JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<script src="http://ajax.microsoft.com/ajax/jquery.validate/1.7/jquery.validate.js"></script>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jqueryui/1.8.2/themes/ui-lightness/jquery-ui.css">
<input id='email' type='text' />

JavaScript

$('#email').focus(function() {
    var $th = $(this);
    if($th.val() == 'example@email.com') {
        $th.val('')
            .css({'color':'#000','font-style':'normal'});
    }
})
    .blur(function() {
        var $th = $(this);
        if($th.val() == '') {
            $th.val('example@email.com')
            .css({'color':'#888','font-style':'italic'});
        }
    })
    .val('example@email.com')
    .css({'color':'#888','font-style':'italic'});