>> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today" with kathie lee gifford and hoda kotb live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. oh, hi, everybody! we're so happy you're with us today. what day is it again, hoda? >> wines day, wednesday. >> i forgot. november 23rd. >> yes. >> a lot of people hitting the roads and skies for the thanksgiving holiday. please, be safe, everybody, and that is "sleep without you" by brett young f. you're hosting thanksgiving, help, you're going to love this. a team of celebrity chefs gathered to reveal kitchen shortcuts. >> there they are. >> so that your holiday dinner is as stress-free as possible.

>> and it's tradition that's become as american as thanksgiving and apple pie, the national dog show. a preview from the host who's a breed of his own, john o'hurley. >> love that. >> plus a reunion eight years in the making. caught up with a young girl named abby i met in 2008. battled cancer most of her young life. she and her family have so much to be thankful for, and she and her family came to studio 1a. >> fantastic. and here to create a gorgeous holiday dinner table with items you already have around the house. don't want to spend more money. >> my whole family is already here! >> the whole gang is here. >> where's ella? got lost? okay and -- go! everybody made it. thanks for coming. having turkey, colleen's cooking. >> okay, good. hoda, i bet you need words of wisdom. >> okay. here we go. i don't mind getting wrinkles if it's from laughing and spending time in the sunshine.

that's by rachel brackton who goes by the yoga girl on instagram. >> agree on the one and got to be careful with the other. >> exactly. >> yep, yep, yep. >> we had a great time yesterday. went from the show here to our own dylan's beautiful baby shower that was put on magnificently, as usual, by megan, our dear friend here. at a place called the hunt and fish club. doesn't it look like you're outside in a garden? you feel like it. don't you, hoda? >> it feels like it, because there's greenery growing out of the wall. >> look at little dylan. >> ready to pop. a great pregnancy. i haven't had in all of these months much time to just sit and talk with her. she doesn't -- rarely works on our hour. so, what a beautiful, beautiful young woman. she's like -- sunshine. >> she is sunshine. really is. >> we're so happy for her. >> she is awesome. and we said it was my brother's birthday yesterday and we're -- had a cake and everything but didn't have any candles, so we figured out a clever way not to

worry about the candle. hannah found a candle app and i'm holding up a phone and if you touch it and you blow, the thing blows out. >> so funny! there's something -- >> happy birthday. >> nothing you can't get on an app, right? >> happy birthday. exactly. i stayed in the city, when i rarely do. not a city girl by nature, but my daughter cassidy is home for the holiday and said, mom, one of her best friends from her, her usc days is this gorgeous young girl named abby hornasack, father brand new coach of the knicks and a beautiful family and cass said, mom, please, stay and go a knicks game, stay in the city. >> you did it? >> i did it. it's a wild and crazy time over there. the knicks won. played portland, and -- they're having a great season. sat with her mom stacy, who's lovely and their son tyler and abby, who's just, like, 62, i don't know how tall, she and

cass, my daughter's 5 foot 3 and they're look a foot apart. found each other in college, and they're soul mates. sweet to see their relationship. staid a a hotel which shall remain nameless, it's brand new and stayed up all night long. ever been in a hotel room where the air conditioning turns on, and rattled your brains, and then -- suddenly goes often. and just when you think you're going to lull -- and guy, oh, my gosh. so, hi! >> hi, good morning. >> i'm here. >> speaking of terrifying moments, real quick. had one this morning. i got up this morning, that's als i think. want your dog to get a little run in, and in new york living sometimes i just have. like run down the hall. droe a ba throw a ball, run down the haul. >> doesn't that wake up your neighbors? >> no.

scamper, get it. scamper, get it. threw a ball down the hall, i reached up to get another one and he had vanished. >> nowhere he could have gone, except for. >> i walked down the hall, someone's apartment door was cracked, hadn't shut it. he ran into the apartment, went somewhere up the stairs. i was literally standing in a strange apartment going, blake, get out of -- blake! i was terrified. >> could have been shot. >> i was having the sweats. the door was cracked -- beautiful apartment! and then i ran home to get a squeaky toy. by that time, freaked out, probably licking kids' faces. a lot of kids' shoes there. terrifying. >> my dog, it's a long story, ran off. you got to leash them. >> i know, but it was in the hall. i mean -- >> are you going to continue this practice?

