There are some necessities that I just won't do without:

Wallet
Phone
Keys
Book
Inhaler
at least 2 Lipsticks
Burt's Bees lip color (chapstick and color all in one!)
Powder Compact
Oil Blotting Papers
Mints and Listerine Pocket thingys
Immodium (I'm never w/o that stuff)
Tylenol
Extra daily meds
Manicure set (I hate not having clippers and a nail file)
Extra tampons
Pens

During the school year I also have my flash drive on me all the time and usually a script or two.

Now, if I'm going out for a fancy-ish evening, I pare that down to phone, ID, cash, keys, and lipstick. So they can fit in my little evening bags.

I can break someone's wrist with my handbag. I consider that useful.

The things in my handbag currently:

Keys
2 small notebooks (1 of which is a Moleskein calendar)
Fountain pen
Flash drive
Cell phone
iPod and carrying case with headphones
Compact of translucent powder
2 lipsticks, 1 lipliner
Nail file
Pill case with Aleve
Handkerchief
Wallet
Card case with GCS business cards
Little metal case that holds my vampire fangs (yes, I carry them in my handbag. They amuse me)
Good luck charm

Believe it or not, that is *less* stuff than I used to carry.

Rolled shawl
my checkbook
cash & coin purse
card wallet
zip bag 1: 2 lipsticks, 2 tiny teddy bears, a moss agate pendulum in a velvet bag, emery boards
zip bag 2: tylenol, sufedrine, benadryl, sewing kit, metal tape measure, magnet, magnifying glass, mirror, floss, lip balm
zip bag 3: hand cream, comb
zip bag 4: a larger bag containing smaller zip bags
a. Aleve, foot cream, joint anagesic, bandaids
b. nano, the good ear buds
c. manicure tools, little swiss army knife
d. leather cigarette case containing phone charger
Also, notes, directions, phone numbers
Hard eyeglass case
Book
checkbook for Mom's account
floss leaders for bridgework
spiral notebook
pens
notepad
tissues
phone
pillbox for daily meds
keys (upstairs and downstairs doors, 2 cars, truck)
mini-maglite
foam cozy for waterbottle

oh gosh, I'm afraid to list what is in my bag. not because of it being public, because I'm too afraid to actually look.

Gronk. Am so tired. But I have two hours of interviews starting at 8 am, so I better pull it together.

Had a dream that Obama's running mate was Christian Kane. O-kay. But I woke up just before he gave his speech.

Had a dream that Obama's running mate was Christian Kane.

Obama is reported to be considering Tim Kaine from Virginia, so maybe you were hearing NPR in your sleep.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that was it. But I think my way is better.

I hope that's what it was, because that would be really funny.

oh wait ,that would be books.Yes, even to vegas.

2, and 3 magazines. Lighter on the back.

but... what if you run out

There are these nifty places called bookstores, and if you give them money, they give you a book to keep! It's the bee's knees.

But if you don't carry your own books, how do you know they'll have a book you want? (I'm enjoying the pack-n-post quite a lot.)

My "purse" these days is a large tote thing. I carry:

phone (in a little case) Metro card (in another little case tethered to the strap) book wallet card case checkbook cosmetic bag with assorted makeup in it another case with emery board, kleenex, packets of dried lemon juice, pens, etc. hand lotion cuticle cream cough drops and, today, a fold-up umbrella