i fiured it out. in the file mod/blog/views/default/blog/sidebar.php i copied the code below at the end of that file:

$group = elgg_get_page_owner_entity();

if ($group->blog_enable == "no") {

return true;

}

$all_link = elgg_view('output/url', array(

'href' => "blog/group/$group->guid/all",

'text' => elgg_echo('link:view:all'),

'is_trusted' => true,

));

elgg_push_context('widgets');

$options = array(

'type' => 'object',

'subtype' => 'blog',

'container_guid' => elgg_get_page_owner_guid(),

'metadata_name_value_pairs' => array('name' => 'status', 'value' => 'published'),

'limit' => 6,

'full_view' => false,

'pagination' => false,

);

$content = elgg_list_entities_from_metadata($options);

elgg_pop_context();

if (!$content) {

$content = '<p>' . elgg_echo('blog:none') . '</p>';

}

$new_link = elgg_view('output/url', array(

'href' => "blog/add/$group->guid",

'text' => elgg_echo('blog:write'),

'is_trusted' => true,

));

echo elgg_view('groups/profile/module', array(

'title' => elgg_echo('blog:group'),

'content' => $content,

'all_link' => $all_link,

'add_link' => $new_link,

));

i have another issue. when i used the code above, i was able to put the latest blog topics in the sidebar for the groups, but when i click the blogs link in the menu bar at the top of the page that lists "All site blogs", the page is messed up now

anybody have any idea on how to do this???

Use this code it will display all latest blogs:-

if (elgg_is_active_plugin('blog')) {
elgg_push_context('widgets');
$options = array(
    'type' => 'object',
    'subtype' => 'blog',
    'limit' => 5,//$num,
    'full_view' => FALSE,'list_type' => 'list',
    'pagination' => FALSE,
    );
$content = elgg_list_entities($options);
echo elgg_view_module('featured',  elgg_echo("Recent Blogs"), $content);
elgg_pop_context();
}

thanks a lot! i really appreciate your help!