Transcripts For WBAL Today 20090908

and we're back now with more of today on a tuesday morning. 8th day of september, 2009. back to school, back to work for a lot of people. the reason these people are smiling is they're doing neither of these two thgs. not back at school or back at work. we're happy they've joined us. meanwhile, the gang's all here. i'm matt lauer along with natalie morales and al roker. and unfortunately this half hour we'll be talking about something we'll be talking about a lot over the next couple of months. and that is swine flu or h1n1. what about this report at washington state university, up to 2,200 students already infected there. with the vaccine a good month away. so we're going to go over some of the things you need to do again, and can't say it enough, wash your hands, then wash them again. very important. >> actually set up dorms that are just quarantine dorms. scary. speaking of health, we're going to take you inside the obama family's health regimen. we already know the president is famous for his workouts. so is the first lady with her buff arms. of course, this morning, an unprecedented look at what they actually do to keep in shape and live a healthy lifestyle while trying to teach their daughters good habits as well. so far seems like they're doing a great job. >> great example for the rest of us as well. also, from healthy habits to your hair. you know, every woman knows it's all about the hair including miss tyra banks, and she's here to get real with us this morning because that's what she's doing on the new season of her show, "the tyra show." she's going to reveal about what she has coming up this season as well as next on "america's next top model." plus, a couple of monsters in the house? >> yes, we do. we've got elmo and elmo's mommy. they're talking about the economic crisis. it's not just affecting parents. it affects kids as well. and i get to host along with my wife a special on pbs coming up tomorrow night, "elmo's mommy loses her job." >> important information. all right, al, thanks very much. >> i never knew elmo's mommy. very cute. >> very nice. let's go inside with ann at the news desk with the headlines of the morning. >> thank, guys. good morning once again. in the news, president obama is giving a back-to-back speech today to the nation's schoolchildren. the president's using the speech to appeal to students to make the most of the coming year by staying in school and paying attention. still conservatives are denouncing the speech as an improper use of school time. some even call it leftist indoctrination. a special commission says it has found what it calls convincing evidence of fraud in last month's presidential election in afghanistan. and it is ordering a recount of some of the votes. and also the taliban is claiming responsibility for the largest attack in kabul since the election. at least three civilians were killed and six were injured when a car bomb attacked a nato convoy near the instance to the capital's military airport. the united nations human rights office said today that sudan's conviction of a woman for wearing pants violates international law. hussein was spared a flogging but was fined $200 monday for indecency which she's declined to pay. today she was freed from jail after a journalists union paid the fine. police and prosecutors in milwaukee say they have arrested a man linked to nine unsolved murders going back to 1986. the victims, all women, are said to be tied to the suspect by dna evidence. police are not commenting on a possible motive. the san francisco oakland bay bridge is still closed today while workers are to fix a crack discovered in the 72-year-old span. drivers are looking for other ways to get to work including trains and ferries. officials are hoping for a reopening tomorrow morning. with students back in school, colleges coast to coast are getting ready for a swine flu outbreak. and nbc's kevin tibbles reports the outbreaks are already starting. >> reporter: on college campuses across the country, the kids are moving in. at chicago's depaul university, like elsewhere, there's an uninvited guest, the swine flu. >> swine flu or not, i've always just lived at home with my family. and so it's different living in a place with this many people. >> you have to be a little concerned, but what can you do? they have to go to school. >> reporter: college websites now counsel students on what to do should they feel ill. >> frequent washing of hands, avoiding shaking hands with people who are sick, covering your mouth when you sneeze and cough. >> reporter: according to the centers for disease control, this fall's outbreak first started in the southeast where classes opened the earliest but has spread quickly. >> with schools starting, we're going to start seeing an uptick in cases. we also know that we're likely to see that uptick before the vaccine is available. >> reporter: fall pastimes like college football have taken a hit. at washington state university where 2,200 students may have come down with h1n1. at emory university in atlanta, a vacant dorm building is now being used to house infected students. they have nicknamed it "swine you." here at the university of illinois-chicago they are offering the common flu vaccine to all 26,000 students. and the h1n1 vaccine, as soon as it's on the market. >> our plan is to hope for the best, prepare for the worst. >> reporter: but the new vaccine won't be available until sometime next month. and crowded campuses are perfect places for the virus to spread. so students are being advised to wash their hands with soap or hand sanitizer regularly. and if they feel sick, see a doctor. kevin tibbles, nbc news, chicago. and six people including three children were hurt when a motorized parachute with two people crashed into a labor day event in utah. the parachute was being used to drop