>> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today." with kathie lee gifford and hoda kotb from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >> wild crowd out there. >> so many people in town for the holidays. we're happy to host them they're. it's thirsty thursday and it's december 12th. would you please take a look at miss hoda lee today. she looks so fabulous. by the way, this is not my -- let me tell you about the dress, it is not mine. >> it is now.

>> a viewer and i swapped dresses. she said she liked the dress in mine and she sent me one of hers. i want to know what else is in her closet. >> it fits you like a dream and is we're going to meet her later. >> good, good. we have have a performance by kristina perry. and we have a lot going on. >> soma mariah carey, we went to her house yesterday. we wondered if she could cook. we're not going to show you the whole thing, but trust us, it's worth waiting for. ♪ we wish you a merry christmas we wish you a merry christmas ♪ ♪ oh, so merry merry christmas and a happy new year ♪ >> good. >> all i want for christmas is just you. >> let's hope that wet your whistle. we didn't know what to expect.

i've known maria since she was a baby. never spent time with her, certainly never went to her house. >> i felt a little underdressed. she had a ball gown on. >> and we have no idea why santa claus was there. but why wouldn't he be is the question. so our trees, we're keeping christmas nice and quiet, simple. >> look at yours, yours is probably the gorgeous one. >> no. you see, you know what you do, that's it, the white lights, the star on top. >> there's so many going on, anyway, in that room. >> the lovely ladies from child sent me something and i haven't opened it up. like i said, it's a very little christmas tree. >> there's little and then there's little. by the way, since i'm going to

be out of town, my sister-in-law actually bought that tree. that's the better shot. i like that one better. >> it's a work of art. >> that really is sweet. you just water it and it continues to grow. >> but do you remember to water it? >> no, i don't. so we've been talking about dogs in coats because it's cold and a lot of people are walking their dogs. in new york city, you see fleeces and parkas and everything. the question is, are they necessary? so you guys have been sending us pictures of your dogs from all over. as we show you them, we'll show you what vetstreet.com says. they say there are only three types of dogs that have trouble generating enough body heat on their own. so these are the three types of dogs that should wear dogs. small dogs who can't generate the heat. dogs who are ill or elderly. oh, my god. >> we're not sure about that one. is that a cat? >> it looks like a pig. >> it's a pot bellied pig, i think. >> it's adorable.

>> when pigs fly. >> a big with a snowsuit on. all right. .then they say dogs with very, very short fur like greyhounds. >> or whippettes. i'm not sure what a wippett is. put shoes on your dog to protect the you pas or just rinse offer doggy's toes. so the golden globe nominations are out. as they were naming the movies and actresses, most of these movies aren't out and you're like, i didn't see that. >> we important indy films that the general public hasn't seen yet. so the big shock is that "the butler" was completely shut out of the golden globes. >> oprah got a nomination, best supporting actress by the sag awards yesterday.

>> i can't believe if you have seen that movie that there was no nomination for that movie. and "american hustle," is that out? >> i don't think. >> it's about to come out. >> i have a feeling both of those are going to be a little -- >> i can't go see the slave one. >> i've heard its brilliant, but there are certain things, i cannot watch that cruelty to people. anyway, "captain philips" and "gravity" both got nominations. >> kevin spacey got it and -- oh, robin wright did get one. good, good, good. >> james spater was nominated for the black list, which is such a hot show. >> yeah, but it wasn't nominated for best drama and it should have been. >> who are these people, by the way? >> the foreign correspondents. >> press. >> press. i'm not sure they get black listed there.

anyway, tom hanks and julia roberts and a bunch of people. meryl streep, they were nominated, too. golden globes air here january 12th on nbc. >> what are these drinks, do you know? >> pomegranate. or cranberry. >> cheers. >> kelly clarkson's special last night. >> she's incredible by herself. she's especially incredible when she sings with reba mcintyre and trisha yearwood. i want to take a look. ♪ holy infant so tender and mild ♪ ♪ sleep in heavenly peace sleep in heavenly peace ♪ >> i have chills right now. >> i'm trying to figure out who was -- kelly was hitting the high stuff. i think that was reba taking the melody, right? >> you know what's great about

the three of them? >> what? >> all three of those people are so nice, aren't they? >> they're three of the nicest people, every single one. >> not a divaish thing about any of them. >> kelly has been having a bit of difficulty with her pregnancy. she's been throwing up. she said she was doing some kind of a phone interview and in the middle of it, she got up, went, threw up and came back. >> put the reporter on speaker phone, went and did what you have to do.

