For me, Christmas shopping doesn't officially begin until the Comrags sockmonkeys are in their shop window. What is a sockmonkey, you ask? It's exactly as it sounds, a monkey made out of socks. If you've never had one growing up, you've been deprived of a very special joy and it is never too late to get one.

Every year for the past eight years, the girls from Comrags have made and sold sockmonkeys where 100% of the proceeds go to a local charity that is family or women oriented. They alternate the years where they make monkeys that all sell for the same price and celebrity sockmonkeys where there is an auction held. The celebrity monkeys are made from celebrity socks with a little note that has the celebrity's signature or a story telling what their socks meant to them. Past celebrities include David Suzuki, Avril Lavigne, Coldplay, Ben Affleck etc.

Personally, I love the non-celebrity ones more. They're just more cuddly somehow. They're usually made from traditional work socks, each monkey is handmade and completely unique. As an amateur sockmonkey maker, let me tell you that this takes a lot of time and effort.

This year, their charity of choice is Jessie's, a centre for pregnant teenagers, teenage parents and their children. It helps teenagers with counselling, housing assistance, high school credits and other life lessons that help them stay active members within society.

I always have a favourite and this year it was "Eddie", the punk monkey. Other notable monkeys are Darth Vader Monkey, Baseball Magnet Monkey, and Sleepy Pajama Monkey. They don't actually have real names but I like to give them titles.

So, rush to the store, adopt a monkey today and support a great cause! Or at least go and say 'hi!' Don't go looking for "Eddie" though, as he's already been adopted by a loving family. They don't usually last very long so if you see one you love, buy them immediately.

Comrags is located at 654 Queen St. W. (at Palmerston Ave.), 416-360-7249