prizes when unexpected winds forced it to come down on the crowd. the injuries do not appear to be life threatening. it is now five minutes past the hour. now we go back outside to matt. >> ann, thank you very much. tragic story, these two ladies in town visiting, first day in new york, she slices her hand, but get this, making martinis. al? >> wow! didn't know it was a hazardous duty job. we've got a beautiful young lady. what's your name? >> abby. >> abby, where you from? >> colorado. >> that's great. a little vacation? when's school start? >> last week. >> last week. >> last week. wow! okay. a little late. all right. but that's okay. we're glad you're here. let's check your weather, see what's happening. show you we've got a big system. it's a low-pressure area, kind of a subtropical low, actually nontropical low, i should say, making its way up the mid-atlantic coast. flash flood watches. some areas pick up to five inches of rain, as much as seven in some regions. and out in the atlantic, tropical storm fred. don't worry about it. >> mostly cloudy, a good chance of some showers. 68 to 72, winds northeast of at 10 to 15 mi. and that's a cutie. what's his name? >> jaden. >> nice to see you. natalie? >> he is a cutie, al. thank you. summer break is over and most people are getting back to work including the very busy supermodel, tyra banks, host of "america's next top model" and now "the tyra show," kicking off its fifth season today. we hear it will be a hair-raising experience. tyra banks, good morning. >> hello, miss natalie. >> i have a huge congratulations for you because second year in a row of emmys. you won for the outstanding talk show informative. >> yes. >> what is it about your show you think that makes you emmy worthy? >> first of all, we were really shocked. so, like, 15% -- i'm sorry, half of my speech, which is 30 seconds, 15 seconds of it was -- we were very shocked. we thought we were going to lose to somebody else in the category. >> but why? because now, i mean, you already had one before. >> you know why? because last year we won, and it was after i had told everybody to kiss my fat -- >> right. >> you know. that. and so i was, like, okay, that was the moment. and yea! so we got that emmy for that moment. yea! so we were just shocked and very pleasantly surprised that we won for our show in general. that was very validating. >> so today kicks off season five. and as i kind of teased, it's going to be a real hair-raising experience. >> yes. >> because you're getting real in a lot of ways this season. more than you have in the past. >> yes. >> because one of the big things that you're doing, i think, in the first week is you're revealing your real hair. >> today. >> so this isn't real. these are weaves. >> this is not real. this is 100% fake hair. and i'm showing my real hair for the first time. i haven't shown my real hair probably since i was 19 years old. >> what is it about women -- why is this important to you, do you think, to show the real you? >> i think it's my responsibility. i've shown myself with no makeup. i've shown myself retouched -- unretouched photos. i've shown my cellulite. >> in a bathing suit. we've seen you in a bathing suit. >> i've shown a lot of raw and real. people come up, tyra, i look just like you. i love your hair, your makeup. i'm, like, do you really love my hair? i feel it's important for them to understand what is reality and what is fantasy. >> you're not going to give us a little taste of that, right? can you tell us a little bit about what it looks like? >> what do you think it looks like, natalie? >> i'm thinking gorgeous. you have a beautiful face, so the rest of you -- >> maybe i'm bald-headed. we shall see. i might have two sprouts. >> i'm sure it will be great. that's right. the other big show for you is "america's next top model." >> yes. >> which as you call is in a new cycle now rather than season. the interesting part, this time around, is that you guys have models that are 5'7" and under. the petite models have tried out. >> yes. >> this time around. do you think this is -- you know, obviously, women in the industry are above 5'7". >> yes. >> so do you think this is reality? >> for me, it is so important. i think it helps to redefine what beauty is and some of the stereotypes. and in the fashion industry, the majority of models are 5'9" and taller. there are exceptions to the rules. there are kate moss, josie moran, jamie richer, devin aoki, the list goes on and on for shorter girls, but i wanted to open up that door for these young girls -- young, shorter girls to have the opportunity to experience the fashion industry in a way that they couldn't. >> do you think they can make it in the industry? >> it's difficult. >> yeah. >> but you know what? a lot of people told me that i was black and would never have a cover of a magazine, would never have a kcosmetics contract, woud never be on the discover of "sports illustrated" or "victoria's secret." so that makes me fight for the underdog. >> speaking of fighting, because during the auditioning or screening process, melees actually broke out here in new york city. >> yes. in new york city. >> a lot of women were turned away. you actually gave them a chance to come back out and try out again. there were fights that broke out. what was your reaction to hearing about all of that? >> well, first of all, you know, it was thank god nobody was seriously injured. you know, that was our first with serious injuries. and we've never had a turnout like this ever in the history of "america's next top model." we've had 12 cycles, no incidents and crowds not that big. so when these young girls that were 5'7" and below heard they could try out for "america's next top model," the huge crowds happened. and after the new york incident, we went to chicago, and we went to dallas. and we instilled much more security and precautionary