Named one of North America’s Top Ten Chocolatiers by Dessert Professional Magazine, all Thomas Haas creations are baked fresh daily on premises. The perfect spot for a Sunday hot chocolate and truffle session…

Want to know what cause your favorite celebrity is actively involved in? Check out the roster of Causecast leaders such as Russell Simmons or Jennifer Lopez to see what positive differences they are making and how you can get involved.

Here’s how we helped:

Amy Chan donated to: To Write Love on Her Arms

They are a non profit movement dedicated on helping those who are struggling with depression, addiction and suicide. This is a blurb on the organization’s profile:

You were created to love and be loved.
You were meant to live life in relationship with other people, to know and be known. You need to know that your story is important and that you’re part of a bigger story. You need to know that your life matters.

We live in a difficult world, a broken world… We believe that everyone can relate to pain, that all of us live with questions, and all of us get stuck in moments. You need to know that you’re not alone in the places you feel stuck.

Sunny Shum donated to: Friends of TOMS

Friends of TOMS provides the Shoe Drop volunteer program and helps the treatment of those affected with Podoconiosis, a debilitating foot and leg disease, in Ethiopia that is 100% preventable by wearing shoes from an early age. For every pair of TOMS purchased, one pair goes to the cause.

Make your mark for positive change now – www.Causecast.org

Amy Chan, PartlySunny Contributor

In her new boutique in Soho, you can find some of Lauren Urstadt’s most coveted accessories including the Cashmere Leather Fingerless Gloves and the elegant Racing Stripe Glove. Also, another one of her signature pieces showcased in the store is the new Flip – a convertible accessory that can be worn as a cowl or hood and can also transform into a dress when flipped upside down!

The store is located at 79 Sullivan Street (between Broome and Spring). Can’t make it to the store? Don’t fret, you can shop online at www.laurenurstadt.com.

Amy Chan, partlySunny Contributor

Hence the 15 Below Jacket was born. Design agency Taxi in collaboration with fashion designer Lida Baday created the wind, fire and rainproof coat. The coat is lined with 15 pockets that can be stuffed with newspapers to provide adjustable layers of insulation. When the jacket isn’t being worn, it can be folded into a pillow or a backpack. Taxi partnered with Salvation Army to get 3000 coats to shelters across Canada.

But, does the jacket really work? Well, just to make sure, Taxi’s Executive Creative Director, Steve Mykolyn nominated himself to make sure, spending eight hours in a freezer facility wearing the stuffed coat.

Check out the cool autographed 15 Below Jackets by artists such as Kid Rock, Kim Catrall and R.E.M. and find out how you can further the cause on 15belowproject.org

Rockabye Baby! Is a series of songs by timeless rock acts transformed into soothing instrumental lullabies. The sweet lullabies are gentle enough to ease the little ones off to sleep while entertaining parents with their favorite music tracks.

Delicate instruments such as the glockenspiel, vibraphone, mellotron, harp and bells create a soothing atmosphere of sound. Rockabye Baby! Offers lullaby renditions of various artists we know and love, including: U2, Coldplay, Radiohead, Bob Marley, The Beatles and No Doubt. To hear a sample, check out the label’s myspace page.

Available on Amazon.ca or at Pebble Baby.

Amy Chan, partlySunny Contributor

Owner Jordan Proulx is an advocate for kids using their imaginations and creative nature. Her store carries toys that inspire that creativity – from non-electric music instruments to fair trade hand-knit dolls. One of my favorites is the Blabla Dolls – made from natural fibers that are hand knit by Peruvian Artisans.

The store is quaint yet modern and located right in the Kitsilano neighborhood on 2675 Arbutus Street.

Amy Chan, partlySunny Contributor

Cribnotes Stationery have cards for every occasion. Best friends Michelle Jin and Elizabeth Gray started the business on the side out of their basements in Vancouver.

The unique retro-vibe styled cards, gift tags and notepaper has now made its way into stores such as the Vancouver Art Gallery shop, and through the web on Etsy.

Crib Notes makes card-giving fun- after all, how else could you give someone a “Hey Stinky” note card and still be seen as sweet?

The headbands are designed and produced in small batches in Vancouver and can also be custom ordered to suit your unique style! Ranging from $15-28, you can find A Farmers Daughter headbands at Fine Finds and Barefoot Contessa.

From my article on www.partlysunny.ca