If you cringe at the thought of Black Friday and/or crowded malls, there may be some solutions for you. As many people have probably figured out by now, online shopping becomes more and more popular every year. There are no lines to wait in, shoppers do not have to spend twenty minutes searching for a parking spot, they’re not shoulder to shoulder with people who all want the same item, and most importantly, shoppers can do it in their pajamas.

Still, not being up at the crack of dawn fighting the crowds on Black Friday doesn’t mean sale-searchers will be missing out on huge deals and savings.

In fact, many stores offer their Black Friday products for sale online starting on Thanksgiving morning. This way, customers can have their items purchased with discounts galore before Black Friday even begins.

“When I shop online, it’s easier to find what I’m looking for, I just put it into Google and instantly I can buy it,” said junior Jonathan Holman. “I don’t have to go from store to store, to compare prices either because on the Internet, I can do that in a matter of seconds.”

Although online shopping is a great alternative, it does unfortunately leave shoppers paying that little extra bit they wouldn’t have to pay anywhere else: shipping costs.

Have no fear. An estimated 1,000 stores will be offering free shipping for the annual “Free Shipping Day.”

That’s right. On Dec. 17, your online purchases will be made free of shipping costs, with guaranteed delivery by Christmas Eve. For participating stores, visit freeshippingday.com.

If shopping in stores is completely necessary, make sure to check Twitter, Facebook or e-mails for discounts and advertisements. More and more retailers are posting deals and ads via social networks, some even with printable coupons.

For iPhone users, the iPhone is now offering apps that could help make holiday shopping experience a lot less hectic.

The “Black Friday App” allows users to browse Black Friday ads right on their iPhone. This offers a search feature to help find exactly what shoppers are looking for, and even allows them to save items to their own shopping list, so they can be in-and-out of the mall. The iPhone also offers the “Pricegrabber App,” which can be downloaded for free. The Pricegrabber makes it easy to find items for the cheapest price possible, with a built-in scanner. Just scan your item’s bar code on the sales tag, and your iPhone will tell you where that item is being sold for a cheaper price.

Now, I may be the only one, but the only sensible question I ever feel the need to ask myself  about this little temperature yo-yo is “What do I wear?”

Don’t  worry, I think I’ve figured it out.

First step: Don’t get rid of all your winter stuff.  Keep a few staple items out, like a cute pair of boots, a cardigan, maybe a few scarves, etc.

These can help you make an easy transition from winter to spring.

Take that cardigan and pair it with shorts, dress up a skirt with those boots, and keep your scarves on hand.  Also, you can “spring” up the look of a cardigan and scarf with a pair of flip flops.

There’s also a point in time where you just say “who cares, it’s April” and throw a jacket on with your new spring clothes. But until then…

As we all know, springtime doesn’t necessarily mean nice weather all the time.  It’s still a little chilly, and lately it has felt like there’s always a rain cloud somewhere nearby.

That means it’s important for your wardrobe to have at least one (or more) flashy little jacket. My favorites are short little trench coats (preferably in a bright color or pattern) which go great with what you’ll need next, a flashy pair of rain boots and an umbrella.

“I love spring trench coats, especially since you can bring them out every spring. I love them because they’re so classic,” said senior Adrienne Petrella.

Now, for what we’ve all been waiting for: this year’s spring trends. To sum it all up, I have one word for you: floral.  As I was “researching”  at Beachwood Mall (sarcasm intended), that’s the one prominent look I noticed in just about every store.

Floral dresses, floral tops, floral skirts, and even floral shorts are flooding spring catalogs as well as the runways this season.

“Floral frocks are my favorite,” said Petrella.

H&M recently came out with their “Garden Collection,” which is clearly where you want to go to fill your closet with some horticultural duds. Now don’t let this next trend scare you off, but denim is coming back this season.

Not just jeans or jean skirts, but literally head to toe denim.  Stores like H&M, Gap and J.Crew have been showcasing it like crazy.  Although denim-on-denim may not be most people’s cup of tea, they somehow surprisingly make their mannequins look cool.

However, there is a catch: you can’t be monochromatic about it. Be sure to mix noticeably different hues of denim, or else you’ll just look like a big denim jumpsuit.

Still, if you’re not into the whole head to toe look, a denim jacket is a seasonal must and can be paired with anything.

I’m sure many of you still have one collecting dust somewhere in the back of your closet, so you should be in luck!

According to the latest magazines and store windows, nothing says springtime (or “Ahoy, matey”) than some nautical stripes.

H&M, J.Crew and just about every other store in the mall, has plenty of options as they carry a variety of nautical shirts, dresses, and even some skirts.

