diff --git a/app/assets/stylesheets/application.tailwind.css b/app/assets/stylesheets/application.tailwind.css
index 14402e9..3b23f11 100644
--- a/app/assets/stylesheets/application.tailwind.css
+++ b/app/assets/stylesheets/application.tailwind.css
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
     }
     
     .link {
-        @apply underline text-white;
+        @apply underline;
     }
     
     .link:hover {
@@ -33,15 +33,15 @@
     }
 
     .link--dark {
-        @apply underline text-secondary-900;
+        @apply underline text-black;
     }
     
     .link--dark:hover {
-        @apply underline text-secondary-700;
+        @apply underline text-black bg-secondary-200;
     }
 
     .link--light {
-        @apply underline text-white bg-primary-400 px-1; 
+        @apply underline text-black bg-primary-400 px-1; 
     }
 
     .link--light:hover {
diff --git a/app/assets/stylesheets/cursors.css.erb b/app/assets/stylesheets/cursors.css.erb
index aca14a4..6722db0 100644
--- a/app/assets/stylesheets/cursors.css.erb
+++ b/app/assets/stylesheets/cursors.css.erb
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 body {
-    cursor: url(<%= Dir[ './public/cursors/halloween/**/*' ].sample.split('/').last(3).join('/') %>), auto;
+    cursor: url(<%= Dir[ './public/cursors/summer/**/*' ].sample.split('/').last(3).join('/') %>), auto;
 }
 a, button {
-    cursor: url(<%= Dir[ './public/cursors/halloween/**/*' ].sample.split('/').last(3).join('/') %>), pointer;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+    cursor: url(<%= Dir[ './public/cursors/summer/**/*' ].sample.split('/').last(3).join('/') %>), pointer;
+}
diff --git a/app/models/site_theme.rb b/app/models/site_theme.rb
index 8f85b36..b291181 100644
--- a/app/models/site_theme.rb
+++ b/app/models/site_theme.rb
@@ -1,10 +1,26 @@
 class SiteTheme
     def self.pick_color(number)
         color_wheel = %w[
-            bg-amber-500
-            bg-amber-400
+            bg-amber-100
+            bg-amber-200
             bg-amber-300
             bg-amber-200
+            bg-amber-100
+            bg-rose-100
+            bg-rose-200
+            bg-rose-300
+            bg-rose-200
+            bg-rose-100
+            bg-cyan-100
+            bg-cyan-200
+            bg-cyan-300
+            bg-cyan-200
+            bg-cyan-100
+            bg-rose-100
+            bg-rose-200
+            bg-rose-300
+            bg-rose-200
+            bg-rose-100
         ]
 
         index = number % color_wheel.length
diff --git a/app/views/devise/confirmations/new.html.erb b/app/views/devise/confirmations/new.html.erb
index d62011a..3c88288 100644
--- a/app/views/devise/confirmations/new.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/devise/confirmations/new.html.erb
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <% title("Confirm account") %>
 
-<h1 class="text-lg mb-1 px-1 inline-block bg-secondary-700 text-white">resend confirmation instructions</h1>
+<h1 class="text-lg mb-1 px-1 inline-block bg-secondary-300">resend confirmation instructions</h1>
 
 <%= form_for(resource, as: resource_name, url: confirmation_path(resource_name), html: { method: :post }) do |f| %>
   <%= render "devise/shared/error_messages", resource: resource %>
diff --git a/app/views/devise/passwords/edit.html.erb b/app/views/devise/passwords/edit.html.erb
index a4d4ff4..37164ec 100644
--- a/app/views/devise/passwords/edit.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/devise/passwords/edit.html.erb
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <% title("Change password") %>
 
-<h1 class="text-lg mb-1 px-1 inline-block bg-secondary-700 text-white">change your password</h1>
+<h1 class="text-lg mb-1 px-1 inline-block bg-secondary-300">change your password</h1>
 
 <%= form_for(resource, as: resource_name, url: password_path(resource_name), html: { method: :put }, class: "py-3") do |f| %>
   <%= render "devise/shared/error_messages", resource: resource %>
diff --git a/app/views/devise/passwords/new.html.erb b/app/views/devise/passwords/new.html.erb
index 0863f45..1a5fc3b 100644
--- a/app/views/devise/passwords/new.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/devise/passwords/new.html.erb
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <% title("Forgot password") %>
 
