diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9ade42a..0c25cd3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
-# Grateful Journal
+# 🌿 Grateful Journal
 
-A minimal, private-first gratitude journaling app. Write what you're grateful for. Nothing more, nothing less.
+> *A minimal, private-first gratitude journaling app. Write what you're grateful for. Nothing more, nothing less.*
 
 ---
 
-## What is this?
+## ✨ What is this?
 
 Grateful Journal is a personal journaling app built around one simple habit — writing down what you're grateful for each day. No social feeds, no algorithms, no sharing. Just you and your thoughts.
 
@@ -12,47 +12,49 @@ The app is designed to get out of your way. Open it, write a sentence or a page,
 
 ---
 
-## Privacy by Design
+## 🔐 Privacy by Design
 
 Every journal entry is **end-to-end encrypted** before it ever leaves your device. The server stores only ciphertext — it has no ability to read your entries, even if compromised.
 
 **How it works:**
 
-- You sign in with Google. Your Firebase UID is used to derive a 256-bit master key via Argon2i key derivation.
-- Your entries are encrypted client-side using XSalsa20-Poly1305 (libsodium) before being sent to the backend.
-- The backend stores only the encrypted blob (ciphertext + nonce). No title, no content, no plaintext.
-- Decryption happens entirely in your browser using the in-memory master key.
-- Logging out clears the key from memory. Your device key persists so the next login is seamless.
-- The same Google account works across devices — the master key is deterministically derived from your credentials, so your entries are always accessible.
+- 🔑 You sign in with Google. Your Firebase UID is used to derive a 256-bit master key via Argon2i key derivation.
+- 🛡️ Your entries are encrypted client-side using XSalsa20-Poly1305 (libsodium) before being sent to the backend.
+- 📦 The backend stores only the encrypted blob (ciphertext + nonce). No title, no content, no plaintext.
+- 🧠 Decryption happens entirely in your browser using the in-memory master key.
+- 🔒 Logging out clears the key from memory. Your device key persists so the next login is seamless.
+- 🌐 The same Google account works across devices — the master key is deterministically derived from your credentials, so your entries are always accessible.
 
-**What the server can never see:** your entry titles, your entry content, anything you write.
+> **What the server can never see:** your entry titles, your entry content, anything you write.
 
 ---
 
-## Features
+## 🚀 Features
 
-- **Write** — A clean, distraction-free writing area. Give your entry a title and write your thoughts.
-- **History** — A calendar view of all your past entries. Green dots mark the days you wrote. Tap a date to read what you wrote.
-- **Settings** — Change your display name, profile photo, and app theme (light/dark).
-- **Onboarding tour** — A guided walkthrough on first login to show you around.
-- **Encrypted storage** — Every entry encrypted end-to-end with industry-standard cryptography.
+| Feature | Description |
+|---------|-------------|
+| ✍️ **Write** | A clean, distraction-free writing area. Give your entry a title and write your thoughts. |
+| 📅 **History** | A calendar view of all your past entries. Green dots mark the days you wrote. |
+| ⚙️ **Settings** | Change your display name, profile photo, and app theme (light / dark). |
+| 🧭 **Onboarding Tour** | A guided walkthrough on first login to show you around. |
+| 🔐 **Encrypted Storage** | Every entry encrypted end-to-end with industry-standard cryptography. |
 
 ---
 
-## Tech
+## 🛠️ Tech Stack
 
-| Layer | What |
-|-------|------|
-| Frontend | React 19 + TypeScript, Vite |
-| Auth | Firebase (Google Sign-In) |
-| Encryption | libsodium — XSalsa20-Poly1305, Argon2i |
-| Backend | FastAPI (Python) |
-| Database | MongoDB |
-| Deployment | Docker (3 containers — nginx, FastAPI, MongoDB) |
+| Layer | Technology |
+|-------|-----------|
+| 🖥️ Frontend | React 19 + TypeScript, Vite |
+| 🔑 Auth | Firebase (Google Sign-In) |
+| 🔐 Encryption | libsodium — XSalsa20-Poly1305, Argon2i |
+| ⚙️ Backend | FastAPI (Python) |
+| 🗄️ Database | MongoDB |
+| 🐳 Deployment | Docker — nginx, FastAPI, MongoDB |
 
 ---
 
-## Philosophy
+## 💭 Philosophy
 
 Most journaling apps are over-engineered. Prompts, streaks, mood tracking, sharing — all noise. This app exists for one thing: a private place to write what you're grateful for.