How do I set a static homepage?

[brianrho]

Hi,

I am going to be using my Lifestyle theme primarily as a "static" website with regularly changing articles and some blogs.

• I want the "how did it all start" to not be a separate menu item but linked to and actually the home page - or at least a sub section under Home.
• All the other articles to the right of the "Home" icon need to be drop down "child" articles of a heading "Articles" on the navbar - next to home.

I think what is probably the most important here is that I learn how to get items onto the navbar. I know with plugins I can locate separate articles under the Articles menu item. How do I get a link to those articles to appear in the "Recent Articles" box on the right?

Thank you in advance.