-<h1 class="text-lg mb-1 px-1 inline-block bg-secondary-700 text-white">forgot your password?</h1>
+<h1 class="text-lg mb-1 px-1 inline-block bg-secondary-300">forgot your password?</h1>
 
 <%= form_for(resource, as: resource_name, url: password_path(resource_name), html: { method: :post }) do |f| %>
   <%= render "devise/shared/error_messages", resource: resource %>
diff --git a/app/views/devise/sessions/new.html.erb b/app/views/devise/sessions/new.html.erb
index fe1942c..b98584a 100644
--- a/app/views/devise/sessions/new.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/devise/sessions/new.html.erb
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <% title("Log in") %>
 
-<h1 class="text-lg mb-1 px-1 inline-block bg-secondary-700 text-white">log in</h1>
+<h1 class="text-lg mb-1 px-1 inline-block bg-secondary-300">log in</h1>
 
 <%= form_for(resource, as: resource_name, url: session_path(resource_name)) do |f| %>
   <div class="field">
diff --git a/app/views/devise/shared/_links.html.erb b/app/views/devise/shared/_links.html.erb
index fdd4e25..96afad0 100644
--- a/app/views/devise/shared/_links.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/devise/shared/_links.html.erb
@@ -1,25 +1,25 @@
 <%- if controller_name != 'sessions' %>
-  <%= link_to "log in", new_session_path(resource_name), class: "link--light" %><br />
+  <%= link_to "log in", new_session_path(resource_name), class: "link" %><br />
 <% end %>
 
 <%- if devise_mapping.registerable? && controller_name != 'registrations' %>
-  <%= link_to "sign up", new_registration_path(resource_name), class: "link--light" %><br />
+  <%= link_to "sign up", new_registration_path(resource_name), class: "link" %><br />
 <% end %>
 
 <%- if devise_mapping.recoverable? && controller_name != 'passwords' && controller_name != 'registrations' %>
-  <%= link_to "forgot your password?", new_password_path(resource_name), class: "link--light" %><br />
+  <%= link_to "forgot your password?", new_password_path(resource_name), class: "link" %><br />
 <% end %>
 
 <%- if devise_mapping.confirmable? && controller_name != 'confirmations' %>
-  <%= link_to "didn't receive confirmation instructions?", new_confirmation_path(resource_name), class: "link--light" %><br />
+  <%= link_to "didn't receive confirmation instructions?", new_confirmation_path(resource_name), class: "link" %><br />
 <% end %>
 
 <%- if devise_mapping.lockable? && resource_class.unlock_strategy_enabled?(:email) && controller_name != 'unlocks' %>
-  <%= link_to "didn't receive unlock instructions?", new_unlock_path(resource_name), class: "link--light" %><br />
+  <%= link_to "didn't receive unlock instructions?", new_unlock_path(resource_name), class: "link" %><br />
 <% end %>
 
 <%- if devise_mapping.omniauthable? %>
   <%- resource_class.omniauth_providers.each do |provider| %>
-    <%= link_to "sign in with #{OmniAuth::Utils.camelize(provider)}", omniauth_authorize_path(resource_name, provider), method: :post, class: "link--light" %><br />
+    <%= link_to "sign in with #{OmniAuth::Utils.camelize(provider)}", omniauth_authorize_path(resource_name, provider), method: :post, class: "link" %><br />
   <% end %>
 <% end %>
diff --git a/app/views/devise/unlocks/new.html.erb b/app/views/devise/unlocks/new.html.erb
index b60c8af..acc7d9c 100644
--- a/app/views/devise/unlocks/new.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/devise/unlocks/new.html.erb
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <% title("Unlock account") %>
 
-<h1 class="text-lg mb-1 px-1 inline-block bg-secondary-700 text-white">resend unlock instructions</h1>
+<h1 class="text-lg mb-1 px-1 inline-block bg-secondary-300">resend unlock instructions</h1>
 
