When my husband and I were dating, and even during the first years of our marriage, we would regularly send each other greeting cards. Sometimes we sent cards for special occasions (birthdays and anniversaries) but often we sent a greeting “just because.” Somewhere in this house is a cardboard box with those cards – including my first mother’s day card which Steve signed from our dog and cat – stored inside. (I should probably go talk to Erin at Unclutterer about this).

Sadly, the realities of marriage (10 years in May), homeownership and parenthood, put a stop to our practice of sending greeting cards through the mail.

Instead, my husband and I regularly send each other e-greetings. Admittedly, this many not seem as romantic as a card that is hand written and mailed with care. And, it’s hard to imagine my kids, or grandkids, digging through a pile of computer print outs to read the correspondences between their parents. But when I, in the middle of a crazy day or after a particularly nasty spousal spat, receive an e-greeting from my hubby, it always makes me smile.

Our favorite resource for e-cards is Hallmark.com. They offer a wide selection of free cards (perfect for a couple trying to keep expenses in check) with many different themes and characters (including Hoops and YoYo who are adorable). If you are willing to spend a couple of dollars, you can upgrade to a premium e-card, some of which will allow you to include your own photos.

If you are looking for something different, or with a specific message, take a look around your favorite web site. One of our favorite working mom sites, Mommy Track’d offers cards designed with a “working mom” theme, while organizations like Unicef allow you to send e-cards like the one pictured at left, while donating to a worthwhile cause.

Sending greetings to (or from) your kids? Visit Yahoo! Kids for cute e-cards, featuring popular characters like Hello Kitty and the kids from The Chronicles of Narnia movie.

Finally, if you want to send e-mails with a particular design aesthetic, you can find sites with e-cards created by individual artists like Frederikke Tu. Through her site, ojolie.com, subscribers can send all of her cards (34 designs and counting) for $10 per year. (The picture at the top of this entry is a detail from one of her cards).

One word of caution when sending e-greetings – before you turn over your e-mail or credit card information, make sure you’re dealing with a reputable web site. And, if you receive an e-card, remember that you should only open the e-mail if you recognize the sender (their name should be viewable in the “from” field), and if the link brings you to site to play the greeting. You should never be required to download a greeting to your computer.

How about you? Do you send e-cards? What sites do you use?