:root {
    --dark-blue: #28344a;     /* Muted navy with gray undertone – less harsh */
    --dark-green: #3a4f5f;    /* Calm earthy green-teal */
    --light-blue: #8fa4c4;    /* Softer, dusty blue */
    --gold: #bfa25a;          /* Muted warm gold, less shiny */
    --white: #ffffff;         /* Pure white – keep for readability */
    --gray: #7d8590;          /* Softer neutral gray */
    --light-gray: #e9ecef;    /* Gentle light gray for backgrounds */
    --black: #1c1f26;         /* Softer near-black for headings */
    --cream: #f2ebe3;         /* Slightly richer cream, warm but subtle */
    --charcoal: #3a3f4b;      /* Softer charcoal with blue-gray undertone */
}

/* Base Styles */
* {
    margin: 0;
    padding: 0;
    box-sizing: border-box;
}

html {
    scroll-behavior: smooth;
}

body {
    font-family: "Inter", sans-serif;
    background-color: var(--cream);   
    color: var(--black);
    line-height: 1.6;
    overflow-x: hidden;
}

.container {
    max-width: 1200px;
    margin: 0 auto;
    padding: 0 20px;
}

section {
    padding: 100px 0;
}

/* Typography Hierarchy */
h1 {
    font-size: 3.5rem;
    font-weight: 800;
    margin-bottom: 20px;
    line-height: 1.1;
}

h2 {
    font-size: 2.5rem;
    font-weight: 700;
    margin-bottom: 20px;
    line-height: 1.2;
    position: relative;
}

h3 {
    font-size: 2rem;
    font-weight: 600;
    margin-bottom: 15px;
}

p {
    margin-bottom: 20px;
    font-family: "Inter", sans-serif;
    color: var(--dark-blue);
    font-weight: 510;
    font-size: 1.1rem;
    line-height: 1.7;
    text-align: left;
}

/* Buttons */
.btn {
    display: inline-block;
    padding: 16px 32px;
    text-decoration: none;
    border-radius: 6px;
    transition: all 0.3s ease;
    font-size: 1rem;
    font-weight: 600;
    text-transform: uppercase;
    letter-spacing: 0.5px;
    border: none;
    cursor: pointer;
    text-align: center;
}

.btn-primary {
    background-color: var(--gold);
    color: var(--dark-blue);
    box-shadow: 0 4px 14px rgba(191, 162, 90, 0.4);
}

.btn-primary:hover {
    background-color: rgba(191, 162, 90, 0.9);
    transform: translateY(-3px);
    box-shadow: 0 6px 20px rgba(191, 162, 90, 0.6);
}

.btn-secondary {
    background-color: transparent;
    color: var(--white);
    border: 2px solid var(--white);
}

.btn-secondary:hover {
    background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1);
    transform: translateY(-3px);
}

.btn-nav {
    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
    justify-content: center;
    width: auto;
    background-color: var(--gold);
    color: var(--black) !important;
    min-width: 70px !important;
    height: 50px !important;
    border-radius: 8px !important;
    padding: 15px 35px !important;
    font-weight: 600;
}

/* Header Styles */
header {
    padding: 20px 0;
    position: fixed;
    width: 100%;
    background-color: rgba(26, 54, 93, 0.95);
    z-index: 1000;
    backdrop-filter: blur(10px);
    transition: all 0.3s ease;
    box-shadow: 0 2px 10px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
}

header.scrolled {
    padding: 15px 0;
    box-shadow: 0 5px 20px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
}

header .container {
    display: flex;
    justify-content: space-between;
    align-items: center;
    width: 100%;
}

.container {
    max-width: 1300px;
    margin: 0 auto;
    padding: 0 20px;
}

nav {
    display: flex;
    justify-content: space-between;
    align-items: center;
    width: 100%;
}

.logo {
    font-size: 1.8rem;
    font-weight: bold;
    color: var(--white);
}

.logo a {
    color: var(--white);
    text-decoration: none;
}

.nav-links {
    display: flex;
    list-style: none;
    white-space: nowrap;
    align-items: center;
}

.nav-links li {
    margin-left: 30px;
}

.nav-links a {
    color: var(--light-gray);
    text-decoration: none;
    font-size: 1rem;
    transition: color 0.3s;
    position: relative;
    font-weight: 500;
}

.nav-links a::after {
    content: '';
    position: absolute;
    width: 0;
    height: 2px;
    bottom: -5px;
    left: 0;
    background-color: var(--gold);
    transition: width 0.3s ease;
}