measures like to the utmost. >> you made sure everything was taken care of. >> and new york as well with no incidents. >> great. and you're starting a mag line which is an online magazine. >> i made that up. >> tell us what you're going to talk about and what are some of the issues you hope to tack snl. >> it's at tyrabanks.com. the mag line is called tyra beauty inside and out. so we're talking about beauty from the inside all the way to the outside. inside, self-esteem, relationships, friendships, how you feel about yourself when you look in that mirror. and then also the physical you, looking in that mirror, beauty, fashion. but it's not just a magazine. of course, it's online, it talks back to you. you know, like -- >> uh-oh. what are you talking about, talks back to me? >> like me, you know? like have you ever read a magazine and they give you tips and tricks and you're, like, whatever. >> it's a little more real. >> it is real, it is raw and a connection to me like you've never had before. i'm going to be discovering girls, you know, and mentoring them in terms of different jobs in the industry, modeling, everything. >> speak of real, i've got to ask you, a rumor that was rampant last week after you won your emmy and you were holding your emmy and you were flashing some bling, can you show us that bling and tell america what the bling is? you're not engaged. >> speaking out about this ring. >> what is it? >> saying that it's a diamond. this ring cost $200. and i am married to my high school alma mater. this ring is $200. it's ten-carat gold and some black onyx. >> so you're not married. >> no. >> we didn't break any news. oh, well. tyra banks, good luck to you. >> "the tyra show" is on today at 4:00. we have reruns at 3:00. if you're watching it at 3:00, it's not the new one. >> same network. >> same network as "top model." still to come, from the swanky suit to the cozy cardigan, how you can raid his encloses eliminate for the fall fashion trends. up next, an intimate look at the obama family's health routine and how you can keep your family active and healthy, too, right after this. clears slow drains, cleans pipe walls. liquid-plumr foaming pipe snake. ♪ doo doo doo woman: there's only one disinfecting wipe with a low streak formula. clorox disinfecting wipes. "but it looks pretty nasty outside" (announcer) grands at only $0.25 a biscuit you'll find any excuse to eat in the soft places we love could be home to thousands of bacteria. but, lysol disinfectant spray can help protect your family because it can also be used on soft surfaces. it kills 99.9% of bacteria, won't stain, and leaves your soft surfaces with a light, fresh scent. lysol. the #1 pediatrician recommended brand. disinfect to protect. this school season, kill bacteria on backpacks and sneakers too with lysol. chocolatey taste in 60 calories? ♪ ♪ oh, so delicious who cares? jell-o sugar free pudding. every diet needs a little wiggle room. every head. every bite. every gallon. every shoe. every book. every cereal. well, maybe not every cereal. but every stem. every stitch. every tune. every toy. pretty much everything you buy can help your savings account grow because keep the change from bank of america rounds up every debit card purchase to the next dollar and transfers the difference from your checking to savings account. it's one of the many ways we make saving money in tough times a whole lot easier. it's one of the many ways we make saving money discover a light yogurt like no other. activia light! delicious, fat free, and above all... the only one that has bifidus regularis and is clinically proven to help regulate your digestive system. activia light. ♪ activiaaa! generally speaking, men. men don't merge. the woman will sit there and wait until there are 8 tractor trailer trucks length back there. merging would mean to come up and then go over. this is what men do. you see where i am over here? and then she'll come out at 30, 35 miles an hour. and kablam! and then we're all an hour late. (announcer) depend brand. for women and men. this morning on "today's health otherwise presidential fitness. we're talking physical kind. earlier "women's health" editor in chief, michelle, revealed michelle obama's workout. well, this month "men's health" magazine's president talked about the president's diet and how he deals with stress. and "children's health" covers how the obamas keep their daughters, sasha and malia, healthy. good to see you guys. >> good to see you, al. >> this is very interesting. we've heard about the first lady. i remember seeing president obama was out to a workout the morning after the election. so this is obviously a family that takes this seriously. and is that a lesson for us? >> absolutely. i mean, michelle obama sees herself first and foremost as a role model for her kids but also for the whole country. >> david, your reporter got to spend some time with the president. it seems like fitness and his exercise regimen is one of the keys to him dealing with his job and the stress. >> and he really believes in personal responsibility. he's the one man health care initiatives, and one of the things that you see is that he has some rules. he schedules his workouts along with the rest of his life. you know, he keeps it fun. and he keeps it simple. so he does a little bit of running, a little bit of weightlifting, some basketball, some golf. he does not need, like, elaborate training routines. i've seen him work out. he doesn't need nasa to define his fitness equipment. give him a pair of basketball shoes and the guy goes. and i think the lesson for all of us. >> we all need to learn. >> and you don't have to spend a fortune to start exercising. >> and the obamas seem to make fitness fun as far as the family is concerned. >> right. exactly as dave was saying. i mean, michelle obama, in addition to her strength training and