Exploring the Mosiac District

I’m not sure why this neighbourhood is called the Mosaic District – I didn’t see a single piece of mosaic art while we were there!

I guess it has something to do with the collection and variety of commercial and community orientated establishments and features offered in this unique urban environment.

Either way, we had a wonderful time exploring this micro-mobility neighbourhood – in fact, we enjoyed it more than we thought we would. We are afterall forest nymphs at heart. So being among all the shops and restaurants and cafe’s and coffee shops had us feeling a little ‘fish out of watery’.

However, the intentional community-centric touches dotted around this small area brings about more of that ‘connection feeling’ than in most urban sprawls.

Explore the Mosaic District with us.

Watch now: Explore the Mosaic District in FairFax, VA

In this video we explore the vegan options and lifestyle conveniences of the Mosaic District of Merrifield in North Virginia as well as sharing some truths about living out of suitcases for 2 months.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL

For more videos like this subscribe to our “Looking For Adventure” YouTube Channel and click the notifications bell to get notified when we post new videos

Hoop More. Worry Less.

The sign said I should do it, so I did!

One day while we were staying in the Mosaic District, we decided to have a working coffee morning. While Juan worked, I walked and in the midst of this urban jungle, I was reminded of an important daily practice for personal wellbeing. Regardless of where you find yourself at any given moment, there’s always time and space for gratitude.

When you actually stop the busyness to contemplate what you’re grateful for, you soon realise that it’s the small things that mean the most.

On that morning I saw groups of mothers meeting up for baby yoga on the communal lawns, many of the streets have been pedestrianised, dog walkers are welcome everywhere and they even encourage a little hoola hooping.

Being intentional about your living environment

A lot of intention has gone into the design of this small urban landscape and it makes the Mosiac District a desirable place to live or visit.

As convenient as it is to live within walking distance of establishments that cater to any modern day desire or need, every living choice comes with it’s own set of benefits and compromises.

We owe it to ourselves to realise what’s most important for our individual daily living experience and do what we must to mitigate the deficiencies of our environment for our optimum wellbeing and place to the strengths of the space we find ourselves in.

For some that means tending to a rooftop garden, for others it might mean living as close to work as possible to reduce the commuter time.

For me, it’s my daily routine of journalling and meditating.

Delicious vegan options in The Mosaic District

With the help of our favourite vegan app – Happy Cow – we were able to enjoy a myriad of delicious vegan treats in the Mosaic District.

Our highlights were:

Poffy Pancakes serving round vegan pancakes with loads of topping choices.

Oath Pizza with their ‘croissant-type’ pizza base and build your own menu with loads of vegan options.

True Food Kitchen where we went for my birthday and enjoyed divine pizza and burger followed by the most amazing choc-chip cookies!

The truth about living out of suitcases

After sampling a few more vegan options in the heart of the Mosaic district our time in this urban oasis inevitably came to an end.

Which brings us to one of the biggest challenges of this specific flavour of minimalist nomadic lifestyle – living out of suitcases!

Having sold everything we own before moving to the USA, we had, without really thinking about it, embarked on a rather minimalist lifestyle – choosing to keep only the things we could fit in our suitcases.

Even though this might seem extreme to some, we now feel like we can minimise even more.

Which has actually sparked an entirely new process of evolution no this journey of exploring – to intentionally lead a minimalist and essentialist lifestyle.

Watching this footage of our struggles to move our suitcases and you’ll understand where we’re coming from.

Packing our bags is only half the problem. Moving them is a whole other story..

The start of our Essentialist, Minimalist Journey

The most exciting part of this whole adventure is to witness and document our own evolution!

My Explorer Archetype is living her best life!

Being intentional about our current lifestyle and exploring various neighbourhoods in an unknown country has helped us articulate who we’re becoming.

Right now, that looks like:

Freedom-seeking, vegan, nomads exploring our new essentialist, minimalist lifestyle while Looking For Adventure in the USA.

Who are YOU becoming?

What or where are YOU exploring?

Have you been to the Mosaic District in Fairfax, VA?

Got any recommendations?

Be sure to visit again or subscribe to our channel if you’d like inspiration for your own exploration and evolution!

Personal reinvention begins with awareness.

Discover your archetype and start exploring…

Letting Go & Packing Up

Letting Go & Packing Up our lives Letting go of everything you own and all that you know and love is a …

First Impressions of Washington, DC

In this video we’re sharing our first impressions of Washington D.C. and surrounds as two South Africans who have never stepped foot in the USA before. We’re embracing a new chapter in our lives and demonstrating that if you’re open to the discomfort of adventure and change, personal reinvention is possible, no matter your age. Join us as we venture into the complete unknown of life in The United States for the very first time.

The best way to explore Washington D.C.

Exploring washington D.C. by scooter Arriving in Washington D.C. during summer was quite the shock to the system. Especially because, as a …