Brand-new gift sets, foodie gifts, beauty gifts, and the like are sure to bring joy this year, but if you're planning to give something with a personal twist, handmade gifts are *the* way to go. The possibilities are truly endless when you employ your creativity and craft items that your gift recipients have maybe seen (or received) before – hats, cards, coasters, picture holders, and more await.
Check out these entirely homemade gifts that will spark your next holiday idea! Some components of these handmade gifts can even be thrifted, saving you some cash along the way.
Anete Lusina / PEXELS
1. Start simple and make them a personalized card.
Nothing communicates your love, time, and effort behind a gift more than personalized cards. Even if you can’t DIY the gift itself, having a handmade card (with a thoughtful message inside) as a prelude to the unwrapping ritual will touch everyone’s heart. Make sure to craft yours on some hardy cardstock so they feel *extra* special. Peep some of these stellar holiday card ideas for inspiration!
@miascozycorner i inadvertently seem to have to fallen into a purple theme?? #christmascrafts#diychristmasdecor#diychristmasornaments#claycreations#tiktokdiy#christmas♬ original sound - mia 🍒
2. Sculpt some cutie gift toppers.
Handmade gift wrapping elements will also step up your holiday game. These darling little gift toppers that @miascozycorner made out of polymer clay are sure to inspire your own designs! Decorate the shapes you make with paint pens and coat them in Liquitex for durability, then attach them to your gift box or bag using some cute ribbon or yarn.
Riley Williams
3. Use air-dry clay to make picture holders.
Clay is your BFF for making handmade gifts. This idea from @rileyrosestudio lets your giftee display pictures, memories, cards, or even recipe cards in the form of their favorite food! Go for a trendier take by sculpting an olive or tomato out of air-dry clay, or opt to craft something as intricate as a burger or pizza slice – no matter what shape it is, they’re sure to love it. Riley usesgesso to prime her air-dry clay pieces, then an acrylic sealant to make sure those lovely designs stay put.
Meredith Holser
4. Make an orange garland for them.
A dried orange garland takes an entire day (and sometimes more) to make, so your recipient should definitely feel special knowing you put hours of love into this handmade gift. Though they look intricate, you only need to follow a few steps (and have few materials: orange slices, twine, and a thick yarn needle) to achieve the cozy garland. Luckily, there are tons of citrus garland tutorials on social media to assist in your creation. B+C Creative Assistant, Meredith, tied cutie little pink ribbon bows on her homemade garland.
Krissy Derrick
5. Craft a candle holder using clay.
You could use a pottery kitlike these convenient ones to make anything, really, but this wavy candelabra from @modeletto.store will make one of the most unique handmade gifts! Don’t forget to *also* gift somecandlesticks alongside it.Mariam Antadze / PEXELS
6. Make coasters out of air-dry clay and gift them alongside thrifted glassware.
To make some handmade coasters, roll out some air-dry clay, let it dry, and coat it with gesso before you get to painting! The canvas is yours with this gift idea, but here are a few concepts to get the creative juices flowing: smiley faces, rainbows, spirals, initials, and fruits or vegetables. Ensure that your hard work stays in place with a sealant that’ll repel moisture. Some thrifted glassware pieces to give alongside your handmade coasters would be the absolute cherry on top!
Meredith Holser
7. Create a collage out of old magazines.
Magazines are really not hard to come by, and if you're looking for a sustainable gift, you can find some especially unique ones at re-sell bookstores or thrift stores to make your own collage. Some of the best ones to start with are Vogue and National Geographic. There are a lot of different techniques and themes you could run with, so we recommend doing some visual research on Pinterest beforehand to nail down your collage's concept. Maybe it's full of imagery that reminds you of your relationship, or a jumble of words that form a sweet poem – it's really up to you! Just have glue, an X-Acto knife, and a cutting board on-hand for the process. Complete this artsy handmade gift by signing your work and framing the collage in a nifty frame.
Meredith Holser
8. Thread a handmade necklace using thrifted or secondhand beads.
Got a necklace you don’t love? Deconstruct that baby using small wire cutters or scissors so that you can use the leftover beads and charms to make something entirely new! If you don’t have them on-hand already, you will need some beading cord, bead clamps, jump rings, clasps, and pliers.
