$12 for 12 Hours of Food: TikToker Documents Her Full Day at Golden Corral

They say money can't buy happiness, but social media is out to challenge that age-old saying.  A TikToker named Madison set out to see how serious Golden Corral about their " all you can eat" policy.  Her plan? Twelve hours at her local Golden Corral, bringing nothing but her impressive appetite, $12 and plucky attitude.

Side note: Did you know Golden Corral was started right here in Fayetteville? Yep, back in 1973 the Golden Corral Family Steak House opened here. It's not headquartered just up the road in Raleigh. Anyway, back to our story.

She began at 8 a.m during the breakfast menu, paying $12 to start this epic cuisine adventure.   A photo of her receipt could be seen at the start of the video, showing that she dined there on Sunday.

When the restaurant stopped serving breakfast at 11 a.m., Madison said she proceeded to help herself to the lunch items. It was then that Madison noticed the restaurant staff had cleared her drink and cutlery from her table.

"I came at breakfast. But I can pay again if I have to pay for lunch," Madison could be heard saying to a staff member in the video.

"No, you're fine," the staff member replied.  Madison said the waitress assured her that she only needed to pay once and could eat as long as she wanted — but kept bringing her drinks after that.  Our heroine is nobody's fool however;

"But she started bringing me tons and tons of refills. I think she's trying to make me full so I would leave, but I'm not falling for that. I got to get my $12 worth," Madison said.

Madison proceeded to get her dinner when the restaurant started serving it at 4 p.m. At that point, the branch manager then asked to speak to her, Madison added.

"I thought he was going to kick me out since I've been there for eight hours," Madison narrated. "He just asked me to switch tables again and told me to go back and get my food."

"I couldn't believe it. I appreciate him for letting me stay there for 10 hours," she continued.

"What an accomplishment. Unlimited food and drink for one dollar an hour," Madison said at the end of the video. "Best day ever. I think I got my money's worth, but let me know what you think."

The final verdict: "Even though there is hair in it, the cotton candy cake was my favorite," Madison narrated in the video, adding that she ate half of the entire cake by herself.

Long live the Queen!  Madison, you are an absolute legend and I salute you.

If there's one thing I love, it's ending my day with a sweet little treat. So I've been on a mission to find the best cupcakes in Fayetteville, North Carolina!

I haven't made homemade cupcakes in forever because nothing beats a decadent, perfectly flavored, professionally baked cupcake. Regular or bite-size, I will happily try them all!

Did you know that cupcakes weren't "invented" until 1796?! Sure, people were baking cakes long before then, but according to lots of cupcake companies (including Food 52 Blog), the first appearance of the recipe for a "light cake in small cups" came from Amelia Simmons in American Cook.

"American Cookery, or, to give its full title: American Cookery, or the Art of Dressing Viands, Fish, Poultry and Vegetables, and the Best Modes of Making Pastes, Puffs, Pies, Tarts, Puddings, Custards and Preserves and All Kinds of Cakes from the Imperial Plumb to Plain Cake. Adapted to This Country, and All Grades of Life (catchy, right?), is considered by food historians to be the first cookbook published in the U.S. by an American."

The name for the cupcake didn't really come around until sometime around 1828 in another cookbook, by a woman named Eliza Leslie.

Today, cupcakes are everywhere, and finding the best ones in Fayetteville is no easy task. But we're happy to keep trying!

Nestled in the heart of downtown Fayetteville, this is my favorite spot to swing by after lunch or dinner. They have a honey lavendar cupcake that I really enjoy!

A coworker actually told me about this place, and as soon as I saw all the different flavors, I knew I had to try it! If you're out towards the Millstone Shopping Center, check them out!

Sweet Tooth offers a little bit of something for everyone! They truly have so many options, and all of them look amazing! Try their carrot cake or ice cream specials!

This shop is so cute! And the cupcakes are a dream.

Not that we want to break your bank or anything, but Kiss Me Cakes is available on DoorDash. You don't even have to leave the house for these!