♪ from nbc news, this is "today" with kathie lee gifford and hoda kotb, live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >> it is try me friday, everybody. >> yeah. >> made it to that special day. hope you're going to have a great, great, great weekend. july 18th. >> already. >> you have a hamptons i think in your future. >> i might have. >> might run into a kardashian or two. they're around. i'll have a nice quiet weekend. i thought i had a trip planned to california. last minute. it was canceled. >> don't you kind of love when that happened? >> as much as i love california,

i really love it in the winter. summertime, i like to stay home. >> spectacular weekend. if you like saving money. >> i do. >> doing things yourself, this show is for you. we will have a ton of ways you can do things yourself and not break the bank and all very, very important. >> okay, good. all right. so it's the week. right? >> yeah. >> might have the child's piano lessons. >> sometimes at a soccer game or lesson and they're not that good at it. >> awful. >> not very good but they love it. mommy, i love piano bang, bang, bang. do you say to your daughter, honey, you are not that good, let's find something else or encourage them because they have a love of the instrument or the t wtever? and that's a question that came up in that social column. >> what's your gut tell you? if your child doesn't have talent but enjoys it, what would

you suggest? >> the age has a lot to do with it. when children are young and love something, let them do it. half of what finding out what you are in life finding out what you aren't. >> let them do it. >> if it drives you crazy with the violin, find a quiet place. as long as they enjoy it. worse thing is to force kids they hate. say your daughter or your son wants to be a professional singer and they are just not talented, and that point i would suggest -- i would take them to an expert and have the expert tell them that this is something that they don't particularly have talent at. wouldn't come from you. a third party. now what i did when i was younger, my sister was a great actress. i'm a singer. i thought i could be a great singer and went to my sister's voice teacher, me said, stick to harmony. it made me so angry. that it didn't -- it put a fire

-- >> feeding your premise. >> no, i'm not. >> you just said -- >> the expert will either tell you the truth or their sense of the truth and make you -- if you don't have what it takes in this business for one person to criticize you, get out now. they're doing you a favor. >> okay. so here's what i think. >> i wasn't quite finished but go ahead. >> is there more? continue. >> no. >> i think i used to want to be a cartoonist. look. all the way through nonstick as a kid. this is exactly the guy that i draw. >> that's the only guy you draw. >> i draw the same guy all the time. >> all the time. >> there he is. >> from that you thought you could be -- >> comic books full of them. i wasn't talented. i saw the same guy. i loved it. i used to wake up and draw the guy. hair on the guy. make it a girl. >> did you ever try other guys? >> no. that guy. i loved that guy. >> he has a name? >> no. he didn't. i had comic books full. if my mom said, that's not a

good thing, i would have depressed. i wanted to be a cartoonist. it didn't work out. >> let -- if the child wants it later on in life and -- >> my mother is not a cartoonist expert. >> you go to an artist. somebody that know what is they're talking about. >> i don't know people. okay. >> it worked for my kids. okay? it did. it worked very, very well. >> phil says this. wait. what was the question? i don't remember. i'm confused. wait. >> should you tell your child to turn -- >> i know. but what's the -- what was the specific? >> who cares? >> i care. wait. oh. >> the kid with a lousy poet. i'm sorry. nothing works with poetry. >> the dad -- wait. >> the father said should i tell

the kid his poetry stinks? no, don't do that. >> as i said! >> find something supportive to say if only to admire the hard work. >> a college professor said i wouldn't make it in this business and looking at me in college and part of our job is looks. i mean, i, you know, i didn't look the part. but whatever. and i remember he said that and i thought about his voice was in my head. terrible thing to have in your head going through life trying to make it. sometimes -- >> builds character. >> sometimes it's debilitating. i took it as another one of those. >> it made you the person you are today. you know? >> right. >> if you don't have what it takes, forget talent, your constitution, inner constitution, someone is doing you a kindness keeping you from years and years of agony in this business. >> i do think one thing you need in this business and some business, some is talent but most of it is stamina. you have to stick to it. the producers here know that.

a lot of them have toiled and toiled. the camera crew, everybody. >> except for rope. >> rope hasn't worked a day in his life. it's try-day friday. >> i don't think we shared -- don't do it. tell him something. in other words, just -- oi who cares? all right. why does it take until 2014 to come up with what we're about to show you on tri-day friday? >> i don't know. this is brilliant. >> you know a fitted sheet on your bed? look what they have done. look what they have done on this. >> who is -- >> i don't know. >> first product. dormafy.com. >> was it all right before? and then moved it. >> it says short side. >> and then it says over here, long side. >> long side. >> so that way you know the long side instead of doing what you do and pull it, is it big enough?