Brit + Co
9. DIY your very own body care line.
Making your own body scrubs or balt salts is *a lot* easier than you’d think. Some recipes only call for ingredients you’d find in your kitchen! Make a range of self-care products at home, then package them up in thrifted jars with ribbon and a handmade tag to really impress.
Ron Lach / PEXELS
10. Repurpose cans and tins by pouring candles into them.
Fish tin candles are in, but you can really use any vessel to pour your own candles in. All you need is some candle wax, wicks, and a scent of your choice to create something super unique! Try your first handmade candle with an empty, clean tinned fish tin, then get adventurous with soda cans or crushed tomato cans to bring out that Tomato Girl energy for your gift recipient.
Karolina Grabowska / PEXELS
11. Make a batch of jam.
If foodie gifts are their thing, then there’s no better item to give than, well, food! We have an amazingly tasty fig jamrecipe, but you can take the reins on what fruity flavor you’ll whip up. This is a convenient handmade gift, too, because the result won’t go bad or spoil before the big day.Karolina Grabowska / PEXELS
12. Make a batch of spice mix.
In the same vein of shelf-stable foodie-snacky gifts, spice mixes are always a good idea, and really easy to make at home. Mix together some cajun seasoning, all-purpose seasoning, ranch, or everything bagel seasoning in no time before packing it up in small thrifted jars to gift!Roman Odinstov / PEXELS
13. Make a batch of chili oil.
Chili oil is very buzzy at the moment, but instead of dropping a bag on a single jar, make your own at home to yield a few! Our recipe uses neutral oil, star anise, cinnamon stick, bay leaves, Sichuan peppercorns, salt, chili flakes, garlic and soy sauce.It only takes a moment to make, but you’ll want the mixture to sit for a week or so, that way the nuanced flavors can all sink in. You could even gift a few recipe cards (like these delectable feta fried eggs) alongside a jar, since chili oil is exceptionally yummy on a ton of dishes.Anete Lusina / PEXELS
14. Knit or crochet a hat, scarf, or another garment you know they’d like.
Having knitting and/or crochet skills is invaluable when it comes to gifting season. You can easily find patterns online for creating beanies, blankets, scarves, leg warmers, balaclavas, mittens, and more, so your giftee can stay stylishly warm beyond the holidays in a bespoke garment that *you* made!
Damir / PEXELS
15. Make magnets out of air-dry clay for their fridge.
Again, air-dry clay rules the world of handmade gifts. For a smaller project, make some fridge decorations by painting on air-dry clay shapes. You can make hearts, stars, foods, faces, animals, and more! To make your designs magnetized, super glue some small magnet tabs on the back of them.小龙 魏 / PEXELS
16. Paint a glass bottle with your own design to gift a plant cutting.
You can easily thrift a glass vessel (or use one you already have), paint a unique design on it using glass paint, then fill it with a little bit of water to gift a small plant cutting! This way, you’re giving them a stylish home decor piece along with a heirloom piece of nature that they’ll admire every day as it grows.
Brit + Co
17. DIY an ornament (or a few) for them.
Tree ornaments are 100% on-theme for the holidays, so if you feel a little lost on what to gift, try DIY-ing some ornaments of varying styles! We have some DIYs for punnyones and minimalistones, but there are also a ton of other tutorials on social media that can guide you in the direction you want to take.Mati Mango / PEXELS
18. Burn a CD full of tracks they’d like.
It may seem a little old-school now, but the gift idea of burning a CD will appeal to every gift recipient that’s old enough to remember portable CD players. They can play it in their car or through their at-home speaker system to jam out. Just grab a pack of blank CDs that come with covers, and let the nostalgic process take you away.
In addition to making your own playlist to gift, you should definitely consider designing an album cover and tracklist for that personalized touch – platforms like Canva are a great option for doing this. The music-lover in your life will surely appreciate the time you took to craft each and every detail of the CD – and maybe they’ll even discover some new tunes along the way!Brit + Co
19. Bake them a big batch of cookies.
You just can’t go wrong with sweets during the holidays! Whatever form they come in – vegan, gluten-free, paleo – cookies are sure to satisfy your giftee. We have a ton of recipes you could check out (I highly recommend the Taylor Swift chai cookies), but if you already have a method to your madness, whip up whatever dessert recipe you have in mind. Just make sure they’re fairly fresh when you hand them over.
