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Young House Love » Shopping & Thrifting » Our (Completely Unofficial) Macklemore Thrift Shop Challenge

| By Sherry Petersik | January 25, 2013 | 575 Comments

Our (Completely Unofficial) Macklemore Thrift Shop Challenge

Psst- We’re bouncing around the West Coast this weekend with a talk and signing in Portland on Saturday at Rejuvenation at noon (for more info call 503-238-1900). Then on Sunday we’ll be in Palo Alto at 11am at the West Elm on 180 University Avenue (RSVP here). Parking isn’t enforced on Sundays so you can park anywhere, or you can purchase a visitors pass at Palo Alto Civic Center and park in any of their lots all day.

There are two irrefutable facts about me. 1) I tend to fall in love with rappers and 2) I’m a fool for a good thrift shop. So when those two passions collided in the form of this Macklemore & Ryan Lewis song called Thrift Shop, the Internet at large was quick to clue me into its awesomeness, which started around the fall of last year and continues well into 2013. So to anyone who commented/tweeted me the link, thank you for giving me my official jam of 2012 and 2013. The clip below is the clean radio edit of the song (if you’re on a smart phone click here to watch it) but here’s a link to the official non-clean video (warning: it’s a bit, um, saltier).

And now that the song is starting to get some radio play (seriously, they’ve started playing it here in Richmond!) it gave us an idea. As J-Boom and I pulled into a thrift store while it played, I was like “Ooh look at this, it’s so meta, a song about thrifting is playing while we’re going thrifting.” And then John turned to me and said “We should do a Macklemore Thrift Shop Challenge.” And boom. Just like that I fell more in love with my husband.

Macklemore Challenge

Here’s the deal. This “Challenge” is basically an excuse to all (virtually) go thrift shopping together and share our spoils, plus there’s a scavenger-hunt-ish element tossed in for good measure. So it’s meant to be a nice low pressure Friday fun-fest. And just like our little Pinterest Challenges, if you’d like to partake and blog about it, we’ll do a little linky thing next Friday so everyone can share their favorite finds. There are just THREE things you gotta do to play along (well, four if you count blogging about it later, although of course you can play along even if you don’t have a blog).

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

Macklemore Twenty

Step #2. Spend that $20 any way you’d like and photograph your spoils. They can be home related, fashion oriented, kid focused, anything. And you don’t necessarily need to make them over or repurpose them at all (although that’s totally allowed too!). It’s just an adventure in seeing what people all across the country (the world?) can score with a twenty at a thrift shop. And if you don’t find enough items to spend the whole twenty, there’s no pressure to buy weird things to meet that number, so it’s more of a cap than a you-must-hit-this-exact-number thing. This isn’t The Price Is Right.

Oh yeah, and we’ll reveal our spoils with everyone else next week…

Macklemore Dolls

Step #3. Find one item (or more) referenced in the song and snap a pic. Here’s the scaveger-hunt-ish element that we tossed in because we’re weirdos. And you get bonus points for doing something ridiculous with the item in the photo. After all, Macklemore has some pretty great confidence when he’s rocking those footy pajamas.

Macklemore Keyboad

If you’re like John and have a terrible time deciphering rap lyrics, we’ve listed some of the items you could hunt for here: clothing with fringe, an all pink outfit, moccasins, a velour jumpsuit, house slippers, a brown leather jacket, a keyboard, a kneeboard, shoes with velcro, luggage, a plaid button up shirt, flannel zebra jammies, PJs with built-in socks, a telescope, and of course… a big a$$ coat.

Macklemore Coat

Feel free to interpret the scavenger hunt items as literally or as loosely as you’d like. The point is just to have some good clean thrift shop fun. Happy hunting! We’ll be back next Friday with a rundown of what we found, and we can’t wait to see what you guys score as well.

Viva la thrift shop!

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Comments

  1. Jessica says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:31 am

    Love Thrift Shop! You guys are hilarious and keep us entertained!

    Reply
  2. Katecreates says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:31 am

    As if I need an excuse to go Sale-ing?

    Reply
  3. Kristi says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:32 am

    Totally awesome! I think we all just fell a little more in love with J-Boom too!!! Great idea!

    Reply
  4. andrea @ my kinda perfect says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:32 am

    you’re awesome. i’m in.

    the end.

    Reply
  5. Michelle says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:32 am

    This just made my day! I did not know this song existed! May need to head to a thrift store this weekend.

