In response to a recent BuzzFeed piece, "Millennials Are Sharing The Things They Wish Older Generations Understood, And It's Kind Of Heartbreaking"...here are five things I would like THEM to know. #1 – You left us/GenX out of the article title. Wish Boomers understood? Don’t you want US to know, too? We need to understand, because sometimes we are shaking our heads at what other generations are thinking and doing. What the heck? #2 – I know you all got shiny trophies for sho

A Go-Go's GIVEAWAY for Gen X Girls! Win a copy of the Go-Go's Documentary DVD. To enter, head over to the Gen X Girls Facebook page and view & comment on the Go-Go's post, naming your favorite song. Enter by July 26. I loved their behind-the-scenes stories and was so impressed with how they drove their success! They talk about the documentary here. #gogos #genxgirl #generationx #genx #80s

Here's my Letter to the Editor in NBC News THINK's newsletter today, June 5, in response to: We were supposed to be over the 1980s by now. Why we're still not. Bryan Reesman: The Decade of Decadence was a time of excess, for sure, but its brash attitudes, bold colors and cultural icons resonate because of the artistic forces it unleashed. What do you THINK? Erin Mantz of Potomac, Maryland, responds: Bryan Reesman got it right in his recent THINK piece — the '80s are having

When you are 18 in 1988 and write a high school graduation piece to your friends, using song lyrics and titles from the times... The best four years! Now I've Had The Time Of My Life June 8, 1988 #generationx #genx #80s #genxgirl #classof88 #highschoolmemories

Did you know there's a skin care product line especially fomulated for '80s girls, by '80s girls? Three women at Procter & Gamble created SeeMe Beauty, and I had the opportunity to chat with the team. Check out our interview, where they spotlight how Gen X Girls Grow Up began and how and why we're growing so fast! I loved talking about the pride of our generation and the things I learned growing up; some of the best advice I ever received from wise women in my life (like my B

Even as a teen in the ‘80s, watching Andrew McCarthy’s characters - “Blane” in Pretty in Pink, and “Kevin” in St. Elmo’s Fire - I thought: There are a lot of thoughts swirling in that actor’s head. He seemed different than other stars – the thoughtful and sensitive one of the “pack.” I won’t name that pack because he didn’t particularly love that label at the time, but I know you know. Now, I see I was right! Andrew McCarthy is incredibly introspective and impressive. In his

We may have been labeled Slackers or Latchkey Kids, and called too independent and jaded. Growing up in the '70s and '80s, playing outside without a cell phone or care in the world, we never came back happily into our houses at sundown, when our parents expected – but we did come back. We are Generation X. We understood the rules. But I don’t think we understand the rules of being “middle aged” in 2021. Even if we did, we’d rewrite them as we went along. As AARP launches a ca

Our fun new Gen X Girl Pink Totes are here, just in time for spring. Treat yourself to one - a pop of '80s color - stylish and sturdy, like Generation X! It holds a good amount of stuff, for an afternoon out or shopping excursion (I recently fit in a dozen bagels, plus typical "purse" stuff). As the pandemic eases and we're on the go more, we need a good bag! Shop here. FREE shipping in May! #genxgirl #generationx #80s

It's been a year, people. When coronavirus became real last March, it cast a spotlight on the strength and resiliency of Generation X. That was great for our generation - well-deserved! Overdue! Articles and news stories celebrated how we were raised in times that set us up for successfully weathering something like a pandemic storm. Experts and bloggers touted our adaptability and independence, and our ability to fill hours upon hours finding something to do. Gen X was the p

The coronavirus cast a spotlight on the strength and resiliency of Generation X. That is great! Well-deserved. Overdue. Articles and news stories have celebrated our adaptability and independence, and our ability to fill hours upon hours finding something to do. But these quarantined times have been challenging for us in other, sneakier ways. 2020 reminded us that we “middle children” are truly in a period of aging. Midlife is marked by several exclamation points now, as we r

"What Ever Happened To...?" is a new weekly look at some of our favorite people from our Gen X growing up years. This week: Kristy McNichol and the cast of the television program "Family." Who DIDN'T love Kristy McNichol in "Family" and "Little Darlings?" I remember watching "Family" with my mom, so I was surprised to read the show ran from 1976 - 1979. I was awfully young (six to nine)!) to be watching that, I think. Alcholism, adoption. Oh well. We were Generation X, though

It’s been hard to hold on to the traditions and times of our GenX childhoods. Case in point: Halloween. And, let’s face it – the Generation X version of Halloween disappeared long before COVID hit. We may want to blame the pandemic as we pine away for the 70's and 80's, but I noticed they were gone years ago. Most kids today have never even heard of “Mischief Night.” In 1982 in Chicago’s West Rogers Park neighborhood, all 12-year olds I knew – including me, as well as younger

Dear Courtney, 1986 WAS a great year! Leg warmers kept us cozy. Playing games like PAC-MAN was fun, and an easy distraction from the real world. We were all about surrounding ourselves with bright and upbeat colors - everything from our clothes to our bedroom walls - hot pinks, sky blues and purples - reflecting a happy and hopeful time. Like you, we had bold and bright ideas - about upcoming Saturday nights at the roller rink or parties. About the future - maybe marriage, ki

I was excited to watch Biography's "I Want My MTV" show on A&E last night, knowing it would revisit the original MTV VJs. It did not disappoint, and offered a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how the whole MTV concept, name, logo, business, struggle and success evolved. Here are five things I took away: 1. First, I’m proud of my #GenX self for figuring out how to find a way/channel/streaming service/something to actually watch the program. An hour before, I was Googling

#backtoschool #happybacktoschool #firstdayofschool #GenerationX #GenX #80s #70s

How #GenX are you? Give yourself 1 point for each "yes" you did growing up: * Saw at least three John Hughes movies. * Passed a note to a friend between or during classes. * Wore leg warmers or a Flashdance sweatshirt. * Made a cassette tape. * Knew the lyrics to at least three Madonna songs. * Had a poster of Rob Lowe, Matt Dillon, or Ralph Macchio. * Read a Tiger Beat magazine. * Read at least three Judy Blume books. * Learned about growing up from Judy Blume books. * Drove

You can view it on Facebook here! We had such fun talking about Rob Lowe, Playa Bowls and tipping, Trapper Keepers and "back to school," the original MTV VJs, Peloton, drinking Truly Hard Seltzer and White Claw like a #GenZ-er, and more. #GenerationX #GenX #80s #Eighties #RobLowe #PlayaBowls #WhiteClaw #Truly #MTV

Show your GenX spirit! Join us at 8pm ET this Thursday, August 27, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GenXBlog! Join me, Erin Wechsler Mantz and my show co-host Julia Sherwin as we talk about the latest buzz worthy topics in pop culture, reminisce about life growing up as #GenerationX in the #80s and early #90s and more! We'll talk about tipping; Blockbuster memories; Rob Lowe; if the new #DirtyDancing movie has to happen, what should it be like; #GenZ (which includes o

What was it like to set sail on The 80s Cruise? I virtually “sat down” with Stuck in the ’80s podcast co-host Steve Spears to find out. He and Brad Williams have a podcast devoted to our favorite decade’s movies, music and pop culture. Read on to hear how they celebrated their 500th episode on The 80s Cruise! Erin: Your podcast just celebrated 15 years! What do you hope it’s accomplishing? Steve: It's really amazing that we've made it to 15 years. I honestly never expected th