Erin Johnson Erin covers all things home, garden, and plant-related. When she's not testing new products, you can find her repainting every wall in her home, toting her dog named Pup around Brooklyn, or lounging outside with an iced coffee and a good book. About Real Simple Real Simple, a Dotdash Meredith Brand, is an award-winning, trusted online resource for for smart, authentic solutions to simplify your life. We reach 11 million readers a month. Our content is written by experienced journalists and fact-checked for accuracy. Learn more about us and our editorial guidelines.