 <%= form_for(resource, as: resource_name, url: unlock_path(resource_name), html: { method: :post }) do |f| %>
   <%= render "devise/shared/error_messages", resource: resource %>
diff --git a/app/views/layouts/application.html.erb b/app/views/layouts/application.html.erb
index 6e299e8..e2baded 100644
--- a/app/views/layouts/application.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/layouts/application.html.erb
@@ -30,11 +30,21 @@
       </div>
     </nav>
     <div class="w-full snow">
-      <p class="px-1 bg-secondary-800 text-white"><%= notice %></p>
-      <p class="px-1 bg-secondary-900 text-white"><%= alert %></p>
+      <p class="px-1 bg-secondary-200 text-black"><%= notice %></p>
+      <p class="px-1 bg-secondary-100 text-black"><%= alert %></p>
     </div>
     <div class="py-5 px-3">
       <%= yield %>
     </div>
+    <footer>
+      <div class="text-sm text-white py-1 px-3">
+      <p>Cursors by:</p>
+      <ul class="list-disc px-3">
+        <li class="link"><a target="_blank" href="https://icons8.com/icon/fRieeV3aJTWE/watermelon">Watermelon</a> icon by <a target="_blank" href="https://icons8.com">Icons8</a></li>
+        <li class="link"><a target="_blank" href="https://icons8.com/icon/80746/tomato">Tomato</a> icon by <a target="_blank" href="https://icons8.com">Icons8</a></li>
+        <li class="link"><a target="_blank" href="https://icons8.com/icon/17570/beach-ball">Beach Ball</a> icon by <a target="_blank" href="https://icons8.com">Icons8</a></li>
+      </ul>
+      </div>
+    </footer>
   </body>
 </html>
diff --git a/app/views/profile/edit.html.erb b/app/views/profile/edit.html.erb
index 5db2c04..ae7b201 100644
--- a/app/views/profile/edit.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/profile/edit.html.erb
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <% title("Edit profile") %>
 
-<h1 class="text-lg px-1 inline-block bg-secondary-700 text-white">editing <%= @profile.user.username %>'s profile</h1>
+<h1 class="text-lg px-1 inline-block bg-secondary-300">editing <%= @profile.user.username %>'s profile</h1>
 <div class="py-3">
     <%= form_with model: @profile, url: profile_path(@profile.user) do |f| %>
         <%= render 'shared/errors', errors: @profile.errors %>
diff --git a/app/views/profile/show.html.erb b/app/views/profile/show.html.erb
index 5edce73..a78c49f 100644
--- a/app/views/profile/show.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/profile/show.html.erb
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <% title("@#{@profile.user.username}'s Profile") %>
 
 <% if Rails.configuration.x.invitations.enabled && current_user.has_invites_available? %>
-    <div class="py-1 px-3 mb-3 bg-secondary-800 text-white">
+    <div class="py-1 px-3 mb-3 bg-secondary-200">
         hello, you have an invite available! care to <%= link_to 'invite someone', new_user_invitation_path, class: 'link' %>?
     </div>
 <% end %>
diff --git a/app/views/topics/_table.html.erb b/app/views/topics/_table.html.erb
index 16724ed..1a94640 100644
--- a/app/views/topics/_table.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/topics/_table.html.erb
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <table class="w-full my-3" id="topics-table">
     <thead>
-        <tr class="py-1 bg-primary-300 border-b-2 border-secondary-900 text-left">
+        <tr class="py-1 bg-primary-300 border-b-2 border-secondary-100 text-left">
             <th class="pl-3 w-1">📜<span class="sr-only">notices</span></th>
             <th class="px-3 w-10/12 md:w-7/12 break-all">title</th>
             <th class="px-3 hidden md:table-cell w-1/12">author</th>
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
             <% views_for_topic = topic_views[topic.id] %>
             <% unread_posts = unread_posts?(topic, views_for_topic) %>
             
-            <tr class="py-1 border-b-2 border-secondary-900 <%= SiteTheme.pick_color(index) %> <%= 'font-bold' if unread_posts %>">
+            <tr class="py-1 border-b-2 border-secondary-100 <%= SiteTheme.pick_color(index) %> <%= 'font-bold' if unread_posts %>">
                 <td class="pl-3 w-1">
                     <% if unread_mentions?(mentions[topic.id], views_for_topic) %>
                         👀
diff --git a/app/views/topics/index.html.erb b/app/views/topics/index.html.erb
index f3569f2..a67b937 100644
--- a/app/views/topics/index.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/topics/index.html.erb
@@ -3,16 +3,16 @@
 
 <div class="flex justify-between">
     <%= link_to root_path do %>
-        <h1 class="text-lg mb-1 px-1 inline-block bg-secondary-700 link">topics</h1>
+        <h1 class="text-lg mb-1 px-1 inline-block bg-secondary-300 link--dark">topics</h1>
     <% end %>
     <%= link_to "new topic", new_topic_path, class: "btn inline-block" %>
 </div>
 
