Intercoastals
Intercoastals
Introspection and observation of two writers working in tech.
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Welcome to

Intercoastals.  

Introspection and observation of two writers working in tech.

Where to start

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ABout Us

Meet Amanda and Ries.

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FAQ

You asked, we answered.

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Everyday Gus

Spotted in his natural habitat.

 

The Latest

Featured
Book Review: Dark Age
Ries Murphy
Book Review: Dark Age
Ries Murphy

A Tale of Two Sagas.

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Ries Murphy
Introducing Lilac West
Amanda Murphy
Introducing Lilac West
Amanda Murphy

Sharing my latest project that will start this fall. (And like…a crap load of photos.)

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Amanda Murphy
Weekend Adventures with Bubba
Amanda Murphy
Weekend Adventures with Bubba
Amanda Murphy

Ries’ mom came to visit this weekend, and here’s where we took her.

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Amanda Murphy
Trip to Berthoud's Farmers' Market
Amanda Murphy
Trip to Berthoud's Farmers' Market
Amanda Murphy

Another addition to our “Everyday Gus” series.

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Amanda Murphy
Happy 6th Anniversary to Us!
Amanda Murphy
Happy 6th Anniversary to Us!
Amanda Murphy

We’re pulling out some old photos in honor of our six year anniversary.

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Amanda Murphy

Browse by

Category

Wander

Intercoastals // Lifestyle Blog // Bloomington, Indiana
Boulder Farmers' Market
Boulder Farmers' Market
Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park
Denver's Downtown Aquarium
Denver's Downtown Aquarium
Colorado Update #2: The Journey to Colorado
Colorado Update #2: The Journey to Colorado
Archive: Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival in Walt Disney World
Archive: Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival in Walt Disney World
Our Mid-Winter Adventure to Mass Ave.
Our Mid-Winter Adventure to Mass Ave.
36 Hours in Oregon
36 Hours in Oregon
Gus’ First Trip to the Beach
Gus’ First Trip to the Beach
Disney Trip, Spring 2017
Disney Trip, Spring 2017
Our Trip to Seattle
Our Trip to Seattle
Halloween in Disney
Halloween in Disney
Plans for our Disney World Trip
Plans for our Disney World Trip
 

Tribe

Intercoastals // Lifestyle Blog // Bloomington, Indiana
Trip to Berthoud's Farmers' Market
Trip to Berthoud's Farmers' Market
Happy 6th Anniversary to Us!
Happy 6th Anniversary to Us!
Nap Time with "Money"
Nap Time with "Money"
Weekly Gus #7
Weekly Gus #7
Pretty, Pretty Princess Kitty
Pretty, Pretty Princess Kitty
Weekly Gus #6
Weekly Gus #6
Weekly Gus #5
Weekly Gus #5
A Day Trip to Denver
A Day Trip to Denver
Weekly Gus #4
Weekly Gus #4
Losing Nugget
Losing Nugget
The Weekly Gus #3
The Weekly Gus #3
Spring at the Bloomington Farmers' Market
Spring at the Bloomington Farmers' Market
The Weekly Gus #1
The Weekly Gus #1
Gus' Baptism
Gus' Baptism
Gus at Eight Months
Gus at Eight Months
Gus at Six Months
Gus at Six Months
Colorado Update #1
Colorado Update #1
Gus at Five Months
Gus at Five Months
Ten Things I've Learned Since College
Ten Things I've Learned Since College
Post-Night Terrors
Post-Night Terrors
The Butter Incident
The Butter Incident
Everyday Whimsy
Everyday Whimsy
Whimsy Kisses
Whimsy Kisses
Quesadilla Baby
Quesadilla Baby
Saturday in the Fall
Saturday in the Fall
Like Father, Like Son
Like Father, Like Son
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Mom’s Favorite Day
Mom’s Favorite Day
First Pancakes
First Pancakes
Summertime = Corn on the Cob Time
Summertime = Corn on the Cob Time
 

Here

Intercoastals // Lifestyle Blog // Bloomington, Indiana
Weekend Adventures with Bubba
Weekend Adventures with Bubba
Hoosier Friend?
Hoosier Friend?
Taste of Fort Collins + Horsetooth Reservoir
Taste of Fort Collins + Horsetooth Reservoir
A Day Trip to Denver
A Day Trip to Denver
Denver Pop Culture Convention (DPCC 2019)
Denver Pop Culture Convention (DPCC 2019)
The Stanley Hotel
The Stanley Hotel
Spring at the Bloomington Farmers' Market
Spring at the Bloomington Farmers' Market
How to Be Happy Where You Are
How to Be Happy Where You Are
IU in the Snow
IU in the Snow
Bloomington Handmade Winter Market
Bloomington Handmade Winter Market
Fall at the Bloomington Farmers' Market
Fall at the Bloomington Farmers' Market
Summer Bucket List
Summer Bucket List
Bloomington Farmers' Market, Fall 2017
Bloomington Farmers' Market, Fall 2017
10 Reasons We’re Excited We Moved to Indiana
10 Reasons We’re Excited We Moved to Indiana
Lowe Mill
Lowe Mill
On Driving a Prius in Alabama
On Driving a Prius in Alabama
We Moved to Huntsville!
We Moved to Huntsville!
 

