Top 15 Photos of 2015 – Join In!

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last year, we did a 12×12 (12 of your favorite photos for 12 months) but this year my husband and i decided we would rather have 15 photos to wrap up 2015! he already has his put together so check them out here!

top photos of 2015

we would love for you to join us either on your blog, social media or heck – have them put on a cake! remember to tag us (@thenewwifestyle @averytoday) so we can share the love and excitement of your awesome year too!

here are my top 15 memories/photos of 2015! (please note that i narrowed this from 49 favorites, to 27 and now 15. it has been quite the process but they are not in order of favorites because we all know i get panicky about having to pick a favorite).

1) completing the whole30!

want to know the good/bad/weird of it? HERE is my more in-depth post on my experience. i selected this photo because this was one of our celebrations after getting a new client…except we couldn’t eat sugar/booze/cheese/anything i wanted and it showed me just how much we celebrate with food!

the whole30 experience also showed me how addicted i was to sugar and gave me insight into why my GI track hated me (goodbye broccoli, asparagus, onion, garlic, and a whole list of other things that upset my insides but i had no idea).

IMG_3274

2) visiting australia!

how could i not include making out hanging out with kangaroos! this was such a cool experience and i looooved australia. the people were great and the humor was crass- what more could i ask for?! it was their fall/winter while we were there but i know it’s as dry as a dead dingo’s donger (australia slang is my favorite).

caversham wildlife park

3) sugar!

this little dog brings me so much joy it’s absurd. if you would have told me 3 years ago that i would own a little white dog, i would have said it was more likely for me to own the dragon that hagrid had to give away. now – i would totally choose her over a dragon.

IMG_3224 sugarbelle!

4) officiating a wedding!

not just any wedding, but our good friends and sugar-lovers when we go out of town! this was such a gorgeous wedding and fun weekend in the san juan islands, washington.

how to officiate a wedding kiss

5) visiting harry potter world!

i wrote one of my favorite posts all about our time there! complete with behind the scenes photos from the warner bros. studio in london. i am also quite proud of myself that i got to work with warner bros – heeeyo!

harry potter studio tour london

6) first visit to london/stonehenge

i kept going back and forth between including a photo of big ben or stonehenge but ultimately this one won. the magic of the UK will forever be glued to my soul.

visiting stonehenge

7) 10 year high school reunion

such a wild experience to feel almost like a completely different person but see the people you passed notes to 10 years ago…

rest in peace fun shirt i wore that night. i walked passed someone and ash from their cigar landed on it and ruined it forevvvver. that’s why people shouldn’t smoke, really.

chelsea and ryan avery

8) girls weekend in arizona!

what a fun and sort of weird thing to hang out with your mom and sister as adults. granted we have all been adults for a while now but we haven’t spent concentrated time with just the 3 of us – grateful for that weekend together!

girls weekend mom

9) mr. finbar

i haven’t shared this on here yet because i am still very sad but my sweet childhood pup, finbar, passed away while we were in antarctica. he was such a special and sweet gentle giant. he was even the ‘friend-test-dog’ at his day camp. if any new dogs wanted to come play at the camp, they had to first be able to get along with mr. finbar before they would be allowed to come. he was such a good boy and we miss him!

the new wifestyle finbar colorado

10) the launch and growth of vocal women!

this is a photo of me and my friend/biz partner olivia in las vegas! at the start of this year, we kicked off our monthly webinar program, all around creating a community of women leaders who want to use their voice to make a difference. on top of that, we put on a live event in las vegas and are scheming about another in person event next year! not to mention, we have done all this with a 9 hour time difference between her in germany and me in portland!

olivia and chelsea dresses

11) playing with adorable animals!

this is pretty self-explanatory but should you want to see a video of him suck on my neck…HERE is the post all about it.

exotic animal petting zoo nevada

12) the end of the world (ushuaia)!

to me, this photo represents calm, peace, nerves about leaving for antarctica and my ideal view of mountains and water. it was taken at the Los Cauquenes Resort and Spa! more photos of our stay at the end of the world HERE.

Ushuaia, Argentina - Los Cauquenes Resort and Spa

13) launching The Map to Dreaming BIG!

this is a behind-the-scenes photo after a day of filming (education stuff, not kinky stuff – ya filthy animal)! it has been so fun to create and grow with my husband.

ryan and chelsea the map

14) accomplishing our BIG dream!

our big dream this year was to speak professionally on all 7 continents within a year (we did it in 7 months)! checked of on november 29, 2015 –  thank you to our fantastic members online and those who attended in person around the world! literally couldn’t have done it without you!

please refer to my other blog posts about antarctica with all the photos and tell the other photos that i hope their feelings aren’t hurt because they weren’t selected.

