Taking the reins

I think it is time for me to take control of the blog and do some homework - I am going to get a book (a book!) on web design stuff and see if I can't create for myself the blog of my dreams....I mean, 14 year old girls can do it, I can too. Mind you, 14 year old girls can do backflips and I can't, but this is typing codes in and coming up with something pretty - should be relatively easy, no?
Anyone know of any good resources?