If you don’t have a neat cookie tin on-hand, run to your nearest thrift store. It’s guaranteed that you’ll find a cute one to house your cookies!Brit + Co
20. Decorate a plant pot with pops of color.
If your gift recipient has a green thumb, it’s not a bad idea to gift them a few plant-related things. Luckily, handmade gifts have a stake in this – just grab a terracotta pot (you can easily thrift one or find one for cheap at the dollar store) and some chalk pens, then decorate the exterior however you like.
To get some ideas flowing, you could include illustrated motifs of your relationship with this person, write their name out in bubble letters, or just doodle random designs. Matching their interior design aesthetic is definitely recommended.
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Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
This post has been updated.
If there's one thing that unites all teen TV shows, it's consistently casting people who are way too old to play high schoolers. Riverdale, One Tree Hill, and even Stranger Things have all fallen victim to this trend, boasting a lineup of beefy, chiseled actors who are supposed to be 15 years old. And Outer Banks is no exception.
OBX season 4 part 2 drops on Netflix November 7, and if you're like me, you're going down every rabbit hole to find out as much as possible about your favorite Pogues, which is why I scoured the internet to figure out the actors' ages — and how they compare to their character ages (including the cast member that's almost TWICE their character's age). Keep reading for the full scoop!
The 'Outer Banks' Cast Ages Vs. Their Characters
Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix
Madelyn Cline as Sarah Cameron
Sarah Cameron is 19 years old in Outer Banks season 4, while Madelyn Cline turns 27 on December 21.
Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix
Rudy Pankow as JJ Maybank (or is it JJ Groff now?)
JJ Maybank is around 19 years old when Wes Genrette asks the Pogues to find Blackbeard's treasure. Actor Rudy Pankow is 26.
Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix
Chase Stokes as John B. Routledge
While fearless leader John B. Routledge is also around 19, Chase Stokes is actually 32 years old. That makes him 13 years older than John B.!
Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix
Madison Bailey as Kiara Carrera
In Outer Banks season 4 Kie Carrera's 19 years old. In real life, Madison Bailey is 25.
Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix
Carlacia Grant as Cleo Anderson
Cleo Anderson seems to be around the same age as the rest of the Pogues, which would make her 19. Actress Carlacia Grant is 33 years old.
Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix
Jonathan Daviss as Pope Heyward
Pope Heyward is in the same grade as JJ, Kie, and John B., which would mean he's also 19 during Outer Banks season 4. Jonathan Daviss turned 24 in February.
Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix
Drew Starkey as Rafe Cameron
Rafe Cameron started the series at 19, which would make him 22 now. Drew Starkey just turned 31 on November 4. (Happy late birthday Drew!)
Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix
Austin North as Topper Thornton
Topper Thornton is probably 19 years old in OBX 4, while Austin North is 28 in real life.
Check out How Old The Bridgerton Cast Is for more shocking celeb revelations ;).
Once you've got your red, white and blue ice cream, Pinterest-perfect decorations and all your best buddies, the only thing your Fourth of July BBQ needs is a solid selection of lawn games. If you grew up playing horseshoes, corn-hole and bocce ball, bring back those childhood faves with a modern twist!
As you're prepping your Independence Day activities, spruce up an old board game with a psychedelic paint job, or turn an old classic into a giant-sized adventure that kids of *all ages* will love. Once you're done, it's game time (after you Instagram it, of course)! Keep reading for 15 fun DIY games that will make your Fourth of July party the hottest bash on the block!
