Newbie paddle/rubber selection

I've been using one of my friends paddles for a little while, but I think it's time I purchased my own.
About my play: I'm fairly new to playing with a focus on actual improvement (about 6 months of playing with friends afterschool, on weekends etc.), and so I don't really have a "style" or a particular offensive/defensive outlook on playing.  I play penhold, and from what I've tried I like lighter paddles in general (don't know exact weights, unsure of blade/rubber names that I've used and so I couldn't look them up :|).
I keep reading that as a new player I should stay away from too expensive or fast rubbers, as they will be too difficult to control.  Even knowing this, it's difficult for me to pick out rubbers/blades that would fit my game as I really don't have anyone to discuss with.

A little looking around leads me to believe that a yasaka penhold blade would work well.  They seem to have good reviews and because I plan on the blade lasting much longer than the rubber, I want to get one of decent quality.  Please suggest anything, I feel like I know nothing about blades.
Here's the couple that I'm looking into
http://www.gotabletennis.com/Yasaka_Gatien_Extra_Chinese_Penhold_p/ya4ex.htm
http://www.gotabletennis.com/Yasaka_Extra_7_Chinese_Penhold_p/ya4ex7.htm

Really unsure as to what I want to spend or look for in rubbers.  I'd assume that I want a sponge thickness of about 1.5-1.9, and because the blades are about $40 the rubbers hopefully won't add up to more than $40 as well.  Again, please suggest anything you think fits!
A few that people have recommended that I think would work,
http://www.gotabletennis.com/Butterfly_Flextra_p/05210.htm
http://www.megaspin.net/store/default.asp?pid=r-729-08 (wouldn't 2.15 be too thick? It seems I've read that increased thickness = more speed)
Very newbie question, but if I were to buy one of these rubbers, would it only come with one side? So if I wanted to have both sides of my blade covered, I would have to buy 2 rubbers?

It's difficult to navigate through all the table tennis forums/reviews/guides I've been looking at recently without really knowing what all of it means, so I apologize if I've really misjudged something or have some of my facts completely wrong.

Edited by davidz - 04/11/2011 at 7:48am

Thanks for the responses, I'll definitely be buying the 1.9 Flextra and the Gatien Extra.  I don't really need a second rubber, but are there any decent ones out there around $10?  I might not even end up putting it on, but when I order everything I don't want to apply 1 side, find out I don't like the weight with only 1 rubber on it, and have to wait a few more days for another to come in.

edit: Also by Friendship, should I get this rubber as a backhand? (Won't really come into play much, only $14)


Edited by 0mgVitaminE - 04/11/2011 at 2:13am

I would consider the LKT lightning rubber for $5 at zeropong as it's very light and high control.  2.0