>> check every door to make sure they're closed. how about that? this new apple commercial we've been wanting to get to. one of those commercials that warms your heart. actor brad garrett, everyone knows from "everyone loves raymond" plays frankenstein trying to celebrate christmas with the local villagers but they appear to be afraid of this guy. >> i wonder why? >> except for one little girl. take a look. ♪ [ clears throat ] ♪ oh there's no place like home for the holidays ♪ ♪

♪ 'cause no matter how far away you roam ♪ when you pine for the sunshine of a friendly face ♪ for the holidays you can be home sweet home ♪ >> oh, my god. thought it was weird and now i thought -- here, here -- you got one? >> oops. sorry. thank you, jer. >> oh, my god. that was beautiful. >> ah! the little girl and then she loved him and then everyone else sang along. >> and he probably never heard the voices of kind people. >> and then he did. [ laughter ] so beautiful. >> i wonder if anyone welcomed him into their home for a turkey din jer my daddy, i have great memories of my daddy growing up. he worked for the "washington post" newspaper, as distributor. we never knew what time he'd get home, never know what time we'd

have dinner because he was always out and about. i cannot tell you the people he brought om over the years. little old ladies that missed their bus or somebody had broken down in the middle -- you know? >> sweet. >> yeah. what we should all be like. right? >> yes. >> yesterday we gave you a special brain teaser, right? >> yeah. i didn't know what it was. >> he had no clue. letting you know about cnbc's "billion dollar buyer" premiered by tillman. happens to own more than 50 hotel chains and restaurants. in honor of his premiere, five $500 gift cards to give away. had to solve this riddle. here it is -- forward i'm heavy but backward i'm not. what am i? forward i'm heavy, but become ward i'm not. what am i? >> over 10,000 responses. we didn't know. the drum roll is -- >> all: a ton. >> forward i'm heavy, t-o-n.

backward i'm not, n-o-t. >> here are the five winners. >> carol maynard from california. >> smarty pants. james lawson from kentucky. >> jennifer buro-sanchez in texas. >> don croweller, mike kowalski in michigan arrangements finally, accomplish sa boykin bronc in north carolina. >> guy, check yore facebook inboxes. you're going to be hearing from us. >> congratulations and have a delicious evening. one of popular wrong answers was -- i don't think it's a wrong answer. dolly parton. forward i am heavy, but backward i am not. >> that was good. "billion dollar buyer" airs tuesday at 10:00 p.m. >> he's a colorful, sweet guy. it love him. >> and we have auction winners in the house, too. we want to thank you for coming to see us. >> and friends from new orleans, too. >> friends from new orleans. where are they? in the house, too! >> everybody's in for the

holidays. >> all right. too much to cook and too little time. >> the chefs are here to lessen the stress and the mess of thanksgiving with kitchen shortcuts. you're going to love it. do it in the round, i think. >> oh, we are? >> yeah. going to be a disaster. yeah. not going to work. achoo! snap achoo! snap achoo! achoo! snap snap achoo! achoo! feel a cold coming on? zicam cold remedy nasal swabs shorten colds with a snap, and reduce symptom severity by 45%. shorten your cold with a snap,

with zicam. ♪ snowmen with buttons, snowflakes with icing ♪ ♪ candy corn feathers, sure look enticing ♪ ♪ rice krispies treats, the fun doesn't stop - ♪ ♪ how many ways can you snap, crackle, pop? ♪ make the holidays a treat with kellogg's rice krispies. we're non stop, we've gotta have our extra protein. oikos triple zero greek non fat yogurt has 15 grams of protein. zero added sugar, zero artificial sweetener and zero fat. and zero holding me back! oikos triple zero. be unstoppable. mmm dannon whwhere i get my glow, now i tell them this. new bright reveal peel pads from l'oreal. with glycolic acid- visibly reduces wrinkles and reveals brighter skin. all this power in one little pad. new bright reveal peel pads from l'oreal skin expert, paris.

