diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a185cab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# ** DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE! **
+# This is an example of a .env file, where you can store environment variables
+# This example is shown because the .gitignore file is ignoring .env file from git tracking, to keep our secrets safe and off of GitHub :) 
+
+# This is the connection URI for your MongoDB. It should look something like mongodb://mongo:<SECRET>@<SERVER>:<PORT>
+DB_CONNECT_URI=<YOUR MONGODB CONNECTION URI>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index b512c09..1dcef2d 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1 +1,2 @@
-node_modules
\ No newline at end of file
+node_modules
+.env
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index fac67db..9319696 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
       "dependencies": {
         "fastify": "^3.27.0",
         "fastify-openapi-glue": "^2.6.5",
+        "mongoose": "^6.1.8",
         "nanoid": "^3.2.0"
       },
       "devDependencies": {
@@ -93,6 +94,25 @@
         "node": ">=6"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/@types/node": {
+      "version": "17.0.5",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@types/node/-/node-17.0.5.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-w3mrvNXLeDYV1GKTZorGJQivK6XLCoGwpnyJFbJVK/aTBQUxOCaa/GlFAAN3OTDFcb7h5tiFG+YXCO2By+riZw=="
+    },
+    "node_modules/@types/webidl-conversions": {
+      "version": "6.1.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@types/webidl-conversions/-/webidl-conversions-6.1.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-XAahCdThVuCFDQLT7R7Pk/vqeObFNL3YqRyFZg+AqAP/W1/w3xHaIxuW7WszQqTbIBOPRcItYJIou3i/mppu3Q=="
+    },
+    "node_modules/@types/whatwg-url": {
+      "version": "8.2.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@types/whatwg-url/-/whatwg-url-8.2.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-2YubE1sjj5ifxievI5Ge1sckb9k/Er66HyR2c+3+I6VDUUg1TLPdYYTEbQ+DjRkS4nTxMJhgWfSfMRD2sl2EYQ==",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "@types/node": "*",
+        "@types/webidl-conversions": "*"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/abbrev": {
       "version": "1.1.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/abbrev/-/abbrev-1.1.1.tgz",
@@ -236,6 +256,25 @@
       "integrity": "sha512-3oSeUO0TMV67hN1AmbXsK4yaqU7tjiHlbxRDZOpH0KW9+CeX4bRAaX0Anxt0tx2MrpRpWwQaPwIlISEJhYU5Pw==",
       "dev": true
     },
+    "node_modules/base64-js": {
+      "version": "1.5.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/base64-js/-/base64-js-1.5.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-AKpaYlHn8t4SVbOHCy+b5+KKgvR4vrsD8vbvrbiQJps7fKDTkjkDry6ji0rUJjC0kzbNePLwzxq8iypo41qeWA==",
+      "funding": [
+        {
+          "type": "github",
+          "url": "https://github.com/sponsors/feross"
+        },
+        {
+          "type": "patreon",
+          "url": "https://www.patreon.com/feross"
+        },
+        {
+          "type": "consulting",
+          "url": "https://feross.org/support"
+        }
+      ]
+    },
     "node_modules/binary-extensions": {
       "version": "2.2.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/binary-extensions/-/binary-extensions-2.2.0.tgz",
@@ -289,6 +328,40 @@
         "node": ">=8"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/bson": {
+      "version": "4.6.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/bson/-/bson-4.6.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-I1LQ7Hz5zgwR4QquilLNZwbhPw0Apx7i7X9kGMBTsqPdml/03Q9NBtD9nt/19ahjlphktQImrnderxqpzeVDjw==",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "buffer": "^5.6.0"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=6.9.0"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/buffer": {
+      "version": "5.7.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/buffer/-/buffer-5.7.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-EHcyIPBQ4BSGlvjB16k5KgAJ27CIsHY/2JBmCRReo48y9rQ3MaUzWX3KVlBa4U7MyX02HdVj0K7C3WaB3ju7FQ==",