    Reply
  6. Jessica Ballard says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:34 am

    I am in, and am asking my readers to join in. Linked it back to your site with the images. I Love a good challenge! :-)

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 25, 2013 at 10:43 am

      Wahoo!

      xo
      s

  7. Marissa says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:34 am

    Sounds like fun!!

    Reply
  8. Rebekka says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:35 am

    Woooo! Seattle, REPRESENT!
    This video is so great; Seattle has a plethora of crazy thrift shops.

    PS Super excited to see ya’ll at the Tacoma Dome today!!

    Reply
  9. Meredith Jones says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:36 am

    This makes me so excited! Mainly because Macklemore is straight outta my hometown here Seattle…! Way to represent the town you’re in today with a little local artist turned superstarrrr love! :D
    Have you heard any more of his tracks? He tells it like it is, I love it!
    See y’all in a few hours!!!!!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 25, 2013 at 10:42 am

      Oh yeah we have his whole CD. It’s great!

      xo
      s

  10. Kristin says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:36 am

    This is awesome! My mission? To find sheets that smell like R. Kelly!!

    I seriously need help coming up with a rapper name…

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 25, 2013 at 10:42 am

      Haha!

      xo
      s

  11. Wendy says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:37 am

    Great idea…and on a scarier note, I’m 100% positive my mom owned that mauve nightmare of a coat in the ’80s!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 25, 2013 at 10:42 am

      Haha! I tried it on and said “wait I think my aunt had this!”

      xo
      s

  12. Dana says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:38 am

    Love this! The song, the challenge, you guys… Love the whole thing!

    Reply
  13. Rachel says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:38 am

    OMG I totally already have a rapper name: R-Meezy here, glad to meetcha!

    Already trying to think of fun, funky things I can repurpose….

    Reply
  14. Nora Rose says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:38 am

    I loooooove this. Wish I wasn’t traveling for work so much. I also wish this wasn’t my 17 year old brother’s theme song. Yes, he wears your grandpa’s clothes. Yes, he think he looks incredible. But seriously, $3 rocking vintage t-shirts, bow ties, and tweed jackets for the win…

    Reply
  15. Alison says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:38 am

    I posted the “salty” version on Facebook and one of the older ladies from church (who I’m friends with on Facebook)…um…didn’t get it. Ha!

    An-y-way. It will be fun to go thrift shopping for myself for a change. I’m in!

    Reply
  16. Callie says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:38 am

    I have a feeling that this post is going to elicit the most “salty” comments of all posts, so far.

    Goodwill gods help us.

    Reply
  17. Nicole @ Liberty Belles says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:39 am

    ooh awesome! totally going to try and squeeze in a thrift store trip before next Friday.

    Reply
  18. Crystal says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:39 am

    I have always loved thrift shops! The first time I heard the song I thought this is stupid, but I couldn’t change the song and the beat is so catchy! Love it now.

    Ps: I have a 3 year old boy and sometimes I can’t find the motivation to do all the DIY things I want to. To get the push I need I just think about how much you two do with Clara! WWS&JD?! You make it all seem so easy, then you even blog about it!!!

    Reply
  19. Lauren says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:39 am

    Love ittttt! I’m totally dragging husband to the thrift store. I saw them on Ellen last week – so great!

    Reply
  20. Lynn @ Our Useful Hands says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:40 am

    I love this song!!!!! And yes I thought of you’s guys when I first heard it. One time, I swear ONE TIME I let the kids here the chorus in the car one day (radio edit of course) and for the rest of the day and the next my Sofie was walking around singing in the cutest non-thug voice “Only got 20 dollars in my pocket, this is, awesome.” The cutest little edited song she’s ever muttered. Michael just looked at me like “What on earth are you teaching these kids when I’m not around?!” This song is seriously my cardio in the morning. Okay I am off to read the post and then probably send another comment your way. :o)

    My best, Lynn

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 25, 2013 at 10:45 am

      Haha!

      xo
      s

  21. Alyssa says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:40 am

    I won’t be able to do this because I’m having a FinishIt!Weekend (kind of like your Dude, Get On That), but I just need to say…

    With this challenge you can drop the mic and walk away. Greatest Blog Ever.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 25, 2013 at 10:41 am

      Hahahahahaha!

      xo
      s

  22. Roo @ NiceGirlNotes says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:40 am

    Gator shoes. GATOR SHOES!!!!

