♪ happy birthday today show >> happy 60th "today" show. >> happy 60th to the "today" show. sounded like my dad. [ laughter ] >> just some of the people who have been stopping by over the la couple months and took the time to wish us a happy 60th anniversary which is what we are celebrating this week here on "today." our thanks to these people for stopping by this morning as well. spending a little time with us on a chilly morning in new york. 32 degrees, freezing in the city. i'm matt lauer along with ann curry, al roker and tamron hall. savannah is on assignment in new hampshire. >> that's right. coming up in this half hour we're going to be talking about this woman who jumped off a

bridge. both tamron and i have been bungee jumping. this is our worst nightmare. she jumped off the bridge, the cord snapped. she was just over a crocodile-infested waters. she was not seriously injured or worse. she's speaking about her experience. we'll find out what she has to say coming up. >> what was the last thing that went through her mind? water. >> got to clean that joke up. >> that's a jeopardy punch line. >> a lot of people sadly get blue this time of year. could be the post holiday thing or the cold weather. it's called seasonal affective disorder and for some people it can be serious. we'll tell you how to recognize the signs of it and how to treat it. >> okay. >> one good thing about the season, bargains. a lot of good bargains out there. anything from electronics to bedding. we'll show you which items you can save big money on this month.

>> all right. what say we get inside? >> let's go it. natalie has a look at the headlines. >> good morning. gop presidential hopefuls are making their final pitches today in new hampshire ahead of tuesday's first-in-the-nation primary. frontrunner and iowa caucus winner mitt romney is coming under fire from his rivals, particularly newt gingrich. rick santorum has gone from iowa long shot to rising star in new hampshire where he's been met with overflowing crowds and a major boost in funding. a poignant milestone for wounded congresswoman gabrielle giffords exactly woman year after the shooting that killed six people and wounded her and 12 others. in tucson sunday night she led a candlelight vigil and the pledge of allegiance giving a rare glimpse into her astonishing recovery. an american man and former u.s. marine has been sentenced to death by iran. he was convicted of working for the cia as a spy against iran. the 28-year-old father said he

was visiting his grandmothers in iran when he was arrested. he has 20 days to appeal. meantime defense secretary leon panetta says iran is not curr t currently building a bomb but is laying the groundwork for future weapons. a controversial book docome out tomorrow about the obamas' relationship and time in the white house. earlier on "today" the author, new york times correspondent jodi kantor talked about the first lady's role in the white house and tension with rahm emanuel. >> the tension was not the kind of spectacular tension we see, you know, on tv shows and in television. it was very muffled. they had a distance relationship. the truth about them is they were philosophical foils. they had two different visions of the presidency. you know, a wife and a chief of staff are in some sense the president's two spouses.

>> how much involved in the policy discussion on a day to day basis is michelle obama? >> she is not in the west wing on a day to day basis. she is not getting involved in policy details. what she cares about is the larger mission of the presidency. she's a lot like democrats on the outside. she had high expectations for this presidency and wants to see them fulfilled. >> is she disappointed with what happened so far? >> according to my reporting there were times she was really frustrated. but things have turned around for her since then. she is all in. in 2012 we are going to see her making the case for her husband again and again. she can be an internal critic. she's also his biggest advocate. >> the white house has called the book a, quote, overdramatization of old news" but has not disputed what was reported. meanwhile a woman looking

for a thrill rush got more than she bargained for. earn langworthy watched cord snapped and she fell into the crocodile waters below. >> it went black straight away. i felt like i had been slapped all over. i had to swim down and yank the bungee cord out from what it was caught into. i think it's definitely a miracle i survived. >> absolutely. victoria falls bungee said the accident is under investigation. it was a frightfully good weekend for "the devil inside." the low budget horror film debuted in first taking in nearly $35 million. "mission impossible -- ghost protocol" in second and "sherlock holmes" in third. have you heard this one? a dog walked into a bar exam? well, not exactly. but dogs are used to help law students deal with stress and

