Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous (not to be confused with the Monsons)

We are car sitting for a friend this month which directly translates into: FREEDOM!!! (also: AWESOME!!!!!!) Therefore, we have a few daycations planned out in order to maximize the most of our last two-party family moments. First stop: Newport, Rhode Island. It's only 3.5 hours from NYC so definitely doable in one day. (Unfortunately we are not heirs to the Vanderbilt fortune, so we had to skip staying at a ritzy seaside B&B.) However we did tour and gawk at their fancy pants stupid copycat European palace mansion, so we basically feel we are now part of the high society in Newport. Of course, that feeling sort of disappeared when we found ourselves hiding in an alley as we changed into swimsuits in the front seat of our car, while snacking from a cooler of snacks brought from home. Oh well, money only takes you so far.

Doris Duke kept 3 camels at her mansion, "just because". Seriously.

Highlight of the day was discovering the local's beach...making mama very very happy.