    Reply
  23. Lindsey @ arkadian belle woods says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:40 am

    OMG!!!! AHHH!! This is f***ing awesome! hahaahah! I am so in love with this song and this post has me rolling! You guys are a trip! I was watching this video the other day saying I wanted to do a spin off!

    Reply
  24. Ann L. says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:40 am

    A. I love that song.
    B. I love you guys. This is probably one of my favorite posts ever, if for no reason other than it demonstrates how un-seriously you take yourselves and it’s awesome.

    Can’t wait to hop over to the Goodwill and other local NJ thrift stores this weekend to see what I can come up with!

    Ann

    Reply
  25. Kelly says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:41 am

    OMG this is my favorite post ever! I think you guys are the coolest people I’ve ever not met. And I have yet to hear this song. Maybe us Delaware peeps dont like thrift shops as much as others?!But I am in love with it as of now. Now to find a way I can play it in the dance class I teach… for first graders…

    Reply
  26. Tarap says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:43 am

    Love this song. It reminds me of my brother who is always showing up with sweet thrift store finds & rocks his style. We’ve been calling him a sweet a$$ honky. Hilarious.

    Reply
  27. Jillian {Her Split Ends} says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:43 am

    hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. Please god make a music video…i can already see it in my head…..hhahahaha

    <3
    ~ Jillian

    Reply
  28. pat says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:43 am

    Sherry,
    I love to follow your blog and have done so for about a year. I must say I was shocked at the first sentence of this entry..specifically..your note of “white rappers”. I do believe since you love to engage “all” of your audiences that this was simply a mis-stated oversite on your part. I am sure that you would not mean to offend anyone. I think “falling in love with rappers” would have been sufficient.
    Thanks for allowing be to share my observation.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 25, 2013 at 10:48 am

      Oh no, I definitely don’t mean any offense. I just met Eminem when I was younger and he has been called a white rapper by everyone from CNN to MTV. Definitely didn’t mean any offense :)

      xo
      s

    • pat says

      January 25, 2013 at 4:58 pm

      I knew you didnt mean any…:)…Keep having fun!

    • kathy v says

      January 25, 2013 at 6:22 pm

      I was not offended by the first sentence! We all know $herdog loves her some Eminem. She didn’t use an offensive term.

  29. Shellie says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:43 am

    Ohh man! I would love to participate but seeing as how I am traveling to Palo Alto to meet you (!!!) I don’t think I’ve got time to squeeze in a thrift trip. But I’ll try! So freaking excited!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 25, 2013 at 10:46 am

      Wahoo! Can’t wait to meet you!!

      xo
      s

    • Shellie says

      January 25, 2013 at 10:48 am

      Ohh man Sherry- I gotta say, it thrills me to no end whenever you reply to my comments. Makes my whole day, lol. Hope you guys have some fun with your crazy travel schedule!

  30. Erin says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:43 am

    I love this! I am going thrifting this weekend and am up for the fresh challenge.
    Can’t wait to show the weird pictures!
    Holla for a dolla – or $20!

    Reply
  31. Nicole says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:44 am

    Yay! This is the best scavenger hunt thing ever. My husband is so obsessed with this song he was Macklemore for Halloween. Of course we had to go to the thrift shop and buy a crazy ugly coat. . .

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 25, 2013 at 10:45 am

      Hahahaha!

      xo
      s

  32. Shanee says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:44 am

    BOOM! Love it!

    I’m totally in on this challenge! I’ll wear your grandpa’s clothes. I’ll look incredible….LOL!

    Reply
  33. AmberGale says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:44 am

    I hope someone has shared the Pentatonix acapella cover of this song with you! They are awesome:

    Reply
  34. Tracie@MiddleClassMod says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:45 am

    This is my favorite challenge of all time. Thrifting for the win!

    Reply
  35. Kierstin says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:46 am

    Looking forward to meeting you both at Rejuvenation tomorrow. If this is your first time to this store, you are going to love it. Btw, the link to RSVP isn’t working. See you mañana in Stumptown!

    Cheers,
    Kierstin

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 25, 2013 at 10:54 am

      Hmmm, looks like the Rejuvenation site is having some trouble. Hopefully it’ll be back up soon!

      -John

  36. Kayleigh says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:47 am

    By FAR the best post ever. Seriously.

