When people walk into our house, we often hear comments like, "Wow, look at all the books!" and "Where's the TV?", or "Is it always this tidy in here". (The answer to that one is no .. just when we're expecting company )

My MIL asked if a friend of hers could spend the weekend with us. We are always open to having company so I didn't mind that at all. What surpised me where her comments.

MIL called me this morning to confirm her friend's arrival (MIL lives 6 hours away). She says, "I told her you live in a very small house. I told her that you live a humble and simple lifestyle but that she'd be well taken care of, nothing fancy, but a it's a nice clean place to stay." I wasn't sure whether to take that as a compliment or not. But then I got thinking and choose to take it as a compliment. After all our goal is simple living. I guess it just felt weird having someone else describe our lifestyle.

How do people describe your home / lifestyle? What kind of comments do they make when they walk into your house?

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Wow you have alot of stuff! Most say its decorated nice, even though I have alot of things, and pictures of my family, in fact mil asked if she could bring her friend--i think is a stuck up snob--to look at how I decorate stuff with my " Old found junk", she already took her to sil's new huge --perfect home, I don't really want her to though cause I don't think our stuff is nice enough for her, although I try my best to make it look decent.

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My mom says she likes to visit my house because it's clean and organized (well to her anyways, I love her but she is a little cluttered). After we bought our house and began making it our own my mom and sister visited. Sis told my mom that I had "the decorating gene" that they didn't! I guess I don't know what my in-laws would say. They probably aren't as impressed!

I think, in general, that when people visit my home they feel that is warm, casual and inviting - just what I want!!! If people are having fun here and the house gets messy, so be it.

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Just yesterday we were talking about unused gifts we've received and I mentioned a pair of crystal candle holders I had no idea what to do with. A friend of dh's said yeah I can't imagine something that fancy fitting in at your house. She then wen't on to explain that she didn't mean it bad but that our house was Rustic. Which dh proceeded to inform her was the look I was going for. We have a lot of the western/Rustic stars and I think our house is beautiful. (the stuff inside not the house itself)

People always tell us our house is comfy and relaxed and I love that.

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Proud mommy to adorable Kinsley

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Right now our house is a work in progress. We just moved in a couple of months ago. WE have a couple house projects on the back burner ready to get started, just need to find the time to start them, and a contractor who can see our vision

However, where we used to live, I always wanted people to feel welcome and comfortable. I didn't feel the need to wait on them hand and foot, unless I sensed they liked that, and would also tell people "make yourself at home". I meant that in the literal sense. When we have overnight guests, I tell them this "You are a guest the first night, after that you are family....you don't need to ask to take a shower, or ask if you can get a drink....just do it!"

When people walk into our house, I think they would feel comfortable. We don't have a lot of clutter or fancy things, so they wouldn't feel the need to worry about what they child may or may not break or get hurt on or use. I like having my home feel that way to others.

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*formerly known as Doozer*

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We usually hear, "Oh, this is nice. I always wondered what it looked like on the inside." Or, "You've really updated the house and made it fancy since you bought it from your parents." We didn't really make it fancy. We just made things a little more contemporary (the house hadn't been redecorated since it was built in the 70's - it was do for a facelift!). We usually get comments about how neat it is with all the kids we have or how efficient we have everything set up. It's a small house by today's standards, but it's all we really need. And, I'm very proud of the work we've done to it. But, who knows what they're saying behind my back! Ha! Ha!

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Homeschooling Mom to Daniel (12 Years), Andrew (9 Years), Stephen (7 Years) and Emily (3 Years)

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Well to my Inlaws its not good enough!! (tho I have to say Its a LOT nicer than theres!! ~but that is my own opinion HEHE)
but nothing I do is good enough not even being a mother!!
anyhow to my mom and some of My reletives its Clean but soo overly that its stuffy!!!
tho my brother cannot be at my house cause he is deathlty allergic to my cat!!
but when he has come over here he seems comfortable!! so to me thats a good thing!!

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Kelly mom to 3 great girls A Peanut, a monkey and a little burrito.

Currently I hear a lot of...."That's a HUGE TV", " You have a lot of nice room to play" and " Wow - thats a lot of paneling". Being that we moved here not long ago, it's either new neighbors or old friends that are seeing the new house for the first time. Most of the new neighbors comment on the changes we have made....the old neighbors comment on the changes we have YET to make.

Overall, I believe, it's a place that people feel comfortable in ~~ Clean, inviting and kid friendly with an adult appearance.

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Clean and spacious. Our kitchen looks pretty large because I hide everything away. So all you see is countertop! Some of our neighbors tell us that our kitchen looks way bigger than theirs (even though it is not) but that's just because I do not leave anything on the countertops. Ok, maybe a vase and the sugar bowl but that's about it!!

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I love big kitchens. Everyone wants to hang out in them when there are get togethers. A big reason we bought our house is that we have a good sized kitchen and glass block on about 60% of the outside wall of the kitchen. Lots of sunshine gets in!

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