function validateForm(form, rules) {
    //clear out any old errors
    $("#messages").html("");
    $("#messages").slideUp();
    $(".error-message").hide();

    //loop through the validation rules and check for errors
    $.each(rules, function(field) {
        var val = $.trim($("#" + field).val());

        $.each(this, function() {
            console.log(this['rule']);

            //check if the input exists
            if ($("#" + field).attr("id") != undefined) {
                var valid = true;

                if (this['allowEmpty'] && val == '') {
                //do nothing
                } else if (this['rule'].match(/^range/)) {
                    var range = this['rule'].split('|');
                    if (val < parseInt(range[1])) {
                        valid = false;
                    }
                    if (val > parseInt(range[2])) {
                        valid = false;
                    }
                } else if (this['negate']) {
                    if (val.match(eval(this['rule']))) {
                        valid = false;
                    }
                } else if (!val.match(eval(this['rule']))) {
                    valid = false;
                }

                if (!valid) {
                    //add the error message
                    $("#messages").append("<p>" + this['message'] + "</p>");

                    //highlight the label
                    //$("label[for='" + field + "']").addClass("error");
                    $("#" + field).parent().addClass("error");
                }
            }
        });
    });

    if($("#messages").html() != "") {
        $("#messages").wrapInner("<div class='errors'></div>");
        $("#messages").slideDown();
        $('html, body').animate({scrollTop:0}, 'slow');
        return false;
    }

    return true;
}