avoid binge drinking. the program has expanded to campuses where the hair of the dog is just the thing to prevent an academic hangover. very sweet. it's now six minutes past the hour. let's get a check of the weather from al. >> thanks so much. let's see what's happening. we have a mess going on down west where we have winter weather advisories, winter storm warnings, el paso, roswell, new mexico. rain from texas to louisiana. we have flash flood watches in eastern texas and you can see snowfall amounts anywhere from three to six inches. some areas up to nine inches of snow in west texas up to two to three inches of rain in northern texas down into houston. >> good morning. a new storm forms down to the

south. southern maryland may be the first to see the rain. this morning on today's money, the best buys in january. although there are deep discounts during the holidays some of your best bargains can be found right now in the beginning of the new year. contributor from yahoo finance and the host of financially fit. >> good morning. >> now we are talking january. what is it that starts all the deals? >> obviously the christmas ornaments, plastic trees, christmas coats, jackets are on sale now. we are talking not the obvious. in a lot of cases it's a slow

season for a lot of inventory in different categories. also historically there are sales that happen traditionally in the month of january. starting with electronics. >> why electronics? >> two big events that we are approaching. first is the international consumer electronics show. it kicks off tomorrow in vegas. happens every january. it's when manufacturers from across the globe present their newest, baddest gadgets. tvs, radios, camcorders. that means the existing inventory at best buy and sears has to go. that's where you will see the sales. also the super bowl is coming. >> on nbc. >> on nbc. so that's february 4th. in the meantime, retailers are going to be trying to get big flat screen tvs out the door. sears.com is having a sale on high end televisions. >> you can save a lot. >> in one case, a 55-inch flat screen from samsung for $400 less. it's still $1700 but it's a big

savings. >> you talk about recreational vehicles. >> motorcycles, boats, convertibles. this is a slow season for those trade rooms. walk in now and talk to a sales guy or lady, they will give you probably another 10 or 15% off. >> if you're thinking of camping this summer this is the time to buy. >> if you go now there are huge sales on camping gear, outdoor gear like tents, backpacks, portable stoves. people aren't hiking out coodoo now. it's cold. >> what about ski stuff? >> in-season items like skis and snowboards, not so much. those will eventually go on sale. >> this is historically the time the linens and bedding go on sale. started by sam wannamaker in -- >> back in 1878. he was starting to feel bad for the linen makers during january and february. they weren't moving inventory.

he said, okay, white sale across the board. today that means bedding and l linens, comforters and sheets at macy's.com and pottery barn.com having huge sales. >> you may not want to head outside to paint the house now. you say now is the time to stock up on home improvement stuff. >> a lot of projects ended around november or december. people wanted to get new floors, new carpets before guests arrived for the holidays. for one thing you've got the contractors that are sitting on their hands now, so you can negotiate with them. also lowe's and home depot, there are sales on great carpet installation, flooring, paint. things like that. if you're in the mood for that project, now is the time to scoop up those items. if you want to buy a house, al, january and february are the slowest months of the year for home sales. in fact, compared to june which

is the hottest month to sell because people are moving for the school year, january sales plummet 50%. >> wow. >> so if you want to negotiate this is the time to go in there. no bidding wars. >> most likely you won't have a bidding war. thank you. up next, beating the winter blues. how to regulcognize and treat seasonal affective disorder. and later, kate middleton turning 30. we'll show you how she dazzled on the red carpet. first, these messages. when it comes to home insurance, surprises can be a little scary. and a little costly. that's why the best agents present their clients with a lot of options. because when it comes to what's covered and what's not, nobody likes surprises. [ click ] [ chuckles ]