+      "funding": [
+        {
+          "type": "github",
+          "url": "https://github.com/sponsors/feross"
+        },
+        {
+          "type": "patreon",
+          "url": "https://www.patreon.com/feross"
+        },
+        {
+          "type": "consulting",
+          "url": "https://feross.org/support"
+        }
+      ],
+      "dependencies": {
+        "base64-js": "^1.3.1",
+        "ieee754": "^1.1.13"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/cacheable-request": {
       "version": "6.1.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/cacheable-request/-/cacheable-request-6.1.0.tgz",
@@ -543,6 +616,14 @@
       "integrity": "sha512-0ISdNousHvZT2EiFlZeZAHBUvSxmKswVCEf8hW7KWgG4a8MVEu/3Vb6uWYozkjylyCxe0JBIiRB1jV45S70WVQ==",
       "dev": true
     },
+    "node_modules/denque": {
+      "version": "2.0.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/denque/-/denque-2.0.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-tfiWc6BQLXNLpNiR5iGd0Ocu3P3VpxfzFiqubLgMfhfOw9WyvgJBd46CClNn9k3qfbjvT//0cf7AlYRX/OslMQ==",
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=0.10"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/dot-prop": {
       "version": "5.3.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/dot-prop/-/dot-prop-5.3.0.tgz",
@@ -852,6 +933,25 @@
       "integrity": "sha512-carPklcUh7ROWRK7Cv27RPtdhYhUsela/ue5/jKzjegVvXDqM2ILE9Q2BGn9JZJh1g87cp56su/FgQSzcWS8cQ==",
       "dev": true
     },
+    "node_modules/ieee754": {
+      "version": "1.2.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/ieee754/-/ieee754-1.2.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-dcyqhDvX1C46lXZcVqCpK+FtMRQVdIMN6/Df5js2zouUsqG7I6sFxitIC+7KYK29KdXOLHdu9zL4sFnoVQnqaA==",
+      "funding": [
+        {
+          "type": "github",
+          "url": "https://github.com/sponsors/feross"
+        },
+        {
+          "type": "patreon",
+          "url": "https://www.patreon.com/feross"
+        },
+        {
+          "type": "consulting",
+          "url": "https://feross.org/support"
+        }
+      ]
+    },
     "node_modules/ignore-by-default": {
       "version": "1.0.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/ignore-by-default/-/ignore-by-default-1.0.1.tgz",
@@ -1036,6 +1136,11 @@
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/json-schema-traverse/-/json-schema-traverse-0.4.1.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha512-xbbCH5dCYU5T8LcEhhuh7HJ88HXuW3qsI3Y0zOZFKfZEHcpWiHU/Jxzk629Brsab/mMiHQti9wMP+845RPe3Vg=="
     },
+    "node_modules/kareem": {
+      "version": "2.3.3",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/kareem/-/kareem-2.3.3.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-uESCXM2KdtOQ8LOvKyTUXEeg0MkYp4wGglTIpGcYHvjJcS5sn2Wkfrfit8m4xSbaNDAw2KdI9elgkOxZbrFYbg=="
+    },
     "node_modules/keyv": {
       "version": "3.1.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/keyv/-/keyv-3.1.0.tgz",
@@ -1132,6 +1237,12 @@
         "semver": "bin/semver.js"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/memory-pager": {
+      "version": "1.5.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/memory-pager/-/memory-pager-1.5.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-ZS4Bp4r/Zoeq6+NLJpP+0Zzm0pR8whtGPf1XExKLJBAczGMnSi3It14OiNCStjQjM6NU1okjQGSxgEZN8eBYKg==",
+      "optional": true
+    },
     "node_modules/mimic-response": {
       "version": "1.0.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/mimic-response/-/mimic-response-1.0.1.tgz",
@@ -1158,6 +1269,73 @@
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/minimist/-/minimist-1.2.5.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha512-FM9nNUYrRBAELZQT3xeZQ7fmMOBg6nWNmJKTcgsJeaLstP/UODVpGsr5OhXhhXg6f+qtJ8uiZ+PUxkDWcgIXLw=="
     },
+    "node_modules/mongodb": {