DIY Lawn Dominoes
Iron & Twine
Dominoes aren’t just for the card table anymore. Paint a set of wooden blocks with a splash of color that *screams* summertime, and you’ve got a weekend hit. (via Iron & Twine)
Giant Jenga
A Beautiful Mess
Because everything is more fun when it's giant-sized. Paint the outer edge of the blocks with a few coats of colorful house paint to make the tower extra pretty, and get ready for a bit of fun competition among friends, fam, and kids. (via A Beautiful Mess)
Giant Scrabble
Consider The Peel
A traditional game of Scrabble has 100 tiles (eek!), so you might want to consider cutting down on that a bit – unless you live for the game. Stock up on some wood tiles at your local hardware store, then use paint and stencils to get the letters on each tile. And don’t forget the points in the lower right corner! (viaConsider The Peel)
DIY Horse Shoes
Mr. Kate
Embroidery thread isn’t just for friendship bracelets — it’s also for making the *cutest* set of horseshoes you ever did see. Start by spray painting the horseshoes and the stake, and then wrap them in a thread for a colorful, boho-chic look. (via Mr. Kate)
Flamingo Ring Toss Lawn Game
Sugar & Cloth
This game could totally double as yard decor after the holiday weekend is over. If you have a nice grassy area available and you’re short on time (or are sticking to a budget), skip the pots and just stick the flamingos straight into the ground! Otherwise, fill some mini planters with sand or soil to keep your fun-loving flamingos upright. (via Sugar & Cloth)
DIY Lawn Checkers
Jessie Daye
Just... ignore the funny looks the hardware guys give you when you stock up on a cartful of bucket lids. Spray paint half of them black for a traditional color palette, or shock your uncle with a snazzy set of pink and orange checker pieces. (via Jessie Daye)
DIY Color Block Games
Brit + Co
Make sure there’s a game station for *all* ages and interests at your party. While the rest of the crew is battling it out at the corn hole game, set up a couple of these rad color-dipped board games to keep everyone entertained. (via Brit + Co.)
DIY Lawn Matching Game
Studio DIY
This game is perf for the backyard — it’s made with cork tiles, so it’s totally reusable and light enough for the little ones to carry around. There are printables for all these symbols so you can have a summertime themed set, but feel free to get creative and come up with your own stencils. (via Studio DIY)
Yard Yahtzee
Style Me Pretty
Supersize this old-school game, and let the good times roll with these giant dice. This DIY even includes a free printable scorecard so you can refresh your memory on a winning strategy. (viaStyle Me Pretty)
Frisbee Tic-Tac-Toe
Better Homes & Garden
The traditional version might not be cool enough for the kids, but give them a giant version, and they’ll be all over it. This game actually takes a lot of skill to get the frisbees to land *exactly* right. (via Better Homes & Gardens)
DIY Cactus Ring Toss Lawn Game
Brit + Co
Ring toss just got a very trendy upgrade. If you'd rather spend your budget on tasty snacks and cocktails, you'll love that this yard game is made out of nothing more than cardboard boxes and paint. Bonus: You can use these adorable cacti as home decor later on! (via Brit + Co.)
DIY Bocce Balls
Brit + Co
When it comes time to bust out the bocce balls, make sure your color scheme is *on point* and in full patriotic form. Spruce up an old set of bocce balls with a starry makeover and a fresh coat of paint. (via Brit + Co.)
DIY Star-Spangled Yard
Better Homes & Gardens
Give your lawn the star-spangled treatment for Fourth of July weekend. And don't panic: it's not *actual* paint. Cut a star shape from a piece of cardboard, spray the grass lightly with water, and use a flour sifter to fill the shape with flour. The stars should last until your sprinklers wash them away. (via Better Homes & Gardens)
4th Of July Tic-Tac-Toe
Hey, Let's Make Stuff
Bring along this little game to your neighborhood block party, and get ready for it to be an instant hit. You can use any sized letters for this DIY, but the bigger the letters are, the more fun (and photogenic) it will be. (via Hey, Let's Make Stuff!)
Custom Cornhole Game
Brit + Co
This game is practically a requirement at all summer festivities. You can totally DIY it from scratch, or you can try this simple makeover for your very own custom set. (via Brit + Co.)
Did we get your favorite yard game? If you're looking for more fun DIY ideas for Fourth of July weekend, make sure you follow us on Pinterest!
Lead image viaBetter Homes & Gardens
This article has been updated.
One Tree Hill star Bethany Joy Lenz basically broke the internet when she revealed she was in a cult for 10 years — and just how much it affected her time on the teen drama. Her new book Dinner for Vampires chronicles her experience joining the Big House Family Cult, and the actress told Call Her Daddy's Alex Cooper she even distanced herself from the rest of the cast because of how controlling the group became. Unfortunately, that included her newfound friendship with Sophia Bush.