cardio, does kickboxing and rope jumping. she tries to mix it up, too. >> they wake up at 5:30 in the morning. >> they seem to be active. like they're hiking the grand canyon or they're rolling skating, doing things like that. >> they all have realistic, amazing nutrition roles. michelle lives a 90/10 role. >> what is that? >> she feels if she makes good choices 90% of the time, 10% of the time she indulges. when she does, it's usually with fries. she says they're her favorite. it won't have as much of an impact. i think that's a rule we can all live by, 90/10. >> there's something in the article talking about the family eats together. >> yes. >> and that's really important, isn't it? >> yeah. michelle -- mrs. obama told us a very touching story for "children's health" about how their lifestyle kind of got away from them, and they were, you know, they weren't eating together as much. and they were relying too much on fast food. and she said, you know, things started to get a little out of control. and her pediatrician, like, flagged -- hoisted a red flag and said, hey, you know, one of your daughters is, you know, flirting with being overweight here. let's do something about it. and they changed their eating habits. and the next thing you know, they go back to the dock door, and the change was instantaneous and dramatic. and he said what on either are you doing? part of it was eating together. studies show when kids eat more meals at home, more fruit and vegetables and drink fewer soft drinks. >> of course, people will say, look, they've got a private cook. it makes it a little easier. but there are still things we can take away from this for example, keeping the flavor of. >> absolutely. michelle obama talks to the sfaf and says make soups taste good without putting cream in them, make salads for lunch. she takes an active role and tries to get the daughters involved as much as she can, too. >> we spent time in the white house garden where they're growing more than 60 different types of fruits and vegetables and herbs. one of the fundamental rules is that all you have to do is start with some fresh ingredients, and you can have wonderfully flavored, satisfying meals that are not overloaded with calories. >> and really quickly, sleep is something you should not overlook. >> michelle obama believes in sleep big time. she tries to log in her recommended eight hours. she goes to bed early shortly after she puts the girls down and also gets up early for those workouts at 5:30. she's a big proponent of sleep and so i am. >> we are, too, on this program. we just don't get it. michelle and david, sounds like a law firm. i like that. inch coming up, elmo and his mom. they share advice on kids and families dealing with the financial crisis. first, these messages. hi, elmo. and hand-made upholstery. you choose the style... we custom make it. always with free design service. ♪ hand-made for you at ethan allen. it's more affordable than you think. ethan allen now with smart finance options... for the way you live. ♪ new aveeno nourish plus. active naturals wheat formulas proven to target and help repair damage in just three washes. - building shiny, strong... - hair with life. announcer: new aveeno nourish plus. yep! (mom) i'm so proud of you. the bus is here, gotta go mom. okay hunny, have a great day. look in your bag, made you something. (announcer) it's more than just that great peanut taste, choosing jif is a simple way to show someone how much you care. choosey moms, choose jif. but kellogg saw an opportunity to plus things up. we took out their peanuts... because adding almonds would be a plus. we'd be better off with less sugar. we traded milk chocolate... for the delicious taste of dark chocolate. also a plus. then we added 35% of your daily fiber... plus antioxidants, vitamin e, and zinc. ♪ fiberplus bars from kellogg. fiberplus so much more. fiberplus bars ♪ yes, you're lovely... ♪ what do you think? hey, why don't we use our points from chase sapphire and take a break? we can't. sure, we can. the points don't expire... ♪ there is nothing for me... ♪ there's no travel restrictions... we could leave tomorrow. we can't use them for a vacation. you can use the points for just about anything. i know... ♪ the way you look tonight ♪ chase what matters. get your new chase sapphire card at chase.com/sapphire. coming up, elmo and his mommy stop by. >> yea! plus why you'll want to steal from your guy this fall. >> also, your kids after your local news. you're so good at keeping everyone full and focused with your fiber. but you already are great at doing that. really? sure! you're made with fiber just like me. but best of all, you're the perfect size for smaller kids, and they love your chocolaty taste. kellogg's® frosted mini-wheats little bites cereal. an excellent source of fiber packed in a smaller size... to help keep your little ones full and focused. now where you going? to practice keeping 'em full and focused. i have big shoes to fill. (announcer) what are you going to miss when you have an allergy attack? achoo! (announcer) benadryl is more effective than claritin at relieving your worst mptoms. and works when you need it most. benadryl. you can't pause life. shopping online can help save. doing it with bank of america can help save a lot more. up to 20% cash back from over 300 online retailers with our add it up program. just sign up and use your bank of america debit or credit card when you shop online. it's one of the many ways we make saving money in tough times a whole lot easier. >> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am mindy basara. baltimore mayor sheila dixon is expressing displeasure over the way a demolition contract was awarded. the mayor says that the baltimore development corporation should have publicly advertise the contract to demolish the building to make way for a proposed slot palace but only a select handful of firms were approached. >> very disappointed. i will look into why they took the authority to -- take that process, because that is not a transparent and open process. >> the only way the regular bid process can be circumvented is of the building presents a threat to public safety. the mayor says she was not notified of any such. >> we will be quite unsettled all week long. 70% chance of seeing rain throughout. cloudy and cool. check out the winds, northeasterly at 10 to 15 miles per hour. this has given flooding and flash flooding. it is slowly moving deliberately and creeping to the north. high pressure is blocking the movement in the high. this is bringing in more -- bringing in more moisture from the atlantic. at least with a dance of rain in the forecast through saturday. >> thank you for joining us. we will have another update at 9:55. and replace your old mayo with the full flavor of kraft mayo with olive oil. made with the rich, delicious taste of imported olive oil. kraft mayo with olive oil is the new standard in mayo. it was the first time that i actually got to feel them for myself and touch tell, and it made it so real. >> it was a miracle of modern medicine. a 57-year-old grandmother giving birth to her own grandchild. well, now imagine giving birth to three at once. that's what this mom did for her daughter and son-in-law who couldn't have babies on their own. we're going to meet them and their babies and find out how everyone is holding up a year later tomorrow here on "today." >> that's a great story. >> a special mother's day in their household. meantime coming up in morning, lunch. packing season has begun. and if you're out of practice, we've got healthy and money-saving ideas. we're not just talking about lunch for kids. apparently we can do this for everyone in the family as well. >> very good. also ahead on "today's style," one of the hottest trends for her this season is actually maybe borrowing some stuff from his closet. so whether you steal directly from his wardrobe or you're just influenced by it, we're going to show you how to wear menswear, the big trend this fall. >> wow, flannel shirts. and elmo's here and look who he brought along, his mom. >> aww. >> elmo's mom is here. unfortunately she's recently lost her job. something a lot of families can relate to. so they're going to tell us how they're coping and how you can tell your kids about these issues just ahead. >> so good that they came to help us talk about that. first, al, kisses apparently are very important. first we get a check of the weather. >> let's find out what's going on for you as far as today's concerned, a strong risk of storms in the mississippi river valley, heat continues in the southwest. a loft of rain along the mid-atlantic coast with sunshine in the northeast. rip currents tomorrow from new england all the way down into the mid-atlantic coast. as rain moves into the pacific northwest, hit or miss showers and thunderstorms through the >> today's forecast is cool and damp. high of only about 69 degrees in central maryland. showers and rain throughout today. wind in and that's your latest weather. >> thank you so much. coming up next, what to look for in your guy's closet and some smart styles this fall right after this. stay healthy - and get on with my life. it comes from liberty medical. and now, it's not only where i get my diabetes testing supplies - but it's where i get my prescription drugs as well. see if you're on medicare, the cost of your diabetes testing supplies as well as your prescription drugs may be covered. liberty takes care of all the paperwork with medicare and sends the prescription forms directly to your doctor for approval. then, on your schedule, packs up this box and sends it right to your door with no charge for shipping. and liberty assures you have everything you need to manage your diabetes, including most brand name meters. call now and we'll send you a free meter. plus, a free cookbook when you join. call liberty. they can help you live a better life. call the number on your screen. what if it had a flat bottom? old el paso stand 'n stuff. true genius. mexican style. discover a light yogurt like no other. activia light! delicious, fat free, and above all... the only one that has bifidus regularis and is clinically proven to help regulate your digestive system. activia light. ♪ activiaaa! crunch. wheat thins. that's what's gonna happen here. because you're tasty... with toasty whole grains. (crunch) wheat thins. toasted. whole grain. crunch. have at it. ( jet pack powers up ) ( men vocalizing ) announcer: the super grain nutrition of quaker oats. power yourself with the limitless possibilities of instant quaker oatmeal. well, this is new... i'm working on my digestive health. whatcha eatin'? yoplus. it's a yogurt for digestive health. here...blackberry pomegranate. i can't find my hand. (announcer) yoplus and new yoplus light. digestive health alternatives from yoplait. ♪ my style this morning on "bobbie's style buzz," stealing his style from tailored pants, oversized cardigans, this fall men's fashions are the new in look for women. our editor, bobbie thomas, is here. bobbie, good morning. >> good morning. >> so the trend is menswear. it's big. >> retailers are really pushing this trend. so you'll find an abundance of pieces, and they'll work on everyone, and you'll keep them forever. >> you can wear them to the office, can you wear them out. >> i still have stuff in my closet from my dad. he gave me his college sweater and i still wear that. some of the boyfriend's t-shirts i've stolen through the years, they still work. >> too many boyfriends in that closet. let's take a look right now. first is the swanky suit category. we have julie. and she's wearing this tailored vest with, you know, your more traditional slacks. i love this look together with the