+      "version": "4.2.2",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/mongodb/-/mongodb-4.2.2.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-zt8rCTnTKyMQppyt63qMnrLM5dbADgUk18ORPF1XbtHLIYCyc9hattaYHi0pqMvNxDpgGgUofSVzS+UQErgTug==",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "bson": "^4.6.0",
+        "denque": "^2.0.1",
+        "mongodb-connection-string-url": "^2.3.2"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=12.9.0"
+      },
+      "optionalDependencies": {
+        "saslprep": "^1.0.3"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/mongodb-connection-string-url": {
+      "version": "2.4.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/mongodb-connection-string-url/-/mongodb-connection-string-url-2.4.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-d5Kd2bVsKcSA7YI/yo57fSTtMwRQdFkvc5IZwod1RRxJtECeWPPSo7zqcUGJELifRA//Igs4spVtYAmvFCatug==",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "@types/whatwg-url": "^8.2.1",
+        "whatwg-url": "^11.0.0"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/mongoose": {
+      "version": "6.1.8",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/mongoose/-/mongoose-6.1.8.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-/voqwU2dtet3zAR73r8jdPhqluU1VzIAnk7ecXPJBgyXKREnwQrz40lfW7fLpaqhmMhsAbA+JQ7ICUn2vAVFLw==",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "@types/node": "< 17.0.6",
+        "bson": "^4.2.2",
+        "kareem": "2.3.3",
+        "mongodb": "4.2.2",
+        "mpath": "0.8.4",
+        "mquery": "4.0.2",
+        "ms": "2.1.2",
+        "regexp-clone": "1.0.0",
+        "sift": "13.5.2"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=12.0.0"
+      },
+      "funding": {
+        "type": "opencollective",
+        "url": "https://opencollective.com/mongoose"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/mpath": {
+      "version": "0.8.4",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/mpath/-/mpath-0.8.4.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-DTxNZomBcTWlrMW76jy1wvV37X/cNNxPW1y2Jzd4DZkAaC5ZGsm8bfGfNOthcDuRJujXLqiuS6o3Tpy0JEoh7g==",
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=4.0.0"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/mquery": {
+      "version": "4.0.2",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/mquery/-/mquery-4.0.2.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-oAVF0Nil1mT3rxty6Zln4YiD6x6QsUWYz927jZzjMxOK2aqmhEz5JQ7xmrKK7xRFA2dwV+YaOpKU/S+vfNqKxA==",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "debug": "4.x"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=12.0.0"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/ms": {
       "version": "2.1.2",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/ms/-/ms-2.1.2.tgz",
@@ -1449,6 +1627,11 @@
         "node": ">=8.10.0"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/regexp-clone": {
+      "version": "1.0.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/regexp-clone/-/regexp-clone-1.0.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-TuAasHQNamyyJ2hb97IuBEif4qBHGjPHBS64sZwytpLEqtBQ1gPJTnOaQ6qmpET16cK14kkjbazl6+p0RRv0yw=="
+    },
     "node_modules/registry-auth-token": {
       "version": "4.2.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/registry-auth-token/-/registry-auth-token-4.2.1.tgz",
@@ -1520,6 +1703,18 @@
         "ret": "~0.2.0"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/saslprep": {
+      "version": "1.0.3",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/saslprep/-/saslprep-1.0.3.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-/MY/PEMbk2SuY5sScONwhUDsV2p77Znkb/q3nSVstq/yQzYJOH/Azh29p9oJLsl3LnQwSvZDKagDGBsBwSooag==",
+      "optional": true,
+      "dependencies": {
+        "sparse-bitfield": "^3.0.3"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=6"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/secure-json-parse": {
       "version": "2.4.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/secure-json-parse/-/secure-json-parse-2.4.0.tgz",
@@ -1570,6 +1765,11 @@