it was love at first touch met and all you wanted to do was surround them in comfort and protection

that's why only pampers swaddlers is the #1 choice of hospitals to wrap your baby in blanket-like softness and premium protection mom: "oh hi baby" so all they feel is love wishing you love, sleep and play. pampers we don't want to stress you out or anything, but in less than 30 hours your hungry thanksgiving guests will be showing up at your door and we think you might have a lot to do. >> and all-star chefs are here to show us your kitchen hacks and they -- >> all: geoffrey zakarian, ed brown, missy robins and ryan scott! >> start with geoffrey. what's your tip? >> my tip is, sugar, sometimes, is not good. you don't want to eat a lot of sugar. a hidden sweetness.

take your puree of pumpkin, squash, whatever you like. add cranberry sauce. >> oh. >> give you the sweetness. >> from the can? >> from the can, homemade, whatever you want. fold it in. >> stir that in. >> right. >> instead of sugar. >> instead of sugar. >> has there been sugar added to it anyway if it's from the can? >> from the can, yes, but right now you can get them unsweeten. i buy frefrg a can. no reason to make it. you don't have to. just as good. right? put it in there. >> boom, boom. >> boom. bake it. >> pretty boom-boom. >> thank you for your tip. >> by ryan? >> by ryan. >> let's -- oh! we're walking. we're walking. buy! >> going over to see you. >> hi! how are we, andrew? >> good. >> what's your -- this is crazy, i know. >> what's your tip, sweetie? >> all right. so i've been saying for years, brine the turkey. >> everybody wants to brine the turkey! >> at home, really, really

messy. i like to do a dry rub. super easy. >> can't beat a good dry rub. >> night before, mix up spices, sugars, lemon zest. smells amazing. >> yeah. >> and rub it right over the turkey, and leave it overnight. >> the turkey enjoys it. right? >> oh, yeah. it's like a little massage. >> they don't mind. >> full of flavor, really, really, really soft a tender. >> when you brine, you brine in a liquid and most gets rinsed off. this stays on like a coating? >> yeah. put it right inside the oven. crispy outside and amazing texture. >> okay. >> excellent tip, andrew. nice talking to you. >> ready? >> buy! >> hi, there! >> hey. >> how are you, ed? >> good. >> ed brown. it. >> you have very little in front of you. what's going on? >> wow. really? >> yeah. >> okay. so happy, happy wines day. >> yes. you, too. >> so here's my thing.

>> ah, a good purpose for it. >> we drink the wine. >> so now you're going to use the wine bottle. >> that's it. >> and we're going to use the wine bottle as a rolling pin to roll our dough. >> that's smart. how simple is that? >> really simple. >> a full one would actually give even a little more weight to it. right? >> right, but if it's empty, you feel better about and it and much easier to do. >> i like it, ed, think it through. >> nice talking to you. buy! >> here goes -- >> hold up. going here. hi, missy robins. >> hi, missy. >> happy thanksgiving. >> this actually worked. >> i'm shocked. literally shocked. >> you got it. >> what are we cooking up here? >> we have squash. square is a pain to cook. it's hard -- >> yeah. >> it's hard to cut. >> yes! >> so i like to do the minimal cutting as possible and then scoop. we just cut it in half or cook it whole and then cut it. >> then cut it? >> yeah. >> cook it, an hour and a half, two hours, cut it, cook about an