>> how were your pregnancies? >> you know what? the first one was -- i didn't even know i was pregnant. yep, somewhere on the high seas, frank and i made cody on one of the fun ships, if you know what i mean. and i didn't even know -- i knew i was pregnant when i sat down to eat one of my favorite things in the whole world, maryland crabs and i went -- >> oh, you didn't want it. what did you crave? >> spaghetti, carbs. but she's got the bad kind, which is all day long, 12 times a day. i don't know how she's continue to do her -- if i had had that. and cass i was pretty sick. >> you were? >> i lost two babies to miscarriage both between cody and cass. both in colorado. and then i didn't think i'd ever have another child. and then i got pregnant with cass. >> and the kids are, by the way, on their way home for the holidays. >> this is their second year away, both of them. but it hit me. i was so busy with scandalous last year, and this year i wasn't, as everybody knows. so the emptiness of that nest was really -- you know what? a lot of people are have called me or texted me or sent in tweets so tell me that they get it. >> they do. yeah. there are a lot of people who

are feeling what you're feeling. >> and you know who i talked to the other day from my pod cast is patti mollett. justin bieber's mom. we talked a lot about justin's antics, shall we say, everything we've been reading in the newspaper about him. and she said to him, you know, kathie, i wish they would show what he did in his world tour. he went to the philippines and he's helping people and the next day it was in the papers. >> pod cast 1, that's a great interview. >> kathie lee and company. guess who i talked to this saturday night? >> who? >> hugh jackman. i'm going to put on my t-shirt and sniff him while i talk to him. >> all right. here is an ihoda you're going to like. i did this for you because i totally tortured you last week. how about a little martina mcbride? >> i love her. >> and how about when everything in your life is crummy and you realize you've got to hang on to your dreams? she wrote a beautiful song and you know it. it's called "any way." let's play it. ♪ you can spend your while life

building something from nothing ♪ ♪ one storm can come and blow it all away ♪ ♪ build it anyway >> how about that? ♪ you can chase a dream feels so out of reach ♪ ♪ and you know it might not ever come your way ♪ ♪ dream it anyway >> isn't that beautiful? >> you see, i told you i'd do one for you, eventually. >> are you the same person i sat next to last week? >> i am. >> i'll have to get that. i love her singing. >> let's do a little okay not okay. shall we? >> yes. >> is it okay -- >> is she pregnant or not? or is she splitting up with her boyfriend or not. >> or is she having twins?

let's go. can we get the story, please. >> i'm exhausted from her. is it okay or not okay for stars to get away with rudeness. rudeness is negative acceptable. you know what? we agree. no, it is not okay on. celebrity or not, mind your manners. >> good girl, hoda, i'm proud of you. >> that's wonderful. >> it used to be that rudeness or cruelty would make me cry. now it's kindness. it's so rare these days. >> do you remember the cold commercial, i can't stop thinking care of the cold commercial. >> taking care of the elderly person at the end of the hall. >> a couple goes into an older woman's house, they deck the halls, they sneak out of the apartment, they are peeking through their door and they're waiting for her. an older woman comes in, puts her key in and it's christmas in

her house. you can cry cold. great commercial. >> you go and do that for somebody, hoda. i mean you. >> they braved the freezing cold on the on plaza this morning to get ambushed. >> check out their amazing look. >> and stop the insanity. we'll tell you why it's good for you, right after this. are you one of them? you know, the kind that drive yourself crazy during the holidays making sure you have the perfect picture, perfect card? bake the worthy cookies and gift wrapped so creatively they look like they belong in a department store window? >> well, just stop it. >> it's okay to let go and give