IMG_7687 the map copy USE

15) us!

i am so grateful not only for the personal growth that i’ve worked to experience this year but also that i have my husband as my number one supporter/encourager/tear-wiper/lover/friend/hugger/boo.

i love this picture of us because this was such a happy afternoon in buenos aires together. also, true story that the past few times i’ve traveled, my eyes have turned warmer brown/green and appeared glowing. i must insert the line that apparently traveling the world with this guy really lights me, or puts a sparkle in my eye…or maybe i should get that check out at an eye doctor?

IMG_8502 happy hour

i have got some more posts on how to review your own year and get set up for the upcoming one. part of this process, for me, is to go through photos from year so get scrolling!

we are using the hashtag #15by15in15 (raverys creation. i asked him why he selected that and he says “because you should tell 15 stories by 15 photos for 2015.” i’ll accept it!)

thanks to elyse and kate for encouraging the linkup!

The New Wifestyle 2015 Photo Linkup
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20 Comments

  1. Kate

    December 16, 2015 at 1:53 pm

    I love this idea SO much and would totally be down for a link-up! Also, I am in awe of ancient places like Stonehenge. If I had unlimited money I would just travel the world visiting sites like that (also, I kind of wanted to be Indiana Jones when I was younger).
    Kate recently posted…#ThoroughlyModernTraditions: Anniversary Dinner

    • chelsea

      December 16, 2015 at 5:04 pm

      your wish is my command 😉 link-up ready for you!

      me and you both – stonehenge was incredible. i just stood there – wondered and appreciated. i agree with you about endless money to go visit ancient sites (or just everywhere)!
      chelsea recently posted…Top 15 Photos of 2015 – Join In!

  2. Elyse

    December 16, 2015 at 2:33 pm

    Love this idea – I’ve paired down my photos now to do a write up!

    • chelsea

      December 16, 2015 at 5:05 pm

      yay! awesome elyse! just did a link-up for it 🙂 can’t wait to see your photos and holy smokes you are speedy!

      i took me daaaaays. way to be decisive 🙂

  3. Rachel G

    December 16, 2015 at 10:11 pm

    I’ll join. I’m writing my blog post as we speak. You guys certainly had an epic year, with the whole 7 continents thing. Not that many people can say they’ve been to Antarctica…
    And that white top you wore to your high school reunion is gorgeous. Smoking is the worst.
    Rachel G recently posted…The War of Misery

    • chelsea

      December 18, 2015 at 9:24 am

      woohooo! you all had an epic year too, can’t wait to see what photos you select rachel! agreed, smoking is totally the worst! hope you are well 🙂
      chelsea recently posted…Top 15 Photos of 2015 – Join In!

  4. Hannah Haworth

    December 16, 2015 at 11:54 pm

    What a wonderful idea. Andrew and I have actually decided to review our best bits of 2015 on new years day, so I can’t reveal my top pics until then but look forward to seeing what other people have been up to 🙂
    Hannah Haworth recently posted…Christmas Traditions for Couples

    • chelsea

      December 18, 2015 at 9:25 am

      glad you have a time scheduled to review your best bits of 2015, hannah! can’t wait to see your highlights 🙂

  5. Audrey

    December 17, 2015 at 6:24 am

    Oh goodness. You know I just love that last picture of you two!!

    But really, I love all your photos (and Mr. WS- especially that one in bed with his family #awkward)!! On a more serious note, I’m so sorry about Finbar. What a great dog- I’m so glad you had his love in your life and yours in his! Great collage of photos!!
    Audrey recently posted…Goals for 2016

    • chelsea

      December 18, 2015 at 9:27 am

      aw thanks audrey! it’s one of my favs too.

      OMG RIIIIIGHT! so glad you looked at mr. WS because multiple times i said “ummm are you sure you want to put this on the internet. it’s so awkward and people look naked.” hahaha

      thanks for your kind words of mr. finbar, he was the best dog – so sweet!

  6. chelsea jacobs

    December 18, 2015 at 6:13 am

    I love looking back on the year like this!

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  8. Emma Lincoln

    December 21, 2015 at 5:39 pm

    Loved seeing all your adventures this year 🙂 Here’s to lots more adventures next year…

    • chelsea

      December 22, 2015 at 11:19 am

      thanks for helping me process allllll of them on our walks around the waterfront! cheers to an empowered and way better 2016!

  9. Mary Bacher

    December 23, 2015 at 9:13 am

    Such a fun link up! I’m happy I joined 🙂 I went to Harry Potter world this year, too. It was AMAZING. I’m excited to read your post.

    • chelsea

      December 31, 2015 at 10:49 am

      yay! so glad you joined us mary! woohoo! wasn’t harry potter world AMAZING?! i could barely stand it 🙂

  10. Pingback: Top 15 Memories of 2015 | Just Murrayed

  11. Sarah

    December 29, 2015 at 9:09 pm

    7 continents in 7 months! Wow! What a year! Thanks for hosting!
    Peace, Sarah
    simplysarahs.blogspot.com

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