1) is her terrarium to big?? I've read that they can become stressed if placed in too large an enclosure. I'm seriously considering inserting a piece of custom cut glass to I can slowly lengthen the terrarium to what she requires. If so, what size is best for her?
No... Big open spaces will make her uncomfortable, but if there's enough cover and hiding spaces she could exist anywhere a suitable environment is maintained, no matter how large (think nature). The key is giving her enough cover and hiding space... Or, yes, you could divide things if you wanted to make it smaller.

2) should I give her a smaller hide? The one she in is now is QUITE large compared to her.
They appreciate a well-fitting hide, I think. As long as there's a hide though, it's nothing I would consider crucial to her well-being. Just add it to the 'to do' list.

3) how hot should I keep her tank on hot and cold ends? And how do you recommend I maintain her heat better.
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet
(If I could avoid spending money I would like to, so home tips and tricks are BEST!) (but I am not opposed to spending money where I have to)
Best way is likely to ditch the heat lamp and glass tank, and go with a heat mat/thermostat in a bin. The bin will hold the heat and humidity in much better.

4) humidity? What are some ways I can control humidity? Does moving her water dish under the hot lamp work? Should I spray in her enclosure with a mister 2-3 times a day? I've read a LOT of different articles, but I would love to hear from people who own snakes!
Best way is to get rid of the heatlamp. You'll basically be fighting an uphill battle against it over humidity. Of course that's not always an option. Putting the water bowl on the warm end will help. Another common method is putting a damp towel over a portion of the lid, or setting up humid hides.

5) what do you recommend I add/subtract from my setup? What does your setup include? I want my snake to be as happy as I can make her. Is foliage good? ANY tips are GREATLY appreciated.
I like newspapers, but I have a rack of bins. I like it because waste is easy to spot, it's very easy to see when the paper gets soiled, and I can do an entire clean-out and sanitize multiple bins in a couple of minutes.

I have used aspen and the past and would recommend it. Might not be the best thing if you're having humidity problems though. Wait for someone with more experience to answer.

how long until I can handle her? I've heard of people waiting 15 weeks, all the way to holding them 15 minutes everyday (expect for feeding day and the day after)? What do you recommend?
I give new snakes two weeks, personally. We handle them for ourselves, not for them, so I think when there's any chance of them being stressed it's best to just leave them be.

Other thoughts of mine:
For heat I have a 100w red night bulb sitting directly on top of a hole I cut in the wood that I use as her cage cover.
This sounds like a recipe for injury or escape. I can't say much without seeing it, but make sure the snake can't come into contact with anything hot, and make sure the lid is absolutely escape proof.

Also:
Most measurement/monitoring equipment you'll buy at the petstore is junk (thermometers, thermostats, etc). Make sure your equipment is giving you useful, and reliable readings!

Finally, I should mention that these are all things that could have been asked before having a live animal on your hands... Just saying for future's sake.

Hope that helps