There are, but they're quite a bit far into the game. Sword & Shield weapons are suitable for hit & run tactics, not brute power. Especially after a while, the do more elemental / status damage than normal. If you feel the need for more power, switch to anything other than Greatswords (they're quite a bitch to get at first). Lances, Switch axes and Hammers are much more suitable at start.

On forging decorations, it seems like every decoration available needs to have something be combined with an Aquaglow Jewel (or something that sounds like that) to make it. When/where can i acquire these?

^^ Deserted Island blue ores mining.

Mine the deposits in areas 7 & 12.

Let me take this time to introduce you (and everyone) to:

THE MONSTER HUNTER TRI WIKIA!!

http://monsterhunter.wikia.com/wiki/Monster_Hunter_3

This has everything:  Weapon guides, Combos, Village quests, EVERYTHING.

For example..... Check out this map of resources for the Deserted Island!

@Rol, I'll see what I can do about the OP for you, also about sword and shields.

Sword and Shields I believe are the lowest damaging weapons, the trick with those is the status effects they incur, it's more of a melee status afflicting weapon. Because of that your going to find yourself with 3 or 4 swords that you go back to.

To Answer your question, yes there are swords with far higher damage output than 154.

Aside from Jhen Morhan I've made every monster trip with shot 2, just keep at his legs, he doesn't limp but he gets noticably more tired.

I was going to go on a mining run anyway, since i've got a lot of money but not much ore left, and i wish to upgrade my basic Lance to see what i can do with it, so i'll pick up some jewels too.

Should be fun.

One thing I've learned in MH is that upgrading or completing gear is never as easy as you originally thought it would be.

It turns into an anticipation game for me. My first taste was the Rathalos Plate... =(

Yeah, Fertile Mud was a bitch to get. Looking for Rathian Plate now >_>