.nav-links a:hover {
    color: var(--gold);
}

.nav-links a:hover::after {
    width: 100%;
}

/* ========== DROPDOWN MENU STYLES ========== */
.dropdown {
    position: relative;
}

.dropdown-toggle {
    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
    gap: 5px;
}

.dropdown-toggle i {
    font-size: 0.8rem;
    transition: transform 0.3s ease;
}

.dropdown:hover .dropdown-toggle i {
    transform: rotate(180deg);
}

.dropdown-menu {
    position: absolute;
    top: 100%;
    left: 0;
    background: var(--white);
    min-width: 220px;
    border-radius: 8px;
    box-shadow: var(--shadow-lg);
    opacity: 0;
    visibility: hidden;
    transform: translateY(-10px);
    transition: all 0.3s ease;
    z-index: 1000;
    padding: 10px 0;
    border: 1px solid rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
}

.dropdown:hover .dropdown-menu {
    opacity: 1;
    visibility: visible;
    transform: translateY(0);
}

.dropdown-menu li {
    margin: 0;
    width: 100%;
}

.dropdown-menu a {
    color: var(--dark-blue) !important;
    padding: 12px 20px !important;
    display: block;
    transition: all 0.3s ease;
    font-weight: 500;
    border-left: 3px solid transparent;
}

.dropdown-menu a:hover {
    background: rgba(191, 162, 90, 0.1);
    color: var(--gold) !important;
    border-left-color: var(--gold);
}

.dropdown-menu a::after {
    display: none;
}

.nav-links a.active {
    color: var(--gold) !important;
}

.dropdown-menu a.active {
    background: rgba(191, 162, 90, 0.1);
    color: var(--gold) !important;
    border-left-color: var(--gold);
}


.btn-nav {
    padding: 10px 20px;
    white-space: nowrap;
}

.hamburger {
    display: none;
    flex-direction: column;
    cursor: pointer;
    width: 30px;
    height: 20px;
    justify-content: space-between;
}

.hamburger span {
    display: block;
    height: 3px;
    width: 100%;
    background-color: var(--gold);
    border-radius: 2px;
    transition: all 0.3s ease;
}


/* Blog Hero Section */
.page-hero {
    padding-top: 150px;
    padding-bottom: 80px;
    background-color: var(--charcoal);
    text-align: center;
}

.page-hero h1 {
    font-size: 3rem;
    margin-bottom: 20px;
    color: var(--white);
}

.page-hero p {
    max-width: 600px;
    margin: 0 auto;
    text-align: center;
    color: var(--light-gray);
}

/* Two Column Layout */
.blog-layout {
    display: flex;
    padding: 40px 0;
    gap: 30px;
    background-color: var(--cream);
}

/* Left Column */
.left-column {
    width: 30%;
    position: sticky;
    top: 120px;
    height: auto; 
    align-self: flex-start;
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    overflow: visible; 
    margin-bottom: clamp(1rem, 3vh, 4rem); 
}

.author-card {
    background-color: var(--charcoal);
    border-radius: 10px;
    padding: 30px;
    text-align: center;
    box-shadow: 0 5px 15px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
    flex-grow: 1; 
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    justify-content: center; 
    min-height: 600px; 
}

.author-image {
    width: 120px; 
    height: 120px; 
    border-radius: 50%;
    margin: 0 auto 25px;
    overflow: hidden;
    border: 4px solid var(--gold); 
    box-shadow: 0 8px 25px rgba(191, 162, 90, 0.3); 
}

.author-image img {
    width: 100%;
    height: 100%;
    object-fit: cover;
}

.author-card p {
    color: var(--light-gray);
    margin-bottom: 10px; 
    font-size: 1rem;
    line-height: 1.6;
}

.author-stats {
    display: flex;
    justify-content: space-around;
    margin: 25px 0;
    padding: 20px 0;
    border-top: 1px solid var(--dark-green);
    border-bottom: 1px solid var(--dark-green);
}

.stat {
    text-align: center;
}

.stat strong {
    display: block;
    color: var(--gold);
    font-size: 1.8rem;
    font-weight: 700;
}

.stat span {
    color: var(--light-gray);
    font-size: 0.9rem;
}

/* Center Column - Scrollable */
.center-column {
    width: 70%;
}

/* Blog Grid */
.blog-grid {
    display: grid;
    grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(300px, 1fr));
    gap: 30px;
    margin-bottom: 40px;
}

.blog-card {
    background: var(--white);
    border-radius: 8px;
    overflow: hidden;
    box-shadow: 0 5px 15px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05);
    transition: transform 0.3s, box-shadow 0.3s;
}

.blog-card:hover {
    transform: translateY(-5px);
    box-shadow: 0 10px 25px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
}