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/set-cookie-parser/-/set-cookie-parser-2.4.8.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha512-edRH8mBKEWNVIVMKejNnuJxleqYE/ZSdcT8/Nem9/mmosx12pctd80s2Oy00KNZzrogMZS5mauK2/ymL1bvlvg=="
     },
+    "node_modules/sift": {
+      "version": "13.5.2",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/sift/-/sift-13.5.2.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-+gxdEOMA2J+AI+fVsCqeNn7Tgx3M9ZN9jdi95939l1IJ8cZsqS8sqpJyOkic2SJk+1+98Uwryt/gL6XDaV+UZA=="
+    },
     "node_modules/signal-exit": {
       "version": "3.0.6",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/signal-exit/-/signal-exit-3.0.6.tgz",
@@ -1585,6 +1785,15 @@
         "flatstr": "^1.0.12"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/sparse-bitfield": {
+      "version": "3.0.3",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/sparse-bitfield/-/sparse-bitfield-3.0.3.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha1-/0rm5oZWBWuks+eSqzM004JzyhE=",
+      "optional": true,
+      "dependencies": {
+        "memory-pager": "^1.0.2"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/string-similarity": {
       "version": "4.0.4",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/string-similarity/-/string-similarity-4.0.4.tgz",
@@ -1678,6 +1887,17 @@
         "nodetouch": "bin/nodetouch.js"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/tr46": {
+      "version": "3.0.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/tr46/-/tr46-3.0.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-l7FvfAHlcmulp8kr+flpQZmVwtu7nfRV7NZujtN0OqES8EL4O4e0qqzL0DC5gAvx/ZC/9lk6rhcUwYvkBnBnYA==",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "punycode": "^2.1.1"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=12"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/type-fest": {
       "version": "0.20.2",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/type-fest/-/type-fest-0.20.2.tgz",
@@ -1765,6 +1985,26 @@
         "node": ">=4"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/webidl-conversions": {
+      "version": "7.0.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/webidl-conversions/-/webidl-conversions-7.0.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-VwddBukDzu71offAQR975unBIGqfKZpM+8ZX6ySk8nYhVoo5CYaZyzt3YBvYtRtO+aoGlqxPg/B87NGVZ/fu6g==",
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=12"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/whatwg-url": {
+      "version": "11.0.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/whatwg-url/-/whatwg-url-11.0.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-RKT8HExMpoYx4igMiVMY83lN6UeITKJlBQ+vR/8ZJ8OCdSiN3RwCq+9gH0+Xzj0+5IrM6i4j/6LuvzbZIQgEcQ==",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "tr46": "^3.0.0",
+        "webidl-conversions": "^7.0.0"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=12"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/widest-line": {
       "version": "3.1.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/widest-line/-/widest-line-3.1.0.tgz",
@@ -1886,6 +2126,25 @@
         "defer-to-connect": "^1.0.1"
       }
     },
+    "@types/node": {
+      "version": "17.0.5",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@types/node/-/node-17.0.5.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-w3mrvNXLeDYV1GKTZorGJQivK6XLCoGwpnyJFbJVK/aTBQUxOCaa/GlFAAN3OTDFcb7h5tiFG+YXCO2By+riZw=="
+    },
+    "@types/webidl-conversions": {
+      "version": "6.1.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@types/webidl-conversions/-/webidl-conversions-6.1.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-XAahCdThVuCFDQLT7R7Pk/vqeObFNL3YqRyFZg+AqAP/W1/w3xHaIxuW7WszQqTbIBOPRcItYJIou3i/mppu3Q=="
+    },
+    "@types/whatwg-url": {
+      "version": "8.2.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@types/whatwg-url/-/whatwg-url-8.2.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-2YubE1sjj5ifxievI5Ge1sckb9k/Er66HyR2c+3+I6VDUUg1TLPdYYTEbQ+DjRkS4nTxMJhgWfSfMRD2sl2EYQ==",
