$(document).ready(function(){
    
    //validate form
    $('#contact').validate({
        rules: {
            firstname: {
                required: true
            },
            
            lastname: {
                required: true
            },
            
            email: {
                required: true,
                email: true
            },
            
            address: {
                required: true
            },
            
            phone: {
                required: true,
                phoneUS: true
            },
            
            message: {
                required: true
            }
        },
        
        submitHandler: function(form) {
            // do other stuff for a valid form
            $.post('mail.php', $("#contact").serialize(), function(data) {
                $(':input','#contact').not(':button, :submit, :reset, :hidden').val('').removeAttr('checked').removeAttr('selected');
                alert('Successfully sent! Thank you for sending.');
            });
        },
        
        errorPlacement: function(error, element) {}
    });
});