.blog-card-image {
    height: 200px;
    overflow: hidden;
}

.blog-card-image img {
    width: 100%;
    height: 100%;
    object-fit: cover;
    transition: transform 0.5s;
}

.blog-card:hover .blog-card-image img {
    transform: scale(1.05);
}

.blog-card-content {
    padding: 20px;
}

.blog-card-meta {
    display: flex;
    justify-content: space-between;
    font-size: 13px;
    color: var(--gray);
    margin-bottom: 10px;
}

.blog-card-category {
    background-color: var(--light-blue);
    color: var(--dark-blue);
    padding: 3px 8px;
    border-radius: 4px;
    font-weight: 600;
}

.blog-card-title {
    font-size: 18px;
    margin-bottom: 10px;
    line-height: 1.4;
    color: var(--dark-blue);
}

.blog-card-title a {
    color: var(--dark-blue);
    text-decoration: none;
    transition: color 0.3s;
}

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

.blog-card-excerpt {
    color: var(--gray);
    font-size: 14px;
    margin-bottom: 15px;
}

.blog-card-read-more {
    color: var(--gold);
    text-decoration: none;
    font-weight: 600;
    font-size: 14px;
    display: inline-flex;
    align-items: center;
}

.blog-card-read-more i {
    margin-left: 5px;
    transition: transform 0.3s;
}

.blog-card-read-more:hover i {
    transform: translateX(3px);
}

.blog-article-container {
    background-color: var(--white);
    border-radius: 10px;
    padding: 40px;
    box-shadow: 0 5px 15px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
    margin-bottom: 40px;
}

.blog-article {
    color: var(--black);
}

.blog-article h1 {
    color: var(--gold);
    margin-bottom: 20px;
    font-size: 2.5rem;
}

.blog-article p{
    color: var(--black);
}

.blog-meta-full {
    display: flex;
    margin-bottom: 30px;
    color: var(--light-blue);
    font-size: 0.9rem;
    padding-bottom: 20px;
    border-bottom: 1px solid var(--dark-green);
}

.blog-meta-full span {
    margin-right: 20px;
}

.blog-article img {
    max-width: 100%;
    height: auto;
    border-radius: 10px;
    margin: 20px 0;
}

.blog-article-content {
    line-height: 1.8;
}

.blog-article-content h2, 
.blog-article-content h3 {
    color: var(--gold);
    margin-top: 30px;
    margin-bottom: 15px;
}

.blog-article-content p {
    margin-bottom: 20px;
    color: var(--dark-blue);
}

.blog-article-content ul, 
.blog-article-content ol {
    margin-bottom: 20px;
    padding-left: 20px;
}

.blog-article-content li {
    margin-bottom: 10px;
    color: var(--dark-blue);
}

/* Related Posts Section */
.related-posts-section {
    background-color: var(--charcoal);
    border-radius: 10px;
    padding: 30px;
    box-shadow: 0 5px 15px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
    margin-top: 40px;
}

.related-posts-section h2 {
    color: var(--gold);
    margin-bottom: 25px;
    padding-bottom: 15px;
    border-bottom: 1px solid var(--dark-green);
}

.related-posts-grid {
    display: grid;
    grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(300px, 1fr));
    gap: 25px;
    margin-bottom: 30px;
}

.related-posts-pagination {
    display: flex;
    justify-content: center;
    margin-top: 30px;
}

.related-posts-pagination .pagination-list {
    display: flex;
    list-style: none;
    gap: 10px;
}

.related-posts-pagination .pagination-item {
    margin: 0;
}

.related-posts-pagination .pagination-link {
    display: inline-block;
    padding: 8px 15px;
    background-color: var(--dark-blue);
    color: var(--light-gray);
    text-decoration: none;
    border-radius: 4px;
    transition: all 0.3s;
    border: 1px solid var(--dark-green);
}

.related-posts-pagination .pagination-link:hover {
    background-color: var(--light-blue);
    color: var(--dark-blue);
}

.related-posts-pagination .pagination-link.active {
    background-color: var(--gold);
    color: var(--dark-blue);
    border-color: var(--gold);
}

/* Pagination */
.pagination {
    display: flex;
    justify-content: center;
    margin-top: 40px;
}

.pagination-list {
    display: flex;
    list-style: none;
    gap: 10px;
}

.pagination-item {
    margin: 0;
}

.pagination-link {
    display: inline-block;
    padding: 8px 15px;
    background-color: var(--white);
    color: var(--dark-blue);
    text-decoration: none;
    border-radius: 4px;
    transition: all 0.3s;
    border: 1px solid var(--light-gray);
}

