.blog-hero {
    position: relative;
    background: linear-gradient(to right, #ffffff, #f5f5f5);
    padding: 5rem 1rem;
    text-align: center;
    overflow: hidden;
}

    /* soft glow / pop */
    .blog-hero::before {
        content: "";
        position: absolute;
        inset: -40%;
        background: radial-gradient(circle at 20% 30%, rgba(187,169,108,0.22), transparent 55%), radial-gradient(circle at 80% 35%, rgba(108,99,255,0.16), transparent 60%), radial-gradient(circle at 50% 80%, rgba(0,0,0,0.06), transparent 55%);
        filter: blur(18px);
        pointer-events: none;
    }

    .blog-hero::after {
        content: "";
        position: absolute;
        inset: 0;
        background: linear-gradient(135deg, rgba(255,255,255,0.75), rgba(245,245,245,0.35));
        pointer-events: none;
    }

.blog-hero-surface {
    position: relative;
    background: rgba(255,255,255,0.55);
    border: 1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.06);
    border-radius: 22px;
    box-shadow: 0 18px 46px rgba(0,0,0,0.08);
    backdrop-filter: blur(10px);
}

/* cards: subtle pop */
.blog-card {
    padding: 1rem;
    border-radius: 18px;
    transition: transform 180ms ease, box-shadow 180ms ease, border-color 180ms ease;
}

    .blog-card:hover {
        transform: translateY(-4px);
        box-shadow: 0 18px 46px rgba(0,0,0,0.10);
        border-color: rgba(187,169,108,0.35);
    }

.blog-card-grid {
    align-items: stretch;
}

.blog-card-thumbLink {
    display: block;
    border-radius: 14px;
    overflow: hidden;
    height: 180px;
    position: relative;
}

    /* thumbnail glow on hover */
    .blog-card-thumbLink::after {
        content: "";
        position: absolute;
        inset: 0;
        background: radial-gradient(circle at 30% 30%, rgba(187,169,108,0.18), transparent 55%);
        opacity: 0;
        transition: opacity 180ms ease;
        pointer-events: none;
    }

.blog-card:hover .blog-card-thumbLink::after {
    opacity: 1;
}

.blog-card-thumb {
    display: block;
}

.blog-card-title a {
    text-decoration: none;
}

    .blog-card-title a:hover {
        text-decoration: underline;
    }

.blog-loading {
    display: flex;
    justify-content: center;
    padding: 1rem 0 2rem;
}

.blog-sentinel {
    height: 1px;
}

.blog-pagination {
    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
    justify-content: space-between;
    gap: 0.75rem;
    padding: 0.5rem 0 1rem;
}

.blog-pagination-text {
    opacity: 0.75;
}

.blog-tags {
    gap: 0.5rem;
}


.blog-card-thumbLink {
    display: block;
    border-radius: 14px;
    overflow: hidden;
    height: 180px;
    position: relative;
}

.blog-card-thumb {
    max-width: 100%;
    height: auto;
    object-position: center !important;
    object-fit: fill !important;
}

    .blog-card-thumb img {
        width: 100%;
        height: 100%;
        object-fit: cover;
        object-position: center;
        display: block;
    }