    Boyfriend is obsessed with this song – for his birthday, our friends and I organized a surprise Thrift Shop Scavenger Hunt. First team to find EVERYTHING IN THE SONG won. Thank god we have about a bajillion Goodwill/Salvation Armies in our town.

    DAMN! That’s a cold a$$ honkey!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 25, 2013 at 10:53 am

      Oh man, then you should be a pro at this already! That’s awesome!

      -John

  37. Jessi says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:47 am

    Ahhh! This post just made my day– love, love, LOVE me some Macklemore!! I think I may just have to make this the first YHL Challenge I do… woot!
    PS- If he does a show near you, definitely go. At 29, my hubby and I felt slightly geriatric among all of the high schoolers, but it totally didn’t matter. We partied our socks off, and it was ah-mazing.

    Reply
  38. Alana says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:48 am

    How’d you know I was heading to Goodwill today? Guess I have a game plan while I’m there. P.S. My husband thinks I’m a dork because I call my Goodwill trips “Goodwill Hunting”…ha, get it? Sorry :P

    Reply
  39. Bailey says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:49 am

    I went to a Thrift Store Party a few months ago with this song as the theme – we were all encouraged to go deck ourselves out from the thrift store before we arrived. I bought a HUGE blue neon argyle sweater and a pair of bright neon yellow jeans! This blogging version sounds so fun!

    Reply
  40. Kim says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:49 am

    That video just made my day. Thanks!

    Reply
  41. Mari says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:50 am

    If only you were in Seattle longer you could have done the tour of shops where the video was shot.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 25, 2013 at 10:52 am

      No way! We even passed a thrift store on the way home from the airport last night and contemplated stopping. If only we had known…

      -John

  42. emily @ go haus go says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:50 am

    Did they call that blanket they tossed in the cart a SKEET BLANKET!???! BAHAHAHAHA. I am dying!!! And blushing!

    Reply
    • Lisa R says

      January 28, 2013 at 12:28 pm

      I thought it was “sleep” blanket until I looked up the lyrics! Ew! ha ha

  43. Jennifer says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:51 am

    Hi Guys,
    I want to participate in this fun and outrageous task, but I’m unsure how to go about linking up my blog post with yours. I read your blog all the time and see fun things like this all over the blog world, but I’ve never partaken before. Could you let me know how I should go about this. Thanks.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 25, 2013 at 10:57 am

      When we post next week it will have instructions at the bottom. It’s pretty much the same process as leaving comment, but if you have any trouble next week just let us know in the comments.

      -John

  44. Jes says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:52 am

    Be still my heart, Young House Love and a thrifting challenge. This is like me every week at the thrift store. I spent all of last year buying only second hand clothing, shoes, and accessories (capitalizing on my long held love of thrifting) and I pretty much don’t care to go back to regular shopping (except for shoes). Love it! And you guys are hilarious.

    Reply
  45. fulori says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:53 am

    Brilliant. Just brilliant.

    Reply
  46. Jennifer says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:53 am

    That coat almost made me spit out my coffee. I’m pretty sure I owned that coat (Well, maybe not that exact same one.) in 1984. I had matching moon boots to go with it. Yeah, you can laugh.

    Reply
  47. Becca says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:54 am

    The video is HILARIOUS! My mom runs a Grange thrift shop in the summer – we call her “The Queen of the Grange.” She’s also amazing at scoring pretty awesome stuff at the dump store. :) Yes, really, we have no shame. This is so totally for her . . . thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  48. Desiree C. says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:54 am

    Sherry, as you said about falling more in love with your husband, I just fell more in love with Young House Love. This. Officially. Made. My. Day.

    And I totally rocked out to Thrift Shop at work without shame (but why should I even feel shame, right–more so a fear of getting caught) and getting caught. Thank you for this incredible post. It’s too bad I just broke my 20-spot. Guess I’ll have to get another one. #onlygoteightdollarsinmypocket

    Reply
  49. Kelli from LittleCottageOfMine says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:55 am

    I AM ON THIS!!

    Reply
  50. Tiffany says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:57 am

    OMG this is absolutely hilarious! Game on!

    Reply
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John and Sherry Sitting On Woven ChairHey, we’re John & Sherry. We’ve fixed up 7 homes, written books, designed products, started a podcast, and then downsized & moved to the beach! Here you’ll find over 3,000 DIY projects & home updates. More about us…
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