SQL Server (and MSDE) provide several stored procedures for interacting with email. You could use these procedures to generate email giving information about the database. For example, if a stored procedure removes an item from inventory and notices that the remaining inventory is low, it could send you a message warning you.

I haven't had a chance to work with this (and may not) but the relevant stored procedures are:

• sp_processmail
• xp_sendmail
• xp_deletemail
• xp_startmail
• xp_findnextmsg
• xp_stopmail
• xp_readmail

Search the MSDN for sp_processmail for more information and let me know if you have any success.