we totally thought -- [ all scream ] obscure space junk falling from the sky? we cover that. moving on. aah, aah, aah, aah. [ male announcer ] we are insurance. ♪ we are farmers ♪ bum, ba-da-bum, bum, bum, bum ♪ ♪ could open a world of wonder ? ♪ ♪ so sensory ♪ so satisfying ♪ the discovery ♪ never seems to stop ♪ ♪ it's the magic friskies ♪ ♪ makes happen ♪ every day ♪ in so many ways ♪ friskies ♪ feed the senses

it's good. honey, i love you... oh my gosh, oh my gosh.. look at these big pieces of potato. ♪ what's that? big piece of potato. [ male announcer ] progresso. you gotta taste this soup. with less chronic osteoarthritis pain. imagine living your life with less chronic low back pain. imagine you, with less pain. cymbalta can help. cymbalta is fda-approved to manage chronic musculoskeletal pain. one non-narcotic pill a day, every day, can help reduce this pain. tell your doctor right away if your mood worsens, you have unusual changes in mood or behavior or thoughts of suicide. antidepressants can increase these in children, teens, and young adults. cymbalta is not approved for children under 18.

people taking maois or thioridazine or with uncontrolled glaucoma should not take cymbalta. taking it with nsaids, aspirin, or blood thinners may increase bleeding risk. severe liver problems, some fatal, were reported. signs include abdominal pain and yellowing skin or eyes. tell your doctor about all your medicines, including those for migraine and while on cymbalta, call right away if you have high fever, confusion and stiff muscles or serious allergic skin reactions like blisters, peeling rash, hives, or mouth sores to address possible life-threatening conditions. talk about your alcohol use, liver disease and before you reduce or stop cymbalta. dizziness or fainting may occur upon standing. ask your doctor about cymbalta. imagine you with less pain. cymbalta can help. go to cymbalta.com to learn about a free trial offer.

this morning, surviving the winter blues as temperatures dip and daylight becomes scarce you may be feeling down. could it be more than just a seasonal phase? psychiatrist and "today" contributor dr. gail saltz is here to help us understand seasonal affective disorder or s.a.d. as it is commonly referred. >> good morning. >> how common is it and what is s.a.d.? >> 9% of people experience seasonal affective disorder. it's having a negative mood change the same time every year. it often takes people a couple years to realize this is what's going on for them. oh, yeah, this happens to me every winter or potentially every spring. it's most common in winter. it's a constellation of symptoms of feeling sad and tired. unlike typical major depression you tend to sleep more than usual instead of less than usual.

you eat more, gain weight. you have difficulty concentrating and you lose enjoyment in the activities you would normally do. people can become sick with s.a.d. to the point of being suicidal and needing hospitalization. >> how is it different than clinical depression? >> well, clinical depression occurs at any time. it doesn't happen the same time every year and you typically have difficulty getting enough sleep. you wake up early. you lose your appetite and there is an agitated component to depression that isn't the case with s.a.d. people who get s.a.d. in spring which is less typical, and summer, may have the same yearly cycle but they may get more anxiety than winter people. >> who is more susceptible to having this seasonal affective disorder? and are children susceptible? >> children probably are but we don't diagnose it per se. it occurs more in adults and as you get older.

people who are susceptible are susceptible to depression in general. if it runs in the family. if you're a woman and you get hormone depressions. if you had trauma early in life. those things may set you up for depression since seasonal affective may be one of them. >> if you live in parts of the country without a lot of sun this time of year. >> absolutely. we see it. that makes us think that light has something to do with -- light's effect on the brain. people who live in less sunny areas or areas where winter means a very short amount of daylight have higher frequency of s.a.d. >> there are things you can do to prevent s.a.d. first of all, light therapy. >> this is a treatment. it's about prevention. it could happen again next year but if you know you have s.a.d. try things before it sets in. light therapy is a big boon. you tend not to hear about it

