Husband-wife duo Jessica Serna and Ismail Mpiana need their affect to increase past social media to actuality. At Casa Kumwesu, their Waco, Texas-based trip residence that’s out there for hire, the couple needs to share their love for the Lone Star State—particularly their love of Texas ice cream—with guests from varied components of the world.

Vacationers visiting Waco can e-book a keep at their whimsical ice cream-themed Airbnb, which accommodates eight company, options vibrant ice cream-inspired decor at each flip and is bedecked with cozy and colourful furnishings all through. The house is right for adults needing an escape and for fogeys who wish to give their children a “candy retreat.” 

Casa Kumwesu opened April 2023 on 5 acres of property in Waco. The retreat’s title comes from phrases for “residence” and “neighborhood,” combining Serna’s Latina tradition and Mpiana’s Zambian tradition. 

“We all the time wished a home to begin with,” Serna says. “We journey a lot that once we had an residence, we have been simply paying to hire out a spot we have been by no means at. We knew we all the time wished a spot that was ours, however that we might hire out once we weren’t on the town.”

My Curly Adventures creator, Jessica Serna, and her husband be part of forces

Earlier than Serna and her husband started influencing full-time by way of their respective Instagram handles, My Curly Adventures and My Culinary Adventures, Jessica labored a nine-to-five job however maintained a burning need to journey the world. Since work saved her tied down, she and Mpiana opted to take quick weekend journeys.

Although most of their posts have been natural, with out the expectation of reaching a big viewers, the couple’s weekend journeys turned a part of their model. 

“We have been relationship, and we’d simply take these enjoyable weekend journeys,” Serna says. “We simply appeared round, and we have been like, ‘Oh, there’s this place to go sand browsing in Monahans,’ or ‘Let’s make a little bit weekend getaway out in Fredericksburg or these English gardens… .’ I had a images background, so I used to be posting on social media simply because that’s what folks do. After which my buddies began asking about all these locations we have been visiting, and on the time, there wasn’t actually a social media presence for issues to do in Texas, so folks have been simply coming to us for what we have been sharing.”

At this time, the couple has greater than 300,000 followers mixed on Instagram, the place they share reels and images of enjoyable locations to journey and dine close to the Dallas-Fort Value space. 

Casa Kumwesu celebrates native taste as the realm’s first ice cream-themed Airbnb

Serna and Mpiana are conscious that Waco is synonymous with beloved Texans Chip and Joanna Gaines and Magnolia Market—an enormous draw for vacationers that has seemingly introduced a superb portion of holiday makers to Casa Kumwesu. The 2 have equally been intentional about incorporating Texan tradition and artwork inside the home, with a lot of the furnishings designed by native artists.

The home itself is minutes away from a river, the place guests can discover ways to kayak. Friends may also decide to go to an indoor surf park, Cameron Park Zoo and a number of other regionally owned companies. Although there are not any ice cream machines inside the home, company typically buy ice cream from native companies to go away within the freezer for the subsequent vacationers. 

Casa Kumwesu isn’t only a backdrop—it’s a dream come true

Serna and Mpiana need Casa Kumwesu to be greater than only a photograph op.

“I believe folks consider it rather a lot as an Instagram home, and sure, it’s nice for footage,” Serna says. “However children adore it. We hear from company on a regular basis that their children wish to transfer there. They’re speaking about it for months to come back. It’s a colourful wonderland. I believe as adults, we consider it as this Instagram factor. However as children, they’re simply dwelling their dream.”

The important thing to longevity is a capability to evolve and adapt

Having been within the influencer realm for nearly seven years, the couple have seen social platforms evolve. From attention-grabbing photograph posts to charming reels, they’ve maintained their footprint within the digital world and say the important thing to longevity is to have the ability to transfer in tandem with every platform.

“At any level, one thing that labored yesterday could not work at this time,” Mpiana says. “There’s a problem in that, however we’re open to adapting. When movies got here on board, we pivoted, and that’s now grow to be a part of what we do. You simply must be prepared to adapt.”

Pictures by Jessica Serna.