OK. This is totally off-focus but I find it fascinating. I know I'm a tad crazy! I never was a girl guide but I think I make up for it now.
I'll start.
This is exactly what is in mine today. I know as I just tidied it up before a trip to Melbourne.
I have quite a small travel handbag- a Hedgren Urban bag.
Keys & glasses in a case(glasses are on my face at the moment)
Compact Wallet(empty change out regularly), mobile phone, any current tickets(airline or hotel), gift vouchers.
Main part of bag-
2 Hankies(only started using these in the last year-tree saving)
1 ziplock bag of tissues for emergencies
1 ziplock bag of herbal teabags- peppermint & chamomile.
1 burgundy silk bag (for shopping)
Extra white chewing gum in a sml plastic container(ex film)
1 ziplock bag of almonds(never without them for nibbling on esp. before a glass of wine or if unhealthy food is the only option out)
1 small Guatamalan striped bag with bandaids, medi wipes, eye drops, emery board, comb, toothpicks, 2 asthma puffers, handwash(no water required) anti-histamines, paracetemol.
1 notebook, a pen & a sml wallet with "hidden money". Ha ha, as if I ever forget it's there.
This is more about sharing yourself(myself) with others than anything else.
A woman's handbag. It's a part of our personal space.
Cheers, Cate.
P.S. I don't wear any makeup.

C'mon, life is about participating, not just observing.

I don't actually use a handbag. I've got my wallet in my pants pocket, as well as my car keys and cell phone usually. That's it. Sorry, I'm boring.

I will fill the whole page if I try to list everything that is in my bag, but I'll list some of it...
-purse
-nurofen plus (both daughters suffer from migraines so we don't go anywhere without it)
-glasses
-numerous bills (all the ones that are coming up for payment...you never know when you'll be near the post office and I like to be prepared)
-cheque book
-deposit book
-lip gloss
-hermesatas (sp??)
-mobile phone
-keys
-manicure kit
I won't keep going as I'll be here all day but as you can imagine it weighs a ton and often puts my shoulder out!!!
Take care everyone.
Beck

I wish that I could really travel without a handbag but can't. There's nothing boring about not having one. I'm always thinking about how I can lighten it though as I have suffered back pain from carrying too much over the years. Cheque book, deposit book & bills stay at home & I do Internet banking instead. I weigh things all the time. This little obsession(trick) I have learned from my mum. There's a couple of things I could take out, like the little handwash as I rarely use it in Aust but I like it being there. I'll go weigh my bag now for interest as I think it's about the lightest it's been for years.
978g with mobile phone back in it. Mostly I wear it across my body not just over one shoulder. Cheers, Cate.

Hmm not much in my handbag.

- purse
- lip balm
- herbal tea
- phone
- and usually a small bottle of water

I don't really carry a handbag.. usually either my camera bag or a little backpack..

Today I have:

Wallet
Mp3 Player
Mini Laptop/Netbook
Deoderant
Little Camera
Cell Phone
Lip Gloss
Bag of receipts
2 apples
Gift Cards

gosh thats a good one!! i am terrible with handbags- change them all the time and forget what i have in them. Today the bag has -
a packet of crackers (for my 3 year old)
handwipes
wallet - overstuffed and barely closing
mobile phone
house keys (dont drive so no car keys)
lots of paid bills that i never get around to taking out
medicines - a variety
equal sweetener
hairbrush
lip gloss
a watch (always forget to wear it but carry it anyway)
earrings from the night before
sun glasses and the extra heavy case that goes along with it.
a big bottle of water 1.5 litres (always hanging out and gives me a workout or a back ache cant figure out which)

Wallet
Lotion
Allergy medicine
Pepto Bismol (ALWAYS carrying some form of it)
Floss
Gum
Cellphone
Pen
Lip balm
Motrin

That's all I can think of. My purse is in the other room and im too lazy to go get it. Haha.

*Bump*-will amend mine as it changes, Cate.

Funny stuff reading your lists ladies....

well i love those itty bitty handbags that you cant fit much in .. not even my purse.. tut tut.. okay so my little black bag i have
mascara
Tissues
lippy
eyeshadow
perfume..

Aislings nappy bag however..

4 Nappies
baby wipes,
apricot chunks
lippy
perfume
mascara
purse
teething gel
sipper cup
change of clothes
Tiny teddies
nappy sacks
...

1. Set Of Makeup Brushes
2. Deoderant
3. Film (Sill Waiting To Be Developed)
4. Reciepts (I need to clean it out)
5. Canadian tire money
6. Blistex Cherry lip balm
7. La Senza prestige membership booklet with coupons and discount card
8. Lip Stick x2
9. Mascara
10. Lip Gloss
11. Nail Clippers
12. Cineplax Scene Cards and one free movie pass
13. Ricki's Fashion And Friends Card
14. Elastis
15. Lose Change
16. Wallet

Added 1 small ex-apple juice container with pop-top, re-filled with water to my little handbag today, cheers, cate

Taken out water bottle. Ouch-too heavy! Must keep the weight of my bag to a minimum for my back's sake. I'll use one of those water bottle bumbags ("fanny packs" in the US?) instead of my handbag when I go for big walks. There's room for my keys & a puffer only so I don't look too much like a tragic old. I never thought I would ever use one! Oh well....they're very practical!

my purse is always packed, right now it contains:

1 wallet
a couple bracelets
hair brush
lip balm
loose change
receipts
1 hot wheels car
1 bottle lotion
sunscreen
sunglasses
hand sanitizer
1 pack crackers
1 granola bar
female toiletries
pen
note pad
gum
hair bands and clips
i rarely wear makeup, so you wont find that in there...