because, well, drug companies aren't making money from it and supporting it and advertising it. but it's inexpensive. get a light box. it's not just a lightbulb you plug in. it's a specific kind of light with a specific uv band of light that it's giving you that affects the brain and the hypothalamus. it comes in a box form or a visor or even potentially a bulb. but you need to sit relatively close to the light, usually for 30 minutes to an hour a day. don't stare at the light. maybe you're reading but the light should be basically shining on your face. the thing is about light therapy, you don't need a prescription. i don't want viewers to run out and buy light boxes and sit in front of them. if your depression turns out to be bipolar disorder, lots of light can make you manic which can be very dangerous. very high moods. be screened to see if you have

symptoms or family history that makes us suspicious you may have bipolar disorder. if you have the symptoms stop taking the light therapy and check in with a doctor. alternatively medication. >> anti-depressants. >> anti-depressants. light therapy works as well as anti-depressants without potentially all the side effects. but anti-depressants for some people are the way to go. again you need to see a physician for that. >> what about vitamin d supplements? does it help? >> the thing that's interesting, there is no data to say we treat it with vitamin d. there was a recent study that showed people who have low levels, really low levels of vitamin d seem to have a higher frequency of seasonal affective disorder. it makes us think there may be a connection. we don't really understand what it is. of course psychotherapy is always helpful. sometimes it's stressful events going on. at this time of year there are a lot. you have spent a lot of money. you had your family all get together. there can be a lot going on this time of year to contribute to

s.a.d. and psychotherapy can be helpful for that. >> as always, dr. gail saltz, great information. >> thank you. >> still to come this morning, switching gears, the hottest fashion trends to keep you looking cool this spring. and then later beyonce and jay-z welcome a baby girl. we have the details and the hollywood buzz. but first, these messages. but will it last 'til the end. it will is it's new lashblast 24hr with anti smudge power. [ male announcer ] through dining dancing drama break ups and make ups. the anti smudge formula holds on. who knew lashes this big and beautiful could last this long. [ male announcer ] new lashblast 24hr from covergirl. [ sofia ] don't you wish all endings could be this easy breezy beautiful. [ male announcer ] what if we could keep enough plastic waste to cover all of manhattan out of landfills each year?

the equivalent of 140 million trash bags, gone. by using new glad trash bags, designed with reinforcing bands to be stronger with less plastic waste, we can. ♪ it's a small change that can make a big difference. ♪ [ male announcer ] why do we grow quaker oats? because there are mountains to climb. ♪ dreams to be realized. ♪ new worlds to be explored and hearts to be won. quaker oats. energy to get you going, fiber to help fill you up and help keep your heart healthy. super people eat super grains.

[ shark 1 ] uh, steve. [ shark 2 ] yeah, the guy. with steve i tasted peanut butter and uh snickers. yeah, that's it! steve had just eaten snickers peanut butter squared. ohhhhh! steve was delicious. [ male announcer ] if you like peanut butter and chocolate, you'll love peanut butter and snickers. try snickers peanut butter squared. [ laughs ] [ laughs ] [ laughs ] that's awesome. you can read that? ♪ [ female announcer ] the accufit digital system, exclusively at lenscrafters... is about 5 times more precise than manual measurement techniques. lenscrafters. than manual measurement techniques. is this your normal? jamie lee curtis?? oh, hi, yes...wow, you really went all out on the decorations, huh?! yeah, but i'm so slow taking them down after all the fatty holiday food.

but that's normal. what do you mean that's normal? it doesn't have to be. to me, normal, means feeling good inside. not slow. try some activia. activia helps with occasional irregularity, when eaten 3 times a day. keep a video diary and let me know about your new normal. love your new normal or it's free.

still to come on "today," we're barely into winter and we are already looking ahead to spring fashions. >> mint green color blocking. we have the hottest trends coming up. >> and in today's kitchen, melt in your mouth short ribs with a mediterranean twist. yum. >> first we've got your local news and weather. sarah, will you marry me? i think we should see other people. in fact, i'm already seeing your best friend, justin. ♪ i would have appreciated a proactive update on the status of our relationship. who do you think i am, tim? quicken loans?

