Personal Stories/Ranting

She’s Back! Life Update: Motherhood and What’s Next for Danii Gold?

August 24, 2022August 30, 2022Danii Gold

Greetings supporters!

I know it’s been a whole year and some change since I’ve posted content on here and not only that, since I’ve posted something personal. I wanted to give you an update on where I’ve been and where the future lies for Danii Gold.

If you’ve been living under a rock or don’t follow me on my socials, I’m a new mommy to a handsome, sweet, energetic, fearless baby boy named Xaylen. He’s 1 years-old now (not so much a baby anymore).

1 year photos; Lindsey Tyler Photography

Mommy and son; Lindsey Tyler Photography

To say that I’ve been busy and focused on him would be an understatement. Motherhood is truly a journey filled with ups and downs. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve googled symptoms and questions in the past 16 months lol. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ve probably been wondering…(or not)

The Pregnancy:

Honestly, it wasn’t bad at all. I didn’t have morning sickness, nausea, anything. My only complaint was getting up every 2 hours in the middle of the night to use the bathroom but of course, that comes with the pregnancy lol. Towards the end, I didn’t experience contractions, just some kicking in my ribs from time to time.

Maternity Shoot; Lindsey Tyler Photography

The night before the C-Section; Lindsey Tyler Photography

Due to my son being so big, I had a scheduled c-section a week before my due date. On April 15th, I was blessed with a 9lb 13ounce baby boy. If I would’ve waited until my due date, he would have absolutely been 10 EASILY.

Postpartum & Breastfeeding:

Everything was and still is new. As you know, you don’t get a manual from the hospital, family, or friends on how to be a mother. It’s literally a learn-as-you-go experience. Of course, if you’re unsure about things you ask around and even Google questions and facts. I definitely sought for answers for everything. On top of all that, I was breastfeeding– well 40% breastfeeding and 60% supplementing with liquid formula. Since I wasn’t producing enough milk, my baby needed to eat so formula it was. While getting adjusted to motherhood, I would forget to eat. In order to produce enough milk, you need to A) Have your baby latch on and/or B) Pump, and C)….EAT. I was doing half the work and expecting a full result. I was stressing out and my emotions were getting the best of me. BREASTFEEDING IS NOT FOR THE WEAK.

Eventually, after about 4-5 months, I decided to close the boob shop and only give my son formula. That lifted a weigh off my shoulders but knowing what I know now, I would do it again with my next child and try to tough it out a little longer.

What About the website and Podcast?

During this transition into Motherhood, I put Danii Gold, the site and Podcast, in the back seat and started a new podcast with my cousin and best friend titled Black Millennial Mamas. This podcast was benefitual at the time because I was the new mom out the bunch and was detailing my experiences in real time, all while getting advice from my cousin who has 8 year-old twin boys and a 2 year old daughter; and my best friend has a son who’s 6 months older than my son.

I feel like my passion shfted because my main goal was/is to provide for my son. At my day job, I started out as a full time, 6 month temp with potential to become permanent. After those 6 months I was offered a part-time permanent part-time, which I was grateful for because I knew eventually I would become a full time permanent employee. After 6 months, God came thru for your girl, a position opened up and I took it. I knew that I needed something solid and whatever “passions” and “hobbies” I had on the side that weren’t making me money, I needed to pause it; and that’s what I did with my site and The Danii Gold Podcast.

Right now, I’m at the point where I don’t know if I still have 100% passion for the entertainment news industry; I may be leaning towards the Lifestyle and Motherhood content. Soooooo, what I’m doing is this: I’m going to bring Danii Gold back for a year, blog podcast, interviews, etc. If after a year I feel passionate and successful enough to continue, I will do so. If I don’t feel that passion anymore, it’ll probably be the last of “Danii Gold.”

So for now, enjoy the upcoming content on my social media pages, this site and interviews on the podcast AND make sure you subscribe, and follow my other podcast Black Millennial Mamas.

Thank you again for your support.

Danii’s 2019 Lessons

December 31, 2019February 17, 2020Danii Gold

2019 has been one for the books. I was unemployed for 10 out of 12 months, I had to get my hussle bussle on, I learned how powerful the tongue was and of course i questioned a lot of shit.

“What is my purpose?”

“Why am I going through with this?”

“Will I ever have a job again?”

“Am I meant to be an entrepreneur and work for myself?”

“Whats the purpose of exchanging gifts on Christmas anyways?”