floral blouse. >> it's dressed up a little bit. date night doesn't have to equal a dress. take some of your suit separates out and mix and match them. the vest is from victoria's secret and the pants are from express, the editor pant. they fit all of our models as well. add a little jewelry and she's got really fun menswear-inspired shoes on. you can see this lace-up bootie on her shoe. it's that tom boy appeal. and you can really sort of have fun with your suit separates. >> with the floral blouse, it keeps it feminine. >> you can mix and match prints to stay in the same color category. >> women are troubled with the size of pants and getting the fit just right. what would you suggest? >> honestly, go to a store like express. the editor pant is a basic cut. this will work. it's universally flattering. if you're curvier, stay with something like this. if you're petite, you can experiment with the harem pant or all of the other styles out there. >> julie, great. thank you. next look is the cozy cardigan. you said you have your dad's. i think i do, too. we have judy modeling this for us. >> this is straight from the men's department at urban outfitters. she's wearing a men's cardigan to get that oversized look over a basic little black dress from h&m. >> how do you do that without adding bulk? >> you can look in the boy's department as well. by the way, children's clothing is cheaper. sometimes you can find a better deal. but she's actually wearing a men's sweater. she rolled up the sleeves. you can even tie it in a knot. i love the shoes. dsw had such a great selection of these menswear-inspired flats which are comfy and on trend. you can still do your black pump but this is something younger trendsetters are falling in love with this fall, the men's shoe. >> and she keeps it feminine by wearing the little black dress underneath and keeps it slimming. >> and grab a hat on the way out the door. you can wear a men's hat instead of covering up. >> very swanky, judy. looking good. thank you. next is the schoolboy blazer which nancy is wearing. as you said, you know, you can go to the boy's department, shop for blazers, but this is a look that anyone can pretty much wear. >> it's become one of my favorite friends after all the time she's modelled. she's a mom. and the way she polishes it up from the errands to school for a meeting is this blazer. and this is from rosie bear boutique. it's a children's boutique. and most boy's sizes will sort of average -- you know, they'll size up to an 8 to 10 in a woman. believe it or not, you can find the right size. i like it's this unexpected contra contrast. and she layered over that. >> it's great for her busy lifestyle. >> you can pair that over a dress. it's approximately $35. it's a great buy. >> looks good. you look great. thank you, nancy. and our final category, the boyfriend button-down. and here we have anthea wearing it with the sweater on top along with the straight skirt. >> you know, most guys do the college shirt with the polo or v-neck sweater. it adds femininity to it. it's like michelle obama. you put the belt on, the great skirt from zara. she's got some loafer pumps which is great for the office. i love grabbing his button-down and adding a belt around it. >> a lot of people are buying it because they're big and slouchy, a lot of them wear tights underneath, too. >> so many stores like banana republic, they have an entire collection just on the white shirt. it's such a classic. >> let's bring all our ladies out for another look. and again, anybody can pull off these looks. >> everyone can pull it off. especially that first question about pants. i really want to encourage women, try on, it depends on your body type and how the pants and details, the pleats look on you. i've got lots of great information on our website on todayshow.com. check out the particle. >> we will check them out. bobbie thomas, thanks, and thanks to you, ladies. we appreciate it. always read bobbie's column in "intouch weekly." next, elmo and his mommy are here with an important message on facing hard times like they are. but first, these messages. up ths 'til we find the problem. average repair cost: six thousand dollars. monthly maintenance with rid-x? about 6 dollars. (announcer) rid-x uses 100% natural bacteria and enzymes to break down waste, even paper. use rid-x monthly to help keep your septic system operating efficiently between pumpings. this summer, clean your grill with new easy-off barbeque grill cleaner. without my makeup. now, it's no problem. (announcer) neutrogena tone correcting night serum with high performance soy to even skin tone and active retinol to speed cell turn over. clinically shown to visibly fade brown spots in 14 nights. i even out my skin at night so it looks younger, flawless in the morning. (announcer) neutrogena tone correcting now you can fade and prevent discolorations all day. new tone correcting spf 30. ("whish, whish") here's the solution. (applause) is it a bandage you ask? no! it's famous, drug free breathe right. (squeaky noise) ingenious flexible strips that fit your nose to gently open your nasal passages... (free air/deep breath) ...for up to 31% more airflow. (female) wow! (announcer) you'll breathe better so you'll sleep better! small strip. big relief. bright idea! breathe better. sleep better. breathe right. small strip. big relief. bright idea! every day special. fancy feast introduces an entirely new way to celebrate any moment. fancy feast appetizers. simple high quality ingredients like wild alaskan salmon, white meat chicken, or seabass and shrimp in a delicate broth, prepared without by-products or fillers. new fancy feast appetizers. celebrate the moment. that's why i got them pillsbury toaster strudel. warm, flaky, pastry with delicious sweet filling my kids will love. plus i get two bonus boxtops for their school. toaster strudel. the