Nest

Intercoastals // Lifestyle Blog // Bloomington, Indiana
WILW: Acure Brightening Day Cream
WILW: Acure Brightening Day Cream
Road Trip Snacks
Road Trip Snacks
Maximizing Your Wall Space
Maximizing Your Wall Space
10 Tips to Stay Motivated as an Online Student
10 Tips to Stay Motivated as an Online Student
Easter Basket Ideas for Toddlers
Easter Basket Ideas for Toddlers
Clean(er) Products I Buy at Target
Clean(er) Products I Buy at Target
Recipe: Bubble Tea
Recipe: Bubble Tea
Non-Toxic Reading Guide (for Beginners)
Non-Toxic Reading Guide (for Beginners)
Recipe: Tuesday Chorizo Tacos
Recipe: Tuesday Chorizo Tacos
Walking the Tightrope of Work/Life Balance
Walking the Tightrope of Work/Life Balance
Recipe: Six Can Chili (Vegetarian)
Recipe: Six Can Chili (Vegetarian)
A Minimalist's Guide to Your First Kitchen
A Minimalist's Guide to Your First Kitchen
Apartment Hunting: Questions to Ask
Apartment Hunting: Questions to Ask
WILW: Instax Mini 9
WILW: Instax Mini 9
WILW: Our Favorite Tech
WILW: Our Favorite Tech
Creating a Professional Capsule Wardrobe
Creating a Professional Capsule Wardrobe
10 Ways to Initiate Life Change
10 Ways to Initiate Life Change
WILW: Real Plans and Kroger Pickup
WILW: Real Plans and Kroger Pickup
Making a Goal Board (You'll Actually Use)
Making a Goal Board (You'll Actually Use)
Last Minute Gift Ideas (You Can Buy from Your Phone)
Last Minute Gift Ideas (You Can Buy from Your Phone)
Not Your Typical Christmas Movies
Not Your Typical Christmas Movies
WILW: Oui Fresh Beauty Box
WILW: Oui Fresh Beauty Box
WILW: Tubby Todd Products
WILW: Tubby Todd Products
WILW: The Standard Issue Notebook No. 7
WILW: The Standard Issue Notebook No. 7
How to Prepare for Black Friday
How to Prepare for Black Friday
WILW: Letterfolk Letter Board
WILW: Letterfolk Letter Board
5 Tips to Prevent Holiday Stress
5 Tips to Prevent Holiday Stress
WILW: L.L. Bean shirt
WILW: L.L. Bean shirt
WILW: Coolhaus Ice Cream
WILW: Coolhaus Ice Cream
Gus' Peter Pan Nursery
Gus' Peter Pan Nursery
 

Muse

Intercoastals // Lifestyle Blog // Bloomington, Indiana
Book Review: Dark Age
Book Review: Dark Age
Amanda's 2019 Summer Reading List
Amanda's 2019 Summer Reading List
Playlist: Ries' OST
Playlist: Ries' OST
Playlist: Amanda's OST
Playlist: Amanda's OST
Playlist: for My Babies
Playlist: for My Babies
Favorite Animated Films
Favorite Animated Films
What's That Sound? The Music of the MCU
What's That Sound? The Music of the MCU
Slow Seeds: The Rise of the Series
Slow Seeds: The Rise of the Series
What to Stream: TV Shows and Mini-Series
What to Stream: TV Shows and Mini-Series
WILW: Billie Eilish's When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
WILW: Billie Eilish's When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
Playlist: The Etymologist
Playlist: The Etymologist
2019, The Year of Farewell
2019, The Year of Farewell
WILW: My Top 10 Webtoon Comics
WILW: My Top 10 Webtoon Comics
WILW: Made in Abyss
WILW: Made in Abyss
Playlist: Favorites from New Music Friday
Playlist: Favorites from New Music Friday
Playlist: Bunker Down and Get Sh*t Done
Playlist: Bunker Down and Get Sh*t Done
WILW: Sharp Objects
WILW: Sharp Objects
Review: Red Dead Redemption II
Review: Red Dead Redemption II
God of War vs. Anthem: A Confrontation of Mythic Proportions
God of War vs. Anthem: A Confrontation of Mythic Proportions
WILW: Russian Doll
WILW: Russian Doll
WILW: Florence
WILW: Florence
Movies for the Valentine's Day Blues
Movies for the Valentine's Day Blues
Our Top Ten Games
Our Top Ten Games
Playlist: Other Worlds Than This
Playlist: Other Worlds Than This
WILW: Netflix's Friends From College
WILW: Netflix's Friends From College
WILW: Wardruna
WILW: Wardruna
WILW: Hollow Knight
WILW: Hollow Knight
Playlist: December 2018
Playlist: December 2018
Review: God of War
Review: God of War
WILW: The Expanse
WILW: The Expanse
 

