>> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today" with kathie lee gifford and hoda kotb live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. yes! it is winesday wednesday, december 23rd, and just two more days until christmas. >> i can't believe it. ready and we'll say no man >> boy, can she sing. we have a great love story to tell you about.

of people come to the plaza, but one couple in particular who we have singled out happened to have a chance meet ing ing outside, and it turned to love, and we and just great. and if the holiday stress is zapping your energy, we have you goi continues all week with straight no chaser a capella news will perform. >> we have great news. >> well, i do, too, and i the think that mine is bet ter, but maybe not. and thanks to all of you, we hit the donation mark for good gift, and more than 7,# 100 books have been sold to bring a total of

and so all of that money is going to the salvation army and for all of those people ringing the kettles, and it is to make and it is to order good gifts book.org, and bless you, too, for doing it. >> and how great. and more good news. all right. we like to have an tis paying. here it is. if you are stress ed ed out in the holidays and you have gotten from memory. >> it does. >> it takes a huge effort to free yourself from memory. and you know how something bothers you and you can't get it out of the head. >> and you know when you have been deeply hurt, and you have been able to forget, but you still remember.

the guy who wrote "the al alchemist." and remember, yesterday we posted a a picture of y osef because he is single and still searchin hey! >> hey! >> and for the first part, that part was really running for and i am happy to say they did raise my fund-raising goal thanks to you. and everybody else is very happy. my mom is battling multiple myeloma and i am running in march, and that is the primary reason. >> and that is just great.

he got proposals. >> and some very interesting pictures. mom, i promise it. >> we love you. >> all right. good luck on the rest. >> and now, finish the lyr kw how well people knew christmas songs so we sent donna adorable out on the streets to finoc tree ochristmas tree >>. i am so happy it is christmas go christmas tree o christmas tree >> oh, no. >> okay. hark the herald angels sing fa la la la la la la >>.

>> you don't know deck the halls? >>. jingle bells jingle bells jingle all of the way and oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh and heaven and nature sing >> yes! >> good job, donna. >> she has an interesting singing voice our star donna has. it is interesting and memorable, and you will never forget it. it is just lovely. >> i don't think that i have ever heard her sing. >> now, we are going to be singing guess the christmas e including us don't know them very well. so we are going to -- what do we do? >> they are -- show the lyric. >> no, we are going to listen or

>> we are doing to shoit we will see how many. >> and may all of the christmases be white. >> white christmas. >> how does people at at home know what we are doing? here are the lyrics. and the mistletoe and -- >> and may all of your christmas be white. t is white christmas, too. >> toe! >> and i'll be home for christmas. t home. pumpkin pie and some c oh. and carolling >> oh, it is the travel one -- i'm going to grandmas or all of that -- >> and later with e will have pumpkin pie. [ buzzer ] >> rocking around -- i sneed the music. >> you don't h.

aaglow >> it is beginning to look like christmas. >> say h you know. >> have a holly jolly christmas. >> good for you whoever yelled it out. oh, my favorite. >> you are to tell people. >> have yourself a merry little christmas. >> this not fup for the home viewer. >> okay. this will be though. >> and we v have other good news, the third piece of good news. "my big fat greek wedding" it is coming out for a sequel. >> so much fun. >> so to celebrate, we want to t camera positions. opa! >> opa! sorry jerry and the guys.

and check out the sequel poster itisl it, everybody from the original. in the new fill m they discover that the 1946 wedding didn't it never got signed so they are >> and rdex. >> and she wrote that, and i did not know it, but the original fi n her an oscar for "my big fat greek wedding." >> and we are so happy for her. >> and something happened at a

and the fight started and now listen. we wish you a merry christmas we wish you a merry christmas we wish you a merry christmas and a happy new year >> oh, my god. i mean, we shouldn't laugh, because it is a atrocious behavior. >> it is a hockey game. >> and if you saw more of it like we did on t w umpires, the referees doing? >> just skating around. >> why did they let them fight? >> it is part of it. >> they don't break it up. >> until they grab. >> anyway, that is good and the singing was excellent, and somebody lost one of his teeth yesterday in one of the hockey matches. >> it happens. >> you know what, the national hockey leagu has bp trying to the reduce the fighting allegedly. >> that is jack edwards there.