-<details class="w-full my-3 text-white">
-    <summary class="py-1 px-1 bg-secondary-800">forum-wide pinned posts</summary>
+<details class="w-full my-3">
+    <summary class="py-1 px-1 bg-secondary-200">forum-wide pinned posts</summary>
     <table class="w-full" id="pinned">
         <thead>
-            <tr class="bg-secondary-700 border-b-2 border-secondary-900 text-left">
+            <tr class="bg-secondary-300 border-b-2 border-secondary-100 text-left">
                 <th class="px-3 w-10/12 md:w-7/12 break-all">title</th>
                 <th class="px-3 hidden md:table-cell w-1/12">author</th>
                 <th class="px-3 hidden md:table-cell w-1/12">#</th>
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
                 <% views_for_topic = @topic_views[topic.id] %>
                 <% unread_posts = unread_posts?(topic, views_for_topic) %>
                 
-                <tr class="py-1 border-b-2 border-secondary-800 bg-secondary-900 <%= 'font-bold' if unread_posts %>">
+                <tr class="py-1 border-b-2 border-secondary-200 bg-secondary-100 <%= 'font-bold' if unread_posts %>">
                     <td class="px-3 w-10/12 md:w-6/12 break-all"><%= link_to topic.title, topic_path(topic) %> <span class="sr-only"><%= '(unread)' if unread_posts %></span></td>
                     <td class="px-3 hidden md:table-cell w-1/12"><%= link_to topic.author.username, profile_path(topic.author) %></td>
                     <td class="px-3 hidden md:table-cell w-1/12"><%= topic.posts.length %></td>
@@ -50,5 +50,5 @@
 <%= render 'table', topics: @topics, topic_follows: @topic_follows, topic_views: @topic_views, mentions: @mentions %>
 
 <footer>
-    <%= render 'shared/pagination_controls', link_classes: %w[my-3 link--light] %>
+    <%= render 'shared/pagination_controls', link_classes: %w[my-3 link] %>
 </footer>
diff --git a/app/views/topics/mentions.html.erb b/app/views/topics/mentions.html.erb
index 035c520..dc49ad8 100644
--- a/app/views/topics/mentions.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/topics/mentions.html.erb
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 <% title("Mentions") %>
 
 <div class="flex justify-between">
-    <h1 class="text-lg mb-1 px-1 inline-block bg-secondary-700 text-white">topics you've been mentioned in</h1>
+    <h1 class="text-lg mb-1 px-1 inline-block bg-secondary-300">topics you've been mentioned in</h1>
     <%= link_to "new topic", new_topic_path, class: "btn inline-block" %>
 </div>
 
 <%= render 'table', topics: @topics, topic_follows: @topic_follows, topic_views: @topic_views, mentions: @mentions %>
 
-<%= link_to "back to topics", topics_path, class: "link--light mb-3" %>
+<%= link_to "back to topics", topics_path, class: "link mb-3" %>
diff --git a/app/views/topics/new.html.erb b/app/views/topics/new.html.erb
index abfc9e5..597beeb 100644
--- a/app/views/topics/new.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/topics/new.html.erb
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <% title("New topic") %>
 
-<h1 class="text-lg mb-1 px-1 inline-block bg-secondary-700 text-white">new topic</h1>
+<h1 class="text-lg mb-1 px-1 inline-block bg-secondary-300">new topic</h1>
 <%= form_with model: @topic, class: "py-2" do |f| %>
     <%= render 'shared/errors', errors: @topic.errors if @topic.errors.any? %>
 
diff --git a/app/views/topics/show.html.erb b/app/views/topics/show.html.erb
index 8802f4c..dd3f84e 100644
--- a/app/views/topics/show.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/topics/show.html.erb
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <% title(@topic.title) %>
 
 <div class="pb-2">
-    <%= link_to '▼ jump to bottom', '#last-post', class: "link--light" %>
+    <%= link_to '▼ jump to bottom', '#last-post', class: "link link--light" %>
     <div class="bg-primary-500">
         <div class="bg-primary-400 px-2 py-1 flex justify-between">
             <div>
diff --git a/app/views/topics/starred.html.erb b/app/views/topics/starred.html.erb
index 8285a8b..1a23532 100644
--- a/app/views/topics/starred.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/topics/starred.html.erb
@@ -7,4 +7,4 @@
 
 <%= render 'table', topics: @topics, topic_follows: @topic_follows, topic_views: @topic_views, mentions: @mentions %>
 