one kids want to eat. toaster strudel. spend 10 minutes a month with natural instincts. it's the healthier way to blend away gray and give you color that shines on. how? the antioxidant rich ammonia-free formula feels good and looks even better. in fact the more often you use natural instincts, the healthier your hair looks. it's the healthy-looking color that shines in just ten minutes' time. natural instincts, it's all good. look for natural instincts new champagne indulgence collection. from clairol. it's been an economically challenging year for many families either coping with joblessness or just struggling just to make ends meet. but your kids may not be understanding exactly what's happening. and there's a new sesame street primetime special hosted by our very own al roker and his wife, deborah roberts, and it's aiming to help teach families how to cope and communicate through these tough economic times. al is here to tell us all about it along with some very special furry friends from "sesame street," elmo and his mom. >> hi. >> and this is may. and elmo, this is the first time mae has ever been on television. and you're going to get to introduce us. >> yes. this is elmo's mommy, miss mae. >> it's a real pleasure to meet you. >> well, it's a pleasure to meet you. and you've come forward because you want to help all kinds of kids and parents know how to deal with this. elmo, you invited your mom so that she would help people? >> yes. yeah, because elmo's mommy loves her job. elmo was really happy because mommy got to be happy all the time. >> happy. >> but then daddy and mommy told elmo that we need to really be careful with our money. >> you know, he said the cutest thing. he thought that maybe he had too many toys and that's why we didn't have enough money. >> aww. >> isn't that sweet? >> because you lost your job? is that what happened? >> i felt terrible about that, but then elmo's daddy said, "mae, there's a lot of love in this family, and we're going to be all right." >> yeah. >> and elmo, you learned something very valuable, too, in that -- and a lot of kids could probably help learn this -- that there's wants, and then there's needs, right? >> yeah. not just toys that you see, it's like food. >> food, that's right. >> and watching movies at home instead, but going to the movies, you know. >> and going -- >> we do it together at home. >> and going to the park. we've been having lots of fun times, just the three of us at home. it's been just fine. and elmo's been wonderful about it. haven't you, sweetheart? >> so really, then, it's hard, though, sometimes, elmo, isn't it, to do this. so you have to really find something inside yourself, don't you? you have to really think about how your parents are really working hard. >> well, one thing that elmo does is elmo takes money out of his piggy bank. and instead of asking mommy and dad, elmo will pay for it with his money in his pig gy bank. >> isn't that the cutest thing? >> that's one of the things we explore tonight in the special at 8:00 on pbs. not only using elmo and elmo's mommy, we meet four other families around the country dealing with these same problems. a lot of parents are really uptight about this and really worried about it. and we learn both with jean chatzky, our financial analyst, and a psychologist, how families can talk about this and really learn a lot of things about this, right, elmo's mom? >> oh, yes. you have to make some adjustments, but you have to stay positive and just keep on going. >> well, sounds like you've done a really good job talking about it. and that's the first thing because so many parents don't want to talk about it with their kids because -- >> i think you have to. >> yeah. >> and how's it going so far? i know you're still looking right now, mae? >> i am. i've had a couple of interviews. and it's different from what i did before. you know, sometimes something different can be good. it's a change. but life is full of changes. it's okay. >> it is. and just as things are not always so good for people, for some people, that will change, too. >> absolutely. >> and things will get better. >> you have to stay positive. >> well, miss mae, i'm just so glad we got to meet you. thank you so much. >> it's been a real pleasure. >> yes. and thank you so much, elmo. >> you're very welcome. >> i didn't know elmo's family came from the south. that's pretty cool. >> so elmo, you don't have a southern accent, i noticed. >> no. elmo doesn't. >> i'm from virginia. >> very nice. >> all right. okay. anyway, we want to mention that the "sesame street" primetime special, "families stand together," feeling secure in tough times airs tomorrow at 8:00 p.m. eastern time on pbs. and we're back in a moment with healthy and affordable family lunches. >> what do you like for lunch, elmo? >> baloney and cheese. >> you like a lot what's our favorite part of honey bunches of oats? the sparkly flakes. the honey-baked bunches! the magic's in the mix. my favorite part? eating it. honey bunches of oats. taste the joy we put in every spoonful. we call the bunches in honey bunches of oats the prize in the box. well, now there's a prize inside the prize. pecans! pecans! baked into crunchy oat bunches. taste the delicious surprise in every spoonful. new honey bunches of oats with pecan bunches. beautiful. this morning on "eat smart today," healthy lunches to pack for the whole family as money and belts grow tighter. madeline has suggestions for healthy meals for everyone in the family and specifically kids. hey, madeline, good morning. >> good morning. >> so making your own lunch for your children is a way to make sure that they're getting the proper nutrition. >> it seems like a lot of work and a lot of hassle, but you'll save a ton of money. a lot of hidden fat, calories and sugar not just for kids but yourself. so often we say i'm going to worry about my