Hi Page, obviousely you need to practice so first if you are learning by yourself, you need a partner! But I suggest also to have a look here http://www.almaedizioni.it/it/almatv/litaliano-con-il-cinema/ http://www.almaedizioni.it/it/almatv/fumetti/ and this http://www.almaedizioni.it/it/minisiti/letture-nuova-serie-1-livello-500-parole/ if you need a help (the site is in italian) don't hesitate to ask me for a help!

multum in parvo

there is the method ASSIMIL, the best on market. and reading a dictionary from A to Z, great exercise for knowledge and memory

I find that real practice is the best way to master a language, after you managed to learn the basics. I think you could use more informal resources, like looking at italian movies with subtitles, listening to italian songs while reading lyrics, or try reading italian online newspapers. In this way you get used to intonation and pronunciation, more than to grammar, but it's extremely helpful. More than that, you should practice conversation with italian people willing to speak (slowly) with you.