JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<ul>
            <li><a href="">Blog</a></li>
            <li><a href="">Work</a></li>
            <li><a href="">About</a></li>
            <li><a href="">Contact</a></li>
        </ul>

CSS

ul {
    list-style-type: none;
    float: right;
    position: relative;
    right: -10px;
}

ul li a {
    background: none;
    transition-property: background;
    transition-duration: 1s;
    display: inline-block;
    line-height: 30px;
    text-decoration: none;
    padding: 0px 10px;
    color: #555555;
}

ul li a:hover {
    background: url('http://i.imgur.com/gNiJN.png') no-repeat;
    color: #f0f0f0;
}