>> how much extra do we spend for this? they can go between $59 and $99. >> normal. >> i don't remember the last time i bought sheets. ♪ >> okay. we want to do happy music. spotify is revealing songs that fit your mood. okay? so here it is. the music service worked with a professor of cognitive psychology and -- >> my brain hurts. >> anyway. whatever. here it is. if you want to cheer up, please play this song. katy perry's "birthday." i think that's right. ♪ all right. if you need just a shot of optimism, try "best day of my life." i love this song. >> i love this song. do they have another hit after that?

>> they're still new. >> okay. >> so if you like -- if you're feeling nostalgic -- >> oh, sentimental. >> this song -- john legend. ♪ ♪ loves all of you you >> not nostalgic. that's romantic. ♪ >> i love it. it is good. if i want to feel nostalgic and sentimental, i sing "journey" by doris day. ♪ going to take a sentimental journey ♪ yeah. okay. >> okay. "wake me up" if you're feeling excited. ♪ good workout song. you're on the thing. go. go. you're on the machine. all right. now, what do we like to put us in a good mood? you know what kathie lee likes. >> i like this one. ♪ barry manilow, i adore you! >> and i'm -- this is mine. this is just the first few notes of this one and you know it

right away. ♪ happy clap along >> got a little bounce. a little bounce. ♪ clap along >> all right. you know what day it is. >> friday. >> friday funny time. they're not that great. >> okay. >> here are some fun hot weather jokes for the little ones. >> okay. >> okay? why do bananas use sunscreen? because they peel. what did the pig say at the beach on a hot day? i'm bacon. >> that is cute. >> what does a sun drink out of, hoda? sunglasses. >> yeah! i'm going to tell those. >> they're cute. >> it is time for the johnson's baby announcements, new moms and additions to their families. first baby of the week born in virginia may 24th. kirby ray cox. his parents teresa and kenneth have this advice. try not to stress.

accidents happen. don't freak out. >> good advice. next is little boy of maverick michael rollings. he was born in durham, north carolina, june 5th. he had so much hair, look at him. >> i love him. >> that is daddy adam styling it into a mohawk and now a trademark look. >> next baby of the week is brooklyn shirley-mae kiesby and born in california. her parents say that she's a very alert baby and -- >> beautiful. >> always observing the world around her. >> the final baby of the week is anna elizabeth quester. born in cleveland, ohio, june 25th. her parents caitlin and logan offer the advice many do. sleep when the baby sleeps. get it while you can. >> congrats to the babies. to submit your baby for a johnson's baby of the week, go online. a quick happy birthday to my assistant's daughter katie to works here and wish her a happy,

happy birthday. great girl. >> she sure is. >> to add prep space to the kitchen? >> so much. >> we'll do show you how to do and other easy home upgrades. if you don't speak french, learn the language and just about anything else without leaving your house. >> that and much, much more right after this. i'll go make a bed. ♪ you fiftcar insurance. more on yeah, everybody knows that. well, did you know that playing cards with kenny rogers gets old pretty fast? ♪ you got to know when to hold'em. ♪ ♪ know when to fold 'em. ♪ know when to walk away. ♪ know when to run. ♪ you never count your money, ♪ when you're sitting at the ta...♪ what? you get it? i get the gist, yeah. geico. fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent or more on car insurance.

