over and I need to vote for Chrislyn!!

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

OMG - it's nearly over!!

What a year!!!!

I have one single solitary suit needed for a lady heading over to the USA this week to finish and then I can honestly let out that huge sigh of relief!!

Not to say my work for the year is over - far from it. I have already started working with some new clients preparing for 2009 shows and have fittings for bikinis wanted for shows in March to arrange and make and decorate. On top of that I have to finish the new look Style on Stage website - which is very very time consuming - as well as a few new ventures that are currently uncompleted. The first I have just announced on a new Facebook Group and already have a good number of 'groupies' - lol

Say hello to "DIVA Consignments" an online store for you to buy and sell unwanted or pre loved competition apparell - including bikinis, one piece suits, shoes, fitness outfits and dresses (suitable for sportsmodels). The website is under construction but that doesn't mean you can't contact me to lodge your interest if you have something you would like to sell. I will be getting a new blog for this as well and Allison and I will be working on all the 'legalities' over the next week, including pricing, contracts etc. The site will be open to any suits that are in good condition and are clean - I am able to repair or replace any lost crystals to help bring the sale price up if neccessary (a small cost will apply of course) and am able to supply a cleaning service if you are apprehensive about doing it yourself.

So what is next you may ask...... I have another surprise that will be revealed in the near future but this one will take me a little longer to develop completely. So be patient and hopefully some of you will take advantage of my new venture!!

I am hoping to work out dates for Get Ready 2009 and will be updating the current site with new venues and weekends. If you would like Get Ready to visit your location just let me know so I can see if it is a viable option. Minimum numbers will apply for each workshop to make the trip/s a success so start seeing who else would be interested!!

On the home front, Allison has just done the BEST DEAL at our local 'good guys' store - she can do all my shopping from now on!! She has just purchase the air condition for my studio (and it is a big airconditioner), our new dishwasher, a pedastal fan and a breadmaker - with extended warranty - all for under $2000 - WHAT A BARGAIN!! The breadmaker is coming home with her this afternoon while the other items are being delivered next week. Just have to get someone to instal the dishwasher and airconditioner now !!

Hopefully my next post will include pics from the ANB show last weekend - and what a show that was!! 204 competitors run over 2 days. How proud am I of the following Style on Stage clients - Michelle Goodall won her second women's physique overall title and over 52kg women's physique while Vicky Thomas won masters figure 35+ , Donna Baillie won masters figure 45+, Angela Tsourgos won figure tall class and Fern Purturiero won the under 52kg women's physique class - heaps of other SOS clients placed top three, but regardless of placings just getting to compete at this level is awesome and I am proud of every single one of them!!

I had better race off - still got 3 loads of washing to finish as well as this one piece suit to complete. Have a wonderful weekend everyone and I look forward to the opportunity to post more regularly now (at least for a while).

Another year older!

Firstly, thank you to everyone that took the time to wish me a happy birthday. It meant heaps to receive messages from you all - but what was more amazing was the number of people that contacted me and wished me a happy birthday through facebook... blew me away!
No doubt you are wondering what sort of a day I had - well, it started off ok - Allison had to leave home early for work so she wished me a happy birthday in the morning and I got ready for the first clients of the day. I ended up working from 9.30am through till Evette finished at 6pm, then it was a mad rush to get the dogs and goats fed before Allison came home with dinner. We have this amazing restaurant not too far (nothing is close when you live in Jimboomba - lol) called the Magic Wok. It is a vegan chinese restaurant and if you didnt know the meat wasnt meat ... well, I am sure you get the idea. We had satay "chicken", bbq buns and curry puffs for entree then lemon "chicken", mongolian "beef" and crispy salt and pepper tofu for mains - very scrummy!!

I did get to open my pressies before we ate though.... and how spoilt am I.

My first present was from my furry kiddies (many thanks to Allison for going to the effort). I have been wanting a copy of each of the posters in a series that supports and advertises Greyhound Adoption. She spent ages ringing around finding out exactly who distributes the posters as we have seen them at the RSPCA superstore, our vets as well as a few other various places. As it turned out one of the representatives lives just over the highway from us!! So I have 2 posters to go in my studio waiting room - not at all figure orientated but they will hopefully make someone consider a greyhound for a pet!

My second and third pressies where cool - a letter saying my car is booked in at WOW on Tuesday morning to have new stereo speakers installed, the third pressie takes us up to Southbank on Tuesday (after the car has been dropped off) to see the Picasso Collection!! I cant wait now for Tueday to come around. I have been wanting to go to view these masters for ages now!

Allison purchased my next present on a whim - mainly because it was pink than any other reason.... for what other colour is there to have for a coffee machine?? Anyway we have decided to return my Delonghi 'Nespresso' machine on Tuesday for something a little more mainstream and practical. My biggest concern with appliances like this that use 'pods'or other gimmicks is that it becomes obsolete when the little pods are no longer produced - and if i am going to get a coffee machine I want to use the coffee of my choice - and not be limited to set flavours or types!