>> and now, on this video was post posted with a little boy holding his little baby brother and 62 million views since friday. >> do you love him? can i have him? >> no. me want to hold him. >> oh, he is so sweet. >> oh, how precious. >> oh, he keeps kissing him. >> can ile the you not to make about me, but i'm about to. that brings back a million memories. cody was the same way with cassidy, and it is a blessinyo that you know how much you are going to love your children, but you don't know how much you are go g ing to love them loving each other.

kissing her head. is precious. >> they will have a bond those two for the rest of their lives. know that you two have been having fun may you won't spot him today, but who knows, maybe you will. and some celebrities have been kardashians. >> and this this one, the elves are rolling ar rolls. what is more fun than that. >> and here they are. >> and here they are watching n" tog with her other son. >> where is that? >> it is there. >> and it is sad that we can't bring it to you. >> and we won't see the elf on a shelf because of the graphic situation. situation. is in "people" magazine and they wanted her to free associate giving one-word answers, and i don't know what they are, so let's see what she says.

>> i didn't do it. happiness, and hoda said morn g morning. s a not sunsets. i like the beginnings. >> love, and you said -- >> joel. >> wow. that wouldn't have happened last year, and this is nice. they gave you kathie lee, and you said -- >> faithful. >> that going to make me cry. and twitter, and you said addicted. and the last one was guilty pleasure, and you said -- >> cookies, but it could have been one of many things. >> cute. so go "peop and see what hody had to say. >> i want to give a shout out to meg row who is a o show, and she is battling lung cancer, and we want her to know that we send our prayers and love to her, and she is a

friend s friends and i had the chance to e ph praying for you, and love you, honey. >> and cue kudos to our friend eric hill who is battling. >> yes shgs , we love eric. >> and love you,sweeti and praying for you. okay okay. >> and have you feltth got up and went? >> i am still looking. >> we will wake up donna adorable, and we have a winter wakeup call gi is e going to be singing. good m we're only human. we rely on our courage. the kind of courage that shows up when we need it... and when cancer is least expecting it. courage. just one reason more of us are surviving cancer than dying from it. give now to the

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between the cooking, the cleaning, the shopping and watching, it's easy to feel like you can't take another step. >> there's no better time to put energy boosters into work than now. here with hour-by-hour help is the health direct of "family circle" magazine, lydia floyd. wouldn't we all love some more energy. >> absolutely. >> wake up adorable and feel

>> yes. >> what are the abcs? what's the first thing little donna should do when she gets up. >> when she hops out of bed, give me ten, ten squats, push-ups, lunges. so the nice thing about this is it's easy, fast, exercise enhances blood flow. it pushes oxygen throughout your body. you'll get a lift all morning >> just ten. >> just ten. >> she didn't have the to go to the gym. ten. >> then what? >> aroma therapy behind her. >> okay. >> there are certain scents like peppermint that will give you a boost of energy. jasmine during the day. if you can get that into your toothpaste, lotion, body wash. that will absolutely give you the lift you need. >> that wakes you up. >> easy, right? >> you can do the things i do

>> we're moving on to breakfast. make smart choices. nutritionists say you want a nice balance of healthy carbs, fats and proteins. a nice smoothy that balances all of those instead of a doughnut or something. that will make your blood sugar crash. that will make you tired. you don't want that. you want energy throughout the day. oops. >> that was awesome. >> you have such good reflexes. >> good save. >> all right. >> here's what you're expecting. coffee? here's the unexpected part. this coffee. >> this is the last one for me. >> people want to pop out of bed immediately. wait until about 9:30. do some of the tricks that we had -- >> 9:30? >> not gonna happen! >> thank you. >> give it a shot. >> i have a question. a lot of people would say you should have one full glass of

you're dehydrated through the night. >> throughout the day -- we'll get to that. yes, hydration is important because one of the signs of dehydration is feeling tired. >> when i wake up i drink a full glass. i feel much more awake after that water than before. >> we get up so much earlier than normal people. >> we get up in the middle of the night. >> a squeeze of lemon in there. what about coffee? >> stick of gum. >> it's refreshing, gives you a perk. >> here's one that's a little different. we're calling it the wonder woman pose. all right? you'll stand like this. hands on your hips. chest puffed out a little bit. >> that's right. >> chin out, research has shown this gives you a boost of testosterone. >> standing like wonder woman? >> absolutely. you get up out of your chair. we all feel it. don't you? >> yes. >> we're trying. >> here comes the water you were talking about. >> iced water. >> ice water. it's almost the equivalent of splashing your face with water. here's a healthy indulgence for

instead of digging into a brownie or cupcake or something like that, little square of chocolate. that's going to give you -- >> stop with one. >> stop with one. >> i can't. >> savor it. >> here's one i think we all know about. >> funky dance party. >> music. music. it gets you going. >> did i do that right? >> if it gets going. i thought i tapped properly. maybe not. >> there we go. right? everybody knows how music can give you a nice boost. >> when you're stressed out it can calm you down. who doesn't get down to mariah, right? >> over and over and over again. >> i love it. it's one of my favorite christmas songs. green tea in the afternoon really perfect boost as well, gives you caffeine, a nice little umph and it's not too much. coffee can have more caffeine than green tea. last but not least. a little massage around your ear lobes. for about 30 seconds. >> all right.

