We are thankful that we were not up at 4 a.m. today in order to stand in line at one store in order to get out of that store by 4:45 a.m. in order get to store No. 2 by 5 a.m., and so on until we dropped. We suppose Starbucks could step in and save us somewhere in the black hole between 6 and 7, but honestly, we’d rather be in bed.

If you are one of the amazing souls that hit the stores this morning, we salute you. You are probably taking a nap right about now, happy in the knowledge that you have filled your Christmas list with things that said “40% off before 9 a.m.” But if, like us, you are a bit of a slacker, you can still accomplish amazing things online. Most of the major stores have online specials today, and some sweeten the deal with free shipping.

Here’s a guide to black-Friday shopping without alarm clocks, traffic or crowds:

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We’ve got Santa’s bag out, and none too soon; Thanksgiving came a little late this year, so we’re a tad behind on our shopping. Here are some cool, creative gifts we’ve found for under $100 each:

Is there a cook on your list? How about a college student? Either would appreciate this Breville Ikon panini press from Williams-Sonoma ($99, left), which sears breads to a crusty finish without smashing the sandwich’s filling. It also does duty as a quesadilla or cheesesteak maker. Yum.

We’re dying for Uncommon Goods’ puzzle piece ottoman, but we have one problem - we want to buy about a dozen, and link them all together. Plus, they might be a little difficult to wrap. But we can’t resist ($80 each, above).

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Who’s the hottest designer going? Thakoon Panchigul - his dresses adorn celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker, and helped glam up Michelle Obama on election night.

Where will he reveal his next collection? Target, on Christmas Day.

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When she won American Idol in 2007, Jordin Sparks was just 17, not even out of high school. But her voice, her stage presence and her style convinced America to vote her over the top.

Since then, she’s gone on tour with the show, released an album, had a day named in her honor in her hometown of Glendale, Ariz., won a Teen Choice Award, worked for National Geographic Kids to help battle malaria and been nominated for this year’s American Music Awards.  We don’t know where she’s found the time, but Sparks has also helped design a line of holiday dresses to be sold for Wet Seal.  (She’ll do casual clothes and accessories later.)

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If you are spending Thanksgiving away from home, a hostess gift is in order. No one’s expecting you to spend lavishly on a hostess gift these days. But your friend or loved one sweating it out in the kitchen to provide a delicious Thanksgiving meal deserves something thoughtful. Consider these seven ideas, and you can say thank you without breaking the bank:

1. Kenneth Jay Lane picture frame ($72, above left) - The gold frame will go perfectly with any hostess’ fall and holiday décor. Insert a picture from a past event or send her one from the festivities later. 

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You know how right before the Super Bowl, all the jocks and party-givers start thinking about buying a new television? A really, really big, expensive one with high def and picture-in-picture and all the bells and whistles? For a single football game?

OK. Now, focus. Thanksgiving is game day. It’s the big one. You’re the jock of the table, the duchess of all party-givers. And you need your big-screen TV: You need new dishes!  And while we love white too, what we want here is color, style and, well, high definition.

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We’re not quite sure what TwentyThirtyForty.net aspires to. It’s definitely a site where you can buy things. They offer a sculpted Loeffler-Randall stand-up collar vest (above left), some Halston bangles from the ’70s (right) and a barely pleated purple Mason long-sleeved dress (above right).

But there is more to it, even though the site has only been around a few months, and the vibe is clearly “probably a bit cooler-than-thou.”

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Already having a panic attack looking at your Thanksgiving to-do list? Scratch one thing off by wearing a dress that not only makes you look fabulous, but will last through the kitchen war zone. This way, you can go straight from cooking (or unwrapping store-bought pies) and arrive perfectly put together at the dining room table. 

Here’s a fabulous start. This Thakoon design made its public debut when Michelle Obama wore it to the first presidential debate in Mississippi. The warm rose hues and rich creams made Obama appear calm, classy and inviting - just like you want to appear this Thanksgiving. The short sleeves make it easy to get around the kitchen, and the durable material and pretty print will not easily give way to food stains.

Michelle Obama picture by Getty from Daylife.com; Thakoon runway picture from Style.com

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