at quicken loans, we provide you with proactive updates on the status of your home loan. and our innovative online tools ensure that you're always in the loop. one more way quicken loans is engineered to amaze. because right now the mighty p'zone is just four bucks on mondays. a meaty, pepperoni, or supremo p'zone, stuffed with your favorite toppings and cheese, complete with marinara dipping sauce, is only four bucks on mondays. only at your pizza hut. can i have the definition? swapportunity: the opportunity to swap a higher calorie snack for a yoplait light. that's not a real word. oh haha it's real. [ female announcer ] delicious yoplait light at around 100 calories. do the swap today.

[ male announcer ]er ] get ready for somelight deli-style delic-ious-ity:. the subway big hot pastrami melt. take a moment to ponder tender cuts of pastrami, piled sky high atop your favorite freshly baked bread with spicy mustard, pickles and melt-a-licious cheese. okay, enough imagining how this fresh toasted number would tantalize your taste buds -- it's time to actually experience the subway big hot pastrami melt, built by the sandwich experts the way you love --

to per-fec-tion. subway. eat fresh. >> live, local, latebreaking. this is a wbal-tv 11 news update. >> we are starting off with a lot of clouds. it is a chilly start out there. temperatures many in the upper 20s. we will have hard time at warming up without the sunshine. showers come in from the south. maybe the sydney, is not

i'm more relaxed around him. my jaw stopped popping. listen. oh, my god, mustard came out my nose. >> the lovely and talented tina fey from "30 rock." she knows how to make us laugh. tomorrow she and jane krakowski will be here. not just one star but two. we have been waiting for the return of "30 rock." >> this doesn't look like what's being said to the kid is a good thing. >> every season it gets better. >> meanwhile in this half hour, it hasn't felt like spring -- or

it has actually. for me it felt like winter. we'll look at spring fashion from polka-dots to pastels and florals. we have colors and designs that are on trend for 2012. for normal people it's felt like spring because it's balmy. >> it has been. this last weekend especially. >> yes. >> last spring kate middleton became the duchess of cambridge. boy, what a year she's had. now she's turning 30. so how has she been marking the milestone? we have the dazzling details in a live report from london. >> i think i will do that with my wife. just walk with an umbrella. even if it's not raining. that's the way to go. >> nice. >> very classy. >> it is. your wife would love that move. >> we'll step into the kitchen with hot new york chef george mendez. we's whipping up comfort food. it sounds great. it's perfect for winter. braised short ribs.

oh. >> that's all we need this winter. >> oh. >> first, al, how about a check of the weather, if you can. >> braised short ribs. >> stop. you're giving me goosebumps. >> what it takes to give cameron goosebumps. >> there you go. want goosebumps? braised short ribs. in the early week period, much above normal temperatures throughout much of the country. but cooler in texas where we are looking for snow. in the mid-week period, rain along the east coast with warmer temperatures, above normal out west. in the latter part of the week below normal in the northeast with snow in the great lakes. above normal texas to northern nevada and warm from the plains into oklahoma. >> good morning. there's a big change in the weather pattern. a better chance for rain.

showers and that's your latest weather. >> thank you, al. up next from pastels to prints we have the hottest fashion trends for spring right after this. [ indistinct conversations ] come for a smoke? yeah. no. you telling me you quit? yeah, i'm on my way. i'm trying nicoderm cq. [ male announcer ] every time you say no to a cigarette, celebrate a little win with nicoderm cq, the patch with smart control technology that gives you a burst of nicotine in the morning then continues working for up to 24 hours so you can go from one little win to another. until you reach your goal. nicoderm cq. quit one day at a time.