are you one of them? you know, the kind that drive yourself crazy during the holidays making sure you have the perfect picture, perfect card? bake the worthy cookies and gift wrapped so creatively they look like they belong in a department store window? >> well, just stop it. >> it's okay to let go and give yourself a break, mother of five. business coach and writer alley worthington wrote about how she put an end to the holiday perfection. she's here with a clinical psychologist. >> so you were stuck in that trap, huh, of wanting everything to be just so? >> because your family members had done it for so long.

>> well, i grew up watching the women in my family and the community bake cookies for everyone. they're volunteering everywhere, they're trying to be all things to all people. and i went, oh, i just can't do that. >> no thank you. >> how did that go over when you decided to put the brakes on it? >> i actually had a lot of encouragement from my husband. because he said, i want us to enjoy christmas and you're stressed. and i go, you're right, i am stressed. and look, she got a big brood there. now, a lot of people have that personality. let's quickly talk about our poll. we talked to our viewers and the question was how much does holiday perfection stress you out? a lot? 40%. 39% said a little and 21% said not at all. do the numbers surprise you? >> no, they don't surprise me. 40% get stressed out. that's a lot of people that feel the stress that you did. if they give that up, they actually get to have fun. so it's about expanding your

definition of what a great holiday is. it doesn't have to be perfect. >> here is the thing about chat 40%. say it's you, say you're the mother. the mother is the heartbeat of the home. is mama is stressed and not happy, it's exponential. then nobody is going to be happy and everybody is going to be at each other's throats. not that i can see that person. but it zaps everybody around you. >> so if you calm down and you're having fun, it's going to have a ripple effect on your family. >> i would imagine part of what you were concerned about were the neighbors and the friends and the peer groups. >> what other people think. >> how did you combat that? >> well, i'll tell you this, i was at a store last week and i heard this woman next to me say to her daughter, i am not getting presents for your teachers' pets. and i thought, it has come to this, presents for your teachers' pets. >> you mean your teacher's dog? >> yes. >> what are you talking about?

are you kidding me? oh, my gosh. >> so i thought, i'm just going to put it out there on the internet. i'm done. >> you did? >> i read your article and i totally agreed with you on everything. >> what reaction did you get? >> two different reactions. the first one i had women say gifts and baking things, that's my love language. i want to do it. >> enjoy. >> i said good, you make the world go around and you make up for people like me who don't do anything. and then the second thing was i had people go, how do i stop? >> and you've got to learn to go say no, don't you? >> red flags that you need to stop and set some limits, number one is that you feel yourself getting irritated. so you're supposed to be happy, this is supposed to be fun. once you get irritated, you go maybe that day i want to set a limit is today or tomorrow. the second thing that happens is you start thinking, i can't wait until this is over. i can't wait until january. if you're starting to think that, your day where you're like, oh, this is done, that should be soon. a couple tips for enjoying all this if you're trying to is stop taking pictures and enjoy the moment. >> thank you.

>> hoda, what were you saying to me the other day about going to a concert is everything is going like this? >> it's right in front of you on a big screen. stop it. be in the moment. >> we're not -- >> we're taking pictures and taking pictures. setting limits is really important so when you get those red flags, if you have to go and hide and take a nap or go have a drink in the bathroom, go ahead. take care of yourself. >> thank you, ladies. have a merry little krimgs. >> great. thank you. remember this dress hoda wore last month over and over and over? >> yeah.

hoo-hoo...hoo-hoo. hoo-hoo hoo. sir... i'll get it together i promise...

