Mark Consuelos Shares His 4 Secrets to Entertaining Like a Celebrity
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With three kids, a superstar wife — he's married to Live With Kelly and Ryan star Kelly Ripa — and a jaw-dropping roster of A-list pals, actor Mark Consuelos is used to having a bustling house, especially when he and Kelly escape to their vacation home in Telluride, CO, where they love to host guests. In short, Mark is an expert at entertaining. Lucky for us, he teamed up with affordable retailer Marshalls to share his tips on how to entertain like a pro. Celebrity or not, you're sure to learn something. Check them out ahead.
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Leave treats out in the kitchen all day
Mark keeps guests' comfort top of mind, and that includes being mindful of their appetites. "We like to keep breakfast stuff out throughout the day — scones, croissants, cinnamon rolls, muffins — with a pot of coffee going so our guests feel at home," explains Mark. We would love to be a guest in the Consuelos house!
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Prep guests for weekend activities
Mark is serious about making guests feel at home. "Everybody gets a key so they can come and go as they please," he explains. And if there's a special activity planned, he makes sure everyone is prepared. "We also love to get our guests excited for the different activities planned for the weekend with a surprise gift basket in their room personalized with things they'll need for their adventures." How thoughtful is that?!
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Use a barcart as an outdoor serving station
"We love setting up a mini bar cart that doubles as a serving station when we're outdoors," says Mark, who hates having to do dozens of trips into the house to get all the meal and drink supplies. "I snagged this blue bar cart at Marshalls."
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Decorate the table with greenery
"There is nothing like eating dinner or having cocktails at sunset," says Mark, who loves to add greenery to the table. "Succulents are a nice addition and I like to add a few faux succulents to keep them around for longer — even I can't kill them. They add a finishing touch to complete the look."