function area_warn(field, maxlimit) {
	if (field.value.length > maxlimit){
		// if too long...display warning
		//if(!($(field).parent().children('.maxwarning'))){
		var kids = $(field).parent().children('.maxwarning');
		if(kids.length < 1){
			$(field).parent().append('<span class="maxwarning" style="color:red;text-align: left;">max characters exceeded</span>');
		}
		// 	 	 	} 
	}else{
		//remove our maxwarning span if it exists
		$(field).parent().children('.maxwarning').remove();
	}
}