Yeah, my thoughts ranged a lot but struggle and pressure will do that to you. I also, once again, learned who my real friends were and who was and wasn’t a priority. I worked on my confidence and walked in three fashion shows this year and I’m so proud of myself. Modeling is something I’ve always wanted to do since I was a kid because I was so lanky lol. So I’m tall and thick in the right places…somewhat. (lol)

Another thing I learned is that….it’s okay to say no and decline an opportunity. Knowing your worth is important. Time is precious and if you feel that something isn’t worth your time, it’s okay to respectfully decline.

One major thing I learned is to ALWAYS have more than one income. Before I lost my job last year, I already wanted to generate multiple streams of income, so I started freelance writing and even looked in Forex. I wish I would’ve started sooner because I wouldn’t had to work so hard, but it made me grind harder, which I’m thankful for.

2020 is my comeback year, my “pay off debt” year, my “saving more money” year, my “generate multiple incomes” year, and many more!

Cheers to 2020!

Remembering Cobi True Religion Cobi

June 23, 2015January 9, 2016Danii Gold

On Thursday June 4, 2015, I got a call at 6:19pm that my cousin JaCobi had gotten killed in St. Louis. At this time, I’m at work, in Jefferson City, which is an hour and a half away from home. My heart stopped, it all seemed like a dream. I just broke down and cried. WHY? WHY MY COUSIN. I had just saw him the Saturday before on May 30. Everyone had just saw him. It was a family gathering, his little sister just had a baby and the family threw her a late baby shower. He was so happy to have him a niece and we all just knew that he was going to have her spoiled. But “they” say when a new life begins, another ends, God knew what he was doing, I don’t like it but God has his reasons. He got the family together one last time before he called upon an angel, my cousin JaCobi.

I have soooo many memories of my cousin. First off, he was my first cousin, we grew up together. My mom and his mom were sisters. We went to elementary school together and he even joined me in college for a year before he transferred back to St. Louis. One childhood memory I have is being at our Nana’s house, our grandmother. He kept playing with this 5 pound Ninja Turtle toy and kept putting it in my face. I chased him outside and I was on a balcony while he was below me and I got a hold of the toy. I told him I was going to throw the toy at him, he doubted me, so I threw it and BOOM. It hits him right in the face and a huge knot appeared on his forehead. At this point, I’m thinking “oh shit, my aunt is going to kill me.” So he’s crying his hardest and I’m like “Oh my God, I’m so sorry.” Then about 10 minutes later, my aunt arrives to come pick him up and he’s STILL crying. When I saw her, I started crying because I thought she was going to whoop me. I was on my knees, at her feet crying telling her I was so sorry, I was so sorry, boo-hoo-ing and all lol. She was chill about it but still I felt so bad after I saw that huge knot on his forehead.

A college memory I have with Cobi was at a party. We went to Missouri State (GO BEARS) and organizations would throw venue parties. One party, JaCobi had got SO drunk, his friends had to help carry him out to the car. Of course there was a an after party somewhere and he popped up, but was sitting in the car the whole time, STILL gone out of his mind. I’m like “aye you want me to take you back to the dorms?” He goes back and forth from “yeah” to “nah I’m good Briana” to “yeah”, so he gets to the dorms, changed his mind and says he wants to go back to the party, I’m like “bruh you is too gone, you can’t be at no party”, he says “I’ll be good, I’ll be outside or something” I’m like alright Cobi. He makes his way back to the party and stays in the car. LMAO this guy. Within the past year, we haven’t been that close, but we still grew up like brother and sister, as well as our other cousins.

So after my cousin left Missouri State, he got on this mindset of wanting to be a rapper. My first thought was “whattttt, so now he was wants to be the typical St. Louis guy” but whatevs, he’s grown. He started going to the Nelly Extreme Institute, so by the point I’m thinking, he’s forreal and wants to have some accreditation of what he is learning is the school. No hating on hate. He got his name “True Religion Cobi” because that boy was alwaysssss rocking some True Religion gear, fresh as hell too. After a while he starting making Instagram and Snapchat posts about him finishing his mixtape, which he did. (the link is below) Then he starts doing music videos, which is another big step for someone trying to become an artist and I was surprised and impressed. As one of his close cousins Troy said “He wasn’t the best rapper.” but he tried and he was trying to get his music out there and I respected him for that.

I will never ever forget the times we’ve shared, or the memories we created. Now that he’s gone, I know that I have an angel watching over me. Below is the link to his mixtape and a few pictures we’ve taken over the years.

Bred Gang Presents “True Religion Cobi” : Bred Brotherz

Cobi Mixtape Cover — photo credit: livemixtapes.com

Fly High Cobi. Watch over the family, especially your mom, sister, brother and niece. Your death has been a tragedy to our family. We will NEVER get over it and NEVER forget about you. Love you Cousin.