The CrockPot as a Foot Bath


don't be grossed out. Use an old crockpot as a footbath -- it keeps the water at a stable warm temperature and if you have an extra one, why not?!?!

Day 217.

I ran a half-marathon yesterday. 13.1 miles. All by myself. Well, myself and 20 thousand people.

I had a huge writing project due June 1, and instead of being happy that it was done and over with, I found myself in a funk. I didn't have anything to work towards, and was feeling antsy. Our friends Carol and Joey are long-distance runners, and they were going to run the San Francisco marathon---Carol the half, and Joey the full. Adam signed up--and without thinking twice I told him to sign me up too.

Except for that I have never really run. And Adam has. Lots.

and lots.

Being a die-hard optimist, I figured I could do it.

So I did.

We met Regan for a pasta feed and I got a good night's sleep and powered through.

I'm pretty sure that they were picking up the cones right behind me and sweeping up the Cytomax dixie cups, but I still did it.

And I'm so very glad it's over.

The Ingredients.

--a finished long run
--bubble bath (and yes, Disney Vapor Bath is the only bubble bath in our house...)
--towel
--margarita

The Directions.

Make margarita.
Fill crockpot with nice warm water from the tap and some bubble bath.
Agitate water with your hand to make bubbles.
Convince the kids that this is for mommy and mommy only, and to go play outside. Or in the garage. Or in the playroom. Just stay away from mommy.
Plug in crockpot with an extension cord right in front of the TV.
Turn to warm.
Sit.
Soak.
Drink margarita.

The Verdict.

Adam: Hey Steph? Did you only run a half-marathon so you could soak your feet in a crockpot and post it on the Internet?

Steph: Yes. I absolutely did.


[LEGAL DISCLAIMER: just because I did this doesn't mean you should. You should always follow all directions directly from the manufacturer. ]



Alright, before you get grossed out, this is actually a very practical way to repurpose an old slow cooker with a broken lid or one you just don't like as much anymore.





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Posted by: Stephanie O'Dea | A Year of Slow Cooking at August 04, 2008

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What they say about this article

  1. Well... we won't be making THIS for supper! :)

    Congratulations! The most running I've done in the last oh, 10 years is to the store and back (ok, not running..driving..whatever)

    I'm going to keep this in mind, some days at work are very long.. I wonder if my daughter (or hubby) will let me cook in my crock after they see me "relaxing" in it?

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  2. That's the best recipe I've ever seen! Congrats on the marathon!

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  3. Anonymous8/04/2008

    The price of a pair of running shoes...$100.
    The price of registration for the 1/2 marathon....$15
    One crockpot foot soak... priceless.

    Awesome job. Your best post yet.

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  4. Brilliant. Who would have thought. As soon as the soup is out of mine, YOU know what I am doing.....

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  5. Congratulations! My husband and I were cracking up about this post this morning. :)

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  6. If there's an award for best use of a crockpot, this should win!

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  7. Genius! I just did this myself with one of those fancier versions and was thinking how it's a waste of space and plastic. This is a great idea. Think I'll sell my foot bath on Craiglist now. : )

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  8. Congratulations. I ran a half marathon last year...I wish I had thought of this. A genius idea.

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  9. This is priceless and although I don't foresee me running even a tenth marathon the soak and margarita certainly do it for me. I would have to do it in private, I think it would freak my family out to know they are eating out of something I soaked my feet in just the day before, LOL. Great idea!!

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  10. I got the biggest laugh from your post! Good job girl!

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  11. Anonymous8/04/2008

    Congrats on your marathon. That is awesome!
    Great out of the box thinking with the crock pot. When I was in labor I used our crockpot to warm oil and towels. :) See there's infinite uses for a crockpot!! :)

    Jackie

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  12. Anonymous8/04/2008

    Good idea for a spare crockpot. I hope you're not cooking in that crockpot. Ick! I have the opposite of a foot fetish, if I didn't need my feet I'd have them removed and run around on stumps. Feet are soooo nasty!

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  13. You go girl! A half marathon is an awesome accomplishment and I love the recipe! :)

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  14. Congratulations! This my favorite crockpot recipe yet. :)

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  15. Anonymous8/04/2008

    I wish I had seen this last night. A foot bath and margarita would have been perfect! In fact, I might still do it tonight.

