Jeans/Sweater/Jacket/Bib Necklace: The Loft. Gingham Shirt: Gapkids. Ballet flats: Target
We took the littles out for ice cream after dinner last night. I’m thoroughly convinced that Baskin Robbins hasn’t updated their look since I was a child. In the 80’s. I mean really? We are still rocking that candy pink and bad blue? I don’t know how they manage to survive with Coldstone walking around the ice cream world like the hot guy on campus.
Sitting in there eating ice cream with the littles made me very nostalgic. My family was a big “lets go out and get a treat” family. Actually, we were a “lets do anything fun” kind of family; movies, vacations, swimming… Dang, I had a good childhood.
Anyways, we used to go to this place in the Sacramento area (where I grew up) called Leatherby’s. It was this family owned restaurant/ice cream shop, you know, one of those fabulous joints where the floor is made of blue and white tile, the chairs are all white and swirly, they make their own ice cream, serve ridiculously good grilled sandwiches, and always put a cherry on top of the whipped cream. I always ordered an egg salad sandwich on grilled sourdough, with fries and a chocolate shake. My sister Meghan always insisted that whatever ice cream she ordered be topped with 2 cherries, and my brother Matt wanted only a scoop of chocolate in a dish for his dessert. I can’t remember what any one else used to order. Funny how you remember small details…
But the one thing I will never forget about those trips to Leatherby’s was my dad. Every time the food arrived, he would make his way around the table sampling everyone’s ice cream, and saying “Dad tax!” the whole time he was doing it. Nerd.
We’d whine and moan about it, (when I was a teenager I found this practice quite embarrassing), I mean he took really big sips/bites. He would simply shrug his shoulders in response and say he was just preparing us for what the government was going to do later.
I didn’t understand this until I got the first paycheck at my first job. I had carefully calculated how much money I should have made given my wage and how many hours I had worked. When I got the check the number was significantly lower than I had imagined. I looked down at my paycheck in dismay, then turning to my mom. “Who the heck is FICA and why is he taking all my money?”
She laughed, “painful isn’t it?”
“Dad wasn’t taking nearly enough to prepare me for this.”
All taxes aside, those trips to Leatherby’s, they were great. Even with “dad tax.” (which, by the way, I secretly loved.)
As I sat in Baskin Robbins last night, looking at the littles, I thought, “It is so important to do stuff like this.” Even if they spill ice cream on their coat, even if Ethan wanted to save that sticky pink plastic spoon and when we made him throw it away he threw himself dramatically on the dirty floor, even if it takes more effort than just scooping them a little ice cream out of the box that’s in the freezer. Because sometime in the future they’ll be all grown up like I am, with littles of my own, sitting at my kitchen table thinking about just how much extra effort it took to cart all six of us into that restaurant. How many extra hours my dad must have worked so they could do things like that. And how, even then, I knew that I was worth something to my parents. Worth them spending their time, money, and (often) sanity on me. So I could have those times, those trips, those memories. And how those things would shape me; how knowing that I was worth it to them, helped me know how much I was really worth. How it made me never want to cheapen myself by doing something disparaging. How it taught me to work hard and live up to that worth. And never to settle for being with someone who didn’t see it, and appreciate it.
That’s pretty deep for ice cream.
But it’s true.
Thanks mom and pops.
For the dad tax, the memories, and the ice cream.
It was delicious.
All of it.
p.s. I picked up these jeans at the Loft on Saturday (for a steal: by the way) and I (naively) thought I could fudge and just wear them without hemming them. I, of course, was mistaken. I should have known I am fated to hem every pair of pants I own for the rest of my life.
That’s a nice memory. My father does that also (with mom, too), but we don’t have that name for it! I have to say I’ve never thought of having an egg salad sandwich with FRIES! Wow.
Love those colors on you. You are such a good hair waver.
love this outfit!! Super cute! I will definitly have to try to replicate:) Also, your hair is beautiful! Super long and I know in other pictures you have straight hair too. Was wondering what you use to make curls plus how can I make my thick straight hair that is about to my chest, keep growing without looking out of control?
I love your outfit, and more importantly I love the stories you tell on this blog. I find them particularly inspiring since I don’t have many fond memories of my childhood and therefore love reading about what could be for my future children. Thanks for sharing your stories and your life with us!
You just brought back some great memories from my childhood. And now I want ice cream. That probably explains why I can no longer wear kids’ clothes–too curvy in my chest and hips. -Angie
cute post cor…we did have pretty wonderful childhoods didn’t we? i am so glad you and your family (and the sticky floors at leatherby’s) were a part of mine;)
AHH! Love that Friends reference. I just watched that episode today :) And I must say, I have been stalking, err, I mean following your blog for a while now, and although I am far from a petite, you are definitely inspiring me to embrace who I am and experiment with clothes and fashion. Its such and adventure! Keep it up! You are gorgeous!
Oh being short is so frustrating sometimes. I have to hem all of my jeans or fold them up which is what usually ends up happening. :) You look lovely! Great story! Thanx for sharing!
