diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 406f39d..a95caea 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -27,20 +27,14 @@ npm install
 node index.js
 ```
 
-Configure these in your `.env` file (**required**: `MONGO_URI`, `JWT_SECRET`):
-
-**DOG_NAMES=**`woof, WOOF, Woof` &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(for "verification")<br>
-**GITHUB_OWNER=**`quoije` &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(for version history)<br> 
-**GITHUB_REPO=**`oscars-pool` &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(for version history)<br>
-**JWT_SECRET=**`RANDOM STRING` &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(for authentication token)<br>
-**MONGO_URI=**`mongodb+srv://USER:PASS@cluster0.XXXX.mongodb.net/?retryWrites=true&w=majority&appName=Cluster69`<br>
-**OMDB_API=**`1234567` &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(for movie info)
-
-Example `.env`:
+Add this to your `.env` (**required**: `MONGO_URI`, `JWT_SECRET`):
 
 ```bash
+# required
 MONGO_URI=mongodb://127.0.0.1:27017/oscars-pool
 JWT_SECRET=change-me
+
+# optional
 DOG_NAMES=woof,WOOF,Woof
 OMDB_API=your_omdb_key
 GITHUB_OWNER=quoije