We're thrilled that Jocelynne wandered in to Logan & Finley about a year ago. We've since enjoyed following her on Instagram, getting to know her, hosting her for a Plant Care workshop and most recently, working with her on our Fall photoshoot. She's a multi-talented, creative freelancer who lives here in Toronto and we're looking forward to working with her again. See how she answered our questions below
How would you define your lifestyle?
I’m either living life in the slow lane, or flying by the seat of my pants. During college/university I quickly realized that having a regular 9-5 and waiting until I’m retired to actually start experiencing life is not for me. I try not to worry about the future; I’m very much a “I’ll cross that bridge when I get there” type of person, and I think growing up in a fast-paced city like Toronto has helped keep me on my toes and go with the flow. I take my work seriously and do what I have to do to pay bills, but I always always always make time to enjoy myself and experience life while I’m still young.
Is spending time in nature important to you? Tell us why!
Absolutely. I spend a lot of time staring at a screen, so it’s really important for me to take a break from technology. Toronto has a lot of great parks all over the city, but I also like to have lots of houseplants because it feels like bringing the outside in, when I can’t actually go out in nature.
On a scale between 1-10, how ‘Green’ would you say you are?
Honestly, I think a 5 or 6! I would love to completely ditch plastic in my home, make my own plant milks, and have a perfect package-free pantry but that just isn’t realistic for me right now and I’m okay with that.
What excites you about choosing a sustainable lifestyle?
Discovering alternatives for single-use products that I never knew existed! The Abeego and Earthology food wraps blew my mind.
Was there an ‘aha’ moment you recall where you realized you wanted to put more effort towards sustainable living?
A few years ago I came across the “zero waste” movement on YouTube, and since then I have been consciously putting more effort towards sustainable living. Before then I didn’t even consider anything other than a reusable water bottle and bringing my own shopping bag.
If you were to give advice to others about embarking on a ‘greener’ life and style, where/how would you tell them to start?
It’s so easy to get hung up on what other people are doing, who have been doing the greener life thing for years. Put social media away and focus on what is realistic for you, right now. Start small with something you use every single day. For instance, I switched to a bamboo toothbrush and reusable cotton pads. I save sauce jars and glass bottles — they always have a use in my home whether its for storing other food, using as a drinking glass, or housing some plant cuttings.
Use what you already have until it can no longer be used, before replacing it with a more green alternative. What’s the point of throwing perfectly good items away, just for the sake of replacing it with something more green?
What are you passionate about? Where do you find inspiration?
I’m passionate about wellness and anything creative, and I’m grateful that both of these worlds have collided into a career path for me. I’m constantly inspired by other women in both the wellness and creative fields. Above all, I stay inspired by putting myself in a position where I don’t feel confident about my skills from time to time—there’s always room to grow!
How did you hear about Logan and Finley?
I literally just walked by the store one day. The window display drew me in initially, but the great conversation and wide selection of eco-friendly wares made me stay!
What’s your most treasured item from Logan and Finley? Why?
My CredoBag for sure! I use it as a grocery bag, but also as my everyday “purse” in the summer. It’s super in right now! CredoBag is also a company based in Montreal which is like my second home.
What place do you think Logan and Finley has in helping Torontonians live a greener life and style?
Being located on Queen West, Logan and Finley brings something unique to the neighbourhood and I think the location itself just gets people thinking about greener living. Hosting regular workshops and collaborating with other stores on the block makes Logan and Finley more than just a retail space; it’s a community that encourages everyone whether they’re new to green living, or have been living that way for years.
And of course, if there is anything else you want to tell us, please do!
I'm a photographer and creative producer here in Toronto. I specialize in creating high-quality visuals for wellness-focused and eco-conscious people/small businesses. You can check out my work here!