Cori . . . though you can’t make it to the birthday dinner tonight for Mom and I, please note your sweet (and accurate) story about our family adventures (especially my “Dad taxes”), and what they mean to you, is the best birthday present any father could ask for. Mom and I love you and your awesome family soooooo much! You and your siblings have given Mom and I such joy . . . and now we kind of get to do it all again with the grand kids!
My dad was a big ice cream guy too! One of my favorite family photos (from the 80’s) is of all us kids with dad (sporting a mustache) in an old fashioned ice cream palor. Your post brought me back to that. Thanks :) Supercute jacket BTW!!
I love this post so much!! This really speaks to me as a parent–I have 2 littles, both girls, and 1 little boy due in 2 weeks, and I have really been thinking a lot about wanting to be more like this kind of a parent. My oldest just turned 5 and will be starting school in the fall..and it all feels like it is happening so fast! I want to cherish each moment and create memories like this for all of my kids. Thank you so much for sharing!!
Love the outfit and your hair is gorgeous! What great memories you have and I love ice cream!
I have the same necklace! I got it for something like $4 or something crazy like that!!! Your hair looks so pretty today!!!
http://jugglingchic.tumblr.com
You look beautiful as always. This is hands down my favorite blog post of yours! So inspiring and beautiful :D And now I want ice cream!!
That’s a nice memory. My father does that also (with mom, too), but we don’t have that name for it! I have to say I’ve never thought of having an egg salad sandwich with FRIES! Wow.
Love those colors on you. You are such a good hair waver.
love this outfit!! Super cute! I will definitly have to try to replicate:) Also, your hair is beautiful! Super long and I know in other pictures you have straight hair too. Was wondering what you use to make curls plus how can I make my thick straight hair that is about to my chest, keep growing without looking out of control?
beautiful post !
Pretty deep and inspiring !
Love your hair too…how did you do that ? How about a tutorial ? haha !
such a great post! and you look gorgeous as usual!
http://www.modernsuburbanites.blogspot.com
I love your outfit, and more importantly I love the stories you tell on this blog. I find them particularly inspiring since I don’t have many fond memories of my childhood and therefore love reading about what could be for my future children. Thanks for sharing your stories and your life with us!
Audrey
http://www.puttingmetogether.com
Love that story – so sweet. And that layering is awesome!
preethi
lace, etc.
Love Leatherby’s! I haven’t been there in years…..but I do remember the amazing grilled cheese and sundaes!
Love you relax yet chic style! I’m a new follower!
You just brought back some great memories from my childhood. And now I want ice cream. That probably explains why I can no longer wear kids’ clothes–too curvy in my chest and hips.
-Angie
cute post cor…we did have pretty wonderful childhoods didn’t we? i am so glad you and your family (and the sticky floors at leatherby’s) were a part of mine;)
Cori… I love you! I needed to hear that memory. You are such an amazing person and doing exactly what you should. meg
Cori… I love you! I needed to hear that memory. You are such an amazing person and doing exactly what you should. meg
I absolutely LOVE Leatherby’s! I always get their cheese fries and some wonderful ice cream. You look gorgeous as always!! :)
You look gorgeous!!
AHH! Love that Friends reference. I just watched that episode today :) And I must say, I have been stalking, err, I mean following your blog for a while now, and although I am far from a petite, you are definitely inspiring me to embrace who I am and experiment with clothes and fashion. Its such and adventure! Keep it up! You are gorgeous!
Love your outfit, and your hair looks so pretty!
Oh being short is so frustrating sometimes. I have to hem all of my jeans or fold them up which is what usually ends up happening. :) You look lovely! Great story! Thanx for sharing!
Natalie
http://www.projectdowhatyoulove.wordpress.com
Oh, I love the “dad tax” story! You’re as cute as ever. :) Love the outfit!
What a sweet outfit and a sweet story. A good childhood is the best present anyone can give their children.
oh leatherby’s. we have one here in salt lake city and it’s still the same just as you described it :)
Cori . . . though you can’t make it to the birthday dinner tonight for Mom and I, please note your sweet (and accurate) story about our family adventures (especially my “Dad taxes”), and what they mean to you, is the best birthday present any father could ask for. Mom and I love you and your awesome family soooooo much! You and your siblings have given Mom and I such joy . . . and now we kind of get to do it all again with the grand kids!
Love you more than air!
Dad
This is by far your best post.
oh emmm G this is funny, especially the “Dad tax” – how true is that! Cute outfit too, you wear such warm colors.
http://www.sweatersandsweets.com/
My dad was a big ice cream guy too! One of my favorite family photos (from the 80’s) is of all us kids with dad (sporting a mustache) in an old fashioned ice cream palor. Your post brought me back to that. Thanks :) Supercute jacket BTW!!
I love this post so much!! This really speaks to me as a parent–I have 2 littles, both girls, and 1 little boy due in 2 weeks, and I have really been thinking a lot about wanting to be more like this kind of a parent. My oldest just turned 5 and will be starting school in the fall..and it all feels like it is happening so fast! I want to cherish each moment and create memories like this for all of my kids. Thank you so much for sharing!!
Dad tax, hahaha I love it!
Great story and great style…as always.
xxx
What a cute bib necklace! Is it made from rope? Absolutely darling.
Sarah
Cable Car Couture
just discovered your blog and love it! your skirts are amazing!