"Sophia herself was also hilarious and a bit mischievous, always down for an impulsive adventure," Bethany writes in her book (via People). Even though the pair started off the show so close they adopted puppies together, they quickly drifted, and Bethany adds, "I soon realized I wasn't equipped to get too close to Sophia."
"As bubbly and compassionate as she was, she was even more intelligent...Her mind could have been put to good use by NASA — except, of course, she's so beautiful the astronauts would never want to leave Earth," she continues. "I failed to notice that she was also trying hard...Frequently favored and constantly underestimated in life because of her beauty, Sophia worked obsessively at proving her value."
This honestly sounds pretty familiar to Brooke's character arc on the show — and it reminds me of the fact Sophia Bush said Mark Schwann and the writer's room wrote their personal struggles into the show. "They made practice of taking advantage of people's personal lives," she said on an episode of Dax Shepherd's Armchair Expert podcast. "Deeply personal things that were happening in their lives and they would wind up in storylines. It wasn't OK."
Bethany Joy Lenz continues that despite the fact her and Sophia hit it off at the beginning of filming, she "was using religion as my benchmark."
"My budding friendship with sweet Sophia became a casualty of this, and instead of sitting shiva for my ego, I really f—ing wish I could turn back time, walk into her trailer, and give her a long, hard hug," Bethany says.
- YouTube
While that breaks my heart more than a little, OTH fans everywhere are thankful the actresses have reunited since the show wrapped (and Bethany left the cult in 2012) for their Drama Queens rewatch podcast.
"We definitely talked about our time back then and what was hard and how great it was to reconnect and the feelings of unraveling things that were so mysterious to us at the time," Bethany told Alex Cooper. She also spoke on the recent rumored feud between her and Hilarie Burton, which fans began to discuss after they realized the actresses didn't follow each other on Instagram anymore.
"I love Hilarie,” she says. “I have always and will always and I don’t have any problem with her...There have been some bizarre misunderstandings that I really hope we can figure out one day, but I love that girl."
See The Adorable One Tree Hill Cast Reunion Pics for more on your favorite show.
Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
There are few things we love more than binge-watching our favorite comfort shows. There's something about relaxing with a series that you know has a happy ending, cozy vibes, or your favorite fictional characters of all time. If you're in need of a relaxing activity that doesn't require you to leave the house, definitely consider grabbing some takeout from your favorite restaurant and curling up with a throw blanket to watch one of these TV shows. Take a deep break, press play, and escape for a little while.
Comfort Shows We Can't Stop Watching
Giulia Parmigiani/Netflix
Emily in Paris
Emily is over the moon when she lands her dream job in Paris, but with her kitschy fashion and sunny disposition, she finds that life in Paris isn't exactly what she envisioned. Not to mention the fact that her personal and professional lives get very messy very quickly. Catch up on the first four seasons on Netflix now!
Netflix
Sweet Magnolias
Dana Sue, Maddie, and Helen are lifelong friends who have been through decades of ups and downs, but their lives get even more complicated when they decide to open a spa together. Full of romance and Southern charm, this is the perfect show to warm you right down to your toes.
Netflix
The Great British Baking Show
While we're in the middle of baking season and pulling out all our favorite apple recipes, watch your fill of this fan-favorite show. Amateur bakers compete against one another for 10 weeks filled with signature and technical challenges as they hope to become the U.K.'s best baker.
The CW
Jane The Virgin
Jane has vowed to save herself for marriage but finds herself pregnant anyway when she's accidentally artificially inseminated, and her life — as well as the lives of the people around her — turns completely upside down. With storylines worthy of the most iconic telenovelas, Jane and her friends and family deal with everything from love and loss to drug lord masterminds.
Nicole Rivelli/2021 ViacomCBS, Inc.
Younger
After a guy at a bar mistakes her for a 20-something, 40-year-old Liza passes herself off as 26 to land a job in the publishing industry. But it turns out that the only thing harder than pretending you're in your 20s is making sure no one finds out your secret.
