McCray’s Healthy Happenings

01/13/2026

✨ Why I Love My Homemade Laundry Detergent ✨

We make our own laundry detergent using just washing soda, borax, baking soda, Fels-Naptha soap, and essential oils — and here’s why I’ll never go back to store-bought.

🧼 It actually cleans
Each ingredient has a purpose:
• Washing soda breaks down grease and body oils
• Borax fights odor-causing bacteria
• Baking soda neutralizes smells and softens clothes
• Fels-Naptha lifts dirt and stains
• Essential oils add natural freshness + antimicrobial power

🌿 No toxic chemicals
Most commercial detergents contain synthetic fragrances, dyes, and chemicals that can irritate skin and disrupt hormones. This recipe is fragrance-free unless I add essential oils — and those are plant-based.

👶 Gentle on skin
Perfect for sensitive skin, babies, eczema, and anyone who breaks out from regular detergent.

🧺 No residue or buildup
Store-bought detergents leave a film on clothes and inside your washer. This formula rinses clean, which means softer clothes and less mold in your machine.

🌎 Better for the environment
No toxins going into our water, no microplastics, no harmful residue.

Once you switch, it’s hard to go back — cleaner clothes, healthier skin, and a healthier home. 💚

We made the switch over 2️⃣ years ago and we will never go back!

If you would be interested in purchasing reach out for pricing! This is something we would love to offer!

01/11/2026

I have a HUGE but SMALL favor to ask….

On this business page, McCray’s Healthy Happening go to the 3 little dots…(on the side of page)

- Hit “Invite Friends”
- Select "Invite All"
- Done

You’ve SUCCESSFULLY supported our business for $0.00 and less than 1 minute of your time.

📣 Thank you for supporting small and local businesses.

Thank you all very much! Without your support our vision can’t come true!

*I highly encourage my small business friends to copy this and use it!*

01/11/2026

🥛 Why some people choose raw milk

Raw milk is milk that hasn’t been pasteurized, meaning it keeps many of its natural components intact. Some of the potential benefits include:

✨ Natural enzymes – May help with easier digestion
🦠 Live probiotics – Supports gut health and immune balance
💪 More nutrients – Rich in vitamins A, D, K2, B12 and healthy fats
🧠 Better fat profile – Includes omega-3s & CLA for hormone and heart support
🌿 Less processing – Nothing removed or altered by heat

Many people also report fewer bloating issues compared to regular store-bought milk.

The best part is that it tastes just like milk you would buy at th store, but it still has all of its amazing benefits!

Not to mention the cream the settles at the top that I can use in my coffee or pull out to make fresh butter!!! 🧈🧈

01/09/2026

Raw Honey 🍯

A major staple around here. We substitute honey for sugar around here.

So what is raw honey?

It is honey that is not pasteurized and comes straight from the hive to the container. It has so many medicinal and overall health benefits in it! Finding a local raw honey is ideal because it has the pollen that is generally in your area and can help with seasonal allergies.

Here are some benefits of using raw honey

🔺 Burn and wound healing
🔺 Antibacterial
🔺 Antimicrobial
🔺 Anti-inflammatory
🔺 Natural cough suppressant
🔺 Seasonal allergy improvement

There are many other highly beneficial uses of raw honey, but these stick out to us the most!

The OLDEST honey ever found was 5,500 years old in Borjomi, Georgia. Another fun fact is that honey has a long shelf life so it is still considered edible!

We support local around here and get our honey from Wittys Honey & The Blacktop Bakery & Farmstand!

01/08/2026

So my sweet friend suggested to me that I should make shower steamers…. I’m thinking to myself alright this can’t be that hard right…. 😆🤣😆🤣

See my epic failure below…. They might not be pretty, but they sure smell good and dissolve really well in the shower.

Not everyone nails their new hobby on the first go round right???

01/08/2026

What’s everyone’s thoughts on the food table being flipped? I for one am very happy to see these changes! We eat a lot of real foods in this house. Lots of meats and cheese.

Under President Trump’s leadership, common sense, scientific integrity, and accountability have been restored to federal food and health policy.

