Not dumb at all. This was my first french braid.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-69914-1.htm
I looked at my middle square and chose three colors I liked. Then I chose a light, medium, dark of each color. Then I varied them as I sewed from light to dark. Their bedroom color was blue (this was a gift) so I picked a light, medium, darker blue for the inbeween square. You can do this; I know how overwhelming LQS can get, but I look upon them as an adventure (smile). Just do one color at a time.
BTW, my office mate is from Rapid City.