Some of

our favorites

What I Love Wednesdays

Featured

Featured
Review: Red Dead Redemption II
Review: Red Dead Redemption II

Anything (and Everything) but A Western.

Read More →
God of War vs. Anthem: A Confrontation of Mythic Proportions
God of War vs. Anthem: A Confrontation of Mythic Proportions

A title winning Game of the Year is a big deal, but Ries goes into depth about why it was such an accomplishment for God of War to win Game of the Year in 2018, and as a counter, why we’re all holding our breath for the Anthem release.

Read More →
WILW: Florence
WILW: Florence

My thoughts on 2018’s Mobile Game of the Year.

Read More →
Featured
WILW: Acure Brightening Day Cream
Amanda Murphy
WILW: Acure Brightening Day Cream
Amanda Murphy

Amanda tries out a new, non-toxic day cream from Target.

Amanda Murphy
WILW: Billie Eilish's When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
Amanda Murphy
WILW: Billie Eilish's When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
Amanda Murphy

Wait, did “horror-pop” just become a genre?

Amanda Murphy
WILW: Sharp Objects Playlist
Amanda Murphy
WILW: Sharp Objects Playlist
Amanda Murphy

One of my favorite playlists disappeared from Spotify, so I recreated it.

Amanda Murphy
 

Social Media

Twitted? Tweeted? Twit?

We’re on the ‘gram.

Gus started his first day of school today. And just for the record, I did not have an emotional breakdown as expected when we dropped him off. 💪🏼 On another note, this is in front of an ice cream joint in Breckenridge that was life changing. #agmurphy #intercoastalswander
Whimsy, I don't think we're in Colorado anymore. #intercoastalsinfoco
Whimsy, being the diva she is demanded we stay at the Iowa City Graduate last night after a long day on the road. And it might have been the best decision ever. (That's Willy Wonka over the bed.) #intercoastalswander
✔️ Sunset Freddy's picnic at Horsetooth We left Colorado today and began our trip home. We're so grateful for every opportunity that presented itself to make this summer possible and made it such a positive experience. A lot of people have asked if we are planning to go back to Colorado after Ries graduates. We'll be applying for jobs in Colorado as well as several other cities in the US. With Ries being a New Yorker and me being an Oregonian, we're looking and open to a lot of areas of the country (and out of the country later down the road. Just to clear that up for anyone wondering. #intercoastalsinfoco
We were gone for about 36 hours, and I swear every five minutes we heard, "Zea?" which in Gus language translates to Whimsy (our cat). His word for home is "zeauck" which combines "zea" and "guck" to mean Whimsy's stuck. I think we might have told him to say "Zea" for this photo, which is probably why he's smiling like a maniac. Anyway, we went to Breckenridge for two nights, but are eager to get out of this transition and back to the reality of Ries' last year of school. #intercoastalswander #intercoastalsfam
Left for Breckenridge yesterday after Gus' nap which meant we hit Denver rush hour traffic, and took a detour through Boulder during golden hour and saw so many things I wanted photograph, but we ended up in the car for four hours as it was. Ries took this out of the passenger side window while we were at a stoplight and I'm okay with it. #intercoastalswander
When you find a bomb brunch spot only two days before you move away. Probably a good thing no one told me because I'd be eating eggs Benedict every morning and baby daddy's not making that kind of money yet. Also, baby mama looking güd. #agmurphy
Just got a little emotional saying goodbye to Scheels. We used to drive by and wonder what could possibly fill such a large building, and one day in the middle of the summer, we found out. I'm not a design student like Ries, but what I can tell you is that if in person shopping is going to survive, they'll have to take note of what this company is doing. We drove over this morning while we were waiting to get into a brunch spot nearby, and found out it was Kids' Day at Scheels and they were hosting an indoor scavenger hunt that included free tee-shirts, ice cream, and Ferris Wheel rides. Hi. What? We love Bloomington, but Northern Colorado has a strong advantage when it comes to accommodating and creating things specifically for families. We really loved being able to take Gus over to Scheels on Sunday mornings to run around and look at everything, and we're really going to miss it. #intercoastalsinfoco (not quite, but close)