For decades, the Dietary Guidelines favored corporate interests over common-sense, science-driven advice to improve the health of Americans.

That ends today.

The new Dietary Guidelines call for prioritizing high-quality protein, healthy fats, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains—and avoiding highly processed foods and refined carbohydrates.

https://realfood.gov/

01/08/2026

Who needs a healthy-ish protein ball idea?? I chose cashew butter because I CANNOT stand peanut butter. Yes I know I’m weird and get told I’m not normal all the time.

½ cup almond flour
¼ cup vanilla premier protein powder
3 Tablespoons almond butter, peanut butter or cashew butter
2-3 teaspoons maple syrup
¼ cup full-fat Greek yogurt
¼ cup unsweetened almond milk or heavy whipping cream
½ teaspoon vanilla
¼ teaspoon sea salt, omit if nut butter is salted
3 Tablespoons chocolate chips, I used Lily's chocolate chips
Flaked sea salt, for topping, optional

Roll them into 1 Tbsp balls

TOTAL RECIPE (Approximate)
• Calories: ~1,030 kcal
• Protein: ~62 g
• Fat: ~79 g
• Carbohydrates: ~30 g
• Fiber: ~9 g
• Sugars: ~13 g

PER SERVING (3 Tbsp or 3 Balls)
Per Serving Nutrition
• Calories: ~205 kcal
• Protein: ~12-13 g
• Fat: ~16 g
• Carbs: ~6 g
• Fiber: ~1.8 g
• Sugars: ~2.5 g

If you try this let me know your thoughts!

01/06/2026

Red Light Therapy

There is more to red light therapy than a TikTok fad. Red light therapy has been around for over 100 years. It dates back to the late 19th century.

While red light therapy does aid in anti-aging, acne treatment and hair regrowth there are many other amazing benefits.

🔸improves skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, rosacea and sun-damaged skin
🔸improves scaring and stretch marks
🔸decreases muscle inflammation and helps muscle repair after exercise
🔸improves chronic pain and improves joint function
🔸helps manage chemotherapy pain
🔸encourages faster wound healing with the promotion of new blood vessels
🔸improves bone healing by boosting collagen production
🔸improves sleep quality

Red light therapy works by low level red lights penetrating the skin, boosting mitochondrial function, and stimulates collagen and elastin. This leads to cellular repair and regeneration.

Consistency is key to have the max benefits and every person is different.

While I currently only have the mask I have every intention on getting full body red lights!

01/05/2026

Need some swag?

I have the hook up from one of the best! She makes all of my stuff! The quality is amazing!

▪️T-shirt colors are olive, mauve and sage.
▪️Sweatshirt colors are sand, indigo and black.

You can choose a big logo or a small pocket logo!

01/04/2026

Let’s talk about cast iron…..

Cast iron has been around since the 8th century BC and has only improved since its initial production when it was brittle.

Benefits

🔹Holds heat well
🔹Non toxic
🔹Durable and long lasting
🔹Holds temperature well
🔹Adds iron to your meals
🔹Easy to clean- no harsh chemicals
🔹Can be used on many different surfaces

01/04/2026

Meet the Face Behind McCray’s Healthy Happenings

Hello everyone,
My name is Rachel McCray, and I am the founder of McCray’s Healthy Happenings.

I have been a registered nurse since 2013 and a nurse practitioner since 2023. I am dual certified through both the AANP and ANCC. I currently live in Lincoln, Illinois with my husband, Derrick, our son, Dierks, and our beloved dog, Mabel.

While I am a transplant to the area, my husband was born and raised locally. Professionally, I work full-time as a general surgery nurse practitioner in Decatur. In addition, I provide care in a nursing home setting and teach both CNA and RN students.

I founded McCray’s Healthy Happenings with the goal of helping individuals improve their health and live lives they feel proud of and confident in. I believe that health looks different for everyone, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to wellness.

McCray’s Healthy Happenings offers a variety of services tailored to meet individual needs. Please feel free to reach out with any questions.

I also plan to share a wide range of content, including natural remedies, simple and practical recipes with minimal ingredients, and other health-focused tips to support everyday wellness.