Ah, Dri, you're coming to the dark side.
Using a specific BBT thermometer is best, because they are more accurate than a regular digital thermometer. However, if a digital is all you have, it will work. Temping is all about consistency, and a regular digital can sometimes be inconsistent.
You can chart your temps the old-fashioned way, on a printed-out chart. But FertilityFriend.com makes it so easy, I recommend using it. On the same chart, you can track BBT, CM, CP, OPKs (if you're using them), symptoms, etc.
You want to take your BBT at the same time every day. If you tend to sleep in on the weekends, too bad! Just set your alarm for the same time, temp, record it, and then go back to sleep. You literally don't want to move too much or do anything other than wake up, and stick the thermometer in your mouth.
If you wake up earlier than your typical time, go ahead and record that temp, instead of the later one. The key is to take your temp after at least three hours of sleep. So if you wake up at 5am to pee but your normal temping time is 6... go ahead and temp at 5am (without getting up first). However, if you wake up at 2am to pee and your normal temping time is 6, go ahead and wait to temp until 6.
Unfortunately, temping won't tell you when you are going to O. It only confirms after-the-fact that you have O'd. Over time, though, you will see definitely patterns emerge that will be really helpful, when combined with CP/CM/etc., in figuring out when you're O'ing and when you can expect AF.
Speaking of AF, most women will see temp drops before AF arrives, so that's another good way to be prepared for a BFN. If, however, your temps stay high or keep rising, that's a good sign that you might get a BFP. Every woman is different, though, so you won't be able to tell what your normal is until a few months of charting.
Here's to hoping it won't take a few month's of charting to get your BFP!