-<%= link_to "back to topics", topics_path, class: "link--light mb-3" %>
+<%= link_to "back to topics", topics_path, class: "link mb-3" %>
diff --git a/app/views/users/index.html.erb b/app/views/users/index.html.erb
index 68c3a6a..158d876 100644
--- a/app/views/users/index.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/users/index.html.erb
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 <% title("Directory") %>
 
 <div class="flex justify-between">
-    <h1 class="text-lg mb-1 px-1 inline-block bg-secondary-700 text-white">the poster list</h1>
+    <h1 class="text-lg mb-1 px-1 inline-block bg-secondary-300">the poster list</h1>
 </div>
 
 <table class="w-full my-3">
     <thead>
-        <tr class="py-1 bg-primary-300 border-b-2 border-secondary-900 text-left">
+        <tr class="py-1 bg-primary-300 border-b-2 border-secondary-100 text-left">
             <th class="pl-3 w-6/12">username</th>
             <th class="px-3 hidden md:table-cell md:w-4/12">invited by</th>
             <th class="px-3 w-6/12 md:w-4/12">joined</th>
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
     </thead>
     <tbody>
         <% @users.each_with_index do |user, index| %>
-            <tr class="py-1 border-b-2 border-secondary-900 <%= SiteTheme.pick_color(index) %>">
+            <tr class="py-1 border-b-2 border-secondary-100 <%= SiteTheme.pick_color(index) %>">
                 <td class="px-3 pl-3 w-6/12"><%= link_to user.username, profile_path(user) %></td>
                 <% if user.invited_by.present? %>
                     <td class="px-3 hidden md:table-cell md:w-4/12">
diff --git a/app/views/users/invitations/edit.html.erb b/app/views/users/invitations/edit.html.erb
index 158621d..c5a13d9 100644
--- a/app/views/users/invitations/edit.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/users/invitations/edit.html.erb
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <% title("Accept invite") %>
 
-<h1 class="text-lg mb-1 px-1 inline-block bg-secondary-700 text-white">accept invite</h1>
+<h1 class="text-lg mb-1 px-1 inline-block bg-secondary-300">accept invite</h1>
 
 <%= form_for(resource, as: resource_name, url: invitation_path(resource_name), html: { method: :put }) do |f| %>
   <%= render "devise/shared/error_messages", resource: resource %>
diff --git a/app/views/users/invitations/new.html.erb b/app/views/users/invitations/new.html.erb
index 604b00c..520cab5 100644
--- a/app/views/users/invitations/new.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/users/invitations/new.html.erb
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <% title("Invite") %>
 
-<h1 class="text-lg mb-1 px-1 inline-block bg-secondary-700 text-white">invite new person</h1>
+<h1 class="text-lg mb-1 px-1 inline-block bg-secondary-300">invite new person</h1>
 
 <%= form_for(resource, as: resource_name, url: invitation_path(resource_name), html: { method: :post }) do |f| %>
   <%= render "devise/shared/error_messages", resource: resource %>
diff --git a/config/tailwind.config.js b/config/tailwind.config.js
index 3b0e8e3..f3e1013 100644
--- a/config/tailwind.config.js
+++ b/config/tailwind.config.js
@@ -11,12 +11,8 @@ module.exports = {
   theme: {
     extend: {
       colors: {
-        stone: colors.stone,
-        yellow: colors.yellow,
-        amber: colors.amber,
-        orange: colors.orange,
-        primary: colors.amber,
-        secondary: colors.stone,
+        primary: colors.sky,
+        secondary: colors.yellow,
       },
     },
   },
diff --git a/public/cursors/summer/.keep b/public/cursors/summer/.keep
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/public/cursors/summer/flower_cursor.png b/public/cursors/summer/flower_cursor.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5ad4352
Binary files /dev/null and b/public/cursors/summer/flower_cursor.png differ
diff --git a/public/cursors/summer/icons8-beach-ball-48.png b/public/cursors/summer/icons8-beach-ball-48.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..08d4daf
Binary files /dev/null and b/public/cursors/summer/icons8-beach-ball-48.png differ
diff --git a/public/cursors/summer/icons8-tomato-48.png b/public/cursors/summer/icons8-tomato-48.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8c76885
Binary files /dev/null and b/public/cursors/summer/icons8-tomato-48.png differ
diff --git a/public/cursors/summer/watermelon.png b/public/cursors/summer/watermelon.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..521bde1
Binary files /dev/null and b/public/cursors/summer/watermelon.png differ