+      "requires": {
+        "@types/node": "*",
+        "@types/webidl-conversions": "*"
+      }
+    },
     "abbrev": {
       "version": "1.1.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/abbrev/-/abbrev-1.1.1.tgz",
@@ -2000,6 +2259,11 @@
       "integrity": "sha512-3oSeUO0TMV67hN1AmbXsK4yaqU7tjiHlbxRDZOpH0KW9+CeX4bRAaX0Anxt0tx2MrpRpWwQaPwIlISEJhYU5Pw==",
       "dev": true
     },
+    "base64-js": {
+      "version": "1.5.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/base64-js/-/base64-js-1.5.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-AKpaYlHn8t4SVbOHCy+b5+KKgvR4vrsD8vbvrbiQJps7fKDTkjkDry6ji0rUJjC0kzbNePLwzxq8iypo41qeWA=="
+    },
     "binary-extensions": {
       "version": "2.2.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/binary-extensions/-/binary-extensions-2.2.0.tgz",
@@ -2041,6 +2305,23 @@
         "fill-range": "^7.0.1"
       }
     },
+    "bson": {
+      "version": "4.6.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/bson/-/bson-4.6.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-I1LQ7Hz5zgwR4QquilLNZwbhPw0Apx7i7X9kGMBTsqPdml/03Q9NBtD9nt/19ahjlphktQImrnderxqpzeVDjw==",
+      "requires": {
+        "buffer": "^5.6.0"
+      }
+    },
+    "buffer": {
+      "version": "5.7.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/buffer/-/buffer-5.7.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-EHcyIPBQ4BSGlvjB16k5KgAJ27CIsHY/2JBmCRReo48y9rQ3MaUzWX3KVlBa4U7MyX02HdVj0K7C3WaB3ju7FQ==",
+      "requires": {
+        "base64-js": "^1.3.1",
+        "ieee754": "^1.1.13"
+      }
+    },
     "cacheable-request": {
       "version": "6.1.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/cacheable-request/-/cacheable-request-6.1.0.tgz",
@@ -2223,6 +2504,11 @@
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       "dev": true
     },
+    "denque": {
+      "version": "2.0.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/denque/-/denque-2.0.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-tfiWc6BQLXNLpNiR5iGd0Ocu3P3VpxfzFiqubLgMfhfOw9WyvgJBd46CClNn9k3qfbjvT//0cf7AlYRX/OslMQ=="
+    },
     "dot-prop": {
       "version": "5.3.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/dot-prop/-/dot-prop-5.3.0.tgz",
@@ -2478,6 +2764,11 @@
       "integrity": "sha512-carPklcUh7ROWRK7Cv27RPtdhYhUsela/ue5/jKzjegVvXDqM2ILE9Q2BGn9JZJh1g87cp56su/FgQSzcWS8cQ==",
       "dev": true
     },
+    "ieee754": {
+      "version": "1.2.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/ieee754/-/ieee754-1.2.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-dcyqhDvX1C46lXZcVqCpK+FtMRQVdIMN6/Df5js2zouUsqG7I6sFxitIC+7KYK29KdXOLHdu9zL4sFnoVQnqaA=="
+    },
     "ignore-by-default": {
       "version": "1.0.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/ignore-by-default/-/ignore-by-default-1.0.1.tgz",
@@ -2611,6 +2902,11 @@
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/json-schema-traverse/-/json-schema-traverse-0.4.1.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha512-xbbCH5dCYU5T8LcEhhuh7HJ88HXuW3qsI3Y0zOZFKfZEHcpWiHU/Jxzk629Brsab/mMiHQti9wMP+845RPe3Vg=="
     },
+    "kareem": {
+      "version": "2.3.3",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/kareem/-/kareem-2.3.3.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-uESCXM2KdtOQ8LOvKyTUXEeg0MkYp4wGglTIpGcYHvjJcS5sn2Wkfrfit8m4xSbaNDAw2KdI9elgkOxZbrFYbg=="
+    },
     "keyv": {
       "version": "3.1.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/keyv/-/keyv-3.1.0.tgz",
@@ -2689,6 +2985,12 @@
         }
       }
     },
+    "memory-pager": {
+      "version": "1.5.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/memory-pager/-/memory-pager-1.5.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-ZS4Bp4r/Zoeq6+NLJpP+0Zzm0pR8whtGPf1XExKLJBAczGMnSi3It14OiNCStjQjM6NU1okjQGSxgEZN8eBYKg==",
+      "optional": true
+    },
     "mimic-response": {
       "version": "1.0.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/mimic-response/-/mimic-response-1.0.1.tgz",