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we are back with ways to learn just about anything. we're talking about youtube, the place most of us go to find music and viral videos. >> some of the best videos on the site are tutorials to learn something useful like a foreign language. >> or a new talent like juggling. and here to show us some of the best is vana aston. >> beautiful. >> you look like george clooney's fiancee. >> thank you. >> so there's everything out there that you need? >> yes. you can pretty much find a tutorial on it -- >> that's frightening. >> let's say somebody wanted to learn french. >> there's a channel for that. you can learn a variety of different languages on youtube. you can do this but it's japanese or italian or french. >> let's take a look at one of the youtube videos to see how it works. ♪

>> let's start by the very beginning with some greetings. bonjour et bien -- >> so pretty. >> am i supposed to learn it? >> there you go. >> that was excellent. >> so -- you're bilingual. >> excellent. there you go. nice thing of youtube is no one can tell how many times you watched the video. watch it again and again. >> the way i gauge whether or not it's a good video is lots and lots of clicks and i assume a lot of people have been there and gone to things and looked for guitar lessons and saw something with not a lot of hits. >> if you look at the subscribers, a lot of experts have people that follow them and come back time and time again. for example, if you want to learn a sport or a skill, there's this -- >> juggling? >> including juggling. let's take a look. >> okay. >> start by practicing throwing one ball back and forth in a nice arc.

add another ball. throw a bam as before and throw the ball underneath it to land in the other hand. put two balls in the dominant hand and one in the opposite hand. toss the balls just as before but add a third throw right before the second ball comes down. >> let's try it. >> now we're ready. >> very easy. >> what is it? >> throw one up. >> and then third comes down -- >> you will have -- >> you got it! you practiced. >> all right. >> do you know what? >> do you know how many times i've watched it? >> one more time. >> yeah. i have a few hours watching that video again and again. >> one minute more. >> a couple more. >> this next channel is from grant thompson, the king of random and teaches things like kitchen hacks and tips and tricks to learn to make things smoother. >> kiwi are hard to peel.

let's watch how he does it on youtube. >> oh my gosh! that is genius. >> usually peel them and takes a -- forever. >> takes the kiwi. you can save most of the kiwi and just put the spoon -- >> be careful. >> the riper the easier. >> this is not very ripe. wow. >> pop it out and cut it up for a salad. >> thank you so much. >> how cute is she? >> adorable. >> adorable. we'll be back right after this. ♪ he has been called energizing, electrifying and unaware of personal boundaries. and now he's here to explain one product that does two things. beroccaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

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time now for a special diy edition of bobbie's buzz and how to create expensive looks at a fraction of the price. >> bobbie thomas is here to show us how to add pizazz to what we have. >> hey, girl. >> before i married michael i was in my michael's craft for years and now my boyfriend and now showing you how to turn something into a metallic item of any kind. >> okay. all right. >> this is a little black dress similar to something somebody might have at home and this is foiling. easy technique and you just brush the foil on to any fabric or even glass surface or wood and other examples here. you can do it with a free tote you get from the grocery store or shopping store and i made it more hip and funky with the distressed metallic. >> what is in this?

>> this is an example of the store right now that you can buy it or diy it. this is a great metallic knit. this is the look. >> what you do is -- a cheat is a double stick tape. apply it to any surface and then you'll take your foil transfer sheet like this. or the edge of anything. usually buying stuff at store it is so expensive and buy it for less than $15 a yard sometimes

el bellish ee ee ee eed at the can really buy this for less than 15 tlar a yard. with barbara she's got a cardigan on. this is just a plain cardigan and we added this great fringe to the bottom. >> you glued it? >> you can do a velcro technique but this one we hand showed. >>s so that chic. >> this is one my favorite insider tricks. for years i've always wanted to get double duty out of my dresses. here is a little tip. make two small hole in the side of your seam. i put this ribbon through two holes in the seam, all you have to do is take a ribbon or singe.

you will see that this creates a really great draped affect. the best part of about this is that you can actually watch -- you can let it go right back to the way it was. so you get two dresses out of one. this was at tj max. only 14.99. >> show stopping centerpieces with the help of danny. we actually do love him after your local news. don't tell him, though. >> corey is proud to serve his country. when his humvee was blown up in iraq, doctors didn't think corey would survive his injuries. when i see the kids and corey together, it's heartwarming because they accept him for what he is. >> my dad is a super hero.

