What is due diligence?

According to Wikipedia, Due Diligence is:

"Due diligence" is a term used for a number of concepts involving either an investigation of a business or person prior to signing a contract, or an act with a certain standard of care. It can be a legal obligation, but the term will more commonly apply to voluntary investigations.

I have seen the use of this word from a lot of individuals lately. In particular, the people once connected with Trace Trajano. For some reason, Bo Sanchez, Jomar Hilario, Larry Gamboa et al., have moved on separate business paths.

8 reasons why having a baby is good for our relationship

When our baby was born, everything went upside down. It was a total 180 degrees turn around for me and for my husband but I think mostly for me. There were a lot of adjustments made - personal, emotional, financial.

Though its not all fun- sleepless nights, dirty diapers and poops, still I cherish having my baby and here is my 8 reasons why having a baby is good for me and my husband. 

Its all because of Nuffnang

I have been applying the lessons from our  Online Mentoring Club. One of the lessons I have come across is about putting ads on your blogs. Since I just applied for Google Adsense, the aim is to find another ad company to put on my blog site. One of the ads mentioned was Nuffnang. 

Xavier Paul at 6 months and growing fast!

I always hear elders say that children grows up so fast and that you should treasure every moment of it, I mostly certainly agree to that. My son is now 6 months old...6 months and 15 days. How time flies. Before I knew it..he will soon be walking and running. How I wish to be with him everyday, every single day so I can personally monitor him. :)

High Chairs win over Toilet Seats

That is when it comes to germs. 

A latest research shows that baby high chairs in restaurant have more bacteria on, than the average toilet seat. 

30 high chairs were tested from different restaurants and the team found out that - the amount of bacteria present  on high chairs averaged out at 147 per square centimeter - in comparison to public toilets which only averaged at eight per square centimeter.

It was last minute...

My husband and I decided to enroll in Jomar Hilario's Online Mentoring Club. I suggested that he registered for the membership since he was already a member of Bo Sanchez's Truly Rich Club. We wanted to make use of the 50% Discount given to Truly Rich Club members. (my husband is a member). It was last minute..

Have you thought about your retirement?

I was out of the office early today. So I had find the time to stroll (if that is what you call it). I went to an ukay-ukay store across the Immaculate Conception Cathedral Parish in Pasig.

An Answered Prayer

Good news!

Random Thoughts

Image Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21496790@N06/5065834411

Sesame Street: Will.i.am's Song "What I Am"

I miss the days of Sesame Street, Batibot, and the likes. I wish that competing channels like ABS and GMA, would create more educational shows for children than making remakes of telenobelas. 

First Sunday Gospel of Lent

Hubby and I had mass yesterday at Megamall. We wanted to do the grocery together so we decided to have mass at the mall then afterwards, go shopping. But the reverse happened.

Revisions made

Alas! I received a reply from Sir Jomar.

Assignment done!

Yesterday, I passed all my assignments. Yehey! I am just hoping that I passed with flying colors. :) I am keeping my fingers crossed. As I passed the assignment, I had mixed emotions.

How to Use Dropbox

Dropbox. Intriguing name for an application but the name really speaks for itself. When you use Dropbox, literally, it is easy as "dropping" or dragging your files to your Dropbox folder.

It serves as, one, storage for your files. aka "back-up". Once you signed up for an account, you automatically get 2GB of free storage. But if that is not enough for your files, you may upgrade for a certain fee.

Another feature of Dropbox is file synchronization. You may be able to share your folders or files to other people in the Internet.

To better get a full grasp of what I am talking about, below is my tutorial.

How to Use Dropbox

Voice calls from Skype

Skype is a software application enabling users to make voice calls over the internet. The great thing about skype is that it is free!

One great feature of skype is the screen sharing. This is a great tool for VA's to be able to communicate to their clients and their needs.

I have been using skype for quite a time now and I have found it very satisfactory. I hope you readers out there do too. Here is my tutorial to help you out in using Skype.

How to Use Skype

How to use Google Call Phone

Through this new innovation made by Google, you can call any phone right from Gmail. That is through the use of Google Call Phone.

Dialing a call works just like a normal phone by using the Google Dial pad. Just click "Call Phone" at the top of your Chat list and dial a number or enter a person's name. Calls for US and Canada are free while a low rate is charge for other countries. This is helpful especially for those who have loved-ones who are in US and Canada or more-so for VA's. No more fees for calling clients. Yey!

Here is my helpful tutorial on how to use Google Call Phone.

How to Use Google Call Phone

How to bill your clients using Intuit Billing Manager

I hope to be able to use this tool one of this days. with very high hopes. :) I think this is a very helpful tool that entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs can use to keep record of their client's information, plus giving the professional look to your online invoices for billing.

Here is my tutorial on Intuit Billing Manager.