hour. >> you roast it, right? >> roast it. at about 350, 400 and it's really easy. >> nice and soft. >> then you can do anything with it. pasta fillings, pies, square on its own. tossed with spices. >> when you cook this whole do you put ton a try like that and plop it in the oven? >> yeah. sometimes i put ton a bed of salt and kind of turn it as it goes, on a lower oven. >> you're so smart. >> yeah. >> first time i've ever heard that. thank you. >> and let's continue. >> thank you. >> ryan scott, and -- go. >> over to ryan scott. >> hold on. >> come on, baby. here we go. >> booze, booze and booze. >> what are you making? >> leftover cranberries. take them, put them in an ice tray. now what we do, take hot tepid water, stir this sugar for me. okay? stir the sugar -- >> tepid water? >> like warm water. >> never drink it. >> no. put the sugar solution over the cranberries. >> a great idea. >> pour this over you have

frozen cranberry ice cubes. check this out. cranberry sangria. caramelize the oranges underneath your salamander -- right, geoffrey? >> i love it when you guys talk like that. salamander. >> cranberry, a little ice cubes. it's delicious. >> so good! >> love it. >> thank you for everything you did, by the way. you all were awesome. all right. it's thanksgiving, a thanksgiving event, always dog gone good. >> listerine® kills 99% of bad breath germs. this is 100% useful for a 100% fresh mouth. just ask listerine® users. the very people we studied in the study of bold. people who are statistically more likely to stand up to a bully. do a yoga handstand. and be in a magician's act. listerine® kills 99% of bad breath germs so you can feel 100% in life.

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it's become a thanksgiving tradition to enjoy -- >> all: the national dog show. >> airs right after the macy's day parade tomorrow and for the fifth row in a row hosted by john o'hurley. you must be doing something

right. >> i kept the show on the air 15 years. >> and some of this year's canine competitors, all precious. how you doing? >> a fabulous show this year. a record number of breed entries this year. the show, last year, we got a -- 26 million people watching. >> people love it! >> it's a staggering number. >> oh! >> let me show you this. this breed has absolutely stolen our hearts on the show. look at that. i want you to -- couldn't get the face forward there, because -- >> tell us about this. >> i made a joke earlier, if you made it a koala bear on a piece of four-ply carpeting, this is what you end up with. this is a hungarian herding dog. absolutely gorgeous. absolutely. but everybody in the show is so impressed by this brand new breed. >> wonderful. beautiful. let's bring on one of the old breeds. >> one of the old guys. >> this is a beautiful belgian right here. the belgian is, in the working group. this is a really solid police

dog, actually. >> beautiful! >> a beautiful dog, too, but a very. >> family dog as well. >> very alert, too. right? >> yep, yep, yep. >> good, baby. >> good job. >> and bringing up the rear here? >> this is something -- everybody remembers the golden retriever. one of the winningest golden retrievers, top 20 in america right now, and one of the prettiest i have seen. that face. this is tracker. >> hi, tracker. >> yeah, tracker. and also, that's the spot. yeah. she will put her head back all the way if you do that. yeah. she's good -- what a good dog. >> always such great family fun. >> there's something -- >> and weren't really a dog lover until you got involved? >> oh, no, no, no. i didn't know anything about dog shows until i got involved. there's my two dogs up on the screen now. >> is your son with you? >> our son is with us today. >> we like that he's doing. >> tune into the 15th annual national dog show presented by purina tomorrow at noon and catch the winner friday mork

right here on "today." >> check in now with joy for a special thanksgiving diet s.o.s. question of the week. hey, joy. >> hey, ladies. happy thanksgiving. i love this holiday. we have a great question. the question comes from ashley in michigan. and she writes -- there are so many delicious goodies at thanksgiving i often eat to the point of feeling sick. how can i avoid stuffing myself? so i have a great strategy, ashley. i want you to stay tuned, and i promise you that you're going to be able to enjoy all the deliciousness at your feast without having to unbutton your pants, but you've got to hang in there. a little later on in in the show. now back to you, ladies. >> all right, joy. we can't wait to see that. >> guess what? john o'hurley will be in "the fantastics" here in new york. when do you start? >> limited run from december 12th through new year's. jerry arback theater in new york. >> gorgeous. >> happy thanksgiving. coming up, reunited with a special friend who reminds us all why it's important to be grateful, always, during the

