#hero_section {
    position: relative;           /* Needed for the overlay positioning */
    height: 450px;
    background-image: url("/images/desktop_with_laptop_and_craft_utensils.jpg");
    background-size: cover;       /* Makes the image cover the section */
    background-position: top center;  /* Center the image */
    background-repeat: no-repeat;
    padding: 100px 20px;          /* Adjust spacing as needed */
    color: #fff;                  /* Text color */
    text-align: center;   
    margin-bottom: 4rem;        /* Center text horizontally */
  }
  
  /* The white overlay */
  #hero_section::before {
    content: "";
    position: absolute;
    top: 0;
    left: 0;
    width: 100%;
    height: 100%;
    background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3); /* Black with 60% opacity */
    z-index: 1;
  }
  
  /* Make the text and links appear on top of the overlay */
  #hero_section * {
    position: relative;
    top: 32%;
    z-index: 2;
  }

  #hero_section h1 {
    font-size: 2.2rem;
    font-weight: 800;
  }

  #hero_section p {
    font-size: 1.2rem;
    font-weight: 700;
  }
  
  /* Optional: style links */
  #hero_section a {
    display: inline-block;
    margin: 10px;
    padding: 10px 20px;
    background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);  /* Optional: subtle background */
    border-radius: 5px;
    text-decoration: none;
    color: #333;
    border-radius: var(--radius);
    transition: 0.3s ease;
    font-weight: bold;
    box-shadow: 3px 3px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.2);
  }

  #featured_posts {
    width: 100%;
    margin-bottom: 6.5rem;
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    justify-content: center;
  }

  #featured_posts h2 {
    margin: 50px auto;
    font-size: 2rem;
  }

  #featured_posts #blog_link {
    margin: 0 auto;
    text-decoration: none;
    padding: 10px 20px;
    background-color: var(--color-text);
    border-radius: var(--radius);
    color: #fff;
    box-shadow: 5px 5px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.2);
  }

  .card {
    position: relative;
    display: flex;
    align-items: flex-end;
    width: 90%;
    max-width: 300px; 
    aspect-ratio: 2 / 3;
    background-size: cover;
    background-position: center;
    border-radius: 1rem;
    overflow: hidden;
    box-shadow: 0 8px 20px rgba(0,0,0,0.15);
    margin: 0 auto 2rem auto;
  }
  
  .overlay {
    background: linear-gradient(to top, rgba(0,0,0,0.6), rgba(0,0,0,0));
    color: white;
    padding: 1rem;
    width: 100%;
  }
  
  .date {
    font-size: 0.9rem;
    opacity: 0.85;
    margin-bottom: 0.25rem;
  }

  .card {
    position: relative;
    display: flex;
    align-items: flex-end;
    width: 90%;
    max-width: 300px; 
    aspect-ratio: 2 / 3;
    background-size: cover;
    background-position: center;
    border-radius: 1rem;
    overflow: hidden;
    box-shadow: 0 8px 20px rgba(0,0,0,0.15);
    margin: 0 auto 2rem auto;
  }
  
  .overlay {
    position: absolute;
    inset: 0;
    background: linear-gradient(to top, rgba(0,0,0,0.6), rgba(0,0,0,0));
    color: white;
    padding: 1rem;
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    justify-content: flex-end;
  }

  .overlay .button {
    width: 40%;
    border-radius: 30px;
  }

  .post-slider {
    width: 100%;
    padding: 2rem 0;
    margin-bottom: 2rem;
  }
  
  .post-slider :global(.swiper-wrapper) {
    display: flex; /* make sure wrapper uses flex */
  }
  
  .post-slider :global(.swiper-slide) {
    flex: 0 0 33.333%; /* 3 slides per view */
    display: flex;
    justify-content: center;
    align-items: center;
  }  
  
  .button {
    display: inline-block;
    padding: 0.5rem 1rem;
    border-radius: 999px;
    background: white;
    color: black;
    font-weight: bold;
    text-decoration: none;
    transition: background 0.2s;
  }
  
  .button:hover {
    background: #f4f4f4;
  }  

  #newsletter {
    width: 100%;
    height: 250px;
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    justify-content: center;
    align-items: center;
    background-color: rgb(245, 190, 180);
    border-radius: 30px;
    box-shadow: 5px 5px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.2);
    font-family: 'Playfair Display', serif;
    line-height: 1;
    margin-bottom: 4.5rem;
  }

  #newsletter form {
    width: 100%;
    height: 100%;
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: row;
    justify-content: center;
    align-items: center;
    gap: 5%;
  }

  #newsletter input#user_email {
    width: 60%;
    border: none;
    box-shadow: 3px 3px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.2);
  }

  #newsletter input#newsletter_submit {
    width: 15%;
    background-color: #fff;
    border: none;
    box-shadow: 3px 3px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.2);
    cursor: pointer;
  }

  #newsletter p#newsletter_heading {
    font-size: 1.8rem;
    margin-bottom: 5px;
    padding: 0;
  }

  #newsletter p#newsletter_subheading {
    font-size: 1rem;
    margin-bottom: 10px;
    padding: 0;
  }