:root {
    --primary-color: #0056b3; /* Adjust to your brand blue */
    --accent-color: #ff6b6b;
    --text-main: #2d3436;
    --text-light: #636e72;
    --bg-light: #f9f9f9;
    --white: #ffffff;
    --shadow-sm: 0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
    --shadow-md: 0 10px 30px rgba(0,0,0,0.08);
    --transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.25, 0.8, 0.25, 1);
}

/* Hero Section */
.blog-hero {
    background: linear-gradient(rgba(0,0,0,0.6), rgba(0,0,0,0.6)), url('/path-to-your-hero-bg.jpg');
    background-size: cover;
    background-position: center;
    padding: 100px 0;
    text-align: center;
    color: var(--white);
}

.blog-main-title {
    font-size: 3rem;
    font-weight: 800;
    margin-bottom: 10px;
    letter-spacing: -1px;
}

/* Grid Layout */
.blog-container {
    max-width: 1200px;
    margin: -50px auto 80px; /* Overlaps hero slightly for modern look */
    padding: 0 20px;
    position: relative;
    z-index: 10;
}

.blog-grid {
    display: grid;
    grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(350px, 1fr));
    gap: 40px;
}

/* The Card */
.blog-card {
    background: var(--white);
    border-radius: 15px;
    overflow: hidden;
    box-shadow: var(--shadow-sm);
    transition: var(--transition);
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    height: 100%;
}

.blog-card:hover {
    transform: translateY(-10px);
    box-shadow: var(--shadow-md);
}

/* Image & Date Badge */
.blog-image-wrapper {
    position: relative;
    overflow: hidden;
}

.blog-card img {
    width: 100%;
    height: 240px;
    object-fit: cover;
    transition: var(--transition);
}

.blog-card:hover img {
    transform: scale(1.1);
}

.blog-date-badge {
    position: absolute;
    bottom: 20px;
    left: 20px;
    background: var(--primary-color);
    color: white;
    padding: 10px 15px;
    border-radius: 8px;
    text-align: center;
    line-height: 1;
    box-shadow: 0 5px 15px rgba(0,0,0,0.2);
}

.blog-date-badge .day {
    display: block;
    font-size: 1.4rem;
    font-weight: 700;
}

.blog-date-badge .month {
    font-size: 0.75rem;
    text-transform: uppercase;
    font-weight: 600;
}

/* Content Area */
.blog-content {
    padding: 30px;
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    flex-grow: 1;
}

.blog-title {
    margin-bottom: 15px;
}

.blog-title a {
    color: var(--text-main);
    text-decoration: none;
    font-size: 1.4rem;
    font-weight: 700;
    line-height: 1.3;
    transition: color 0.2s;
}

.blog-title a:hover {
    color: var(--primary-color);
}

.blog-excerpt {
    color: var(--text-light);
    font-size: 0.95rem;
    line-height: 1.6;
    margin-bottom: 25px;
    flex-grow: 1;
}

/* Button Style */
.btn-read-more {
    display: inline-flex;
    align-items: center;
    color: var(--primary-color);
    text-decoration: none;
    font-weight: 700;
    font-size: 0.9rem;
    text-transform: uppercase;
    letter-spacing: 1px;
    border-bottom: 2px solid transparent;
    transition: var(--transition);
}

.btn-read-more:hover {
    border-bottom-color: var(--primary-color);
    gap: 8px; /* Animates the arrow slightly */
}

/* ================= IMAGE FIX ================= */
.blog-image-wrapper {
    position: relative;
    overflow: hidden;
    /* This creates a professional 4:3 aspect ratio container */
    aspect-ratio: 4 / 3;
}

.blog-card img {
    width: 100%;
    height: 100%; /* Now fills the aspect-ratio container */
    object-fit: cover;
    /* object-position: top;  <-- Optional: keeps heads from being cut off */
    display: block;
    transition: var(--transition);
}

/* If images are still being cut too much,
   change aspect-ratio to 16/9 (wider) or 1/1 (square) */
/* ================= RESPONSIVE ================= */
@media (max-width: 992px) {
    .blog-grid {
        grid-template-columns: repeat(2, 1fr);
        gap: 25px;
    }
}

@media (max-width: 768px) {
    .blog-main-title { font-size: 2.2rem; }
    .blog-grid {
        grid-template-columns: 1fr;
    }
    .blog-container {
        margin-top: -30px;
    }
}