<p>Link: <a href="http://cookiemag.com/beautyandhealth/current/2005/12/bah200512_01" title="COOKIE:BEAUTY AND HEALTH">COOKIE:BEAUTY AND HEALTH</a>.</p>

<p>I love luxury.  I will happily spend $80 on a scented candle if the mood strikes me.  I won&#39;t bat an eye at paying $200 for jeans if they will make my butt look good.  I love staying in fancy hotels.  I buy groceries at Whole Foods because I think their food tastes better.  My belief is that every once in a while it is important to be decadently impractical.  Even if you have to cut back on other things to do it.</p>

<p>I also want the best for my child.  So when I heard about &quot;Cookie:  The Magazine that Celebrates the Joys of Parenthood&quot; I went straight to their website.  After all, I like to think I am their target market.</p>

<p>But while some of their recommendations are unique and clever (like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?link_code=ur2&amp;tag=mothisblisort-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;path=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0811850676?v=glance%26n=283155%26n=507846%26s=books%26v=glance">this book</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=mothisblisort-20&amp;l=ur2&amp;o=1" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" width="1" /> - I WANT IT!) most of the magazine goes beyond everyday luxury to the almost bizarre.  </p>

<p>For example, they recommend the best salons for children&#39;s cuts.  I&#39;ll pay for a good haircut.  But one of the places they recommend in Boston charges $75 to cut a CHILD&#39;S hair.  And another place will highlight your 10 year old&#39;s hair.  How many 10 year old bottle blondes are out there?  Nevermind, I don&#39;t want to know.  </p>

<p>They also talk up this new Orbit baby stroller system for $1200.  I personally spent $400 on my son&#39;s stroller, and dammit, it was worth it.  It&#39;s the SUV of strollers.  But $1,200 for a stroller that (for now) only works with and infant car seat is beyond my comprehension.  The Boy outgrew his infant seat at 6 months.  To me, that&#39;s stupid.</p>

<p>Like I said, I&#39;m all for luxury and having beautiful things whenever possible.  But you have to appreciate it.  So I&#39;ll pass on the $1040 <a href="http://usa.hermes.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Hermes/babyItem.jsp?zoneId=us&amp;langId=-1&amp;typeShowcase=Baby&amp;subStoreFrontId=0&amp;heading=BABIES&amp;AC=0&amp;partNumber=990100m01">Hermes Baby Blanket</a>.  I&#39;d rather spend the $1040 I don&#39;t have on 4 Hermes scarves for myself.  It&#39;s not that I&#39;m selfish, but I would never spit up on my nice scarves.  And the Boy doesn&#39;t care what he spits up on.</p>