So - it comes to my main present (and most of you may already be saying "gee, isnt that enough!) - specially boxed and handed to me very carefully........ inside layers of newspaper, bubblewrap and wadding are two of the most exquisite OOAK faeries you have ever seen. Now, those of you that know me well know I have a passion (some would say more of an obsession) with fairies and such and will understand how precious these two additions to my family are (and I know Lia will be absolutely green!!) but they are truly two of the most beautiful things, absolutely unique and made with so much love and tenderness. The photo doesnt do them justice but you might get an idea.

So to finish the night we ate our lovely dinner, sat together and watched a little TV before one tired, old 43 year old had to go to bed! With 10 hours of One on One posing booked in for the following day I couldn't stay up any longer.

I had a wonderful day and feel very loved with all my online friends thinking of me - so thank you for making my special day so special!

Just a few minutes.......

....and it will be my birthday.

Pretty sad that I am sitting at my notebook blogging and decorating bikinis - oh and watching the last episode of season 1 of Las Vegas - its nearly midnight which means I will be officially a year older and wiser (?).

I have just received the artwork for the 2008 INBA All Female Classic and I am sure there are a few girls out there in blogland that are keen to see themselves!! It's not bad going when 5 of the 9 bikinis on the cover were made by me!! See, I still get a kick out of after all these years - lol

anyway - without further ado, I present to you the latest IAP dvd cover...

To purchase your copy please email me at jorogers@styleonstage.com.au

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!

Not the best start to my blogging world!

Mmmmm, I honestly dont know how you guys all do it!!

I have been wanting to find the time to post something since I arrived back from Melbourne a week ago but I swear the clocks have been on fast forward. It took me over 3 days just to get on top of the emails that had accumulated over the 5 days I was away and then there were the hours of one on one clients booked in with me, the costumes, orders, music, food, sleep, work, animals, blah, blah, blah....... I think you get the picture.

Speak of pictures, would you believe I hardly got any from my trip away. I do tend to forget to use the camera that lives in my pocket when at shows. I am more worried about making sure the girls are all dressed properly and networking with everyone that I forget to take my happy snaps!! How slack am I ?? So - if anyone (and yes Lia, that includes you) has any shots they would like me to include in my new gallery pages of the new and soon to be published "Style on Stage" website I would be very grateful!

On the home and studio front, I got a phone call from the company that are custom making my studio's waiting room chairs. They are all finished and ready to pick up. Since the shop fittings arent quite ready to be installed I have decided to leave the chairs until our new lounge in finished. Would you believe I am 2 days off my 43rd birthday and this is the first lounge suite I have ever purchased. I am deadly serious!! In probably around 2 weeks time we will have a brand new couch to go with our brand new TV (which I have managed to sit and watch something on maybe three times in the past 2 months) - how very very exciting!! We are slowly getting our house where we want it. Once the new studio is completely finished and my sewing moves into the front room we will then have 2 entire rooms to use as our formal lounge and another off the kitchen which will be our sun room/informal eating area.



The newest addition to our family is settling in nicely. We bought an old goat the other week to keep Anna (our angora goat) company. Anna has been living on our acreage for at least 7-8 years, maybe longer for all we know, and most of that time she has been alone. So here we are, the worlds biggest suckers, putting ads in the local paper for a friend for our old goat... and we got replies!! So Claire is the latest additon - she is a bit skittish but totally food orientated (most of us can relate to that - lol) but we will have her tamed in no time!

Now ladies, if you are still pondering over ordering a suit from me for the shows at the end of this year you had better get a move on. The first shows of the new season are starting up at the end of August/ beginning of September and I am getting close to booked out. I am getting 2-3 orders for bikinis every day at the moment, bringing numbers up to well over 50+. Now can someone please let me know why I keep telling girls i can come up with a new design for them..... talk about pressure!! But seriously, that is what i love doing most and thrive with the challenge to come up with bigger and better designs every week! Makes for a few sleepless nights - but hey, I have worked out that sleep is highly overrated and you can survive on 3 hours a night (mind you, at some stage you come crashing back to earth with an almighty thud).

There will be a brand new Natural Bodybuilding Magazine coming out shortly - and guess how has been approached to submit articles - yep.. that would be me!! So if anyone has any news or candid shots they would like considered then please by all means send them through to me!! I will keep you posted as to the title of the mag and when the first issue will be available.

The INBA All Female DVD is nearly ready for purchase. If anyone is interested in ordering a copy please email me at jorogers@styleonstage.com.au . The dvd will be posted out as soon as editing and post production has been completed!

I am sure I have forgotten all the important things to include in this post - but it is getting late and I have a pile of bikinis to work on this evening. To all the girls that competed at the All Female show I would like to say 'congratulations' regardless of placings. I was so proud of all my clients, and feel very special seeing everyone up on stage in my Style on Stage creations. Thank you for trusting in me!