in your body. >> thank you so much, sweetie. >> they were two strangers before they stepped on to our plaza, now they are so much more. >> we'll meet the happy couple. can't wait. first, these messages. lity to solve the world's greatest challenges. this is why we search for the best and brightest. why we train for every eventuality on land and water, in the air, space and even cyberspace. we operate in a complex world with one simple mission. win. olive garden' s all-new flavorfilled pastas, with raviolis so nice we filled them twice. bursting with indulgent flavors like chicken marsala ravioli, an irresistible twist on an old favorite. plus unlimited salad and breadsticks. for a limited time.

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veterans' healthcare. bernie sanders. a consistent, principled, and effective leader. building a future to believe in. sanders: i'm bernie sanders and i approve this message. >> it is winesday wens dnesday and we are getting ready to play a our trivia game called "who knew" are about to test your christmas knowledge. kathie lee is across the street and ready to hand out $# 100 for those who get it right and her signed cd for those who don't. >> "sentimental." >> and here with me is will pierce who is author of "mental gloss." >> each ye on december 23rd,

create nativity scenes made out of this, doe nuts or radishes or legos? >> well, it is radishes. it is amazing and thousands of people come up to see all of the beautiful creations which started with shopkeepers trying to entice people into their stores. >> and denmark does not have just santa, but they have these, a devilish elf who will play tricks on families unless they leave him his favorite food -- rice pudding, chocolate cake or >> rice pudding. >> well, it seemed like a guess. >> but they are right. and this goes back to the scandinavian farming folklore

rice pudding, because that is something that you do not want to anger, bau the they are there to protect the livestock and help the chores if you are nice to them, but if not, the pranks are ugly. >> back over to you kathie lee. >> what -- did you say indiana? close. and this is a christmas day hot spot in japan, mcdonald's, pizza hut or kentucky fried chicken. >> mcdonald's? >> she wanted the cd. >> the correct answer there is kentucky fried chicken. kfc. >> yes, tha ey have convinced people there in japan since the '7s to show up on christmas day, and a sign that the christmas day has arrived when the commercials come on, and you have to have reservations because there are lines out of the door. >> for kfc. thank you. kathie lee. >> in great britain, some

to send this letter to santa -- roll it up in a bottle, place it in the bottom of the fireplace or place it on the window sill. >> window sill. >> good day for me. >> and it is that the back of the fireplace for santa coming down the chimney. >> and yes, it is neat, because the santa can read what the wishes are through the smoke are from the fire. >> clever and smart. okay. kath, over to you. >> from kentucky, icelander children were naughty over the past year, what might they receive instead of a present, a potato, spinach or carrots? >> a potato. >> darn! >> she has it right. a potato. >> it is, and you know, there are 13 santas in iceland and so it is nice that they have that and the kids as athey they are leading up to christmas place them on

have been bad, tha ey get a potato. >> and now, charlottesville. and now, in italian folk lohr, a character named befana brings gifts of good cheer to children, and what is bef a ana? >> a good witch. >> yes, and he is still celebrating. a good celebration over there. and so he does bring presents like santa claus, and a lump of coal for those who have been bad. >> thank you very much, and merry christmas to you and your fam family. >> thank you very much o why the plaza has such special meaning from one couple, and we will also have a song are from straight no me to reach my goals. my doctor told me

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the world famous a capella group straight no chase ser currently on tour with their new cd called "old fashioned." >> they are singing one of the yuletide favorites with "o holy night night." straight no chaser. ooh ooh ooh o holy night the stars are brightly shining it is a night of the savior's birth

to be appear ed ed at his word the will of hope the weary world rejoices for yonder a new and glorious morn fall on your knees hear the angels' voices oh night divine o night divine when christ was born onight divine

o night divine oh yes oh, yes the thrill of hope the weary world rejoices for yonder pray a new and glorious morn fall on your knee s s o hear the angel voices o night divine o night when christ was born

o night o night divine ooh yes ooh yes holy night holy night oh yes, ooh yes holy night holy night noid oh, yeah >> i have not hearit that way. >> wow. >> gorgeous. >> and we will have an engaging and hip conversation with a couple who started as