Bonus points for a necklace with an anchor pendant.

Of course, the trends don’t end there.

Nude colors, neon colors, and even some western gear (cowboy boots, anyone?) are coming in big this season, though nude seems to be the most popular.

“Traditionally I only wear neutral colors, so I’m excited to see nude as a trend this spring,” said junior Alex White.

Starting now, a little Web site by the name of ‘ShopittoMe.com’ will probably become your new best friend.  Become a member on this Web site (for free), and you’ll never have to hunt for bargains again.  

All you do is log on, select what size you wear, and pick out your favorite designers. ‘Shop it to Me’ carries a very wide range of more than 700 brands from J.Crew and BCBG, to the late Alexander McQueen. 

Select how often you’d like to receive your “sale mail,” whether it’s daily, weekly or bi-weekly, and you’ll receive an e-mail with everything your favorite designers have on sale, from any Web site in the world, in your size.

  The site is great for college students, as it offers items that normally would cost a pretty penny, for a fraction of the price.  

“I get e-mails twice a week with sales of the day, and I’ve found some awesome stuff.  Just on Thursday there was a Juicy Couture zip-up for 40 percent off!” said junior Izzy Khaimov.

Don’t worry gentlemen, you aren’t left out here.  ‘Shop it to Me’ offers just as many sales for men, as well as for children.  

“‘Shop it to Me’ allows the average college man to look great for class and go out with style without breaking the bank, which is something that’s hard to do these days,” sophomore Bill Fitzgerald said.

However, ‘Shop it to Me’ isn’t exactly its own retailer.  When you click on the sale item you want, it automatically takes you to that designer’s Web site.  ‘Shop it to Me’ simply does the searching for you.  

In a way, you could call it your personal bargain shopper.  The best thing about this? It’s totally free.  Well, with the exception of your extremely fashionable, easy-on-the-pocketbook attire, of course.

However, the one thing this Gossip Girl has that nearly every girl seems to want is her gorgeous, golden hair. 

Comparably popular to “Friends” star Jennifer Aniston’s hairstyle, known as “the Rachel,” and the late Farrah Fawcett’s impeccable do, Blake’s luscious locks are desired by women of all ages.  

Not to mention, it can be achieved easily. 

“It’s not so much the haircut, it’s the way they style her hair that makes everybody want it,” said Tracey Valko, co-owner of Andrew John Salon in Pittsburgh, of Blake’s long, layered cut.   

Though the style is becoming wildly more popular, it still has a way to go to reach the status of its previous competitors, because it’s not something we haven’t seen before.  

Farrah Fawcett’s masterpiece style was light and feathery, something that hadn’t been done in the past.   

“The Rachel” was a new twist on straight hair, with a heavy top and piecey layers all over.  

As popular as Blake’s style is, her long golden tresses are more a new take on the blonde bombshell, high society Hollywood glamour look. 

It’s simply timeless. Valko said, “It kind of reminds me more of Farrah Fawcett because it was blonde and sexy, where the Rachel was more of the girl-next-door type. 

“It’s interesting because hair has been straight for so long, and now they’re going for a more wavy, sexy, Victoria’s Secret look,” she said. 

According to Valko, she’s had a countless number of requests for the ‘do’ in her own salon, and that it has been the most requested cut in Manhattan for the last six months. 

According to Valko, it’s also not just the cut and style, but the color that everyone seems to want.  

Aside from her luminous golden color, she also keeps brighter highlights soft and fine. 

Although the expensive-looking Gossip Girl style seems difficult to get, it’s actually quite easy to create, even without a professional stylist.  

Although the style looks great with any hair color, a long, layered cut is key. 

Valko said the style can easily be attained with either hot rollers or a large barrel curling iron, both of which can be found at a nearby drugstore.  

For those of you with naturally wavy hair, let your hair air dry in a bun at the base of your neck, then unravel the bun.

Once it dries, and touch it up with a curling iron to create well-defined curls throughout the bottom half of locks.  

As for the rest of us, just use a heat protecting serum (Frizz-Ease Thermal Protection Hair Serum by John Frieda, $14.99) and blow your hair dry instead of air drying for volume.  

If you need more thickness, extensions will do the trick.

Any large barrel iron will work, just as long as it gets and stays hot enough, as the same goes for any medium-to-large sized rollers.   

After you’ve finished styling you may want to add a touch of finishing spray to get Blake’s glossy, smooth look.   

“It’s not just the hairstyle, it’s having Blake’s Upper East Side lifestyle that women want,” said Valko.  

Now all you’ll need is a few pairs of killer designer heels and a glamorous New York City life.