(function ($) {
  $.fn.limitTextarea = function (settings) {
    settings = $.extend({
      maxlength: 100
    }, settings);

    return this.each(function () {
      var textarea = $(this);
      var span = $("<p class=\"small\"></p>").css("clear", "both"); textarea.after(span);  // textarea.parent().append(span);
      var maxlength = settings.maxlength;
      if (textarea.attr("maxlength")) maxlength = textarea.attr("maxlength");

      function keyupEvent(e) {
        var length = textarea.val().length;
        if (length > maxlength) {
          textarea.val(textarea.val().substr(0, maxlength));
        }
        else {
          span.html((maxlength - length) + " characters");
        }
      };
      textarea.bind("keyup", keyupEvent).trigger("keyup");
    });
  }
})(jQuery);