$(document).ready(function(){
    $nav_li=$(".nav li");
    $nav_li_a=$(".nav li a");
    var animSpeed=250; //fade speed
    var hoverTextColor="#cccccc"; //text color on mouse over
    var textColor=$nav_li_a.css("color");
    //text color animation
    $nav_li_a.hover(function() {
        var $this=$(this);
        $this.stop().animate({ color: hoverTextColor }, animSpeed);
    },function() {
        var $this=$(this);
        $this.stop().animate({ color: textColor }, animSpeed);
    });
});