(function($){
				
				$.fn.placeholder = function(options){
					
					var settings = $.extend({
					}, options);											
					
					$(this).each(function(){
						// get the initial value from the value attribute, 
						// this is the value that the input has at DOM load
						var iniVal = $(this).attr('value');
						
						// if there is no value set, then there's no placeholder
						// end the function early to save time and processing power						
						if(iniVal === ''){
							return;
						}
						
						// if the placeholder attribute is present
						// end the function early so that it does it's native behavior
						if($(this).attr('placeholder') !== ''){
							return
						}
						
						// bind the default value to the DOM element cache
						$(this).data('iniVal', iniVal);

						// behavior on focus
						$(this).focus(function(){
							var value = $(this).val();
							if(value === $(this).data('iniVal')){
								$(this).val('')
							}

						});
						
						// behavior on blur
						$(this).blur(function(){
							if($(this).val() === ''){
								$(this).val($(this).data('iniVal'))
							}
						});
						
					});
				
				};
				
})(jQuery);