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okay. for those of you that love the black dress hoda is wearing today, it is fantastic and it's not hers. >> last month, a viewer posted a

really nice dress saying she liked this dress that i was wearing, one my mom picked out. it's kind of a t-shirty dress. >> it's from anthro opology. right? >> yes. >> and being the good sport she is, she has agreed to swap dresses with terry. do you love it? >> i do. >> i love it. >> it wraps your whole body in it. did you look great in it, terry? >> yes, you did. oh, look at you. >> was it your birthday? >> this is my birthday. i'm having drinks with my best girlfriends. >> oh, how fun. >> i love it. >> kathie lee has to break some news to you, ter. >> how much do you love hoda?

>> i love her and i love you, too. >> thank you so much. we're going to make a little request. can you keep hoda's dress and let hoda keep yours? she adores it. >> i love your dress. by the way, i want to go to your closet and get the other stuff out of there. let's continue this, okay? is that all right, terry? >> i don't have a whole lot in my closet. >> oh, my god. don't have a whole lot. i have to send you this dress back. >> sorry, ter. ain't going to happen. >> nope, nope, nope, terry, we'll have to call up anthropology and see if we can get you something else. >> she doesn't have that many clothes. >> we're going to send her something. and for the man that can fix anything around the house. ♪

>> it is really cold out there. >> we're warm inside here. >> it's warm inside in here. lewis lecarvey. and today and contributing editor for people's "style watch" on she performed their magic once a day. you make fast choice ones when it's that cold? >> today, we had a team. we had gray hair makeovers. so it's really exciting. the results are quite dramatic. >> okay. first up is linda niedert. she's 51 years old. she was diagnosed with breast cancer back in 2011 .after having gone through the treatment has been in remission for two years. she was so thrilled to have the opportunity to be hampered for a few hours. let's take a listen to her story.

>> erin, i know this is exciting for her and emotional because you've been through so much with mom. >> yeah. about two years ago, she had to save her head. she just started growing it back and has never colored it. we could not be more thrilled that this is coming up right now. >> we're so excited to give this to you. what do you think? >> thank you. i am so excited. i am just overwhelmed. i don't know what to think right now. >> linda is so sweet and she has two sweet daughters, erin and amy. guys, please keep your blindfolds on for just a second. here is linda before. linda, let's see the new you. oh, wow! >> oh, my god. >> you look great. >> oh, my god. >> all right, girls, are you ready? >> yes. >> check mom out. take off your blindfolds. >> whew! >> oh, my god. >> mom, are you ready? okay. turn right around and look at that mirror behind you. >> oh, you look great. >> oh, you look beautiful. >> we'll get a photo. get right around. stand right here.

>> look right there. >> first of all, let's ask the daughters. what do you guys think? >> unbelievable. >> she's so deserving of this, too. you look awesome, mom. >> tell us about this. >> linda looks as beautiful on the outside as she is on the inside. do you know she works in nursing homes. and anyone that's been around the nursing homes knows how hard that is to do. that's total devotion. you're a saint. what we did is, of course, i got rid of the gray hair which immediately washed away years. okay. then what i did, what breno did, he was our haircutter today. she had short hair. not much to work with, but he, of course, gave her a great style. >> chic. >> she went from simple to very chic and, of course, the makeup. >> i love the makeup.

it is so pretty. >> what do you think? >> it's amazing. i'm speechless. >> you look gorgeous. >> linda, thank you. why don't you join your daughters. >> we are so emotional. >> we are so emotional that the dress is london times and you look beautiful. >> i'm sorry, i got all confused. >> good job. >> all righty. there is something in the air. we're so emotional today. >> i know. something is happening. cathy blevins, she's 73 from culpepper, virginia. she told us she's never been very happy with her look, so she was nervous and excited to try something new. good for her. let's hear her story. >> i have to be honest. cathy is a little freaked out. what do you think of this? >> scared. >> when is the last time you colored your hair?

