I wouldn't use it for any warm up sets, but it you're going heavy its good to use to give you additional support, although it takes away work from your core.
Easiest way would be to get someone else to pick up the weights from the floor and place them on your legs, but if you're by self, you could pick up the weights one by one and place them on a bench...
If you don't have to look your best for an event in the near future, I would be bulking for sure. With your height I would be looking to get to no less than 200 pounds before cutting
Yeah well when I was bulking I was eating garlic bread and worked well for me. Just have a look at the nutritional info sticker on the packet and choose the one lowest in saturated fat
Better off signing up to a gym, you'll get better results cause you're body is going to get used to doing the same exercises all the time and it'll also give you more motivation.