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available for sale online according to a new report. we put a list of toys you will want to avoid this holiday season on our home page. and it is one of the busiest travel days of the year and we're tracking the situation at san jose, oakland, and san francisco airport. we're updating any delays right on our twitter page. a look at weather and traffic coming up after the break. - hi, it's me. [imitates fanfare]

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ck traffic maps we will be drying out and clearing out as we go through the day. highs reaching 62 degrees in the south bay, afternoon sunshine in the peninsula with 61 degrees and breezy in the tri-valley. we will see those skies clear in the upper 50s there and also for the east bay, san francisco reaching 58 degrees and the north bay as the rain ends we will see the high later on today reaching 61 degrees. over the next few days our weather looking very nice for at least thanksgiving day and then late friday night the rain will be back. now let's head over to mike for a look at this morning's commute. >> a light morning commute aside from the major crash. the rest of the bay and a crash there about two hours ago. we have some sort of mysterious slowing north heading up to fremont for mission boulevard. no crashes or traffic, right about 50 miles an hour. we do have some rain registered up here north, not a major

problem. back to you. >> all right. join us at 11:00 for our next newscast. we'll keep tracking the traffic and travel. it's wines day wednesday and we are ready to play our weekly trivia game "who knew?." this week it's all about thanksgiving and pop culture. hoda's across the street at 30 rock, ready to hand out $100 to anybody who answers the questions correctly, but even better, a signed book to those who don't. here with me, jack ricco, editor of "cafe show business dotcom." overer to hoda. >> thanks, kath. nieces helping me. handing me the goods. if we have a winner, figuring it out. what's your name? >> kelsey. >> i love your hat. ple let's play. in a tv "charlie brown's

thanksgiving" is it linus, woodstock or peppermint patti. >> is she right? yes! honey, yeah! >> yes, well, that peppermint pat hay quite a crush on charlie brown. >> originally released in 1979 but won an award in 1974. charlie brown invites her friends,franklin, one with this grandmother and now one with his friends. >> classic for a reason. hoda woman? >> play. what's your name? >> erin and tyler. >> where are youing from? >> virginia. >> play, kids. this macy's day thanksgiving parade balloon character is back this year for the first time since 1930. is it charlie brown, felix the cat or popeye? >> i'm going to say felix. >> felix the cat is right! money! >> wow! wow.

a lot of money going around today. >> felix the cat, first balloon created at the macy's day parade in 1927. this year macy's decided to re-create to the exact configurations the balloon of almost 90 years ago. curious fact, 2,000 basketballs actually fit in the felix the cat balloon this year. >> how do we even know that? hoda? >> all right. your name, sweetie? >> donny and ashley. >> donny and ashley. all right. we're going to have you look at a picture. here we go. the name of this 1987 comedy where two men try to help each other get home for thanksgiving is called -- home for the holidays, dirty rotten xoscoundrels or planes, trains and automobiles? >> planes, trains and automobiles. >> if you haven't seen, that's a classic. >> a classic. "planes, trains and automobiles" written and directed by john hughes, "16 candles," "the breck consist club." the best, if not one of the best

thanksgiving movies of all-time. has all the elements. friendship, grateful for what you have and a lot of humor. >> a lot of humor. back for another one. >> hannah wants to give away one of my books. >> yes. >> let's do it. your name? >> fan, this is katrina. >> hi. where you from? >> tampa, florida, here for the macy's day parade. >> play. here nor macy's. the day after thanksgiving is typically one of the busiest days of the year for pizza deliver, dry cleaners or -- >> i'm saying pizza delivery. >> yeah! >> you would have thought. you might have thought, but it's got -- a terrible answer erchlts plumbers. according to roto rooter, a business on black friday increased 50%. do you know why? >> tell me why. >> majority, garbage disposals and kitchen sink drains. >> oh, that kind of plumber. oh, okay. it could be anything.

