I've modified the SnipMate plugin to suit my needs. -Dan Barrese

Install with Pathogen

git clone git://github.com/danbarrese/snipmate.vim.git ~/.vim/bundle/snipmate.vim

New Features

• Trigger snippets with <space> (optional).
• Trigger snippets with <cr>.
• Trigger snippets with <c-space>.
• Capitalize first letter of snippet with shift+trigger.
• Snippets trigger when pop-up menu is visible (pumvisible()).
• Cursor and visual highlight color changes while in snippet. Colors reset on last tab stop or .
• Link snippet with another snippet with $LINK{existingSnippetTrigger}.

Control via .vimrc

let g:snippets_dir='~/.vim/bundle/snipmate.vim/snippets'
let g:snips_cursorBg_inSnip = "red"
let g:snips_cursorBg_orig = synIDattr(synIDtrans(hlID("Cursor")), "bg")
let g:snips_visualBg_inSnip = "pink"
let g:snips_visualBg_orig = synIDattr(synIDtrans(hlID("Visual")), "bg")
map ,ll   :SnipsLoad<cr>
map ,lu   :SnipsUnload<cr>
map ,lse  :SnipsSpaceEnable<cr>
map ,lsd  :SnipsSpaceDisable<cr>
map ,lal  :SnipsAdd('acl')<cr>
map ,lml  :SnipsAdd('math')<cr>