I want to improve

Hey all, I'm new here! :)

Well, I play at about a 1200-1350 USCF level, and I really want to improve. I have been playing chess all of my life, but only the past few months very seriously. Since the summer, I have went about about 500 points, and I know I can do much better.

Basically here's what I am wanting to do (if that made sense...)

1. I need a new opening, specifically for white, but possibly for black. I have been playing the italian on white, with a kind of fried liver attack, and it's too beginner-esque. I want an opening that I can learn fairly easily, which has a lot of tactical opportunities involved, so I could improve, and possibly one for tournament play which I could use with a higher chance of winning. Also, I have been using Sicilian (dragon), and King's Indian Defense, and was wondering if these were valid for improvement.

2. I have been doing tactics daily, so I hope that would help, and I got a few chess books.

3. Most games on here I don't feel were strong at all by me, and they don't really exemplify my openings, as I usually play chesscube, (my rating is about 2000 on there, if anyone uses it and could use it as a means of comparison) but which types of games should I play to improve, blitz, 10 minute, etc.?

Thanks everyone!!

Thanks, I forgot to mention that as white I have been studying Evans gambit and King's gambit. 
Thanks for the response, but I don't know what tournament you are talking about. I also heard the scotch was very beginner esque? Correct me if I'm wrong :), but could you show me an example game of it, and it's advantages (tactically?)? 

Also, I have a pretty good knack for application and memorization, so I can memorize many lines deep in the Sicilian etc. but are you sure I should quit those, I mean, I have been studying them?

Could you show me some games I should analyze to get a taste of the scotch or something explaining how I should use it :).

I am not very familiar with it, that's why I am asking, and also on black, what do you think I should do about sicilian etc.?

And my local tournaments are G30 usually (30 minutes per player), is that fast enough/too fast for scotch or a gambit like I said before?

Why play gambits:

 - You learn why tempo is important.

 - You learn not to only think about the material.

- You learn that there is really boring beeing in an "equal" engame with a pawn down!

There is nothing wrong with the Italian game at all, you certainly don't have to push the fried liver attack - there are lots of other options that run the gamit from quiet to blistering.

From what I've read though, it seems more passive, hence the Guioco Piano - The quite game :P ?

Is the scotch effective?

browse this:

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessopening?eco=c45

I recommend that you browse it a bit further(at least for 2 main variations Nf6 and Bc5) before you start to explore the games.

Thanks for that, lol.

But I meant to say like could I learn it, and would I (as a beginner) be able to use it effectively against players above my level (at clubs for instance).

I really like the idea suggested before of playing out master games against the computer until you can win ever time (games where a GM resigns and you don't fully understand why).  

Play whatever openings you want.  I know a guy who plays the same 3 moves against the Sicilian EVERY single time and I'm still trying to come up with a plan to bust it.    Like it was said before I wouldn't get into "weird" or "rarely" played openings (there is a reason a lot of GM's play the certain lines).  Personally I used the chess.com "live chess" feature to try out openings and work on refining my lines on the ones I already know and eventually when I feel comfortable bring them into my OTB games.