By Dianne Lively Yost

Bailout. Honey, my shoppin’ strategy ain’t right! My dad blasted Christmas list is bigger than my budget! This calls for a government bailout! Give me some of that economic stimulus green so that I can jump start the Morgan County economy! Poof! Wow! My wallet’s loaded with spendin’ capital and that means shoppin’ locally! Thanks U.S. Government! Let’s go!
   

Danglin’ Diamonds.  Yes you heard me right! Now I know I’m supposed to be buyin’ gifts for all the beautiful people on my list but I’ve flat gotta buy these Danglin’ Diamonds for me! I’m talkin’ Whidby Jewelers located at 177 West Jefferson Street in downtown Madison is rockin’ in gold, diamonds, precious stones, silver, pearls . . .honey you name it! Oh it just makes me sooo happy! Ok so Ben Whidby took me around the store to tell me what’s hot and what’s not! And, honey, the net-net is that it’s all scorchin’ hot! Oh and Ben says Whidby’s gold buy-back program is like sparklin’ cool ‘cause you can sell your gold and use the money toward a purchase in the store! I sure hope my handsome husband is readin’ this tip ‘cause honey I found me the perf gold necklace with fabulous gold and silver loops and I need it now! Oh and they’ve expanded their Lorenzo line which I flat love! I mean I wear my Lorenzo nearly every ding dang day! Oh and one of the newest additions and hottest pieces are the Diamonds in Motion jewels! Ben says a tiny hole is drilled into the diamond that’s then attached to a necklace or pendent or whatever. The result is nothin’ short of magnificent! I mean those diamonds just sparkle and dangle, hence Diamonds in Motion! Do the hustle and get over to Whidby Jewelers today and get you some fabulous gifts!
   

Follow the bubbles. I’m talkin’ ‘bout Mulberry Toys located at 137 South Main Street in Downtown Madison! Honey when it comes to toys this is THE PLACE! Ok so owners Michele Robinette and Vanessa Carter showed me all around and honey they have the hottest toys! Ok so Michele says the doorway puppet theater is really popular and they’ve got these really big puppets that are oh-so-cute! And, honey they’ve got this really weird ridin’ toy called the Flying Turtle that’s way cool! You sit on this seat thingy and fly all over the place! I have to confess that I myself have tried out the Flying Turtle and it’s super fun! Oh and this remote control skunk is gonna scare Momma into next week! Right so other faves are the Kitty Key Board that plays with piano keys, bells, meows, organ keys and banjo sounds is just too fun and the Melissa & Doug 130-piece wooden train set is fantastic and is priced right at only $68.75! Oh and the folding horse stable is perf for that Morgan County horsewoman to be! Other faves are the pop-up tents and the famous book that all the toddlers are talkin’ ‘bout called “Pete the Cat – I love my White Shoes” by James Dean! Y’all get over there today and get some Christmas spirit! Hey and ladies! Head over to Mulberry Toys on Dec. 11 for Ladies Night without the kids from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.!
Hey! Barkin’ Dogs Shoe Co. located at 125 West Washington Street in downtown Madison is gonna be hostin’ a MBT Trunk Show on December 20th but more on that later! Y’all just wait ‘til you see me poppin’ around town in my new red MBT kicks! Yeah! Oh and I nearly forgot, between Dec. 15 and 30 bring in a pair of gently worn shoes to Barkin’ Dogs Shoe Co. for the Soles4Souls program and get $10 off your shoe purchase that day! Love it!
Right! Ginger Gardner of Town & Country located at 204 West Washington Street in Madison wanted me to tell y’all that during the month of December you can enter a drawin’ to win a North Face Jacket that’ll be given away on Dec. 23rd at 6 p.m. with any purchase! Oh and the store will be open for the holidays Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Ok y’all don’t forget to tour the Heritage Holiday Tour of Homes in Madison this Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and the candlelight tour from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. this weekend! Tour headquarters are at Heritage Hall on Main Street! I’ll see y’all there! Hey and Linda Abercrombie wanted me to tell y’all that the Morgan County Fire Department Central Station Two and Station Five – Godfrey is hostin’ its annual all-you- can-eat pancake breakfast and raffle to benefit our volunteer fire departments this Saturday at Station Two located at 1241 Brooks Road! Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for kids ages 6 to 12. You can purchase tickets at the door or at the two fire departments! Y’all head over there for breakfast this Saturday from 7 a.m. until noon!
   

Oh and Carol Altznauer of Rutledge wanted me to remind all y’all that the Rutledge Garden Club is hostin’ its 2008 Christmas Tour of Homes on Friday, December 12 and Saturday, December 13 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Tour headquarters will be the at the house next to the Methodist Church on Main Street in Rutledge! Check it out at  www.smallbutspecial.com!
  

That’s it for the Buzz on Biz! Y’all have fun shoppin’ in Morgan County and I’ll see all y’all next week. Same time. Same Number One Weekly Newspaper in the Great State of Georgia!