How to Use Intuit Billing Manager

Making Forms using Google Docs

Thanks to Google Docs. Creating forms has never been this easy...This is my first time to encounter this application. I have been using Google Docs for storing my files and documents. It is a great tool that VA's can use to aid them with their works with clients.

Google Doc's Form does not limit to the creation of online survey forms but you can create different types of forms. Also, your form can be easily embedded to a blog or a site so that it can be easily accessed. No printing of hard copies needed. The great thing about Google Doc's Form is that once respondents answers your questions, it is automatically consolidated into a spreadsheet.

To learn more of how you can use Google Doc's Forms, read my tutorial below.

How to Make Forms Using Google Docs

Word Documents to Adobe Acrobat Format

Probably this is the shortest tutorial I have ever made. I came across Doc2pdf.net. The site shows you how to convert your documents in word format to pdf files or Adobe Acrobat format. This is just in one click! No need to download any application. Just upload your file to their site and in a few minutes your files are converted.

I was supposed to make a tutorial about pdf hammer but the site is under maintenance so I could not access their site. Anyways, here's the tutorial I made on how to use Doc2pdf.net.

How to Convert Files Using Doc2PDF

How to use slideshow

I have used this application before and little did I know that this is one of the tools that I may used while doing VA work. Slideshow can be useful not only for integrating pictures to social networks like Facebook. It may also be use as a fun way of making reports and presentations.

Here is a tutorial I made on slideshow.

How to Use Slide.com

On using scribd

Before I was able to put any tutorial to my blog, I was wondering on how I will be able to upload it to my blog. :) So what I did was I reviewed some blogs and I found out that they use scribd.com.

Now my second problem is, how do I use scribd?

The answer was pretty simple. In our age of technology now, learning any application is a breeze. So, I went to their site: www.scribd.com and I signed up a free account. I uploaded one of my tutorials. Now, what should I do next? I studied the site again..looked around and walah! I found my answer. Follow this simple steps as I did.

At the bottom part of the uploaded tutorial is a navigation tool bar. I looks something like this:

Click embed. Then you will prompted to this screen:

Click Copy of the Embed this document portion. Go to your blog and paste the HTML. To paste, press Control (Ctrl) of your keyboard, do not lift your fingers then press "V". Your tutorial is now embedded to your blog. :)

How to Use Basecamp

My second tutorial! Yey!

Based on their site, Basecamp is an online project collaboration tool. It is a project management software which focuses on collaboration and communication. Basecamp brings people together.

-- i love this tag line. :)

Why use Basecamp? One, basecamp does not only concentrate on figures and charts. It brings in more ideas to a project by bringing in the ideas of people to the project through the use of messaging, and writeboards. Basecamp also tracks your project progress by using milestones and to-do list so to ensure to meet deadlines, remember important activities and events.

Here is my tutorial on Basecamp:

How to Use Basecamp for Project Creation

Jing From Techsmith

This blog is long overdue! :) Finally, I am now putting one by one the programs I have studied.

When I first heard of this program, I thought of my friend Jing. I do not know if the program would have any attribute with my friend but it interest me to write a tutorial about it. The name is quite intriguing.

As per it's site, Jing is a program made by Techsmith Corporation. Its main purpose is to give user's the fastest way to share or show something on their screen. Below is a tutorial I made about Jing. I hope this would be a helpful guide to you, readers. Here it is:

How_to_use_jing

Why use Google Calendar?

Never forget another event. -- a tagline from Google Calendar.

So, why use Google Calendar? Read the tagline again.

Google calendar is a free time-management tool offered by Google. It helps you to organize your important events and schedules. The great thing about Google calendar is you get to be reminded of your events via email or SMS notifications. This is a very helpful tool for me, as a VA so I can easily track my projects, assignments and deadlines to clients.

Thanks to my wonderful husband, Lojen who had help me put up this tutorial.

How to Use Google Calendar

My journey begins here..

Alas! I finally had the time to blog. It has been a week since I last made a blog and I hope I can keep this schedule up. For the past weeks, I have been busy. It is already February 1 and I still have not completed my assignments. Wahhh!!! But I have to think positive! I still can do it! Right?

On my next post, I will be showing a guide on how to use Google calendar. I think I need to use one right now. *wink*

My first blog attempt as a VA

Last December 2010, I attended Jomar Hilario's Virtual Assistant Training. I always have wondered how I can become one - how and where to begin. Knowing about the training was an answered prayer. It was really an eye-opener for me.

Becoming a VA interest me because, one, I wanted to stay at home, get freedom from my time and spend most of it at home with my son. Two, I wanted to become an entrepreneur. Yes, you heard me right! Being a VA is like having a business, you get to meet with clients instead of bosses.

Now, I am working on the programs/sites that I studied by myself. I will be posting each tutorial here one by one in the next days. I hope it would help you, readers. I am still adjusting with my schedule. Hopefully, I will be able to finish my assignment in time.