Fox
The Mindy Project
Inspired by the life of Mindy Kaling's mother, Mindy navigates both her personal life and her career as an OB/GYN. She strives to become the perfect woman with the perfect rom-com ending, but things never quite go according to plan, do they?
ABC
Sister, Sister
We're always down to watch a sitcom from our childhood, and this one is too good to miss. Fourteen-year-old twin sisters Tia and Tamera reunite after being separated at birth. When they decide to move in together, blending their families, life experiences, and personalities, hilarity ensues.
Warner Bros. TV
Friends
Doing their best to survive in New York City, six 20-somethings become best friends after life brings them together. Dealing with everything from career ups and downs to infertility to love and loss, they realize that they can get through anything if they stick together.
CBC
Schitt’s Creek
After their business manager embezzles all the money from their family business, the Rose family finds themselves completely broke. They have to rebuild their lives by moving to the only asset they were allowed to keep: a small town called Schitt's Creek. Perfect for anyone with a crazy family, this comedy will make you laugh and cry.
Netflix
Queer Eye
This is a great watch for any rainy day or when you just need something relaxing and fun for your lunch break. Filled with all kinds of food, fashion, culture, design, and grooming tips, the new Fab Five give emotional makeovers that change lives.
20th Century Fox Television
New Girl
After she discovers her boyfriend cheating on her, kind and awkward Jess finds herself living with three bachelors in L.A. Along with Jess's best friend CeCe, Jess and her roommates tackle complicated situations like loss, marriage, and breakups with a sense of humor that will make you laugh out loud.
Warner Bros. TV
Gilmore Girls
Navigating life in the intensely personal and interconnected town of Stars Hollow, Lorelai is an independent and feisty single mom who lives with her bookish, Ivy League-bound daughter Rory. Full of coffee, small-town traditions, and witty conversation, this is the perfect show to turn on when you want to get in the spirit for fall.
Glen Wilson/HBO
Insecure
This comfort show created by (and starring) Issa Rae focuses on the lives of two best friends. From issues in their romantic lives to awkward experiences at work, this series showcases the experience of Black women today with heart and humor that we can't get enough of.
Netflix
Selling Sunset
Agents at The Oppenheim Group in L.A. cater to luxurious and wealthy clients, all while proving just how seriously they take their jobs. Relationships are one of the most important things in the brokerage business, which means you're in store for some major drama.
Alison Cohen Rosa/Netflix
Dash & Lily
Dash can't stand Christmas; Lily can't get enough of it. When Dash finds Lily's hidden notebook full of riddles and questions, they begin to pass the messages back and forth across Manhattan and might just start to fall for each other in the process. This is the perfect watch for anyone who likes to get into the holiday spirit early — besides, what's more magical than Christmas in New York?
More Comfort Shows We Love
Fabio Lovino/HBO
White Lotus
We're still not over that season 2 finale, but if you haven't caught up yet, no worries. Here's the rundown for this season: the new group of vacationers — from an English expat and Hollywood producer to lawyer and investments manager — come together for a beautiful, complex, and shocking week in Sicily.
Des Willie/Lucasfilm Ltd.
Andor
Taking place before Rogue One and A New Hope, Andor follows Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and his friends and family during a time when a Rebel Alliance is beginning to form against the Galactic Empire. We love how complicated and complex the storylines are within this series, as well as the worldbuilding.
Netflix
Harry & Meghan
This docu-series follows Prince Harry and Meghan Markle throughout their romance and after their decision to leave the English Royal Family in January of 2020.
Netflix
Wednesday
Jenna Ortega stars in this record-breaking Netflix series about the iconic Addams Family character who has to investigate a string of murders at her new boarding school. Aside from how amazing the series itself is, we're totally going for Wednesday Addams-chic with our winter style.
Netflix
Firefly Lane
Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke star in this series that follows two 40-somethings who have had an inseparable bond since their teens as they navigate life and love.
Matt Grace/Prime Video
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
This series serves as a prequel to The Lord of the Rings series, and takes place thousands of years before the adventures that we know so well. It showcases how the different kingdoms in Middle Earth were formed, following different groups of characters as they embark on different adventures around the fictional world.
What's your favorite comfort show to watch? Let us knowon Twitter and subscribe to our email newsletter for the latest entertainment content!
This post has been updated.