Hey guys! We’re back with another Sites and Bites today. This time we headed to the charming neighborhood of Cole Valley where we’re browsing a really sweet vintage children’s store that just opened called Tantrum and then heading across the street to The Ice Cream Bar, a full service style soda fountain for some delicious ice cream sodas of the most creative and incredible variety.

I was so happy to find this children’s shop, Tantrum. Jared’s friend knew the owner so we stopped by one day. A really beautifully curated collection of vintage clothing, toys, and vintage inspired handmade goods. Everything about it is so charming and sweet from the decor to the price tags and packaging. The owner is really nice as well. She let me come in when they were already closed and I snapped a few shots as her cute kids were watching The Incredibles in the back while she finished up closing out the cash register.

Across the street from Tantrum is a great place to grab an afternoon ice cream soda treat. The Ice Cream Bar is a full service 1930s style soda fountain and lunch counter that specializes in really unique flavors of house made ice cream sodas, shakes and sundaes. The soda fountain ‘chemist’ is behind the counter who put together our Bonnie Vie #2 (fresh pink grapefruit, turbinado syrup, basil ice cream, citric acid, fresh basil) with incredible speed and skill! He was amazing to watch and the result was really delicious.

Keep reading to see where to see a map of where to find Tantrum and The Ice Cream Bar…

See more Sites and Bites spots in San Francisco right here

Hi! I’m Alison from The Alison Show. This side braid is super easy, and you can either leave some bangs in front, or pull them back into the braid. Let’s get started!

Keep reading to see the full tutorial…

1. Make an extreme part.

2. Grab a 1/2″ slice of hair. You can make a neat part, or a messy one like me!

3. Change the position of your hands and pull the section of hair to the other side of your head. This will make braiding much easier.

4. Begin braiding the hair with a “dutch” style braid. This means you pull the strands under each other, rather than over. Start adding hair from the back of your head to the back-most strand.

5. Once away from the head continue braiding the hair “dutch” style.

6. Secure the bottom of your braid with a tiny rubber band, or pull the end of the braid back towards the crown and pin it in place with two bobby pins.  Wow, you look hot!

Earlier this week my sister in law Jordan and her family moved home from Paris! Hooray! Currently they are crashing with us while they finalize their apartment plans and it’s been a none stop cousin party ever since. We are actually taking off later this weekend to head to Utah for a week or so, but I have some really fun posts planned to share with you all this coming week. You’ll love it! Up to anything fun? Here are some links to explore and blog housekeeping:

Did you enter to win the $2500 Tempur-Pedic bed yet?

I’m teaching both Blogging 101 and Advertising Options for Bloggers this coming Tuesday. They’re really fun, hour long video classes for only $15.

LOVE this idea of painting your ugly cement into red bricks!

Love this summer dress on sale!

Did you see Gabby’s sneak peak of a web series they’re creating called Olive Us? Looks too adorable for words

Oh man I need to make this top

Fruit balloons party! Cutest things alive

Gorgeous Mother’s Day Brunch (and wonderful idea!)

Lovely baby wearing style

Kind of obsessed with this yellow and white dress

Pretty homemade bubbles and bubble wands

A pretty new blog I spotted, Revel

Gorgeous Michelle Armas Prints (image above)

5 Ways to Embellish Denim Cutoffs

10 Gardening Gifts for Mother’s Day

Retro Swim Suits deals (under $22!)

10 Stationery Sets for Mother’s Day

Win a copy of Marie from Make and Takes new book!

P.S. Did you win the Target giveaway? Winners announced!

Last week we took a spontaneous four day camping trip to Yosemite. Things were just getting busy but we still got camping spots, day of, in the valley the first two nights. The third night we were getting sick of the crowds and drove right outside the park where we found dispersed camping next to a gorgeous stream (image above). It was hot too! A welcome change from the consistently cool coastal weather here in San Francisco.

Keep reading to see some more instagram photos (@liz_stan) and snippets from our trip…

Hetch Hetchy was beautiful (this is where all the drinking water in San Francisco comes from)

Yosemite falls was roaring this time of year! It was incredible. We walked to the viewpoint and then hiked up along the rocks until we were getting so soaked if felt like a shower.

Henry was a great hiker- as long as there were rocks to throw, sticks to wave around, and fruit snacks to eat.

I love camping food! The first night we had chili dogs, second night we ate at a pizza place in the valley, third night we had burgers on the grill. Breakfasts were combinations of pancakes, scrambled eggs and sausage. Oh and s’mores every night. Of course!

The light was so beautiful in the valley! Oh, and no bears this time (although last year we spotted two right in the campground).

Henry’s favorite thing about camping is building a fire and helping to collect sticks. Snuggling by the fire and telling stories might be my favorite.

The most beautiful dining room (image above)

A fun interview I did with Say Daily

10 Easy Easter Crafts

A secret tree swing I want to find

Apparently I need to start collecting colorful bundt pans

This spring punch look delicious

Chocolate ice cream bowls. I’ve always wanted to try these!

Pretty French alphabet stamps

I think I found something to do with my leftover rainbow felt

Perfect spring dress I want

Fun with googly eyes

Incredible knitted chevron blanket!

Love and vulnerability

Rich NYC nannies. Why did I go to grad school again?

For the love of gold dots

New cute new-to-me blog, Charlaanne

I write daily at Babble’s Family Style blog about favorite stylish products for the family and home. Here are my posts from this week you may have missed:

15 Spring Jackets under $50. (Loving that kelly green trench!)

I want a little girl just so I can buy one of these Easter dresses

Have you seen Anthropologie’s swimwear this season? Swoon!!

How do you feel about cropped trousers this season? Here are 10 great looking pairs!

Very funny (and not mean) April Fools Day idea

Great collection of 11 neon diys for your wardrobe. Those shoes!

15 Mad Men inspired dresses. What did you think of the premiere?

Some more floor painting inspiration:

(images: one two three four five six seven eight nine)

It’s been raining all week here! Surprisingly though, I’ve loved it. The light has been perfect for photos (it’s like living in a soft light box), and both yoga and knitting have seemed even more peaceful with the soft pitter-patter of rain falling outside. I have so many fun projects planned this weekend that we’ll see how much I can actually get done. Plus, I’ve just finished my second stocking and am really excited for a rainy weekend to start on number three.  Do you find rain and/or fog relaxing, or does it put you in a funk?

Have wonderful weekend, Happy St Patty’s Day!

Here are my babble links:

This trench might be my favorite wardrobe item right now (I’ve been living in it this week!)

10 St Patricks Day crafts to do with kids

Have you heard J.Crew teamed up with Manola Blahnik? What a dream team!

Other links:

The spring issue of Sweet Paul, so lovely!

Three DIY styled window blinds

A good reminder about comparison on the internet

These look amazingly delicious

Instax Mini Albums are really pretty

Great tips for eating a healthy lunch at work

Beautiful instagram art (sure does trump my out of focus filters). Are you on instagram? I’m liz_stan

Watched My Week with Marilyn last night, oh my I have a serious girl crush on her now! Seen any good movies? This seems like the perfect weekend to catch up on a few!

St Patrick’s Day in a box! Love this series

10 temporary ways to dress up a rental

Interesting article about the power of social media and youth