let's fit one more in. >> all right. happy birthday, miss. your name? >> kathy. >> kathy turned 50 today. happy birthday! all right. here we go. according to a recent survey what side dish is the most popular in the southeastern region of the united states? is it green bean casserole, mashed potatoes or mac and cheese. >> mac and cheese. oh! >> how about that? >> just what we need. one more artery to be clogged. >> so mac and cheese essentially was -- a creation basically done by thomas jefferson. was in europe, back to the white house, served 1802 and immediately it was a big hit. ultimately probably is what popularized it throughout the united states. >> how about that? >> can you believe that? >> that's not in "hamilton." we should have known that. thank you, hoda and everybody. hoda reunites with a special young friend who has a great deal to be thankful for this year. plus, last-minute ideas for a creative and inviting

thanksgiving table. courtesy of our friend danny sio. ♪ tomorrow's the day we'll play something besides video games. every day is a gift especially for people with heart failure. but today there's entresto®- a breakthrough medicine that can help make more tomorrows possible. tomorrow, i want to see teddy bait his first hook. in the largest heart failure study ever, entresto® was proven to help more people stay alive and out of the hospital than a leading heart failure medicine. women who are pregnant must not take entresto®. it can cause harm or death to an unborn baby. don't take entresto® with an ace inhibitor or or aliskiren. if you've had angioedema while taking an ace or arb medicine, don't take entresto®. the most serious side effects are angioedema, low blood pressure, kidney problems, or high potassium in your blood. tomorrow, i'm gonna step out with my favorite girl. ask your heart doctor

about entresto®. and help make the gift of tomorrow possible. of tomorrow possible. ♪ get up for black friday. starts thursday, 6pm. walmart. ♪ snowmen with buttons, snowflakes with icing ♪ ♪ candy corn feathers, sure look enticing ♪ ♪ rice krispies treats, the fun doesn't stop - ♪ ♪ how many ways can you snap, crackle, pop? ♪ make the holidays a treat with kellogg's rice krispies. fit me matte + poreless foundation make fit happen! from maybelline new york. beyond matching skin tone... fits skin's texture. blurs pores. controls shine. our most natural look... now, in more shades than ever! maybelline's fit me make it happen maybelline new york.

so last year we were invited to thanksgivi was stoked. erson's. that's my holiday. we invented it. so i'm like, "pass the stuffing!" and... it's not stove top. and i'm like, "what?" i wait all year. 364 days to enjoy delicious stove top stuffing. it's what makes thanksgiving, thanksgiving. i had to get out of there. i faked an attack of scurvy.

scurvy. works every time. every year we bring you a series called "thanks and giving" where we highlight the wonderful work done at st. jude children's hospital. >> eight years ago i visited there in memphis and met special kids including abby geyser who helped show me the ropes at st.

jude. now abby is 14 and couldn't wait to catch up with her when i found out she was coming to new york. this is abby geyser, the florida native is 14 and the second child of eight. looks like a normal kid. right? in many rrps she is. she plays the piano -- ♪ -- reads a lot and writes her own short stories. her mom says shez has a great sense of humor. what makes abby most unique, most of her childhood was spent in st. jude's research hospital in memphis. she is now cancer-free. >> she's a hands-down success story. >> and this past october she had reconstructive surgery at st. jude to insert an adult prosthetic bone in her leg after bone cancer had ravaged it eight years ago. >> that cancer required, you know, chemotherapy and surgery to remove the bone. >> what do we like about school

the most? >> reading. >> i first met abby back in 2008 along with fellow st. jude patient named amber. >> like that? you are -- >> i hate eye drops. >> reporter: abby was diagnosed with eye cancer at only 4 months old, but doctors at st. jude successfully treated abby with chemotherapy and laser eye surgery saving both of her eyes. later, though, the disease developed in her bones. >> go, go, go, go! >> reporter: seeing a typical day at st. jude through their eyes was life-changing. so now, eight years later i was thrilled to hear how well abby was doing and happy to reconnect with she and her mom in studio 1a. >> this is abby. >> i'm from pensacola, florida. >> oh, nice! >> want a pleasure, abby. how are you doing? >> charlie, come here, charlie. come here! hi, charlie. >> and today on -- simple,

