Paige Baniewicz

Using plastic straws has always been something that I have wanted to stop doing but seemed like I never would be able to stop it. I am a huge coffee drinker so I always go to Starbucks or Dutch Bros places that always use plastic straws. Although I have purchased many of the reusable cups and straws from both of these places, I always for get to bring them with me when I go to get coffee since I am either rushing out the door or I just forget about them. I have always just made it okay in my mind to use plastic straws since they are used everywhere. When I watched a video about a turtle with a straw stuck in its nose is when I knew I needed to stop using them and yet never did. This challenge has definitely been very challenging but has pushed me to stop using plastic straws and to make a difference, I now keep a reusable cup and straw in my car so that I don't ever forget it again. 

For this on time challenge I replaced 10 Incandescent lightbulbs with Energy Star- certified LED bulbs which will save me up to $14 per fixture per year. I had never though about the impact the lightbulbs I had in my house could effect the environment. I  think it is crazy that just by changing the lightbulbs in my house I can make a difference to make the environment better. These lightbulbs in my opinion provide much better lighting than the lightbulbs I previously had. By doing these challenges I have been able to see that by even doing the little things can make a big difference and better the environment, along with bettering myself and the way I live.  From now on I will think and do my research on products to learn what positive and negative effects they will have on the environment in which we live before I purchase them. 

For this challenge I went on a hike at the mountain that is right next to my house.I have been wanting to hike that mountain since I was little but have always gone to other mountains with friends or family instead of the one next to my house. After hiking this mountain I don't think I will ever want to hike any other mountain. This mountain has so many different trails that lead to many different smaller mountains that are connected to it, I also loved the fact that when I got to the top of the mountain I was able to see my house and all the beauty I had no idea  surrounded my house. I am so grateful I picked this challenge because now I appreciate all the nature that surrounds the place in which I live, I also hike this mountain almost everyday now and have brought most of my friends with me so that they can explore this beautiful mountain as well. 

Today I went completely paperless by downloading apps for my bank card, credit card, and medical bills that send mail weekly to my house about my accounts. This has been something I have wanted to do for a while but have never taken the action to do it. In doing this challenge I find it to be easier and very assessable for me to always be up to date with my accounts and bills.