RE: CSS
Hi Lucy,
CSS may seem complicated and confusing, but down the line, it will really save you lots of time. CSS allows you to separate your content from your design. It allows you a lot of flexibility in the design of your pages.
There is a really good article on 'Why Use CSS?' on the Adobe site which I think you'll find useful: http://www.adobe.com/devnet/dreamweaver/articles/why_css.html
Also, take a look at http://www.csszengarden.com to see what type of wonderful possibilities you can achieve, just by switching a CSS file!
Regards, Rich