.pagination-link:hover {
    background-color: var(--light-gray);
}

.pagination-link.active {
    background-color: var(--gold);
    color: var(--dark-blue);
    border-color: var(--gold);
}



/* Footer */
footer {
    padding: 70px 0 30px;
    background-color: var(--black);
}

.footer-content {
    display: grid;
    grid-template-columns: 2fr 1fr 1fr;
    gap: 40px;
    margin-bottom: 40px;
}

.footer-info .logo {
    font-size: 2rem;
    margin-bottom: 20px;
    color: var(--white);
}

.footer-info p {
    max-width: 300px;
    margin-bottom: 30px;
    color: var(--light-gray);
}

.social-links {
    display: flex;
    gap: 15px;
}

.social-links a {
    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
    justify-content: center;
    width: 40px;
    height: 40px;
    background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1);
    border-radius: 50%;
    color: var(--white);
    font-size: 1.2rem;
    transition: all 0.3s ease;
}

.social-links a:hover {
    background-color: var(--gold);
    color: var(--dark-blue);
    transform: translateY(-3px);
}

.footer-links h3, .footer-contact h3 {
    margin-bottom: 20px;
    font-size: 1.3rem;
    text-transform: uppercase;
    letter-spacing: 1px;
    color: var(--white);
}

.footer-links ul {
    list-style: none;
}

.footer-links li {
    margin-bottom: 10px;
}

.footer-links a {
    color: var(--light-gray);
    text-decoration: none;
    transition: color 0.3s;
    font-size: 0.95rem;
}

.footer-links a:hover {
    color: var(--gold);
}

.footer-contact p {
    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
    margin-bottom: 15px;
    font-size: 0.95rem;
    color: var(--light-gray);
}

.footer-contact i {
    margin-right: 10px;
    color: var(--gold);
    width: 20px;
}

.copyright {
    text-align: center;
    padding-top: 30px;
    border-top: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1);
    color: var(--gray);
    font-size: 0.9rem;
}

/* Responsive Styles */
@media (max-width: 1200px) {
    .btn-nav {
        display: flex;
        align-items: center;
        justify-content: center;
        width: auto;
        min-width: 50px;
        height: 50px;
        padding: 12px 20px;
        border: none;
        background: var(--gold);
        border-radius: 8px;
        cursor: pointer;
        white-space: nowrap;
    }
    
    .logo a {
        color: var(--white);
        text-decoration: none;
    }
    
    .blog-layout {
        flex-direction: column;
    }
    
    .left-column, .center-column {
        width: 100%;
        position: static;
    }
    
    .left-column {
        margin-bottom: 30px;
    }
    
    .author-card {
        min-height: auto; 
    }
}

@media (max-width: 768px) {
    .nav-links {
        display: none;
        flex-direction: column;
        position: absolute;
        top: 70px;
        left: 0;
        width: 100%;
        background-color: var(--dark-blue);
        padding: 20px;
        box-shadow: 0 5px 10px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
    }
    
    .nav-links.active {
        display: flex;
    }
    
    .nav-links li {
        margin: 12px 0;
        width: 100%;
        text-align: center;
    }
    
    .btn-nav {
        display: inline-block;
        padding: 12px 24px;
        width: auto;
        margin: 10px auto;
    }
    
    .hamburger {
        display: flex;
    }
    
    .hamburger.active span:nth-child(1) {
        transform: rotate(45deg) translate(5px, 5px);
    }
    
    .hamburger.active span:nth-child(2) {
        opacity: 0;
    }
    
    .hamburger.active span:nth-child(3) {
        transform: rotate(-45deg) translate(7px, -6px);
    }
    
    .logo a {
        color: var(--white);
        text-decoration: none;
    }

    .page-hero h1 {
        font-size: 2.5rem;
    }
    
    .blog-article-container {
        padding: 25px;
    }
    
    .blog-article h1 {
        font-size: 2rem;
    }
    
    .related-posts-grid {
        grid-template-columns: 1fr;
    }
    
    .footer-content {
        grid-template-columns: 1fr;
        gap: 30px;
    }
}

@media (max-width: 576px) {
    .blog-meta-full {
        flex-direction: column;
    }
    
    .blog-meta-full span {
        margin-bottom: 5px;
    }
    
    .pagination {
        flex-wrap: wrap;
    }
    
    .blog-grid {
        grid-template-columns: 1fr;
    }
    
    .related-posts-pagination .pagination-list {
        flex-wrap: wrap;
        justify-content: center;
    }
    
    .logo a {
        color: var(--white);
        text-decoration: none;
    }

}