until you reach your goal. it looks like he wants some gas. how's it going, gentlemen? what's up, man? gas prices keep going up. crazy, man. but seeing how i saved hundreds on car insurance with progressive, this tank's on me. we getting a whole free tank of gas. the dude from the progressive commercial, man, he just filled up our tank for us. appreciate it. take care. fill it up? free tank of gas. man, switch to progressive, dog. they doing a lot of good out here, man. tell him the messenger sent you. we went around the country asking women to speak frankly about something no one wants to talk about. it's time to get real about what happens in the bathroom. stop all the cutesy stuff. and start talking about what you really want from your toilet paper. it's time to talk about clean. feeling clean is so important. vo: quilted northern soft & strong is stronger than

the leading rippled brand to help protect against breakthrough. for myself, for my family, it keeps us clean. i use quilted northern. quilted northern soft & strong. protection for a confident clean or your money back. fresher less processed foods introducing freshpet recipes so fresh the only preservative we use is the fridge freshpet fresh food for fido absolutely. thank you so much. no problem. man: do your simple return with the turbotax federal free edition, and now get our free, one-on-one, expert tax advice, live by phone or chat. get the federal free edition, at turbotax.com. you squashed my willpower like a fly. you looked so innocent and so sweet. convinced my lips that we should meet. you were a relentless flirt. oh no we had indecent dessert. twinkle twinkle hope appears. a stevia leaf erased my fears.

it made my willpower a super hero. as for calories, it has zero. twinkle twinkle truvia® star, natural sweetness, i love just what you are. truvia®. honestly sweet. that's been wrapped in a flaky crust stuffed with a gooey center toasted up all golden brown then given a delicious design? a toaster strudel. pillsbury toaster strudel. so delicious...so fun. this morning on today's style, the hottest trends you will be seeing this spring. here with a sneak peek is the people style fashion director,

kate. good morning to you. you look lovely and spring-like in yellow. >> another trend. >> what do you predict will be the big change from 2011 to 2012? >> i think we are ready for fun. color from pastels to brights. prints. just enjoy. there's lots of fun clothes. >> girls just wanna have fun. >> right! >> let's start with the floral look here. >> big bold florals are a major trend. this dress is $25 from h & m. >> how do you rock it without looking like a rug? >> you have to choose neutral accessories. that's the important part of the look. another great aspect of what's going on with the print trend is mixing prints. >> oh! >> which brings me to our next trend polka-dots. major trend. what we love -- polka-dots are a spring staple. we love seeing them mixed together. we have this great gap top with

a skirt from tutti-frutti and the idea of mixing small dots with big dots. mix them with stripes, florals. have fun. mix it up. >> i notice the larger dots are on the bottom which most women would be afraid to wear. >> really? i think it's more flattering that way a. >> okay. >> that's my advice. >> next up, colorblocking. we have seen the trend in the past. last year it was popular. what's new this year? >> it's prie ee's brighter. you are seeing more of it in bold colors. this is a trend in both accessories and ready-to-wear. if you haven't tried it yet we recommend going first with accessories. that's the way to dip a toe in without going overboard. we love this bag from nellie bianco, shoes from 9 west. great ways to try the trend without going overboard. >> this is blue and green. it goes well together with the turquoise. when you mix it with clothes do

you go all over the place? >> if you're somebody who hasn't worn a lot of color yet i may recommend starting out with just accessories. >> dip a toe in. >> do the great all black or white look. you know, if you're comfortable, like yourself, wearing color, yeah. mix it up. anything goes this season. that's part of what's fun about spring. >> now i understand mint green is the color of the spring. why? >> well, pastels in general are very big. we feel like mint green is the freshest pastel out there. >> wow. >> rihanna recently wore a great look in mint green. it's a big trend now. >> and pastels are nice, but can we wear some of this now? is it too early? >> no, no. absolutely not. these shoes from seychelles, we love it. maybe it's early for a sandal, but a bag like this would be great with an all black look. >> and the yellow and green.

