Many thanks to everyone who entered our two-year anniversary giveaways this week and helped spread the word. We've notified all our winning entrants by email. Great big heaps o’ gratitude to the wonderful businesses and organizations who made it possible by contributing all the items we're giving away.

The entry process and randomized drawing went ever so smoothly thanks to the free app known as Rafflecopter. And the winners are . . .

Friendly Chemistry curriculum:
Kristi C.
STEAM3 Interactive Playground passes:
Stacey L. and Andee K.
Toybrary Austin 6-visit Stay & Play punch card:
May T.
Austin Tinkering School set of 3 Tinkering Challenge Boxes:
Monica P.
Smudge Studios art workshop gift certificate:
Jan B.
The Universe Trilogy children’s science books:
Jody H.

For those of you whose names were not drawn, here are two virtual hugs of consolation:

If you register for STEAM3 by Dec. 31 using the special code ALTEDATX, you’ll receive an extra $10 off the special earlybird price on the complete conference, interactive playground, and VIP party.
All entrants in the Friendly Chemistry giveaway are eligible for a 25% discount off the purchase of a student textbook. Just email Joey & Lisa at friendlychemistryinfo@gmail.com, tell them you came from Alt Ed Austin’s giveaway, and you’ll get a special code to use at checkout.

I look forward to sharing many more alternative learning resources and opportunities with you in the coming year!

Teri

One of the best things to happen this year for Austin families was the opening of Toybrary Austin. It truly is a marvelous concept and green business model; as owner and longtime educator Liza Wilson explains on the website:

A toy library operates much like a book library, only the items available for loan are toys, making it possible for parents to offer their children age-appropriate toys at each developmental stage without having to spend a lot of money or have a ton of storage space. We have over 850 toys available for checkout, so come check it out!

But the Toybrary is about much more than toys. Drop in during any given week, and you might find language immersion classes for toddlers, art labs for older kids, parenting workshops, concerts by popular children’s performers like Staci Gray and Laura Freeman, puppet shows, Heartsong music classes, yoga, Lego birthday parties, and even date night child care. There’s also plenty of quiet time when you can sip a cup of tea and read or chat while your child explores the beautiful, clean, developmentally stimulating indoor play area.

Can you tell how much I love this place? Then you can imagine my delight when Liza contributed a six-day Stay & Play pass for Alt Ed Austin’s Anniversary Giveaway Week. This would be a great holiday gift for a friend—or yourself! You have several ways to enter, with up to eight chances to win. We’ll keep the entry box (below) open through Thursday and announce the winner on lucky Friday the 13th.

Toybrary Austin, located at 7817 Rockwood Lane in north central Austin near Anderson Lane, is open from 10am to 6pm Tuesday through Saturday.

a Rafflecopter giveaway