>> a couple years ago. >> okay. but you let itand now she's nervous. what do you think of this, danny? >> i wanted to get on tv. this is a good opportunity to do it. >> well, we're happy to be your excuse. you're going to look totally different in about three hours. >> oh, my god. >> you know the best part, danny? it's going to be free. free to you. all righty. let's take one last look at cathy before and let's bring cathy blevins out. new and improved. >> oh, wow! >> look how chic. wow, hey, danny, you're in for a treat. take your blindfold off, please. >> okay. oh, wow. she looks terrific. she's always been beautiful and she's beautiful now. >> sure is. cathy, why don't you turn around, honey, and see what he's talking about. >> that's the first time anybody has turned that direction. >> wow. >> god. >> great. >> it's absolutely beautiful. tell us about it. >> cathy, you looked like a quiet church mouse before. vava voom is right. the hair color makes a

significant difference when you wash away the gray. >> she said her husband likes red. >> all right. >> that is red. >> a little warm, but we can make it redder if you want. you have an open invitation. >> you might have been nice, cathy, if you told him that when he was doing your hair. >> and, of course, breno gave her this great style with that side sweep angle which is always so flattering. >> what do you think, do you like? >> oh, i love it. it looks great. our daughter is going to love it, too 37. >> and her dress, too. >> you just whispered, i like blonds, red heads .brunettes. this is new by shani. >> that's the thing with the undergarment. we're turning linda out, too. be careful, linda. >> thank you so much. good job, kid. good job. you have that little problem that needs fixing. you know what to do.

>> we're going to ask lou who can answer all your home repair questions after this. [ male announcer ] alka seltzer plus presents the cold truth. [ coughs, sneezes ] [ sniffles ] i have a big meeting when we land, but i am so stuffed up, i can't rest. [ male announcer ] truth is, nyquil cold and flu liquid gels don't unstuff your nose. they don't? [ male announcer ] nope. they don't have a decongestant. really? [ male announcer ] really. alka seltzer plus night fights your worst cold symptoms, plus has a fast-acting decongestant to relieve your stuffy nose. [ inhales deeply ] alka seltzer plus. oh. what a relief it is. [ male announcer ] can't find theraflu, try alka seltzer plus for fast liquid cold and flu relief.

it's that time, hoda woman. what is it? >> ask lou about all those pesky questions you wish i could answer yourself. >> you've asked questions about cracked walls and now lou is here to answer those. >> let's do it, lou. >> aline moos asks, how do you repair a crack in a wall? >> this is typical, right? you'll get a crack, have a surface blemish here. you see how this is raised a little bit inspect before we put any spackle on there, take one of these sanding sponges and work that crack so you bring down that raised surface a little bit. >> as flat as you can make it. as flat as you can make it. then you'll get a lightweight spackle, spread that on there. and work it back and forth.

you did it. >> i love to watch this stuff. >> now you're done. now leave it alone. >> leave it alone. >> i want to knife it. >> now, when this drys, this will dry in about an hour. you can come back and sand it likely. prime it, paint it and you're done. >> ellen wants to know how you can install or cut crown moulding without wasting so much of the crown molding. >> i know you're going to roll your eyes at this.

this is how we used to do it old school.

all the beautiful buildings you go to and you see lovely crown moulding, they did it by hand. this is a piece of crown moulding. this is a mighter box. >> that goes in the corner. >> then you're going to take this coping saw and cut away this tail. when you're done, it's going to give you this shape right here. so what that has done now is given you the shape of the crown. now when i put this on top of the ceiling, it matches. >> and it doesn't matter if it's a true 90 degrees. remember, this is crown moulding. this goes up on an angle. when this fits together, you put calky in there. press toe. >> perfect. >> and lucas, this is an important one wants to know how do you remove wax from a piece of furniture, your couch or something. >> you want to scrap as much of this as you can with your fingers. don't use any putty knife because you don't want to scratch the material. take a brown paper bag over the top with a warm iron, no steam. >> how warm? >> warm, in the middle, whatever the setting is on the middle. and you're going to slowly go over the top of this. >> until it softens? >> until it softens. when you do this, the paper is going to absorb this. and once you see this little dot get nice and big, then you put the steam on. >> watch your hair. >> watch your hair. then you put a cotton rag over the top with steam. we have to party. i'm so sorry. do you want a little bit? >> no. >> party is over. >> party is over. >> finally, carolyn littleton has the question why do my pipes make noises? > back in the system i have given this advic valve looks pull that up. your water is now off to the house. go open up every faucet, flush every toilet until the water stops flowing. then shut those valves off, slowly turn that valve back on.