kid's nutrition and we forebet about ourselves. here are some things that can do double duty. >> i packed lunches for all siblings. i'm from a family of five children. one of the ideas is using a bento box which comes from japan so you can have portion control. >> right. this is a lunchtime bento box and it has great portion control with anything you want to put it in. kids like little things to pick up in varieties. you can have little toothpicks and pluck up meat and cheese, fruit and vegetables. but if you as an adult don't like that, you can also switch and have a half a sandwich and just plain celery sticks instead of ants on a log with celery with peanut butter. >> that's what that is, ants on a log? >> it's tut. cute. you can do that and have a one-stop shopping. >> that looks like a good thing. although you want to make sure all those pieces come back. that may be an issue if the child is too young. >> this is elementary age. and everything is one stop. >> i like this idea of wrapping the sandwich in lettuce. >> when you have a leftover rotisserie chicken, it's quick to get chicken, wrap it in a tortilla or lettuce. many adults want to save calories. sometimes kids thinks it's fun to have little lettuce roll-ups. make your own trail mix, have fruit and mix and match. this works easily for kids and adults. >> a lot of kids won't eat that. >> the kids will mostly have anything rolled up in a tortilla. adults tend to like something wrapped up in tortilla. >> that's a wheat tortilla. we have warm soup which is going to come in handy on the winter days. >> as the weather gets colder and people get a little tired of usual things, putting something in a thermos you've doubled up in cooking, something like chili or vegetable soup will work well. put it in an insulated thermos and you have built-in soup and salad if you have a half peta with salad already in it. sometimes kids may not want that much. you can have wheat bread and crackers, mare it with a banana. and then you can also have any other kind of low-calorie dessert. say 100 calories or less. we always think about, well, should you have candy or chips or this or that? you should have one thing that's going to be a little treat so there's no deprivation and your kids don't trade it away. >> i always thought you had to put sandwich, chips and piece of fruit. what you've done, we like to eat by picking little things and putting them together. they can do this with the choices given. >> exactly. >> here's something for a little young girl although i like my star peanut butter and jelly sandwich. >> you can pair it with low-calorie chips and also some frozen yogurt which serves as an ice pack. it's good for adults and kids. adults may not like pb&j. you can take cashew butter. >> especially with bananas in it, maybe a little honey. lunchtime. peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. and drinks. >> important things to drinks. number one, you really should try and drink lowfat or nonfat and even 2% chocolate milk. if your child won't do that, these little bugs. probiotic liquid water drinks. water will also work. use these if you want. and also low-sugar, low-calorie juice will also help. >> thanks, madeline. >> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am in december. president obama's planned back- to-school address to the nation's students is generating controversy among parents and school boards. the address is meant to encourage goals and hard work, but critics say they are concerned that the president's message will be political rather than educational. harford county school officials say they will screen the address and evaluated before showing it to students. anne arundel and howard and baltimore counties believe the decision will be -- the decision up to each school. carroll county will permit students to watch the president's message, but only with parent approval. you can read it the president's entire speech. we have posted it on our side, wbaltv.com. there you can leave your comments and participate in our survey. back in a minute with a check on (employee 1) subject: urgent!! bob!! i need the baker file stat!! reply!! still making changes. circle back later!! what's with the yelling? oh, our internet slows down during peak hours so sending e-mails and large files just takes forever. so, we just yell. ben!!! thanks for the flowers!!! i thought you hated me!!! lol!!! semi-colon! right parenthesis! winky emoticon! (announcer) switch to verizon and get a dedicated high speed internet connection from our office to your small business so you won't be slowed down even if your neighbors are online. call the verizon center for customers with disabilities at 800-974-6006 tty/v today and for only $79.99 a month for 12 months with a 3 year contract you'll also get our award winning internet security suite, unlimited nationwide calling, and over $180 back in available online rebates. plus, the reliability of the verizon network. call the verizon center for customers with disabilities at 800-974-6006 tty/v today for the verizon single line business pak and data protection pak. one of the many tools in the verizon small business toolbox. >> now let's take a look at the forecast with sandra shaw. >> cooler than normal temperatures, water than normal conditions all week long. good chance of showers at 70%. rough day at ocean city at 72. heavy downpours are possible. for tonight, more of the same. cloudy with scattered showers. winds still maintaining their northeasterly flow. the reason for that is a stalled out system offshore with low pressure. up ahead, high pressure. that is bringing in cuts in moisture from the atlantic as well. the trend will continue at least through saturday. >> we will see you back here for 11 news at noon. ( slurping ) ♪ ( child giggling ) ( both slurping ) ( laughs ) ( giggles ) why just make a snack? make fun. jell-o.