@@ -2709,6 +3011,55 @@
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/minimist/-/minimist-1.2.5.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha512-FM9nNUYrRBAELZQT3xeZQ7fmMOBg6nWNmJKTcgsJeaLstP/UODVpGsr5OhXhhXg6f+qtJ8uiZ+PUxkDWcgIXLw=="
     },
+    "mongodb": {
+      "version": "4.2.2",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/mongodb/-/mongodb-4.2.2.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-zt8rCTnTKyMQppyt63qMnrLM5dbADgUk18ORPF1XbtHLIYCyc9hattaYHi0pqMvNxDpgGgUofSVzS+UQErgTug==",
+      "requires": {
+        "bson": "^4.6.0",
+        "denque": "^2.0.1",
+        "mongodb-connection-string-url": "^2.3.2",
+        "saslprep": "^1.0.3"
+      }
+    },
+    "mongodb-connection-string-url": {
+      "version": "2.4.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/mongodb-connection-string-url/-/mongodb-connection-string-url-2.4.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-d5Kd2bVsKcSA7YI/yo57fSTtMwRQdFkvc5IZwod1RRxJtECeWPPSo7zqcUGJELifRA//Igs4spVtYAmvFCatug==",
+      "requires": {
+        "@types/whatwg-url": "^8.2.1",
+        "whatwg-url": "^11.0.0"
+      }
+    },
+    "mongoose": {
+      "version": "6.1.8",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/mongoose/-/mongoose-6.1.8.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-/voqwU2dtet3zAR73r8jdPhqluU1VzIAnk7ecXPJBgyXKREnwQrz40lfW7fLpaqhmMhsAbA+JQ7ICUn2vAVFLw==",
+      "requires": {
+        "@types/node": "< 17.0.6",
+        "bson": "^4.2.2",
+        "kareem": "2.3.3",
+        "mongodb": "4.2.2",
+        "mpath": "0.8.4",
+        "mquery": "4.0.2",
+        "ms": "2.1.2",
+        "regexp-clone": "1.0.0",
+        "sift": "13.5.2"
+      }
+    },
+    "mpath": {
+      "version": "0.8.4",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/mpath/-/mpath-0.8.4.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-DTxNZomBcTWlrMW76jy1wvV37X/cNNxPW1y2Jzd4DZkAaC5ZGsm8bfGfNOthcDuRJujXLqiuS6o3Tpy0JEoh7g=="
+    },
+    "mquery": {
+      "version": "4.0.2",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/mquery/-/mquery-4.0.2.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-oAVF0Nil1mT3rxty6Zln4YiD6x6QsUWYz927jZzjMxOK2aqmhEz5JQ7xmrKK7xRFA2dwV+YaOpKU/S+vfNqKxA==",
+      "requires": {
+        "debug": "4.x"
+      }
+    },
     "ms": {
       "version": "2.1.2",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/ms/-/ms-2.1.2.tgz",
@@ -2924,6 +3275,11 @@
         "picomatch": "^2.2.1"
       }
     },
+    "regexp-clone": {
+      "version": "1.0.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/regexp-clone/-/regexp-clone-1.0.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-TuAasHQNamyyJ2hb97IuBEif4qBHGjPHBS64sZwytpLEqtBQ1gPJTnOaQ6qmpET16cK14kkjbazl6+p0RRv0yw=="
+    },
     "registry-auth-token": {
       "version": "4.2.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/registry-auth-token/-/registry-auth-token-4.2.1.tgz",
@@ -2979,6 +3335,15 @@
         "ret": "~0.2.0"
       }
     },
+    "saslprep": {
+      "version": "1.0.3",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/saslprep/-/saslprep-1.0.3.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-/MY/PEMbk2SuY5sScONwhUDsV2p77Znkb/q3nSVstq/yQzYJOH/Azh29p9oJLsl3LnQwSvZDKagDGBsBwSooag==",
+      "optional": true,
+      "requires": {
+        "sparse-bitfield": "^3.0.3"
+      }
+    },
     "secure-json-parse": {
       "version": "2.4.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/secure-json-parse/-/secure-json-parse-2.4.0.tgz",
@@ -3019,6 +3384,11 @@
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/set-cookie-parser/-/set-cookie-parser-2.4.8.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha512-edRH8mBKEWNVIVMKejNnuJxleqYE/ZSdcT8/Nem9/mmosx12pctd80s2Oy00KNZzrogMZS5mauK2/ymL1bvlvg=="
     },
+    "sift": {
+      "version": "13.5.2",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/sift/-/sift-13.5.2.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-+gxdEOMA2J+AI+fVsCqeNn7Tgx3M9ZN9jdi95939l1IJ8cZsqS8sqpJyOkic2SJk+1+98Uwryt/gL6XDaV+UZA=="