that was a little too fast. now, when you do that, there are things inside the call that are called arresters like this. the air goes back inside of these things and that moaning and growning that happens, the puttering is gone. but the filters on your faucets have to come paut off because sediment will go in there and clog it. then no more noise, i promise. coming up, she brought you jars of hearts and a beautiful song, "a thousand years." >> she's adorable. kristina perry is here right after this. >> and her whole family is here. >> oh, good. alaska is a very extreme environment. >> hurricane force winds. >> we go in to really bad situations and we always pull it off. >> hit the water. game on.

>> go. go! >> out in the water. go! >> the reason we all do this job is to save lives. >> it's the reason they do what they do. i do pray. >> everything they throw at us we do.

>> fall is finally here. >> and every season there's a reason to watch weekday mornings on the weather channel. >> all of your local weather and today's top stories. >> you just can't beat this kind of weather. >> go to the big picture. >> we're like a killer app in the morning. >> wake up with al with stephanie abrams and al roker.

♪ christina perry, she just shot to fame with her album that sold more than 6 million copies worldwide. she just wrapped her second cd called head or heart. she's back with us here today.

great to see you. so nice of you to bring your entire family along. >> you brought your whole family. thank you. >> i love that posse you have over there. >> so cute. it's my mom and my dad and my brother and his family. >> we're excited about this new cd. what can listeners expect from you this time around? >> well, it's definitely very me. and so it's a lot of my heart stories and love songs and things i've gone through. because even though i was on tour for three years -- >> you made some time for that. >> yes. >> what are you going to sing for us? >> a song called human. >> very good. thank you. ♪ i can hold my breath and i can bite my tongue ♪ ♪ i can stay awake for days if that's what you want be your number one ♪

♪ i can do it i can do it i can do it ♪ ♪ but i'm only human and i bleed when i fall down ♪ ♪ i'm only human and i crash and i break down ♪ ♪ your words in my head knives in my heart ♪ ♪ you build me up and then i fall apart ♪ ♪ i'm only human i can turn it on be a good machine ♪ ♪ i can hold the weight of

worlds if that's what you need be your everything ♪ ♪ i can do it i can do it i'll get through it ♪ ♪ but i'm only human and i bleed when i fall down ♪ ♪ i'm only human and i crash and i break down ♪ ♪ your words in my head knives in my heart ♪ ♪ you build me up and then i fall apart ♪ ♪ cause i'm only human ♪ i'm only human i'm only human

just a little human ♪ ♪ i can take so much 'till i've had enough ♪ ♪ cause i'm only human and i bleed when i fall down ♪ ♪ i'm only human and i crash and

i break down ♪ ♪ your words in my head knives in my heart ♪ ♪ you build me up and then i fall apart i'm only human ♪ ♪ yeah, >> that was great. we'll be back with a special guest and more on "today" on nbc. ♪ i'm only human and i bleed when i fall down ♪ ♪ i'm only human

one of the things that brings a lot of joy around here this time of year is a toy drive. helping us again this year is

megan tingley. we love her name. senior vice president and publisher at little brown books for young readers. so nice to see you. >> hello. >> thank you for helping us. >> thank you for doing it. we love this cause. little brown has been donating for 11 years now and we think it's great. >> what are you donating this year? >> we always donate a big selection of children's books. we're going to give you 120,000 books this year. one of the ones we're excited about is everything loves this story, "the night before christmas." and i think this version is so beautiful. it's holly hobby, the painter. and i think it celebrates the kind of christmas we all imagine in our heads, like new england and snow. >> like courier and ives. >> if you'd like to donate, please do. >> and the results of my pillow are on the way. >> we can't wait!

and maria tomorrow. >> please, maria. here to help. will get through this together. ♪