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Erin Mantz
- Oct 21, 2020
- 1 min
It's "What Ever Happened To...? Wednesday!
"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
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Erin Mantz
- Oct 12, 2020
- 4 min
Please Tell Me There’s Still a “Mischief Night”
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
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Erin Mantz
- Sep 17, 2020
- 2 min
I'd like to have a few words with "courtney" - the #80's American Girl
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
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Erin Mantz
- Sep 9, 2020
- 2 min
biography's "i want my mtv" - review & random thoughts
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
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Erin Mantz
- Sep 7, 2020
- 1 min
How #GenX Are you?
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
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Erin Mantz
- Aug 28, 2020
- 1 min
if you missed our august 27 "facebook live"
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
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Erin Mantz
- Aug 25, 2020
- 1 min
gen x moms dropping kids at college
My heart goes out to all the Gen X moms out there, like me, who dropped, or are about to drop, their kid at college this week! Sophomore year may be a little bit easier, but it still stings. Still, my son's happiness about being there outweighs my sadness. I left a little piece of my heart in Madison, Wisconsin yesterday. How does the time go so fast? I still see that toddler... #GenerationX #GenX
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Erin Mantz
- Aug 24, 2020
- 1 min
Gen X Girls "Facebook Live" Aug. 27
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
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Erin Mantz
- Aug 11, 2020
- 4 min
Q&A With "Stuck in the '80s"
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
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Erin Mantz
- Aug 2, 2020
- 1 min
Wait - What? Gen X, Please Take This Millennial Food Chart test!
Thank goodness I only scored a 3. I am definitely Gen X. Growing up in the 70s/80s, didn't we just grab a Lender's bagel out of the freezer, or a Hostess Ding Dong from the pantry? If you can stop laughing long enough to finish this, let me know your score. #GenerationX #GenX #Millennial #80s #Eighties
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Erin Mantz
- Jul 31, 2020
- 1 min
Go-Go's release first new song in 19 years!
They've still got the beat. "Club Zero" will bring you back to the eighties, Generation X! I love it and knew it was them within the first few beats. Listen here. I went to that link and clicked the YouTubeMusic option - easy. #GoGos #GoGosDay #ClubZero #GenerationX #GenX #80s #Eighties
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Erin Mantz
- Jul 28, 2020
- 2 min
Book Review: #EXTRAOrdinary: Ride the Waves
#EXTRAOrdinary is a book that will have you nodding in agreement, laughing to yourself, and relaxing – and Generation X needs that right now. Authors and friends Lisa Shaffner Sohn and Carleen Matts-Behrends (Wise Ink Creative Publishing, 2019) take readers on a fun ride of life growing up as GenXers and contemplate – in the most fun and real ways possible – life now at middle age. In fact, the first question they pose is “What do you think of when you contemplate aging and b
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Erin Mantz
- Jul 22, 2020
- 1 min
if you missed gen x girls live on july 21, watch now!
You can view it at the top of our Gen X Girls Grow Up Facebook page now. Live Aid memories, Andrew McCarthy's upcoming book, actually finding time to take care of ourselves since we are home more in coronavirus times (exercise! face masks! tv shows that help us escape or relax!), Dirty John/Betty Broderick 80s fashion (oh my!) and more. Be sure to follow and like on Facebook; we'll post our August date soon. Hope you can join! #GenerationX #GenX #GenXGirls #80s #Eighties
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Erin Mantz
- Jul 2, 2020
- 1 min
If you Missed our first Facebook Live on July 1...
You can watch it here! What are #GenerationX women talking about? #80s movies, music, clothes, crushes & memories. Tried not to talk about coronavirus. And the first ones to comment won one of our hats! Stay tuned for our next July date here. #GenerationX #GenX #80s
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Erin Mantz
- Jun 28, 2020
- 1 min
Happy 35th (Yes - 35th!) anniversary to st. elmo's fire
Three Reasons I Loved That Movie When It Came Out When I was 15 - And Why It Distorted All My Post-College Expectations: Rob Lowe. I was convinced a "Billy" was really out there, someday... Jules'/Demi Moore's apartment. I was convinced I would easily find a big light-filled place right out of college. Though I did love my first apartment with its exposed brick wall. Time to hang out. Yes, I had lots of fun in my twenties, but I worked a LOT and didn't have tons of time to be
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Erin Mantz
- Jun 26, 2020
- 1 min
Gen X Girls, join us on Facebook!
We're active almost daily on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pg/GenXBlog! Be sure to visit, like and follow there to stay updated. ALSO, watch for our first Facebook Live Gen X Girls Happy Hour in early July. Date & time to be posted here and on Facebook soon. Thanks, Gen Xers! #GenerationX #GenX #GenXGirlsGrowUp
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Erin Mantz
- Mar 30, 2020
- 3 min
Just because Generation X is well-equipped to deal with covid-19 quarantine doesn’t mean we like it
Some great, well-written pieces are out there about how Generation X is the generation best positioned to muddle through these Coronavirus times, and why we have the strength and self-sufficiency to self-quarantine. I totally agree, but don’t think that necessarily makes it any better for us. Yes – as latchkey kids, we learned and literally held the key to independence and responsibility for letting ourselves in, and entertaining ourselves once home. Staying there until our p
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Don't miss my Huffington Post pieces on Generation X: