I had another epic weekend in New Jersey.

My sister was throwing Parker a second birthday party, AND my Aunt came up from Orlando to go to the party and meet the baby, AND my other sister is due with her baby any day now. AND I got to see all the cousins, except for the not-yet-born one. While there, my mom talked about a friend who said his favorite season is “The start of every single one.” And I can really get down with that one. Even with winter hate, the start of winter is pretty tinsel and light-filled. Scarlet then said, “Remember when my favorite holiday was St. Patrick’s Day? I think now my favorite holiday is every next one coming.”

I can get down with that one too.

I’m enamored with St. Patrick’s Day with its rainbows and gold coins. Lucky Charms and corned beef hash. Above all, the love and the light and the HOPE of this time of year. Even with a winter storm warning tonight. Even with a case of the Mondays. When we’re at my parent’s farm, we do projects. I don’t yet have photos from the amazing project my kids did with my mom yesterday – while I showered and read and generally relaxed – but I do have photos of another favorite project. You can do this all year long, but I’m feeling festive today. Let’s turn milk green and make Magic Rainbow Rocks.

Magic Rainbow Rocks

Materials:

Baking soda
Water
Vinegar
Bowls
Plastic spoons
Food coloring
Plastic gold coins

Instructions:

1 – Gather several bowls. We used disposable bowls, but you can use non-disposable if you wish. Using a plastic spoon, put 5 spoonfuls of baking soda into each bowl, one for each color you would like to make.

2 – Using the same plastic spoon, add 4-5 spoonfuls of water into each bowl with the baking soda.

3 – Mix the baking soda and water mixture well. You do not want the baking soda mixture to be runny. It needs to be on the dry side, but still wet enough to mold into a shape.

4 – Add one drop of food coloring to each bowl to create different colors of baking soda mixture. Mix well to distribute the coloring evenly in the mixture.

5 – If any of the mixtures in the bowls are too wet, simply sprinkle in some additional baking soda a little at a time until it forms soft crumbles that can be molded into shape.

6 – Place a little of one color of baking soda mixture in your hand and form a small flat pancake. Top it with a plastic gold coin, and then use another bit of the same color of baking soda mixture to cover the coin up, and form the mixture in your hand into a ball that is surrounding the gold coin.

7 – Repeat step 6 until you have magic rainbow rocks in each color you wish to make.

8 – Place the rocks on a tin foil lined plate and place them into the freezer for at least 1 hour, and up to overnight.

9 – When you are ready to use them, remove the magic rainbow rocks from the freezer, and let little ones drop them into a bowl filled with vinegar. They will get to see a magical reaction, and then a gold coin surprise will appear!

Would you make these Magic Rainbow Rocks?