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pretty woman who came to the plaza with her mom and daughter. >> and it wato-do list. and so they came to the look u through the window. >> and little di that her prince charm g ing was feet away. >> and in fact, sho of them was caught by our cameras. if you look closely, you can see them in the shot. >> yes, they are the ones that are not fuzzy. and guess what h fuzzy to me. >> well, they exchanged phone turned into calls. the first night they talked for three hours, and then it turned into a date, and well, we will let you tell them. >> and they are jen mendez and lane snow. >> welcome, welcome. and a couple of year s s, you are out here coming to the today peek in the window. >> we wanted to be the stalker people. the bucket list say we went to the "today" show. and what happened? >> well, i came into new york

friday and she had never been to new york. >> so you were with a girl? >> so when you were on the plaza, did you hear him notice him? >> well, it is just like this. >> i said, it is my lifelong dream to meet kathie lee. >> no shgs , the way you really said it. >> oka cranky, and i said, oh, it is my lifelong dream the meet kathie lee. >> and i said, i just didn't even skip a beat, and i said, i'm so glad that we are here while you are realizing your lifelong dream. >> and so then you started to chat? >> i used to live in t town where she grew up. >> yes, after i was gone. >> and my old boss from where i use used to work there graduated in class. and i sang with together. and i sang with his boss >> this is god wink stuff.

>> and so, we were doing a radio show and we were talking about conversation icebreakers and you called up and you said, by the way, i met the guy at the plaza, and it is an amazing kind of 180, wasn't any. >> yes. and he gave me satellite radio for my christmas gift and i was driving to my parents listening to hoda at 2:00 p.m. on wednesday. >> so there are people listening! you never know because they don't do ratings so is you don't kn i can move from the car to the office, too. >> and so when did it go from dating to you proposed? >> yes, i did. we have been together fo n six years. >> six years. >> and so i proposed a couple of years ago, and we were actually at her daughter's college in newport, and so i proposed to e her, and the mascot of the coll came over while i proposed.

stories and i hope that you t quickly, when you brought him home, you asked her a question, and can you tell worried to meet her folk, because i was worried about, obv a mixed couple, and so my concern was, that and she put me to eas quickly. >> and he said, is your dad going to have a problem with me? >> i said, what? >> and he said because i'm black. >> and i said, my dad isn't going to care that you are black, but h y are a giants' fan. >> lifelong. >> we are big eagles' fans. >> and by the i wash, happy and so we thought that you should celebrate, and so you out some cake, and >> come on out. >> and we will have some gifts for you. this is our favorite thing, and we have some of the wine that we drink here on our show.

book, and she has another one coming out, and one of my cd albums. >> i have the new book on order. >> i will give you one. >> and you know what we would like to make one suggestion? >> yes. >> and we would like to offer that we host your wedding right he on the plaza when you are finally ready to do it. >> i'm in. >> is it a deal? >> can our pastor come with us. >> done. >> can i wear the giants' jersey? >> no. >> and real quick, are you happy to see your mom this way? >> of course of course. i am happy to see her happy. >> and so in 2016, which hope that you become husband and wife rit here on the plaza. and i will sing, what the heck. >> it is my lifelong dream.

>> we will find out with some

a shoutout to the facebook friends who have spotted the elf. here is l.j. he found row jis egis regis. way to go, l.j. >> and thet.j. >> and beth swanson and her son both found them. >> and haley found regis hide ing in the scarf. >> that is not an easy one. d we hope that mckenna is home feeling sick, but we hope she is better. but she was home when she spotted him. >> and if you spot him, take a him, and we will miss him, and we will have him back in the new year. and now, tomorrow, we will h edition of "ambush makeover."

>> inspectors are on hand at a chipotle restaurant blamed for making dozens of college students sick. >> governor charlie baker answering if big questions. going one on one with our political editor andy hiller. >> and it's a real-life elf on the shelf. see why this little guy is going viral.

>> coming you wonderful, crazy mornings. we figure you probably don't have time to wait on hold. that's why at xfinity we're hard at work, building new apps like this one that lets you choose a time for us to call you. so instead of waiting on hold, we'll call you when things are just as wonderful... [phone ringing] but a little less crazy. we're doing everything we can to give you the best experience possible. because we should fit into your life. not the other