I hate most of the TV characters I watch, yet I can't stop watching. Why? The older I get, the more I find myself hating on most of the characters on television shows I watch (religiously) week after week. These characters aren't TV's bad guys or girls we're supposed to root against (like I did with the ABC soap opera General Hospital back in the 80's - who remembers Mikkos Cassadine? - or Abu Nazir in HBO's Homeland?), playing nasty parts in horrific storylines (look what Wi

An engaging book and revealing look at Generation X that goes behind the nostalgia and makes us wonder... how did we turn out so well? Liz Prato’s collection of essays truly reflects the culture and issues of our generation, and hindsight is 20/20. The book sheds some light on some not-so-nice realities often lost in the more frequent “bubble gum” nostalgia of the 80s. I found this book to be an eye-opening look back, leading readers like me – a Gen X girl – to take a more th

Top Five Observations From My Trip I was a little hesitant to plan a trip alone to Italy to visit my oldest son, a college junior who’s there for a semester abroad. But only a little. I’d be traveling there alone to meet up with him first in Courmayeur, a tiny ski town in the Italian Alps, and would then have lots of time alone later in the week in Rome, while he would be in class. But I was confident I’d be fine. Despite the fact that I didn’t know Italian, didn’t like chees

A new monthly series by Gen X Girls Grow Up Just how much do the decades and times we grew up in shape our perspectives and beliefs? How does what we look for and value in others change as we grow older? Does it? It’s hard to say, but we’re tackling one question from women of two generations. March 2022 The Question: What do you value in a good friend? X Says Erin, 52, Generation X First and foremost, I value friends who prove they are trustworthy. To me, this can only come w

As a Gen X woman living in a strange, “middle age” period, in a pandemic, I knew I wasn't alone. But I wasn’t sure how much I would be moved by stories in The Pandemic Crisis: Gen X Women On The Brink, an essay collection by Jessica Smock and Stephanie Sprenger (HerStories Project Press, November 2021). I loved it. The writers’ stories span a range of socio-economic levels, family situations, parenting perspectives, life challenges, and other sandwich generation struggles and

I’m the Same Generation as the Characters in And Just Like That. Why Would I Rather Watch Euphoria? These high school kids feel everything. And when I watch Euphoria, I do too. I was thrilled to write this piece for Slate Magazine and share my perspective as a Gen X woman watching a show targeted to Gen Z. Lately, I just want to be entertained. Check it out! #genxgirl #euphoria #hbo #generationx #genz #genx

Smell Love's Baby Soft again! Don't miss the "80's Girl Candle" giveaway, happening on my Gen X Girls Grow Up Facebook page through 10pm Eastern Time, Sunday, January 30! Head over there to enter. Courtesy of Hardin Soy Candles. To further celebrate cool '80s stuff, I went behind the scenes with Stacy Hardin, Owner of Hardin Soy Candles, to hear what inspires her... 1. How did you get the idea for an 80’s Girl candle? I wanted something that embodied who I was - to me, the

Forty years ago, thousands of Gen X girls across the country got their moms to call them into school “sick,” and parked themselves in front of the television for one of the biggest entertainment events of their lives to date: Luke and Laura’s wedding. The iconic General Hospital couple (a hugely popular ABC soap opera in the ‘80s, for those who don’t know) were getting married. Why did this matter so much? I’ll get to that in a minute. First, though, a shout out to the girls/

Join me on Sunday night, October 24 at 8pm Eastern as I host our first '80's Trivia Night - Movies & Music virtual gathering on Hello Revel! RSVP now to save a spot! Hope to "see" you there on the Zoom! Erin #genxgirl #80s #generationx #genx #hellorevel

This is such a cool premise and platform I recently learned about! Early in her career, CIRKEL Founder Charlotte Japp noticed a huge gap between the 20-somethings she worked with and baby boomers like her parents. Older workers had decades of experience, but were forced to retire or start secondary careers due to ageist hiring trends. Her friends and colleagues wanted career mentorship, while her parents and their friends were looking for new skills to stay competitive in the

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