>> exactly. we love brights and pastels mixed together. it's something you never would have tried a year ago. it looks great now. >> i like it. moving on to the next trend which i think is the toughest. >> really? >> i do. metallic shoes. they can make your feet look really big. >> i have never heard that before. >> you heard it here first. >> i know. so the high gloss metallics are major this season. this is definitely a trend you could start wearing now. >> i love them. again, i think most women, we want to try something new but you want to do it right. >> in this case what we love about high gloss metallics now is the more casual shapes. >> nice. >> if you think it's making your feet look big, look for a certain silhouette. >> this is perfect. >> this is a sleeker look. it's going to not make your feet look bigger. even if you have an open-toe that will help. >> otherwise those are super

cute. >> i love them. >> great list. >> thank you. >> up next, the duchess who always is a trendsetter, kate middleton dazzles at a movie premiere as she marks the big 3-0 after this. [ female announcer ] what makes florida's natural orange juice taste so uniquely fresh and delicious? is it the rich florida soil? or the perfect blend of sunshine, rain, and temperature? maybe it's the fact that florida's natural oranges are never imported. they're raised right here in florida, and passed with care from our hands to yours. 100% pure. 100% florida. florida's natural.

100% florida. mid grade dark roast forest fresh full tank brain freeze cake donettes rolling hot dogs bag of ice anti-freeze wash and dry diesel self-serve fix a flat jumper cables 5% cashback right now, get 5% cashback at gas stations. it pays to discover. ♪ you are me i'm jennifer hudson, and i believe. i was strong before weight watchers, but i'm stronger with it. i believe weight watchers can do the same for you. i believe you have more power than you think you do. i believe because it works. ♪ if you want it, you got it your turn. your time. your year. join for free. weight watchers points plus 2012. because it works. not sure what to take?

click on the robitussin® relief finder. click on your symptoms. get your right relief. makes the cold aisle easy. robitussin®. relief made simple. ♪ eat well, live long

♪ have a good daisy, work out, get strong ♪ ♪ when you need a lift, just sing a song ♪ ♪ and have a good daisy ♪ have a good daisy with a natural treat ♪ ♪ have a good daisy, healthy foods to eat ♪ ♪ when you want some joy, dance to the beat ♪ ♪ and have a good daisy [ female announcer ] enjoy the fresh, 100% natural choice in cottage cheese. ♪ have a good daisy ♪ have a good daisy

she's married to her prince charming, dazzled on the red carpet and is one of the most beloved royals around the world. all this for duchess catherine middleton who just turned 30 today. michelle kosinski has more from buckingham palace. good morning. >> reporter: hey, natalie. it's been a life-changing year to say the least for the woman formerly known as kate middleton. now here comes 30. so how do you ring it in as a princess? in glittering style of course. kate has so much else going on, she doesn't even need to pay attention to it. a huge smile, gorgeous gown. now that's how to tell 30 who's boss. on the last night of her 20s, catherine and her friends walked the red carpet. no matter a little london rain for the premiere of "war horse." nor could anything up stage them.

not the horse or director steven spielberg. >> i'm excited to see them. i never met kate. i met william when he was very, very young. >> reporter: william and kate met with soldiers and veterans just as they and prince harry are starting a new initiative to help those returning from war. it has been quite a year for catherine. becoming a princess. the most photographed woman in the world, fashion icon, future queen. but she began her 29th year as kate middleton, the girl next door engaged to prince william. >> i hope to have a happy family ourselves. >> reporter: when the fairy tale wedding. her first appearances, charities, christmas with the queen, winning hearts around the globe. [ cheers and applause ] >> it's been the biggest year of her life, frankly. >> reporter: and now the big 3-0. >> the year ahead in her 30th year is going to be as big as

last year really for kate. 2012 mark's kate's inauguration, if you like, as a solo working royal. >> reporter: how to celebrate? the tabloids say fun-loving sibling style. that pippa and harry have planned an 80s themed bash for her inner circle. though she was born that decade, she's dressed the part before. a chance to party like it's 1989 or any time before the public eye. >> i would imagine as well there will be a beautiful gift from william. who knows? perhaps the queen may lend or give her crown jewels. we'll have to wait and see. >> reporter: that takes the sting out of 30, doesn't it? the birthday party will be low key, but the year coming up will be anything but. queen's jubilee, an asian tour, the olympics and all eyes on her belly. natalie? >> no pressure there whatsoever. michelle kosinski at buckingham palace, thank you so much.

30 is the best decade after all, right? up next in today's kitchen a dish that's a crowd pleaser. we're making short ribs with a mediterranean flair. first, this is "today" on nbc.

♪ this morning in today's kitchen, what's for dinner? short answer -- short ribs. george mendez is here in new york city serving up dishes with mediterranean influences from portugal, spain and france. he's been named one of the best new chefs of 2011. great to have you. >> thanks for having me. >> this is the perfect time of year for this. >> yes, it is. cold weather. >> it's a simple dish. >> very much so. >> you just let it go. >> season it, add vegetables, red wine, stock, put it in the oven. lots of love. >> lots of love.

>> lots of love in the process. >> so what do we have? >> season it with salt evenly on both sides. like so. then fresh pepper. >> mm-hmm. some recipes you coat them with flour. you don't? >> no. we have a nice coating of fat. fat is flavor. right? >> mm-hmm. >> heavy cast iron pot. >> this is going into the oven. >> that's right. these are your tongs. you can give me a hand here. >> how long do you brown them? >> a good five minutes. a minute on each side, all four sides. >> so it browns up. >> exactly. >> you end up with this. so you're not thinking of cooking. you want a brown flavor on it. >> a nice brown color all around develops the flavor. >> what's next? >> over here we have root vegetables. celery root, carrot, parsnips

and a bouquet of herbs with bay leaf, rosemary, thyme and peppercorns. >> what's next? >> add the tomato paste. turn up the heat like so. >> why tomato paste? >> tomato paste gives you a nice level of acidity and flavor. another layer of flavor. >> all right. >> so you cook that, but not all the way through. >> it cooks for a minute just to cook out the rawness. >> i notice you have a bottle of wine here. >> we have the red wine. it's got your name on it. >> just in? >> just enough to cover the vegetables. that's good. >> you sure? >> yep. >> a little bit more. keep going. >> there you go. >> is this chicken stock? >> that's beef stock. first take the ribs that are browned and put them into the pot here. >> into the pot. >> yeah. you're hired. >> thank you.

we have a position. you've got it going on here. two things. >> trying to multi task. >> bring up the heat. reduce the red wine by half. >> okay. so you cook it until you've got half the -- >> cook the rawness of the alcohol out. >> oh, wow. >> then add your beef stock. >> do you want to cover -- >> no, about a third up the side of the beef. >> okay. mm. >> like so. >> what's going on here? >> quince. the lovely quince. >> i have never seen raw quince. i have always seen quince paste, but it's reddish. >> that's the cooked form. the raw fruit that's grown all a over the world and it's very starchy. it needs to be cooked. we have cooked it in vanilla bean syrup. now we'll take the lid. >> right. that goes into a 375 a-degree

oven. >> how long do they cook? >> about four hours. >> do you have to check it from time to time? >> it's good just to go in there and just baste them. nice to get in and talk to it. >> what do you say to it? >> hello, baby. daddy loves you. >> you succulent short ribs you. >> daddy's giving you a bath. >> give it a kiss as well. >> mwa! >> makes it that much more tender. >> we have the poached quince here. we'll put them here. >> what's that in the pot? >> this is the cooking liquid. after the four hours are up, put it in the pot, reduce it down for a strong glaze. that goes right on top of the ribs. >> beautiful. >> delicious. >> nice and shiny. >> like short rib frosting. >> yeah. >> really happy here. >> hold on a second.

>> dig in, al! oh, my goodness. >> you may want to cut them a little bit. >> get in there. >> more after your local news.