>> i read to him. when i see hi, dad smile i'm happy. >> your gift to wounded warrior project can help provide critically needed programs and services that rebuild lives. >> i think it's very important for people to support the wounded warrior projectment for $19 a month, you give a family hope. >> our heroes have returned home and the way may have slipped from the headlines but the ongoing needs of the wounded and their families will continue for many years to come. >> sometimes i help my dad walk. he puts his hands on my shoulders. >> call or go online with a monthly pledge. you will receive this wounded warrior project blanket. >> i want the whole world to be able to meet corey because he's someone that has never given up. i'm really proud of my dad. really proud. now is the time to show your support. you can honor and empower those

who have sacrificed so much for us. being together with other wounded warriors for corey's sake, to be around care givers for my sake is amazing. just that sense of not being alone because that feeling of being alone was probably the hardest thing. for many of our warriors, the greatest casualty is being forg forgott forgotten. don't let that happen. please, make that call or go online right now. ♪ we are back with more of "today" on this tri me friday and coming to home improvements you don't need a lot of money far noticeable boost. >> whether you want to add an island to the kitchen or change the bathroom tiles, kevin o'connor host of "this old house" has simple upgrades to take on yourself. >> you have two shows? >> i have two shows. just one for you guys? >> oh, no. >> awkward. >> awkward.

>> sorry. no, no. >> so how do you make an island? >> everyone loves an island. great surface area up here for prep. great storage underneath. maybe you don't have an island and want a cheap upgrade. we have an old dresser. found, right? salvage yard and on top of it butcher block. >> how do you secure it? >> pull out the drawer. imagine the top is this. drill a hole through it bigger than your screw and then screw a washer through there so you're going up into the bottom side and then a walk around the perimeter. >> we love it when you say that. >> you could put casters on it. might raise it up tall. hoda height. >> yeah. >> 80 bucks for the butcher block. instant island. >> very smart. >> so imagine you have a bathroom, the tile looks in good

shape but it's a bad color. >> yeah, yeah. >> green. i don't know when that works. black, when was that good? >> coming back. there you have it. >> wait for it. >> you and your two shows. >> i'll do a show about it. >> never should have said it. >> no. >> the tile's in good shape, changing the color, a couple paint products for specifically going over tile. >> good. >> this is my home max. there's one by rustoleum. >> one coat? >> yeah. clean it up. you clean it up. you give a little bit of abrasive. look at you. maybe three shows in you future. >> does the matter? >> you will cover it all. a whole bunch of colors. $25. >> kevin will clean it up. >> she has anotherw how to clean it up. >> oh no. >> next. >> clean up the colors. >> anybody can do this? one coat? >> one coat. all done in a day. >> wow. >> we are excited about a rubber

floor. i just -- >> the rubber walls, too? >> who wants a rubber floor? >> imagine the old one is dated. don't have the time to take it out. buy the rubber tiles. slap them down. connect them and there's the base board. a bull nose. >> holds up for two or three years. >> in a kid's rec room maybe. >> she can't help it. >> ready. home office? you don't have the room. 100 bucks. an old closet. filled with junk? take it out. look at that. >> wow! >> huh? >> now you have redeemed yourself. >> upper shelf is probably already there. take out the door. put in a floating shelf. this is plywood. the chair, the work center. >> ready. >> send me a thank you e-mail. >> thank you, sweetie. >> oh wow.

little arrogant but we find him charming. >> all right. what do we have next? >> elegant flower arrangements. >> turn those seashells you have been collecting all summer into statement pieces. mimuppets: it looks so good.... animal : no flavour! kermit: when it's time to eat together... animal: sooorry. kermit: do everyone a favour, serve a drink that has real flavour. lipton fresh brewed iced tea is the natually refreshing way to enjoy your meals. it's the flavour we all savour, does any food a favour. gotta be more tea! tea-riffic liption. be more tea. muppets most wanted, on blu-ray and digital august 12th. you just can'tider a 4-star know the name?p to 60% off, just no name? until you book. um... yeah, i'd do that! ♪ this is mark.

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if you put some bling on, it's

like a new look and you don't want to spend all the money. every day items to create amazing jewelry with starting off with a pair of statement earrings that believe it or not came out of cutouts of magazines. this is how to make them. going through the magazines, cut through those gems, cut out the little diamonds and glue them on cardstock right this and then seal them with mod podge. sit, dry. >> make sure you let it dry, hoda. >> with the glue gun once it's totally dry, put it on the leather and then cut out, as we're going to do like right now -- >> cut around it. >> it's looking like this. glue it on. put an earring wire on it and

we're back with a special do it yourself project that's going to save you a ton of m a