Have an awesome night guys and I will try (very hard) to blog a little more regularly !!

INBA All Female Classic

Well Ladies,

It is literally just days to go now before many of you compete at the INBA All Female Classic in Melbourne next Saturday.

I will be flying into Melbourne on Thursday morning and working with clients on posing and choreography as well as doing bikini fittings on both Thursday and Friday then spending Saturday (of course) at the show. Saturday evening I will be driving down to Anglesea with Caryn Jones to spend a few days there with her and other competitors that live down that way!

If anyone is interested in catching up with me while I am in Victoria please email me at jorogers@styleonstage.com.au to arrange a time to meet. There is only a little time left at the moment so get in quick so you don't miss out!

I am so excited too cause I get to see so many of the girls I have done work for at the show. Lets see if I can remember everyone...

• Stef Williams


• Shar Twyman


• Ursula Beck


• Jo Morgan


• Fiona Sultana


• Erica Green


• Noela Laggan


• Karen Flaherty


• Roslyn Rowles


• Simone Leembruggen


• Jenny Madders

And these are just the ones that I know are competing - I am sure there are a few others that I dont know are doing the show, and what a great surprise it will be to see them there!

And to say I am looking forward to catching up with everyone is an understatement. There are so many wonderful girls I have met or done work for over the years that I know I will have a chance to say hello to at the show!

Anyway - its the beginning of another busy day so I had better get a move on - one day a client is going to catch me in my pyjamas - what a treat!

What a weekend!

Phew, I didn't think it would ever end!

After over 15 hours of one on one work with clients my weekend is officially over - well, except for the costumes and music that have to be worked on tonight. I am seriously looking forward to my next day off (which will be, at this rate, some time in mid november - lol).

It has been awesome to catch up with some old clients this weekend as well as to meet a few newbies to the SOS (Style on Stage) team. I am sure they are a little overwhelmed when I initially begin posing sessions, but as a lot of you know, it does get easier.

SOS has truely become much more than I ever dreamed (well, I may have dreamed it but never admitted it - lol). This week alone I have had clients travel from Sydney, Townsville and Central Queensland to work with me and I am off to Melbourne and Gladstone over the next few weeks. But with only 12-15 weeks to most shows looming I wont be travelling too much more, my free time will be limited to hours not days - and you know what - I love it!

So before I go any further I just want to thank all my awesome clients and friends that have helped me and Style on Stage become what it is today.

MWAH!

Our Little Piece of Heaven

There aren't too many pink mailboxes with swarovski encrusted numbers in our street so there is now no excuse for my clients to not find the studio!! Allison sprayed painted it the other day and I glued the crystals on - it's the perfect opportunity to find out if the adhesive I use on the bikinis is everything it claims to be!! Evidently Dreamworld on the Gold Coast use it to glue the rubber on the bottom of some of their water rides.... so, in saying all that, it holds crystals pretty well!!

Style on Stage in "Blog World"

Welcome to the very first post on my brand new Style on Stage blog.

I cannnot guarantee just how often or how regularly I will be here but I will do my very best to keep you all up to date with news and happenings around Australia in regards to competitions, seminars, personal appearances and new products that Style on Stage will be offering.

Life on the farm has been anything but peaceful since we moved in early January. Style on Stage work took over as soon as we unpacked with seminars, fittings, posing sessions and bikini orders all seeming to take place at once. On top of that we had to deal with the builders renovating the purpose built studio that will become Style on Stage headquarters very soon. We hope it will be well worth the wait (and money) with a stage, shop, waiting room, change room and storage room. Eventually it will have a projector screen TV and stage lights - but we will have to be happy with the basics to get us started!

I have just returned from a successful trip to Canberra, staying with my very wonderful friend Nancy Waites and husband Rob. Nancy is our first sponsored Athlete and Style on Stage Canberra/NSW rep, and has been a wonderful host to me during the 3 visits I have had in Canberra over the past 10 months!

We worked with 9 lovely ladies on posing and routines and did costume fittings during our break. It was great to catch up with the girls that had already been to one of my Get Ready 2008 seminars but also to meet up with those that hadn't.

My next interstate venture is in 2 weeks time to Melbourne for the INBA All Female Classic. I will be arriving on Thursday 10th July and will be available for one on one sessions for posing and routine work as well as for bikini fittings right up until the morning of the show (Saturday 12th) and will then be spending the Sunday and Monday in Anglesea for more one on one work with girls and guys that are located a little further south. If anyone is interested please dont hesitate to contact me on jorogers@styleonstage.com.au for more details or to book a time.

Girls and guys, if you are after a bikini or posing trunks for the upcoming September/October shows please be aware that closing dates for orders will be around 6-8 weeks prior to your first show. It will be determined by the number of orders I am receiving and if what has come through already is any indication, I will be very busy. So please get your orders in fast.

I hope you will drop by regularly to visit, please feel free to leave any comments about subjects posted here. Your opinions and input are greatly appreciated and respected!

with kindest regards

Jo