+    },
     "signal-exit": {
       "version": "3.0.6",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/signal-exit/-/signal-exit-3.0.6.tgz",
@@ -3034,6 +3404,15 @@
         "flatstr": "^1.0.12"
       }
     },
+    "sparse-bitfield": {
+      "version": "3.0.3",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/sparse-bitfield/-/sparse-bitfield-3.0.3.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha1-/0rm5oZWBWuks+eSqzM004JzyhE=",
+      "optional": true,
+      "requires": {
+        "memory-pager": "^1.0.2"
+      }
+    },
     "string-similarity": {
       "version": "4.0.4",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/string-similarity/-/string-similarity-4.0.4.tgz",
@@ -3103,6 +3482,14 @@
         "nopt": "~1.0.10"
       }
     },
+    "tr46": {
+      "version": "3.0.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/tr46/-/tr46-3.0.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-l7FvfAHlcmulp8kr+flpQZmVwtu7nfRV7NZujtN0OqES8EL4O4e0qqzL0DC5gAvx/ZC/9lk6rhcUwYvkBnBnYA==",
+      "requires": {
+        "punycode": "^2.1.1"
+      }
+    },
     "type-fest": {
       "version": "0.20.2",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/type-fest/-/type-fest-0.20.2.tgz",
@@ -3172,6 +3559,20 @@
         "prepend-http": "^2.0.0"
       }
     },
+    "webidl-conversions": {
+      "version": "7.0.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/webidl-conversions/-/webidl-conversions-7.0.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-VwddBukDzu71offAQR975unBIGqfKZpM+8ZX6ySk8nYhVoo5CYaZyzt3YBvYtRtO+aoGlqxPg/B87NGVZ/fu6g=="
+    },
+    "whatwg-url": {
+      "version": "11.0.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/whatwg-url/-/whatwg-url-11.0.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-RKT8HExMpoYx4igMiVMY83lN6UeITKJlBQ+vR/8ZJ8OCdSiN3RwCq+9gH0+Xzj0+5IrM6i4j/6LuvzbZIQgEcQ==",
+      "requires": {
+        "tr46": "^3.0.0",
+        "webidl-conversions": "^7.0.0"
+      }
+    },
     "widest-line": {
       "version": "3.1.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/widest-line/-/widest-line-3.1.0.tgz",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index ed4dedd..2002d3f 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
   "dependencies": {
     "fastify": "^3.27.0",
     "fastify-openapi-glue": "^2.6.5",
+    "mongoose": "^6.1.8",
     "nanoid": "^3.2.0"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
diff --git a/src/models/Restaurant.js b/src/models/Restaurant.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9ab300d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/models/Restaurant.js
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+const mongoose = require("mongoose");
+
+// Define the schema for a "Restaurant" record
+// MongoDB automatically adds an id with property "_id" on every record
+const restaurantSchema = new mongoose.Schema({
+  name: String,
+  cuisine: String,
+  hasTakeout: Boolean,
+});
+
+module.exports = mongoose.model("Restaurant", restaurantSchema);
diff --git a/src/server.js b/src/server.js
index 0b28fb7..0f1ac98 100644
--- a/src/server.js
+++ b/src/server.js
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
 const fastify = require("fastify")({ logger: true });
 const openapiGlue = require("fastify-openapi-glue");
+const mongoose = require("mongoose");
 const Service = require("./service");
 
+// initialize access to .env variables like `process.env.YOUR_VAR_NAME`
+require("dotenv").config();
+
 const glueOptions = {
   specification: `${__dirname}/schema.yaml`,
   service: new Service(),
@@ -13,6 +17,23 @@ fastify.register(openapiGlue, glueOptions);
 const start = async () => {
   try {
     await fastify.listen(3000);
+    // Connect to DB
+    mongoose
+      .connect(process.env.DB_CONNECT_URI)
+      .then(() => {
+        console.log("MongoDB connected.");
+
+        // By default, MongoDB adds a unique '_id' key to each record added.