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  16. I never knew half marathons were so long!!! Bravo, my friend! You should really be proud of yourself. That takes a lot of endurance. The foot soak must've felt like heaven.

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  17. That is AWESOME!
    I'm training for a 10k, so a HM totally gets my admiration :)

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  18. I thought that the crayons in the crock was good, but this newest use tops them all!
    Fabulous!
    And you deserve it, wow!
    LOL!

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  19. Hey! Welcome to the 13.1 Club... Next stop 26.2? I've done both and I have to say, I'm envious that I didn't have your idea - that would have felt great! Especially after the 26.2!

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  20. LMAO Great job on the half marathon.

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  21. That is absolutely hilarious!

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  22. Too, too funny! I have done 5 and 10K, would love to work up to 1/2 marathon! Kudos to you!

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  23. Anonymous8/04/2008

    To paraphrase an Arrested Development line -- "You can make soup with that!"

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  24. I have a foot spa but it never seems to get warm enough. I think using the crock pot is a wonderful idea and I'm going to use it instead of my foot bath next time! Thanks for the laugh!

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  25. Anonymous8/04/2008

    Oh I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!! And congrats on finishing the half marathon! That is awesome and a great accomplishment. And I have a feeling, if you were running the SF Marathon that you may possibly not live "too far" from me.

    I LOVE this idea! And will need to make sure I bleach the crockpot afterwards :)

    Oh! What was your time on the half-marathon?

    Blessings,
    Lori

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  26. Haha. Your creativity never ends!!

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  27. Anonymous8/04/2008

    This is the best crock pot recipe I've ever seen!

    Can I still use it even if I haven't run a marathon?

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  28. that is hilarious....you go girl!!!!

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  29. Rock on! I hope you had more than one 'rita, and that you are super duper proud of yourself.

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  30. LMAO! I laughed and said "ewww" at the same time. Feet are just not my thing but this was such a funny idea. Hopefully, that's your "foot soak only" crockpot lol.

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  31. you rock ! There is no way I could ever run a marathon. you must be so proud of yourself. I so get what you mean about the let down afterwards. It always takes me about a week of casting about to find the next big project. The foot bath in the crock pot is hysterical!

    keep it up mama

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  32. This was so funny! Congrats on your run; that's no small feat.

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  33. How very clever of you!

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  34. Oh how funny! Thanks for the laugh.

    Hmmm, wonder if I could give myself a facial with the crockpot steam?

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  35. That is the funniest thing I've seen in awhile...thanks for the laugh!

    I'm training for a half in September, then a full in January in Disney. Think they'll let me take me CP on the plane?

    P.S. What half is Ginger running that is only $15 to register? I need to sign up for that one, lol...I just dropped $65 for Philly.

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  36. LOL! and good for you! I'm proud of you! I can't run 1/2 a MILE with out stopping, so I seriously have to hand it to marathoners!

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  37. Anonymous8/04/2008

    That has GOT to be the most original gluten-free recipe I've ever seen, LOL!

    You go, girl!

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  38. Oh my goodness...crockpot as a footbath!!! That is too funny! Good for you!

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  39. You go girl...what a fabulous way to pamper yourself and celebrate a great accomplishment. Love your blog!

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  40. Anonymous8/04/2008

    that's great! especially since IM throwing a pedicure party on thursday- gotta find more crockpots!

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  41. Anonymous8/04/2008

    This is so great! My daughter will love this idea after her 13.1 in November. And it really is the best gluten free recipe that I have encoutered yet. No one can question your ingredients or methods of preparation.

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  42. Now I know why I kept that second crockpot, one for each foot!

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  43. that is a great idea... and good job!

    I saw you on Rachael Ray and I had to check out your blog... and then I featured YOUR blog on my BLOG.

    I hope you don't mind. I figure we can help everyone out all over blog land!

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  44. Anonymous8/04/2008

    This is the best one yet! I love your site!

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  45. Anonymous8/04/2008

    So funny.
    I hope you don't get sick. Andy usually runs 3 or 4 miles, but the time he ran 14 miles with his friend, he ended up with a fever and chills for 2 days.

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  46. Congratulations! You deserve this soak and the accompanying margarita.