right? >> i could take over your job. >> yes, you could. >> this is kathie lee. >> nice to meet you. >> we call kathie lee the queen. she's going to give you a little bit of gloss. perfect. very nice. >> all right. >> and this is a good friend of yours. >> yes, i do. my friend abby and her mom is with us. kristy. how was your tv moment? >> good. i loved it. >> did you love it? >> yeah. >> after the tour we sat down at the famed rainbow room here at 30 rock. >> ever get mad? why did i have to be the one to get sick. >> sometimes i did and then i remembered how good god is to me and how some people don't have as much as i have. >> what are you thankful for this season? >> i'm thankful for my family and friend, and, you know, after having that surgery, i'm really thankful to god for letting me keep my leg and my eye. >> when you think about, we're like, this young girl is so grateful for the tiniest, nothing we take for granted, but what's great.

>> marvelous. of course, national outreach director for st. jude research hospital. >> and abby is cancer-free. >> yes. >> and one of the remarkable things, first, how you track kids through the years. >> right. >> and we're watching her -- her leg sort of develop and grow and she's fine now, right? >> oh, yes. she's absolutely -- her leg, her prosthesis grew threw a magnet. took out the cancerous bone, put in a titanium rod which expanded as she grew from a magnet and never had to go in and look at it again except now they put in the adult prosthesis and she can run, jump, dance like any normal teenager. what's great about st. jude, cure is not enough. we want them to have a joyful child. >> yes. >> you've got to see a new patient care center. not only state-of-the-art medically, but we have a room called the imagine room. the entire place, all of the walls, the ceiling, 360 degrees

of screen. you stand in the middle of that, you can skype with your friends or your kids at home. >> fantastic. >> be in hawaii, or a jungle. >> anywhere you want. >> play viral games. >> most important thing, too, is that it's -- it's -- no one pays. >> i know. >> the families don't have to pay for it. incredible. >> little abby, and eye cancer. and blast toma and the -- sarcoma and nothing charged. >> when you go to st. jude you realize what a joyful place that is. marlo, a tribute to you and your family. >> everybody that works there, they're angels. thank you. >> thanks, marlo. thank you so much. happy thanksgiving. >> to you, too. danny seal helps you create a show-stopping thanksgiving table that will wow your guests. table that will wow your guests. >> without breaking the for all you friendsgiving hosts, table that will wow your guests. >> without breaking the invite who you want, not who you must. serve a turkey, don't serve a turkey. bring classic flaky crescent rolls, or not so classic pizza sticks.

and don't forget something sweet, and golden brown fresh from the oven. set the table, set the coffee table, set no table at all. the only rule to follow on friendsgiving... is make it your own. happy friendsgiving. warm up with pillsbury. whwhere i get my glow, now i tell them this. new bright reveal peel pads from l'oreal. with glycolic acid- visibly reduces wrinkles and reveals brighter skin. all this power in one little pad. new bright reveal peel pads from l'oreal skin expert, paris. th...oh, baked-on alfredo?e. ...gotta rinse that. nope. no way. nada. really? dish issues? throw it all in. cascade platinum powers through... your toughest stuck-on food. nice.

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thanksgiving you're often so worried about the food your table decor can fall by the

wayside. >> fret not. guess who's here with inexpensive ideas to add to the special holiday touch. >> a lot people care. danny seal. host of "naturally danny seal" on nbc and from the magazine "naturally danny seal." >> naturally. >> growing. the show, every saturday morning. >> what time? >> 10:30. changes every market, but, you know. is this beautiful? >> what are you going to do for us today? >> this is my thanksgiving table setting, and these are things you already have around the house. and i think these are my all-star thanksgiving ideas. >> okay. >> i think, so easy to make. even the tablecloth is trash to treasure. >> what? >> can you believe that? isn't that a beautiful color? >> what do you mean, trash to treasure? >> show you how to make this. the painter's chart, candle holders right here. beautiful napkins, even, i think our place markers are adorable. >> cute! >> paint chips and a coffee

