Pick-Me-Up Pumpkin Spice Smoothie

This vegan and dairy-free Pumpkin Spice Smoothie gets a special pick-me-up thanks to espresso. Full of warm, autumn spices and pumpkin puree, this is a healthy, seasonal treat!

So, you know what kind of stinks? Moving. And I’ve moved a lot. I’ve actually lived in 4 different states in only the past 5 years.

Moving is definitely one of the most stressful, crazy things to go through. Especially when things go wrong. We just moved into a new house and it was taxing, to say the least. And it started with our moving truck breaking down on the side of the highway in the middle of nowhere, and us waiting over 4 hours for roadside assistance. Not fun.

So, yes, moving can stink. But you know what doesn’t stink? This Pick-Me-Up Pumpkin Spice Smoothie! I drank quite a few of these during unpacking, painting, and getting moved in.

I’ve teamed up with Hefty to bring you this post. Hefty was a lifesaver during moving. My family has trusted Hefty for years. My dad actually uses Hefty bags to carry his military TA-50 (field gear) when he goes out onto the field with the Army. And that stuff is heavy! I trust Hefty as my kitchen garbage bags. I trust them with heavy messes. (I make a lot of kitchen messes as a food blogger and recipe developer.) And I trusted them to get me through moving, and cleaning out the little 600-square-foot apartment we happily lived in for 3 years. For a tiny apartment, I was amazed at how much stuff we accumulated!

So, in the spirit of moving, I thought I would share some tips for a successful, and as-stress-free-as-possible move.

Downsize where you can. As I mentioned… wow, we had a lot of stuff. And stuff we really did not need. I love keepsakes and I’m highly sentimental, so that’s totally on me. Did I really need 20 different beads/leis from Hawaii? Where the heck did I get 20 stuffed animals from even? The entire top of my coat closet was 15 board games we literally only played once. Moving is the perfect opportunity to downsize. We got rid of a ton of stuff and I couldn’t feel any lighter. Sell what you can on Craigslist and donate the rest to Goodwill. I always keep stuff around with the excuse of “I may need them someday.” But that excuse is silly when your closets are so full that you don’t have room for the things you DO need anymore!

Work ahead. The more you can do way in advance, the lighter the job will seem. I started packing months in advance. People would ask me why I was packing so early. Why not? Do you know how long packing takes?! Leaving all of that to the last minute will definitely overwhelm you and make you want to pull out your hair. But packing a tiny bit day by day will be much more doable. Set jobs and goals for yourself. We all lead busy lives and it’s easy to procrastinate, I know. Just say: Okay, this weekend I’m going to clean out my TV stand drawers and pack all of my DVDs. Next weekend I’ll do the coat closet. Pack anything you don’t need as early as you can.

Use Hefty bags. Hefty garbage bags can have multiple uses when moving. I used them to pack up softer items, such as blankets, because I was running out of room in the moving truck and boxes were taking up too much space. I used them to donate tons of clothes to Goodwill. I used them as floor covering to paint when I forgot to buy a drop-cloth. It also came in handy as a garment bag for my husband when we didn’t have one. Just cut a hole in the bottom and slip it right over the hanger. He needed his dress clothes at-the-ready for an interview right away. Hefty is definitely handy!

Think outside the box. If you run out of bubble wrap, or, like me, spent way too much money on bubble wrap because you own a million kitchen things, use clothes. Soft clothes, pillowcases, and sheets come in handy for padding dishes, glasses, and electronics.

Keep it together. Keep small pieces organized and in sealed sandwich bags. I am known for losing small essential parts. When you take apart furniture, keep the screws/pieces in a sandwich bag taped to the furniture. When you take down hanging frames/artwork/shelves, do the same thing. It’s really easy to lose a small screw. We lost a piece we needed for our platform bed and wished we had done this method! It’s also great for electronics. I place the wires/chargers in large plastic storage bags and pack it with the device it goes with, otherwise I would never know. I did not do this with my record player, and it ended up taking me weeks to find where the plug was and what plug it was!

Be really nice to the people who help you move. Buy them dinner. Keep them hydrated. Say thank you, and mean it. But, most importantly, have everything ready-to-go. Have everything packed, and don’t make them wait around or help you pack. Keep things as smooth and streamlined as possible.

Last, but not least, make it fun. Moving can be super stressful, but it also can be fun. Look at the bright side of things. Try to make it an adventure. Was getting stranded on the side of the road for 4 hours fun? Not really, no. But try to make the best out of every situation and every detour that gets thrown at you. Ordering pizza or Chinese food and eating it on the floor is fun! With a little wine, even deep-cleaning out your apartment can be fun. Life is an adventure, and most things are all about how you see them. Remember not to stress out too much during the process and relax as often as you can. Keep taking care of yourself and stay energized. (Hint: with this healthy Pumpkin Spice Smoothie!)

So, thank you Hefty, for making my move way easier. I am absolutely obsessed with the hilarious John Cena Hefty commercials. I could have used some serious John-Cena-strength this past month during moving, that’s for sure. The new Hefty Ultra Strong Kitchen Trash Bags with Arm & Hammer Odor Control are the best, honestly. I got mine in Crisp Orchard Apple scent, so along with my Pumpkin Spice Smoothie and all of the pumpkin baking I’m doing, I’d say my kitchen is very ready for fall.

The bags are already such a great price, but know what’s even better? Coupons. Get your $1 off coupon and tell me what scent you choose! (There’s 13 of ’em!)

Hefty also has some adorable and easy DIY Halloween decoration ideas on their blog. I am loving them, especially the wreath and spider webs. I was very proud and satisfied with the pumpkins, scarecrow, and pumpkin patch sign I decorated the house with. Then, I saw my neighbor’s house today. Completely Halloween-ified, Griswold-style. Giant, MOVING spiders (so creepy), life-size talking witches, skeletons, and like a trillion lights. It makes me look 110% lame with my little scarecrow. I need to step up my game.

Tomorrow morning. I am making this Pumpkin Spice Smoothie. I am putting an extra shot of espresso. And I am doing some serious DECORATING!

Here are some things you may need or want for this recipe:

Simply Organic Cinnamon Ground Certified Organic  //  Rodelle Organic Pure Vanilla Extract  //  Illy Ground Espresso Medium Roast  //  Farmers Market Organic Pumpkin Puree

This post includes affiliate links but are always products I love + use myself!

Thank you to Hefty for sponsoring this Pick-Me-Up Pumpkin Spice Smoothie! What are your favorite drinks to celebrate fall? Are you decorating for Halloween? Tell me in the comments below!

Pick-Me-Up Pumpkin Spice Smoothie

★★★★★ 5 from 6 reviews

• Author: Tiffany La Forge
• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Total Time: 5 minutes
• Yield: 2 1x
• Category: beverage, smoothie

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Description

This spiced, seasonal Pumpkin Spice Smoothie gets a pick-me-up thanks to espresso. It’s dairy-free and delicious.

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Ingredients

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• 1 cup organic pureed pumpkin
• 1 frozen banana
• 1 1/2 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice
• 2 shots of espresso

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Instructions

1. Blend everything in a high-speed blender until incorporated and smooth. Optional: Add a few ice cubes to make the smoothie thicker. Using a frozen banana here helps to create the creamy consistency.

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