Some mods have said to download sky-ui,but I really don't like it and don't want to use it.

Some mods use SkyUI's inbuilt mod menu (MCM), which is why it is sometimes required, but there's a http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/29440/? mod that lets you keep the menu while don't have the other SkyUI changes.

Those mods use the MCM menu system from SkyUI for their in-game options.

If you don't like SkyUI, use http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/29440 in order to get the MCM menu system for those mods. You install SkyUI first, then install SkyUIAway to revert to the vanilla UI but keeping the MCM menu system.

Do this and you'll keep the vanilla UI and still be able to use those mods.