sleeve. >> yeah. a little boat. >> cute, danny seal. >> all right, show us how to make a vase. >> all right. start with the tablecloth. >> that's what she meant. >> i feel like a lot of us, we need the tablecloth. don't want to put town a shower curtain. a pot of hot water, take black tea. that gives you the black color. it darkens the color. my secret ingredient is turmeric. >> i always wondered what turmeric was for. now we know. >> it's a turp sourful spice and super, super strong as a color. i dump the whole jar of turmeric in there. >> stop it. it makes it yellow? >> do you see the color? >> yes. you just dump the whole thing in? >> right. >> what does it smell like, like turmeric and black tea. >> careful. very, very hot. but per nut squash, a lot of us cooking butternut squash. instead of wasting the shell, tut off the top and scoop out

the flesh. save the gourd part of it, fill it with water. it's water-tight and look at that. >> little vases. >> instant vase. >> and pour the water in there, won't go all over your table. >> so cute. >> like a two-one. you have it, anyway. >> okay. >> what are you doing here? >> okay. so look at these beautiful, these little, this little beautiful bowl actually made of artificial leaves. take your artificial flowers or leaves. >> sure. >> you wouldn't believe how easy to make. take a balloon. blow it up, decoupage on top. pop this one. you want to pop this one? >> way to go, hodi! >> that's good. >> mine's sort of -- mine's good. thank you, danny. that's good. it's a nice bowl. >> oh -- >> you pull it ounchts you pull it out. it's a little wet. basically. >> decoupage all over it.

it's fun! >> yeah! >> kind of hoda fail. okay. so -- wine bottles -- >> a lot of those as home? >> make beautiful sort of autumnal candelabras, spices, dried corn. fill it up. >> stick it in a candle. >> fig it all the way up. and really, customize the fronted to say, thanks, you know? >> very cute. very european looking. >> i don't know. so [ laughter ] >> finally, guys, if you want to help me make our little thanksgiving day, you know, right here. the trick. >> the boat. >> trick, take your coffee sleeve. hot glue a chopstick on the inside. just like this. >> the mast. >> and then take your little paint chips. >> those are paint chips? >> all out of your junk drawer. just like this. >> very clever, danny seal. >> and actually like -- >> keep from getting stuff like a thanksgiving turkey?

>> joy's got the solution. stay on track. >> first, this is this is "today" on nbc.

for all you friendsgiving hosts, invite who you want, not who you must. serve a turkey, don't serve a turkey. bring classic flaky crescent rolls, or not so classic pizza sticks. and don't forget something sweet, and golden brown fresh from the oven. set the table, set the coffee table, set no table at all. the only rule to follow on friendsgiving... is make it your own. happy friendsgiving. warm up with pillsbury.

now for the answer to our thanksgiving diet snkts o.s. question. >> a question for joy go to klgpand hoda.com and hit the connect button. >> and how do you keep from overstuffing yourself on thanksgiving? >> what you do, ashley. follow my rule of one. before the meal, enjoy one of every delicious-looking hor d'oeuvre. when it comes to the meal, take one dinner plate and fill it with whatever you want. one alcoholic beverage and one dessert. if you're torn between multiple pies. >> that's still a lot of food t. is a lot of food. comes to pie between the apple, pecan and pumpkin pie. pumpkin pie is the lightest. check this out. if you cut off the outside

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-- it's the mad dash to thanksgiving dinner. one of the busiest travel days highways and busy roads. the mad dash to thanksgiving dinner. one of the busiest travel days of the year is under way. the areas you need to know to avoid and how to save time. good morning and thank you for joining us for this wednesday midday news cast. i'm sam brock. >> i'm kris sanchez. we have live team coverage on top of everything you need to know before you leave the house. pete suratos is at sfo. make is tracking traffic. and kari has the forecast. we begin with nbc bay area's bob redell in hayward. there was a really long backup this morning. are you starting to see any relief? >> reporter: no. absolutely not. good morning kris and sam. at around 10:00s within the past