function validate(){
	var errors = 0;
	var checkName = document.getElementById('realname').value;
	var checkEmail = document.getElementById('email').value;
	var checkMessage = document.getElementById('other').value;
	
	//check name field
	if (checkName == "") {
		document.getElementById('err_realname').innerHTML = "Name field cannot be empty";
		document.getElementById('err_realname').style.visibility = "visible";
		errors++
	} else {
		document.getElementById('err_realname').style.visibility = "hidden"
	}
	
	//check email field
	if (checkEmail == "") {
		document.getElementById('err_email').innerHTML = "Email field cannot be empty";
		document.getElementById('err_email').style.visibility = "visible";
		errors++
	} else {
		document.getElementById('err_email').style.visibility = "hidden"
	}
	if (checkEmail.search(/^[a-zA-Z0-9._%-]+@[a-zA-Z0-9.-]+\.[a-zA-Z]{2,4}$/) == -1) {
		document.getElementById('err_email').innerHTML = "Please provide a valid email";
		document.getElementById('err_email').style.visibility = "visible";
		errors++
	} else {
		document.getElementById('err_email').style.visibility = "hidden"
	}

	//check message field
	if (checkMessage == "") {
		document.getElementById('err_other').innerHTML = "Message field cannot be empty";
		document.getElementById('err_other').style.visibility = "visible";
		errors++
	} else {
		document.getElementById('err_other').style.visibility = "hidden"
	}
	
	// if errors, return, else submit
	if (errors > 0) { return false }
	else { 
	  document.getElementById('contactForm').action="http://www.mariusstuparu.com/sendit.php";
	  document.getElementById('contactForm').submit();
	}
}