+        // We want to rename '_id' to 'id', to match our schema.
+        // This quick hack converts MongoDB '_id' property to 'id'
+        mongoose.set("toJSON", {
+          virtuals: true,
+          transform: (_doc, converted) => {
+            delete converted._id;
+          },
+        });
+      })
+      .catch((err) => console.log(err));
   } catch (err) {
     fastify.log.error(err);
     process.exit(1);
diff --git a/src/service.js b/src/service.js
index 86a2836..db592cd 100644
--- a/src/service.js
+++ b/src/service.js
@@ -1,87 +1,68 @@
-const { nanoid } = require("nanoid");
-
-let restaurants = [
-  {
-    id: "4Oj9hUC-EwrYdn9uOYeui",
-    name: "Puerto Viejo",
-    cuisine: "dominican",
-    hasTakeout: true,
-  },
-  {
-    id: "8NBUuV1hY1mUEomWxnws1",
-    name: "Sadas",
-    cuisine: "japanese",
-    hasTakeout: true,
-  },
-];
+const Restaurant = require("./models/Restaurant");
 
+// fastify-openapi-glue library expects the method names in the Service class to match the `operationId` from each path in your schema. That's how it will know the request method (GET/POST, etc) and the schema for the request/response of each route
 class Service {
   constructor() {}
 
-  getRestaurants(_req, res) {
+  getRestaurants = async (_req, res) => {
+    const restaurants = await Restaurant.find();
     res.send(restaurants);
-  }
-
-  addRestaurant(req, res) {
-    // get newRestaurant properties from request body
-    const newRestaurant = req.body;
-    // generate a unique random id and add it to newRestaurant
-    newRestaurant.id = nanoid();
+  };
 
-    // save new restaurant to db
-    restaurants.push(newRestaurant);
+  addRestaurant = async (req, res) => {
+    // create and save restaurant to db
+    const newRestaurant = await Restaurant.create(req.body);
 
     res.code(201).send(newRestaurant);
-  }
+  };
 
-  getRestaurant(req, res) {
+  getRestaurant = async (req, res) => {
     // get id from path parameters
     const { id } = req.params;
-    // Get restaurant from database
-    const restaurant = restaurants.find((r) => r.id === id);
 
-    // Send restaurant in response if found, otherwise send 404
+    // check that restaurant exists
+    const restaurant = await Restaurant.findById(id);
+
     if (restaurant) {
       res.send(restaurant);
     } else {
       res.code(404).send({ message: `Restaurant with id '${id}' not found` });
     }
-  }
+  };
 
-  updateRestaurant(req, res) {
+  updateRestaurant = async (req, res) => {
     // get id from path parameters
     const { id } = req.params;
 
-    // check that restuarant exists. If not found, `foundIndex` will equal -1
-    const foundIndex = restaurants.findIndex((r) => r.id === id);
+    // check that restaurant exists
+    const restaurant = await Restaurant.findById(id);
 
-    if (foundIndex > -1) {
+    if (restaurant) {
       // Update restaurant in database
-      const prevData = restaurants[foundIndex];
-      restaurants[foundIndex] = { ...prevData, ...req.body };
+      await restaurant.update(req.body);
       // send empty response with status 204
       res.code(204).send();
     } else {
       res.code(404).send({ message: `Restaurant with id '${id}' not found` });
     }
-  }
+  };
 
-  deleteRestaurant(req, res) {
+  deleteRestaurant = async (req, res) => {
     // get id from path parameters
     const { id } = req.params;
 
-    // check that restuarant exists. If not found, `foundIndex` will equal -1
-    const foundIndex = restaurants.findIndex((r) => r.id === id);
+    // check that restuarant exists
+    const restaurant = await Restaurant.findById(id);
 
-    if (foundIndex > -1) {
+    if (restaurant) {
       // Delete restaurant from database
-      restaurants.splice(foundIndex, 1);
+      await Restaurant.findByIdAndRemove(id);
       // send empty response with status 204
       res.code(204).send();
     } else {
       res.code(404).send({ message: `Restaurant with id '${id}' not found` });
     }
-  }
+  };
 }
 
 module.exports = Service;