My purse is heavy. Sometimes ridiculously heavy. I’ve broken several purses basically by just walking around with them. I’m actually already on my second purse while in London, although I’m pretty sure that was because the first one was from Target and was just incredibly cheaply made.

You could just tell me to stop carrying around so much stuff in my purse, but really, everything in there is important. Um, for the most part anyways. It’s stuff I need for work or like to carry around in case a story breaks right in front of me.
In addition to your basic wallet, cell phone and iPod,

I always carry my trusty moleskine journal. It’s useful for writing journalism notes or thoughts or almost anything. Since I discovered the wonder of moleskines freshman year, I’ve probably gone through about 10. They’re amazing. I also usually carry a tiny London moleskine with my journalism contacts in it, and I often have a little sketchbook too. And uh, I have another journal for my class notes. I have to get another one soon to make a class notebook for my art history class. It honestly is getting a little ridiculous.

Pens and pencils. Lots of them. Pens are more reliable usually, but I always keep a pencil with me because if it rains, you want something that can write in the rain.

Here in London, I always keep my “A to Zet” with me (That’s how British people say the letter Z.) It’s an awesome book of maps of the entirety in London so you like, never get lost.

I keep my trusty digital recorder in its handy dandy holder (originally made for a Blackberry earpiece).

My card holder holds contact cards and, when I’m organized enough, my own business cards for journalism and my harp playing.

In London, you always need an umbrella with you. This is one my brother gave me that folds up very tiny to fit into a little carrier.

I don’t always carry my camera with me, since it’s larger than my old phone, but I do usually stick it in so that I can snap photos if I happen to come across anything interesting during my day.

I have a handy video camera I can stick inside as well.

Then of course, I also have far too much lipgloss in my purse to do me any good. And a compact.

I also carry a stuffed buffalo with me fairly often at this point as part of a website that I’m setting up for my Aunt, a teacher in Oklahoma.