Poppin Tags: The Unofficial Macklemore Thrift Shop Challenge

What What, What, What - I'm not the only one with a thrifting addiction or a fondness for fur(ish) coats.  I went through a rebellious awesome stage in high school where I wore the most god awful clothes I could find - my number one outfit for away basketball games was a bright floral muumuu and a pink fur coat - Mimi would have been jealous.  Eat your heart out, Macklemore.  Setting trends and breaking hearts.

So for those not in the loop (are you living in a cave?!) - Macklemore is a rapper from Seattle (Washington, represent!) who partnered with Ryan Lewis to make this hilarious tribute to all things thrift store.  For those of you that like your versions a little more true to the artist check out the unedited version.  (If you’re on a smart phone click here to watch it.)


The hilarious couple over at Young House Love are all 'bout it too - so much, in fact, that they combined the two for a challenge I couldn't pass up.  The Completely Unofficial Macklemore Thrift Shop Challenge!  (For some reason I sang that Oprah-style when I was typing it and dang do I do a good Oprah impression...in.my.head.)

Step #1. Go to a thrift shop with – just as the chorus of the song says – “$20 in your pocket” and take a picture.

BOOM.

Step #2. Spend that $20 any way you’d like and photograph your spoils.

Did I get my come-up?  No, not exactly.  I have this awesome project planned for some thrift store leather jackets, but the greedy peeps at our local Goodwill are charging an arm and a leg for one.  $30?!  Sorry, too rich for my blood.  I'm going to have to hit up - what Josh dubs - "the center of the universe - where all thrift store castaways go to fight for their last chance at a new life."  Where do the unlucky ones go after the center of the universe...no one quite knows, or at least I don't.  You guys know of this place in Seattle?  If you haven't been there - you're missing out on all kinds of awesomeness.

So with no especially interesting finds to take home with me, I left with a couple of the Multi-Color  MALIN LÖV pillows from Ikea instead (each $2.99.)  Which is pretty much how thrifting goes - you win some, you lose some.  I'll probably recover these at some point.  They're the perfect shape and size for our sofa, but just not the right colors.  I could stencil them, "I participated in the YHL Macklemore Thrift Shop Challenge and all I got were these Ikea pillows."OR  (IDEA!).....anyone want to take part in a pillow swap?

Step #3. Find one item (or more) referenced in the song and snap a pic.

Nailed it!.....well, sort of.  These are gator, right?

Big A$$ Coat! 
 

 

If my "Stiffler's Mom Circa 2 Broke Girls" impression isn't enough to get you all warm and fuzzy then how about my "Blue Steel"?  Sorry, fellas...I'm taken.

Luckily I didn't find any skeet blankets.......................................................................awkward.

The thrift shop/Professor Mack gods were surely on my side for this challenge - as I turned the corner down the sporting goods aisle I stumbled upon a kid ROLLERBLADING!  I was too in awe of this awesomeness to snap a pic, but I swear on the thrifty gods themselves it happened.

Need a lesson in thrift shopping?  Check out Macklemore's interview with GQ. Now get out there and pop some tags.

Until next time,