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  47. Anonymous8/04/2008

    Congratulations, Stephanie!! That's a huge accomplishment! I became a runner this year and ran my first 5K in March. That day, I was so psyched that I set my sights on half marathons... but yeah, I only thought about it that day. I think I'm just fine sticking to the 5ks! :)

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  48. Anonymous8/04/2008

    Too Funny!!! =] I don't even run - do I still qualify for foot soaking?

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  49. You crack me up!

    I saw a recipe I thought you might love. I found it on a new cooking website that I am now in love with. It's another breakfast recipe:
    http://www.supercook.com/show_dish.asp?l=http://www.recipezaar.com/192381

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  50. Very fun! I'm impressed. I'm a walker, but I doubt if I could even run a mile!

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  51. So unless u make something that day eat in the crockpot you cant say you had a crockpot meal a day.

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  52. LOVED THIS POST!!!!

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  53. Wish I would have had this when I was pregnant! haha.

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  54. Anonymous8/04/2008

    adds this to the reasons that I love you.

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  55. Just the picture of your feet in the crockpot is just too funny. I think you made everyone's day. Take care.,
    Eileen

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  56. Anonymous8/04/2008

    Great idea! I'm signed up for a half in Oct, I'll have to try this "recipe" with a virgin margarita of course!

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  57. Anonymous8/04/2008

    Awesome!

    I didn't realize you were local until I saw the singlet!

    Congrats on finishing!

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  58. Tonight we tried your Company's Coming Potatoes Augratin, except that I didn't add the parsnips or the cream or the cheese. And I cut the recipe in half. And I added carrots.

    Anyway, it was based off your recipe, and it was yummy! Thanks for this blog, and for inspiring us to use our slow cookers more and try new things! You're awesome!

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  59. Good for your for finishing the run! I don't think I could have even finished! And yet another ingenius use for our beloved crock pot!

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  60. This is my favorite recipe to date. I especially like that you included the label Gluten Free. Crack me up!

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  61. I am encouraged! I am starting the couch-to-5K program today! (Cool Runnings) -and dinner is in the crock too! LOVE the practical use of your crock pot! Blessings, Shawn <><

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  62. You go girl! Congrats on your marathon! Running is not in my vocabulary! I think this is a great accomplishment! What a clever post!

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  63. you are so awesome-- you crockpot AND run! way to go! i did the army ten miler last fall and i'd like to work up to a half-marathon...the spirit is willing but i'm still in negotiations with my feet :). maybe with the promise of a foot soak at the end...

    way to go!!!!

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  64. I can't believe this even entered your mind. Hilarious!

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  65. "Feet Stew." LOVE IT!!

    Girl, do you need some grown up donations of bubble bath? I think, with all the admirers you have accumulated in our family, we could scare some up. Some good stuff. :D

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  66. Anonymous8/05/2008

    Delurking to tell you . . .

    You are my hero. LOL

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  67. OH MY WORD Steph!!!! I can't wait to try this tonight...Ahhh my tired size 2 feet thank you very very
    very very very much ;-) I agree you're best post yet ( well except a little post in March of my recipe..Hugs

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  68. Anonymous8/05/2008

    too funny

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  69. That might be the funniest thing I've read all day!

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  70. CONGRATULATIONS on finishing the half marathon! I'm working towards running a 5k. I can't even imagine trying to run 13+ miles!
    I LOL when I saw your photo!
    :)

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  71. Anonymous8/12/2008

    Please tell me that's not the same crock pot you're cooking your meals in?! LOL

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  72. OH MY GOODNESS! That is the most inventive idea YET! Holy crap! Congrats on your running. We are getting a treadmill to start training for a teeny tiny 5K :) You rock!

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  73. lmfbo that is too funny! i really think the pivotal ingredient has to be the margarita!

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  74. Anonymous1/10/2011

    Now I get what the internet is for...this is too funny and creative...way to GO on your 13.1!!

    Chris M.

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  75. hmmm pop a Reynolds cooking bag in the pot, then your feet,, works for me!

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  76. I have a slow cooker that the glass lid broke. I could not find a replacement anywhere. I am glad I kept it anyway, because we have been using it for a foot bath for a while now. Makes a great foot bath, actually stays warm enough to feel good. Most actual foot baths we have bought cool down very quickly and don't stay comfortably warm.

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  77. Should've made your hubby give you an epic foot massage instead LOL

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  78. Ingenuity counts! And this idea is really surprising! :)

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