Okay, today was my first solo in a windy day. About 15 miles wind. I was on my tower trainer. I did about 5 take offs and landings. It was much harder than i expected. The plane was going all over the place. Although in all those take-offs and landings, i brought it back in one piece. I have a 46 size motor. It's gonna' be windy in seattle the entire winter and im looking for a plane which is easier to handle in strong winds. What would you guys suggest. Also, this is what my instructors taught me:

take of cross wind ( and maybe that's why i think take-offs are harder than landings)
land into cross wind.

Is that the right aproach?