The feats highlighted in gold/yellow are "bonus feats." A fighter, for example, gets a bonus feat at levels 1,2,4,6,8, and 10. However, these extra feats have to be selected from a smaller list, hence the yellow colored feats. The bonus feats are still normal feats and can still be selected during normal character advancement at levels 1,3,6, and 9 (all characters gain feats at those levels). I know the monk gains a couple of bonus feats as well, and the same rules apply to him; you have to pick a yellow one.
As for the spell selection; I don't have a clue. My sorceress has never had a situation like that, so I'm assuming that is a wizard thing. Since I've not played a wizard (I think they are too restricting), I'm afraid I'm useless on this one. On second thought, maybe the yellow spells have something to do with a school of magic that you specialized in. Again, it is a wizard thing, but I think that may be the issue.
Yes, I found it in the manual on page 122.
"...During character creation, wizard characters can specialize in one school of magic. The wizard can prepare one extra spell of this school per spell level each day and..."
It looks like all of the spells that you mentioned as being yellow are from the Enchantment school, so I'm assuming you specialized in that.
I hope some of that was helpful.
P.S. I like chocolate chip.
